LisaandJeff

Thanks, Donie! I totally know what you mean about the edit button -- I spelled your name wrong the first time around! Great suggestions! Thank you! I will definitely look for the thread you mentioned. Another thing we're considering doing is having a six pack of Coronas (wrapped in ribbon), custom koozies, and a welcome letter stocked in each guests' refrigerator (each room has a full kitchen at our resort). It would keep it well under $10/room, and I think it would be popular with our group of lushes. What are you all doing for your flowers? Do you have pictures of them? Can you believe how expensive they are in Cabo?!

Hi Ladies! I am a June 18th bride. Donnie, your brochures are amazing -- great job! I feel like I was really on top of wedding stuff for the first few months, but reading all of your posts makes me realize that I've really fallen behind! I don't have any OOT stuff (still deciding how to do this for 150 guests), shoes/accessories, BM gifts, play lists, welcome letters, menus, dress hasn't come in yet..... yikes. We don't even have our wedding bands! The only thing I am really worried about is the OOT bags, because at least I have a start on the rest. Would you ladies mind posting how much each one cost you (ballpark)? I want to see if we can realistically pull off OOT bags with this many guests. I'm also considering (knowing it might be nuts) to make all of the bags with things I find in Mexico during pre-wedding days (we'll get there Tuesday, the wedding is Saturday). PinkBride, would you mind posting your schedule and lists? I'm feeling a little lost without our original wedding coordinator. I know you've had Georgina, and she is great, but I have a feeling she's a bit overwhelmed having to take on all of Bertha's weddings!! Less than three months to go! SO excited!!!

Brandy! This is amazing!!! Thank you so much for all of the inspiration and ideas. Have an incredible time at your wedding!

I would do two separate websites -- I'd feel the same way you do about making people feel left out. Another option is to have parts of your website password protected, and only give the people who are going to your wedding the password. I think you can password-protect specific pages on theknot.com websites and weddingwire.com websites. I actually had to do two separate websites (one wasn't consistently working) for my wedding and it wasn't that much more work. Once you do one, you can just cut and paste all of your info onto the other. Good luck!

I don't think you'll need them. Your dress is gorgeous, by the way! PS-- it'll be hard enough to go to the bathroom in a wedding dress; imagine dealing with Spanx too! TMI? Probably... sorry.

Anything by Michael Franti (Sound of Sunshine or Say Hey) is really beachy and happy -- love him. I also like the Plain White T's Rhythm of Love (I liked it way more before I realized that it was about a one-night stand...oops.) I also just found a new one I've never heard before that my FI and I both love: "I like you" by SJ -- it is on iTunes. LOVE it. We're trying to incorporate that one into our wedding, but I think it'll definitely go on our website! Great thread, ladies!!

Hi sxcT, Yes, I'm well-versed in exercise and nutrition, and I'm a former athlete, so I do realize and appreciate the muscle weight that I've gained. And I think I'm speaking for many of us when I say that the number on the scale shouldn't matter, and we've all heard that it's "how you feel and how you fit into your clothes." But it's hard to ignore the scale when you have a goal in mind! I love this thread because we can vent without feeling judged. I actually found what happened to me as funny in a sarcastic way... loosing weight sucks and there will intrinsically be highs and lows. The most important thing to me is continuing with my goal and putting one foot in front of the other no matter how frustrating the days are. In the meantime, I will continue to laugh my way through it, and hope for the support of all of the ladies in this forum! Good luck to all of you!

So... I've been working out like a mad woman and eating ridiculously well for the past few months, and the scale has budged only a half pound. I don't need to loose that much weight, so it's harder for me to loose, and I do know that I've gained muscle and definition. BUT... I went to my bachelorette party, ate and drank a ton, didn't work out for six days, returned home and had lost 4 pounds. Um, how is that possible?? A half pound in two months and suddenly four pounds in six days?? Not complaining, though!

Thank you for sharing all of this! SO helpful! Congratulations!!!

Hi Ladies, Did you all get the email from the manager at CAR that Bertha is no longer working there? They are apparently trying to fill her position, but right now her assistants are running the weddings. Anyone else nervous about this?

Yes! I tried this one on and it is GORGEOUS. They sell the original at Haute Bride on Union Street in San Francisco, but I forget the name of the designer... The store is locally owned and the people are really nice -- if you call or email them and send this picture, they can let you know. I remember the dress being very reasonably priced. Even after buying my final dress, I still had second thoughts because of this one. If you want to see a pic of it on me, PM me and I'll send it. It is just as pretty in the back as it is in the front. Lisa

Thanks, ladies! I am excited about them -- it does make the wedding seem that much closer! 108 days to go!

Wooohoo! Here they are! They don't seem to download completely -- they look a bit cut-off. Sorry about that. I'll try again when I do a review about the vendor, Oblations. The second picture shows the invite, accommodations card, and RSVP card in a navy blue pocket fold envelope. Hope you can see it!

Thanks for the feedback, everyone! Good luck with your planning!

Instead of having numbers at our tables, I am toying with the idea of having Spanish phrases or words instead, dictionary-style. All of them would have to do with love/weddings. what do you think about this idea? Here is the first one I worked on: So the people sitting at this table would be at the "amor" table. I added a lime background because we will have lime and flower centerpieces. Let me know what you think -- is it too confusing? Too much? I showed to my FI and I think he was a bit either confused or underwhelmed.

Hi NikkiT1021, The Dailey Method (and it's competitor The Bar Method) are strength and conditioning studios that use ballet barre work, pilates, and other core conditioning methods to strengthen and lengthen... It is really amazing... and HARD!! Go to either website (www.thedaileymethod.com or www.barmethod.com) to get more info and to see if it's in your area yet. I have done both and like Dailey better because they are better at modifying exercises for my bad knees. I have been working out like crazy for the past months by myself -- cardio training, weight training, free weights, ab classes, pilates, Zumba, etc. and this is the very first day that I've been this sore -- after just one class. It feels great!!!

Has anyone tried the Lose It website? It's awesome. It sets and tracks goals for you, counts your calorie intake for the day, and also keeps track of all of your workouts. It graphs your progress, favorite foods, and eating habits. My FI works out with a guy who recently lost 25 lbs by using it. According to the site, I will reach my goal weight (-8 lbs) by April 24th if I can follow their calorie guidelines. It's also an iPhone app, so keeping track on the go is easy.

Congrats on your beautiful wedding! You guys are a gorgeous couple. Your photographer caught some really great ones -- the one of your DH wiping his eyes, the one of you and your dad, and the one of you and your bridesmaids twirling -- what amazing shots!!!

Yesterday I went to The Dailey Method for the first time in over a year. I felt great, so I went to the gym later and did my regular 40 minutes of cardio. Today I woke up and can't MOVE. SO sore! Dailey kicked my a$$. Highly recommend these classes to anyone!!!! 114 days to go!!!

I made my website at theknot.com and was originally very happy with it. I was able to add pages and post pictures. A few weeks later, all of the pictures I posted mysteriously disappeared. I've been trying to upload them ever since, and it hasn't been working. When I read the posts in the help center, I realized that I wasn't the only one with this problem. Many other brides have either lost their photos, can't upload them, or both. Other brides have been posting that their website is no longer accessible. I know that many BDW brides have theknot.com websites and like them, but I wanted to let you know about my recent experience. Since then, I changed our website to weddingwire.com and I am SO glad that I did! It is infinitely better. I hope to save someone else all of the work and the headaches. Good luck!

If you feel uncomfortable telling her directly, I agree that your FI needs to jump in and tell her that he only wants his bride wearing white. But if he feels too uncomfortable, there is another way that you could potentially handle it. In many etiquette books it says that the MOB and MOG should coordinate their outfits (mostly to make sure that they have matching skirt lengths-- it's kind of old fashioned, but many families still do this!). If you can enlist your mom's help, you could say something like, "Funny you should ask about attire, because my mom was just going to call you!" Your mother could lightly dismiss the idea of wearing white and be prepared to make other suggestions ("the bridal party is wearing light blue, so maybe we should stick with other pastels"). Just a thought! Good luck!

dislike Going to the dentist?

Love these ideas! Instead of a typed welcome letter, I am thinking of doing hand written notes to each guest/couple. We already have about 50 rooms booked, so I feel like a hand-written note might make our large wedding feel more intimate. I was also thinking of including a cd of all of the wedding weekend songs with the history behind them.

I think #2 looks beautiful on you and is so classic and timeless. But #1 looks great and is definitely the most "beachy". Which do you feel the best in?

Elliptical: 35 Treadmill: 20 Weight circuit Free weights abs