Hi Ladies,

Let me start by telling you about my wedding plans. My FH and I decided to do a cruise wedding in July of this year because we could not afford a traditional wedding. I

It's easy, if the picture is saved on your PC, just go to www.tinypic.com, then hit "browse" to go to where on your pic you saved the picture. Once the picture is selected, double-click on the picture and it'll take you back to tinypic. Then on the tinypic page, hit "upload now". Then you will copy the top link and paste that whole line within your message on vibride and hit "post reply" and "TADA" done!!!

Hope it's saved on your PC otherwise, the other Divas would have to help you.

So far, it sounds like you're on the ball with your planning. Good for you!!!

Thanks Ginoue

Welcome Queenbee and congratulations on your upcoming wedding. I absolutely love your colors.

You will be surprised, but you can find some really nice and inexpensive veils on Ebay -- (I know I bought about 3 before I settled on the one that I actually used in my wedding -- LOL!!!)

Lovely dress! You have accomplished a lot, happy planning!

beautiful dress queenbee! check this site out for the frames; you can get 4 small ones for $3.99

http://www.photojewelrymaking.com

HTH

Wonderful wedding gown Queenbee!!!

Nice choice of colors and what a beautiful gown. It's sexy but elegant. Is that an ivory or gold?

Thanks everyone
pamcrow the color is call spun gold

Welcome Queen Bee! Love your colours - similar to mine although mine are ivory, turquoise and gold!

That gown is absolutely stunning! I was originally looking for a strapless dress but this dress is so classy - might have to reconsider....

Can't wait to hear about more of your plans...

I am in love with your dress as well

Welcome QueenBee, we're happy to have you!

welcome queenbee, I love your dress.

Yes, a very warm welcome queenbee... also love your gown - its stunning.

Hi, Everyone

I don't have any plans. I have set a date for november 22, 2008. I don't have a color theme,what kind of flowers, what of dress? I have no clue! I have set my budget for $5,000. I don't want to go over and spend alot of money because,I am in the process of saving for a house.

My guest list is for 50 people or less, and I am trying to have my wedding and reception in one location. I live in Brooklyn, NY and I am looking for a place to hold everything. Is it possible to get a nice place for $ $1000-$1700 in brooklyn or I am living in a dream world.

Please I need help before I lose my mind.

queenbee wrote:

Thanks Ginoue

That dress is GORGEOUS

Welcome Ivery. I think planning a wedding for less than 50 people with your budget is possible. You just have to be very creative and willing to think outside the box. Especially with your reception location which will soak up most of your budget. The sistas here are very resourceful and although we may not be able to give you names of specifc places to go, we can help you cut corners elsewhere to help you stay within budget. Tell us more about what you envision for your day.

Welcome! Your dress is pretty. To stay within your budget I would suggest lookng at "out-the-box" locations. Looks for places that will let you provide your own food, or a restaurant with a private room.

Hello everyone:

Thank you for replying. I am not having a church wedding and I want to hold the cermony & reception together in brooklyn. I known my budget is limited to $5,000 and we decided to get married on 11/22/08 which is his birthday. My wedding party consist of my Maid of Honor,1BrideMan,1Groomman,1flowergirl who is my younger daughter.

But I have three other daughters that are 12, and two 7 year olds, who I want to incorpated them into the cermony as junior bridemaids but my bestfriend said they are not old enough for that.

My guest list is set for 50; which included children. My finacee and I want the wedding to be small. Even though my sister who is my maid of honor is trying to add on family I don't talk, she is trying to guilt me into add on to the list.

My family is from Jamaica, West Indies and I need somewhere that will not have a problem with the music that is being played (Reggae or Dancehall).

Basically, I don't know what I am doing, not a clue. I don't have a color theme for the bridal party or decoration,and what kind of flowers or cake to have. My dress I know I want it to be either a empire or aline cut with some kind of color on it. The wedding I want it to be simply, nice and not have it look cheap, and also not have my family making snide comments and talking trash to other people.

Okay sister, first and foremost, take a deep breath. You've come to the right place to vent. We're all here for you and will make suggestions as much as we're allowed.

Budget of $5,000 for a wedding for 50 guests max ~ not a problem

Secondly, do not let anyone guilt you into anything. The bottom line is it's your day and you will have it your way. And you should say so to your sister that if she wants to invite other people other than yours and your FH can afford, than she will have to come out of pocket herself for the additional expenses. I mean, why should you be out thousands of dollars to accommodate people that you don't even know well enough for it to matter.

Ok, on the wedding gown ~ you chould check out David Bridals periodically. They've been having $99 gown sales since last summer and it's still going on from time to time. You just have to catch it when it happen and run on the first day that you notice it. To wait a few days means that you will not find anything at all for the $99 and they will try to sell you on some other, be it, fabulous gowns.

I think you have a marvelous idea about having the wedding/reception at the same place. That will certainly save you a bundle. Since it's in New York and Novembers in New York are frigid. So a friend's backyard is so out of question. Why not look into a little chapel for the ceremony? You'll find that it'll only cost you a few hundred dollars to have the ceremony there. I know that you probably want to party on the reception, be that you're from the carribean, look for hotels with smaller banquet rooms or even a theater that would be willing to have you rent their reception hall for like $500 or so. I know you have a lot of phone calls to make and your budget is limited in a city like New York to cover everything in the winter, no less, but trust me, you can do it. And I will be making some phone calls on your behalf and see what I come up with for you as well. Keep checking with us here at Vibride. We'll get you out. You'll see.

Find a place that will allow you to bring your own food. You could give $200 to a well-trusted friend and ask her or him to cook for your wedding. Then you could go to Costco, Sams or BJs and buy the things that you need for her to cook the food. You'll find it all at BJs. I once did a wedding like yours went to BJs and spent $150 including plates, plastic items to serve everyone and everybody was happy and the guest list was 72. So, you can definitely do this, with a lot of planning and no procrastinations. For the flowers, I can get you flowers for your entire bridal party under $300 in Brooklyn.

Your 12 year old daughter is old enough to be your junior bridesmaid, but I agree with your sister that the 7 year old is just too young but maybe, she could be an additional flowergirl.

With your sisters here at vibride, your wedding will be the talk of Brooklyn, but I want you to be tough and put your foot down right now. This is your day! Your vision!!! Everyone could just fall in line or be replaced. Don't stress yourself out. You deserve to be happy, so get to it already and plan. We have 9 months of planning to go,so, I will check my vendors and get back with you with some ideas and maybe, you might like them. Good luck to you sister!!!

Thank you so much Takoma Park, MD

You have given me so much hope of pulling this off. This site has given me so much information and direction. I've been to getmarried.com, the wedding channel, different bridal magazines,and 2 different wedding planning books.

This web site needs to be promoted more, because I stumbled on to this site by going through the goggle search engine and look at different listing of site before hitting this one.

I really appearicate these advice. Thank You!!!

ivery2139 wrote:

Thank you so much Takoma Park, MD
I really appearicate these advice. Thank You!!!

I think she's talking to you, Ginoue
LOL! Welcome Ivery and never you mind, we'll walk you through this and everything will turn out fine. You might get ideas from several of our Caribbean brides on the site who have had similar questions about music, family issues, trvaeling relatives, etc.

ivery2139 wrote:

Thank you so much Takoma Park, MD

LOL too funny, Ivery Im from Jamaica as well. I been in the US since I was a baby age 1. Pretty much grown up in an Jamaican household. I believe it has a lot to do with the kind of jamaican music you want to play. Im having a lot of jamaican music but trying to keep the raunchiness to a minimal. Dont get me wrong I love my raunchy jamaican music when I get in the mood but I just feel there is a time and place for everything.

Ivery you'll be fine. IMO, 7yo is fine for a jr. bm. It's your wedding, and your child! As long as the dress is appropriate for her age you'll be fine. I have a cousin that is 7 and HATES the poofy dresses that flowergirls usually wear. She's also taller than her 9yo sister. Do it how you want. We have a bride on this site whose son gave her away. You do not have to follow tradition. Basically - YOUR DAY, YOUR WAY!

As far as your sister, don't let her guilt you into having the wedding SHE wants. Have the wedding as you and your FH envision it to be. If she's causing extra stress you may want to limit the amount of wedding conversation you have with her.

As I mentioned before, look for off-beat venues to hold your affair: a veteran's hall, restaurant, faternal lodge, etc. Try to find a location that will allow outside caterers. I recently seen a set-up where the reception and ceremony were in the same room. The guests were seated at their tables and the ceremony took place on the dancefloor in the center of the room. With a little creativity and out-of-the-box thinking, I'm sure you'll have the wedding you dream of.

You're more than welcome Ivery!!!

Ginoue move to London and plan MY wedding- lol- pretty please with a cherry on top!!

Dreamgurl, I have lots of family and friends living in London. The funny thing is that I almost moved there 4 years ago. Something happen and I got fed up and my family asked me to take the children and move to London. I declined and decided to stay instead. I've always regreted it in view of how things turned out for me. You never know, I may decide to pop in sometimes.

Gurl ~ if I were there, you'd have no worries about this wedding (LOL).

How many of you Divas have a checklist for your FH or have given on to him or wants to share one with him, but not sure where to get one? I have one and I'm willing to share it. If you ladies want a copy of it, just send me your e-mail address and I'll forward one to you. Give them some responsibilities, after all, it's their wedding too. That way, you both have lots to talk about at the end of the day or whatever time you've consecrated for wedding talk.

Ahhh Ginoue- its too cold here, and grey!! Maybe it was a good choice- besides would you have met him if you had come here?? Everything happens for a reason x

I agree with you about the coldness and the greyish weather, but tha's what I love about England really. The weather can be unfriendly, but one gets use to it after all. I also love the English countryside, so green in the spring and summer.

I know that all things happen for a reason and I'm more than greatful to get back together with my long lost love, but there's something about England that tug at my heart strings every time I visit. It's like coming home. Kind of hard to explain and when I leave, there's this hole in my heart, this sadness. Oh well!!!

Ginoue wrote:

How many of you Divas have a checklist for your FH or have given on to him or wants to share one with him, but not sure where to get one? I have one and I'm willing to share it. If you ladies want a copy of it, just send me your e-mail address and I'll forward one to you. Give them some responsibilities, after all, it's their wedding too. That way, you both have lots to talk about at the end of the day or whatever time you've consecrated for wedding talk.

Can I have that check list treec1017@hotmail.com
Thanks

Check your e-mail sensationablyhappy!!!

Ginoue keep it up and I might just save up and ship you over to coordinate my day!! Anyone who thinks theres something charming about the weather can surely pull off a miracle!!

Thanks G I got it. I think I need to hand this one over to FH he is slacking in some of these areas. Better late then never.

Dreamgurl, I think it's the European heritage in me that loves the English weather, architecture so much. I will just have to be your unofficial Wedding Planner from here. So, any questions or anything I can help you with, don't hesitate to throw it may way. I'll do all I can to help from my end and you'll do all the legwork on your end. You'll be fine.

It's never too late Diva Sensationablyhappy. Let him see how much of a slacker he's being. That's why I developed this Groom's checklist because I believe in involving the men as much as possible. That way, he too will be excited and he'll stay out of your way. Now, don't forget to still honor the "No Planning Day"