Tonia Bruyns

I don't even really know what I'm getting to 150 for... I have the template for our invites already and that's why I started this in the first place... oh well.. hopefully there will be other cool things to see once I get there!

bahahaha I do the same thing here at work!!!

lol yeah I feel like setting a timeline is the only way to get them done... because we haven't picked a place for sure yet, these are just going out to give family and friends a heads up that we are going away to get married.. I'm so nervous about people being upset that they have to spend so much money, so the more time to save, the better. I'm including our contact info so that I can tell people that it won't be over $1500/person... but still. It's my biggest reason not to have a destination wedding.. I know my family isn't in any position to spend a lot of money... but as long as my parents can be there... It's alright if others can't come.

exactly! lol. woooo now I'm halfway! What shall we discuss... We get in STDs in the mail by Wednesday! I'm so excited to see them!! and then I will spend all weekend making the holders for them! yaaaaay! an excuse to be crafty lol

haha I hear ya! It will happen soon!

ahhhhh! It's beautiful! yay That's an awesome price!

Man, this weekend I totally slacked on posting! Sunday was an exhausting day and I didn't even have a chance to turn my computer on! I am so behind in posts lol. I'll get there... back at the desk job today so there is nothing else to do

aahh! i'm excited. We just ordered our magnets from vistaprint! and we got 140 return address labels that match the STD for 3.99! That will save me from writing them all out lol. We paid for express shipping and so they should be here by Wednesday! I can't wait! this was our first major purchase for the wedding.. and so it begins!

That's exactly what we want. Don't spend a fortune on this one day and instead put the money towards something for our future.. as in a home. We plan on moving closer to my FI's son and we want to buy a home down there... we don't want to add more debt to what we already have and so we will pay for our wedding with money we save, all while tackling our debt. I think I'm lucky in that my family and friends aren't really overstepping (with the exception of my sis, who I know will get over it)... but then again.. there is still A LOT of time for people to start coming forward with their opinions..

ugh that is super frustrating... I had a friend who had the same thing happen... her mother in law was trying to run everything and then her mom piped in.. they got so frustrated that they just got married at what was supposed to be their engagment party... no one knew until she came walking out in her dress. It's sometimes so tempting to just elope but deep down I know that I want my family there with me when I marry my best friend. I think we have finally decided on Cuba my sister can deal with it. Everyone I talked to about the food there have been pleasantly surprised and just suggest we bring spices if we like lots of spice. Doable for sure.

lol! Yeah.. I did so much research on MC.. looked at all the extra costs and had our budget all set.. silly me doing it before the TA got back to us with the projected costs for our desired time of travel I think we hace decided on the Melia Las Dunas in Cuba.. I'm a little bit nervous, because we love spicy food and I've heard that the food there is pretty bland... but at this resort, every bride I ask was pleasantly surprised by the food! They just suggest we bring ketchup and any spices we like lol..

I'm totally in the same boat! everytime we think we have somewhere picked, we see somewhere else we love... GAH! I've been told this is the hardest part of planning a destination wedding... actually picking the resort! I'm hoping we have finally chosen the place. We found one we love and it is in the price range we are wanting our guests to spend. Here's to hoping we just stop looking now lol

I'm just super eager and know that the majority of my guests will need a lot of time to save money to come. I don't want it to be a burden on anyone, so I think a year and a half notice will be enough time to save around $1300 per person... I also am inviting like 85 people.. so I need to be on the ball lol. I'm hoping only half of that say yes.. but I still want them to have enough notice.. our actual invites aren't going out until probably March 2014 once we get prices and information back on where we are going.

word I'm just eager.. I'm sure it will change lol

thanks!! I love crafts, but I'm sure after this project, I'll be done with them for a while!

hope you got my email sorry it took a few days! I chcked my email via my phone while at work and then forget to check again when I got home to send you the stuff! amd use away I'm sure I took it from something I saw on here... just a good way to hint to people it is destination without having the exact place picked!

Totally understandable... I kind of thought of the destination wedding way of doing things to be low key, only the important people, saving money kind of way.. It is understandable that she is excited and wants to celebrate, but it isn't her day or events to coordinate and plan. I don't even want an engagement party.. I want people to save their money to come with us to celebrate. My mom and dad have been talking about an AHR after the wedding for those who can't come.. but I have made it clear to be nothing fancy, rent a big white tent, but it in their yard and have a party at their place... nothing big and extravagant. 40ppl is a lot, especially when you gave her a list of 27 and told her not to invite anyone not on the list... I hope there aren't any fights... that is added stress you don't need I'm sorry you have to go through that... I always thought this time was supposed to be fun to plan and think about... it's when you get other opinions that it starts getting out of hand... I've been trying to stay pretty low-key with who I tell. My sis has already expressed that Cuba would be a mistake, but we found this amazing 5 star in Cuba where the reviews are great and it has everything we want.. and now I have to worry about her judging if we decide to go to Cuba.. ugh. family can be such a pain. I think we are also going to get married secretly here and not tell anyone except our parents who will stand up with us... and hope people don't get mad if they find out lol

haha I am pretty happy he wants to be involved He is not the kind of guy that I thought would want to roll up his sleeves, he hs definitely surprised me with wanting to help! I hope that things are slowly but surely getting checked off the to-do list you have!

hahah I thought the same thing! but if you get a template, and you play around it, it is actually quite fun! I was just looking for ways to save money... who knows if this is actually going to work out cheaper in the end.. I guess we will see!

I'm doing my STD holders as well as my boarding pass invites! I just googled "boarding pass template" and found one to start playing around with. My FI is the same and has already taken on the duty of stamping the palm tree on the front of the holder I like that he is willing to help.. I just hope it lasts and he doesn't get bored lol I'm nervous that the time is going to fly by.. that is why I am adament about starting things early... I work 3 jobs, so finding spare time is difficult as it is.. I get more stressed out if I leave things without even having a plan.. haha

wow... well if she wants to throw it, she should take on the responsibility of finding the place... you have enough to worry about! If she is throwing it, then don't stress too much. If finding a place is all she wants you to do, wait until you are back from vacation and spend a little bit of time looking,.. I'm sure it won't be too difficult.. and then hopefully she will take over the rest... how many people would go to your engagement party? If it is like my family, we would need a banquet hall to have enough room for everyone lol. I guess it would give people a chance to celebrate that aren't able to make it to your wedding.. but I don't know how many people you have not going with you.

I just went to the gym and then weighed myself! i've finally lost weight lol.. 3 pounds after 7 months! woooooo :S Hopefully that was me getting to the point where I can start losing and it will only be more weight lost from here! Mt tummy and my butt are my problem areas too... my tummy is proving to be most difficult.. ogh ok.. well hopefully you find an idea of what you are looking for, but can wait until they are there to find the dress. If anything, you go back with them and they can be super shocked and excited when you try on the dress you found. You could always pretend like you didn't find it and take them back to the store, try on some dresses and then try on the one you put aside and hope they love it as much as you lol

bahahha he does love it... I don't want it gone, just firmer. so squats it is I've noticed since I've started running, it also has made a huge difference! I just need the motivation to keep it up.. I find I get so bored just going to the gym. But I have no time for the classes at other gyms. I've got like a year and a half before my wedding, so lots of time to work on stuff I also start a new job in July, it's an hour long walk.. so I'm thinking that will be a good way to get some exercise in. Lots of hills and stuff, so it should be good Also thinking of trying to roller blade there.. or buy a bike! but carrying a bike up 3 flights of stairs to store in my apartment is not fun..I live in the ghetto and don't trust locking it up outside lol

you got this! That's awesome I think my goal is 125.. still got some weight to loose... my problem is I have a ghetto booty lol.. I have noticed that it is getting a little bit firmer and less cellulite along with my thights.. so I am, just going to keep it up while trying portion control

you won't be disappointed I'm so excited to actually purchase them!