skp1

You know, I didn't even think about the processional. Our aisle will quite short too! I like the idea of just the B&G walking out and then the others can go along with the guests. We're doing a group shot too after wards so I can send that with my thank-yous - I think people will appreciate it more than just a B&G pic. We did our site visit last month and there is a gathering area between the ceremony site and reception/cocktail site with a beautiful view so we'll have the photographer herd everyone there before heading to the bar.

Yes, I love how destination weddings are "anything goes." Our wedding party is strictly family so its uneven (not to mention a wide range of ages) - my sister is my MOH, my fiance's brother is his best man and his 2 sons are groomsmen. We didn't want to leave anyone out, but I didn't want to ask 2 friends just to even it out and deal with which 2 to ask. The men will all be up front and only the MOH will walk down the aisle.

Awesome. Can't wait until I hit 150 posts and can use some of this!

save the dates should be simple and give the basic info which you have. It's OK to just put the island and not the resort yet. I had the resort but not the booking info and just put a note on my website that says "more info to come" or something like that. At least this gives people the opportunity to plan time off from work, childcare and approximate cost.

I'm doing that with the extra suitcase. I have an old giant suitcase that I never use (its not crappy but its just too big for today's travel regulations). I was cleaning out my closets last month and actually had it in my car to bring to Goodwill and thought, Hey wait a minute - if I'm just giving this away anyway, I mind as well use it to bring my stuff to the wedding and leave it in the Bahamas. Glad I thought of it BEFORE the Goodwill drop off. If its packed with lightweight stuff I hopefully won't go over the airline weight limit.

I'm putting it on everything too but I'm experiencing the same thing as L&J - getting lots of e-mails with questions that are answered on the website.

We're spending the night together - it seems silly not to at this point in our relationship. But we will part during the afternoon so that his first look will be when I walk down the aisle. I assume I'll be with my sister (MOH) to get ready but I do like that suggestion of a couples massage in the morning - I didn't know where to fit the spa in, but that seems perfect!

Perfect. My prototype was 3/4 inch also and I thought that was just right. Thanks!

Very cool! What size did you make them originally and what are they shrunken down? The dog tag example was 3 inches to 1.25 inches but I thought that might be too big for wine glasses.

Thank you PaperBagPrincess - I'm going to look for the shrinky dink paper. I remember these as a kid but had no idea you could do personal projects! I'll have to get a larger circle punch but that's no big deal and worth it to make these more permanent. As for your idea of table favors and "party" in different languages, I found a list on-line of "cheers!" in different languages - that might be cool too since they are drink tags. I was searching because I'm doing cocktail stirrers that have L'chaim" on one side and "Salute" on the other - we're Jewish and Italian and thought that would be a cute way to incorporate both. While looking for how to spell each one, I found a list of about 10 other languages. The ideas are endless!

I've been trying to think of a "gift" to put in each welcome bag that isn't your traditional wedding favor that either gets left behind or gets stuck in a closet somewhere. While the bag will be filled with the typical useful items that everyone is doing here (medical kit, tissues, water, snacks, etc) I wanted something that the guests would not only use at the wedding but be excited to bring home (and small enough to fit in their suitcase). I received these "fold n play recycled speakers" at a corporate function I went to last week and thought it would be perfect. It's more money than regular favors but I think people would enjoy it . It's gender neutral and goes along with the whole travel theme of a destination wedding. If you buy the mixed assortment its 50% off so its not so bad - $10 each and since its per couple it's not that much more than individual favors. You can also customize them but I figure our guests would probably prefer them without our wedding info. The sound quality is pretty decent considering what they are. Guests can use them in their hotel room and hopefully take them home and continue to travel with them. Anyway, just wanted to pass along the info. http://www.origaudio.com

I actually saw those love charms at Michael's and wanted to use them but didn't know how. I think there wouldn't be enough bead colors for everyone at our wedding so really wanted to do names. I like the last pic with all the names spelled out in beads. I'll have to check those out.

I'm doing it beforehand like an "engagement party" even though we've been engaged for months already! I'm afraid after the wedding there will be a huge wave of relief and the last thing I'll want to do is plan yet another party. At least beforehand there is excitement and momentum. Yes, you can't show any pictures or video so that is the downfall. We will invite people who are not invited to the wedding and its easily explainable as a lot of people can't or won't travel anyway. I think it's odd to invite people to a shower if they aren't invited to the wedding but since a regular party doesn't require a gift its OK (although people can give gifts if they want to). We'll probably have our party 2-3 months prior to the wedding at which point we'll have a better idea of who is attending. I think someone on here suggested calling it an "almost married" party and I like that. Bon Voyage is good too, L&J.

I saw this idea on The Knot and thought it was really cute...and especially practical since we are not doing assigned seating. At the entrance to the reception would be a bulletin board with all the charms hanging on thumbtacks. I did a search and found some instructions on Not Martha and bought the supplies at Michael's. http://www.notmartha.org/tomake/winecharms/#more-1870 So far this is just a prototype so I'm looking for feedback. I think I need to reduce the number of beads - it looks a little crowded. And I didn't realize it, but the rings were a package of assorted sizes so I'll need to adjust some of those. For now, I just printed the name tags on extra card stock from my STDs. Any other ideas on what to use?

I hear ya - my fiance's answer to everything is "whatever you want" Here are a few of my monograms - I did them myself based off designs I've seen online.

Wow! what a great price. I wasn't exactly ready to buy my OOT bags yet, but this seems too good to pass up.

I'm doing a random assortment of sizes. I would love to do exact sizes but don't know of a way to find out that doesn't seem tacky.

I haven't read much on this site about people doing flip flop baskets so I thought I'd start a new one. I think its a great idea - I mean who hasn't thrown off their heels midway through a wedding? And with the beachy setting it just seems right. I made this cute sign to put with the basket - just wanted to share my latest creative project.

I've been fortunate so far - we have a really good color laser printer at work that I have been using. As long as I am not making 100 copies, it's OK, but I may have to switch soon. I keep doing more and more projects!

Thanks! It does sound nice to have the digital copy but I'm not sure its worth running the battery like that. And it will make the photobook more special to have the print be the only copy!

My wedding planning started about a month ago and thanks to this site I've made a lot of progress. But I still have not figured out what to do about a photographer. I've seen post-wedding reviews of bring your own photographers but none local. I've also seen posts about "will be using" so and so. Can anyone give feedback on a local photographer they actually used? I'm headed to Atlantis in 2 weeks for my site visit/planning and would like to set up some meetings. Â Thanks!

Was Nathaniel on the high or low end price wise. I am having such a hard time figuring out what i want to do about photography.

They look great. Your guests are going to be so impressed! I have yet to try vistaprint, but am so curious after reading about everyone success stories.

Definitely post what you find out during research. I am planning on doing the Fuji instant camera and was going to buy lots of extra film but didn't even think about battery life!

These day anything goes. As long as you aren't doing a regular shower there is no reason you can't do a couples one and send the invites yourself. We are doing a pre-wedding party instead of an AHR after wards and based on a suggestion on BDW we are calling it an "Almost Married Party." I feel funny doing a shower since both of us already have established homes. Everyone will say listing registry info on an invite is not proper and people will ask if they want to know. I tend to agree.