[clibrarian]

I am happy to report, I am DOWN another 3.4 lbs today. I am so thrilled!

The wedding stuff is really coming together. To date: I have my dress (though I have first fitting on 8/24, to hack away inches from it!), tuxs picked out, event place booked, food picked out, gifts for bridesmaids, invitations (to be sent out in about 2 weeks), JP lined up, bar/alcohol set up, wedding cupcakes picked out, small honeymoon in ME booked.

To do: write vows, pick music (we're having a friend DJ with an iPod) pick out favors (I am thinking some chocolates in a box, who doesn't like chocolate?), rental for speakers, order wedding bands!

Man, its really coming together-- a few months ago, I was much more stressed, but I really feel like a lot of it is going, dare I say, 'Well'???

I know that the month before the wedding, there will be so much to do-- down to the wire stuff, like seating charts, numerous fittings, escort cards and other 'details' that probably aren't even on my radar right now...

[Shayrar]

Hi Everyone...I'm new here and thought I would post. I'm also planning a wedding and we're set to tie the knot on the 21st of February 2009. I wish everyone good luck on their journey!

[NoVaVTFan]

Ok ladies I need some insight here. I will try to get to my point quickly.

I am getting married on October 12 - 3 short months. We are going to Hawaii for 2 weeks for our honeymoon which meant I had to buy new bathing suits - my old ones were way too big. I took the plunge and bought 2 bikinis. I tried wearing a bikini about 5 years ago (and it wasn't a pretty sight) and generally stay away from bathing suits. I don't go to any water in the summer and generally try to say inside because i burn very easily. So I had to buy new bathing suits for the honeymoon because I know we will be out on the beach. I really don't think I'm ready for a bikini - I am 5 feet, 135 pounds, and still have lots of loose flab and ugly veins and stretch marks, but with some encouraging from my fiancee I bought a couple of bikinis. I will most likely be covered by a shirt anyways under a umbrella because I don't like to sit directly in the sun, but nonetheless they are bikinis. I will also be buying a more supportive tankini for any water activities.

I guess my point is, does it seem ok to wear a bikini even though I know it won't be too pretty? It is really for my fiancee because he really thinks I should wear one and he says I look great in it. (His opinion of my body is much better than my own). I put on the bikini, and I see the flab on my stomach and think "wow I wouldn't want to look at that if I was someone else" but then I also like to think part of me doesn't care what other people think. I am trying to break out of my comfort zone clothing and fashion wise now that I've lost 53 pounds, and wearing a bikini is definitely out of my comfort zone. plus i'll only be in hawaii once so why not wear the 2 piece and go for it.

Do any of you have any opinions on this? I just want to see what other brides think. TIA

[clibrarian]

Hi NoVaVTFan,

I think you should go for it. I bet you look totally fine in the 2 piece. And you know what? I bet no one will be looking at you and thinking you don't look anything less than totally cute in it.

Its funny how our loved ones often see us as more beautiful then we do. I have to work on that too. Maybe wearing the 2 piece will help you to overcome that.

GO FOR IT. I bet he'll think you look fantastic. And I bet you really do look fantastic in it!

[clibrarian]

I am down another 2.2 lbs! Only 9 weeks to go to the wedding. I am hoping I come close to my goal of 165. I am feeling great! I just have to remain calm and keep on task and not sabotage myself! At least the 'official' vacations are over with this summer (in terms of going 'off plan').

[shananigans]

Well, I'm no longer a bride to be, but thought I'd poke my head in anyway. I could have sworn I posted pix in here before but maybe the internet ate them? Guess I can re-post. Here's link to a slideshow of the photos the professional photographer took, and here's a couple snapshots taken by friends (sorry about the huge size!)









NoVaVTFan - I also say go for the bikini! Who cares what everyone thinks, go have fun and feel hot and sexy on your honeymoon.

clibrarian - Sounds like you've just about got everything under control! These last few weeks will probably keep you mad busy anyway, but you are definitly in the home stretch now. Just remember to breathe from time to time.

"Hello" to all the other b2b.

ETA: I forgot to mention we finally booked our honeymoon, we're going to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in February. It'll be a real treat to go to a beach resort in the middle of WI winter!

[clibrarian]

shananigans-- you look GREAT! on your wedding day. It looks like you had a great sunny day too! We're planning on going on a more 'official' honeymoon in '09 too-- more vacation time then. Right after we get married, we're going to Monhegan Island off the coast of Maine for a few days. I can't wait!

Thanks for the words of encouragment. My goal is to get down into the 160s by the wedding-- which is on Sept 20th. Even if its 169. something, lady, I'd be over the moon about that. I think I can do it. I think it is a reasonable goal to loose 5 lbs in 7 weeks.

[junebug41]

Clibrarian- Good luck in getting to your goal! I'm sure you will reach it!

We are in the winter honeymoon camp, too. We are taking a few days at a spa in the desert and then spending a couple of nights in Mesa Verde national park. Then in January, it's off to the islands!

3 weeks until the wedding and things have really picked up steam! I've been working out a lot and I'm on a pretty strict diet- I want to just enjoy myself that week without having to worry about my dress being too tight I'm down to 138, but would like to be under 130. It's ambitious, so I won't be disappointed if it doesn't happen. I would rather just feel beautiful than freak about some silly number. mainly, I just want my arms to look good in my strapless dress!

It has been sooooo stressful the past few weeks with lots of drama. My MOH gained a lot of weight and now her dress won't zip and my mother has been a constant source of drama. I think everyone has realized that this wedding is going to happen our way whether they like it or not and they have calmed down. Our church made us do pre-marital counseling and it was so helpful. I had these crazy visions of that movie "License To Wed", but we got to choose who we went to and it was under our terms, thank God.

[BoopRN]

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to add, I am another bride to be for July 2009! We are destined to be married in Las Vegas which is our vacation destination for the past 6 yrs! Its not going to be the stereotype Vegas wedding either we are going all out. Its a fun city where we want all of our friends and family to remember this occasion for a life time.

[Silverstar33]

Hello,
I'm doing a destination wedding, too, Venice Italy. It's coming up awfully quick now, and I've come to realize I won't be able to hit my goal by then (disappointing but not devastating).

Funny thing happened, the other day my planner sent me an email asking my fiance and I if we'd do a MTV casting call. Apparently the show True Lives is doing an episode on destination weddings, and they liked our profile. Considering I picked the destination wedding because I don't really like the whole center of attention thing, I don't think we're going to do it.

Anyways, happy planning!

[clibrarian]

I'm down another 3.4 lbs today! Maybe next week, I can be in the 160s! Wedding is 5 weeks away! HOORAY!

[shananigans]

Woohoo! Keep up the good work clibrarian

[junebug41]

I'm off to my hometown for my WEDDING this weekend! Woo hoo!

I will report back with pics. I'm SO excited and it looks like we may pull this thing off

[Lafayette]

Hi guys! Thought I'd pop in and see how everyone is doing! At the end of September, we'll be married six months... Oh, and, since we're counting, I've gained 10 pounds. Yikes!

Shan- awesome pictures- what a beautiful day and a beautiful bride!

Jen- Good luck!

Everyone- married life rocks!

[junebug41]

Hi everyone!

I am now married- woo hoo! The wedding was overall fabulous. I as super stressed and exhausted up until I started getting ready and then I was calm and happy. I tried hard to realize that something would go wrong and to just let go it sure did, but it didn't matter. It was a beautiful, sunny, perfectly imperfect day. My snafus:

*I twisted my ankle the night before! I couldn't walk at all and just iced and wrapped it. I had to forgo the heels I was going to wear and instead wore white isotoner slippers. This meant that my dress was too long and I really had to focus on not falling on my face It felt better the more I danced, though!

*Moments before I walked down the aisle, I noticed a pollen stain on my dress. But hey, it was orange, which was one of my colors By then, someone could have splattered paint on me and I wouldn't have cared.

Here's our first pics off a friend's camera. Can't wait to post more!