Lindobride14

Lolita- beautiful dress! I love Sottero & Midgely -- I had been cutting out pictures of many of their dresses before hitting the jackpot on a Pronovias sample dress Bonnie -- Love the hair flower! Anyone know where I can score one that has two or three small white orchids? I'm planning on wearing loose curls with the crown pulled back and wanted to have a few small flowers on the sides.

Hi lovely ladies, it's been a busy week . . . totally been MIA. I haven't gotten through all the pages of catch up yet. I accidentally posted this in the other 2011 thread LOL First off, Josie, I cannot believe we are at the 8 month mark! Holy Cannoli, I need to get my butt in motion So we mailed out the STD's on Tuesday (finally) I am glad that labor of love is over. My new obsession these past few days is looking at invitations! Funny how the mind will always find a way to busy itself, huh? Nicola- your invitations are lovely, by the way. I am so impressed that you did them completely DIY. I did my STD's only partially DIY & it took ages! Two of my BMs and I worked on them for over five hours last Saturday night!! They are angels for that. I supplied the alcohol though to make it a little more bearable! Back to my quest to find the perfect invitation. Here's the three I like best. They are all from White Aisle, which has such beautiful invitations if anyone is looking. Which do you all like the best? I'm torn! I LOVE this one, but don't know if it looks Mexican enough. It's called Shanghai, but doesn't really look Asian to me. (these are the actual colors we are doing, hot pink and coral) Shanghai Wedding invitation This is the Venice: Lace Invitation, Vintage Lace Design Wedding Invitation, Venetian Lace And last but not least, Mexico! Mexico Wedding invitation Although the Mexico is probably the most fitting, there is something about Shanghai that I just love! Mexbride -- I saw your post of your BM dresses & bouquet and love the color combo! I thought of you when I saw the Mexico invitation because I think it would look fantastic in light blue & hot pink.

Sunstarmoon & Oryx-- Thanks for your input! I think Mexico it will be. I do love the Shanghai, but Mexico just seems too fitting for the occasion.

Hi guys, it's been a busy week . . . totally been MIA. Welcome to all the new brides! I haven't gotten through all the pages of catch up yet. So we mailed out the STD's on Tuesday (finally) Glad that labor of love is over LOL. My new obsession the past few days is looking at invitations! Funny how the mind will always find a way to busy itself, huh? Here's the three I like best. They are all from White Aisle, which has such beautiful invitations if anyone is looking. Which do you all like the best? I'm torn! I LOVE this one, but don't know if it looks Mexican enough. It's called Shanghai, but doesn't really look Asian to me. (these are the actual colors we are doing, hot pink and coral) Shanghai Wedding invitation This is the Venice: Lace Invitation, Vintage Lace Design Wedding Invitation, Venetian Lace And last but not least, Mexico! Mexico Wedding invitation

Shannon- LOVE your siggy! Was that photo taken outside of your reception at the Italian?

Oh whoops that was you, Mexbride, that asked about the map. No I didn't design that part, swiped it from an invitation I saw online.

Thanks for all the Save the date love!! I mostly designed them myself in Word and then showed it to FI's cousin (one of my BM's) who created it in Photoshop. Bonnie- the map part was actually from an invitation I saw online that I had her recreate in Photoshop. The little shells were purchased at Michael's I had a TON left over from my mermaid costume last Halloween haha. FI helped me superglue them to metal brads to secure onto the bows. Mexbride-Yes we are defnitely going to do it on a Sunday morning probably from say 11-3. I am going to mention to my mom that we can do it somewhere like a hall or someone's home to save costs. I don't think she'll bite on that, but at least it shows I'm being considerate. I'm also going to get all three moms a nice hostess gift to give them at the shower.

Quote: Originally Posted by cjb0arder13 Lindobride those are FANTASTIC! Seriously, they look amazing and are packed with great info. Way to go girl! Thank you so much! ! I spent more time than I'd like to admit rewording and redesigning these a million times. Hope our guests like them as much as you do

So I wanted to share our save the dates that are finally finished! My wonderful BM and I are going to finishing tying the bows and stuffing envelopes on Saturday -- while drinking wine of course Sorry for the pic heavy post and for the poor photo quality! Here's a closeup of our very time consuming raffia bows with seashell brads: Can't wait to get these in the mail on Monday!! Then I have my dress fitting on Tuesday! I'm so excited to FINALLY be getting things done and I can't wait to see who will actually start booking their trips!

Quote: Originally Posted by prettypigpig Open bar is the way to go! you can limit the offering in order to control your cost! i.e. Only domestic beer, and decent wines like a cheap but good Californian wine...and no champagne or Blue Johnny Walker or Chivas! Do it as a lunch/brunch too will help, as people will not drink like fish that early...ok...if your guests are brokers, traders...then it is a different story. haha luckily all the wedding guests that are brokers & traders are male so they won't be at the shower. Thanks for the advice . . . I am ultimately going to insist on an open bar because this shower is a reflection of us.

We picked late January because it's significantly less humid than the spring and summer months. November is still on the tail end of hurricane season. December and early January are busy for guests because of holidays, plus rates are highly linflated rates. So late January was perfect for us. We're from Chicago and have bitter cold winters so we figured who wouldn't want to get away in January?! April/May I believe is a bit cheaper than January however, so there are benefits and drawbacks to all.

Quote: Originally Posted by mexbride83 Personally, I think it has to be open bar. I have never been to a shower where it isn't, and I think that I would be very annoyed if I bought a nice gift and I made the time to come, then I found out I had to pay to drink. Let's be totally honest, no one REALLY looks forward to a Saturday afternoon spent watching someone open up gifts and play goofy games. I hate to say it but I just went to a shower two weeks ago and the drinks were the only thing to keep me awake haha. But, I don't think you need to have a full bar. Beer and wine would be fine. One shower I went to had just beer and wine and everyone was totally happy with that. But I think it would be very rude to have a cash bar, in my opinion. Also, I don't know if this is an option for you to cut down on costs, but another shower I went to recently was held in a rented space in a really nice condo building (DC has lots of those places for rent). The BMs all made a different dish to serve, and they also brought all of the alcohol. This helped to cut out the middle man prices. I totally agree! The booze is the only thing that gets me through bridal/baby showers! I thought maybe I was off base on this. I just feel awkward barking demands since I'm not paying, ya know? How do I be firm and not look like a spoiled brat? My sister's baby shower this past fall was a cash bar so that's of course the basis for comparison. My mom, stepmom and sister's MIL split the cost of that. I personally think that's tacky. If you can't afford to have a party in a restaurant, then have it at someone's home or a place like you mentioned! When it comes down to it, I know my FMIL will not allow it to be cash bar. I just hope my mom and stepmom don't allow her to pay more than her share. FI's family is very very generous and are the type of people you have to pry the bill from when we go to a restaurant . . .

Ok guys I have an etiquette question here. My mom, stepmom, and FMIL are throwing our bridal shower at a restaurant and splitting the cost 3 ways. Next Saturday, all four of us are going to go visit a few restaurants to pick out the venue. My mom asked me today if my FMIL is going to want to have an open bar at the shower and I said yes I'm sure she will because I've never been to a party (christening, communion, bridal shower) in their family that wasn't an open bar. I also said that we (FI and I) would really like it to be open bar as well since guests are buying us nice gifts, many will be paying thousands to come to Mexico for the wedding, and I don't want them to gave to buy their own drinks. First off, am I wrong here? I feel pushy since they're paying for it and I'm sort of setting the terms. I called my mom back and said I'm sorry for being pushy, I realize it's an added expense and we would be willlng to contribute or chip in (meaning FI and I) Secondly, what's typical for the bridal showers you all have been to? I think a lot of people just do bottles of wine and a spiked punch. We are thinking of asking the restaurant if we can do margaritas as a signature drink and offering wine as well.

Margin & Barbiegirl -- I know it sucks, doesn't it? Our rates were around 2000-2100 two months ago and now they're down to about 1600-1675 depending on flight preferences. So rest assured I'm sure they will come down. I still wish ours were lower than what they currently are. I check all the sites (Apple, Funjet) literally every day!!! We have some family members/friends griping about the price, my older sister (MOH) included. I just tell people, we hope they will come down, but we can't guarantee they will. Just make sure you have a TA that does pricematching so that when last-minute deals come out closer to your wedding date, your guests' rates will be adjusted.

Hold that thought, anyone know if it's waterproof?

Thanks for the tip! I may try this out. I have a conservative family as well. Not so much my immediate family, but more my future in-laws that I'm concerned about. I have a pretty large cherry blossom tattoo on my hip/upper thigh, so it's not visible in my dress obviously, but I am considering this for our day trip to Xcaret where I'll be sporting a bikini.

Quote: Originally Posted by lisanicole I also have the menu pptions if you would like them. You have a choice of 5 menu's I believe. The only thing I was told was beach receptions have to be buffet. I was also recently informed that if I used the ballroom guests would have to be transported after dinner. That is not an option so Cajun it is for me (buffet is also not an option). I am going to ask about the place by the pool though since I will have over 60 guests attending. Here's the pictures they sent me of "El Tapatio" if you haven't seen what it looks like.

Quote: Originally Posted by iluckie in this case, i live in NYC too, I do!! so WTH!!! Hi Ivan! First time I spotted you on the forum so just wanted to say hi! My name is Tara & we arranged a meeting in July when we are doing our site visit at the Lindo! Quick question: Do you have a videographer you frequentlty work with? Looking forward to meeting with you!

Quote: Originally Posted by amylynn77 Hi Lisa Nicole, I am getting married at the Maya on October 8th. I was told by Lily and Mayra that the Cajun Restaurant is the only option available for a private 4 hour reception where we won't have to switch locations in between. Are you able to have a sit down dinner in the ballroom or were you planning to have dinner at another location and then move to the ballroom for dancing/cake/etc. I would like to know more about the ballroom as a potential option as well. Sounds nicer than the cajun restaurant. Did they send you pictures? They provided me with a bunch of picture of reception venues, but told me that the cajun was the only full service (dinner included) private option available. Thoughts? Hi Amy- Saw your post and thought I'd chime in. I was told by Mayra that the El Tapatio mexican restaurant is also an option if you have more than 60 people. It's the one that's right off the pool. SHe also said you can have your reception on the beach, but I believe you have to do a buffet style dinner. I am not sure about the ballroom and whether you can have dinner there. I cannot wait till our July site visit so I can pick out our reception venue!! It's so hard to decide based on these pics! Hope this helps! I will email you the pictures Mayra sent me if you're interested.

I say just give her a generous tip the day of your wedding for all her hard work. Money talks. Ask who her immediate supervisor is and send a rave review about her. The spa idea is nice, but as mentioned, she probably gets a better discount or would prefer to go somewhere else anyhow since she's there all day every day.

We ordered FI's suit on Saturday! So anxious to see it!! If he likes it, we will order the 6 groomsmen's suits and possibly our dads'. At the last minute we decided to order the white instead of greek beige. We also threw in the vest for $40 thinking it might dress the look up a bit. We are getting married in church so going for a slightly more formal look. Hope we don't regret the white! We wanted to set him apart from the GM who will wear the greek beige. I will post pics when it comes!

Quote: Originally Posted by margin123 FutureMrsRobart - Beauuuuuutiful dress...FRancoli...*love* it Lindo - I too am a closet "Hills" watcher, and I agree it does look pre-plastic-robot Heidi. FYI if you are caught up in your episodes...Spencer is going loco!@!?? Glad I'm not the only one The show has gotten so pathetic, I can barely watch it. And c'mon Spencer is not "going crazy" Those two are just crazy for any sort of storyline to prolong their 15 minutes of fame.

Alexandro Makeup was recommended by someone on the forum. Their prices are 65 for hair and 95 for both (with a discount he gave me) Some girls will probably choose to do their own makeup. I am thinking of covering the cost of their hair and then letting them decide if they want to get their makeup done for another 30. We'll see. I am already getting them their jewelry and a monogrammed travel cosmetic/toiletry case. The kicker with using Alexandro is that he would be bringing 4 stylists/artists, so that would be $400 in guest passes, right? Sure wish there was a way around that.

Quote: Originally Posted by FutureMrsRobart Ok so here's my pic attempt of the stuff I have ordered or received so far LOL: Mad props for getting all that done! You inspire me . . . everything looks very tied together. As a sidenote, anyone else think the model in the David's bridal dresses looks like a pre-plasticHeidi Montag?!! (think Season 1 of THe Hills) Whoops Did I just admit I watch that piece of garb show?!

Quote: Originally Posted by mexbride83 LOVE those shoes Lindobride!!! Nordstrom Rack is the greatest. Since moving to AL for grad school, I've really missed it That and Lohmann's were always my shoe shopping places. My friend sent me pics of me in the dress! The sample was actually a size too small on me (it had actually been a cancellation), so my dress won't have all those crease marks in the front, it'll lay more flat. I'm also having it made with a sweetheart neckline instead. I can't wait to see it, it comes in in January! Great silhouette! I agree with Bonnie, simple and extremely elegant. The sweetheart neckline will look great. As for the Louboutins, are you going traditional white/silver or something bright? Definitely post those when you get them! And thanks for the shoe comment -- LOVE Nordstom Rack and Loehmann's! Nicola- So sorry to hear the news. Keep your head up, dear. Keep that positive attitude and I have a feeling things will go your way