Maine — The Knot Community

Invitations

chrispygal — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:41:50 +0000

...are being mailed today! Eeep!

We went the DIY route because my FI thought we could "save" money. I doubt we did, but it was definitely a labor of love. Luckily we only needed to make 26 so it wasn't that bad. I love how they came out and I promise I will try and figure out a way to post some pictures. I have misplaced my camera - what timing!

We went super non-traditional for the wording. Here is what we put:

"Christine and Curtis invite you to join them as the hold hands, say I do, and smooch shamelessly in public."

I hope people get our sense of humor. We are sending these out a bit early (we are 3 months away) but our RSVP date is one month prior to the wedding. This is making it seem so REAL. Wow!

Tent and outdoor DIY Decor

amshaw1 — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 18:50:48 +0000

Who's having a tent and what are you decorating it with? \

Checks!

chrispygal — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 11:38:16 +0000

So last night I got all of our favors assembled. I just need figure out how I'm going to label them and "decorate" the box - i.e. bow, sticker, etc. They look so cute! I should take a picture but I can't seem to find my camera. BAD, I know!

Invitations are also 95% done. I just have to get some Xyron refill cartridges so I can apply the last of the wrap around address labels. Those suckers will be going out next week. Yay!

I've finally decided on shoes, and tonight I am going to pick up my dress for my first fitting on Saturday. OMG, where has the time gone?! I still do not have any undergarments so when I pick up my dress tonight we are going to try on some long line bras and shapewear slips to see if I like any of it. I am seriously excited to see and try on my dress again. My veil, hairpiece and extra fabric to make a bolero are not in yet, but those should be in by the middle of this month. It will be great to see the whole "look" come together!

What checks has everyone completed this week?

dress steaming

slwager — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:05:55 +0000

Hey Ladies,

My wedding is in Kennebunkport. I live in NYC and the dress was purchased here. It's being shipped there. How does this work?

Do I get it steamed? If so any recommendations for where?

Thanks!

PSA: Mainely Mara mani/pedi deal

littlefieldmj — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 14:00:02 +0000

Good morning ladies! My wonderful maid of honor forwarded me a "Mainely Mara" e-mail. I'm not sure if you're familiar (I wasn't) but it's one of those lists that give you 50% off certain services. Today's deal is beneficial for bridal prep; or would be good for a girls day out, or anyone looking to do a mini-spa day.

You have to sign up (it's free) to get the offer, but it's worth it: a manicure & pedicure at J Henry Salon in the Old Port for only $22!! (Normally $64). I bought one and my MOH bought one; hopefully my bridesmaid will be able to as well so we can all go together before the wedding. $22!!!! Woot! Make sure to click the "featured offer" after you sign up. The deal is only good until midnight tonight (6/3)!

Here's the website if you're interested: http://mainelymara.com/.

Question about Seated Meals

sarahfowler38 — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 01:07:34 +0000

Hey ladies!!

How many of you decided on seated meals? We decided to do it that way, and I sent out the invites with a note to initial what each person wanted. We keep getting "1 chicken 1 beef" sort of thing and I'm finding that almost every time I get an RSVP card, I'm having to send a message to the person to clarify who wants what.

Obviously it's too late to change the wording on the invites, but is anyone else experiencing this?

I really thought my RSVP cards were so easy to understand, but they seem to cause a lot of confusion!!

wedding band arrived PIP

jessicabessica — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 21:39:38 +0000

My wedding band arrived! It's a plain platinum band, ultrathin, that we ordered from greenkarat.com (it took them nearly 2 weeks to ship it, but shipping was fast...glad one of my jewelry packages arrived safely). It is thinner than my engagement ring, but I think it will look ok, and I really wanted a wedding band that would be low profile so I could basically wear it all the time. Weird looking?

jchow YGPM

slwager — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 19:56:22 +0000

y'know. since we have a lot in common i thought i'd pick your brain.

Invite help

amshaw1 — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 21:57:23 +0000

I have a proof, I don't want to post them online but if someone's around let me know if I can get your feedback

I am wondering how the wording sounds. It's super casual and I was trying to reflect that.

Major crisis...feedback needed!

Lovehockey — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 19:36:04 +0000

Ok here goes....
We have bee together for 8 years and just got engaged 4 months ago. Days after getting engaged, a couple snarky ladies decided to spill the beans that he had an brief affair with the friend of his co-worker 2 years ago. VERY out of character for him & it was a crushing blow to me & to him b/c he felt like nothing. He told me that a few times following the affair, he almost packed a trash bag of clothes and left b/c I deserved better.
When that all comes out...we decide to press on, work it out b/c we love each other and he said he would do anything for a new start. He went to his Dr to see if he could get help for the anxiety/depression symptoms he was having. He got meds.Just about 3 weeks ago he made a counseling appt for himself. All of these things he did on his own and I was very proud of him. We had been having great conversations about moving forward. learning about each other's needs more, making wedding plans, he's asking me when he should take days off this summer, he'd planned on working a bit with me at my summer camp, going to many things together, HE continued to say things about wedding and babies like we always do etc....
We continued to have sex, even improving spontenaity and so on. He never showed me signs of pulling away but he did have some ups and down emotionally that were uncharacterisitic. He drinks w the meds and he's not supposed to. I think the meds make his depression worse, which can be a side affect. Loooong story short, after 4 months of more ups than downs, I come home and he is very down Sat afternoon. Says he is tired and had a long day. I leave and come back from an errand and he is now at a friend's house "having a beer". Fine - no problem there. THEN he comes home and I say again "are you ok?" he says "no, I'm not ok. I can't do this anymore. I just don't feel anything...." He says "I love everything about you. it's not you. It's just not there..we havent been connecting for awhile now ..." . There was NO incling of that at all & WHY did he ask mwe to marry him 4 mos ago then???? I am worried he is depressed and can't get over the guilt and thinks leaving is going to clean his slate and rid him of guilt.
I was horrified and shocked but was calm while crying. Asked why and said I was confused several times w/ no real answer except what he said before. He packed some clothes and went to a friends, we were both crying, we hugged and cried the whole works. This is the 4th day he's been gone and he has barely spoken to me at all. No calls, only a few breif responses to texts. I have backed off, just making it clear that I am here for him. love him and am ready to listen if he needs me. BUT at this point I am fuming inside. I do not deserve to all of a sudden be ignored like 8 years haven't existed...but I am trying to let him work it out in his own head. HELP?! :(

how to tell people about bar situation....

Krista521 — Tue, 31 May 2011 16:37:38 +0000

Hey ladies.. I am stumped on how to let people know about the bar situation.. We have decided to offer a full open bar cocktail hour and then switch to cash bar for the rest of the evening. My mom thinks that it's important to let people know to bring cash/cc's so they wont be suprised when they get there, especially because there isn't an atm on site, which i agree. We are getting ready to get our invites out in a week or two (diy style) so i can include something in there. I can't help but feel it would be tacky to write it on our actual invite.. in my personal opinion.
Right now we have on the bottom of the invite...

drinks, dinner, and dancing to follow
(reception location/address etc)

So the question is.. find a classy way to write it on the invite, OR include a reception card that spells it all out (we are keeping things pretty casual so i wasn't planning on doing one of these, but may end up having to) OR leave it to fate, aka word of mouth etc..

Opinions? How did you handle this situation if you are doing something similar?

Davids Bridal backed up

shandorfml2 — Tue, 31 May 2011 22:11:38 +0000

Before I forget, wanted to let you girls know that DB told me it is taking 3 months for dresses to come in for bridesmaids! So, incase anyone was putting it off, don't!

Ceremony Reading

Redsx15Fan — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 13:15:05 +0000

Good Morning Ladies,

I wanted to share a reading that a girl at work shared with me as a sugguestion for my ceremony. I love it and wanted to share incase anyone else liked it!

Marriage is a commitment. Its Success doesn’t depend on feelings, circumstances, or moods – But on two people who are loyal to each other and the vows they took on their wedding day…Marriage is hard work. It means chores disagreements, misunderstandings, and times when you might not like each other very much. But when you work at it together, it can be the greatest blessing in the world. It’s a relationship where two people must listen, compromise, and respect… and a union in which two people learn from mistakes, accept faults, and willingly adjust behaviors that need to be changed.

Marriage means talking thins, out making necessary changes, and forgiving each other. It’s unconditional love at its most understanding and vulnerable-determined to triumph over every challenge and adversity.
Marriage is a partnership of two unique people who bring out the very best in each other and who know that even though they are wonderful as individuals…they are even better together.

ENJOY!
Has anyone else found any readings they really like?

Hair/Makeup on a Sunday!

ABeautifulMind — Sun, 29 May 2011 15:25:08 +0000

I'm looking for someone in the Bath/Brunswick area who is willing to travel to Westport Island to do hair and make-up the morning of my wedding. The wedding is on a Sunday so I'm having a difficult time locating anyone. Suggestions?

Feeling the pressure - also thanks!

plato79 — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 02:40:33 +0000

Tomorrow we're just two days out...which means I really only have ONE day left to do anything. I'm kind of freaking out a little - i've checked all my lists though and I'm in good shape. My freak out is that I'm forgetting something that isn't on the list. Hopefully this is just nerves.

Tomorrow I pack and head up to the venue where I'll be until Saturday. I just wanted to say, in case I don't make it back on until after the wedding (which knowing me, I'll at least check once), that you ladies have been so very wonderful, warm, caring, and thoughful. I couldn't have asked for a nicer bunch to be getting married around the same time as me. I've enjoyed getting to "know" everyone and will definitely check back in after the honeymoon. Thank you for all your ideas, thoughts, support and for letting me just vent when I needed it. I appreciate all of you and hope that I'll be able to/have been able to help you as much as you've all helped me out.

I maintain: Maine board is the best board!

If anyone wants to keep in touch via email, send me a PM.

Check that was a HUGE relief!

chrispygal — Mon, 30 May 2011 20:13:10 +0000

My FMIL is a very sweet person but totally did not want to go dress shopping. We are 3 months out and I was dreading what she would end up wearing. I had no requests for colors for her to wear and was even going to let her wear red if she wanted to. See....great FDIL that I am. haha. Anyway, we took her daughters to get measured for their Jr. Bridesmaids dresses and I made her try on some dresses for fun. She reluctantly agreed and the second dress we put on her she LOVED, I loved and it looked seriously amazing. I was so worried this task would be one that would haunt me for the next 3 months. I am so happy it was resolved and with such great results! Yay! The ladies at Alfred Angelo's were so helpful and our salesperson was the one to poo-poo the red color and convince my FMIL to wear something more complementary to the group. I didn't have to be the bad guy so it all worked out!

Yay! Anyone else accomplish some great checks this weekend?

Bras!

shandorfml2 — Mon, 30 May 2011 14:14:54 +0000

Hello ladies, I have a question. Where is a good place to buy a long line strapless bra? I have large breasts, so it would probably have to be specialty shop. I know there are some in the portland area, but don't know the names. Anyone know of any?

PSA: Mixbook.com Groupon $15 for $50 (guestbook, wedding album, etc)

jena.n.ross — Tue, 31 May 2011 17:08:45 +0000

I love love love this company!

to AW our wedding album: Clicky.

to get the deal: Clicky.

hth someone :)

5 days? Is that even possible?

plato79 — Sun, 29 May 2011 12:42:04 +0000

I woke up this morning and realized we have 5 days until the wedding! I feel like we're in pretty good shape, though the next few days will be very busy with errands. It's really all coming together.

Today's list of to-dos: church, buy final thank you gifts, finish seating chart, buy a tire for my car (got a flat!), buy post-wedding brunch attire, attempt to pack most everything for the wedding weekend, BBQ w/my fam, finalize wedding schedule & email to BP, finalize phone list & email to BP/vendors, buy baking supplies for cookies, finish programs and print, breathe...I feel like I'm forgetting something.

What are you all up to today?

Ceremony Officiants

sarahfowler38 — Fri, 27 May 2011 17:48:10 +0000

Hey ladies!! I have been totally dragging my feet on this last one, but I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for a JP. We are getting married up at Sugarloaf, so someone closer to there would be favorable. Also, neither of us are religious, so we are just looking for a JP. We just want someone who will run a nice ceremony. I pretty much have everything planned out already, so it shouldn't be hard. :)

Thanks!!!

A little laugh!

Redsx15Fan — Sun, 29 May 2011 01:10:12 +0000

So my maid of honor was a little overly ambisous and ordered a size 14 dress when she is a size 18. I have been stressing out about this. I brought the dress to her this week when it came in and it didn't even come close to fitting. She almost got it zipped all the way up however her "girls" were barly covered and were just about to pop out! I was so upset and stressed about how I was going to approach her about this. I finally asked her to exchange the dress for a bigger size and she did. We went to dinner on Friday and she told me that she was too very upset about dress and didn't know how she was going get a new dress or the dress fixed without me knowing. We laughed for a good few hours about this at dinner. We both thought she looked like a cheap escort but we were both afraid to say anything. :-)

Few that is fixed!

Mixed Drink Tasting and Specialty Drinks. Yum!

chrispygal — Fri, 27 May 2011 13:03:11 +0000

So tomorrow afternoon we are hosting a cookout for our bridal party. We want them to get to know each other better and we are going to be doing a mixed drink tasting to sample possible signature drinks. I can't wait! I've got about 8 recipes to try out - I've got 2 blue drinks, 2 purple drinks, a spiced pear mojito, and then just a few other drinks that I thought sounded yummy.

I go back and forth between just offering one specialty drink or doing a few. Having one can be cool in a way because the bartenders could have trays of them ready when the ceremony is over and people don't have to wait for a drink. But if we have a few, that gives people options. I was thinking of having four and calling them: Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, and Something Blue. If I can't come up with a "blue" drink I like, I'm also thinking about having three and calling them: Love Potion #9, Love Potion #4, and Love Potion #11 (our wedding date). I know I always like a drink menu when I go out because it's fun to try something new. That's the draw of having multiple drinks.

So.....what do you guys think? One drink or multiple drinks? What are you all doing for specialty drinks, or are you skipping the whole "trend"?

chair rentals

fickrj5 — Thu, 26 May 2011 17:03:15 +0000

I was planning on renting the chairs from my venue, but they are $5.25 per chair, which I think is a bit much. I am looking for white or plain wooden chairs for our ceremony only which is in the Skowhegan area. Do any of you have any recommendations for chair rentals?

TIA!

Flowers at a good price?

kbunkwedding — Wed, 25 May 2011 18:06:42 +0000

Anyone have any suggestions for wedding flowers at a good price in the Kennebunk/Wells area?

I remember someone had some recommendations earlier this year but I can't find them. Would love some inexpensive options?

DJ suggestions?

kbunkwedding — Tue, 24 May 2011 14:43:30 +0000

I'm looking for a suggestion for a disc jockey in southern Maine (Kennebunkport/Wells) for our December wedding. What I want is someone who is really a great personality not just reading a script, if you know what I mean? I value the music above most things.

thanks in advance! :-)

101 days/checks!

jelenybeany — Wed, 25 May 2011 21:21:59 +0000

My wedding is in 101 days....and all the other September 3 brides!

I'm doing mismatched china for the wedding and today I bought what I think will be the last piece needed, I bought a ton of crystal wine glasses for $.30 a piece (love thrift stores), finally called in and reserved my lace overlays, chairs, and wine, water, and champagne glasses.

Silverware is driving me nuts. It's $.35 a piece to rent so I've looked into buying. Everything I'm finding on the lower end doesn't have a matching salad fork. Grr.

How did everyone else use this fabulous day?

life is funny - advice?

plato79 — Fri, 27 May 2011 13:22:23 +0000

So I've been trying to plan the honeymoon and while I have the whole trip planned, we just never could sit down to finalize things. Basically, things didn't get booked. I could still book it, but there's a conference I just found out about that's in mid-june that I really, really ought to take. So we're thinking of post-poning the trip until winter, which is fine. FI thinks this whole never being able to book was a fate thing, since I wouldn't be able to take this course that I need if we had. It might be!

So now we're looking at local or less expensive get-aways for about a week. FI suggested California, which I'm totally up for, but think it would definitely run closer to what we were hoping to spend on the Costa Rica trip. I was also looking into a road trip option, since he and I have done several and really have a blast. My idea was to start in NH where I already have a two-night voucher in N. Conway, head up to The Balsams for a night since I've always wanted to go there, do 2 days in Montreal, 2 days in Quebec, then do a one nighter on the Maine coast.

Thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions for different trip(s)?

My DIY's

Redsx15Fan — Thu, 19 May 2011 19:23:42 +0000

I thought I would share my invitations and place crads that i made.. I LOVE THEM and made them myself!

Favors - check! PIP

plato79 — Tue, 24 May 2011 16:51:48 +0000

175 favors complete. The picture is of the opened box and a closed one to give you the whole feel. The sticker says our names under the image and over the image it reads: Thank you for joining us on this special day!

What are you ladies up to today?

fickrj5 — Tue, 24 May 2011 20:31:18 +0000

I have the day off today and I was able to finish making the corsages and the pamanders for the wedding. I had made some already but needed to finish up the rest. I also got my samples from paperandmore.com and did a mock up of the invites.

Other than that I played outside with the pup and am now waiting for FI to get home and have dinner and watch the finale of glee tonight!

What have you ladies been up to? WR or NWR?