~Katie~

Quote: Originally Posted by roo66 Orpington so close !!!! Im in Lenham between Maidstone and Ashford.Its my last day at work today.I know im gong to spend the day in tears.I am excited about my new job but had considered my hospital job a job for life. Good luck with your shoot if im off on the 24th and if you need some support i will come and find you.Tomorrow im going to go in search of outfits AHHHHHH Maria x GOOD LUCK for your last day!!!! and good luck for your outfit shopping tomorrow! you'll have loads of fun looking for things. Try to get an idea of what outfits/poses you want to do before you go so you can take a shopping list of everything you need to get to pull off all the different outfits...I found it MUCH easier! Let me know how you get on

ah thanks girls thanks for all your kind words - you always manage to cheer me up! Amy, yeah she's going to be ok, but she's stubborn and does not want to have an operation, but I think she's going to have to (she's got a specialist appt next Friday, so we'll know more then). she's doing ok...her injuries sound worse than she comes across so it's not too bad. but where she's broken those bones, I think she's trapped a nerve as she's lost feeling down part of her face. it could be swelling (fingers crossed that it is)...but that's why I think she'll have to have an operation - they want to put metal plates in I don't know how we're going to convince her to have it if that's what they advise - she HATES hospitals and operations...my dear grandad went in for one and didn't come out will just have to wait and see, but thank you all I slept like a baby! (still shattered tho but hey, it's Friday!!)

Amy, how do I vote for you?? Sorry I've not been replying to much - only managed to log on at work quickly today and been a tad distracted.... My nan fell put her front door last night and we spent all of Wednesday night in a & e with her - she's broken her cheek bone and broken her eye socket I was sooo upset - that's my nana. I went work today but left early and spent all evening round at hers - me and the other grandchildren took shifts throughout the day! I'm home now (it's 11pm here) but I'm shattered after last night and today and am off to bed. Night all. Xx

Quote: Originally Posted by roo66 Katie i wish id found your lady first.FYEO was very expensive but hey theyll earn every penny airbrushing me out lol.Fear has not made me loose anything,my excuse my thyroid has gone mad it was sitting at 0.3 just lightly under the start of the normal range of 0.4 _ 0.9 Mines a big fat blimming 9.I hope with the pressure of next week i can shift some fat.Im leaving my job as a radiology assitant to become a manager of a mexican resturant.Im having huge waves of am i mad !!! or stupid !!! or both.The 10k payrise was what one me over.Money deffo is the route of all evil. Can i ask how much are you paying for your shoot? where do you live i ask because you said she has a studio in Folkestone im twenty mins away from there. It looks like you have pretty much got your outfits sorted,Ill be making a mad dash if im not careful ive looked about and theres not much out there hence the ebay purchase. Enjoy your shoot xxx These are the packages she offers for Folkstone shoots (which is where I'm going to - the cost is cheaper than the cost of travel there, and as they say, 'every little helps'!) Deluxe London Boudoir Shoot with Prints- *A two hour shoot against different sets and backdrops in an unlimited number of outfits * A set of eight 9x6, fully retouched prints, chosen from your personal, secure online gallery £220 Deluxe London Boudoir Shoot with Album - *A two hour shoot against different sets and backdrops in an unlimited number of outfits *A beautiful professional album in black containing your choice of twelve fully retouched images in 7x5 size, framed within black overlays £370 Deluxe London Boudoir Shoot with Large Album - *A two hour shoot against different sets and backdrops in an unlimited number of outfits *A beautiful professional album in black containing your choice of twenty-four fully retouched images in 10x8 size, framed within black overlays £520 For an extra treat why not add.... * Make-up and Hairstyling Session before your shoot, with a professional make-up artist £60 * Extra, fully retouched, 9x6 prints - £12*each (Other sizes available) * A CD of all the images in your gallery (50-100) + chosen retouched images -£100 I live in Orpington in Kent so will just drive to Folkstone to have the shoot. I will probably go with the lowest priced package (they all include retouching) and then add some photos to that, and then put them in an album myself. I'll pay to have my make up done too as this is something nearly every b2b has advised as the pics come out tons better. Well if you're bored on the 24th, pop along!! Your job change sounds life-changing, a brave but very inspiring thing to do...GOOD LUCK! Let me know how your first day goes! xx

Quote: Originally Posted by erinandbrent2010 Girls....thank you for helping me understand what a BD is. Well actually my fiance will probably thank you b/c I am getting one done in a couple of weeks. I'm really excited about it. It's going to be soooooooo fun! -Erin wooooo welcome to the club!! can't wait to see your pics!!

Quote: Originally Posted by taylorwd Hey ladies, what's your Something Blue? I'm struggling with this one. I'm not wearing a garter so I can't fall back on that one. My dress is too form-fitting and it would show through the material (silk). I'm cheating, but only because I want to - my favourite perfume is Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue....and if I spray it, I am effectively wearing it, so that's my something blue! Good luck!

Quote: Originally Posted by KittenHeart I have so many accidental something blue's it's hilarious. My first garter had something stitched inside. I fell in love with another garter which is actually flat on my leg because I have a form fitting silk dress too. Then my mother gave me a handkerchief that was my grandmothers, her name is Antoinette so it's got a light blue "A" hand embroidered on it. Then I just got my shoes and I look at them and they have light blue bottoms on them and I didn't even notice it when I first tried them on. The only thing I don't have is something borrowed... hmmm could the hankie your mums given to you be your something borrowed? then you could give it back to her afterwards

Quote: Originally Posted by roo66 Katie who did you book for your shoot ive booked foryoureyesonlyportraits.Im going to the studio in High Wickham they have another in Manchester.It would be so cool if you were going there aswell.When is your shoot? I need to loose at least half a stone in by the 6th of APRIL. I start a new job on Monday and hope that ill shift some with nerves and hard work lol. I need to start pulling some items together So far i have two pairs of shoes black high heels and my hot pink platforms with bling that im wearing on my wedding day. A purple basque that Paul bought me for christmas with matching knickers. I ordered a set from ebay pink and black with black ruffles with a little skirt that just about fits not very good quality to be honest sooo not sure about that one!!!!! I need to go shopping did you get your things yet? hey! another UK bride!! wahhoooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!! ah wow, I wanted to do FYEO - it was one of their adverts that got me thinking about it to start with, but it was just too expensive for me. I shopped around - for AGES - and found this photog, Amy Symons. She has a studio in London and one in Folkstone and her packages were much more suitable for my budget. I have been having loads of emails with her and she's been the person who's made me feel most comfortable about doing it and most importantly, without even talking to her I feel comfortable already Amy Symons Photography Boudoir Photography so yours is about 2 weeks after mine!! mine is 2 weeks from today!!!! I've been working out for about 6 weeks now and more seriously in the past 2 weeks but I haven't lost any weight. I have changed shape and loads of people have said I've lost weight but the scales don't agree. But that's fine, as long as I look better, I don't care what the scales actually say. I've got: - white corset, stockings, garter etc for my bridal shots - England football top with 'Mrs Day' on the back and a mini football (probably will wear with just french knickers and maybe stockings) - i'm taking my FI's favourite LBD (I don't wear it out as it's soooo figure hugging I wouldn't have the guts, so thought this could be an ideal opportunity!) - I need to get one of his shirts - got a white feather boa (just cheap from Claire's Accessories) which looks fab (definitely check it out for your jewellary props) I still need to get a corset and knicker set (black) for the more sexy/sultry poses and I'm not having much luck with that one - I need a set as I'm hopeless at matching things myself. my white corset was from ebay and yes it's cheap, but I still think it will look good in the pics and then I'll probably throw it away anyway! Good luck for your new job too!

Quote: Originally Posted by KittenHeart OMG!!!! My photog contacted the software company to see if they could recover my comments and he just wrote me and he got all my changes back!!!! WAAAHOOOO!!! Oh I'm such a lucky kid... thank you all for the support! I was seriously down for a bit! wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!! so pleased (and relieved!) for you! Quote: Originally Posted by ~Crista-Lee~ Alright ladies... Groomzilla struck again!! This time it's on the timing of the invitations... We are 8 months out, I was hoping to have them in the mail by end of March, early April. FI thinks I am way behind on this... But is 6 months out not the norm? Even then, I'm a month ahead.... He doesn't see it this way. I'm trying to calm the Virgo Groomzilla... How far out did everyone else do them? haha mine was the opposite -had to convince him we needed to send out our AHR invites 5 months before the date (he wanted to send them out 2 months before on the man-basis of people don't book things in that far in advance!!) he doesn't do pre-planning anything! but I won that battle...I just did them anyway we didn't do invites to the wedding as when we first had the idea we rung round people and asked if they'd come. when we booked it all up, we booked for everyone too so we're all on the same booking...so kinda pointless sending invites out for us! GOOD LUCK! let us know how it goes!!

Quote: Originally Posted by KittenHeart Ladies, I'm the saddest kid on the block right now... My photo did my BD book layout and gave me the link and password to access it online. I spent about 5 hours one night making notes in the comment boxes below each page of what I wanted changed/added. I wrote an inscription and put some quotes and song lyrics on some pages. I put my heart and soul into it and really took the time to make it good. I was really proud of it and did it about a month ago and just emailed my photog because I never got the updated online proof. So I clicked "send changes" and it sent it off to him and I heard back from him today... there's NO info in there. He never got any changes and now I can't even remember what I said, quotes I used or any changes at all... I'm so upset, this is devastating ugh! So I thought since so many of you girls have this shoot coming up, if you make any changes/inscriptions/quotes - keep a separate record of it just in case, I highly regret this now. oh sweetie that sucks big time. i totally feel your pain (as I've done it with an online photo album where I'd uploaded pics, organised them in the order I wanted, picked the layout of all the individual pages and wrote comments on everything and the poxy thing crashed) not the same scale, but I know that awful feeling of spending all that time doing something and then the even more rubbish feeling when you realise you've got to do it again but you can't remember what you said the first time. sending you lots of hugs and support.

Quote: Originally Posted by renee1811 Hmm, I'm trying to explain what Target is...It's a huge store with awesome clothes, home goods, food, etc. That's where my FI and I registered for gifts! Target.com ? Furniture, Patio Furniture, Baby, Swimwear, Toys and more thanks looks cool! Quote: Originally Posted by renee1811 That's awesome!! You have to let us know how it goes! My BD shoot is going to be at the beginning of April! Oh I will! unless they're rubbish and then I'll be pretending I didn't have one done!! ooo yours isn't long either! have you got outfits etc yet? Quote: Originally Posted by renee1811 yay, I learned how to MQ! woop woop!! well done you!

Katie's to-do's: (late, i know Amy! sowi!!) - decide on songs for ceremony - FI to finish ordering his TTD suit - WORK OUT and diet (maybe not the diet bit...may just try to eat a little less! lol) - get black basque and LBD for BD photoshoot - try on all BD outfits to make sure I'm happy - look for and get BM shoes - get flowergirls to the shops to buy their dresses, shoes and hairbands - order my shoes - research and try to find as cheap as possible guest signing frame for Mexico

Quote: Originally Posted by KittenHeart Wait... you don't have Target's up there?! I live across the street from one... no joke. I don't even know what Target's is!! ah the ignorant (or deprived) life on the other side of the pond!! lol

Quote: Originally Posted by taylorwd I'll post a teaser for sure! I'm so excited!! In fact, since I scheduled the shoot so close to our wedding the BD book won't be done before we leave. FI's gift will be a framed teaser pic! It should fit in nicely with our agreement: the wedding is our gift to each other so we're not exchanging expensive wedding gifts. Since technically my gift will only be the single picture, I'm abiding by the rules! Taylor - when is your shoot? mine is on 24 March - only 2 weeks 1 day to go!!!!! half of me cannot wait, the other half of me is petrified!! haha

Quote: Originally Posted by Lin&Scott Hi all! "Soon to be..", one thing that saved me some $ is that the flowers I bought/used to decorate my arch Ana split beautifully into 3 and made them into stunning centerpieces for my 3 tables. The big colorful one for my head table was included in my package. Try not to over worry about decor because the place is so stunning you wont need as much as you think Good luck!. That's one example of how to save some money and cut costs...and an idea provided by Ana which she didn't have to do, but goes to show how helpful she is. Quote: Originally Posted by Lin&Scott Katie long time no talk, love your new siggy! Beautiful, you must be getting so excited!!! I know it's been ages! you'll have to start coming on here more as I get closer to my wedding so I can ask you loads of silly questions that probably don't matter! lol ah thanks it was just one I had from a photoshoot I did with my mum....in 2 weeks I'll have ones from my boudoir photoshoot! so excited (and scared!) about that!! and I am getting sooooo excited! got loads of stuff done this weekend so we're getting down to just the finer details now which is a huge relief. it's going to be here sooo quick! ust under 8 weeks now until we fly out! Quote: Originally Posted by Lin&Scott Bonnie, it seems you really dont like the idea of having your wedding at OT, which is fine. I can understand your objections. The fee to "protect the reef" we only ever paid to use the sailboats provided there and I thought it was a good deal to use a sailboat anyways. There's big menu at all the restaurants so your guests wont need to spend the extra $ for lobster etc if they dont want to, you'll have lots of other choices. The "Privledge" package was gifted to us by a family member and I didnt notice it much. It was nice to have Crown Royal, otherwise I just felt cool having the nicer bracelet. Good luck to you wherever you choose to go but please have some etiquette when talking about OT as many other brides have already chosen this as their wedding location and your comments are probably only giving them grey hairs. Hope your wedding is everything you have dreamed of. Cheers, Lin. Bonnie, you sound determined not to like this resort, which is totally fine - that's your porogative - everyone likes different things, but like Lin's said, please do remember that some of us have already chosen this resort. Good luck in your search for a hotel

Quote: Originally Posted by SoontobeMrsBerrios thank you Katie... so i think we goin with shooting star... and we have about 60 guest.. so thats 40 x 65.. but my worry is the extras like for centerpieces.. sashes.. decoration for gazebo on beach and rose petals, reception liquor/beer, extra for cake.. im so nervous about budget i could cry lol Just talk everything through with Ana. She does take several days to get back to you, but if you list out all your questions, she will answer every single one. I actually changed to this resort as it worked out a lot cheaper than where we were originally booked, so it could be worse. You do get a lot included in your package (especially shooting star) that in other resorts they would charge you all extra for. Once you get an email back from Ana you'll know more what sort of budget you're dealing with. She's also very accommodating that if you haven't got money for things, she'll come up with alternatives or places you could save some money. I am VERY happy that I made the choice to move to this resort and I haven't regretted it once. Good luck!

Quote: Originally Posted by SoontobeMrsBerrios i jus read thru 42 pages of this forum!.. im soooooo GRATEFUL to have found it! i thought i was only one in world who booked this hotel haha.. omg.. I NEED HELP.. ive been having huge anxiety bc ana takes SOOOOOOOOO long to get back to me. I need to kno budget wise how much to expect for a BEAUTIFUL WEDDING! ANY IDEAS ON REHEARSAL DINNER OPTIONS? welcome to the thread and I'm really glad you have found the information on here useful...some of the past brides have left completely invaluable reviews and tips. BUT, do not worry about Ana - I used to find this frustrating until I came to realise why - she is the one who runs around all day long at the resort and makes your wedding day come together perfectly. so when she's not getting back to us on email, it because she's running around making someone else's wedding day perfect....and for that, I don't mind waiting as I'll be extremely grateful when it's me that's there. I'm afraid I can't help you with the rehersal dinner options as we're not having a rehersal dinner. What budget you need really depends on what you need to have what you think is a beautiful wedding!! Have you looked through the wedding packages? cost and what it includes?

hey lovely ladies I am on cloud 9 at the moment so thought I'd share and hopefully pick anyone up who's feeling a little down! I've had a super productive weekend and had some good news too....So, here's what we got done this weekend: 1. ordered wedding cake for AHR 2. FINALLY booked hotel for night of AHR (and yes, I ended up doing that, not FI!) 3. bought white flower baskets for the 2 flowergirls (for Mexico) 4. ordered rose petals for the flowergirls 5. bought fake flowers to go on our AHR wedding cake 5. ordered my bouquet, BM bouquet, 4 buttonholes and 2 corsages for AHR (we're doing a whole sit down meal thing again and photos etc) 6. ordered flower spray thing (whatever it's called! lol) for our top table at our AHR 7. bought our suntan cream today (1/2 price some, and the rest was buy 1 get one free!) 8. bought ring cushion for page boy 9. FI has ordered his clothes for TTD 10. called and made another appt for FI suit fitting as he's been working out since his first fitting and has put on 2 stone in muscle! (he didn't believe me that he could just wait to his final fitting to tell them!) 11. decided what to have as our favours at AHR (we're not doing any in Mexico) so now I just have to do them! phew! and the good news...on my hotels thread one of the girls on there who's getting married a couple of weeks before hand has very very kindly offered to leave some of her stuff behind and has said she'll leave it for me so now we will actually have some things to use for decorations and maybe centre pieces!!!!!!! how brilliant is that?! happy happy happy!! hope you girls are all happy too! woop woop!!

Quote: Originally Posted by Angelfire That's awesome Katie! Maybe pm me your last name (and maybe email?) I will leave them in a box with Ana for you. I may have a few other things too. We are going with tropical colors (fuschia, lime green, orange n teal blue), but I may have a few extras that will work for you. For example I am setting up centerpieces on silver charger plates that I also won't need to bring home. We are a small wedding party of only 16 so I don't need a lot of stuff. I'm pretty thrifty, so everything I bought was at a majorly discounted price. Glad that will work out...didn't think the maids would want parasols ! lol oh wow! thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!! I've PM'd you (with lots more thank yous in it!!) with my details. I'm already friends with PinkBride on f/b so we can liaise about me passing them on to her as she'll be out there just after we get married! But seriously, thank you so much for your really kind offer. We resounded ourselves to the fact that decorations we an expense we were just going to have to do without so anything you can leave will be really appreciated. We sound quite the same in that we will only be having about 18 people and that includes us and 4 kids! so we're about the same size wedding party. Thank you again so much....it's amazing!

Krystal, if you want to use them too, I won't be bringing them home either so I could leave them with Ana for you?

Quote: Originally Posted by Angelfire Thanks Fellow Brides!!! Those were exactly the messages I need to hear We've got 25 days till our wedding (21 till we fly out), if we take the laptop I will try and update you ASAP. Otherwise my review will come mid April. My next big task is to pack all the wedding stuff, that could be interesting! Can either of you use some fuschia parasols in your decoration? (I'm lining the ailse with them, at the end of each row). They are boxed up nicely for now, but I'm not sure they will make the trip back. All the other stuff I'm bringing will be gifted to people at the wedding (the centerpieces, etc) Thanks again for the great messages! You've made my day! Big hug from Winnipeg, Amber glad we could help I'd love to use your parasols!!!!!!!! Our theme is fushia pink and grey, and we have NO decorations or table centre pieces (money's run out!!) would you really not mind leaving them for us that would be sooooo great! unbelievable (if that's ok?) oooo how exciting!! now you've made my week!!! thank you for your really kind offer

Quote: Originally Posted by PinkBride Katie, I'm so excited for you!! And it makes me even more excited since I'm getting married shortly after you! We leave in 9 weeks and 1 day!!!! And Angel, I totally agree with Katie! The only reviews you need to worry about are the ones on here! And I'm yet to hear anything bad from these Brides! I have to admit I've been looking at Tripadvisor.com reviews, But the majority of the reviews say "LOVED IT, BEAUTIFUL, WANT TO GO BACK AGAIN" and my favourite, "I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINED!" You can't please everyone, and some people just can't be pleased! Don't let other peoples negative opinions affect your excitement for the most amazing day/week of your life! There's enough to worrry about when planning a wedding, don't let this be one of them! It will be amazing!!!!!!! Im so excited for you! Can't wait to hear your reviews!! Krystal Oops, I meant 8 weeks and 3 days til we fly out! today it is exactly 9 weeks until our wedding day! welcome back to the thread Krystal!!

Quote: Originally Posted by thefuturemrslutz Hey girls!! I have FINALLY caught up on all the posts I missed over the past week. Just to fill you in a little... I got a promotion for work aka Field Sales Trainer aka more work, same pay, more travel, etc etc. I am SUPER excited but I honestly do not know how I am going to fit everything. I have NOT even THOUGHT about the wedding in 2 weeks. I am SO SO SO behind. I am actually on the plane now, as we speak. but anyways, that's why I have been MIA...Does anyone have any advice on how to manage all of this? AND work out?? YIKES!!!! Welcome back and congrats on the promotion!!!!!!!! woop woop!! new job and soon, new husband!! haha what a great year for you! x

how's everyone's planning going for those of you who haven't had their BD sessions yet? got your outfits all sorted or planned?

Quote: Originally Posted by hat0112 Oh that is a great idea! Thanks so much!! I am definitely going to do that now! hope it works!! let us know how it goes!