Sungela's PJ & TR Merged! Finally an Update! Faux Disneymoon Time [Archive] - Page 2 - The DIS Discussion Forums

sungela

06-30-2008, 01:29 PM

WOOO HOOO you started, I cant wait to read more...

Throughout the trip, I kept thinking, "How am I going to write about this in my TR?" That's because I am a full-fledged DIS nerd.

What a jerk!! How dare he ruin your special day! I sure hope someone was able to sock him one before Disney escorted him out! I'm sorry he ruined things for you!

Can't wait to hear everything else!!

Luckily, he only ruined the special day before my special-est day. And only part of that day, anyway. And thankfully, none of my friends were violent--I was so nervous that they'd get kicked out of Disney, and wouldn't be able to be in the wedding. But boy, did most of us feel like punching him.

Subscribing :goodvibes xx

I'm so glad you started these. I can't wait to hear more about your day. You both look beautiful in the photo you posted.

Booo on the crazy man. I'm glad that Disney took care of the situation, but I'm sorry that it happened :(

Thank you! Disney really did an amazing job at everything, and they reacted so fast, I had nothing to worry about.

I am SHOCKED. SHOCKED. :mad: :eek: :scared: :badpc: That some (insert foul four letter word here) would try to RUIN your rehearsal dinner because he is an ignorant fool. I hope you put on your :cool2: and gave him a piece of your mind.

Can you start your tr now? Oh, and while you're at it, I'd also like for you to start your PJ for your VR now too... :rolleyes1

I wish I had a pair of :cool2: Unfortunately, I spent most of his tirade sitting in a chair and repeating, "We're getting married tomorrow," as if that would make him stop. But I didn't want to ruin my nail polish or risk getting thrown out of Disney, so I guess it was better that I stayed away. My (bigger, stronger) friends did a fine job of dealing with him, though.

But yay for Disney VR! I honestly don't know what I could do to top this wedding though!

YOU'RE BACK! YIPEE! :banana: You Started your TR! YEAH...I think we have all been impatiently wating for you to get back and get started.

HOW RUDE! :cool2: I'm glad that it was handled, but I am just not one to deal with ignorant people...I have to constantly remind myself that you have to deal differently with ignorance!:headache: :mad: :furious:

Your pic is too cute! I can't wait to see more!:dance3:

Thank you! I promise--the TR will not disappoint. The backstory to the pic is beyond hilarious.

:mad: what the FREAK is wrong with people??? WHO would dare show their **** at your RD??? Ugh...im SO sorry that happened! But don't dwell on it. Put your :cool2: on and hold your head up. You're above that stupidity.

Your pic looked beautiful!!! I can't wait to hear every last detail!!!!:surfweb:

Thank you so much! I'm so glad to be back and writing! I kept thinking that I should have taken a journal with me so I wouldn't forget any detail, but it never happened. I was a little busy :rotfl2:

YAY! You started! Can't wait to read all the details. As for the jerk...**** him! You are happy and that is all that matters!

That was exactly my attitude... well, after I finished sobbing and started thinking about how happy I was to be in Disney and marrying Angela. And the wedding day itself was just a continuous happiness binge.

YIPEEEE You started your TR!!!!! Can't wait to see and hear more!!! Congrats (and hope that you didn't have any other occurances like the one mentioned!)

Nope, that was the one trip sore spot (aside from the usual Bridezilla moments--"What do you mean we're not in the same building?" "Didn't I tell you not to go out last night?" "Why didn't the DJ call me back?"). Otherwise, it was all sunshine and pixie dust!

I'm so sorry that someone gave you problems. Good to know that Disney took care of it though.

People can be idiots, and this isn't the first time that someone has given us his esteemed (and unsolicited) opinion of homosexuality. But I wish I could carry around Disney people to take care of it in case it happens again.

So glad you started this and looking forward to reading more. Nevermind what other people did or felt - this was your day.

Linda

Luckily enough, that one guy was so out-voted by everyone else at the restaurant who congratulated us and let us know how supportive they were. And the incident definitely didn't ruin our wedding day (I'm so glad that they have all the weddings in that separate ballroom, in any event).

oh good! i'm so happy that you started your tr!!!

i can't believe that someone would act that freaking ignorant in disney...i'm glad they handled it for you though. stupid jerk...

i can't wait to see your belle dress! i'm so excited! more please!!!!!!!

Oh, my dress! The 2000 pound monstrosity that we carted from NJ... It was so beautiful, so heavy, and so hot. But having all the little girls at the Grand Floridian think I was the real Princess Belle made it totally worth it. That, and the dropped jaws from family and friends who are used to seeing me in ripped jeans and ten-year-old t-shirts.

YAY!!!! :yay:

I am so excited to hear about your wedding.

I am sorry you had someone rude ruin a part of your trip. I don't understand people. Even if you have a problem just keep your mouth shut. I don't understand what is wrong with people sometimes!

Totally agreed :thumbsup2 He is entitled to believe what he wants to and teach his children the same. But disrupt dinner for the hundred or so people assembled at a public restaurant? Not cool. I felt really bad for other diners who where there with their kids, who suddenly had to explain to them why the crazy guy was yelling.

Yay you started your TR! I can't wait for your next installment! I'm SO sorry to hear about that jerk at your rehearsal dinner. I'm glad disney kicked him out! I'm sorry that his closed mindedness and ignorance made you feel like you couldn't be yourself for the rest of your trip.

Because we live in New Jersey, it doesn't usually occur to me that there's anything wrong with holding Angela's hand in public, for example. But it is a reality check that we have to be more careful in other places. We enjoyed our Disney trip, don't get me wrong, but it is nice to be back home, where even the people at our grocery store knew that we were headed off to get hitched.

YAY for trip reports! :cheer2: I am so sorry to hear about the crazy man and that you felt paranoid to be yourself for the rest of your trip. :sad2: I hope you still had an amazing trip full of wonderful memories to last a lifetime! I can't wait to read more about it! :goodvibes

We definitely did have an amazing trip, and we still took full advantage of our Just Married pins.

Thank you all for your support--it really means a lot to me. We are so blessed that Disney changed its policies about same-sex weddings, that we had so many friends and family members who wanted to share in our special day, and that most people we encountered were just happy that we're happy. OK, enough with that (at least until we get to Saturday night). Time for vendor reviews!

IndyBride

06-30-2008, 01:36 PM

YAY!! I'm so glad you've started your trip report! I can't wait to start hearing all the details!

WithDisneySpirit

06-30-2008, 02:06 PM

Well. I am glad Disney made sure to make the example out of him and escort him out!!!! Can't wait to hear more about the whole happiness binge :goodvibes :lovestruc :hug: :bride: :love: :cloud9:

myprincessgirlisa

06-30-2008, 02:21 PM

YAY & CONGRATS!!!

i am really looking forward to reading your TR!!!!!

Im glad you didnt let that "loser" ruin your trip/wedding!!! & "high five" to Disney for "escorting" that "pig" out!!!!

you 2 look so cute in that pic!!!:goodvibes

DecemberBride

06-30-2008, 03:21 PM

I am so happy to see you back! I can't wait to hear about your wedding and how awesome everything was.... ping pong! ping pong! ping pong! :rotfl:

jennifaerie

06-30-2008, 03:33 PM

I can't really say much about the first part that didn't include a boatload of swears, but I'm glad that, despite the crap, you still had a wonderful trip.

Loved that picture of you two! :)

ClemsonGirl

06-30-2008, 03:44 PM

Hi Sunny! I'm subscribing! I was catching up on your PJ while you were gone! :surfweb: I am really excited to read your TR!!! Your dress is SOOOO gorgeous! :thumbsup2

sungela

06-30-2008, 04:45 PM

I’m back from my first married work-out at the gym (we are soo corny—we spent all of last week saying “This is our first married ice cream cone,” “This is our first married plane ride,” “This is our first married movie (the beauty that was Wall-E),” etc). I worked out like a demon pre-wedding so that my biceps would be impressively huge in my dress, but I am categorically opposed to exercise on vacation. Thankfully, my muscles didn’t atrophy over the past ten days.

And on with the TR… Our magical day could not have happened without the help of so many wonderful people. I don't think I would have changed any of the vendors I used, but I thought it was useful to hear brides' thoughts on their vendors when I was planning, so here goes:

WP, Jennifer: A+. Beyond amazing. :thumbsup2 She knows exactly what she's doing, and I only hope we weren't too crazy or demanding. On the wedding day, we were on time or close enough for everything, but I never felt rushed. And all of our guests thought everything was as smooth as can be, which is the ultimate test of coordination.

My best advice with Disney is to trust them. At times before the wedding, I was worried that Jennifer didn’t need to ask me more questions or have me do more (I have a twinge of OCD, ok?). But let me repeat: she knows what she’s doing. Our wedding was not her first. Disney has this wedding thing down to a science.

Floral, Laura Kidd: A+. Wow. Wow. Our bouquets were the right size, shape, and color. The centerpieces were exactly what I had in mind. And the overall look of the ballroom was better than I could have dreamt. I can't wait to show you the pictures that Misty took, because the ones I have don't do the decor justice, but everything was bright and shiny without being gaudy or overdone. Funnily enough, we had very few specific ideas about what we wanted, other than a general color scheme and feel, but Laura got everything exactly right. We brought down pictures of what we liked to the Planning Session, and showed her our favorite colors, and she took care of the rest.

Disney overall, A+ (sensing a theme?). After the ceremony, the Rabbi’s wife told me that she noticed that Disney had perfectly placed our Kiddush wine directly in front of Cinderella’s castle. So not only was the whole Wedding Pavilion designed to have the MK vantage point, but someone purposely arranged our props to be perfectly centered. It was a small touch, but those kinds of details made a huge difference. I know that there are thousands of Disney weddings every year, but to us and our guests, it was the most magical experience ever. I couldn’t ask for a better place to have gotten married.

Cosmetology, Beaute Speciale, A-. Lilli and Lorena were right on time, even at 4:30 AM. And I thought they did a remarkable job on my sister, my mother, and Angela. My sister has never looked so good, and it’s pretty close to impossible to do anything with my mom’s hair (it’s very thin), but she looked great. Angela was stunning, and that’s not just marital pride. I was worried, because I normally prefer Angela sans makeup, but she looked more beautiful than I’ve ever seen her. And her hair was perfect—up in a bun with an orchid. As for me, well, I’m happy with the pictures, but I wasn’t 100% thrilled. Bear in mind, my discomfort is completely and totally my own fault. My hair wasn’t what I wanted at first, and they fixed it until I was happy. But I thought my makeup looked too dark. Everyone else loved it, and mentioned a few times that they thought I should wear makeup more often. But the first thing that Angela said when she saw me (ok, not the very first thing, but soon enough), was, “I like you better without makeup.”

So, if I was committed prior to the wedding to making sure that I was satisfied, why didn’t I say anything? Because 1) I knew that the pictures would turn out better if I did wear more makeup than I was perhaps comfortable with 2) I felt pressed for time (my sister and I went first, and then my mom and Angela) and 3) I honestly don’t know if I would ever have been satisfied with my makeup. I can count on my two hands the number of times I’ve worn makeup, usually because preppier girls find it fun to dress me up (I’m like a character in one of those movies where the geeky girl gets made-over into a bombshell; people find it fun to see the transformed me, even if I fall over in heels). But I wanted to look glam on my wedding day, even if it meant feeling a little un-me. My only complaint is that the makeup ran, so that it was pretty much all gone by the end of the reception. Yeah, I cried, but I didn’t think the makeup would smear so much. No biggie, though.

Steaming/Tuxes, Carolyn Allen’s, A. They were in the right room, right on time, and as far as I know, everyone had the right size. On Saturday, when we got all the stuff, most of our bridal party avoided informing me of any problems (I was just a little stressed out already), but I’m pretty sure everything was perfect. And they are so smart to leave the cleaning/preservation form. I didn’t really think about transporting the dress back to NJ, but when we thought about packing everything we had brought plus all of our gifts and other miscellaneous Disney crap, there was no way I could take the dress. And the partying like a rock star definitely took its toll on the fine silk fabric. Compared to the rates for dry cleaning up here, their prices were great.

Photography, Misty Miotto, A+. Another wow. I was so impressed with her photos from other weddings that I knew I wanted her for mine, but it was her professionalism, her flexibility, and her command of any situation that made her the best photographer I could ask for. When my makeup started to run, she immediately went to get lotion and water to fix it. When my sister wouldn’t get off the phone long enough to take a picture, Misty cajoled her into focusing. She was everywhere at once during the reception, and unobtrusive during the ceremony. She stayed late to make sure she could get a few last shots. I highly recommend her to anyone. And I CANNOT WAIT to see the final product.

Officiant, Rabbi Gluck, A. The process of converting to Judaism is a long one, and it requires frequent meetings with a rabbi, in addition to conversion classes. Thus, Angela and I have spent the past year meeting at least bi-monthly with our rabbi, and we’ve gotten to know him pretty well. He was a natural choice to perform the ceremony. We had a little drama in terms of payment, but I don’t have any regrets about having him marry us. His charge to us was so perfectly us that it was worth double what we paid, and the ceremony was everything we wanted—romantic, short, and focused on us as a couple. If you’re deciding between flying in your own clergyperson and finding someone in Florida, I recommend your own, even if the cost is greater. It made our service so much more meaningful.

Videography, Disney, A. Hard to judge, because I haven’t seen the finished product. But I loved our camera guy, Steve, and he seemed to like us (he said that ours was the best wedding he’s ever been to, and I don’t care if he says that to everyone). I hope that we get all the raw footage, or else he’ll have to assemble an outtakes version. We just had too much fun.

Miscellaneous vendors: Exquisite Bride, where I got my dress, was amazing. They did everything on time, took care of me when things went wrong (to be explained shortly), and were as happy as bridal people should be. The Bridal Suite of Hamilton, where we got the bridesmaids’ dresses, was ok. First, they told us that the line of dresses we liked and specifically went to see (Watters) were out of our price range (they weren’t). Then when we ordered, they told us we were fine on timing, but called later in the week to say that we needed to pay $60 for a rush fee. Then the dresses didn’t come in for quite a while, leaving us no time to have any of them altered. The dresses were gorgeous, but I wish they had been a little friendlier and more helpful. Mayflower Cleaners, where Angela got her dress altered, was horrible. They way-overcharged, and way-under-delivered (to be explained shortly).

The Papery of Princeton, where we got our invitations, was the best. They worked with us to make the best possible product at the lowest cost, and were as kind and friendly as can be. The Blue Tulip of Princeton, where we first went to get our invitations, was not so good. They were not very helpful, and their only suggestion was to pay exorbitant prices for less-than-ideal quality. In the end, I’m glad that our invitations were custom-made, because they were gorgeous. When we plan our VR, or our child’s bar/bat mitzvah, however, we are definitely going with regular invitations—so much less hassle!

I’m sorry if I forgot anyone, but the beauty of posting is that I can always add in stuff later. So now, we’re off to Day -1!

tlhbdm

06-30-2008, 04:49 PM

Congrats!!! Can't wait to read more

disneygal922

06-30-2008, 04:53 PM

I'm glad to hear you had a great experience with all your vendors! Can't wait to read more! :goodvibes

sungela

06-30-2008, 05:01 PM

YAY!! I'm so glad you've started your trip report! I can't wait to start hearing all the details!

Thanks! I can't believe how long it takes to write out all this stuff, and I haven't even made it to Day -1!

Well. I am glad Disney made sure to make the example out of him and escort him out!!!! Can't wait to hear more about the whole happiness binge :goodvibes :lovestruc :hug: :bride: :love: :cloud9:

I was definitely like this: :cloud9: the whole day. I didn't even let my flower girl showing up ten minutes late make me upset. :rotfl2:

YAY & CONGRATS!!!

i am really looking forward to reading your TR!!!!!

Im glad you didnt let that "loser" ruin your trip/wedding!!! & "high five" to Disney for "escorting" that "pig" out!!!!

you 2 look so cute in that pic!!!:goodvibes

Thanks! I am so excited to see all of our wedding day pics.

I am so happy to see you back! I can't wait to hear about your wedding and how awesome everything was.... ping pong! ping pong! ping pong! :rotfl:

The ping pong table was never idle. Someone had to go over and tell people to stop playing during the important stuff (like toasts, cake cutting, etc). Oddly enough, no one seemed that surprised. They were kind of like, of course there would be a ping pong table at a lesbian wedding. Why not? No beer ping, but we did get great shots of me diving for the ball.

I can't really say much about the first part that didn't include a boatload of swears, but I'm glad that, despite the crap, you still had a wonderful trip.

Loved that picture of you two! :)

We did have a wonderful trip, I promise! It was sooo hard to leave Disney.

Hi Sunny! I'm subscribing! I was catching up on your PJ while you were gone! :surfweb: I am really excited to read your TR!!! Your dress is SOOOO gorgeous! :thumbsup2

Thank you! I'm sorry that my PJ had such an abrupt ending. I meant to write more, but the days leading up to our wedding were incredibly hectic.

Congrats!!! Can't wait to read more

Thanks! Now I have to figure out the best way to write about the chaos of packing, prepping, and panicking.

tlhbdm

06-30-2008, 05:10 PM

This works: :scared1: :scared1: :scared1: :scared1:

LOL!

DecemberBride

06-30-2008, 05:26 PM

Can't wait for day one!

Petals & Pixie Dust

06-30-2008, 07:22 PM

I just found this....
To start congratulations!!!
Second, um...MORE PLEASE! Waiting...but just because I have to!
popcorn:: :rolleyes1 :surfweb:

KQAN

06-30-2008, 07:39 PM

Yay, I'm excited to read all about it! Also, my DF and I are Quakers too - we actually met at Penn, too!

29apr00

06-30-2008, 07:59 PM

Can't wait to read all about your trip!!!

Swmhc

06-30-2008, 09:03 PM

Ya ! The TR has been started ! Can't wait to see more pictures ! You two look soooo happy ~

JonetteA

06-30-2008, 10:03 PM

Can't wait to read your entire trip report!

alissa2008

06-30-2008, 10:33 PM

:banana: BEAUTIFUL!!!

Flurbee

06-30-2008, 11:09 PM

Hello....Just started reading your PJ.....I am enjoying it so far, even though I am only on page 2!!! :lmao: We are going to have the same anniversary...Our DFTW is June 22, 2009!!!! :goodvibes

lov2b@disney

07-01-2008, 07:07 AM

Just catching up! CONGRATULATIONS! You both looked beautiful!

Sorry about the troubles with the crazy man:mad: Good for Disney with tossing his sorry a-s out! Sorry that you have to deal with people like that, sad that he mad you feel like you couldnt be they way you want:hug:

We had the same trouble with ASM-lots of our families stayed there and they put them all clear across the resort from each other--3 of my sisters complained and eventually all had to move to get together- what a pain, but it ended up ok in the end!

Cannot wait to see more and read all about partying like a rock star!!:woohoo:

sungela

07-01-2008, 11:48 AM

I promise, this section will be short. I just want to put you all in the proper mindset before we even get to Day -1. The weekend before the weekend of the wedding was my little brother’s high school graduation, so we were off to Connecticut. I was glad we were there for Noah, but it made us slightly rushed in the days before we left for Florida (on Thursday, to make the timeline understandable).

So rushed, in fact, that we still hadn’t picked up Angela’s dress from the alterations place, we hadn’t made the welcome packets, and we didn’t have a pen with which to sign the ketubah. We also hadn’t written the programs, which Angela insisted we complete (she wanted all our non-Jewish friends and her family to understand what was going on, a reasonable request). But I am artistically-challenged, and I couldn’t figure out how to make a classy looking program. No staples at my wedding! I eventually calmed down, wrote out the text, and sent it to Angela’s mother to figure out.

To make matters worse, my MOH, Eileen, came over on Tuesday night which meant we really couldn’t get anything done. (I confess, I’m a gabber, a yakker, a chitchatter. I can’t get anything done when my friends are over. I barely get anything done when Angela’s home). And, of course, Eileen forgot her purse at her (now ex—story to follow) boyfriend’s house, so we have to drive an hour (roundtrip) at 11 PM, further diminishing my hopes of finishing anything or packing.

However, having Eileen come over early did help in one area: she noticed that my beautiful tiara was missing one of its gems. Oy vey! I hadn’t even taken my precious headpiece out of its box, lest I mess it up somehow. But I showed it to her late Tuesday night, and she saw the problem right away.

Ok, no panicking. Calm, slow breathing. Frantic call to closed bridal store. More calm, slow breathing.

sungela

07-01-2008, 11:49 AM

Eventually, we went to sleep, only to awaken Wednesday morning, the day before we leave for Disney, with a to do list ten miles long. More calm, slow breathing. First stop: dress alterations place. We dropped off Angela’s dress to be altered on May 19. They promised it would be ready on June 13. June 13 comes and goes, and the alterations people need more time. Ok, no biggie, as long as we have it in hand ASAP. But they want it to be ready on June 18, aka the day before we leave for Disney. Then, on June 17, they start getting snippy. They blame Angela for not coming in to be fitted on Tuesday, even though we’ve explained many times that Angela works in NYC, and is gone from 6 AM until 9 PM just about every day. And they were supposed to be finished so that Angela could be fitted on Sunday, when she would be home. But we go in on Wednesday morning at 8 AM (we were five minutes late because of rush hour traffic, and boy, did we hear about it). They claim that they can’t steam the dress because there won’t be time, and they aren’t going to do one of the alterations they said they would. And as Angela and Eileen leave (I wouldn’t go in—I didn’t want to see the finished product even if I’d seen the dress before), they claim that it wasn’t their fault the dress wasn’t done. Um, then whose fault was it? Grrr….

Next stop: civil union license! We march into the office at 9 AM sharp, only to be asked, “Do you have an appointment?” Um, what, appointment? No, I called and asked about civil unions and read the online stuff, and nowhere was there anything about making an appointment. And the only person who can fill out the paperwork isn’t there. But we wait, and wait, and wait a little more. Finally, the clerk shows up, a little frazzled from her mother’s illness and her son’s newly broken bone. And it’s fine. We apply, with Eileen as our application witness (what a weird system—you need one witness to apply, and two to be certified), and then head out. Of course, the online info said you only needed your social security number, so we didn’t bring the cards, but we live five minutes away and can just pop back with them later.

So we run back to the house, pick up the cards, run to the ATM for cash, dash back to the office, and then we’re on the road. On the road to… the mikvah! The mikvah is a Jewish ritual bath (the origin of the baptism), and it is customary to go for a dunk before you get married. Angela went to the mikvah as part of her conversion process, but I’d never been (neither, actually, had my mom or grandmother; apparently, it was not as customary for Conservative or Reform Jews twenty years ago). Naturally, we get totally lost on the way to the mikvah, and wind up 20 minutes late. But we get there, and it was amazing.

You have to ritually cleanse yourself before you can even get in the bath. Nothing can get between you and the water—including nail polish, makeup, and jewelry. So off, for the first time in four years, came my belly button ring. Ironically, nobody I know (save for Angela, my mother, and my friend Scott, who was there when I got pierced) knew that I had a belly button ring. I just don’t generally show off my torso. But I decided that I didn’t want to wear one as a married woman, and taking it off for the mikvah was as good a time as any.

Stock photo of mikvah, not actual one:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Mikvah.jpg

Anywho, we dunked into the water (separately; Angela went first, then me). I felt so intensely clean and purified. And ready to be married. If only the calm, spiritual purity feeling would last…

But twas not to be. We had to rush Eileen off to the train station so that she could go back home. And Angela and I had to rush to the dress alterations place to pick up the dress. At this point, there was no way we were going to pay $450 for the alterations when they didn’t do everything included in the price and they were nearly a week late. (Seriously, she paid just about as much for the alterations as she did for the dress. Still less than my dress, but I’m so glad alterations were included). She isn’t a very good haggler, though, so they only knocked off $50. Whatev. We got the dress, and we’re never going back to use their (overpriced) dry cleaning service.

Meanwhile, I had spent a good amount of time on the phone to my bridal salon. They were so nice and friendly, but they didn’t have the tiara in stock. They got in touch with the designer, and arranged for them to ship it to my Disney hotel. One less thing for me to carry! And if I was tiara-less on the day of the wedding, so be it.

We brought the dress home, and I proceeded to start on my welcome packets. I will include the full text later, but suffice it to say that writing the info sheets took a lot longer than expected. I’m known for my dry, wry, corny sense of humor, and it definitely came out in the packets. While I was writing, Angela napped. Remember this later, when I’m still up at 5 AM and Angela is happily sleeping. Grrr….

Then, 4:00 came, I wake up Sleeping Beauty, and we head out to the next round of appointments. First, our monthly massages. For our anniversary, Angela and I signed up for a monthly massage package at Massage Envy. Best present we could have given ourselves. The massages were great, but I couldn’t at all relax. I hate when I can’t focus on relaxation! But I kept going through everything I didn’t want to forget, writing a mental to do list instead of breathing deeply. Double grrr….

After the massages, we were off to get hair cuts. I was absolutely fine with my hair, given that we were paying someone else to make it look pretty on Sunday. But Angela didn’t want a single split end (odd, because her hair was up, and mine was down for the wedding). I’m glad we did go to the hair salon, though, because my hair looked happy and healthy and ready to be wed.

Alright, it’s 7-ish, I’m semi-relaxed, we have both dresses, the tiara issue is taken care of. It’s time to start panicking.

We rush home so I can finish the welcome packets. We included: an overall welcome letter, Sungela’s Disney Tips, the Wedding Day Festivities schedule, Bridal Party/Special People Special Info, Dessert Party info, and Contact Info. Eight pages, with eight appropriate/horribly corny jokes.

sungela

07-01-2008, 11:55 AM

And just because I really loved seeing other people’s welcome stuff, I’m including mine for your reading pleasure:

Welcome!

Welcome to Walt Disney World! We are so glad that you are here to share in our special day. We hope that your travels weren’t too taxing (and our sympathies if a) your airline lost your bag; b) you waited 6 hours on the tarmac or c) you were detained by security for saying something vague about your suitcases). No matter what, though, you’re here in the most magical place on Earth, ready to spend your weekend at Sungela’s wedding extravaganza.

There’s a lot to do at Disney, and we have a lot planned for you. Please read over the information provided in this folder, including schedules detailing where you need to be and when, important contact info, and fun/ interesting/mildly amusing Disney facts. Please note that Disney is a stickler for punctuality, so make every attempt to be early to all scheduled events. Our wedding planner has warned that the show waits for no one, including the brides! Besides, you wouldn’t want to risk angering either of the Bridezillas, would you?

Once again, we are thrilled that you are here for us. We know you have many choices for vacations and destination weddings, and the fact that you chose ours means a lot.

All our love,

Sunny & Angela

Bad joke of the day:

A man says to his psychiatrist: "Doc, you gotta help me. In the middle of the day, I get the feeling that I am the real Mickey Mouse. Sometimes, I feel I've turned into Donald Duck."

The doctor replies, "How long have you had these Disney spells?"

Sungela’s Disney Tips

We might not be full-fledged Disney experts, but we’ve been around the World a few times, and we figured you might want to know what to do with the few minutes that we haven’t overscheduled with wedding funness. Forthwith, our magical Disney tips:

Downtown Disney
Who says that Walt Disney World is all about the parks? Pish posh! The most fun you can have in Orlando doesn’t even cost $100. Take a stroll around Downtown Disney. You can get a calorific bite to eat at Ghirardelli, peruse for overpriced Disney tzotchkes at the Disney Store, and even get dolled up to look like a princess (bridesmen, we’re looking at you). For the shopping-haters, the AMC Pleasure Island 24 offers all the newest releases, including Kung Fu Panda…

Mini Golf
When Disney’s famous Imagineers plot out 18 holes of golf, you know it has to be something special. And the best part is, you don’t need a rental car to get there! Just ask your concierge for a free taxi voucher, and you’re on your way for free. We particularly recommend the Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course next to the Dolphin Resort. It’s the “hippo-est golf around” (I promise, I didn’t make that up).

Disney Quest
It’s late June in Orlando. It’s hot. If you’re anything like Sunny, your skin has become one giant red ball of burn. What better way to pass the time than to duck inside and spend your day reminiscing about the arcade games of your (long or short ago) youth? For just $37, you can go on a virtual magic carpet ride (no pun intended), play pinball to your heart’s content, and design your own roller coaster—then ride it, thanks to the magic of the simulator! Located on the west side of Downtown Disney, it’s pretty easy to spot the five-story building directly across from Cirque du Soleil.

Disney Definitions:

Disney World: a people trap operated by a mouse

Extra Magic Hours
So you say to yourself, “Self, I want to explore one of the parks. After all, how often do I make it down to Florida?” But which park, and which day? Let us clue you in: if you stay at a Disney resort (aka, All Star Movies or the Caribbean Beach Resort), you’re entitled to enter one hour early or leave three hours late from the parks on specified days. During your trip, there are Extra Magic Hours (EMH) on:

June 20:
Morning EMH at Animal Kingdom • Evening EMH at Magic Kingdom

June 21:
Morning EMH at Animal Kingdom • Evening EMH at Typhoon Lagoon

June 22:
Morning EMH at Epcot • Evening EMH at Magic Kingdom

June 23:
Morning EMH at Hollywood Studios (MGM) • Evening EMH at Animal Kingdom

Buses/transports
Disney is like a small, immaculately clean, and disconcertingly happy city: it has a vast fleet of over 263 buses, numerous boats and, of course, the monorail. And unlike SEPTA, Disney transportation is clean, air conditioned, and fairly reliable. If you’re headed to a park from your resort, you have to wait 20 minutes max between buses. Park transportation begins approx. 1 hour prior to the park's opening time and runs until approx. 1 hour after the parks close. There are also select buses for Downtown Disney and the water parks, but the wait time might be longer.

If you’re going between resorts, you have to take a taxi (ask the concierge) or go to a park first, and then switch buses. It’s fair to say that you should give yourself a solid hour to get anywhere if you’re relying on Disney transport.

Another bad joke du jour:

What do Viagra And Disney World have in common?
They both cause you to stand around for an hour waiting for a two minute ride!

Wedding Day Festivities

It’s the day you’ve all been waiting for: June 22, 2008. Noah’s 18th birthday, Rich’s 49th, the first full day of summer, School Teachers’ Day in El Salvador, and OUR WEDDING DAY!!!

Since you’ve traveled all this way, we don’t want you to miss it, so please be on time to catch the bus.

If you’re staying at the All Star Movies Resort, the bus leaves at 8:30 AM from the main lobby entrance. So wake up at 7:30, grab a quick bite to eat, put on your formal wear and your dancing shoes, and walk down to the main lobby at 8:15. We’re waking up at 4:30 AM for hair and makeup, so I have no sympathy for the night owls.

If you’re staying at the Caribbean Beach Resort, the bus leaves at 8:50 AM from the front of your building. So wake up at 7:50, grab a quick bite to eat, put on your formal wear and your dancing shoes, and walk downstairs.

If you make the horrible mistake of sleeping in, and you—heaven forbid—miss the bus, run to the concierge and ask to get a taxi. It’ll set you back $10-$15, money you could have spent on wedding presents, so try really hard to make the bus pickup time.

The ceremony officially starts at 10:00 AM at Disney’s Wedding Pavilion, with a light pre-reception/really early cocktail hour from 11:00 to 11:45, and the awesomest ever reception from 11:45 to 3:00, both at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. (We have buses to take you between the ceremony site and the reception). If, for some strange reason, you decide to duck out of the reception early, the bus will leave from the Grand Floridian at the top of every hour, with the final bus departing at 3:00 PM. Since we will be providing an open bar for your drinking pleasure, we recommend that you avail yourself of the buses rather than driving to the ceremony or reception. All guests who appear under the age of 30—so really, all of you—must bring IDs, as you will be carded.

(In)appropriate quotation:

“I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.” (Rita Rudner)

Bridal Party/Special People Special Info

Everyone coming to our wedding is special, but some people are more special than others. And that includes you! Here’s the important info of where you need to be and when:

Saturday, June 21, 2008

When? 8:00 AM
Where? All Star Movies
Who? Cliff, Michal, Noah, Rich, Ken, Sunny & Angela
What? Tux fittings and dress steamings
Either you’re at the ASM, or you have to cab it over.

When? 4:30 PM
Where? 1900 Park Faire, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Who? Bridal party and the families
What? Rehearsal Dinner (character dining!)
You have a few transportation options: take the bus to Magic Kingdom, then the monorail to the Grand Floridian; cab it over; or find a willing chauffeur.

When? 8:00 – 9:00 PM
Where? Wedding Pavilion
Who? Bridal party and the families
What? Rehearsal
We’re going to leisurely walk over after the Rehearsal Dinner, and hopefully there will be enough drivers/cars to take everyone home.

When? 10:00 PM
Where? Your hotel
Who? You
What? Sleeping, because you have to wake up super early tomorrow, and Sungela will be very, very angry if you’re hung-over/unkempt/exhausted on their wedding day.

Words of Wisdom:

A hangover is the wrath of grapes.

Sunday, June 22, 2008 aka the Big Day!

When: 7:00 AM
Where: All Star Movies
Who: Eileen, Jess, Angela
What: Gettin’ Ready Rag!
Put on Angela’s dress. Pretty simple… it has a zipper.

When: 7:00 AM
Where: ASM
Who: Michal, Cliff, Sam
What: The boys have to be in their formal attire, gussied up and ready to go.
If you are not already at the All Star Movies hotel, TAKE A CAB. There is no other Disney transportation at that time in the morning.

When: 7:30 AM
Where: ASM
Who: Michal, Cliff, Sam, Angela, Christine, Ken, Melissa, Christopher
What: Depart for Grand Floridian
Off you go in the limo!

When: 7:30 AM
Where: ASM
Who: Sunny, Eileen, Jess, April
What: Gettin’ Ready Rag, Part Deux!
Sunny’s dress might be a tad more complicated than Angela’s. Just a tad.

When: 8:00 AM
Where: ASM
Who: Sunny, Eileen, Jess, April, Rich, Sheri, Noah
What: Our chariot awaits…

When: 10:30 AM
Where: Wedding Pavilion
Who: Bridal Party and Families
What: More pictures, please!

Yet Another Truly Tasteless Joke:

Why are there so few limo jokes?

Because they’re too long!

Dessert Party

The fun just doesn’t end! If you’re not sick of food and/or our company, join us for a Dessert Party with a special viewing of the fireworks in Epcot. Dress is casual, but we will be outside, so you might want a sweater if it gets chilly.

Please note: if you miss the bus, you miss the party! Because we’re getting a special tour into the park, you cannot miss the bus. So before you take your post-wedding nap, remember to set an alarm.

If you’re staying at the All Star Movies, the bus will pick you up at 7:40 PM at the main lobby.

If you’re staying at the Caribbean Beach Resort, the bus will pick you up at 7:55 PM at the front of your building.

The party will last from 8:30 to 9:30 PM, and then the bus will take you back to your hotel. Because this is a dessert party, yummy food will be provided.

If you have a park ticket, please bring it to the party. If not, don’t worry about it; we’ll take care of you.

Pi Jokes (get it? Pie, pi. Hehehe.):

Q: What do you get when you cut a jack o'lantern by its diameter?
A: Pumpkin Pi!

Q: What do you get when you take green cheese and divide its circumference by its diameter?
A: Moon Pi.

Q: What do you get when you take the sun and divide its circumference by its diameter?
A: Pi in the sky.

Important Contact Info

We’d love to hear from you! You know, in the case of a dire emergency.

Angela:

Sunny:

Ken (Angela’s Dad):

Christine (Angela’s Mom):

Rich (Sunny’s Dad):

Sheri (Sunny’s Mom):

Cliff (Angela’s Best Person):

Eileen (Sunny’s Best Person):

Walt Disney World Info: 407-824-2222

To make dining reservations: 407-WDW-DINE (clever, huh?)

Downtown Disney Tonight Info Line: 407-939-2648 (gives you the scoop on anything that’s going on)

Truly Stupid Joke:

Did you hear about the recent Cell Tower wedding?

These 2 towers met and fell in love....and had a rooftop wedding!

The ceremony was so-so, but the reception was excellent!

sungela

07-01-2008, 11:57 AM

Glorious, isn’t it? Only certain people got the Dessert Party sheet or the Special People sheet (obviously). After I finished writing, and adding in all the tasteless jokes, we tried to print out the papers, only to have our printer finally run out of ink (always at the best possible time, right?). We print in dark blue, and set off to buy folders and make copies.

First stop, Walmart. At this point (9 PM), I have my customary conversation with my mother. We’re chatting as we stroll the store, looking for folders. Angela spots some beautiful bright-colored ones, we pick out 25, and off we go to Kinko’s. We select day-glo paper (orange for the welcome letter, green for the Disney tips, yellow for contact info, pink for the dessert party, etc.), and copy to our heart’s content.

Beautiful folders:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/WelcomeFolders003.jpg

Home again, home again, jiggety jig. We’re at 10:30, all stores are closed, and we have less than 12 hours til pick up time. We haven’t started packing, but at least we have the folders and the copied welcome sheets. Except… we open the folders, and instead of the beauty of the outside color scheme, it says in huge letters, Lisa Frank Queen of Color. It is fair to say I lost it. I laughed, uncontrollably, for about an hour. I had spent so much time and energy making sure that our wedding was tasteful, and here I was, with folders meant for third graders. In our infinite, sleep-deprived wisdom, Angela and I decided that the best tactic was to cover up the offensive words with stickers. Except we only had small smiley face stickers, and HRC equal signs. I went a little sticker crazy, making smiley face patterns, and stickering up the outside labels.

Queen of Color Attack:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/WelcomeFolders002.jpg

What Queen of Color?
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/WelcomeFolders004.jpg

I sticker and sticker until it’s 4 AM, and I’m stickered out. And oh yeah, we still hadn’t packed. Angela conked out around 2 AM (she was always the first to nod off at a sleepover party; I was the kid who stayed awake the whole night, dipping everyone else’s hands in warm water). So I put everything together, pack it in all in our enormous suitcases (which we’d bought on Tuesday night, of course, because we didn’t have big enough luggage), print out the info letter for the cat-sitter, run through our packing list a few dozen times, turn off and unplug all appliances, go through the fridge to throw out all food that won’t last a week, write my goodbye message on the Dis for all of you, print out all my vendor contact info and reservations numbers, and wait for Angela to wake up.

Next up: Day 0, Off to Disney World! But can it really be that simple???

OceanGdss

07-01-2008, 12:03 PM

sungela

07-01-2008, 12:04 PM

This works: :scared1: :scared1: :scared1: :scared1:

LOL!

There was definitely a fair amount of :eek:

Can't wait for day one!

We have a long way to go before we hit Day 1. And Angela wonders why I consider vacations to be stressful...

I just found this....
To start congratulations!!!
Second, um...MORE PLEASE! Waiting...but just because I have to!
popcorn:: :rolleyes1 :surfweb:

Gracias! I'm writing as fast as I can, but I also want to stall so that I can put Misty's photos in the right places. :lmao:

Yay, I'm excited to read all about it! Also, my DF and I are Quakers too - we actually met at Penn, too!

Go red and blue! Penn is such a romantic school, isn't it? Wait til the wedding day, when we were saluted with the fight song during our staged exit. :rotfl2:

Can't wait to read all about your trip!!!

What a trip it was! And I haven't even started writing about the Disney part.

Ya ! The TR has been started ! Can't wait to see more pictures ! You two look soooo happy ~

Thank you! We were so happy.... well, we get happier as we get closer to the wedding. I cried my fair share.

Can't wait to read your entire trip report!

:banana: BEAUTIFUL!!!

Thank you!

Hello....Just started reading your PJ.....I am enjoying it so far, even though I am only on page 2!!! :lmao: We are going to have the same anniversary...Our DFTW is June 22, 2009!!!! :goodvibes

It was a perfect day to get married. The weather was perfect (it rained when we were inside, so we got all the luck of rain on the wedding day without any of the hassle).

Just catching up! CONGRATULATIONS! You both looked beautiful!

Sorry about the troubles with the crazy man:mad: Good for Disney with tossing his sorry a-s out! Sorry that you have to deal with people like that, sad that he mad you feel like you couldnt be they way you want:hug:

We had the same trouble with ASM-lots of our families stayed there and they put them all clear across the resort from each other--3 of my sisters complained and eventually all had to move to get together- what a pain, but it ended up ok in the end!

Cannot wait to see more and read all about partying like a rock star!!:woohoo:

Yeah, if anyone reading this takes away one thing, it should be: urge people not to stay at ASM. And definitely not the wedding party. It worked out in the end, but what a pain!

lov2b@disney

07-01-2008, 12:11 PM

more...please:thumbsup2

DisneyBrideToni

07-01-2008, 01:10 PM

I am in love with your TR so far...keep it coming!! popcorn::

Lindsay22

07-01-2008, 01:18 PM

Yes, more please.

Ps. I will be stealing your welcome letter. Tasteless jokes and all.

29apr00

07-01-2008, 01:35 PM

:lmao: Love your info letter!! How funny, and original!! What a great idea!!

Love your folders too! ;)

Can't wait to hear about your packing in record time!!

pjstevens

07-01-2008, 01:37 PM

great start, can't wait for more!

IndyBride

07-01-2008, 01:42 PM

Fabulous update! Can't wait to read more!

pixiemama3

07-01-2008, 05:12 PM

i just read this from front to back. everythign was gourgous including both of you..

Congradulations and sorry for the A$$ that is closed minded.
cant wait to see more.

sungela

07-02-2008, 11:14 AM

love the update!!! :) Can't wait for more! Glad you got the tiara fiasco worked out!! Now im wondering....will it make it to the resort? will her head be bare on her wedding day? will Sungela get everything they dreamt of?? Ooooooh....i HATE to be continueds

It makes it so much more interesting, though, doesn't it? :rotfl2:

more...please:thumbsup2

I am in love with your TR so far...keep it coming!! popcorn::

More is on the way, you fiends!

Yes, more please.

Ps. I will be stealing your welcome letter. Tasteless jokes and all.

Feel free to steal away. I got so many comments (I won't say compliments--the word "corny" was batted around a few times). A few of my older relatives missed some of the humor, but apparently, most people expected something of the sort from me. At college, I was the president of a student group that had a 1000 person listserv (we were lucky if even 1% came to meetings, but that's beside the point). My one important task was sending out weekly emails, and I was notorious for my weekly jokes and horrible sense of humor. Why would my wedding stuff be any different?

:lmao: Love your info letter!! How funny, and original!! What a great idea!!

Love your folders too! ;)

Can't wait to hear about your packing in record time!!

I don't mean to brag, but I am an excellent packer. Partly, my packing excellence derives from my being a packrat (I still have every ticket stub from every movie Angela and I have seen together), and partly, it derives from my love of puzzles and fitting things together neatly. Coincidentally, Angela is the world's worst packer. Her "method" is to toss everything into a bag such that all clothes and items are wrinkled beyond recognition AND she must use double the allotted baggage space. Our hallmark as a couple is our specialization of tasks, so I have become even more adept at packing since we started dating. (Funnily enough, the way that Angela and I compliment each other was a recurrent theme of the wedding--stay tuned for more!).

great start, can't wait for more!

Fabulous update! Can't wait to read more!

i just read this from front to back. everythign was gourgous including both of you..

Congradulations and sorry for the A$$ that is closed minded.
cant wait to see more.

Thanks! Day 0 is coming right up!

sungela

07-02-2008, 11:19 AM

At 8 AM, my soon-to-be bride rolls out of bed, yawns, and realizes that we are about to go to Disney. She is excited, raring to go. I, having not slept in the past 24 hours, am exhausted, raring to sleep. But no rest for the weary in this TR!

After spending four precious hours on stickering every Queen of Color folder, carefully inscribing bright colored labels with the correct names, triaging the appropriate sheets into each folder, my darling (almost) wife decides that we should just go to Staples and purchase new, non-QOC folders. What??? I sputter. All that time, energy, money (ok, the folders were like 50 cents apiece, but still) wasted! But in the way of smart spouses everywhere, I acquiesce. And we’re off to get breakfast, and buy more crap. (Of course, we also had to get batteries for our camera, and a pen to sign the ketubah with, so it’s not like we wouldn’t have had to shop anyway).

Staples, naturally, did not have exactly what we want, but we opted for clear, envelope-like folders to highlight the beauty of our colored sheets:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding058.jpg

Because we have 0 minutes left, we throw the old folders, the new folders, empty labels and markers into a bag, and we’re ready to go. If you’ve been paying attention, you know that us being ready can only mean one thing: the car service guy was late. I expected this, quite frankly, because our apartment is too new to be on most GPS systems, and finding us is always a challenge. So Angela and I wait, say goodbye to the kitties, check and double check the appliances. Wait some more. And then, at last, our driver pulls up, and we’re off!

Obligatory bad pictures of us en route to Newark airport:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding036.jpg
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding037.jpg

My dress, the 2000 pound behemoth, got the front row seat:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding035.jpg

For a Thursday morning, traffic wasn’t bad. If Angela’s not driving when she’s in a moving vehicle, she falls asleep almost immediately, so I spent most of the 45 minute ride catching up on all the news I had missed in the past few times via a thick stack of old New York Times front sections. We got to Newark without problem, do curb side check-in, and breeze through the security line. Nobody complained about my massive dress, which is good, because at this point, I would have put on my dress in the middle of the airport rather than let someone take it away from me. I was also worried about the rather expensive assortment of Tiffany jewelry in my carry-on, but I am happy to report that everything made it safely to Orlando.

Obligatory bad picture of us en route to Orlando:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding040.jpg
Photo of said carry-on, courtesy of Disney:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding046.jpg

The flight attendants put my dress in the flight attendant closet, and we march to our seats. The only on plane issue involved a woman wanting to sit with her kids, which required Angela and I to trade seats with her children, but a little girl flying by herself was sitting in the other seats, so the flight attendant had to come sort everything out. Oy! But no big deal, the flight took off, Angela fell sound asleep, and I was left to my crossword puzzles. And…. panicking. It hit me: I was going to get married. For real. This would be my one and only (God willing) wedding day. Holy crap. Maybe because I had not slept, maybe because my eating schedule was so off, my stomach felt like a giant ball of nerves. When we landed in Orlando, Angela rushed off to get a Cinnabon (nothing gets between her and her food, which will be a recurring theme of this TR, I can forewarn you). I, meanwhile, was focused on breathing, deeply. The idea of eating anything, let alone a gooey, sticky, calorie-laden Cinnabon, made me ill. I wasn’t nervous about marrying Angela; I was more panicky about the thought that I would remember my wedding for the rest of my life, describe it to my children and my children’s children, and I wanted it to be perfect.

But the practicalities of life intervened in my reverie, as they often do, and it was time to get our butts to Disney property. I LOVE the monorail at Orlando airport; it puts me in the proper Disney spirit as soon as we land. We zipped down toward the Magical Express, with my dress aloft in my arms, receiving the expected congratulations (I think most of the congratulators assumed that Angela was my Maid of Honor rather than the other bride, but I digress).

Obligatory bad picture of us on the Magical Express, dress in hand:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding047.jpg

Finally, after so many hours of traveling, we arrived at the All Star Movies resort! I asked the front desk, and my tiara has been delivered—happy dance time! Our room was ready for us (even if s in the farthest possible building from the main lobby—we’re able-bodied)! Angela and I walked out of the lobby, and it started to dawn on us… we’re staying at the Disney Motel. Why had I not looked at pictures of the ASM before we decided to stay there? Why did I not understand how cheap the place looked, especially in comparison to Saratoga Springs (where we had stayed last time) or the Grand Floridian (where we were staying after the wedding)? I thought that the ASM was cheap because it was so far removed from all Disney attractions. I didn’t realize that the rooms would be so much smaller, the atmosphere so much more suited to class trips and sports team stays.

Our original intent was to have Angela stay with her sister the night before the wedding, and I would stay with my family. Only, once I saw the actual size of the rooms, I knew there was no way I could stay with my parents, brother and sister in one room. And where would be get dressed, and do hair and makeup? We knew that we had to book an extra room to allow any wedding prep to happen. But we also had 6 PM dinner reservations at Wolfgang Puck, so time was of the essence. We barely glanced at my tiara to make sure all the stones were intact (they were), and the gift basket I had ordered (our favorite wine, Rosa Regale, plus cheese spread and crackers and chocolate) before we dashed off to catch the bus/haggle with the reservation people.

Stock photo of Minnie Regale basket:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/MinnieRegale.jpg

The first bus to Downtown Disney was totally full, so we figured we’d have time to chat with the front desk before the next bus. Angela waited at the queue, while I tried my luck to get us another room adjacent to the one we were in. When I’m in Disney, I expect a certain level of service. At the parks and the other resorts, every Disney employee I’ve ever encountered has been helpful, friendly, more than willing to make every minute of my stay magical. But the ASM staff? Not so much. The guy at the front desk insisted that we could not book another room for Saturday night until the following morning, and that he couldn’t help us ensure that we would have two rooms near each other. I tried to work my bridal magic (but it’s my wedding!), to no avail. So, frustrated and dispirited, I rejoined Ange, and called my mom to complain. She agreed that she’d shell out the $100 for another room if warranted, and reminded me that 1) I am in Disney World and 2) I am getting married. OK, point taken, time to relax.

We got to Downtown Disney with three minutes to spare before our reservation time. I tried to rush, darting and ducking under signs, with Angela in hot pursuit. Of course, Angela—as I have previously mentioned—is 6’1.” Ducking under signs is a very bad idea. I heard some guy behind me exclaim, “She knocked her head on that sign!” I turned around, and sure enough, my beloved was the one seeing little Mickey Mouses running around her head. She was ok, no concussion, with a barely visible bump. We walked a little more slowly to Wolfgang Puck’s, and braved their “you’re late for your reservation” snarl to be seated right next to the window. One cheese-less pizza and cucumber roll later, I felt much better. Given that it was pouring outside as it can only pour in Florida, we stuck around to drink coffee (with our gift basket in the room, we thought better of dessert, even if I was literally drooling over our neighbor’s selection).

The rain let up, and we decided to spend a little money to make us feel even more Disney-fied. I bought my bridal ears (Angela can’t stand wearing anything on her head, so the ears were out). We perused the shops, our energy flagging. Finally, we peeled ourselves away from Downtown, back onto the bus, and back to the resort. Our suitcases were there (I was sooo worried that I would lose my bags for the first time, just when I needed them most). We drank our wine:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding050.jpg

And unpacked onto one of the beds:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding056.jpg

I fixed all the folders and labels, sans stickers:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding055.jpg

We laughed a little more about the Queen of Color fiasco, reveled in the Disney glory, and fell sound asleep.

Up next: Day 1: The Family Arrives (aka "I am not a cruise director!")

Maggimus

07-02-2008, 11:28 AM

Congrats. I just found this!! Can't wait to read all about your trip

29apr00

07-02-2008, 12:58 PM

She banged her head?? OUCH! :guilty: Hope the bump/bruise wasn't visiable during the wedding!

Yeah, ASM is a bit cheap and motel-ish, but it serves it purposed as a value resort for families. Really wouldn't recommend it for anyone that had stayed at a delux resort before! :rotfl:

tlhbdm

07-02-2008, 01:01 PM

I hope DW is ok. Hopefully not a whole lot of embarrasment. I would recommend Pop Century for a Value. It's gonna be hard to go from Contemporary to Pop Century again.

calismic

07-02-2008, 01:41 PM

I am absolutely loving your TR!! I am also a huge fan of Rosa Regale. We have 6 bottle for our reception and they promised any leftovers we can take with us. =) Our guest count is only 18 so there better be some left. ;)

Goldeelox9

07-02-2008, 02:01 PM

Rosa Regale is my Favorite too! It is the only wine I like. I plan on surpriseing DF with some during our Honeymoon. Did you order it right from Disney Floral? Did the deliver right to your room?

I am loving your trip report! :surfweb:

lov2b@disney

07-02-2008, 02:20 PM

Enjoying your TR!

I thought of you guys one day our second to last day to be exact- they day before your wedding, we were wandering epcot after our families had made us nuts for a week and the kids were having an especially lovely day-NOT! and I (a non drinker) decided I needed a drink! i happened on the sign for Rosa Regale- I told DH that is "the girls" favorite- he was like WHAT are you talking about! :laughing: I was happy in my own little world. I decided on a Grand Marnier orange slush from France on the recommendation of my favorite travel guru Samantha Brown- WOW it was strong---

sorry that was so long-

DecemberBride

07-02-2008, 02:49 PM

Loved the update! I love the folders, because Anne frank was all I bought in high school.... lol.... but I'm a little weirded about by "Queen of Color" :rotfl:

Anyway, can't wait for more!

ClemsonGirl

07-02-2008, 07:34 PM

I'm loving the TR so far!! :cool1: I'm glad you guys made it to Orlando ok and your tiara was there! You did a great job on the welcome folders by the way :thumbsup2

WithDisneySpirit

07-02-2008, 08:54 PM

You do GREAT TR, Sunny!! I love your report :lovestruc

MiaBella05

07-03-2008, 10:56 AM

cant wait to read more! i love misty, she takes the best pictures!!

sungela

07-03-2008, 12:43 PM

Congrats. I just found this!! Can't wait to read all about your trip

Thanks! I never intended to be one of the people with massively long PJs/TRs, but it just keeps getting longer and longer...

She banged her head?? OUCH! :guilty: Hope the bump/bruise wasn't visiable during the wedding!

Yeah, ASM is a bit cheap and motel-ish, but it serves it purposed as a value resort for families. Really wouldn't recommend it for anyone that had stayed at a delux resort before! :rotfl:

Thank heavens, she was fine! She's had more than her fair share of concussions, so she knows what to watch out for. And no bump was evident on the wedding day (my big fear).

I think ASM is great if you're staying with a large group. The cafeteria was nice, and the rooms are decent. For a wedding trip, though, not ideal.

I hope DW is ok. Hopefully not a whole lot of embarrasment. I would recommend Pop Century for a Value. It's gonna be hard to go from Contemporary to Pop Century again.

Yeah, I wish I'd investigated more before making my hotel selections. Pop Century looked pretty cool.

I am absolutely loving your TR!! I am also a huge fan of Rosa Regale. We have 6 bottle for our reception and they promised any leftovers we can take with us. =) Our guest count is only 18 so there better be some left. ;)

Make sure they have it ready for you! We bought twelve bottles, but they only opened six, and people definitely wanted more! It was fine, because they only charged us corkage fees on the 6, and we got to take home the rest, but Rosa is so popular. It's just so yummy, it doesn't taste like real wine.

Rosa Regale is my Favorite too! It is the only wine I like. I plan on surpriseing DF with some during our Honeymoon. Did you order it right from Disney Floral? Did the deliver right to your room?

I am loving your trip report! :surfweb:

I ordered the Minnie Regale basket from Disney Floral, and it was delivered to our room right after we got in. The bottle is only the half size, but it was a fun surprise for Angela. (And me--I like milk chocolate more than she does, so I got to finish off the bag). And we used the glasses as our toasting flutes on the wedding day!

Enjoying your TR!

I thought of you guys one day our second to last day to be exact- they day before your wedding, we were wandering epcot after our families had made us nuts for a week and the kids were having an especially lovely day-NOT! and I (a non drinker) decided I needed a drink! i happened on the sign for Rosa Regale- I told DH that is "the girls" favorite- he was like WHAT are you talking about! :laughing: I was happy in my own little world. I decided on a Grand Marnier orange slush from France on the recommendation of my favorite travel guru Samantha Brown- WOW it was strong---

sorry that was so long-

That sounds yummy! I thought about you guys during our trip. I kept an eye out for your adorable boys, but I never saw you guys. I'm enjoying your TR, though!

Loved the update! I love the folders, because Anne frank was all I bought in high school.... lol.... but I'm a little weirded about by "Queen of Color" :rotfl:

Anyway, can't wait for more!

I think the greatest irony is that I am one shade away from sheet white, so Queen of Color is not my best descripter. Also hilarious: I would never have allowed my mother to buy me Lisa Frank stuff in elementary school (I was more of a Ninja Turtles fan).

I'm loving the TR so far!! :cool1: I'm glad you guys made it to Orlando ok and your tiara was there! You did a great job on the welcome folders by the way :thumbsup2

Thanks! In the end, I'm glad my tiara broke because a) I didn't have to carry it down with me and b) now I have an extra tiara to wear around the house.

You do GREAT TR, Sunny!! I love your report :lovestruc

Thanks! Yours too. Your dress was beautiful.

cant wait to read more! i love misty, she takes the best pictures!!

I loved Misty. :love: She was amazing. And I can't wait to see the final product!

sungela

07-03-2008, 12:45 PM

Why have I called Friday Day 1, even though we landed in Disney the day before? Because June 20th was the official start of our Disney vacation, the day I had been so looking forward to for months, the day we would wake up and breathe the rarified Disney air! (It also follows better from Wednesday as Day -1).

We woke up, a little later than anticipated, only to find out that our dates for Magic Kingdom (Angela’s older sister, Melissa, and her four year old son, Christopher) hadn’t even left Angela’s parents house yet (about two hours away). Angela fretted a little about our Crystal Palace reservations (11:40 AM), but I wasn’t worried. We were in Disney, with all of our luggage! What could go wrong now?

I gave Angela the shirt I’d made her on Zazzle (I didn’t get any pics of the back, but it says, “Being a Disney bride is Tiggerific! I got married at the most magical place on Earth, 6/22/08.”) The front, in all its glory:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding064.jpg

Angela loves Tigger, and I gave her the shirt to wear on Friday so that she could meet Tigger in the shirt. Great photo op, believe me.

We went to eat breakfast at the ASM cafeteria, and I was pleasantly surprised by the selection, the unlimited drink refills, and all the condiments (I love free condiments). Only downer: no whipped cream for the Mickey waffle! What’s the point of a Mickey waffle without whipped cream? And Disney, for all its baking prowess, doesn’t make a very good bagel. After we noshed, we dropped off the welcome folders at the concierge desk, along with my helpful reservation number spreadsheet.

As we were dropping off the folders, who do we meet but my grandparents! It’s kind of weird to see people you know from other contexts in a different place. I couldn’t believe my grandparents were in Disney World. They weren’t thrilled with the ASM, but they figured it was only for a few days. We gave them their welcome packet and suggested they go to Downtown Disney. I can’t imagine them at a park (not least of all because the admission fee is kind of high if you don’t like going on any rides), but my grandmother does love to shop.

Angela’s family got in just as I said goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa. Because we had wanted to surprise him, we got to inform Christopher that he was going to Disney World. At first, he wasn’t sure what Disney World was, but as we drove closer to the castle, he started to get really excited. Angela’s dad dropped us off at the transportation center, and Chris rode the monorail for the first time.

Coolest part of WDW, in my humble opinion:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding059.jpg

Angela and I exchanged our annual pass vouchers for real, live annual passes, and dashed into the park in order to make our reservation time (thankfully, Angela managed to get to the restaurant without hurting herself or others). We waited for a few minutes outside the Crystal Palace in the sticky heat, and then we were in!

I had put “honeymoon” on all of our ADRs, so we were greeted with some pixie dust:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding067.jpg

Angela proceeded to throw pixie dust everywhere, including down my shirt and in my purse. I still have some, and it tends to escape from my purse whenever I try to pay for something. I guess I’m just spreading the Disney magic.

Some ads do a remarkable job of lodging themselves in our psyche. “I’m going to Disneyworld!” is one. So is the Mastercard commercial. I can’t resist: One-day Magic Kingdom tickets for mother and child, $100. Lunch for four at the Crystal Palace, over $100. Seeing Christopher’s Tigger dance, watching him lead the Winnie the Pooh parade, and getting a pic of Angela meeting Tigger in her Tigger shirt, priceless. The food at CP is so-so, but it is really cool to meet the characters; especially for Christopher, because at 4 years old, he still knows that they’re real.

First, we met Eeyore, who reminds me a lot of Angela’s dad:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding070.jpg
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding071.jpg

Then we waited for Tigger to come.
Christopher’s Tigger dance:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding073.jpg

Finally, the feline, the legend, approached our table:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding074.jpg
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding077.jpg

And last, but certainly not least, Pooh:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding084.jpg
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding083.jpg

Christopher also got to lead the Winnie the Pooh parade, but when it ended, Christopher was not ready to be done, so he decided to continue marching around the restaurant. Beyond cute.

Let me just note that I come from a long line of child-corrupters. My mother delights in giving bubble gum to small children, teaching them annoying songs, and otherwise making them impossible to control. And in so many ways, I am exactly like my mother. I blew giant bubbles for Christopher’s amusement, then gave him gum on the sly. I showed him how to blow bubbles in his drink, only to have it spill over onto the table. Angela, as she often does, threw her straw wrapper at me, and of course Mickey confetti was flying. Well, I always wanted to be the fun aunt. Poor Melissa.

After we finished helping ourselves to dessert, we went forth into the park. We rode Pirates (I’d never been, because it had been under renovation the last two times I was in Magic Kingdom). I couldn’t believe how realistic Jack Sparrow looked (by which I mean, exactly like Johnny Depp), but I was disappointed that the ride was so short. We got fast-passes for Splash Mountain, and decided to wait in line for Thunder Mountain. The wait was about 40 minutes, and it was hot.

Mickey confetti sticking to me:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding088.jpg

Christopher loved the ride and wanted to go again, but we were dying for libation. I bought Christopher a Mickey bar (I really wanted to see him eat Mickey ice cream), but he ended up giving most of it to Melissa. Ange and I split a popsicle and water. Yummy.

Angela tried her hand at a shooting game (she’s scarily good at marksmanship), and we decided to go to my favorite part of MK, the cheesy rides. First stop: Small World. Angela and Melissa have horrendous memories of being stranded on the ride, listening to the dulcet tones of the children’s chorus intone “It’s a Small World After All” nonstop for an hour. I, however, love the pure corniness of the ride. The wait wasn’t long, but… I had other things to preoccupy me.

Namely, my mother called to say that they had landed. Yay! But no, she wanted me to book dinner at Downtown Disney. For the entire family. 11 people, Downtown Disney, Friday night. Great idea to wait until 3:30 PM on said Friday. I called the Disney reservation line, but nothing was available at Wolfgang Puck or Rain Forest. And when I say nothing, I mean no reservations at all. Not for 2 or 12, at 5 PM or 10 PM. Portobello Yacht Club, however, had an opening at 5:20. Which meant no Splash Mountain (our fast pass time was 5:15 to 6:15), and we had to run after the ride. Fine, it was our only hope; I took the reservation, and called my mom back. She says, oh, but we have to invite the couple that we flew down with (family friends), and my sister, who had just called to say she’d arrived, but she was really mad at my great-uncle, so we can’t invite them. So, we went from 11 to 14, and pissed off my great-aunt and uncle in the process. And even though my mother had specifically asked me to get an early reservation, she was thinking that 5:20 would be too early.

I had made ADRs for almost every meal during our Disney trip, but I had purposefully not made one for Friday night because my mom didn’t want me to. She wanted to play it by ear. Let me give some context: in the town of Norwich, CT, reservations don’t exist. You don’t need reservations to eat at any of the fine restaurants in Norwich, mainly because we don’t have any fine restaurants. And I’m pretty sure McDonalds and Subway don’t take reservations. My parents are vaguely aware of reservations as a concept, but they definitely don’t come across them on a regular basis. So for my mother, making plans for 11 people or adding in three people at the last second are not big concerns. Living in Princeton, I am now aware that some restaurants will not accept you without reservations, and they don’t take kindly to number-switching at the last second.

Meanwhile, Angela was chatting it up with a friendly honeymooning couple from Ireland behind us in line. They were so nice, and all I wanted to do was talk about my wedding dress and our honeymoon plans. Instead, I spent the entire line on the phone, playing the cruise director I was determined not to be. We rode through the small world (Christopher was dragging a little at this point, and it had a decidedly slower pace than Thunder Mountain), and then headed out to the buses. We figured we’d take the bus to Saratoga Springs and then walk over.

Unfortunately, Florida weather disrupts even the best laid plans. No sooner had we disembarked at Saratoga then the skies opened, dropping torrential rain and hail. Angela’s parents, who’d picked up my grandparents to take them to dinner, were stranded in their car at Downtown Disney. And it was 5:15. By the time a Downtown Disney bus came for us, it was 5:30. We got off at Downtown Disney and waited under the bus stop, a few rows down from where my parents were trapped, also waiting for the rain to let up. Finally, at around 5:45, the rain lessened enough for us to run across the parking lot to the McDonalds, where Angela’s parents greeted us with towels. We figured that the rain might have deterred other customers, so we would have a shot at eating at the Portobello Yacht Club, even if we were by now 40 minutes late for our reservation.

Sure enough, they let us in, bedraggled and damp. The fourteen of us had a wonderful dinner, courtesy of my grandparents (more cheese-less pizza for me, plus the excellent marinated strawberries). Like a stooge, I didn’t take any pictures, but I do have one of my family taken afterward (of course, the sun came out during our dinner).

Dad, Noah, Moi, April, Mummy (holding her welcome folder):
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding091.jpg

After dinner, we split up. Angela wanted to go back to Magic Kingdom to see the parade with Melissa and Christopher. I wanted to take my dad to see “Get Smart” for his Father’s Day gift. My sister and brother came with us, and everyone else caravanned back to the ASM.

We loved the movie. My dad and I were huge fans of the original show, and we were glad that they didn’t try to make the movie into a mere full-length retread. Oddly enough, my sister left the movie after about ten minutes and didn’t come back, the start of her weird behavior, but the rest of us enjoyed ourselves.

The movie ended around 11, much later than I thought, but the night was not over yet! Most of our friends had arrived in Orlando, and they insisted that we go clubbing. Neither Angela nor I had been to Pleasure Island, and even though we were exhausted, our crew would not take no for an answer. After a day at Magic Kingdom, though, we were sweaty and gross. Back to ASM to shower (Angela got back from the fireworks a few minutes before me; apparently, Christopher absolutely loved the parade, and was totally excited to finally meet Mickey). I cut myself shaving (great idea to shave my underarms in the darkness of an ASM bathroom at 11:30 PM when I was exhausted), but it didn’t stop us from getting dressed in clubbing finery (ok, we’re not that good at dolling ourselves up, but we try. I wore black capris and a white shirt; Angela wore white capris and a black shirt. Sorry, no incriminating pics.)

Noah, who turned 18 on Sunday, our wedding day, was technically not allowed by law to accompany us to Pleasure Island. So I won’t say for sure if/how he managed to come with us into the clubs and/or consume alcoholic beverages…

We had a blast. PI was pretty clean and smoke-free, and the plethora of police officers made us feel safe. We did a little club-hopping, but spent most of the time at Mannequins. I’d say the funniest part was that so many guys kept trying to dance with Angela and me when we danced together. We had gone clubbing exactly once before, so we weren’t exactly experts at rejecting people. I was very glad that we had so many friends around us, though. We stayed until the club closed, at 2 AM.

At that point, there was a little room-hopping (we had purposefully set up one of our bridesmaids with one of our guys, and the plan worked, perhaps a little better than anticipated). We all headed back to one room or another, ready to wake up in 6 hours for tux fittings and dress steamings.

Of course, now that we’ve found a club that we like, Disney is closing Pleasure Island. I’m not that upset about it, because I’m really psyched for the private party room at Goofy’s Candy Co. (my 24th birthday party, perhaps?), but I do feel bad for PI devotees.

Up next: Day 2: When did I become such a sap?

29apr00

07-03-2008, 01:17 PM

Bad Auntie!! 4 yr olds don't need gum!! :lmao: And you definately got a sprinkling of Pixie Dust with that very late ADR for PYC! Everything is great so far, can't wait to read more!!

pjstevens

07-03-2008, 01:22 PM

YEA!!!! Another great update! Why are there never any pics of you though. You have to get in FRONT of the camera once in a while (especially with the characters). Can't wait for more.

mla1977

07-03-2008, 02:00 PM

I guess Papa Gino's doesn't qualify as fine dining either? Is it even there still?

I enjoyed Mannequins when I have visited there. Did you guys get to the Adventurer's Club at all? That is the only place that I am truly going to miss.

DecemberBride

07-03-2008, 02:18 PM

Love the update, as usual! My dad doesn't grasp the need for ressies at Disney either.... "What do you mean you can't just go to a place and eat?" :sad2: :scared:

Mama of Indybride

07-04-2008, 12:58 AM

Such a great report! You are so descriptive and the joy comes through your whole TR.

Interesting foreshadowing, with the sisterly "weird behavior". We wonders what happens, and can't wait to find out! :lmao:

meryll83

07-04-2008, 02:56 AM

jennifaerie

07-04-2008, 05:09 PM

You two have the *best* sense of humor. I'm so glad I read your welcome packs. They were hilarious.

I can't tell you how excited I've been to read what happened when you got married. It seemed like it was never going to come, and then poof! The next time I blink, I'll probably be married too.

>blink<

Wait. Okay, maybe next blink!

keenercam

07-04-2008, 07:52 PM

Oh, sweetie! I am so glad I didn't miss your whole TR while I was away. Woohoo! :woohoo: The best is yet to come! Just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your sense of humor! The sneak peek pix are gorgeous! You both looked so beautiful! More! More! :hug: :cloud9:

Petals & Pixie Dust

07-05-2008, 07:22 PM

Lovin' it! More please! popcorn::

Flurbee

07-07-2008, 01:30 AM

I love your TR!!! You are so funny....:lmao: Can't wait to hear what happens next....

keenercam

07-07-2008, 11:21 AM

We're waiting ........ :hyper: :banana: :)

sungela

07-07-2008, 05:04 PM

Bad Auntie!! 4 yr olds don't need gum!! :lmao: And you definately got a sprinkling of Pixie Dust with that very late ADR for PYC! Everything is great so far, can't wait to read more!!

But 4 year olds with gum are so cute!

I can't believe they had anything available for that many people--we were so lucky, and the dinner was lovely. I forgot to add a funny tidbit: after being rained on and then walking into the over-air conditioned restaurant, Angela and I were freezing. So our lovely waitress got us two tablecloths to wrap ourselves up in! I wish I had pics.

YEA!!!! Another great update! Why are there never any pics of you though. You have to get in FRONT of the camera once in a while (especially with the characters). Can't wait for more.

I don't know why I never get to be in the pictures! I have no character pictures from our whole Disney trip--how sad is that! When we go back to use our Annual Passes, I'm going to have to insist that we stand in every Photo Pass line so I can finally have some good shots.

I guess Papa Gino's doesn't qualify as fine dining either? Is it even there still?

I enjoyed Mannequins when I have visited there. Did you guys get to the Adventurer's Club at all? That is the only place that I am truly going to miss.

No, Papa Gino's definitely qualifies as Norwichean fine dining. I think it's the best we've got. It's still there, although my family doesn't go for Kid's Night anymore. So sad.

I never went to AC, although I've heard such rave reviews. Maybe if we go down before it closes...

Love the update, as usual! My dad doesn't grasp the need for ressies at Disney either.... "What do you mean you can't just go to a place and eat?" :sad2: :scared:

It's actually kind of funny when people don't realize they have to make reservations. During our trip, we went to a few restaurants where people were turned away because there were no available reservations at any time. I don't think a lot of people realize how nice some of the Disney restaurants are. I just thank my lucky stars I knew to make so many ADRs.

Such a great report! You are so descriptive and the joy comes through your whole TR.

Interesting foreshadowing, with the sisterly "weird behavior". We wonders what happens, and can't wait to find out! :lmao:

Thanks! My sister... well, I love her. I just wish she could have gotten over her jealousy and been a little bit more supportive. But then I might have died from the shock, so better that she was herself. :rotfl2:

I know, very intruiging and I can't even spell that word!! :lmao:

I like to keep you guys hooked, what can I say?

You two have the *best* sense of humor. I'm so glad I read your welcome packs. They were hilarious.

I can't tell you how excited I've been to read what happened when you got married. It seemed like it was never going to come, and then poof! The next time I blink, I'll probably be married too.

>blink<

Wait. Okay, maybe next blink!

I felt the same way about a few of the people on this board--"I'll start worrying when Lynn gets married. Oh crap! Now she's married--time to start worrying."

Oh, sweetie! I am so glad I didn't miss your whole TR while I was away. Woohoo! :woohoo: The best is yet to come! Just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your sense of humor! The sneak peek pix are gorgeous! You both looked so beautiful! More! More! :hug: :cloud9:

Welcome back! Thanks! I can't wait until your VR and TR.

Lovin' it! More please! popcorn::

I love your TR!!! You are so funny....:lmao: Can't wait to hear what happens next....

We're waiting ........ :hyper: :banana: :)

Thank you all! More is coming, I promise. Today is my wife's birthday, and we spent the whole weekend doing whatever she wanted to do, which surprisingly did not involve typing up my TR. :confused3

sungela

07-07-2008, 05:10 PM

Saturday is definitely the hardest day to write about, as I spent most of the day a nervous wreck. I’ve read plenty of TRs wherein the stress of the pre-wedding day leads to tension and fighting between the soon-to-be spouses, so I guess I can count myself lucky that none of my pre-marital problems were Angela-related. But problems I had nonetheless.

The day started out promising enough. At 7:45 AM (after a solid 5 hours of sleep, which didn't helped matters), we hauled our dresses down to my parents’ room and met the very prompt and professional people from Carolyn Allen’s. I had promised the boys I’d buy them breakfast, so Angela, my mother and I departed for the ASM cafeteria. Once we got there, Mummy persuaded us to stay and eat, and let the boys come down to get their food after the fittings. Less clutter and crumbs among the gowns and tuxes seemed like a good idea.

We hadn’t really sorted out the issue of prep for Sunday morning, and Angela and I needed to check out of our room by 11. So my mother and I went to the front desk in order for me to have my first minor mini Bridezilla meltdown. Our position: if ASM had done as we’d—twice—requested, and placed everyone in the same building, we wouldn’t need an extra room for hair and makeup, because we could just use two adjacent rooms. Because no two people whose rooms we could commandeer were close to each other, we needed an extra room. Said extra room should be charged at the same rate as the other bridal party rooms, owing to the fact that had we but known we’d be so far apart, we would have reserved an additional room at that price. Reservation Lady’s position: I can’t override the computer. I wasn’t as upset as everyone seemed to think I was (it wasn’t the Reservation Lady’s fault that we were in different buildings, and I’m sure she doesn’t get paid enough to want to deal with nasty people), but after a few minutes of back-and-forth, Reservation Lady and my mother conspired to send me to the room to pack up our stuff. (My mother did get them to give us the discount rate for an additional room, in the same building as my parents’ room, albeit one floor up).

I was glad to pack. When I’m an emotional wreck, I like having some menial task to focus on, and packing requires so little thought that it’s a perfect fit with reflection time. Let me step back for a second: Angela and I had decided not to write our own vows. We didn’t want our ceremony to go on too long, for starters. We wanted to toast each other in a fun way, without the seriousness required of binding oaths. And we wanted people to be a little tipsy before we launched into all the mushy stuff. Instead, we figured we’d write toasts to each other, both as a vow-substitute and as a thank you to our guests. I’d written half of my speech, the part for our guests, bridal party, and parents, intending to write the part to Angela while in Disney. So while I packed our stuff, I thought it would be a good time to figure out what I wanted to say.

And that’s how the sobbing (Part 1) began. I kept going over how much I loved Angela and why, and somehow, I turned into a massive pile of sappy goo. I cried straight through two hours of organizing and packing, reciting the litany of wonderful qualities that my beloved possesses. I’m often sentimental, obviously, but I’d never had quite the, um, emotional spell I did that morning.

Meanwhile, I think everyone suspected I needed a little alone time, so they stayed at the pool. After our impromptu welcome dinner the night before, Angela wound up hosting a little welcome breakfast at the ASM. Most of our bridal party slept off their hangovers in the Florida sunshine, while Angela chatted with our family members and the sober contingent of our friends.

When I finished packing and crying (for the moment), Angela and one of our people of honor helped me move the suitcases to their appropriate new homes (my parents’ room, Angela’s parents’ room, Angela’s parents’ car, etc.). Angela and I realized that we’d neglected to buy cute, fun Disney gifts for our bridal party, so we dashed off to the ASM store to spend a little more money.

And then, off to the spa. After such a stressful morning, I was ready to be pampered. Angela’s dad drove us to the Grand Floridian. We would have been on time, but… we had to start chatting with one of the bellboys at the GF about gay marriage. We wanted to drop off our suitcases so that we could check in easily after the wedding (I had arranged an overnight bag for Angela with all her stuff and an overnight bag for myself, and organized everything else into bags that needed to go to Jennifer, bags that needed to go to the rehearsal dinner, and bags that could go to the GF. I love organizing.). The bellboy asked us about the wedding, and upon realizing that Angela and I were the ones getting hitched, wanted to know everything about it (“Are your parents ok with it? How does your religion factor in?”). He was very nice, but Angela and I were itching to get going.

Finally, we managed to extricate ourselves from the conversation, and head down the pretty GF path toward the spa. We changed into our robes and went in to learn the art of massaging each other. To be honest, I think I liked the Saratoga Springs Spa better than the GF. SS seemed bigger and more “stand-alone spa”-like than the GF. They also had better refreshments in the waiting area. But the couples’ instructional massage was cool—Angela and I learned a few new techniques that we continue to use. I loved my mani and pedi too. Funnily enough, Angela had complained beforehand that because she hadn’t had a manicure in a while, her nails would bleed. Sure enough, she bled, but the first thing my manicurist said to me was, “Oh, you’ve had a manicure very recently.” I said, no, it’s been over a year, and she was shocked. Angela’s manicurist came over and looked at my nails, and both of them oohed and aahed over my perfect hands. It was pretty amusing, given that I don’t exactly take good care of my nails. Poor, jealous Ange. Unfortunately, Angela and Flor (my manicurist) decided that I could not have hot pink nails because they were not appropriately “bridal.” I settled for a light, opaque pink-ish color instead. Not nearly as cool as hot pink, but I’ll live.

After my nails dried, I decided to look at my phone. Big mistake—gone went relaxed Sunny, and in came Bridezilla. I had seven missed calls. Beaute Speciale needed to know my room number, easy enough. But the DJ… grrr…

Let me preface my tirade by saying that I thought DJ Silva did a wonderful job at the wedding. The dance floor was always full, and everyone had a fabulous time. But he was not the most responsive beforehand. I had called and emailed several times before leaving for Disney, and called a few times on Friday and Saturday morning to make sure that we were on the same page. I finally heard back from him at 2-ish on Saturday, when I was at the spa; he told me to call him before 4 (the same time that I finally got the message), and repeated the wrong information about the next day. We didn’t want to be formally announced, certain people were supposed to say things at certain times, and we wanted certain music played, but the DJ didn’t seem to have received all of my emails with these important details.

With the waiting room full of people trying to relax, my nails barely dry, I started calling people. The DJ first; I left an urgent message. Then Veronica at Beaute Speciale; of course, when I was on the phone with her, the DJ called, but I couldn’t get off the phone. He left another message. I then called Angela’s mom to tell her where we were, as she had our rehearsal dinner dresses. Then, DJ again, so we could finally went over all the details. I could tell that he thought I was a little nutty/obsessive, but at that point, I was really frustrated that I was still so stressed out. I thought that my stress would magically evaporate the second I got on the flight to Orlando, and instead, I was one little ball of nerves.

Angela’s mom and sister arrived, looking very pretty. They dropped off our dresses and shoes, and went back to 1900 Park Faire, where the rehearsal dinner commenced without us. It was actually nice to walk over with Angela alone. She started stressing about a zit on her face, which made me instantly relaxed (Angela and I are really good at balancing each other—if she’s stressed out, I’m not, and vice versa. I just wish she’d taken on more of the anxiousness load during the pre-wedding days). We joked about ditching the dinner and heading to Ghirardelli instead (I kind of wish we had), but we made it, in all of our finery:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Pascal-WoodhallWedding2008016.jpg

Our party took up four tables in the heart of the restaurant, right next to the buffet. Angela and I barely had time to eat, even though we were starving (we’d only had an assortment of peanuts and Goldfish for lunch because our spa appointments went from 12 to 4:30). We were hopping around, talking with people, having a great time, when the announcer said something about people celebrating special events. They started up the waltz music, and our friends egged us on to dance. We were pretty much surrounded by our friends/family members, or so I thought. At the end, we shared a smooch.

And that’s when the trouble began.

Some crazy guy ran over to us and began to yell, at the top of his lungs, about how homosexuality is a mental disorder, how it perverts his children to see two people of the same sex together, and so on. I was shell-shocked. There were plenty of other (straight) couples making out with each other in the restaurant. My friend Jess was wearing a dress that left nothing to the imagination. My mother had made some kind of inappropriate sexual comment within earshot of small children. But these things didn’t upset him, apparently; only that two people who were so committed to each other that they were getting married had danced together and kissed for about two seconds.

All I could say was, “But we’re getting married tomorrow.” Great defense. Fortunately, he messed with the wrong crowd. Our friends/family members were pretty respectful, I thought; they didn’t shout back, at least. They tried to get him to stop or to at least lower his voice. And it didn’t seem like anyone else at the restaurant was that happy about his interruption: he asked if anyone agreed, and only one woman stood up. When the Disney manager came to escort him out (after about one minute), everyone else in the restaurant looked relieved. A few of the other patrons made supportive comments afterward, which I appreciated. Disney staff expressed their profound apologies. Among our group, Angela and my brother were furious, my (paternal) grandmother was bewildered (she’s going a little deaf), Christopher (the four year old) had no idea what had happened, Angela’s mom started crying, and everyone else seemed kind of unsure what to say or do.

At first, I was kind of numb. I couldn’t believe that with all the arrangements I’d made, all the planning, the time and energy, some schmuck wanted to ruin my wedding. I wasn’t so much angry at him as I was angry at the situation: I was getting married in the morning, and I couldn’t even celebrate my love without fear of reprisals. I was scared, both in the immediate sense (was that crazy guy waiting for us outside?), and in the larger sense. Will we have to pretend to be friends or sisters whenever we vacation together? And what happens when we have kids? I can handle a few homophobic comments, but no child should have to deal with it. My little ball of nerves unraveled (aided by constant reminders from my family and friends that I shouldn’t let it bother me), and sobbing (Part 2) began.

Very alluring red eyes:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Pascal-WoodhallWedding2008021.jpg

My dad eventually managed to calm me down. He reminded me that times change: it would once have been unthinkable to have a commitment ceremony at Disney; and almost everyone in the restaurant was on our side, not the crazy guy’s. I breathed deeply a few hundred times.

Eventually, our bridal party came back down to the GF lobby (they had found a bar, so they were all a little more festive). They also helped cheer me up, and we had fun giving them their gifts (the boys all got Mickey socks and their cufflinks to wear at the wedding; the girls got their earrings and necklaces. We had also picked out fun small gifts for everyone, like pirate shot glasses for Angela’s best person and a rainbow Mickey pin for my brother that he wore with his tux).

Of course, even though the rehearsal dinner had started at 4:30, and the rehearsal was across the street at 8, we were still a few minutes late. Jennifer was wonderful at herding everyone. The only slight, small problem? The rabbi still hadn’t arrived. His flight got in at 6-something, but the Magical Express People wouldn’t let him go straight to the Grand Floridian if his reservation was at ASM. Grrr… He ended up missing the whole rehearsal. But we didn’t need him. Angela was a little worried that she didn’t have the Hebrew part of our vows down, but we figured we’d practice later on.

Me and my parents traipsing down the aisle:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding119.jpg

Angela waving hello, surrounded by our people of honor:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding098.jpg

My friend Becky captured some of the chaos on film (her and my (maternal) grandmother are the ones narrating):
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/th_Wedding137.jpg (http://s258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/?action=view&current=Wedding137.flv)

After the rehearsal ended, the crowd dispersed, and we made our way back to ASM. One monorail ride to Magic Kingdom and bus to ASM later, my mother and I ran into the rabbi just as he was getting food at the cafeteria. I was a little relieved (in terms of things getting to Orlando, the rabbi was one of the more important elements). Angela and I went over our vows once more (I had mine memorized; Angela, not so much). I finally felt more relaxed: everyone who needed to be in Disney was there, we hadn’t lost a single stitch of luggage, and we were ready to get married. We said goodnight for the last time as single women (and of course, both of us proclaimed, “We’ll be married in the morning!” as an homage to Enchanted).

Before this whole trip began, which is to say, before I lost my sanity, Angela was the one who was nervous about the wedding. She had a lingering fear that I’d abandon her at the chuppah. Not exactly a realistic fear, but she was afraid nevertheless. To abate her concerns, I wanted to make sure that she knew I still loved her and was planning to marry her, so I’d arranged to have the Bud Vase in her room:

Stock photo of Bud Vase, with cool hidden Mickey:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/BudVase.jpg

And I’d gotten her a pretty card. I couldn’t find any “Can’t wait to marry you” cards, but I did find one that said, “I love you more and more every day, and I can’t wait until tomorrow.” Three surprises down, three to go!

Only complaint about that night: we should probably have traded roommates. Angela’s sister wanted to chat about weddings and do sisterly stuff. Angela fell right to sleep. I needed to finish my toast, and I wanted to reminisce with my sister about our childhood, bask in the pre-wedding glow. So of course, my sister constantly griped that I was keeping her awake. I had to call a few people to make sure they knew the drill for the next morning, annoying my sister even further. It was exactly like when we were little kids and I read books with a flashlight under the covers because she wouldn’t let me keep the light on.

Eventually, she fell asleep. Me? Not so much. I tried. But I looked at the clock just about every five minutes, convinced that an hour had passed. I was excited and anxious and ready for the big day.

And up next, the Big Day! Part 1, anyway; I'm stretching out this baby as long as I can.

keenercam

07-07-2008, 05:28 PM

tlhbdm

07-07-2008, 05:43 PM

I'm so sorry about that guy. What an ordeal to go through the night before your wedding. So what if you are two women getting married. I hope your trip gets better! Can't wait to read about your wedding.

pink_tink8i8

07-07-2008, 06:13 PM

I just went through about 20 seconds of intense polar opposite emotions reading about your rehearsal. I got so upset about the guy at your dinner that I was crying and then a couple of seconds after that I clicked on your captured video and almost peed my pants. Becky and your granny are hilarious! "they look like a very focused group.Those 2 are sitting down with their ****s hanging out!" I almost fell off my chair :rotfl2: :rotfl2: :rotfl2:

IndyBride

07-07-2008, 06:41 PM

I'm sorry that guy rained on your parade! Some people never learned if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all. Anyway- such sweet things you did for Angela. You must be very thoughtful to have done all that. Can't wait to see what happens next.

mla1977

07-07-2008, 07:11 PM

I am so sorry about the guy. Some people are just completely ignorant.

Anyways, I'm hoping to go down to WDW the last weekend in September for AC, the Food and Wine Festival and MNSSHP. You guys should join me!

ClemsonGirl

07-07-2008, 09:06 PM

Great update Sunny! :thumbsup2 That guy at your rehearsal dinner was unbelievable! :mad: I'm glad your dad was able to make you feel better! :goodvibes You and Angela looked great- I especially love your rehearsal dress. Such a pretty color! Can't wait for the next installment... :surfweb:

DisneyBrideToni

07-07-2008, 09:12 PM

Sunny,

First of all great installment! Can't wait to see more. I am sorry that crazy guy interrupted your rehearsal dinner. Unfortunately there are nutty people in the world and it is sad that people are so closed minded. Don't let that ruin your beautiful relationship with Angela. Enjoy your marriage and all the joys to come and block out the people that try to bring you down. All that matters is you and Angela. :hug:

WithDisneySpirit

07-07-2008, 09:47 PM

I am glad you live in a hopefully more openminded part of the world and I do believe the world is changing too! I have thoroughly enjoyed everything so far and can't wait to hear more!! :lovestruc :goodvibes

29apr00

07-07-2008, 10:06 PM

Not again!! I'm so sorry this jerk did that to you! I can't believe someone would think that kissing is wrong, but to stand up in front of people and yell and carry on like that is ok. You're a wonderful woman, and obviously very much in love, so @#*&!) that jerk and I hope you had a wonderful wedding day, with no more crying!!

Mama of Indybride

07-07-2008, 11:08 PM

I was so excited there was more of my "story" to watch today!

Who were the ***B sisters, btw? I just love your gran!

It already looks like such a great time, just from the rehearsal video!

Can't wait for the next chapter! popcorn::

DecemberBride

07-07-2008, 11:39 PM

I swear I cried when I read your story of that guy... I mean, yes I was sad that there are people like that, but I cried because I was sooo pissed off someone would treat another person like that.... I swear if i was there (hey, this is a fantasy, I'd really just tag along to play ping pong with you ladies) I would have beaten that guys a**... plain and simple!

can't wait for another update!!!!!!!!!!!!! i want to see that dress again!

Flurbee

07-08-2008, 12:05 AM

Sunny,

I am sorry that guy made you feel bad the night before your wedding...It makes me mad when people are so ignorant....:mad: I am glad that you didn't let that ruin the rest of your rehearsal, and most importantly your wedding day....You are so sweet with all of the little surprises for Angela....:flower3: Can't wait to read more...:surfweb:

poohlover

07-08-2008, 07:50 AM

Sunny
I have been lurking on this board for a while looking for ideas for my DD's vow renewal. Reading about the run in with that closed minded man was so upsetting. It would have been terrible at any time, but at your rehersal dinner, I can only imagine how you felt. PLEASE remember that there are so many people with loving accepting views that oppose his. Times are changing, but not everyone has caught up yet. Blessings on your marriage.

pjstevens

07-08-2008, 09:46 AM

Sunny,

I can't wait, next update 'should' be your wedding day!!!!! I hope you did eventually get some sleep. Never let inconsiderate people ruin your spirit. There will always be those that do not agree or cannot accept your relationship, but they need to learn to keep their feelings to themselves!

MyMelody

07-09-2008, 01:03 PM

popcorn:: Great TR.. Congratulations on your wedding it looked very nice. Sorry about the ******* that tried to ruin it.
Well, I am glad he was taken care of and that the entire trip was magical for the both of you..

Beautiful wedding and once again congratulation you must still be on :cloud9:

princess&her4princes

07-09-2008, 01:30 PM

Hi Sunny,

I've been lurking for awhile and read your PJ and really enjoyed it and now I'm so excited to read your TR!! :yay: I'm so sorry to hear about the insensitivity of others before your big day. Congrats and here's wishing you a wonderful marriage! Can't wait to hear the rest of your stories!

Best wishes,
Kristen:goodvibes

caryndisneydiva

07-09-2008, 03:15 PM

wow. that guy is a wack job. talk about "mental disorders..."

i laughed when you said the wedding party had found a bar, that's funny!

sungela

07-09-2008, 04:45 PM

Oh, YAY!! This installment was definitely worth the wait! I LOVE hearing about all your romantic gestures for Angela. You are so sweet and thoughtful ! :lovestruc I am so sorry about that jerk, but am thrilled to know he did not rally the masses to a state of idiotic agreement. Complacency is nearly as bad, but I'm glad other guests made supportive noises afterwards.

Your dress looked fabulous on you, though I missed the rockin' socks that adorned your feet in your PJ pic of the dress. Really, though, you and Angela looked beautiful for your rehearsal and RD! :hug:

Angela and I are very different in our romantic approaches: I'm really good at little stuff (like love notes in her lunchbox), while she's good at the bigger stuff (like the surprise birthday party that I'm not supposed to know anything about). And planning all kinds of little things at Disney was so much fun, and such a great way to say "I love you and thanks for marrying me."

I know, I think those socks really set off the dress! Too bad I couldn't ruin my freshly painted toes. :rotfl2:

I'm so sorry about that guy. What an ordeal to go through the night before your wedding. So what if you are two women getting married. I hope your trip gets better! Can't wait to read about your wedding.

Oh, the wedding day was so perfect, it made everything else pale in comparison!

I just went through about 20 seconds of intense polar opposite emotions reading about your rehearsal. I got so upset about the guy at your dinner that I was crying and then a couple of seconds after that I clicked on your captured video and almost peed my pants. Becky and your granny are hilarious! "they look like a very focused group.Those 2 are sitting down with their ****s hanging out!" I almost fell off my chair :rotfl2: :rotfl2: :rotfl2:

Actually, I had the same reaction! I was typing up my TR, getting emotional thinking about what happened, and then I started looking for pictures to post when I spotted the video. I hadn't seen it before, so I watched it and near died laughing. Grammy Rhoda is hilarious. I forgot to mention that when she first met Cliff, Angela's best person, at the rehearsal dinner, she said, "Oh, so this is the donor? Well, I want to see the goods." I just about died laughing then too. Oy, my family.

I'm sorry that guy rained on your parade! Some people never learned if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all. Anyway- such sweet things you did for Angela. You must be very thoughtful to have done all that. Can't wait to see what happens next.

To me, that's the weirdest part: what possessed him to say something to random strangers? Anyway, I love seeing Angela smile, and I can't believe how much Disney bends over backward to make every guest feel special.

I am so sorry about the guy. Some people are just completely ignorant.

Anyways, I'm hoping to go down to WDW the last weekend in September for AC, the Food and Wine Festival and MNSSHP. You guys should join me!

Oooh, that would be awesome! There's only one problem: that stupid four-letter word, work. I start working for real at the end of this month, and I don't know about getting vacation time so soon, especially when we still have our honeymoon coming up. I'll keep you posted, though.

Great update Sunny! :thumbsup2 That guy at your rehearsal dinner was unbelievable! :mad: I'm glad your dad was able to make you feel better! :goodvibes You and Angela looked great- I especially love your rehearsal dress. Such a pretty color! Can't wait for the next installment... :surfweb:

Thanks! I loved that color too. We sort of coordinated with our wedding colors. A few people played along too (we saw a lot of green/blue ties on the wedding day).

Sunny,

First of all great installment! Can't wait to see more. I am sorry that crazy guy interrupted your rehearsal dinner. Unfortunately there are nutty people in the world and it is sad that people are so closed minded. Don't let that ruin your beautiful relationship with Angela. Enjoy your marriage and all the joys to come and block out the people that try to bring you down. All that matters is you and Angela. :hug:

Thank you. I'm so grateful that all of you are so supportive--it makes it much easier to remember that the guy doesn't speak for everyone at Disney.

I am glad you live in a hopefully more openminded part of the world and I do believe the world is changing too! I have thoroughly enjoyed everything so far and can't wait to hear more!! :lovestruc :goodvibes

The thing about living in the liberal Northeast is that it's easy to forget not everybody thinks this way. In the end, I think it's a bad thing for people to be so siloed; I don't know very many conservatives, and many conservatives don't know people like us. Disney is one of the few places where everyone vacations together. I guess there might be friction once in a while... I just wish it had been at some other point (although thank heavens not on the wedding day itself).

Not again!! I'm so sorry this jerk did that to you! I can't believe someone would think that kissing is wrong, but to stand up in front of people and yell and carry on like that is ok. You're a wonderful woman, and obviously very much in love, so @#*&!) that jerk and I hope you had a wonderful wedding day, with no more crying!!

Well, there was plenty of crying on the wedding day, but only tears of joy, I promise!

I was so excited there was more of my "story" to watch today!

Who were the ***B sisters, btw? I just love your gran!

It already looks like such a great time, just from the rehearsal video!

Can't wait for the next chapter! popcorn::

The honor of being a b**b sister is held by my sister, April, and one of my bridesmaids, Jess. They actually look more like sisters than April and I do: blonde, blue-eyed, with ample cleavage always spilling out (I'm pretty well-endowed, but I like to keep certain parts more private).

I swear I cried when I read your story of that guy... I mean, yes I was sad that there are people like that, but I cried because I was sooo pissed off someone would treat another person like that.... I swear if i was there (hey, this is a fantasy, I'd really just tag along to play ping pong with you ladies) I would have beaten that guys a**... plain and simple!

can't wait for another update!!!!!!!!!!!!! i want to see that dress again!

You'll see the blue dress again--on Monday, when we go to Victoria & Albert's! (You mean other people bring multiple dresses down to Disney? Why?)

Sunny,

I am sorry that guy made you feel bad the night before your wedding...It makes me mad when people are so ignorant....:mad: I am glad that you didn't let that ruin the rest of your rehearsal, and most importantly your wedding day....You are so sweet with all of the little surprises for Angela....:flower3: Can't wait to read more...:surfweb:

Thank you for being so sweet! I am very lucky to have great family and friends who got me through my emotional spell. And Angela is so cute that she inspires me to do cute things. :love:

Sunny
I have been lurking on this board for a while looking for ideas for my DD's vow renewal. Reading about the run in with that closed minded man was so upsetting. It would have been terrible at any time, but at your rehersal dinner, I can only imagine how you felt. PLEASE remember that there are so many people with loving accepting views that oppose his. Times are changing, but not everyone has caught up yet. Blessings on your marriage.

Seriously, thank you so much. Everyone's responses have been so wonderful and supportive, and I really do appreciate it. I hope that your DD's vow renewal was as amazing as my DFTW--other than that one tiny incident, I wouldn't have changed anything.

Sunny,

I can't wait, next update 'should' be your wedding day!!!!! I hope you did eventually get some sleep. Never let inconsiderate people ruin your spirit. There will always be those that do not agree or cannot accept your relationship, but they need to learn to keep their feelings to themselves!

Happy wedding day, yes, but sleep? Yeah right! By the end of the wedding day, I was so exhausted that I probably could have slept through the fireworks (thankfully, I didn't, but it was close).

popcorn:: Great TR.. Congratulations on your wedding it looked very nice. Sorry about the ******* that tried to ruin it.
Well, I am glad he was taken care of and that the entire trip was magical for the both of you..

Beautiful wedding and once again congratulation you must still be on :cloud9:

I keep reliving the wedding day in my head. It was just incredible and wonderful and better than I could ever have dreamt. Disney is the best!

Hi Sunny,

I've been lurking for awhile and read your PJ and really enjoyed it and now I'm so excited to read your TR!! :yay: I'm so sorry to hear about the insensitivity of others before your big day. Congrats and here's wishing you a wonderful marriage! Can't wait to hear the rest of your stories!

Best wishes,
Kristen:goodvibes

Thank you so much! So far, so good ;p We've been married 2 and a 1/2 weeks, and every second has been pure bliss. :cloud9:

wow. that guy is a wack job. talk about "mental disorders..."

i laughed when you said the wedding party had found a bar, that's funny!

And a recurrent theme for my bridal party. I'm so glad that we ended up with an open bar. Who knew 22-24 year olds would be such drinkers? :lmao:

sungela

07-09-2008, 04:48 PM

There’s just so much to write about on the wedding day that I’m going to split it into pieces (I also want to drag out this sucker as long as I can).

The issue of who was up first for the wedding day had been hotly contested by Angela and me for weeks before the wedding. This was no trivial matter: we both wanted to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for the pictures, but one of us had to take the 4:30 AM shift. Because Angela and both I wanted to go in the second limo (I wanted the first look shot; Angela was afraid that she’d spent the extra few minutes paranoid that I wouldn’t show up), we eventually compromised on me waking up earlier but taking the second limo. In retrospect, this was a really stupid plan. I was freaked out about timing, but I also had loads of time to just sit around with my hair sticking to me and my makeup fading. And I could have gotten my first look pic even if I was in the first limo. Live and learn, I guess.

Anywho, I finally decided to get out of bed after my long, sleepless night, at 4:00 AM. I had enough time to eat my Rice Krispies, wash my face, change into my bra (with flower power PJ pants) and breathe deeply, before Lili and Lorena knocked on the door. Lili did my makeup while Lorena did my sister’s hair. My sister was not originally going to get her hair and makeup done, but Angela’s mom backed out at the last second and April forgot all her makeup back home, so we figured it made sense for her to get the professional treatment. I’m really glad, too; they did a great job on her.

In the history of me doing stupid, regrettable things, not saying anything about the makeup was pretty dumb. Lili asked me about thirty times if I liked it, and if I wanted anything to change, and I said no. But I thought my eyes looked too dark and the makeup wasn’t as flattering as it could be. As I mentioned before, I don’t generally wear makeup, so anything on my face at all was bound to feel a little strange. I wanted to look glam for the wedding, though, and I trusted Lili’s expertise. I was also paranoid about timing—we needed to leave enough time for Angela to have her hair and makeup done, and still be on her 7:30 limo. And I assumed that Angela’s hair would take a long time, because it usually does (our regular salon has a note in her file that she requires extra time). In the end, the timing would have worked fine, but I couldn’t know that in advance. Anyway, everyone else—except Angela—really liked how I looked. And I’m sure the pictures will be fine.

After my makeup was finished, my sister and I switched. I gave Lorena pictures of what I wanted, and explained the general feel. She did one curl, and I said no, I didn’t want real curls, just waves. She assured me that the hair would relax into waves. After she was done, though, my hair was still as curly as I didn’t want it to be.

Bridezilla’s “This isn’t what I want” face:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Makeup.jpg

Now I was really starting to panic about the timing. It was after 6—was there going to be enough time for Angela to have her hair and makeup done and get on the right limo? Oy. Lorena fixed it, sort of, and put on my veil and tiara.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Makeup3.jpg

To be honest, it still wasn’t what I wanted, and it didn’t look the pictures I gave her. I wanted soft, romantic waves, and instead I got trussed up curls. But you could barely see my hair through the veil, and I was too freaked out about timing to have her redo it once again. If I had the day to do over, I think I would have gone on the first limo, and assumed that I had up until 7 to get my hair and makeup perfect. Lili and Lorena were really nice, and I’m glad we used Beaute Speciale; I blame myself for not being more insistent about what I wanted.

Enough griping. My sister escorted me downstairs (my mother was nervous about me walking around the All Star in nothing but a bra, albeit a full-length one, on top), while Angela and my mom started their respective hair and makeup sessions. I hung out in my parents’ room for the next hour. I finalized my toast, misting up just a little at some of the lines. I chatted with my brother (he is one of the few people, besides Angela, who helps to calm me down when I’m anxious). I called my bridesmaids (no answer the first time, sending me into a panic, but I eventually caught up with on of the guys, who knew the girls were up and primping themselves).

Meanwhile, Angela’s hair and makeup didn’t take nearly as long as mine, and she was absolutely fine to get on her 7:30 limo. My mom helped her get ready (her dress had a zipper—it wasn’t exactly hard to put it on).

Sexy leg shot:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Makeup4.jpg

At about 7:30, my bridesmaids popped into my parents’ room and proceeded to tell me all the sordid details of how they spent the previous night. Didn’t I state specifically in the special people instructions that they were all to be in bed by 10 PM? Instead they were out cavorting and canoodling into the wee hours of the morning. As they kept (and keep) reminding me, they were still on time Sunday morning, but I do find it highly amusing that they chose my wedding morning to enlighten me of all the sordid details. Suffice it to say, the romantic mood of the weekend had interesting spillover benefits, the likes of which were sort of appropriate for a lesbian wedding. After my incredulous laughter subsisted, they helped me into my massive gown and put on my garter.

Mature, elegant face, befitting the bride:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Prep.jpg

After some oohs and aahs, we headed out to wait for the limo. When we first got to ASM, Angela and I knew instantly that it would be annoying/uncomfortable to have to trek from our room in the Mighty Ducks you-didn’t-pay-ten-bucks-for-the-upgrade far wing of ASM to the front lobby. Thankfully, Jennifer arranged for the limo to meet us in the side parking lot.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Waiting.jpg

We got to the assigned spot a few minutes early, which could only mean one thing: the limo was late. It wasn’t a big deal in terms of the overall timing, but it was already pretty hot outside. The poor boys in their tuxes were roasting:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Boys.jpg

My sister and mother were better off, in their short dresses, although the extra time gave my mom the opportunity to take off her bra (you could see it through the dress). Not so good at pre-planning her outfit…
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Momandsis.jpg

I was beyond hot in my massive dress:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Waiting2.jpg

When the limo finally pulled up, I was very happy to do my patented bridal scoot inside and start guzzling water.

Dasani product placement:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Water-2.jpg

And we were off to the Grand Floridian!

On the ride over, I learned more about the craziness of the night before (my poor father had to hear it all!). We also had an interesting conversation that set up one of the themes of the day: Angela’s eating habits/our perfection as a couple.

I know my wife. I know that when she wakes up early in the morning (7 AM or before), it doesn’t matter what she eats, she will be starving by 9 or 10. I also know that she is crabby if she’s hungry (like most people), and she will not be willing to do what she has to do unless she gets fed. So I had asked my sister to get Angela something to eat in addition to whatever small thing Angela had pre-bought for that morning. April got her a croissant and a chocolate-chocolate-chip muffin. In the limo on the way over, the girls decided they were hungry (because they had not read where I had specifically instructed them to eat that morning), so they opted to dip into Angela’s food supply. I warned them. I told them she’d want her food. They all said, “No, no, no. It’s her wedding day. She won’t be hungry.” So they finished off her croissant. I managed to save her the muffin at least. Readers, remember this conversation…

We get to the Grand Floridian, and that’s when my sister decided that she didn’t really want to be in the wedding. She’d been okay up to that point, yelling at me but also being decently helpful running errands. But when we got to GF and she realized that she was going to spend the next two hours doing an extended photo op, she stopped wanting to be supportive. She tried to go off and smoke, which made me pretty upset. Angela’s allergic to cigarettes, which my sister knows, because it’s an issue every time April comes to visit or we go to visit her. And April reeking of smoke, making my bride sneeze her way through our vows, was not how I wanted to spend my wedding ceremony. Besides which, we were expected in the Grand Floridian for photos. Right away. Not in five minutes. April said something to the effect of, “I wish I wasn’t in your wedding.” I might have concurred. My mother was like, “Let it go. Let her go smoke,” which was not going to happen. Considering my mother’s peanut allergy required us to have no nuts on our entire menu, you would think she’d be a little more understanding of Angela’s problem. My bridesmaids were a little shocked at April’s rudeness, but I really didn’t want to let anything bother me on my wedding day, so I brushed it off and we went inside.

And that’s when I began to feel more like a princess. I loved having little kids waving at me, tons of people pointing and smiling and congratulating me.

The flowers had been delivered, and I was thrilled: Laura did a perfect job, even better than I could have imagined.

Our handsome boys with their bouts:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Ourguys.jpg

Angela with her flowers (my bouquet was identical):
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/GFwaiting.jpg

First, my Auntie Pessie (my maternal grandmother’s older sister) put my great-grandmother’s diamond necklace on me. I’m named after my great-grandmother (Sonia), and wearing her only real piece of jewelry, the same necklace my mother wore at her own wedding, was really important to me. Auntie Pessie has no kids, but she’s always been like a grandmother to me. We both teared up a little (take that, excessive eye makeup!). I can’t wait to see Misty’s pics; I’m going to buy one of those side by side frames so I can put the picture of Auntie Pessie putting the necklace on my mom next to her putting it on me.

All this time, Angela had been waiting impatiently behind Curtain #1 so that I could get my first look shot. Remember that whole conversation about food in the limo? Yup, Angela was starving. And her ADD had kicked in with full force, so the whole time she waited, she had kind of forgotten that she was supposed to have the big wow face on when she saw me. Instead, the big reveal resulted in a look that said, “Hi honey, what’s for breakfast?” I definitely had the wow face. She looked gorgeous, and I thought her hair was beyond perfect. We get a few shots of us exchanging our something news (God, I love Tiffany), and then Angela attacked her muffin with a fury unseen by anyone who doesn’t normally dine with her. The only other person I’ve ever met with her appetite is my little brother; family legend tells of the day when they both ate their own large pizzas and then came home only to eat all the fruit salad I’d made for a party. And yet, she’s so thin. And so enviable…

Misty took a ton of pictures of me, outside and on the GF staircase, while Angela ate. She got one great shot of me whispering to Angela what had transpired on our wedding eve (again, I can’t wait to see it, because it involves Angela gaping at me—much more appropriate first look shot than the real one). And then, before we knew it, it was time to head over to the Wedding Pavilion to sign the Ketubah and get hitched!

Coming up next: Wedding Day, Part Deux: Where’s the flower girl?

Lindsay22

07-09-2008, 04:50 PM

And a recurrent theme for my bridal party. I'm so glad that we ended up with an open bar. Who knew 22-24 year olds would be such drinkers? :lmao:

I could have told you that!!! Megan and I found several bars at Caryn's wedding!!:drinking1

irisbud

07-09-2008, 05:17 PM

Long time lurker just joining in! Eveyrthing looks wonderful so far. You are a great writer, and I can't wait to read more! :surfweb:

keenercam

07-09-2008, 05:20 PM

Woohoo!! :woohoo: How exciting! An awesome installment, Sunny, but we need MORE!!! And lots more pix! ;) I am SOOOO greedy, aren't I? By the way, I think your hair and makeup were absolutely gorgeous! You looked like a movie star princess!

lov2b@disney

07-09-2008, 07:03 PM

Beautiful! Both of you! i think your makeup looks beautiful- but I understand 'cause I dont wear alot of eye makeup either and lilly talked me into fake eyelashes and lots of eye makeup- DH even asked "Do you like your makeup" It does look good in pix though!

More, more, more...please!

ClemsonGirl

07-09-2008, 08:01 PM

Another great installment! :thumbsup2 You are a fantastic writer! You had me cracking up when you were describing Angela's morning eating patterns. :lmao: And I agree with keenercam, We need more pics!!! :rotfl:

jennifaerie

07-09-2008, 08:24 PM

Sunny, I think I am the lovechild of you and Angela. I have your sense of humor and Angela's sense of appetite. :D

Oh, it's been such a joy reading this. Thank you for being so detailed. I haven't wanted to miss a moment!

29apr00

07-09-2008, 08:27 PM

How dare they eat the brides food!!! :lmao: Bridezilla on the way!

Great installment!! We need more pics!!

Mama of Indybride

07-09-2008, 09:37 PM

:goodvibes

Reading your TR is like a trip to Disney!

Can't wait for a new episode to show up, just like my next trip to Disney.

Finish it way too fast.

Full of anticipation waiting for the next!

WithDisneySpirit

07-09-2008, 09:45 PM

Hopefully, Sunny, you will like the pictures through the years and not mind that you wore extra makeup! You were beautiful :lovestruc I put a lot more make-up on than I was used too for my VR because with my pale complexion, I was afraid my eyes wouldn't show up, lol! I love your report - just LOVE it!!!! :goodvibes

DisneyBrideToni

07-09-2008, 11:09 PM

Woo Hoo!!! Another great installment! This is getting exciting now! I can't wait to read more. Don't those girls know you do not mess with the brides food!!!! :rotfl:

Until the next installment....I will patiently wait. :surfweb:

princess&her4princes

07-10-2008, 08:57 AM

You girls look beautiful! I think your makeup looks great....it will show up so nicely in the pictures, you just wait. Can't wait for the next installment and MORE pictures! :rolleyes1

disneygal922

07-10-2008, 09:27 AM

Aww you ladies look so beautiful! :goodvibes I can't wait for your next installment! :goodvibes

MickeyAnne

07-10-2008, 01:51 PM

You both looked absolutely gorgeous! I think its so cute that you remembered to bring her food! DH was starved on our wedding day - I wish I had stowed some food away for him!

Looking forward to more!!!

lindseywb

07-10-2008, 02:11 PM

congrats!!
this makes me want to ...encourage... my DGF to pop the question!
can't wait to read more!

BriarRose410

07-10-2008, 02:59 PM

I can't wait for more!!!!!!!!!

kingLouiethe1

07-10-2008, 06:16 PM

Hooray for the two of you! I just read through your journal instead of working today, which is not much different from other days since we go got engaged.

I still got upset when reading about that jack*** at your rehearsal dinner, grr. Too bad I never found you're PJ until after your wedding!

DecemberBride

07-10-2008, 11:44 PM

You two looked gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait for more!

fortheluvofpooh

07-11-2008, 12:03 AM

must subscribe,...... need to sleep

Flurbee

07-11-2008, 01:05 AM

Sunny,

You guys looked so pretty on your wedding day!! :bride: Angela is lucky she can eat like that and still be so thin!!! I wish I had that issue!!!:lmao: Can't wait for more....:surfweb:

VillainesSheri

07-11-2008, 11:18 AM

I must subscribe to this.. tis my dream to someday be a 'Disney Bride'.
:bride:

sungela

07-11-2008, 01:06 PM

I could have told you that!!! Megan and I found several bars at Caryn's wedding!!:drinking1

I'm getting ahead of myself, but one of my bridesmaids was so trashed that they had to carry her off the bus at the end of the wedding. We really made use of that open bar...

Long time lurker just joining in! Eveyrthing looks wonderful so far. You are a great writer, and I can't wait to read more! :surfweb:

Thanks!

Woohoo!! :woohoo: How exciting! An awesome installment, Sunny, but we need MORE!!! And lots more pix! ;) I am SOOOO greedy, aren't I? By the way, I think your hair and makeup were absolutely gorgeous! You looked like a movie star princess!

Very greedy, but just wait until you start your TR! I promise, more pics on their way.

Beautiful! Both of you! i think your makeup looks beautiful- but I understand 'cause I dont wear alot of eye makeup either and lilly talked me into fake eyelashes and lots of eye makeup- DH even asked "Do you like your makeup" It does look good in pix though!

More, more, more...please!

Since I think you look absolutely stunning in your photos, I guess I'm going to trust you that dramatic eye makeup looks better in pics.

Another great installment! :thumbsup2 You are a fantastic writer! You had me cracking up when you were describing Angela's morning eating patterns. :lmao: And I agree with keenercam, We need more pics!!! :rotfl:

Thank you! More pics in the next post, I promise.

Sunny, I think I am the lovechild of you and Angela. I have your sense of humor and Angela's sense of appetite. :D

Oh, it's been such a joy reading this. Thank you for being so detailed. I haven't wanted to miss a moment!

:rotfl2: If we have a child like Angela, I can't imagine what our grocery bills will be. We'll have to buy in bulk for one. :scared1:

How dare they eat the brides food!!! :lmao: Bridezilla on the way!

Great installment!! We need more pics!!

No kidding--what were they thinking? I told them she'd be hungry, but they didn't believe it until they saw her literally attack the muffin.

:goodvibes

Reading your TR is like a trip to Disney!

Can't wait for a new episode to show up, just like my next trip to Disney.

Finish it way too fast.

Full of anticipation waiting for the next!

Well, what Disney ride would be complete without a really long wait? :lmao:

Hopefully, Sunny, you will like the pictures through the years and not mind that you wore extra makeup! You were beautiful :lovestruc I put a lot more make-up on than I was used too for my VR because with my pale complexion, I was afraid my eyes wouldn't show up, lol! I love your report - just LOVE it!!!! :goodvibes

One of the (many) reasons I love your dress is that it set off your pale skin so beautifully. I don't know why anyone thinks that people of our melanin-lacking shade should ever wear white... But I know, I'll probably be fine with the makeup when I see the pics. I probably should have done a practice run, though, just to make sure I was more comfortable with it.

Woo Hoo!!! Another great installment! This is getting exciting now! I can't wait to read more. Don't those girls know you do not mess with the brides food!!!! :rotfl:

Until the next installment....I will patiently wait. :surfweb:

Patience? That's a quality of someone on these boards? :rotfl:

You girls look beautiful! I think your makeup looks great....it will show up so nicely in the pictures, you just wait. Can't wait for the next installment and MORE pictures! :rolleyes1

Aww you ladies look so beautiful! :goodvibes I can't wait for your next installment! :goodvibes

Thanks for playing along! Next installment is ready to be uploaded.

You both looked absolutely gorgeous! I think its so cute that you remembered to bring her food! DH was starved on our wedding day - I wish I had stowed some food away for him!

Looking forward to more!!!

Poor guy! I'm pretty sure that if Angela wasn't fed, she a) would have refused to take any pictures; b) her stomach would have grumbled loudly under the chuppah; and c) her normally sweet disposition would have given way to Bridezilla 2: Bigger, Stronger, and Hungrier.

congrats!!
this makes me want to ...encourage... my DGF to pop the question!
can't wait to read more!

Being engaged was the best! Aside from being married, which is even better. But why wait? I enjoyed proposing to Ange, even if she'd already popped the question to me.

I can't wait for more!!!!!!!!!

It's coming, it's coming.

Hooray for the two of you! I just read through your journal instead of working today, which is not much different from other days since we go got engaged.

I still got upset when reading about that jack*** at your rehearsal dinner, grr. Too bad I never found you're PJ until after your wedding!

But now the suspense is gone! Congrats to you--I'm jealous that your ceremony is legit, while we had to do the boring civil union paper-signing separately.

You two looked gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait for more!

Thank you!

must subscribe,...... need to sleep

Sleep? You'll sleep enough when you're dead! That was my wedding mantra, anyway.

Sunny,

You guys looked so pretty on your wedding day!! :bride: Angela is lucky she can eat like that and still be so thin!!! I wish I had that issue!!!:lmao: Can't wait for more....:surfweb:

Yeah, most people who meet Angela hate her for her metabolism. So unfair. Her mom's metabolism died when she hit 40, though, so I'm anxiously awaiting the day that she's have to... gasp... diet.

I must subscribe to this.. tis my dream to someday be a 'Disney Bride'.
:bride:

I can't recommend Disney enough! Btw, I love the Marie quotation in your siggie; Aristocats is Angela's favorite Disney film.

sungela

07-11-2008, 01:16 PM

I had intended to use the limo ride to the Wedding Pavilion as the time to tell my parents about our gift to them: their replacement ketubah. But somehow, in the midst of all the craziness, with tons of people everywhere I turned, I didn’t have a chance to say anything.

We got to the WP, and were directed into the bridal vestibule to get a few more pictures and sign the ketubah. My memory of this half hour is a little fuzzy. So many people were running around, saying hi, congratulating us. I do remember standing in the right half of the bridal vestibule (the ketubot were in the left half), and my mom wandering to the other side only to discover her ketubah. That’s when she started crying. My dad was just incredulous that we’d think of them on our special day. Unfortunately, the calligrapher (Angela’s mom) had made a few mistakes—including the year of my parents’ wedding—but my parents either didn’t notice or didn’t say anything to me. I teared up a little too (#4, for those who are keeping score).

I have no earthly idea what we’re laughing about:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Laughing.jpg

We got to see all of Angela’s mother’s beautiful handiwork (Please be advised: contents may have shifted while in motion. I took these pictures today, after the objects depicted below have suffered the indignity of being stuffed into suitcases and transported several thousand miles. They don’t look as good as they did day of, but the colors are just as perky as ever).

Bucket o’ yarmulkes:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/WeddingProps007-1.jpg

Program basket:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/WeddingProps003-1.jpg

Front of program:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/WeddingProps004-1.jpg

Back of program:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/WeddingProps005-1.jpg

(I tried to keep the program pretty staid, but we did have one in-joke. The first time Angela and I met, we walked down to Wharton Reprographics to pick up our bulk packs for the class we were in. We wouldn’t be foolish enough to pay exorbitant Penn prices to copy our programs, but we did import the logo. We thought it was funny).

A good number of pictures later (seriously, Misty, hurry up! I am craving wedding photos), and it was ketubah signing time.

Way back when we had gone small-gift shopping the day before, I showed Angela a really cool ballpoint pen that matched all the colors of our wedding. We had already bought a pen to sign the ketubah with, though (remember Day 0’s mad dash to Staples), so we figured it wasn’t worth $20 for a pen, albeit a really, really cool one. However, one of our people of honor, Michal, overheard the deliberations, and he bought us the pen as a little gift:

Super-cool pen, although my photography skills don’t do it justice:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/WeddingProps001.jpg

I love gifts like that! Using said pen, we signed the ketubah:

Us signing ketubah, with Misty looming overhead:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/KetubahSigning.jpg

And in case you’ve forgotten how cool the ketubah is:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Pascal-WoodhallWedding2008044.jpg

Now we were sort of officially married (halfway there, anyway). It was at this point (9:50-something) that we realized we were missing my (maternal) grandmother, both of my mothers’ siblings and their massive brood. Which included… the flower girl! Grammy showed up with my mother’s sister, Elise, and her kids at 9:55, but my mother’s brother, Michael, aka the father of the flower girl, still was a no-show. My mother was livid. Angela was pretty pissed. I was determined not to be angry about anything on my wedding day, so I thought it was kind of funny.

The cameraman decided that this was a good time to record messages to each other. Apparently, Angela’s involves her saying in a hurried voice, “I’m not nearly as nervous as Sunny.” Mine, you ask? I sobbed, “I just love Angela so much.” And by sobbed, I mean sobbed. Cried. A lot. I can’t wait for the video!

Back to the flower girl drama. Quick on our feet, we decided to hunt for a substitute flower girl. First, we asked Angela’s adorable nephew, but his mom put the kibosh on that (she didn’t want him to participate in a lesbian wedding in the first place, which is why we didn’t have a ring bearer, and I guess being the flower child was even worse). Next, we thought of my cousin, Jessica, who is 10 and happened to be wearing the perfect color. Just as we had corralled her into being a substitute flower girl, the real flower girl showed up, wearing… not the perfect color.

I don’t remember if I posted about it in my PJ before, but my aunt Elise had bought the flower girl a pale green dress on the assumption that when my mom said the wedding colors were blue and green, she meant pastels. Not so much. I had talked to the flower girl’s mother, my other aunt, Donna, and asked her to buy a cheap white dress, and I figured we’d just tie pretty ribbons around her waist. I told her she didn’t have to buy anything expensive or fancy, just something that matched the wedding colors or that we could at least make the wedding colors. She had assured me she would. Instead, our flower girl showed up ten minutes late to the wedding, wearing the original pastel green dress. At 10:10 on my wedding day, there was nothing we could do about it, so I thought it was kind of funny.

It’s kind of sad, because Emma was really excited about being our flower girl, and it wasn’t her fault, but Angela and I were not too thrilled. We’d bought her a $25 gift certificate to the Disney Store as a thank you, and we didn’t end up giving to her.

Jess and Emma walked down together, and it ended up pretty cute, I think. I just wish our flower girl had worn one of those cute, flower girl dresses, and I’d gotten tons of pictures with me in my giant dress playing with her in her cute flower girly dress. I love those pictures.

Guess which one is which:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Flowergirls.jpg

Alright, major crisis averted—it was time to get hitched! The rabbi walked down, and then the music started.

First, my brother escorted my grandmother:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/GrammyandNoah.jpg

Then, my sister and Sam:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/AprilandSam.jpg

Jess and Michal, with their heads chopped off:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/JessandMichal.jpg

Our best people, Eileen and Cliff, also headless and squinty (I promise, they are much more attractive in real life):
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/EileenandCliff.jpg

The flower girls, and then… Angela!

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Angedowntheaisle.jpg
(I don’t know why the rabbi’s wife isn’t standing. Weird….)

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Angesback.jpg

And then Angela waited for me.
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Angewaiting.jpg

I had expected to be more anxious as I waited for Jennifer to open the doors. Everything was happening so fast, though, that it didn’t feel like I was really about to get married. I thought we were doing another practice drill. I also thought that I would feel more embarrassed, out of place, wearing a giant dress walking down a center aisle. But I didn’t care that my dress was so big; it just looked so beautiful as I sashayed (of course, nearly tripping over myself). I sort of noticed the music I had picked, but in an offhand, there’s-music-playing sort of way. I kept looking at Angela and smiling.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Sunnydowntheaisle.jpg
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Sunnysback.jpg

The weather was perfect; sunlight streamed in from every angle, with the castle dead center in the front window (thank you Disney Imagineers!).

As much as we partied like rock stars at the reception, the ceremony was my favorite part of the day. Everything we said, everything the rabbi said, reflected us perfectly.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Chuppah.jpg

The rabbi welcomed everybody, and then we did the first blessing over the wine.

We were commenting on how yummy the kosher Moscato was:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Kiddush.jpg

Then we exchanged vows. The tradition Jewish vows didn’t exactly work for us (Behold, you are consecrated to me with this ring according to the laws of Moses and Israel), given that the laws of Moses didn’t include any provisions about same-sex nuptials. So instead, we went with a passage from Hosea: “I betroth you to me forever. I betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in loving-kindness and in compassion. I betroth you to me in faithfulness.”

The rabbi had informed us that 99.9% of people forget their vows during the heat of the moment, and need to be prompted. Since I didn’t want to be interrupted every two seconds (I think it ruins the flow), we had discussed that any prompting would be unintelligible to the audience. However, I was also committed to being one of the .1% of people who can recite their vows from memory. So, in Hebrew and in English, I looked straight at Angela and said my lines. Angela definitely needed to be prompted, but it went pretty smoothly. We exchanged our beautiful Tiffany rings (Cliff held mine, and Eileen held Angela’s).

Then the rabbi read our ketubah, which was the only point during the ceremony at which I nearly cried. Tearing up, part six. I don’t know why, but it just sounded so beautiful, and I wasn’t trying to hold it together like I was during the other parts.

Then came the rabbi’s remarks. It was perfect. He read a poem by Rabbi Lawrence Kushner:

Each lifetime is the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
For some there are more pieces.
For others the puzzle is more difficult to assemble.

Some seem to be born with a nearly completed puzzle.
And so it goes.
Souls going this way and that.
Trying to assemble the myriad parts.

But know this. No one has within themselves
All the pieces to their puzzle.
Like before the days when they used to seal
jigsaw puzzles in cellophane. Insuring that
All the pieces were there.

Everyone carries with them at least one and probably
Many pieces to someone else's puzzle.
Sometimes they know it.
Sometimes they don't.

And when you present your piece
Which is worthless to you,
To another, whether you know it or not,
Whether they know it or not,
You are a messenger from the Most High.

And he talked about how Angela and I were like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that fit together perfectly. “Sunny cooks, Angela eats (big laugh line); Angela likes to make messes, Sunny likes to clean,” and so on. He obviously didn’t know this, but Angela and I have a certain jigsaw puzzle fetish, so his speech was so appropriate on multiple levels. It also expressed exactly how we feel about each other and why we make such a perfect couple. And it was pretty funny. I was so glad we had gone through the hassle and expense of flying him in; it was just so much more special and meaningful to have someone who knew us so well perform the ceremony.

Then came the Seven Blessings. According to the program I wrote, “The theme of the seven blessings traditionally recited at a Jewish wedding is a mixture of the particular and the universal, the practical and the ideal, the physical and spiritual dimensions of the marriage. They speak of God’s creation and this couple’s place within God’s world.”
(For sake of space, I’m not going to include the full text of the program. If you’re really curious about what goes on at a Jewish wedding and why, or you’re such a Sungela devotee that you must see every aspect of our wedding, down to the tiniest detail, just PM me).

Have you ever pondered the origins of the Spock hands on Star Trek? They come from a Jewish blessing traditionally performed by priests during the days of the Temple in Jerusalem. Although it doesn’t mean much anymore, my father and grandfather are descended from the priestly class, called Cohenim. Since the Cohenim blessing, replete with Spock hands, is traditionally recited at weddings, I had asked my dad and grandfather to say it, rather than the rabbi (a lowly Israelite, as he called himself, not a member of the priestly class). They did their part, which was a nice way of personalizing the service even more.

The rabbi said a few words, blessing us with good health, etc. My mom interjected, “And lots of babies,” which everyone found pretty funny (and boy, did it set up one of the themes of the day). We smashed our lightbulbs, and voila! We were married!

(Because “Why do you break the glass?” is one of those FAQs about Jewish weddings, I figured I’d include that part of our program as well:

There’s an old Jewish joke: ask two Jews, get three opinions. Accordingly, there are many explanations for what is perhaps the most famous Jewish wedding tradition, breaking the glass at the end of the ceremony.

For us, breaking the glass is a reminder that our marriage vows are irrevocable, just as permanent and final as the breaking of this glass. This act also reminds us that a marriage, like glass, is fragile and needs constant attention, commitment, and protection. We also see the breaking of the glass as recognition of the fact that imperfection happens: glass will break, milk will spill, and yet, we face life’s challenges stronger because of our love for each other.)

Our first married kiss:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/n602805_35278368_2117.jpg

Up next: Wedding Day, Part Thrice: What do you mean, we have to take more pictures?!?

lov2b@disney

07-11-2008, 01:27 PM

:yay: an update! Gorgeous! You are so cute always smiling!!

Bummer about the FG dress!

Cant wait for the reception!!!!:surfweb:

pjstevens

07-11-2008, 01:28 PM

Oh Wow, everything looks beautiful (well except the pastel green flower girl, :lmao: sorry just had to say that). You looked so pretty and your hair looked great. I think those tight curls fell into pretty waves like you wanted.

DisneyBrideToni

07-11-2008, 01:28 PM

AWWWWWWWWWWWW You two are so freaking cute together!!! You both looked beautiful! Thank you for explaining the Jewish wedding ceremony. I have always pondered the things that you explained! I am a Sungela devotee! :goodvibes

keenercam

07-11-2008, 01:31 PM

Oh, WOW!! Sunny, this installment was so perfect (not that the others weren't). It means so much to know so much of what was said during your ceremony. I really, really appreciate that you are sharing it with us, so that we can share in the joy of your love and commitment to each other. Thank you for tracking down and posting a bunch of pix (I know it is time-consuming). You both looked soooo beautiful! I especially love the look of pure joy and anticipation as you walked down the aisle. :lovestruc

kingLouiethe1

07-11-2008, 01:40 PM

I'm in love with your wedding! I can't wait, I need more things to write about! Maybe as the day approaches.

Just take all those baskets Angela's mom made and ship them over here, they'll fit in nicely with our bright craziness. We're really going for bright vibrant spring, which also is similar to your tropical!

irisbud

07-11-2008, 01:55 PM

I loved reading about your cermeony! It sounds wonderful! Everything looked fabulous (except the flowergril; what were they thinking?)

Can't wait to read more!

Wazzo

07-11-2008, 02:09 PM

What a beautiful ceremony!! Congratulations again! :goodvibes

29apr00

07-11-2008, 02:15 PM

What a beautiful ceremony you had!! Congratulations!! (sorry for the pastel green flower girl :confused: )

I can't wait to hear all about the celebrations now!! :banana: :banana:

IndyBride

07-11-2008, 02:30 PM

Sunny what a beautiful ceremony!! Thank you so much for sharing it with us! Can't wait to see the ping pong table.

princess&her4princes

07-11-2008, 02:36 PM

Sunny, what an absolutely beautiful ceremony! I loved the poem, thanks for sharing!! I can't wait to hear the stories of partying like a rock star.....I feel like I was there through it all by your descriptions, you're an excellent writer. More, more!! :yay:

WithDisneySpirit

07-11-2008, 06:00 PM

How do you do it? You write so well that, with the pictures, I feel like I was with you:lovestruc :goodvibes Just can't wait to hear more!

Your ceremony was so beautiful and I printed out that lovely poem to keep!!:love:

PhilHarMaestro

07-11-2008, 08:16 PM

I haven't posted much on here, but I've been devouring every detail and all I can say is WOW! Every thing is so beautiful. Also, kudos to you for not going ape on the parents of your flower girl. I would have gone bridezilla on them all!!

BTW: MORE MORE MORE!!!!:rotfl:

rangermom

07-11-2008, 08:41 PM

Sungela, I've really been enjoying your wedding story. Love both of your dresses. Sorry that you had to deal with late people adn a flower girl with the wrong dress. DH and I will be married 11 years on Sunday, so reading your story is making me reflect on our wedding. We actually got married 20 mins latered than planned because the best man and one groomsman were late. Not really sure who was more upset me or the best man's wife (a bridesmaid) since he had her panty hose. We had some friends tell us that they were running late, but figured they were ok when saw to guys in tuxs asking for directions at a gas station.

I'm thinking of a vow renewal in a couple of years at DW.

Can't wait for the next installment. Congrats!

Mama of Indybride

07-11-2008, 09:02 PM

Thanks so much for the update!

Loving your new pen! I get a pen everytime we go, and that always seems to be the thing I bring back as a trip gift.

That and Mickey Rice Krispie Treats!

Can't wait to hear the rest, 'specially about your poor bridesmaid!

lindseywb

07-11-2008, 09:02 PM

the puzzle poem is beautiful!
and the train on your dress is gorgeous!

Flurbee

07-11-2008, 11:34 PM

Sunny,

Beautiful ceremony!! You looked so happy walking down the aisle....Sorry about the flower girl...weird....anyhoo, looking forward to more...

alissa2008

07-12-2008, 01:10 AM

omg with the new subforum i've been neglecting everyones pgs and trs!! I just had about 5 pages to catch up on!! I'm actually kind of glad i didn't have to wait like everyone else!! lol :rotfl:

I'll go chronologically--

There isn't much I can say about the crazyman, other than what everyone else has said. I'm glad you didn't linger too long - people like that should be sterilized.

I adore your wedding colors and all your great DIYs! Your ketubah was particularly beautiful!! (I admit, I had to wikipedia it, I'm not too familiar with Jewish traditions). I'm also glad that your faith allows for commitment ceremonies. How wonderful that your Rabbi could join you in disney!! :cutie:

I'm glad your fg showed up! But that dress!! :eek: Oh well, if that's the worst that happened - you're lucky!

You two are the most gorgeous brides! (and I WISH I'll be that thin on my big day :rotfl:). Not sure how angela can eat so much and still look so fabulous!! I absolutely loved your dress as well! It may have been 3 thousand pounds, but you looked phenomenal!! Angela did too, but I liked your dress better (shhh don't tell). I like the color you chose as well - lovely! :dance3:

can't wait for more! Get on it girl!! :yay:

VillainesSheri

07-13-2008, 08:56 PM

I could sit here and have eight hundred bazillion questions, but I want to wait for you to finish with all your pictures!!
I LOVE your dress. I was looking at one of the Ariel ones, and one of the Sleeping Beauty ones. Was the dress really expensive? I couldn't find prices online.
My gal and I are actually 'married' (so to speak) we did it in a tiny little service in our house three years ago, but i've ALWAYS wanted a Disney wedding.
We're going to Disney in November to celebrate our 3 year anniversary.. I'm trying to get the 'wife' more Disneyfied. ;) She's totally an "I'll wear a dress, but their is no way you'd get me in a 'Disney Dress' " kind of gal... Only thing I can get her excited about is Space Mountain.

I am loving your wedding trip report!
*waits for more*

:ccat:

fortheluvofpooh

07-13-2008, 10:54 PM

I think the flower girl looked sweet, she didn't match but still she looked sweet. It wasn't her fault she didn't match. I think she looked beautiful enough inside to hide the outside of the dress. But I do understand your sadness about the wrong color. Sunny and Angela you look stunning as brides.
Lori

ClemsonGirl

07-14-2008, 12:31 AM

Loved the update Sunny! :goodvibes I love the pic of you walking down the aisle! :bride: You look so happy and gorgeous! Can't wait to read more! :surfweb:

disneygal922

07-14-2008, 09:55 AM

Loving the update!! your pics are beautiful! Everyone looks so happy and you two look stunning! :goodvibes

jennifaerie

07-14-2008, 11:43 AM

Sunny, the ceremony was beautiful (even sans professional photographs... though I can't wait to see you in your dress, and not just parts of you in your dress!). I loved all the explanations too-- it was helpful. I went to a Jewish-Korean wedding once, and I learned a lot of it from there (they put many explanations in the program), but I definitely needed the refresher! It made the ceremony a lot better from my perspective. :)

I met with the woman who's doing my make-up for the wedding, and I mentioned you and how you didn't say anything about the make-up because you're not used to wearing it, so you weren't sure if you should or not. I told her, "I'm just like that!" I also told her, "I'm probably going to hate whatever you do, because I never wear make-up and will think I'm going to look bizarre no matter what."

She told me there are a lot of women who feel the same exact way, and she promised me she wouldn't make me look scary. :rotfl: I needed that, though. I'll still probably hate it! :)

sungela

07-15-2008, 04:37 PM

Today's the day you've all been waiting for! Ok, the day I've been waiting for, but it's still exciting. Misty's photos are up! If you have three hours to spare, visit http://MistyMiotto.photostockplus.com/event_198783. The password is pretty easy to guess (hint: my screen name). They are amazing; it's going to be really hard to pick out my faves.

:yay: an update! Gorgeous! You are so cute always smiling!!

Bummer about the FG dress!

Cant wait for the reception!!!!

I have a certain smile that I get when I'm super-happy, which makes my eyes go squinty and my nose wrinkle. Naturally, all photos of me on the wedding day feature squinted eyes and a wrinkled nose. Lovely.

Oh Wow, everything looks beautiful (well except the pastel green flower girl, :lmao: sorry just had to say that). You looked so pretty and your hair looked great. I think those tight curls fell into pretty waves like you wanted.

Alright, as long as I wasn't the only one thinking that she didn't fit with the rest of the decor. By the end of the wedding, my hair was definitely out of the curls--and sticking to my neck. Very hot.

AWWWWWWWWWWWW You two are so freaking cute together!!! You both looked beautiful! Thank you for explaining the Jewish wedding ceremony. I have always pondered the things that you explained! I am a Sungela devotee!

If you have any other Jewish wedding questions, I'd love to help. It's so much fun to read other PJs and find out what other wedding customs exist.

Oh, WOW!! Sunny, this installment was so perfect (not that the others weren't). It means so much to know so much of what was said during your ceremony. I really, really appreciate that you are sharing it with us, so that we can share in the joy of your love and commitment to each other. Thank you for tracking down and posting a bunch of pix (I know it is time-consuming). You both looked soooo beautiful! I especially love the look of pure joy and anticipation as you walked down the aisle.

You are so sweet, as always! It takes a while, but I'm having fun reliving the day.

I'm in love with your wedding! I can't wait, I need more things to write about! Maybe as the day approaches.

Just take all those baskets Angela's mom made and ship them over here, they'll fit in nicely with our bright craziness. We're really going for bright vibrant spring, which also is similar to your tropical!

I'll loan her to you. I do not possess a single crafty bone in my body, so I am grateful for all of her work. I just love those bright colors.

I loved reading about your cermeony! It sounds wonderful! Everything looked fabulous (except the flowergril; what were they thinking?)

Can't wait to read more!

Good question.... But I guess it's one of those mishaps that I can laugh about in years to come.

What a beautiful ceremony!! Congratulations again!

Thanks!

What a beautiful ceremony you had!! Congratulations!! (sorry for the pastel green flower girl :confused: )

I can't wait to hear all about the celebrations now!! :banana:

Well, she kind of matched the WP carpet. That's something, right?

Sunny what a beautiful ceremony!! Thank you so much for sharing it with us! Can't wait to see the ping pong table.

Oh, it's coming!

Sunny, what an absolutely beautiful ceremony! I loved the poem, thanks for sharing!! I can't wait to hear the stories of partying like a rock star.....I feel like I was there through it all by your descriptions, you're an excellent writer. More, more!! :yay:

Thank you! This next installment is a little tame, but wait for the one after it. Oy....

How do you do it? You write so well that, with the pictures, I feel like I was with you:lovestruc :goodvibes Just can't wait to hear more!

Your ceremony was so beautiful and I printed out that lovely poem to keep!!:love:

Oh, thank you! I'm really enjoying remembering all the stuff that went on during the wedding day, but I can't believe how long it takes!

I haven't posted much on here, but I've been devouring every detail and all I can say is WOW! Every thing is so beautiful. Also, kudos to you for not going ape on the parents of your flower girl. I would have gone bridezilla on them all!!

BTW: MORE MORE MORE!!!!

I kind of wish I'd found out what she was wearing the night before, so I could have made them buy her a Tinkerbell outfit (that would have been the right color). Oh well. :lmao:

Sungela, I've really been enjoying your wedding story. Love both of your dresses. Sorry that you had to deal with late people adn a flower girl with the wrong dress. DH and I will be married 11 years on Sunday, so reading your story is making me reflect on our wedding. We actually got married 20 mins latered than planned because the best man and one groomsman were late. Not really sure who was more upset me or the best man's wife (a bridesmaid) since he had her panty hose. We had some friends tell us that they were running late, but figured they were ok when saw to guys in tuxs asking for directions at a gas station.

I'm thinking of a vow renewal in a couple of years at DW.

Can't wait for the next installment. Congrats!

Oooh, a VR sounds great! And maybe don't invite the stragglers. Another friend of mine was a groomsmen in a wedding in Mexico; he and the best man decided to spend the morning of the wedding drinking and scootering around Mexico; they got into a car accident and ended up in prison, missing the wedding. How's that for a story?

Thanks so much for the update!

Loving your new pen! I get a pen everytime we go, and that always seems to be the thing I bring back as a trip gift.

That and Mickey Rice Krispie Treats!

Can't wait to hear the rest, 'specially about your poor bridesmaid!

In the Misty photos, it seems that every candid shot of her shows a glass of wine in her hand. Guess we know how she got trashed...

the puzzle poem is beautiful!
and the train on your dress is gorgeous!

And sooo long that my darling wife stepped on it about 30,000 times. The funny part is that she tripped over her own two inch train way more than I tripped over mine.

Sunny,

Beautiful ceremony!! You looked so happy walking down the aisle....Sorry about the flower girl...weird....anyhoo, looking forward to more...

Coming up!

omg with the new subforum i've been neglecting everyones pgs and trs!! I just had about 5 pages to catch up on!! I'm actually kind of glad i didn't have to wait like everyone else!! lol :rotfl:

I'll go chronologically--

There isn't much I can say about the crazyman, other than what everyone else has said. I'm glad you didn't linger too long - people like that should be sterilized.

I adore your wedding colors and all your great DIYs! Your ketubah was particularly beautiful!! (I admit, I had to wikipedia it, I'm not too familiar with Jewish traditions). I'm also glad that your faith allows for commitment ceremonies. How wonderful that your Rabbi could join you in disney!! :cutie:

I'm glad your fg showed up! But that dress!! :eek: Oh well, if that's the worst that happened - you're lucky!

You two are the most gorgeous brides! (and I WISH I'll be that thin on my big day :rotfl:). Not sure how angela can eat so much and still look so fabulous!! I absolutely loved your dress as well! It may have been 3 thousand pounds, but you looked phenomenal!! Angela did too, but I liked your dress better (shhh don't tell). I like the color you chose as well - lovely! :dance3:

can't wait for more! Get on it girl!! :yay:

I won't tell. Angela and my divergent tastes are kind of a litmus test; our male/masculine friends all like her stuff (e-ring, wedding dress) better, and our female/feminine friends prefer mine.

I could sit here and have eight hundred bazillion questions, but I want to wait for you to finish with all your pictures!!
I LOVE your dress. I was looking at one of the Ariel ones, and one of the Sleeping Beauty ones. Was the dress really expensive? I couldn't find prices online.
My gal and I are actually 'married' (so to speak) we did it in a tiny little service in our house three years ago, but i've ALWAYS wanted a Disney wedding.
We're going to Disney in November to celebrate our 3 year anniversary.. I'm trying to get the 'wife' more Disneyfied. ;) She's totally an "I'll wear a dress, but their is no way you'd get me in a 'Disney Dress' " kind of gal... Only thing I can get her excited about is Space Mountain.

I am loving your wedding trip report!
*waits for more*

:ccat:

My dress was about $3K, which is at the high end of the Disney dresses. I think some of the Ariel ones are closer to $1,000.

I absolutely, 100% recommend a Disney wedding. Good luck convincing your wife (maybe you should do the food tasting. That gets them every time).

I think the flower girl looked sweet, she didn't match but still she looked sweet. It wasn't her fault she didn't match. I think she looked beautiful enough inside to hide the outside of the dress. But I do understand your sadness about the wrong color. Sunny and Angela you look stunning as brides.
Lori

Thanks, and you're right. I feel bad because she was so happy and excited. And hey, at least she was comfortable, which I can't say about my flower girl experiences.

Loved the update Sunny! :goodvibes I love the pic of you walking down the aisle! :bride: You look so happy and gorgeous! Can't wait to read more! :surfweb:

Loving the update!! your pics are beautiful! Everyone looks so happy and you two look stunning! :goodvibes

Thanks!

Sunny, the ceremony was beautiful (even sans professional photographs... though I can't wait to see you in your dress, and not just parts of you in your dress!). I loved all the explanations too-- it was helpful. I went to a Jewish-Korean wedding once, and I learned a lot of it from there (they put many explanations in the program), but I definitely needed the refresher! It made the ceremony a lot better from my perspective. :)

I met with the woman who's doing my make-up for the wedding, and I mentioned you and how you didn't say anything about the make-up because you're not used to wearing it, so you weren't sure if you should or not. I told her, "I'm just like that!" I also told her, "I'm probably going to hate whatever you do, because I never wear make-up and will think I'm going to look bizarre no matter what."

She told me there are a lot of women who feel the same exact way, and she promised me she wouldn't make me look scary. :rotfl: I needed that, though. I'll still probably hate it! :)

Good idea! Angela was smarter than me: she said she wanted to look glam, but with natural colors. I probably should have said I wanted to look soft and romantic, because then the makeup wouldn't have looked as dark. (And even though I think it looks good in the pictures, now that I have them, I still prefer the ones from the end of the party when the makeup had worn off).

Lindsay22

07-15-2008, 04:49 PM

:worship:
Love them!!
I think my favorites are the ones that say just married with just your feet... soooooo pretty!!!!!!!!! (oh, and I also really liked the baby ducks....)
I LOVE LOVE LOVE your tables, however I don't think Chris will go for that.... I'll be living vicariously thru your tables!

sungela

07-15-2008, 04:50 PM

After we finished smooching (I believe Angela’s mother said something to the effect of, “That’s enough, girls!”), we sashayed back down the aisle as married folks. Just like when I walked down as a single girl, I spent the whole time laughing, although I don’t remember why. It is quite possible that Angela stepped on my train.

Like all other Wedding Pavilion couples, we were whisked off to the side for photos while our friends and family amassed for the staged exit. The sky was perfectly blue, and we definitely exuded the “We just got married!” glow.

When the bubblers were in place, the Disney people radioed over, and we walked over—Angela tripping on her dress most of the way—to meet our guests.
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Pascal-WoodhallWedding2008030.jpg

All the bubbles:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/WeddingProps011.jpg

My family is big on bubbles, and everyone looked so happy and pretty, the orange yarmulkes shimmering in the bright sunshine.

The bubble chorus line:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Bubbles.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Bubbles2.jpg

More smooching:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Kiss.jpg

As we neared the end of the gauntlet, where our parents and bridal party stood, the Penn contingent of our wedding (about 1/3 of the total guests) burst out in our fight song (Hurrah, hurrah, Pennsylvania! Hurrah for the red and the blue!). Like many college fight songs, it involves a fair amount of fist pumping, and Angela and I got into the act with our bouquets held aloft. Angela had mentioned before that she wanted to sing the Hurrah at the wedding, but I expected it would be part of the reception. Instead, our people of honor (all but two of whom are Penn grads or current students) conspired to serenade us as we were bubbled. We also noticed, getting out of their car, two of our friends that had missed the wedding because they were so late. At least they got there in time for the food.

Laughing at the absurdity of the Penn fight song and the tardiness of our friends, Angela and I performed the trademark sit and swish to get into the limo (she sat on my dress most of the ride, which I still find kind of funny). We waved goodbye (See ya real soon!), and I noticed that the song playing in the limo was our song. Not our first dance song, but Sarah McLachlan’s Angel, the song that I most associate with our relationship, the song we wake up to every morning, and the song that we would have used for our first dance if we hadn’t discovered it was about overdosing (see PJ, page whatever, for more information). At first, I thought that someone had purposely popped in the CD, but we realized it was just playing on the radio. We were amazed; it was such a perfect sign.

We circled the parking lot, listening to our song, and then got back to the Wedding Pavilion to begin more picture taking. First up, my family (there were a lot more of us). My sister began griping again, and at one point, pretty much refused to take any more photos. Oh well. She chose to elope, and so missed out on all the fun photo ops (and the gifts), which was her loss. But being so jealous as to be unsupportive at my wedding wasn’t the most mature strategy. Luckily, we had so many people that were itching to be in pictures that we didn’t need her for very long, and she was soon free to abscond to the Grand Floridian to eat. Picture-taking time actually ran pretty smoothly after that; there were only minor mishaps. My brother accidentally left with my parents, so he’s not in the bridal party shots, but maybe I’ll figure out how to PhotoShop him in. Misty kept saying, “Sunny’s family” when she meant “Sheri’s family” (my mom’s side), so my father’s parents were a little flustered about where they were supposed to be. But my family wasn’t as bad about being herded as they could have been, and we stuck to our time schedule. Misty took a few shots of Angela and me on the GF beach until the Disney people and the incoming storm clouds reminded us to get moving to our pre-reception. We had originally intended to spend a few minutes just the two of us in the WP bridal vestibule to fulfill the Jewish tradition of yichud (during which you can, um, consummate the marriage), but we never got the chance. Given that all the food was over at the pre-reception, I don’t think Angela minded skipping it.

Back to the limo (Angela sitting on my dress again), and over to the GF! I was very glad, given Saturday night’s events, that the reception was held in a semi-private location. First, Jennifer met us with a plate of food for a very grateful Angela, and ushered us into our reception room to see everything before the guests arrived. There are no words for how awesome the reception room looked. It was beyond awesome, beyond perfect. It was as if Disney had turned all of our wildest wedding visions into reality (which come to think of it, they did).

Everything was bright-colored. The centerpieces were piled high with sugary goodness, although not so high that our guests couldn’t talk to each other (one of my pet peeves is centerpieces that are so tall people on the opposite side of the table are shielded from view). With the yumminess sprinkled on the tables, it looked as if candy had exploded out of the centerpiece and flowed onto the tablecloths. I am so glad we splurged for the chair covers, too; they added the perfect extra touch.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Centerpieces.jpg

As if the tables weren’t sweet enough already, we also had the gorgeous candy bar:

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/CandyBuffet.jpg

And, oh yeah, the ping pong table!

Only time the thing wasn’t in use:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/PingPongTable.jpg

This photo does not do the cake justice. It was so beautiful, with the colors an exact match for the rest of the wedding.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/WeddingCake.jpg

After we were done oohing and aahing (for the moment, anyway), Jennifer’s assistant, Kevin, helped bustle my dress, and Angela and I went to join the pre-receptioners. We’re not super formal (I know, hard to guess, right?), and we did not want to be announced or anything like that. So we just walked into the pre-reception room. Everyone stood and applauded for us anyway, which was sweet.

Kevin holding Angela’s food—don’t even think about eating her pastry!
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Pre-reception-1.jpg

I really like the idea of the pre-reception: guests get to mingle, take more pictures, and start in on the eating and drinking. What I had of the food was fantastic, and my family apparently required the servers to replenish the fruit in a record amount of time. The string trio played a bunch of Disney songs, which gave the room a fun feel. Ultimately, I think it was nice to have a few minutes built into the day for relaxation. People also had the time to write us love notes and put them in our box. My mom had decorated each side with different fun stuff that represented us (Disneyish, weddingy, beachy, you name it), and then bought Disney princess crayons and markers for everyone.

Top of box:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/WeddingProps012-1.jpg

Inside of box:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/WeddingProps014-1.jpg

All too soon, Disney ushered us from the pre-reception room down the hall to the real reception room. On the way, my (paternal) grandmother told me that she’d found a lucky penny when she walked out of the Wedding Pavilion. She is super-superstitious, and she took it to be a sign (she also kept the penny for her lucky penny collection, which is roughly large enough to pay for my college tuition; Angela was amazed she didn’t give it to us, but that’s because she doesn’t know my grandmother as well as I do).

As we walked into the reception room, amid all the oohs and aahs of our friends and family members, DJ Silva welcomed us and we started in on the first dance. Of course, he announced that it was the Shrek theme song, just in case anyone didn’t know how corny we are.

I think it’s great when people choreograph their first dance; Vanessa’s routine or Carrie’s swing looked so much better because of all their practice beforehand. Angela and I, however, are not dancers. We took salsa lessons once, and it was an unqualified disaster. Angela does not move her hips. I’m tone deaf, so the music doesn’t really help me to move. We don’t enjoy clubbing, so it’s not like we get tons of practice, either. We knew that our first dance would consist of us moving slowly in a circle, hugging, laughing, and kissing, because frankly, that’s us.

I love how this shot shows off the sweetheart table, but what is my Dad doing?
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/FirstDance4.jpg

Still swaying in a circle:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Firstdance2.jpg

Did you think we'd learn a new move or something?
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/FirstDance.jpg

Embarrassing first dance over—time for toasts!

Coming up: Little men, inappropriate hidden Mickeys, and the best? worst? most interesting? wedding toast ever given.

kingLouiethe1

07-15-2008, 05:09 PM

Love the pictures, scratched the surface, but . . . must. . . . get . . . .work. . . .done. . . . . . . .today.......

Dang that crafty woman, she's made it impossible to copy images off her website! Even by printing the page as a PDF! I wanted to save some of your table pictures because we may do something similar, I really like it. Also we may just go with the white tables and a small bright runner and multi-colored napkins.

I knew you would, but you both look amazing! Such a disconnect seeing two women in wedding gowns holding ping-pong paddles, it's difficult to register for some reason, don't think I've seen it before, don't think I'll see it again, an it will probably be one of those weird random images that flash through my mind in my dying moments. So happy for both of you! :cool1: :cool1: :cool1:

mla1977

07-15-2008, 05:22 PM

Sunny, you guys look abosolutely gorgeous! You look just like a princess.

pink_tink8i8

07-15-2008, 05:53 PM

your pictures are absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I truly believe that you have paved the way for other same sex couples to follow their dreams and get married at disney too!

Your reception looked absolutely funtastic! I love all the bright colors and the candy centerpieces. Everything came together so nicely :goodvibes

DisneyBrideToni

07-15-2008, 08:00 PM

Your Misty pictures are GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love the recpetion decorations and that ping pong table! Everything was so beautiful!!!! can't wait to hear more!

lindseywb

07-15-2008, 08:26 PM

the candy centerpieces are awesome!
and it's so perfect that angel came on in the limo - definitely a great sign

princess&her4princes

07-15-2008, 08:53 PM

Pre reception? Wish we had known about that when we were married almost 8 years ago...we could have used it for sure! It's such a busy day running from here to there, you almost don't get a lot of time together so it was nice you had some extra time mingling and enjoyed each other!!! Love the pics of the first dance, you girls look so in love. :lovestruc Can't wait for the next installment...maybe we'll get to see that ping pong table in use? :confused3 Thanks for sharing....your TR has been great to follow, I find myself bummed when you're done and I have to wait for the next installment!!

IndyBride

07-15-2008, 08:58 PM

Sunny your pictures are BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!! I love the one of your feet and the just married! that would be perfect for announcements. Thanks for sharing your pictures with us! I LOVE the way your decor turned out. The chair covers and overlays definatly made the colors pop.

princess&her4princes

07-15-2008, 09:23 PM

Btw, didn't get to go through all your pics (need to get other stuff done here today...bummer!) but what I did see are BEAUTIFUL!!! You are going to have a tough time picking them for sure. Do you have to pick a certain amount for an album? We had to stay within a certain number and then it was a la carte....good luck choosing, if so!!!

cryssi

07-15-2008, 09:35 PM

I haven't commented yet but everything looks wonderful. I really love the bubble pics...but I must say that I'm surprised that your Penn contingency didn't throw toast...:rotfl:

btw, I love the vibrant blues and oranges, and your misty pics are fab!!! :thumbsup2

caryndisneydiva

07-15-2008, 09:40 PM

the pics look really amazing. you two look so much in love!

i might need to catch up, but did disney set up the candy buffet for you? that looks like so much fun!

VillainesSheri

07-16-2008, 07:20 AM

I'm getting ready to go to your link now. :cool1:
You guys are like, celebrities now to me.. hehe. First lesbians to marry in Disney.
Must convince wife that we need to follow in your footsteps.
:tink:

WithDisneySpirit

07-16-2008, 09:15 AM

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!! I looked through the pics last night for awhile and then this morning! I love the pics where you and Angela are dancing and the light makes your veil all pink!! The last ones I viewed (and believe, I haven't see all of them) were the couple pics :lovestruc Those were just great!!! :goodvibes Y'all took wonderful pictures on the beach together!

Now, what do you mean by semi-private reception?? Surely, no strangers could happen on your ballroom and crash the party, right? It looked like a fabulous time was had by all! I really want to know what was said at toast time too :flower3: :rolleyes1

Thanks so much for sharing this with us, Sunny! :grouphug:

pjstevens

07-16-2008, 10:10 AM

Wow Sunny,

Everything looks so fabulous! Can't wait to read more. Your pics are amazing. I'll have to stop back to view more (sneeking on the Dis while I'm working, like so many others, lol). Congrats on everything!

MyMelody

07-16-2008, 10:18 AM

WOW:worship: beautiful pictures, Misty did a great job not to say that both of you look stunning! So many pictures you will never be able to choose :rotfl2: I just love the Happy feet one that is too cute. You look so happy, she looks so happy, actually everyone looked and must feel the love you both have for each other cause everyone seemed very happy for both of you. These pictures must bring back memories of that amazing day, it brought me tears and I do not know you but you can feel the love you both have for one another through the pictures, WONDERFUL. You are going to inspire a lot of people. Congratulation!!!

:love:

jennifaerie

07-16-2008, 11:59 AM

I'm still going through pictures now (in fact, I stopped during your first dance to read your post). They are fantastic! I've been waiting for this day for months, so to finally see them... wow.

I finally got to see you in the dress... in its entirety! It was perfect. I can't believe it weighed as much as it did, because it certainly looks weightless. It was breathtaking. I wish I had had the opportunity to at least try it on in my travels. It looked, YOU looked gorgeous in it.

I loved your centerpieces and tables! Now, that's what we were looking for. Hopefully, our baskets full of games and toys will have the same effect on people.

We're not dance-y either. I can't move the top half of me and the bottom half of me at the same time. So I'll bob and move my arms around and then realize, oh wait, the bottom half of me isn't moving... oops, gotta move that. Oh wait, the top half isn't moving...

So we're not going with the dancing lessons either. It's not just you!

The thing I always worry about at weddings is boredom and blah. There was *NO* boredom OR blah at your wedding. Amazing.

Off to go finish the pictures!

PhilHarMaestro

07-16-2008, 06:06 PM

I love your decor!!! it looks so great and fun!! party:
:dance3: Also totally agree on the dance, I'm cutting ours down to approx 30 seconds because that's all the embarrassment I can stand!!:dance3:
congrats!!

Mama of Indybride

07-16-2008, 10:10 PM

I was so excited to see a new post!

Yay!

You guys look so sweet, and I love your centerpieces.

I was quite thrilled to see the ping pong table.

Val, what do you think? Outside on the terrace? At the Grand? :thumbsup2

29apr00

07-17-2008, 04:18 PM

Gorgeous pictures! Love your candy bar, I think that is one of the coolest things i've seen, next to your ping-pong table of course.

can't wait to hear more!

irisbud

07-17-2008, 04:27 PM

Wow everything looks great beautiful and elegent but still fun! Can't wait to read more!

sungela

07-17-2008, 07:09 PM

Love them!!
I think my favorites are the ones that say just married with just your feet... soooooo pretty!!!!!!!!! (oh, and I also really liked the baby ducks....)
I LOVE LOVE LOVE your tables, however I don't think Chris will go for that.... I'll be living vicariously thru your tables!

Angela ran into those duckies during her solo photo shoot, which is so cute, because she loves little animals (more than people, in fact).

Love the pictures, scratched the surface, but . . . must. . . . get . . . .work. . . .done. . . . . . . .today.......

Dang that crafty woman, she's made it impossible to copy images off her website! Even by printing the page as a PDF! I wanted to save some of your table pictures because we may do something similar, I really like it. Also we may just go with the white tables and a small bright runner and multi-colored napkins.

I knew you would, but you both look amazing! Such a disconnect seeing two women in wedding gowns holding ping-pong paddles, it's difficult to register for some reason, don't think I've seen it before, don't think I'll see it again, an it will probably be one of those weird random images that flash through my mind in my dying moments. So happy for both of you! :cool1:

I promise to post pics in her when I get my CD, especially of us playing ping pong. I love the juxtaposition of fancy dress and ping pong paddle. Oh, and of the decor, just for you. ;p

Sunny, you guys look abosolutely gorgeous! You look just like a princess.

Thank you! I felt like such a princess...

your pictures are absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I truly believe that you have paved the way for other same sex couples to follow their dreams and get married at disney too!

Your reception looked absolutely funtastic! I love all the bright colors and the candy centerpieces. Everything came together so nicely :goodvibes

Thanks! I can't recommend a DFTW enough--I hope someone else I know will invite me to another Disney wedding. I'd love to just go as a guest.

Your Misty pictures are GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love the recpetion decorations and that ping pong table! Everything was so beautiful!!!! can't wait to hear more!

Thank you! Misty is amazing.

the candy centerpieces are awesome!
and it's so perfect that angel came on in the limo - definitely a great sign

It was so cool, so perfect, so us. :cloud9:

Pre reception? Wish we had known about that when we were married almost 8 years ago...we could have used it for sure! It's such a busy day running from here to there, you almost don't get a lot of time together so it was nice you had some extra time mingling and enjoyed each other!!! Love the pics of the first dance, you girls look so in love. :lovestruc Can't wait for the next installment...maybe we'll get to see that ping pong table in use? :confused3 Thanks for sharing....your TR has been great to follow, I find myself bummed when you're done and I have to wait for the next installment!!

I can't wait to post the Misty pics of us playing ping pong--they are hilarious!

Sunny your pictures are BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!! I love the one of your feet and the just married! that would be perfect for announcements. Thanks for sharing your pictures with us! I LOVE the way your decor turned out. The chair covers and overlays definatly made the colors pop.

The beach ones are some of my favorite too. Misty did the best job.

Btw, didn't get to go through all your pics (need to get other stuff done here today...bummer!) but what I did see are BEAUTIFUL!!! You are going to have a tough time picking them for sure. Do you have to pick a certain amount for an album? We had to stay within a certain number and then it was a la carte....good luck choosing, if so!!!

I can't imagine how I will choose. I want them all! Except I don't have enough wall space...

I haven't commented yet but everything looks wonderful. I really love the bubble pics...but I must say that I'm surprised that your Penn contingency didn't throw toast...:rotfl:

btw, I love the vibrant blues and oranges, and your misty pics are fab!!! :thumbsup2

Funny you should say that! The two people who showed up late did bring toast, but they were too late to throw it. I'm glad, too, because I didn't want crumbs all over me. :lmao:

the pics look really amazing. you two look so much in love!

i might need to catch up, but did disney set up the candy buffet for you? that looks like so much fun!

They set it up for us, ordered all the boxes and the candy and everything. I love Disney's minimum--it made it easier to convince my parents they needed to splurge. :rotfl2:

I'm getting ready to go to your link now. :cool1:
You guys are like, celebrities now to me.. hehe. First lesbians to marry in Disney.
Must convince wife that we need to follow in your footsteps.
:tink:

Absolutely, you must! I'm so excited that you started a PJ.

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!! I looked through the pics last night for awhile and then this morning! I love the pics where you and Angela are dancing and the light makes your veil all pink!! The last ones I viewed (and believe, I haven't see all of them) were the couple pics :lovestruc Those were just great!!! :goodvibes Y'all took wonderful pictures on the beach together!

Now, what do you mean by semi-private reception?? Surely, no strangers could happen on your ballroom and crash the party, right? It looked like a fabulous time was had by all! I really want to know what was said at toast time too :flower3: :rolleyes1

Thanks so much for sharing this with us, Sunny! :grouphug:

Oy, toast is coming up. But all the reception chaos was good chaos, believe me.

Wow Sunny,

Everything looks so fabulous! Can't wait to read more. Your pics are amazing. I'll have to stop back to view more (sneeking on the Dis while I'm working, like so many others, lol). Congrats on everything!

It literally took us three hours to go through them all. I can't believe Misty took that many pics!

WOW:worship: beautiful pictures, Misty did a great job not to say that both of you look stunning! So many pictures you will never be able to choose :rotfl2: I just love the Happy feet one that is too cute. You look so happy, she looks so happy, actually everyone looked and must feel the love you both have for each other cause everyone seemed very happy for both of you. These pictures must bring back memories of that amazing day, it brought me tears and I do not know you but you can feel the love you both have for one another through the pictures, WONDERFUL. You are going to inspire a lot of people. Congratulation!!!

:love:

You are so sweet! Thanks for reading along!

I'm still going through pictures now (in fact, I stopped during your first dance to read your post). They are fantastic! I've been waiting for this day for months, so to finally see them... wow.

I finally got to see you in the dress... in its entirety! It was perfect. I can't believe it weighed as much as it did, because it certainly looks weightless. It was breathtaking. I wish I had had the opportunity to at least try it on in my travels. It looked, YOU looked gorgeous in it.

I loved your centerpieces and tables! Now, that's what we were looking for. Hopefully, our baskets full of games and toys will have the same effect on people.

We're not dance-y either. I can't move the top half of me and the bottom half of me at the same time. So I'll bob and move my arms around and then realize, oh wait, the bottom half of me isn't moving... oops, gotta move that. Oh wait, the top half isn't moving...

So we're not going with the dancing lessons either. It's not just you!

The thing I always worry about at weddings is boredom and blah. There was *NO* boredom OR blah at your wedding. Amazing.

Off to go finish the pictures!

We actually considered the games-as-centerpieces idea (we love to play board games because we're nerdy like that), but we figured it would be too much of a hassle to bring them down to Disney. If we did an at-home wedding, though, that would have been one of those tough choices. I think your wedding is going to be so much fun; your guests are lucky!

I love your decor!!! it looks so great and fun!! party:
:dance3: Also totally agree on the dance, I'm cutting ours down to approx 30 seconds because that's all the embarrassment I can stand!!:dance3:
congrats!!

Awesome--we should have done the "greatest highlights" version of the song.

I was so excited to see a new post!

Yay!

You guys look so sweet, and I love your centerpieces.

I was quite thrilled to see the ping pong table.

Val, what do you think? Outside on the terrace? At the Grand? :thumbsup2

I totally recommend ping pong. No guest will ever forget it, and everyone said we had the funnest wedding ever.

Gorgeous pictures! Love your candy bar, I think that is one of the coolest things i've seen, next to your ping-pong table of course.

can't wait to hear more!

I know, so much cool stuff! Between the candy centerpieces, the random candy on the table, the candy bar, and the ping pong table, are guests were surrounded by awesomeness. And of course, we were there... :rotfl:

Wow everything looks great beautiful and elegent but still fun! Can't wait to read more!

That's exactly how I wanted the wedding to come out!

sungela

07-17-2008, 07:15 PM

So, first dance over, time to get toasted! Keep in mind that our best people had months to write their speeches, so naturally, Misty got some great shots of Cliff scribbling down his the morning of the wedding.

Eileen went first lest Cliff’s toast outshine hers. She told everyone how I had insisted that morning that Angela would be hungry, but they had all doubted me. Of course, I was right. As with the rabbi’s talk, she noted how perfect we are for each other and how well we fit together. I liked her quotation: you don’t marry the one you can live with, you marry the one you can’t live without. Very awww-inspiring.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/EileensToast.jpg

I am well aware that this is a family board, and I do not want to run afoul of the moderators. I will thus try to be as oblique as possible when discussing the contents of the next toast.

Then Cliff took the microphone. At the rehearsal dinner, Cliff had asked me if most people knew that he will eventually be our donor. I’d said yes, because most of my family members (and all of our friends) know. I never thought much more about it.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/CliffsToast.jpg

But Cliff apparently took my response as permission to do what he did next. He began his speech pleasantly enough, talking about how he first met Angela when she was a freshman at Penn, and everyone loved her for her generosity, her loyalty, and her spunk. Then she met this really smart and sexy girl in her Legal Studies class (moi), and she was smitten. And how we started dating, and we were both really good friends with him. And then he said, “But I soon realized they didn’t just want to be friends with me. They were more interested in my little men.” And he pulled out a turkeybaster. With little Mickey “swimmers” drawn on it. Angela held the “present” aloft, while I hid my head in my hands.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/n604886_35277888_774.jpg

From the vantage point of today, nearly four weeks after the wedding, I laugh hysterically when I think about the toast. At that moment, all I could think about were the people who might be offended: Angela’s parents, my grandparents, the rabbi. I love Cliff, and I can’t ever stay mad at him (same with Angela; heaven help me when we have a kid). After trying so hard to ensure that my wedding would be classy, however, I just couldn’t believe that was the topic of discussion. I mean, it makes sense, given my mother’s addition to the ceremony, and the fact that so much of wedding symbolism is fertility-related. We were the first of our friends to settle down, the first to get married, and hopefully, we’ll be the first to have babies, and I think a lot of them are excited about the prospect of being surrogate aunts and uncles. But…. wow. Wow. My best man pulled out a turkeybaster with not-so-hidden Mickeys during his wedding toast!

My not-so-amused face:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/n602805_35278384_7188.jpg

The laughter took a good while to subside, after which point, anyone who had not started drinking began with fervor. Let me say it again, we made good use of that open bar! Angela’s father alone had nine beers.

My cousin Rachel said the prayer over bread, and we dug into the fabulous buffet. The Mickey-roni-n-cheese was a huge hit; apparently, it had to be refilled three times in the first twenty minutes. My crepe was the yummiest thing I’ve ever eaten, and the heart-shaped risotto cakes were to die for. The milk chocolate fondue was divine.

Angela and I weren’t sure about the sweetheart table; we had initially opted to sit with our bridal party and parents, but when our guest list fell, we figured it would be silly to have half of the guests at the head table. I’m really glad, though, that we were set apart: it gave us time and space to eat! Not that we ate as much as we wanted (we both lament not going back for seconds), but we did get to taste most things.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/SungelaatHeadTable.jpg

Eating our brunch was probably the calmest part of the reception; Angela and I got to chat, look at the turkeybaster in full detail, and eat. It was nice to have those 20 or so minutes just the two of us. From there on out, though, every single second was filled up. We were originally planning to do the Father/Daughter dance right after the meal ended, but Angela’s father was in the bathroom. The DJ played another song while we waited, and then we danced our combined Fathers/Daughters dance to “Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World.” Angela and her dad decided to milk the photo op, and they spent most of the song posing cheesily for the camera. My dad and I talked about how wonderful everything was, and we both teared up a little. (I’ve lost count of my crying jags).

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/AngelaandDadDance.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/SunnyandDadDance2.jpg

Then, the hora! Angela says that she converted to Judaism just for the hora, and I can believe it. We were placed on chairs—one of my uncles was trapped under my dress, so my chair tilted too much at first—and bounced around in the air. I’m glad we didn’t wait until our holders were drunk, because then I would have been even more worried.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/HoraSungelaonChairs.jpg

Everyone had a blast dancing, everyone who wasn’t playing ping pong, that is. I think we danced a little more, and then it was cake-cutting time.

Angela and I had practiced our cake eating routing beforehand, and we’d agree on no smashing (well, she wanted no smashing; I think the whole licking-cake-of-each-other’s-faces-thing is hilarious). We got our cake cutting lesson, fed each other, and then I proceeded to dab frosting on her nose and lick it off. Yummy.

Who is this man, and why is he cutting my cake?
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/CakeCutting.jpg

Can we eat it now?
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/CakeCutting2.jpg

Sunny: “But it matches your outfit.” Angela: “You’ll pay for this later.”
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/CakeCutting3.jpg

After we were done with our chocoholic debauchery, Jennifer brought out the birthday cake for my brother and father, and we all sang to them.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/BDayCake.jpg

I think at this point the DJ asked if I minded if he played some of those cheesy dances we’d vetoed (he was apparently receiving lots of requests for Cha Cha Slide), so Angela and I decided it was time for ping pong. I can’t think of a better activity to do in formalwear. I dove for the ball, got on my belly to find it under a table, and otherwise risked thousands of dollars worth of fabric to get the perfect shot. Angela and I played against each other for a while, and then teamed up against two of our friends. It was so much fun. (Sadly, you’ll have to wait until I get the CD from Misty to post pics of us playing ping pong).

A line started forming for the table, however, and it was cake eating time. You think that one little bite was enough? Yeah, right! Such good cake. I’m a little hazy on the timing after this point (hell, I’m hazy on the timing after the toasts), but I remember:

My father toasting us, with some more sweet words about how perfect we are for each other.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/RichToast2.jpg

Angela’s father toasting us, starting out with, “I need to have a talk with Cliff later on.” Everyone laughed. He talked about how well we fit together (like salt and pepper, Lucy and Desi, the Lone Ranger and Tonto). At one point, he teared up, and Angela thought he was having a heart attack. I’m glad she didn’t say anything then, because that would have made for an awkward moment or two.

I toasted Angela and thanked everyone for coming, in rhyme, of course.

Sample lines:

For our bridesmaids:
To April, Eileen, and last but not least Jess,
Aren’t you so glad we picked a re-wearable dress?

For Angela:
I love the way you wake up every morning ready to eat,
And how when we play board games we both like to cheat.
I love playing with you, kayaking or having a whipped cream fight,
And how we pretend that I’m always right.
I love you forever and always, for the rest of my life,
So thank you, Angela, for becoming my wife.

There’s a lot more of it, all just as sappy. I teared up again at the end, but I held my composure for the most part.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/SunnyToast.jpg

Angela and I went to the bathroom, and met another bride whose reception was in the other ballroom. While we were gone, we apparently missed my grandmother and mother boogeying with our friends to “We are Family”. Misty’s pics of the dance are definitely a little, shall we say, risqué.

Misty immediately noticed when my makeup began to run, and helped my mom to fix it/remove the rest of the eye makeup. She has such a great eye!

The DJ called for all the (gender neutral) single people to come onto the dance floor, and I tossed one of our bouquets. My brother caught it easily, which was great, because I was aiming right for him. Angela took off my garter with her teeth (I love those pics!), but when she flicked it, it fell on the floor, and our 4 year old flower girl picked it up. So no reverse garter custom for us. The DJ asked us if we wanted to redo the toss, but Emma was excited, and at that point, it would have been weird.

We did the Twist, the Chicken Dance, the YMCA, the Shout. The dance floor was never empty, and no one could say that they didn’t have a ball.

At one point, Cliff handed me a card from all of our friends and said it wasn’t parent-appropriate. I assumed he meant the words (silly me). There were pictures… dirty pictures... inside. Definitely not parent-appropriate or DisBoard appropriate. But definitely hilarious.

Throughout the whole reception, I had only two (small) glasses of Rosa Regale, and lots of water. (Given the humidity outside and my giant dress, I was very thirsty). Angela had Rosa plus one mimosa. We were by far the most sober (of age) people there. Christopher, Angela’s nephew, was pretty tipsy too, although that was because he consumed 9 lollipops, and my Uncle Jim stuffed a few more into his pocket. (He apparently continues to refer to the wedding as “Candy Day.”)

I didn’t really do the bridal hostess thing and go around to each table, but I did have a chance to ask the most staid table what they thought of Cliff’s toast (we didn’t do assigned seating, but everyone sat where I would have put them anyway). They all seemed to think it was pretty funny. So much for my fears. I’m just glad that the people who couldn’t have handled it didn’t end up coming to the wedding.

At 2:30 PM, I had requested a special song to mark what I assumed would be the most drunken, crazy half hour of our reception. Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time.” Let me explain: my brother and I have choreographed a routine to the song. We have performed it countless times in the past, I don’t know, five years. It is our song. And no wedding would be complete without it. It was glorious.

You thought I was kidding about how well I dance? And notice the "microphone" in my brother's hand...
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/th_FacebookCliffordAJonessVideosTurnba.jpg (http://s258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/?action=view&current=FacebookCliffordAJonessVideosTurnba.flv)

So of course, that could only be followed by “I Had the Time of My Life,” from Dirty Dancing, with Cliff and I playing the part of Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. If you’re looking at Misty’s reception pics, and you see what looks like inappropriate physical contact between the two of us, with Angela looking on jealously, and everyone else looking on incredulously, that would be why. He’s a pretty good dancer, what can I say?

We hadn’t really wanted a lot of slow, romantic music, but it was nice to unwind a little at the end with a few slower dances. I danced with Angela again (to our song, “Angel”), and with my person of honor, Jess, and my brother. And then the last song came on, Donna Summer’s “Last Dance” (I grew up in a very disco-filled household, ok?). And we danced and danced for however ridiculously long that song is.

Coming attractions: Can I please take off this dress NOW? Followed shortly thereafter by: Uh oh. Where’s the Rabbi?

kingLouiethe1

07-17-2008, 08:01 PM

Hooray! Another exciting installment of the Sungela saga! Can you tell I'm subscribed to this thread?

jessesgirl-080708

07-17-2008, 08:34 PM

Great insert! I love the colors you two used! It's def. a nice break from the lighter colors that everyone is so used to seeing at weddings. Elegance can be bright!

It looks like you guys really had the wedding of your dreams! Congratulations.. I hope the rest of your lives are just as happy as your wedding day!:flower3:

princess&her4princes

07-17-2008, 09:00 PM

What was Cliff thinking about the turkey baster? Oh no!! :sad2: Loved, loved, loved the dance video, how cute! You guys were jammin'...your reception seems like so much fun! wish I was there!!:yay: Can't wait for the next installment..no pressure. Hint, hint!! :surfweb:

KQAN

07-17-2008, 09:08 PM

IndyBride

07-17-2008, 09:49 PM

HILARIOUS! I LOVE you and your brother's dance, it looks like so much fun! That alone indicates what an awesome reception you had. And my favorite part is the girl dancing on the sweetheart table platform in the background the whole time! Awesome! :rotfl:

The lone BM is my favorite part of that too!!! Dance, dance, then- what's this??? Something to do? Pick up bag, dance another second, run off platform.

:rotfl:

Goldeelox9

07-17-2008, 11:09 PM

I LOVE your dance with your brother.....It cracked me up!

DisneyBrideToni

07-17-2008, 11:17 PM

Ahh I love this installment!!!!!!!! The dance is great!!!!!!! So funny. I like the videos! You and Angela are so cute together. You two really do fit together. You look like you were made for each other and I am sure you both were!! Your marriage will last forever! :lovestruc

Flurbee

07-18-2008, 12:20 AM

Sunny,

Just caught up on everything, it's amazing how much you miss when you are gone just for a couple days...Ok, first of all, I LOVE the bright colors at the reception, and all of the candy!! That candy bar looked awesome!!! :thumbsup2 The video with your brother was hilarious!!:lmao: Your reception really looked like a good time!!!:banana: :banana:

lov2b@disney

07-18-2008, 06:51 AM

The turkeybaster!!!:lmao: Sounds like a dinner conversation at my house:rotfl: my poor dad!;)

Awesome update---more!:surfweb:

WithDisneySpirit

07-18-2008, 07:52 AM

HILARIOUS! I LOVE you and your brother's dance, it looks like so much fun! That alone indicates what an awesome reception you had. And my favorite part is the girl dancing on the sweetheart table platform in the background the whole time! Awesome! :rotfl:

Y'all gotta keep up :rotfl: That wasn't a lone BM, that was Sunny's mom right?! She was just dancing along with her kids :goodvibes :lovestruc WOW, what a great installment!! How can I possibly write an interesting trip report when this one is on the boards :confused3 :worship: I loved it and my DH hung around to see it and the video too :love:

29apr00

07-18-2008, 10:34 AM

What an awesome party!!! :rotfl: That dance with your brother was wonderful! And the turkey baster! :lmao: if it were me, i'd have died of embaressment. If i had been a quest.. i'd have died laughing! Too funny!!

disneygal922

07-18-2008, 11:31 AM

YAY for another installment!! I love you TR, it is so fun to read! Your wedding looked like it was so much fun! :goodvibes

alissa2008

07-18-2008, 03:43 PM

We're not dance-y either. I can't move the top half of me and the bottom half of me at the same time. So I'll bob and move my arms around and then realize, oh wait, the bottom half of me isn't moving... oops, gotta move that. Oh wait, the top half isn't moving...

:rotfl:

Sunny - LOVE the toasts. too cute! Hey, quick question - where did you get your bouquet inspirations? I love the little green stems/leafs that make them look like a ball -- very unique and pretty. Did Disney floral do that for you?

sungela

07-18-2008, 06:22 PM

Hooray! Another exciting installment of the Sungela saga! Can you tell I'm subscribed to this thread?

Sometimes I think I should document my real life. All the craziness that I seem to inspire...

Great insert! I love the colors you two used! It's def. a nice break from the lighter colors that everyone is so used to seeing at weddings. Elegance can be bright!

It looks like you guys really had the wedding of your dreams! Congratulations.. I hope the rest of your lives are just as happy as your wedding day!:flower3:

You're so sweet! Pastels are lovely, but just not us. And besides, what would we do with the leftovers? Our house is decorated in bright blue and lime green; coral wouldn't exactly fit in.

What was Cliff thinking about the turkey baster? Oh no!! :sad2: Loved, loved, loved the dance video, how cute! You guys were jammin'...your reception seems like so much fun! wish I was there!! Can't wait for the next installment..no pressure. Hint, hint!! :surfweb:

I love that boy, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't pre-think anything.

HILARIOUS! I LOVE you and your brother's dance, it looks like so much fun! That alone indicates what an awesome reception you had. And my favorite part is the girl dancing on the sweetheart table platform in the background the whole time! Awesome!

We had a ball. With all that candy and alcohol, how could we not? :lmao:

Read down below for more info on said girl...

The lone BM is my favorite part of that too!!! Dance, dance, then- what's this??? Something to do? Pick up bag, dance another second, run off platform.

:rotfl:

She actually stepped on my ketubah, then moved it over and pretended like she didn't do it! :rotfl: You can totally tell I'm related to her.

I LOVE your dance with your brother.....It cracked me up!

I know, we totally have such dancing skills, right?

Ahh I love this installment!!!!!!!! The dance is great!!!!!!! So funny. I like the videos! You and Angela are so cute together. You two really do fit together. You look like you were made for each other and I am sure you both were!! Your marriage will last forever!

Thank you so much! We are so lucky to have found each other so early in our lives.

Sunny,

Just caught up on everything, it's amazing how much you miss when you are gone just for a couple days...Ok, first of all, I LOVE the bright colors at the reception, and all of the candy!! That candy bar looked awesome!!! :thumbsup2 The video with your brother was hilarious!!:lmao: Your reception really looked like a good time!!!:banana: :banana:

I hate/love coming back to so many TRs and PJs to read. I felt like that after we got back from WDW--I wanted to see what had happened when I was gone, but I had all this pressure to write my own TR!

The turkeybaster!!!:lmao: Sounds like a dinner conversation at my house:rotfl: my poor dad!;)

Awesome update---more!:surfweb:

Oy, oy, oy! I try not to be that mean to my poor father.

Y'all gotta keep up :rotfl: That wasn't a lone BM, that was Sunny's mom right?! She was just dancing along with her kids :goodvibes :lovestruc WOW, what a great installment!! How can I possibly write an interesting trip report when this one is on the boards :confused3 :worship: I loved it and my DH hung around to see it and the video too :love:

You win! That was my mom dancing oh so skillfully behind us. I think that's my favorite part of the movie--it cracks me up every time!

And I think your TR is awesome!

What an awesome party!!! :rotfl: That dance with your brother was wonderful! And the turkey baster! :lmao: if it were me, i'd have died of embaressment. If i had been a quest.. i'd have died laughing! Too funny!!

I think I was somewhere between feeling totally embarassed and laughing hysterically. I just couldn't believe that my wedding was so... interesting.

YAY for another installment!! I love you TR, it is so fun to read! Your wedding looked like it was so much fun! :goodvibes

I'm glad you're enjoying reading along! We wanted to have a fun wedding, and I definitely think we succeeded.

:rotfl:

Sunny - LOVE the toasts. too cute! Hey, quick question - where did you get your bouquet inspirations? I love the little green stems/leafs that make them look like a ball -- very unique and pretty. Did Disney floral do that for you?

Disney floral did it all. We told them we wanted bridesmaid-sized versions of the tropical bouquet, but with brighter colors. Do you want me to find the exact name of the flowers?

Mama of Indybride

07-19-2008, 09:52 AM

VillainesSheri

07-19-2008, 11:06 AM

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Sungela in a baby carriage! :laughing:

This was a great installment! I love it!

jennifaerie

07-20-2008, 12:06 PM

Sunny, this installment made my weekend (it was a rough one)! I had wondered what you and Angela had in that first picture oh-so-long ago. I *never* would have guessed.

Oh, good laughs! (Read: GREAT)

Petals & Pixie Dust

07-21-2008, 10:01 PM

popcorn:: Did you forget us??? Waiting for more....:upsidedow

princess&her4princes

07-22-2008, 08:58 PM

Hi Sunny!

Hope you had a great weekend!! Waiting for the next installment!!! Hint hint!!! How was that for being blunt??!! :lmao:

sungela

07-23-2008, 04:50 PM

Wow, this is the best installment yet!

My DH even read along for part of it, and got to see your awesome dancing skills!

I don't know that any TR will ever measure to yours!

Can't wait for more more more!!

I don't know... I think Val's will be fun! There aren't enough DL TRs on here. And I want to live through her experience, because I've never even been there.

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Sungela in a baby carriage! :laughing:

This was a great installment! I love it!

You would fit right in with our friends. Oy vey...

Sunny, this installment made my weekend (it was a rough one)! I had wondered what you and Angela had in that first picture oh-so-long ago. I *never* would have guessed.

Oh, good laughs! (Read: GREAT)

Sorry about your weekend! I wasn't sure if that teaser pic would attract any attention, but who would have ever guessed that would happen?

popcorn:: Did you forget us??? Waiting for more....:upsidedow

Hi Sunny!

Hope you had a great weekend!! Waiting for the next installment!!! Hint hint!!! How was that for being blunt??!! :lmao:

You are fiends, all of you! My brother is visiting for the week, and he is a computer hog. Our computer room also doubles as our second bedroom, so I've had limited access for the past couple of days. I'll try to write as much as I can, though, because I start really working on Monday, and I doubt I'll have much TR writing time. But at least with this installment, the wedding day is over. Kind of bittersweet, actually. You know what that means: time to go back to Disney!

sungela

07-23-2008, 04:51 PM

If the beginning of the reception was relatively relaxed, what with our nonchalant entrance into the pre-reception and two plates of food at the ready, the end of the reception was anything but. Misty needed to take a few more pictures, the cameraman wanted us to film a “running into the sunset” scene, and we had lots of people to say goodbye to. We somehow managed to get it all done, albeit with Misty and the camera guy staying overtime, and the bus leaving 15 minutes late. Angela and I regrouped back in the reception room, where the magical Disney folk were busy transforming our sunshiney rainbow bright paradise into someone else’s (decidedly duller) dream. No sooner had we started to gather the leftover candy (some of which I still have, one whole month later), then we realized that Angela’s mother had taken all our stuff back to the All Star.

I know she was trying to do us a favor, but she had taken everything we needed to check into the hotel: IDs, credit cards, reservation numbers. We frantically called her (thank heavens we still head a cell phone). Few minor, insignificant logistical problems: she was on a bus headed to the other side of the vast Disney property; the only person who had a car to drive was Angela’s father (Angela’s mom can’t drive), and he had consumed no less than nine beers, and, oh yeah, did I mention, I was wilting, stuck in my dress in the 100 degree heat with a tiara on my head, dying to be freed?

Thankfully (I love you, bus driver!), the bus driver agreed to cart our stuff back with him. Turns out, somebody had also taken the boys’ tux bags, and they needed to return their rentals before they headed out to the airport. So I sat waiting in my hot dress, chatting with those friends of ours that were caravanning to the Orlando airport. They had apparently been talking with one of the bellboys, who had heard tale of a wedding toast involving a turkeybaster…. I guess we’ve become Disney legends already!

After an eternity of waiting, exhausted, disheveled, in the humid Florida heat, the bus came back with our bags. Another bellman grabbed all of our pre-checked bags, and we headed to reservations. No suite upgrade, but we did have an amazing view. We settled into our beautiful room in the Big Pine Key, and resisted, with as much strength as we could muster, the urge to nap. We both figured that we would not wake up from any nap within the time required to attend our Dessert Party, and we could hold out just a little longer at the prospect of so much yumminess.

So instead, we sifted through our gifts and all the notes in our box. Of course, no one followed the carefully written prompts. I didn’t want mere congratulations, people! I wanted fun stories and pithy quotations. And none of the special people (read: bridal party, parents) had written anything. Granted, they were pretty busy doing our bidding (or dancing), but I would have liked something. I use the box for mementos now, though, so all is not lost.

Because we hadn’t gotten into the room until after 4, and we had to be on the bus sometime after 7, we didn’t really have that much time to veg. After showering—I hate the feeling of old hair spray on my head—we got dressed and ready to eat. I had figured we’d order dinner into our room, but we weren’t that hungry, and crackers and pieces of leftover cake from the reception were more than enough to tide us over. (We weren’t supposed to have any leftover when we switched to the smaller cake, but we still had two or three slices left.)

I was a little confused when we got to the designated bus area. I didn’t realize that the Disney Cruise Line bus was doubling as our transport, but the fine Disney folks helped us out. We stopped off at ASM first and gathered almost everybody. It was nice to see my friends and family in a more casual setting (even though I was still wearing my tiara). My person of honor, Jess, was so trashed that she had to be carried off the bus coming from the reception, and she decided to sleep off her stupor rather than join us. Everyone else, though, had sobered up decently.

The bus driver asked us if we were waiting for anyone, and we did a quick look around, and thought we were good to go. So of course, as soon as drive off, someone asked, “Where’s the rabbi?” We had forgotten the rabbi and his wife. I called them; they had missed the bus by a minute or two, and figured they’d just hop on a bus to Epcot. What did I say in my welcome letter? Can you miss the bus and still go to the party? That’s a big N-O. But we’re good-hearted people, so we went back for them, meaning that we were late to the DP and missed out on a few extra minutes of food. I could have had so much more mousse if they had only called my cell phone when they saw the bus take off. Grr…

We had one person to pick up at CBR (everyone else had already flown back), so we collected her and headed to the backstage of Epcot. The bus ride was pretty baudy, as is usual for my family. I don’t remember specifics other than some dirty jokes and lots of laughs, and I think that the bus driver put on Enchanted at some point. I love that movie.

It was kind of cool to see the behind-the-scenes area of Epcot, even if it was a little dirty/non-magical. We met our tour guide, who walked us briskly to the American Adventure rotunda. Although it was no longer raining, I guess it had been a close enough call that they put our food inside. I’m glad they did, because it meant we didn’t have any bug issues.

The food was, to put it mildly, absolutely and amazingly delicious. I could just eat that mousse and whipped cream for the rest of my life, at least if they had those raspberries to go with it. (One of our guests ate a whole coneful of the whipped cream because he thought it was the vanilla mousse.) I didn’t partake of the cheese, but I heard many a contented ooh and aah. They also had tons of cool syrups for the coffee and tea, but I was very happy with my swizzle stick. So good. All of our guests were also suitably impressed with the backstage access. If you can afford it, I heartily recommend having a Dessert Party. Our wedding was one-hundred percent perfect in every possible way, but the DP was just over-the-top Disney magical.

All too soon, we had to go outside for the fireworks. I think people were a little upset that they had to leave the food behind (I know I was, even though I was so stuffed I felt like I would never be hungry again), but they soon forgot their disappointment when we arrived (ten seconds later) at Italy Isola. Angela’s tall enough that fireworks viewing is never a problem, but I’m always stuck behind some freakishly huge person who is just a few inches away from blocking the sun, let alone fireworks. So I was very happy to have a private, unimpeded view.

I do not at all regret not having photography coverage of the Dessert Party—I was happy to watch the fireworks, and I was in no mood to get dolled up again. But it does mean that I don’t have very many pictures to share.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/BackofHeads.jpg

You can see me in the left-background, in the green shirt, leaning on my new wife:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Fire.jpg

After the fireworks, we trudged back on the bus, most of us barely awake, although I think I took the prize for most exhausted. I’m glad that the Grand Floridian was the last stop, because we had the opportunity to say goodbye to everyone individually. Almost all of our guests flew out on Monday morning, so the only people we’d see again were Angela’s parents. My parents were supposed to stay and have breakfast with us on Monday, but the Magical Express insisted they get on the bus at 10, and with Disney transport the way it is, they didn’t think they could make a 9 AM reservation.

So goodbye and goodnight to all our guests. We drove back to the GF, catching the last few minutes of Magic Kingdom’s fireworks. And the newlyweds began their happily ever after by falling fast asleep.

Up next: Faux Disneymoon, Day 1: Just because this meal cost $300 does not mean we shouldn’t spill crumbs all over ourselves.

irisbud

07-23-2008, 05:07 PM

Great installment, can't wait to read more!

Glad you were able to get all you needed to check into your room! That could have been a disaster!

princess&her4princes

07-23-2008, 08:00 PM

WOW...has it been a month already?!! You old married couple you!! :love: Another great installment, Sunny! Thanks for sharing. :flower3: I have to admit though, I'm sad it's almost over!!! You're right, you need to go back so I can live through your writing again. Can't wait to hear all about your Disneymoon!!popcorn::

WithDisneySpirit

07-23-2008, 09:20 PM

Oooh, sounds like it was stressful, that is, until you got to the chocolate mousse part :p What do you mean by "faux" honeymoon??

ClemsonGirl

07-23-2008, 10:02 PM

Great installment Sunny! :thumbsup2 Sounds like the dessert party was the perfect ending to the day. Sounds pretty darn delicious too! :rotfl:

DisneyBrideToni

07-23-2008, 10:41 PM

Yay for the latest installment!!!! I loved it. You should write a book. You are good at this!!

Curious Yellow

07-24-2008, 06:35 AM

This thread is ace! been lurking about on here for a while but just wanna say your trip report is great and your wedding looked amazing :)

jennifaerie

07-24-2008, 09:09 AM

Aww... What a great ending to the day! I want a dessert party! I just need at least six other people. :)

29apr00

07-24-2008, 09:23 AM

Another great report!! your DP sounds so wonderful....

VillainesSheri

07-24-2008, 11:15 AM

Aww what a wonderful and YUMMY way to end your wedding day. :wizard:

IndyBride

07-26-2008, 04:47 PM

kingLouiethe1

07-26-2008, 04:55 PM

What a fabulous end to your day!!! When I was in DL this week they had a window display for DFTW and in it was YOUR dress!!! Everytime I passed it I thought of you. So, there is a picture of your beautiful dress!!! The best part was when my mom was explaining what my dress looked like compared to the ones in the window to my sister. About ten feet from DF!! :)

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg273/IndyBride/planningsessiontrip-Val018.jpg

I don't know why it's sideways!!! I edited it in photobucket three times! Oh well, just turn your computer screen.

According to my fiance, my sister and I were ogling that display at the Grand Californian, and that's why he suggested getting married at Disneyland. I was affronted, I do not ogle :mad:

Actually, thinking back, I think we were ogling :lmao:

Mama of Indybride

07-27-2008, 07:39 PM

Well. Thanks for throwing me under the bus!

It was unintentional.

You know how it is, you're standing there talking, blah blah blah, Sunny said her dress was so heavy! DSis says, why, will Val's be heavy like that? 'cuz she hasn't seen her sister in her dress...

I said no, Val's is a mermaid style, :scared1: then promptly swallowed my tongue. Frankly, I don't think Dan knows mermaid style from clam shell...

At least I did not blab to him about it being LACE like she did....(Val)

DisneyBrideToni

07-28-2008, 10:53 PM

ahemm....sunny??? I know you have a beautiful wife around that you want to spend time with but some of us would like an update! :lmao: :lmao:

VillainesSheri

07-31-2008, 10:53 AM

ahemm....sunny??? I know you have a beautiful wife around that you want to spend time with but some of us would like an update! :lmao: :lmao:

^^ I second this! :thumbsup2

Petals & Pixie Dust

07-31-2008, 11:20 AM

ahemm....sunny??? I know you have a beautiful wife around that you want to spend time with but some of us would like an update! :lmao: :lmao:

I 3rd that one!!! :upsidedow

princess&her4princes

07-31-2008, 01:03 PM

ahemm....sunny??? I know you have a beautiful wife around that you want to spend time with but some of us would like an update! :lmao: :lmao:

Can I say I 4th that one?!! LMAO!!:rotfl2:

princess&her4princes

08-02-2008, 01:07 PM

Hi Sunny,

I hope everything is okay.....it seems like a long time since we've heard from you so just making sure.:goodvibes Hope you're just too busy enjoying married life to write to all of us nosey people!!:flower3:

sungela

08-04-2008, 07:09 AM

ahemm....sunny??? I know you have a beautiful wife around that you want to spend time with but some of us would like an update! :lmao: :lmao:

^^ I second this! :thumbsup2

I 3rd that one!!! :upsidedow

Can I say I 4th that one?!! LMAO!!:rotfl2:

Hi Sunny,

I hope everything is okay.....it seems like a long time since we've heard from you so just making sure.:goodvibes Hope you're just too busy enjoying married life to write to all of us nosey people!!:flower3:

You are all so sweet! I mean, demanding, but sweet! I started my real, first post-college job on Monday, and between the commute and the work itself, I'm occupied from 6 AM til 9 PM. Lovely, I know. I've managed half of the next day of my TR, but that's about it. I *promise* I will try my hardest to write more ASAP. I know I won't be so busy doing the job, but we have a whole month of training... :scared1:

DisneyBrideToni

08-04-2008, 09:38 AM

Well you are excused then :rotfl: but we can't wait to read the rest of your TR!!!!!

princess&her4princes

08-04-2008, 12:19 PM

You are all so sweet! I mean, demanding, but sweet! I started my real, first post-college job on Monday, and between the commute and the work itself, I'm occupied from 6 AM til 9 PM. Lovely, I know. I've managed half of the next day of my TR, but that's about it. I *promise* I will try my hardest to write more ASAP. I know I won't be so busy doing the job, but we have a whole month of training... :scared1:

Glad to hear that everything is okay!!Hope the job is going well..how exciting!! Can't wait for the next installment!!!!!popcorn::

kingLouiethe1

08-04-2008, 12:19 PM

WHAT?! You mean Angela's not supporting you? Then what's the point of getting married :mad:

IndyBride

08-04-2008, 03:19 PM

WHAT?! You mean Angela's not supporting you? Then waht's the point of getting married :mad:

That's how I feel! I am waiting very patiently until I can be a lady of leisure! :lmao: You can be a man of liesure, not quite the same ring to it though!

pjstevens

08-04-2008, 03:31 PM

Sunny,

we are sorry you are too busy with work to post, cause you know we all live through each others pj's. I hope all is going well with your new job and your newlywed life! When you get time, we want to see more, no pressure here, lol.

kingLouiethe1

08-04-2008, 07:16 PM

That's how I feel! I am waiting very patiently until I can be a lady of leisure! :lmao: You can be a man of liesure, not quite the same ring to it though!

No kidding, when you say it like that I sound like a bum :rotfl:

Hey, if Sunny's not going to use this thread for while does that mean we can just take it over? We can be thread-squatters :banana:

princess&her4princes

08-07-2008, 04:22 PM

No kidding, when you say it like that I sound like a bum :rotfl:

Hey, if Sunny's not going to use this thread for while does that mean we can just take it over? We can be thread-squatters :banana:

LOL!!!!:rotfl:

DisneyBrideToni

08-07-2008, 04:42 PM

alissa2008

08-10-2008, 08:09 PM

*sitting in*

PSA: this is a trip report, not a wedding day report.

:rotfl2: when you get a minute... we're all hangin' off our seats, girl! lol

:goodvibes

sungela

08-11-2008, 10:43 AM

Well you are excused then :rotfl: but we can't wait to read the rest of your TR!!!!!

I appreciate the sympathy--doesn't look like I get much of it on here. :rotfl2:

Glad to hear that everything is okay!!Hope the job is going well..how exciting!! Can't wait for the next installment!!!!!popcorn::

Job is great, but very demanding! And I have a full two weeks of training left. :scared1:

WHAT?! You mean Angela's not supporting you? Then what's the point of getting married :mad:

No, my job is to support her. She wants to be the lady of leisure. When I was in school, she supported me, but now that I'm an official graduate, she's ready to be my stay-at-home wife. :rotfl:

That's how I feel! I am waiting very patiently until I can be a lady of leisure! :lmao: You can be a man of liesure, not quite the same ring to it though!

I wish! Unfortunately, I have a workaholic streak, while Angela is quite content to be on perpetual vacation. If only she would learn how to cook and clean, this wouldn't be such a bad proposition.

Sunny,

we are sorry you are too busy with work to post, cause you know we all live through each others pj's. I hope all is going well with your new job and your newlywed life! When you get time, we want to see more, no pressure here, lol.

Thanks for understanding! I do feel really bad about falling short on my TR. And I am going to try really hard to finish up soon.

No kidding, when you say it like that I sound like a bum :rotfl:

Hey, if Sunny's not going to use this thread for while does that mean we can just take it over? We can be thread-squatters :banana:

Oh yeah, you guys can totally thread-squat. Maybe throw me a virtual post-wedding shower? :lmao:

LOL!!!!:rotfl:

:lmao: :lmao: :lmao: I want to be a thread-squatter too. We can have a sit in until Sunny posts again.

*sitting in*

PSA: this is a trip report, not a wedding day report.

:rotfl2: when you get a minute... we're all hangin' off our seats, girl! lol

:goodvibes

Alright, alright. I've finally managed to finish off Day 1 of our Faux Disneymoon. It only took me two months to complete. Oy. I'm glad that you all still care. I don't know if it's at all possible, but I'll try to write Days 2 and 3 soon. For the next ten days, I'll be at a training retreat, wherein we are held captive from 7 AM until midnight every day. Angela is not a happy camper, as you can well imagine. After that, though, I should have a few more moments of unfettered internet access...

sungela

08-11-2008, 10:46 AM

We awoke fairly early on Monday, as newly married folk, in our spacious Grand Floridian bed. Angela can never sleep late on vacation, especially not in Disney, although she was nicer to me than she was on our previous vacation, when she got up at sunrise—SUNRISE, as in dawn, as in 5 AM—ready to go play.

Originally, we had intended to have a joint family breakfast, but my parents opted out at the last second (okay, at the Dessert Party), so only six of us dined at the Grand Floridian Café. I finally got to have my Mickey waffle.

Stock photo of Mickey waffle (you think I paused long enough to take a picture?):
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Waffle.jpg

I was very jealous of Christopher, who at 4 was allowed to order off the kids’ menu. His Mickey waffle came with edible Mickey confetti. Although I did get a ton of whipped cream…. Angela’s mom, sister, father, and Angela all ordered weird adult-like breakfasts, with eggs and cheese and what-have-you.

After we’d finished our lovely repast, we said goodbye to her family/my in-laws, and headed back to our room to get ready for the day. We’d purposefully left Monday open, because we assumed we’d be tired from the wedding and we didn’t want to over-schedule. This was actually a very smart move on our parts; we were too exhausted to explore any park, and it was far more pleasant not to have to rush.

We decided to head down to Downtown Disney, easily our mutual favorite part of the whole World. One Magical bus ride later, we were ready to stroll the promenade, taking care that Angela not hit her head this time. We mostly ambled around, shopping a little. We had to resize our watches (I have exceedingly thin wrists, and even Angela’s was a little loose), and of course buy more Disney paraphernalia.

We tried on hats:
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding125.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding126-2.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding124-1.jpg

And explored Legoland:

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding128-1.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding127-1.jpg

We also decided that the woman at the art store on the Cirque side of Downtown Disney needed to hear all the details of our wedding. She totally understood the need for a ping pong table; she wanted a Batman cake at hers. I don’t know how we got on the topic of weddings, but suffice it to say that we stayed in the store for almost an hour reminiscing about the past day’s events.

Very sadly, we didn't get our Ghiradelli sundae or our usual chocolate peanut butter apple. When we first got to Downtown, we'd just had breakfast, and by the time lunch rolled around, we were in the mood for "real food," as opposed to more cake. Not that I don't love cake frosted with more cake, but I hadn't had a real meal in a few days. My body craved vegetables. So we went to the Cuban place, which has a nice vegetarian plate and nicer Mojitos. We didn’t want to eat too much, though, because we were already nearing time to prep for our magnificent Victoria and Albert’s dinner.

Even if Angela and I have all day to prepare for something, or all week, or a two and a half year engagement, we will inevitably end up rushing at the last second (see TR, Day 0). So of course we ended up tearing through our bags to find what we needed, breaking the world record for fastest shower, and dashing off to V & A’s three minutes before our reservation time (thank heavens our hotel room was only a few yards away).

We did stop to take pictures for all of your sakes:

Remember these dresses? Except I think we look a little more exhausted this time around.
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding129-2.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh254/sungela/Wedding130-2.jpg

Victoria & Albert’s was lovely. I highly recommend it for all honeymooners; how often do you get to enjoy such high-end, specialized service prepared by a four-star chef? And considering we were in Disney World, the price wasn’t that bad. (When you spend $5 on a popsicle, you lose pricing perspective, I think). There were very few people in the dining room, and the waiter lavished attention on us, pouring more water the second we’d finished taking a sip, attending to our every whim. And the food was wonderful, all artfully prepared and delicious.

I’m so glad they give you the menu to take home, because otherwise I would totally have forgotten a few of the courses (there are eight, for goodness sakes!). We dined on:

A tasting of spring melons for our amuse bouche. This course literally involved four bites of different melons, one slushed, one sliced, and the other two prepared in some ingenious way. Angela and I opted to split the wine flight (they weren’t really supposed to let us do that, but I think the waiter took pity on us because we were young and obviously not used to dining amid such finery), so we each drank half a glass of Brut Champagne. At this point, we were convinced that given the small portions, we’d still be starving by the time we left. How wrong we were.

The next course was hearts of palm and fennel salad with garbanzo beans, beets and Manni olive oil. Now, I generally dislike hearts of palm, fennel, garbanzo beans, and beets, but I was determined to try everything put in front of me, and it was good. I also liked the Cantina Del Taburno Falanghina, Campania 2005 (not that I remember if it was red or white, but I’m sure it was tasty).

Our third course was Angela’s favorite, not including dessert: mushroom tortellini with trumpet royal, hedgehog mushrooms and black truffles. Angela doesn’t really eat vegetables (she’s what we like to call a carb-etarian), but she does like mushrooms, and I think she had them in some form or another every day of our Disney trip.

With three bite size plates of food the only thing between alcohol and our bare stomachs, the Domaine Vocoret & Fils Chablis put us both over the edge in terms of tipsiness. Angela, as is her custom, had ravaged the bread (brioche, baguette, and a multigrain roll, I think), leaving crumbs strewn across the fine linens. Our waiter had that neat crumb-picker-upper (I need to get one for the house), and his little smirk told me that he hadn’t ever needed to use it as much. So to make ourselves seem even more mature and sophisticated, we spent the entire meal giggling. I can’t imagine what would have happened had we actually opted for a full wine flight each—they would have had to carry us out of there, no mean feat after we were done with the final course.

After the mushrooms came my fave (again, minus dessert): tempura squash blossom with vegetable ratatouille and miniature summer squashes, accompanied by Rosenthal Chardonnay. Every time I see baby squash in Wegman’s, I think about replicating this dish, but it hasn’t happened yet. Our entrée followed: Zellwood corn risotto, potato-turnip gratin, and petite French lentils. Oddly enough, Angela doesn’t like corn, so I enjoyed this course much more than she did, although we both loved the gratin (because it tasted like fancy mashed potatoes to our undeveloped palates). I traded Ange some of my Pinot Noir for her corn risotto, so we were both happy, full, and slightly drunk.

The meat menu has more options than the vegetarian, which suited us just fine. We had a hard time picking when we did have to choose. For course #6, my new wife went with the Colston Basset Stilton, Monte Enebro and Pierre Robert cheese plate with Port wine, while I ordered the white chocolate gelato with micro mint and tableside shavings with Moscato. It actually wasn’t that hard to pick: I’m incapable of passing up chocolate/I don’t like cheese, and it made sense for Angela to get something different.

Oh, dessert. Yummy, delicious, perfect dessert. I don’t know how or when we passed the satiation point, but we were both stuffed. No matter. There was no way I was going to let my Tanzanian chocolate pyramid, Hawaiian Kona chocolate soufflé and Peruvian chocolate ice cream and puff pastry go to waste. Why anyway would select any other dessert is beyond me. It was to die for. It was worth paying $125 just for this dish alone (okay, that might be a slight exaggeration, but it really was delicious). Angela was boring, and went with the berry gateau with mango yogurt panna cotta. She said that she loved hers, but it clearly could not have been as good as mine. Three chocolate delicacies on one plate vs. something with fruit and yogurt? As if there’s any question! She didn’t even manage to finish hers, and asked for a take out box.

Our waiter brought out the Celebes coffee, which is brewed through a cool filtration system on the table. I don’t really understand how the process works, but it has to do with air pressure building up from the boiling water underneath the coffee grinds. However they did it, it was great coffee. We also enjoyed the friandise, tiny bites of petit fours or dried fruits. I don’t know how I managed to eat any more, but I love little concentrated sweets. They gave us our fruit and nut bread to take home along with Angela’s leftover gateau, and we rolled ourselves out of the restaurant.

On our way out, we decided to switch our Japanese reservation for Tuesday night for one at Citrico’s (it looked so pretty, and we figured we could have Japanese anywhere), then stumbled back to our room to catch the Magic Kingdom fireworks. We also saw the end of a lightshow that I presume is performed solely for the guests of the MK resorts. It involved, I kid you not, an American flag, a dragon, and very tinny music. Magnificent.

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Exhausted, filled with food, and very, very happy, we dozed off, visions of Epcot dancing in our heads.