mstigger

Made my first order to Vistaprint today using your welcome letter as my inspiration!!!

Thanks so much!!

I think I have too  much invested to turn back now, but I feel very comfortable stopping where I'm at and not adding other items.

A friend of mine is looking for some cheap material and she is going to make sarongs for the ladies and still need a little something for the guys and I'm all done!!

Glad to see I'm not alone with this dilemma!!

Thanks everyone!

Wow, great ideas! I love the mini posters!

Congrats!!

Everything looks incredible!! Thanks for sharing!

Congrats!!

Thanks so much for all of your planning info!!

Wow, everything looks amazing!!

Congratulations and thank you for all of the information!

Ok so I know this is more something for a planning thread....if I ever do one, but LOOK at my garter that I had special made on Etsy.

OMG, I love it!!!!

Yes!!! Please share some sites. I agree it's nuts to pay so much for our group of 16

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Originally Posted by LKocelko 

We are going to bring our iPod player with it. I couldn't justify spending a couple hundred dollars to play an iPod for our small group of 25. You can buy them so cheap nowadays, and we didn't need anything crazy since there were so few of us. We also didn't think we'd need to rent the mic and all that, since there won't be a big group of us to hear speeches and stuff. If you decide to buy one and want some sites that have good deals let me know, my FI is always looking at all that electronic stuff (that we don't need....)

I sent my STD out not long after we booked and I am just getting ready to send out the formal invites this week, which is a little over 3 months out. I would say that's just a formality, as I already know who's coming but I did all that work so they are getting mailed!!!

Originally Posted by JEM236 

Thanks Ladies!  I'm excited. A little overwhelmed but one thing at a time right?

 

Since the date was just booked, my save the dates go out this week. If people will already be booking rooms, it seems redundant to send invitations but I think it is the right thing to do right?  For a regular wedding, I know you send invites around 2 months prior, but I feel like they should go out sooner? What was everyone's time frame? Was more information about the resort/wedding included or is that saved for a welcome letter?

 

For brides that already had their wedding, was the EDR cool about brides sharing decor and/or bringing their own? 

Oh, forgot that I wanted to ask if anyone has rented their ipod equipment. It's pretty pricey, but I don't think I want to buy one and lug it down there.

She offered the small bose one for $150 for 2 hours and $50 for additional 2 hours or the bigger one with a mic for $250 for 4 hours.

Thoughts from those that did not have a DJ?

Holy Crap!!!!

$7 for a cupcake? That is insane.....insane in the membrane!!! I hope you told her what they could do with those cupcakes

Originally Posted by Maybeachbride 

So Valeria just quoted my $7 per cupcake with a minimum of 10. It is crazy how inconstant the pricing is!

 

 

Ok, so I have a question for those brides that have already been there, done that!

I wasn't taking any type of glass candle holders, and now I am. How did you pack all of your things? Did you wrap them in bubble wrap and hope for the best? I got these cute holders for $1 so no biggie if they break, but just curious how you packed your fragile items and how they made the trip.

As always, thank you -You are all so helpful!!

I intend to use Allie's tactic. I'm taking $150 to the meeting and see what happens from there. Sounds like they really worked with Allie and I really don't have that much, just sounds like a lot. I think we are cutting the parasols.

Originally Posted by LKocelko 

I had provided my WC a list of all we were bringing - somewhat similar to yours, maybe a little less. She then said with "that much" it could easily be more than $5. Don't want to freak you out, but just something to keep in mind. At this poing I've decided not to worry about it, it is what it is and we'll worry about it when we're there. Allie made a good point to me earlier that there's no point stressing, because when she got down there it was less than they had been expecting/quoted.

 

So, like Allie, I'm going to take probably $150 or $175 to our meeting with our WC. When she asks for the setup fee I'll tell her we have this much cash on us, otherwise we'll have to charge it or wait and take out more money or something. I'm hoping she'll just take the cash to make it easier.

I agree that $5 pp is a rip off, but that's even what I was quoted and I was only bringing fans to go on the guest chairs and shells for the reception table. So I decided to make them work for my $$$. Now bringing table runners and chair sashes and parasols and big a** bows and glass candle holders and signs and photo booth props!!! HA, take that wedding people!!!

Originally Posted by Feb2013 

Thanks Allie! I was just trying to go a sort route fortunately I started organizing dinner music along with Dance music so I will keep putting it together instead of cheating and relying on Pandora! 

 

Yeah I might give in and pay for the set up but it is so little of stuff that it seems like a rip off to pay $5 pp! 

Congratulations!!!

Everything looked amazing and your pictures were beautiful!!

I can't wait to hear the rest of your story! BTW I love the dress. I got mine from kissdresses.com....also in China and paid $150 and it's an amazing dress!!!

So glad to know I'm not alone with the OOT bags, they are killing me!!!!

Thanks so much!!

How very cool!!! It's a mystery vacation!!

Hope that it's wonderful! Enjoy your belated anniversary!!

Originally Posted by amanda50388 

Hi ladies, 

 

We are headed to Mexico on Monday because we were unable to go over our anniversary due to my husband's vacation time that had to be used by January. This time we are headed to Azul fives, we had to save on money since the trip was so soon. So we did funjet's deal ( Azul's fun for less) through our travel agent, where they e-mail you your resort a couple days before you leave, so you don't know which one you end up at. We are still very excited since we did tour all the karisma properties 2 years ago for our wedding. It however is a kid resort, but hopefully since kid's are in school we will not have as many. I will have to let you know how it end's up for future reference if anyone has kids.

Welcome Jem236!!!

I will echo what the others have said, EDR is amazing!!! I'm getting married in April and chose EDR from my TA's recommendation. I was lucky enough to take a trip there in September to check things out, and WOW was I impressed!! The food is incredible (I gained 5 lbs in 5 days....of course I ate guacamole with every meal )

My TA has been great and most of my guests have booked with her. As of today I only have 14 confirmed guests, and I am good with that!!

Everyone on this site is SO incredibly helpful and supportive. This site has been a great source of information for me. Feel free to ask anything, all of these girls are wonderful.

There are many, many DIY projects that will save you a ton of money. So take your time and research and then hop in!!! It can be a bit overwhelming, as you can see I've had my share of melt downs!! Enjoy it and ask as many questions as you need to!!

Originally Posted by JEM236 

Hi Ladies! 

 

I am new to this forum. I just booked our wedding on May 31, 2013 at the El Dorado Royale. I am really excited but a little nervous booking a place site unseen. My FI and I chose a destination wedding because we both have small families and most of our friends and family are spread all over the place. I also didn't want to be a bride that had to pick details from a million different vendors and I want to be able to party and see my friends for more that a few hours. Plus who doesn't love the beach?

 

Did you all use TA's? I found the rates to be better and we are only using her for the rooms, not airfare. I am super nervous because I have read some bad reviews about the site I used - destination weddings.com. I am also nervous about the how all the little extras from the resort will add up.

 

I guess I am looking for some reassurance and some wedding buddies.

These are really great, they will make beautiful centerpieces!!!

Originally Posted by jnitschke 

Ok.. I have another contender idea for centerpieces.  This is totally different.  I just stumbled on this yesterday.  They are these flower covered wine glasses, with led tea lights in them. 

 

Here's what they look like in light and lit up at night.

 

The lit one is off a website.. a little different, not painted and made of vellum.  If I were to do this I'd do better and less sloppy painting and do them on vellum. plus, I think I'd paint both sides... or maybe use a pattered paper instead of painting. 

They assembled in less than 5 mins... so they're really quick and easy to do.

Here's the table mock ups I did with it. .. I would also add some votives or tea lights like in the sample picture. 

What do y'all think?... This one or one of the other two?

Congratulations on your marriage and your new little one!! What a fabulous surprise.

Thanks for sharing your experience, everything was beautiful!!

Beautiful!! I love how you kept it all very simple!!

This looks great! I love the colors!!

Originally Posted by Feb2013 

So after many stressful months (b/c I tried to get my FI to look for suits in September to mark it off my list) we finally have his outfit. It is completely opposite of what my original vision was but it is what he wanted so I let it be! LOL! 

 

Ok I tired to add the pictures but it is giving me trouble but here are all the links. 

 

 

Suit

http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/calvin-klein-suit-pinstripe-blazer-pants-separates?ID=737213&CategoryID=19582&LinkType=#fn=BRAND%3DCalvin Klein%26COLOR%3DGray%26sp%3D1%26spc%3D4%26ruleId%3D66%26slotId%3D4

 

 

Shirt

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Supima%C2%AE-Cotton-Non-Iron-Extra-Slim-Fit-Ainsley-French-Cuff-Dress-Shirt/ME00285,default,pd.html?dwvar_ME00285_Color=PRPL&contentpos=1&cgid=0203

 

Tie

http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/nautica-tie-excursion-plaid?ID=769059&CategoryID=53239&LinkType=&swatchColor=Violet#fn=BRAND%3DNautica%26COLOR%3DPurple%26FABRIC_PATTERN%3DPlaid%26sp%3D1%26spc%3D1%26ruleId%3D66%26slotId%3D1

I'm already feeling better, I guess sometimes we just need a moment.

I'm glad yours worked out for you too!! You are SOOO close, are you excited? Have you got everything ready?

Did you do a planning thread yet? I'm addicted to reading those now

Originally Posted by Feb2013 

We are getting married Feb 15, 2013... A supposed best friend of my FI (I say supposed BF b/c this is what she did for his 30th bday too) backed out the day before the final payment was due. She was the first person to put a deposit down and knew we were getting married in Mexico since Nov. 2011. I felt bad for my FI b/c I know she gave a lot of BS excuses and kind of showed how if it is not about her it doesn't matter (b/c in her next breath she asked if he would spend $1600 to come celebrate her 30th with her a month before our wedding). Anyway with her backing out lost us a free room which then screwed up our wedding budget. So for a couple days maybe a week I was pissed b/c I had to give up a couple extras that would not really matter in the end, but in the moment it felt like it did matter. Now it has been a couple weeks since all that happen and I started eating Ramon to afford those extras Just kidding. I got over the stuff that was not really needed and focused that the people that are going to be there are the ones that truly care and made the effort to save for it. And in the end it is not about who is at the wedding (we all know that is the sacrifice you make and this will happen when you choose to do a DW) or what add ons you did or didn't have... It is about you and your FI only! 

My FI refuses to wear flip flops of any kind and is adamant on wearing his Sperry "boat" type shoes.

He's wearing linen pants and short sleeve linen shirt, so I'm ok with that. It's the only thing he really had an opinion on, so I said wear whatever your little heart desires!!!

Originally Posted by jnitschke 

Another question... sorry for posting so many of these...

 

what kind of footware are your men wearing?  Does sand get inside the Men's dress shoes?  Should he be wearing sandals?  and if they're wearing sandals has anyone found any that look at least a little bit more formal?