STEPHSFL's Planning Journal- FINALLY!

[StephSFL]

I am finally posting my planning journal with the wedding being less than a week away! There is a theme to my planning: behind on everything and ”I have no idea” and ”why is everything seem to be going wrong?!?!”

The engagement:
My DF proposed at the French Island at EPCOT. I thought he was getting sick, but it just turned out he was getting nervous! We love Disney and go as much as possible so it was really special when he chose to propose to me at EPCOT (our favorite park). I still get emotional every time we pass by France.

The Wedding
We are having our DFTW at the WP during the evening with the cocktail reception at Italy Isola and dinner and dancing at AAR. The location was chosen as a “happy medium” between three other locations- my Dad wanted the Great Movie Ride (I cannot explain how excited he was about that location), I wanted China, and my DF was intrigued by the Brown Derby (never got too much into the details on that one). My Dad is finally ok with our decision to go with AAR, but I think he is holding out for a vow renewal sometime down the line at the Great Movie Ride!

Invitations:
I cannot begin to explain the drama that has circled around this issue! I went with the person Disney “suggests” and can’t explain how bad this decision was. I get upset just thinking about it . . . moving on!

Programs, menu cards, place cards, etc.
I am trying to get this all together because of the aforementioned problem. I am trying to make a lot of things on my own now. I will post pics as I make stuff!

Table Signs & Bubbles
We have gold easels for each table that have signs printed on champagne paper which is then mounted on a chocolate brown paper. Each table is named after one of our favorite Disney things, for example, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Donald & Daisy, and Pirates of the Caribbean.
The bubbles took a lot of time, but were a lot of fun!

Place cards: We are making place cards with different colored jewels at the top for each food choice.

Menus: After getting a castle logo from a fellow diser, I printed them on ivory paper and mounted it on chocolate paper to make it standout. I am also doing bows at the top.

Programs: I am not sure if I will be able to finish them, but I am using Disney Print Creations to make them!

Guest book: We are doing the traditional style guest book and another one which you can see the pic below.

It is the Art of Walt Disney coffee table book and we are asking guests to pick their favorite film, pics, etc. and write a message on that page with a permanent marker so we can have it on display everyday.


Welcome Bags
I bought tote bags for $3.50 each from a wholesaler and then had them embroidered with either the guests name or initials.
Here is one we made for a bridesmaid.

Inside we are putting:
-FL gummie alligators
-snacks (potato chips, pretzels, pecans, breakfast bars, and candy bars)
-boxes of Godiva chocolate
-Disney umbrellas
-Disney frames
-WDW golf balls
-Disney pins
-Disney mugs (we have some serious coffee drinkers)
-Key Lime taffy and other goodies
-WDW throws

We are also making newsletters to include in the gifts bags that welcome everyone, talk about events we are having (our Bon Voyage breakfast, rehearsal dinner), and gives them the wedding bus schedule.

Ok! That's all I have covered write now- I will add more later tonight with details on the dress, decor, and other goodies!

Hope you all like everything- if not, I hold you all responsible!!!!

 

[princessdisneybelle]

Wow! Everything is beautiful. You are very very talented.

 

[JJClemson]

Steph, wow! Everything looks great I bet your wedding is going to be amazing! I can't wait to see the finished product!

 

[DisBride2007]

I knew I had to read your planning journal because I always said that we didn't have anything planned properly for our wedding and we were always months behind!

After reading, you are way ahead of where we were!! We couldn't even get our act together for welcome bags. Everything looks great.

And for the little amount of work that we did planning our wedding, everything turned out perfectly in the end. I'm sure yours will too!

 

[TInk218]

I had the same problem with person Disney suggest for invitation/paper products. Luckily, I got out before it was too late and ended up making a lot of my items on my own. They were very bad to work with and we were willing to spend some money but the service was awful!

Everything you have done looks beautiful this far!!!

I do have one question though...where did you find the gold easels?? I have been looking EVERYWHERE for them! Thanks!

 

[jmmastra]

I LOVE your idea for a guestbook. Very creative!

 

[DisBride23]

Thanks for posting your Planning Journal. You are so creative!!
Can I ask where you got your tote bags? I want ones for my bridesmaids, but can't find anything under $20/bag.
Thanks and I can't wait to read more!

 

[princessdisneybelle]

I am finally posting my planning journal with the wedding being less than a week away! There is a theme to my planning: behind on everything and ”I have no idea” and ”why is everything seem to be going wrong?!?!”

The engagement:
My DF proposed at the French Island at EPCOT. I thought he was getting sick, but it just turned out he was getting nervous! We love Disney and go as much as possible so it was really special when he chose to propose to me at EPCOT (our favorite park). I still get emotional every time we pass by France.

The Wedding
We are having our DFTW at the WP during the evening with the cocktail reception at Italy Isola and dinner and dancing at AAR. The location was chosen as a “happy medium” between three other locations- my Dad wanted the Great Movie Ride (I cannot explain how excited he was about that location), I wanted China, and my DF was intrigued by the Brown Derby (never got too much into the details on that one). My Dad is finally ok with our decision to go with AAR, but I think he is holding out for a vow renewal sometime down the line at the Great Movie Ride!

Invitations:
I cannot begin to explain the drama that has circled around this issue! I went with the person Disney “suggests” and can’t explain how bad this decision was. I get upset just thinking about it . . . moving on!

Programs, menu cards, place cards, etc.
I am trying to get this all together because of the aforementioned problem. I am trying to make a lot of things on my own now. I will post pics as I make stuff!

Table Signs & Bubbles
We have gold easels for each table that have signs printed on champagne paper which is then mounted on a chocolate brown paper. Each table is named after one of our favorite Disney things, for example, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Donald & Daisy, and Pirates of the Caribbean.
The bubbles took a lot of time, but were a lot of fun!

Place cards: We are making place cards with different colored jewels at the top for each food choice.

Menus: After getting a castle logo from a fellow diser, I printed them on ivory paper and mounted it on chocolate paper to make it standout. I am also doing bows at the top.

Programs: I am not sure if I will be able to finish them, but I am using Disney Print Creations to make them!

Guest book: We are doing the traditional style guest book and another one which you can see the pic below.

It is the Art of Walt Disney coffee table book and we are asking guests to pick their favorite film, pics, etc. and write a message on that page with a permanent marker so we can have it on display everyday.


Welcome Bags
I bought tote bags for $3.50 each from a wholesaler and then had them embroidered with either the guests name or initials.
Here is one we made for a bridesmaid.

Inside we are putting:
-FL gummie alligators
-snacks (potato chips, pretzels, pecans, breakfast bars, and candy bars)
-boxes of Godiva chocolate
-Disney umbrellas
-Disney frames
-WDW golf balls
-Disney pins
-Disney mugs (we have some serious coffee drinkers)
-Key Lime taffy and other goodies
-WDW throws

We are also making newsletters to include in the gifts bags that welcome everyone, talk about events we are having (our Bon Voyage breakfast, rehearsal dinner), and gives them the wedding bus schedule.

Ok! That's all I have covered write now- I will add more later tonight with details on the dress, decor, and other goodies!

Hope you all like everything- if not, I hold you all responsible!!!!

Steph,

Can you tell me the size of your menus? I'm trying to make those to and can't figure the sizing out.

Thanks

 

[StephSFL]

I had the same problem with person Disney suggest for invitation/paper products. Luckily, I got out before it was too late and ended up making a lot of my items on my own. They were very bad to work with and we were willing to spend some money but the service was awful!

Everything you have done looks beautiful this far!!!

I do have one question though...where did you find the gold easels?? I have been looking EVERYWHERE for them! Thanks!

Sad, Huh?

Well, I found the easels on the internet. They come in all different sizes and finishes. They even have them as individual place card holders!
The website is: www.southbeachgifts.com
They have some really unique stuff. The ones I have can be found under place card holders & Easels. They were wonderful to deal with- quick, offered advice, had quantity discounts, and the shipping was very reasonable!
Hope this helps!

 

[StephSFL]

Steph,

Can you tell me the size of your menus? I'm trying to make those to and can't figure the sizing out.

Thanks

I will definitly get you the measurements today- after I find where I put them!

 

[StephSFL]

I told y'all I would add more! This is fun!

The Dresses (yes, it is meant to be plural)!
This is a nightmare situation for me! I ordered my original gown over 6 months ago and we started alterations to it in late December when it came in. The dress was way too big when it first came in and we had known prior to that we were going to have to do major alterations (I am a little “disproportioned”), but this was ridiculous. Even the sales people kept mentioning they should have ordered a different size! During the first fitting the seamstress said she was not able to actually pin it right because there was so much material to come off, but that I shouldn’t worry. She measured my wait and asked how tall I was and that was it! I went back a week later and the dress was too small- we couldn’t come close to zipping it up! After two more fittings it still hadn’t been let out enough so we could zip it up past my rib cage! Then the seamstress announces she is going on vacation and she will have it fine by the next time we came in. We went in last week and she had done the opposite of what we needed- let out the waist and didn’t let the bust out! Now I am freaked out! All the sales people and owner could say was that it would be fine and sometimes it took many fittings for dresses to fit right. However, after this fourth fitting it seemed we were just taking steps backward- the dress was pulling in weird areas and it now wasn’t laying right anywhere. In fact, it was too short- they had somehow decided to hem the dress without taking into account my heels!


The sales people make an all day appointment for me to come in the next day (which was this past Wednesday) and work with another seamstress so I wouldn’t have to keep traveling back and forth (it’s an hour away from my house). We come in at 9:45 a.m. and were there until 7:30 p.m.-ok we left a few times to go snack and window shop in the area! Now, it was my mother and her wonderful friend who happens to know a lot about sewing clothes and such (the smartest thing we could have done was have her come along). They refitted the dress four times that day and it didn’t get any better! We found out that the original seamstress must have cut the fabric out (which you are never suppose to do I guess) so it could never be let out enough to fit- the fabric wasn’t there! So, leaving that night I am really sick- this has not been a good week and I have no dress. If I wore the dress my ****s would be really, really exposed (you could almost see nipples) and falling out every time I leaned over!

Oh! Here is a pic of the dress I had ordered.

The owner calls us the next day and asks us to come in. My Mom, Dad, and I go in and I try on the dress for everyone to see! My Mom is beyond angry, my Dad is totally grossed out that they would find how the dress looked acceptable, and I couldn’t stop crying! After many back and froths about what the bridal salon was going to do to fix the problem with 10 days to go they tell me to pick another dress from the floor samples and they would have it cleaned and alter it. This was a terrible experience! They kept trying to push dresses I hated/just weren’t my style. After really rummaging through the whole store, I finally found one off the rack I liked that could be altered to fit. Now, I didn’t look at the price tags or anything- my family just wanted me to find a dress I felt comfortable in and liked. The dress was not in great shape- it was filthy and had pulled threads and marks on it that wouldn’t necessarily go away. However, I figured at this point it should go to the cleaners and we could just see how it would work out! So, then I look at the price tag on the sample dress and it was almost three times what my original dress was. My Dad is laughing that I must have picked one of the three most expensive dresses in the place! Honestly, it didn’t seem like it would be that much- it was much simpler than my other gown and I am clueless about this stuff. We asked what the price of the dress would be- we figured they would give us some sort of discount because A) it was a sample and would not be in perfect condition and B) we wouldn’t have been in this predicament if they had ordered a more correct size in the first place and not made all the wrong alterations! This is where things get nasty- not only did they not want to take much off the price- they made it sound like I should never have picked it. After going back and forth (the owner wouldn’t talk to us directly and kept sending her sales people as the mediators which I though was tacky) and my parents getting really angry and I start to cry again we finally agree on a price. I don’t really agree with the final price- these gowns have such a high mark-up and I use to be a buyer for formal wear so I had a very good idea of what the dress cost her if anything at all and she was still making a good profit off of it. With everything that had happened, we just wanted to have a dress!

So, it came back this past Saturday from the cleaners and while there are many pulls and things that they couldn’t fix, it looked a lot better! I had my fitting with the new seamstress and all through the fitting everyone was hovering around me- it was funny, it felt like they thought I was going to run out with the dress and not pay for it!?!? All the owner could do was come over and try to blame other things for the original dress not working and that it could have been fixed etc. Urgh! I kept thinking, if they could have fixed it, they would have after so many attempts!

Here is the only pic of the new dress I could find. At leaset y'all can see what the top part looks like!

I will update y’all after the next fitting! I really hope it goes well!


Rings!
OK Let me get all the problems out of the way- my ring never came in! Instead of ordering my band the store ordered two of DFs! We found out last Saturday and we were totally freaked out until we found a place that would size down the ring they had in stock! This only made the whole dress situation that much worse!

Bridesmaid dresses:
Standing on my side are three guys and three girls. The bridesmen were so much easier to outfit!
The ladies will be wearing dresses by Bill Levkoff and the Jr. Bridesmaid will be wearing the same gown, but in the opposite color scheme!
Here is how the dress looks for the jr. bridesmaid. The colors are switched for the bridesmaids!

Bridal accessories:
Veil: I cannot believe how much these cost! A family friend who was in the bridal biz made a Cathedral length one for me with swarzski crystals that is gorgeous!

Headpiece: Ok! This is where the way behind begins. With three weeks out I finally picked one. I wanted something that was more of a comb look (no crown or head band for me) that would sit on the back of my hair. I found this one which looked great with the first dress and it looks like it will be fine with the second dress.

Shoes: Ahhh! Finally found a pair, but I don’t want to admit to myself how much they cost! Gold MB- love them

Bridal jewelry: I had bought a piece of Takori jewelry, but just got surprised with a beautiful necklace from my DF. I will post that after the wedding!

More to come- favors, groomsmen, and more!

 

[TinkerBabe1010]

Steph,

Everything is beautiful!!!

I'm SO sorry things have been so crazy stressful the weeks before your wedding, but I know everything will turn out wonderfull! Just try and relax and enjoy the ride.

I can't wait to hear about the AAR when you're done, so get ready for me to pick your brain!!!

Oh, and for what it's worth, I think the second gown is GORGEOUS. I love the embroidery. You'll look beautiful in it.

Enjoy your special day!

 

[JJClemson]

That is so awful about the dress. I feel so bad for you I could not imagine being in that situation. I cannot get over how they treated you! How awful! The second dress is beautiful though and I'm sure you'll look great

 

[Raspberry Bubbles]

Everything looks sooooooo wonderful!

Can I ask what the problem was with the person "suggested" by Disney as I've heard other people having problems and don't want to get tangled up in the same situation

 

[karentan]

hope everything works out fine for you in the end. sure seems like you deserve a perfect wedding day after all that!!

 

[Tinkerbell's Mom]

Although while at work I can not see any of the pics you posted, I want to subscribe so I can keep up with everything from home. I am so sorry about your dress issues, I can only imagine how tragic that must have been for you, I hope from here on out things are just absolutely magical!!!!!!!

 

[StephSFL]

Thank you all so much for your comments- the dress fitting didn't go well today so I will have to go back tomorrow morning!
Thanks again everyone!

 

[princessdisneybelle]

Thank you all so much for your comments- the dress fitting didn't go well today so I will have to go back tomorrow morning!
Thanks again everyone!

Oh no. Oh my gosh this is getting crazy!

 

[Belle83007]

omg steph you poor thing i feel soo bad that you had to run into sooo many problems, I cant believe the whole dress issue heres some pixie dust for you that everything will work out i have to say everything for your wedding is absolutely beautiful i cant believe you did this all yourself. Can i hire you to do mine lol. Good luck with everything, dont worry i am sure the finished product is all going to be amazing!!!!!!!

 

[ExCPKate]

I told y'all I would add more! This is fun!

The Dresses (yes, it is meant to be plural)!
Even the sales people kept mentioning they should have ordered a different size!

We found out that the original seamstress must have cut the fabric out (which you are never suppose to do I guess) so it could never be let out enough to fit- the fabric wasn’t there! So, leaving that night I am really sick- this has not been a good week and I have no dress. If I wore the dress my ****s would be really, really exposed (you could almost see nipples) and falling out every time I leaned over!

This is where things get nasty- not only did they not want to take much off the price- they made it sound like I should never have picked it. After going back and forth (the owner wouldn’t talk to us directly and kept sending her sales people as the mediators which I though was tacky) and my parents getting really angry and I start to cry again we finally agree on a price. I don’t really agree with the final price- these gowns have such a high mark-up and I use to be a buyer for formal wear so I had a very good idea of what the dress cost her if anything at all and she was still making a good profit off of it. With everything that had happened, we just wanted to have a dress!

So, it came back this past Saturday from the cleaners and while there are many pulls and things that they couldn’t fix, it looked a lot better! I had my fitting with the new seamstress and all through the fitting everyone was hovering around me- it was funny, it felt like they thought I was going to run out with the dress and not pay for it!?!? All the owner could do was come over and try to blame other things for the original dress not working and that it could have been fixed etc. Urgh! I kept thinking, if they could have fixed it, they would have after so many attempts!

Steph,

I am so so so sorry this has happened to you. That shop should have been BEGGING you to pick out a new dress for FREE! What horrible customer service.....someone should turn that evil owner in for bad business practices. They certaintly did not follow through on their original promise of altering the first dress satisfactorily. Your new dress looks beautiful and I hope it makes you really happy, and you can forget all the dress madness

I love all your other choices, and brown/champagne is so elegant! I can't wait to see all your pictures so I can live vicariously through you!

Oh and Tacori jewelry is so beautiful; is your headpiece from Tacori as well?

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, and I wish you tons of happiness and good luck on your wedding day!