AllieH

That does look white to me. Not ivory, and there's no gold lace to contrast either. I hope they can help you with resolution!

Jenn I like the way the ribbon stakes and chair holders are coming along!! I'm lighting up my lanterns with the DIY throwies. Here's a link: http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Throwies/ I didn't do the epoxy or the magnet. Just electrical tape, the battery, the bulb and binder clips. I added the paper "switch" so we can leave them off until we get to Mexico. They were super easy and fast to make. I got my supplies from China & Hong Kong on ebay for about $40 to make 33 (ish) lights - 3 bulbs each.

it's beautiful!!! congrats on finding your dress! are you a heels sort of girl, or wedges? or flats? there are tons of options for shoes depending on your style. I'm going with wedges for a couple of reasons: 1) I can't walk in heels to save my life! and 2) we are getting married on the sand. When I'm tired of the wedges, I'll switch to a pair of sequin TOMS (I love TOMS!). did you try on veils with your dress? what sort of reaction did you have? I think you can do either a birdcage veil, or just a flower, or a full on veil if that's what you want. I would keep it fairly simple clean lines so it doesn't compete with the beautiful details on your dress.

I would tell them no...or tell them they can take advantage of your group rates, but you don't have the budget for them to attend the reception and festivities. Or...tell them they can attend, but they will need to pay - that should piss them off enough that they don't want to go anymore. It's rude to invite yourself to a wedding, even a destination one!

mrendic - those photos are amazing!!! can't wait to read your review. what part of FL are you guys in? Hope the move and all went well!

I will check out Wal-mart if we end up having to buy more of the cups. thanks for that tip!! I will probably put a tag or something on the cups with the "to have and to hold and to keep your drink cold" on it. I'm the queen of tags lol We will have to haul the bags to Mexico, as the vast majority of our guests are not local. that's another reason we were trying to keep it fairly simple. we are planning to hand them out at our welcome dinner. Right now I know we have 2 people for sure, and up to 6 who are staying at other properties. I'm not sure if they will come to our resort for the welcome dinner, and honestly not sure if i'm going to bother with bags for them. if we don't give them to them until the day of the wedding, its kind of a moot point. My mom and best friend are coming out in September, so I will probably send some things back with them to bring to Mexico for us. I had these bookmarked 24 pairs of sunglasses for $50, as I wanted to do them too. I loved the "take these so you aren't blinded by our love" line - cracked me up. I know..I'm completely corny!! http://www.amazon.com/Glasses-Buddy-Holly-Wayfarer-Lenses/dp/B002EDPQZ0/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1312375664&sr=8-15&tag=vglnkc4025-20

I find it hilarious that the FI's tend to be the ones who are protesting about "already being married" for a second ceremony (or the first!!). We are doing the legal paperwork here at home, and a symbolic ceremony in Mexico. So we will already be legally married when we have our ceremony. It took me a while to talk him into this! and now he keeps asking me when we're going to the courthouse, if that will be the anniversary we celebrate, and on and on. Instead of looking at the England ceremony as "your wedding", why not reposition it as a "celebration of your marriage", where you are repeating your vows for friends and family there. It's all in the spin!!!

these are amazing!!!!!! There are so many times like this when I wish I could sew.

Yes - I lucked out and got them from another BDW bride a while back. We are going with the reusable grocery bags. They are orange (one of our colors), plain, no printing or anything. I'll jazz them up with tissue paper and a tag - really simple. We wanted something practical that could be useful later, and wasn't too expensive. We have about 45 people coming (as of today), so we just couldn't afford to spend $20 per bag. I think our final will be around $6 per bag. We'll do the tumblers (see below), a survival kit with OTC meds (about $100 for the variety that I got), door hangers, a welcome note, and a weekend timeline. I would like to add sunscreen or aloe if I can find some small sizes of those. If we venture into Playa or Cancun prior to the guests arriving, we may look for something cheap and Mexican to add to them. My FI's philosophy is that we aren't going to put anything in the bags that they can already get from the resort (food or booze). lol Our second lucky find was insulated tumblers at Dollar Tree like these. We found 36 clear ones, and while I still need a few more, I couldn't pass up $1 each!!! We haven't found the rest we need, so may end up with something slightly different for the rest of the group. We're doing vinyl labels with our logo on it to make them more personal. We're also doing favors that we'll give them at the wedding, about $3 each. Plus hosting a private dinner, about $25 - $30 each. It all adds up, especially for a larger group.

I hear what you are saying about the rock wall! We are bringing our photographer with us. She's a good friend of mine, and I absolutely adore her work. I couldn't imagine having anyone else shoot our wedding.

Those are great ideas!! I remember finding tiny cowboy hats to use as place cards at a party supply store. Maybe try looking there? Or in the doll section at a craft/hobby store?

it also pops the pink too!!

I love the orange as the mat - it really brings out the orange in the invite and makes it pop.

ohh yeah - va-va-VOOM for sure!!! it really looks wonderful.

very cool!

Our wedding is about the same size, on Nov 5th but most of our group will be gone on the 6th. We are staying over until the 10th. We are going with Gazebo 55 and a private dinner/reception at Tucanes. Right now, we are at about 40 people total, so similar size. I agree - get your locations reserved!!! The other locations I liked was the Chapel terrace, or the Presidential Gazebo. Good luck with the planning!

Yes you are good!

my typing skills took a break on that message lol sorry about that ladies!! it does feel crappy, regardless of whether or not I expected people to drop. it's still a bit of a shock when it happens. I know we're all in the same boat.

oh yeah, who sits with whom, and how close they are to the "head" table...good luck with that!! My guy is wearing a grey suit by Tommy Hilfiger from Macy's. We got it at one of their sales for less than half price. We found some great ties at http://www.bows-n-ties.com/ - inexpensive, and great quality too!! He got an aqua & white striped tie, and we ordered orange & white striped ties for my dad & brother (we don't have any groomsmen).

aaannnd here come the cancellations. 4 today alone - both couple who swore they would be there. We about a week out from payment, and I expected the number to drop, but it's still disappointing when it actually happens. Ah well.

it looks great!!

I'm going to 3rd Nikki and Jen's opinion. The sweetheart neckline on the Adorae (and your DB dress) are what distinguishes yours from hers. Honestly, I think by the time you are done with the changes to the DB dress, it'll look a lot like the Adorae anyway. And that's ok!! Just go with what you really want, and know that both of you have fabulous taste in dresses. You can do the different style of accessories or hairstyle too to change it up. Quote: Originally Posted by jnitschke I have to say I agree with Nikki. Most people don't remember the details of other people's clothing. One of my best friends was married in April and all I remember about her dress was that it was a fit and flare with a lot of beading... and that was my memory as someone who at the time was looking at wedding dresses non-stop. For how much we spend on the dress and alterations, you shouldn't have to settle, just go with what you want. It's not about what others think, but you're the bride...it's about what you think. That's all that matters. Plus to me, it looks like there is a greater difference between the Adore and your friend's dress, than your new dress and the Adore. If you can't list things you love about this new one over the Adore, then I it's not your dress... just a look a like. Also, a lot of your look will have to do with hair, makeup and accessories. Not just your dress. If you style your hair differently I doubt anyone will notice. Mostly, your goal should be, to be so stunning that people won't be able to think of anyone else. But, if keeping the Adore would make you feel self-conscious the whole time, then just go with what makes you feel confident. Likewise, if the entire time you would think "I love it, but.... " then don't bother switching. And, while the new dress is cheaper, the cost of the additions and alterations would have to drive that up a considerable amount.... making it negligible.