ErinDoc

Jeanine - I am sorry to hear about your brother canceling!! I don't think that what your mom suggested is too much just make sure that it is what YOU want!! Once my FI and I booked and I booked my photographers I figured anyone else that came was a bonus. That isn't to say that I didn't want other people to come or that there haven't been a few disappointments. I am sure it will all work out for you!!!

This is such a great idea! I'm hoping to do something similar. TigerLily, how long ago did you find them at the Christmas Tree Shoppes? I may have to check mine out and hope they have them!!!

Shannon these look incredible!!!! Thank you for sharing!

I was thinking for favors we might just do sand dollars and put a ribbon and paper with their name and table number so that they are favors AND seating cards. That is the only thing that I cam up with so far. That is a tough one for you since most people are coming from Europe! Too funny though, I have a friend leaving in a week for his wedding in Poland...I can send some things with him for you. J/K but it was a good thought If I see any fun ideas for you, I will pass them along!!

Celticgirl ~ I actually ordered 200. I know that seems a little nuts, but I thought these would be fun to give to people that aren't able to come to the wedding. I think I ended up with 6 different cups as free samples that I requested because I wanted to make sure I got exactly what we were looking for since we were ordering so many. If you are interested in anything from that website, definitely request a free sample!!

My OOT bags are posted above, and I decided that I am going to pass these out to people in the weeks right before the wedding (mine is a day after yours). We have family coming from Massachusetts and some from Oregon...so even if we have to ship theirs, I figured that we are still saving money compared to shipping it to Jamaica or paying for extra luggage to get it all there. I really wanted to be able to hand them out in Jamaica, but that was just one more thing to worry about when I would rather spend my time relaxing and looking forward to the wedding. We are still going to pass out a welcome letter and a crossword. That might sound cheesey, but a friend of mine put it together for me and it turned out so cute!! I think anything you do to say thank you or welcome your guests they will love because I would bet that most of them don't really expect that much....that is unless they are reading anything on this site!

Here is the list of what they contain and where I got them. Hope it helps someone Beach towels - www.thetoweldepot.com Tea - Christmas Tree Shops Stadium Cups - www.4imprint.com Johnson & Johson Safety kits - Target (with coupons) Pepto, Tylenol, Advil, Crystal Light - www.staples.com Banana Boat Chapstick - Five Below Tote Bags - www.discountmugs.com Flip Flops - Old Navy during the May $1 flip flop sale Luggage Tags - www.4imprint.com

Hi Ladies!!! I was waiting to post my OOT bag pics until I got the last piece...and I just got my stadium cups the other day. I figure the only way to thank everyone for all of the things that I've read on this site was to post my own and hope that someone gets one good idea from them. This is still a rough draft of them (since I still have a couple months left), but you'll get the idea. Here they are...

Mrsrice - Congratulations on your wedding!! Thank you so much for sharing this information. It was so incredibly helpful!! Did you send Nicole a break down of your "wants" for the wedding and days surrounding the wedding before she actually sent you her wedding detail sheet? I feel like I should give her a general timeline with places/wants/etc. sooner than later, but I also know that she gets so many emails that it would be more to ease my own mind than anything else. Any suggestions?

Misee - Thank you so much for posting this!! Congrats on your beautiful wedding!!!

Thanks so much for the input!! I didn't even think of Marshall's or H&M for the hats. I bet they will definitely have what I'm looking for! I am going on a shopping adventure tomorrow so I'll let you know what I find. Last night I went to the Coach outlet and got my 3 BM's, my mom and my MIL clutches. They were so much less expensive than I thought they were going to be....only $35 for each. I am not sure if my MIL will like it, but I know that my mom will so to not leave anyone out, I just got all of them. They were all wrapped so nicely by the girl at the store so I didn't want to mess that up to post a pic. I LOVED one of the prints (actually got one for myself), but I didn't want to get them all matching and have them picking up each other's the whole time we are in Jamaica....so bought each a color that I thought they would like. My BM dresses are bright pink from NY&Co (simple, short and strapless) that I figured any color could really match. And my FI was the one that wasn't totally sold on the sunglasses idea too, so I still have a little bit of convincing to do....which shouldn't be a problem. I was thinking I might even be able to find those at Marshall's.... I think the sunglasses would be so much fun for the pictures!! Thank you all again!! ~Erin

This is an incredible thread!!! Thank you all so much for the ideas! I still have a bit of time, but I would like to get the bridal party gifts taken care of or at least decide on them as soon as I can. I already bought 10 of the Bath&Body Works candles that someone else mentioned all in "islandy" scents to give to the grandmothers and some others as thanks yous, but I want something a little more personal for my BM (3). Here is what I was thinking: BM robes Coach wristlet and/or passport holder big beach hats (still trying to find inexpensive ones that I like) GM peronsalized pint glass sunglasses or flip flops Any thoughts on the groomsmen....flip flops or sunglasses?? What do you think?

I am on a hunt for barefoot sandals and have been for a while. Just recently found this etsy seller http://www.etsy.com/listing/74638998/custom-barefoot-sandals-personalized. Her stuff looks super cute!! Haven't ordered yet, but plan to very soon.

Thanks, JayKay!! I really didn't know how difficult it was going to be to find dresses (1) that we agreed on and (2) that were not too formal and not too casual. I really really like the dresses that we got! It was the 3rd dress purchased for my soon-to-be MIL and dress #4 for my mom....so we've been looking for a little while. One of the problems is to find anything even remotely "beachy" you really have to look in like April b/c everything now is starting to go on the sale rack and get picked over to make room for fall items. Its kind of ridiculous how soon the seasons change in stores.

Sorry about the links above - it looks like the one brings you to a white dress - which is so not what I was going for. I liked the green color, but my MIL said last night she looked like she had on a sack when she tried it on. We did have success though so here are the dresses that my mom and my MIL bought. This is the one my mom got and loves from Banana Republic And this is the dress that my MIL got from Talbot's (or some version of the same print anyway) with a matching wrap/scarf. Good luck and happy dress hunting to everyone!

Hi Ladies!! I am on the hunt for a dress for my mom and for my soon-to-be MIL. They are both fairly short - one is a size 6 and one is a size 12 and their tastes have proven to be a bit different than mine which is not helping right now. I want them to feel comfortable and love what they wear for the wedding, but it is really hard to find something that we both like!! I am trying to find something beachy, not too formal, not too casual, bright colors, etc. and I'm striking out. We just found this dress in the Talbot's catalog yesterday, and it might be a winner. I really like it, I'm just crossing my fingers that my MIL likes it. http://www.talbots.com/online/browse/product_details.jsp?id=prdi26609 I also really like this one. Sorry about not posting the actual pics, but I couldn't figure out how off of the Talbot's website. http://www.talbots.com/online/browse/product_details.jsp?id=prdi26516&rootCategory=cat70008&catId=cat80018&sortKey=Default&section=Regular&conceptIdUnderSale=cat70008

He really is a happy guy, but you wouldn't know from this face. . . so ignoring his expression, this is the Perry Ellis linen suit that we got him. Score!

GREAT NEWS!!! I found my FI's suit and the guys outfits at Macy's yesterday morning. 1 FI linen suit with jacket + 3 groomsmen's pants and shirts = less than $400 and less than one hour of shopping (a bonus for my easily-distracted-when-shopping FI). I believe it is the same Perry Ellis suit that is mentioned earlier on this post. I will post a picture of it shortly. It was wonderful...exactly what I was looking for! The groommen's pants are drawstring, but the same material as my FI's suit pants. They all looked so good in them too! One more thing to cross off my list and make me that much more excited for the wedding.

Lol - Kelly you are so right!! I have looked onlilne at a few and found that I'm being picky about the color already. This could get interesting! Hopefully I'm reporting back next week that we found something this weekend that we can BOTH agree on.

My FI's suit is one of the last big items that we need to cross off of our list, and all of your comments were so helpful!! I'm hoping to catch a Memorial Day sale at Macy's or MW. Thanks again!!

Hey ElisaY - the resort just need certified copies of our birth certificates and passports. Hope that helps!

11-6-11 at the Suites then honeymoon at Couples Swept Away in Negril. Great idea on the roll call - I love it!! 2011 Brides 6.30,2011 – mrsdeloatch2be – Suites 7.13.2011 – daisymable – Suites 9.9.2011 - Islandgirl910 - Suites 9.10.11 --- toiinlove --- Grand 10.8.2011 – futuremrstgun – Beach 10.30.2012 – nolabride78 (Stacy & Raymond) 11.6.2011 – pmwoodard1978 (Paula & xx) – Beach 11.6.2011 - ErinDoc (Erin & Bryan) - Suites 11.11.2011 – mrsgreene2011 (Jeanine & Reuben) – Suites 11.16.2011 – starrysim – Suites 12.6.2011 – Kimberli1211 (Kim & Coleman) – Suites 2012 Brides 1.9.2012 – daizyduke – Suites 2.2.2012 – shanas (Shana & Brian) – Beach 2.26.2012 – bjcs21 – Suites 4.18.2012 – cGd41812 – Suites 5.30.2012 – MoBayBride2B – Suites 7.1.2012 – JADE28 (Charene & Kevin) – Suites 7.22.2012 – IslandBride201x (Kim & Eric) – Suites

And it doesn't expire until 5/31/2011.

Hi Ladies - thanks so much for all of the insight and heads up on the coupons! I collected about 8 or 9 of the $1.50 off two J&J products. I wanted to let you all know there was a coupon in the paper this weekend. You could probably find it on redplum.com as well. It reads "SAVE $1.00 on any 2 J&J RED CROSS brand products." It is on the same page as a Bengay coupone and a Ragu ad/coupon. I've been stocking up on the first aid kits from Targe which are originally $0.97. At least with this coupon it is like they are BOGO. Good luck!

Lizk, My FI and I decided to do IRHS for a week and then 4 days at Couples Swept Away. I thought about doing the Grand, but then I figured that a two hour drive to check out another gorgeous beach in Jamaica was totally worth that change in resort! I have heard good things about Couples Swept Away, but not heard from anyone that has stayed at both. I'd be interested as to what anyone else has to say as well! Thanks for bringing this up.