Thanks to all well wishers, we are both excited (even the fiance). =)

Rudey, you crack me up. ;)

As far as our destination, we are both pretty set right now on Ireland, but I will let you know more as soon as logistics are figured out.

For those of you whose fathers helped to pay or paid for the wedding, how did you go about asking or was it implied and all that? My dad has offered to pay for an engagement party, but I didn't know if that meant he wasn't going to pay for the wedding and all that. I need to have a sit down with my dad and see if he is willing to help at least.
I'll take a pic of the ring and attempt to post it...never done that here...so will do my best.

(ETA: Not saying that I expect him to pay, just saying it would be great.)

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Congratulations to you and your soon to be husband!

Come to Hawaii and do a destination wedding here. I hear JAWS is a great place. Haha...if so, can I be your flower girl?

We thought about Hawai'i ...hmmm JAWS? Maybe when I grow some cajones...but if Hawai'i sure...come on out, though you might be a tall to be carrying a basket. :p

I have a co-worker who wanted to get married somewhere in Europe and she spent a good couple months researching the requirements, which ones would be recognized here in the states, etc. It's pretty complicated. Hawaii might be a good idea!

Congratulations! :)

Ok all, help! My dad wants to throw us an engagement party, which is really grea of him, but the guest list is getting out of hand on the part of my future MIL. I thought engagment parties were small affairs with just immediate family and very close friends? Am I wrong in not wanting 90 people invited? I feel like I am having to cut my friends out to keep it under the total amount of people that can go to the place where we are having it. I'd say no, but the problem is that she has already told a bunch of people that we are having a party...AHHH!

I'm already feeling helpless here. What happened to what I wanted in this process?

CONGRATULATIONS!
Yeah I'm late but I haven't been on GC for a few days so I'm trying to catch up.

You have to put your foot down & tell people exactly what you want or you'll find yourself inviting people you don't know just to make everyone happy. Remember the most important thing is for you to be happy.
Also, may I suggest a wedding coordinator that perhaps has experience in destination weddings. They are invariably great to have. I hired one for my wedding in December and she is doing a fantastic job. Any and all vendors go trough her and she filters them to me so I don't have to worry about a detail. She does my worrying for me.

Good-luck with everything & make sure you read all the wedding threads in this section of GC for great advice & tips.

It will fly out the window unless you get a bit bitchy. I had to do that with my dad (his invite list to the wedding was getting out of hand) and once I finally put my foot down, he was fine with it. You can also do the "I know you told your friends, but as my father is paying for this it really needs to be kept at a minimum." Truthfully, IMO, if she wants to invite her friends/extended family, she needs to throw you her own engagement party!!!

As far as destination, may I suggest Puerto Rico. Given its stauts with the U.S., I'm pretty sure it won't be an issue with legality. Also, it's very easy and relatively inexpensive for people to fly there. I have one friend who had hers there and another who just attended one and both said it was amazing.

Congrats and best of luck!
Kathy
-15 days to MY big day :)

Thanks everyone for your suggestions...it seems to have calmed down a little bit, but I will have to ask my fiance to step up and tell his mom to relax a bit if needed...I don't want to be the bitchy daughter in law, and he needs to "stick up for me" if I ever expect him to support me in rough times anyhow right? Anyhow, will let you all know what ends up happening.

And it's looking like Ireland! YES!!!! ;)

Ok so brief update: The future MIL has backed down a bit...*damn right*.

We've set the date December 31st 2005 and started the process. I've got the church, my dress/veil, my MOH, my bridesmaid (I'd use BM, but that makes me think of other things), we've registered (I was told to before the engagement party since some people want to buy us gifts - I said just show up, but they were insistant), I chose my color (cardinal...gee big surprise there) and I'm working on the reception site/menu. Cake et al will come soon I am sure. Thank goodness for theknot.com .

My lil sis was right...this is way easier than planning 4 days of formal recruitment. Good thing I am organized.

Oh yeah, it's in Ireland for sure. :D

Yay! This is fun, but I wouldn't want to do it for a living.