NEED HELP!!! (sorry its so long but I´m stressing out)

So, as many of you know, I am currently living in South America (Ecuador) and planning the wedding from here. We decided on April because his daughter is on vacay from school and we could stay a couple of weeks. We decided on 2010 b.c why wait another year if we are already living together.

before deciding to get married we had already planned a trip to NY/FL. We were going to go to NY in June/July but then my sisters decided to go on a disney cruise for my parents 30th ANN. To make it cheaper we combined both trips and are now doing 3 weeks in oct/nov. NY then FL then back to NY. (found great prices but still not exactly a cheap trip!!)

The issue is that if we are getting married in April, this is the last trip before the wedding (I will be going 3-4 weeks before the wedding depending on what is still left to do). The thought had been to finalize all the details of the wedding during our October trip. I was looking into it and since there are so many things already planned that are unchangeable I have 3 - 4 days to finalize the whole wedding!!!!

Isn´t that too little? My thinking/Questions are these:

Officiant - Maybe I can book it before I go.?? HOW IMPORTANT DID YOU GUYS FEEL IT WAS THAT YOU MET THEM BEFORE? OR DID ANY OF YOU BOOK WITHOUT MEETING THEM?

Photo/Video - maybe I can look at samples from here, narrow it down to 2 or 3 and then just make the final decision that day?? (DOES THIS SEEM DOABLE? HOW MANY VENDORS WERE YOU ABLE TO SEE IN ONE DAY)

DJ same thing - maybe narrow it down and make final decision then.

So far I was kinda ok with that part. But went dress shopping yesterday and found NOTHING!!! Of coarse its harder to find them here and I was going to buy mine in NY anyway but I thought that I would at least be able to try on the dresses and have a good idea before going to the states.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO DECIDE ON A DRESS?? I´m a little indecisive as is and try on a million outfits before going out (plus i gained some weight so I think that may affect it) so I can´t imagine how I will be when looking for a dress. Plus I´m a little insecure (can´t help it!) so I need to make sure that I feel really good in my dress or I will be self conscious on my weddign day (i know i have to get over that issue but it still bothers but its hard)

Then I also have to do the BM dresses. I want to see how they look on the girls. HOW LONG DID THIS TAKE YOU GUYS??

Part of my stress is prob that I´m bummed that I am not doing the planning hte way I thought I would checking things out with my sis, etc. I don´t really have anyone to go do things with me here. - THEY JUST CAME TO PICK ME UP FOR WORK. gotta go. it´s prob better b.c i think i´m starting to ramble. I f you guys can help me with these questions for now I´ll post the rest later on.

Thanks for your help!!

ok first off just relax and breathe! haha.. i definitely think it is possible to get things done w/in the 4 days you are here. I would start by reading reviews on here so you know which vendors to eliminate off the bat and which to explore more. I would call a few officiants so you get a sense of how they are.. then if there is one or two you like best you can schedule a meeting w/ them and book them. Same w/ the photogs, view their work online, get some reviews & call them for pricing and make a few appts for the ones you like best and book. Finally, the dress really depends on the person. Some will find theirs in one day others it may take them a while but i would schedule appts at 2 stores at least for a day so that you get a sense of what you like/dont like.

good luck!

I never met with videographer, I reviewed online and relied on recommendations from girls on here to confirm my choice (couped up).

I reviewed photo on line, and priced out, narrowed down who I thought I would like, and met with her in person with my mom. The meeting was about 45 minutes.

Remember to have fun during this time!!! First off, I think that narrowing down photographer to 2-3 is a great idea, and once you meet the right person, you will know that very same day! I do think it's important to meet them because you'll be spending an ENTIRE day with this person, and you will be relying on them to corral your family, etc., and you want to make sure their personality as well as talent is a good match. We did not meet the videographer in person, just looked at his work and went on the photographer's recommendation.

For dresses, make appts. in 2 or 3 stores that carry a wide range of designers. Lillette's and Village Bridal (Babylon) both have a lot of stock. Come ready with some photos of styles you like. Maybe you can even start trying some on back home just to get an idea of general shapes and silhouettes you like (i.e. a-line, mermaid, ballgown, etc.). For bridesmaid dresses, I found the ones I liked online, and shopping with teh girls was a BREEZE. All of 5 minutes. I actually picked out 4 coordinating dresses from Bill Levkoff in the same fabric and all tea-length so they can choose whichever style they want from those 4. It REALLY saved time b/c everyone would find something that looked good on them! And I like the look of different but coordinating dresses.

The meeting with an officiant wouldn't take too long, and they can probably accommodate you for an evening appt. when the other stores/vendors would be closed anyways.

You'll be doing a marathon, but 4 days should be enough - all in all, I probably had 4-days worth of the above, just spread out over time.

Good luck and HAVE FUN!!!!

aw i am so sorry you are so stressed! I think it can be done as long as you do all of your research ahead of time! narrow vendors down by researching, calling/emailing them. I am sure if you tell them your situation they could do wonders over the phone/internet. This way you narrow it down to one or two vednors that you have to meet with!

if you do it this way, you should be able to get it all done!

as far as dresses, i would go somewhere that doesnt say oh in an hour your no longer able to try dresses on anymore....go somewhere where you can have more time than not!

Good luck!
xxoo <3

Thank you guys so much!! I feel better!! I spoke to my mom and FH and I have two backup ideas.

One is to go in September to do the dress shopping for me and the girls. This would be ideal because when i go with FH in october i would already have my dress, the girls dresses and have met with the vendors. All we would have to do is make the final decision. Also, already having the swatch of the girls dresses means I would know exactly what colors I´m working with. The down side is that the ticket at the cheapest I could find it (and right now there is none for this price) would be $600. My mom said if she could give me $300 and FH said he could give me the other $300. (i´m only working odd jobs for now so don´t have a regular salary). The prob is that´s basically the budget I have for the dress!! So it seems like too much.

Plan B is to find out how much it would be to stay extra time. That way I could do everything except the dresses with FH and then stay an extra week or two to find my dress. This would probably work out cheaper (I´m going to find out today). If it does then I think this is the best bet. If it´s too expensive then prob the first option. Because since it´s a separate trip, I get to bring two extra suitcases (i still have tons of stuff in NY!!) and they charge like $150 per suitcase if I would want to bring them as extra in October. (I prob wouldn´t though. I´d prob wait till another trip)

I feel a little calmer now. I´m going to go to other places to see dresses too and hopefully they stuff in my size and more of a selection. I think that once I get at least a basic idea of the style of dress I like I will be a little calmer.

Thanks again for your help!!

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Posted by JenBill61210

ok first off just relax and breathe! haha..

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hahaha

by the way, this line made me smile!! That´s my line!! I say that to EVERYONE. I feel it´s always the best advice!! (now if only I started taking my own advice!)