Nicola & Chris' PJ Home Wedding 1st May 2010 & Disneymoon **1 WEEK TO GO!**

[Nicola2010]

Hello all

Well as i now have a wedding date i thought i would start my PJ as ive been wanting to do this since i joined this site in 2007.

We had been planning for a Disney Wedding and even visited the WP last year but due to some unforeseen family issues we have had to re-plan and are now having a home wedding here in the UK and then we will be having a 3 week DISNEYMOON!!

Ok so i guess i should start with the introductions...

I am Nicola, currently 28 years old and my fiance Chris has just turned 29 years old (although im not far behind him). We live in the UK in a county known as Essex and are getting married on Saturday 1st May 2010!

This is the most recent picture i have of us

We met at school in 1991 and were in the same class for 5 years. We were only ever friends at school though. We had a really good relationship together at school though... we sat next to each other in registration (i think you guys call it home room) and as he is left handed and i am right handed we had this constant thing about clashing elbows, nudging each other and such... i guess it sounds lame but that was our connection to each other back then

Once leaving school we went to different colleges and although i saw him briefly when we were 17 we didnt see each other again until we were 23 years old and it was at that point that we started dating.

So as i write this PJ we are approaching 6 years together. We bought a house in 2006 and also became DVC members that year (which was my first ever time to DisneyWorld) but ive always been a Disney freak so i guess it was a good sign to know Chris and his family were the same.

We got engaged in June 2007 and i have been hanging around here ever since really, getting ideas and getting emotional over all of your beautiful weddings.

Although we can no longer have our Disney wedding we are both very excited about the fact that we are getting married and we really cannot wait for our Disneymoon!

Up next... plans so far!

 

[figmentfan0724]

welcome! I am on board and congrats on setting a date!

 

[Nicola2010]

yeah i have a reader! thank you and hello

will be providing updates real soon

 

[MegKate]

Make that two readers!!

I love May in WDW - you're so lucky to be down there for 3 weeks!! How awesome! Congrats on setting the date - I'm looking forward to reading more of your plans!

 

[Nicola2010]

Make that two readers!!

I love May in WDW - you're so lucky to be down there for 3 weeks!! How awesome! Congrats on setting the date - I'm looking forward to reading more of your plans!

yeah another reader, thank you Megkate!

I love wdw in May too... the first time i went was in May and i did prefer it to sept/oct time plus my DF is a huge star wars freak so im so glad that we should hopefully get to go to the star wars weekend again

 

[Nicola2010]

Ok well as the wedding is still just over a year away i really havent planned that much.

I think because we have been engaged since 2007 and we were originally planning a DFTW i hadnt really allowed myself to think about it too much as obviously Disney would have taken care of everything for us.

Now that we are having a UK wedding i guess i should pick up the pace a bit but it still feels too soon to me to make concrete plans I kind of decided that i was gonna start everything from May 2009 but the things i have booked so far are:

The Venue

Considering we had visited the Wedding Pavillion and thought it was the most beautiful venue for a wedding... trying to find something in the UK to compare was really tough going. Infact we had to tell ourselves in the end that nothing would compare so to start afresh and find something we liked for the features that each individual venue had.

We started our search in October 2008 and viewed around 20 different venues ranging from castles to barns to hotels etc. It was exciting but scary too considering the uncertain times we are in with the economy at the moment, i wanted to feel so sure that the decision we made would be the right one so we took our time with this.

After weeks of what seemed like soul destroying searching we had a site visit at a 16th century manor house called Newland Hall and we both knew that was the place for us so we secured our date in December 2008 and could then officially say that we are getting married on

Saturday 1st May 2010

This is our venue

This is the reception marquee

Our wedding is held over a bank holiday weekend so im really happy that we will be able to have a great party and our guests will still have 2 days to recover before they have to go back to work

We however will be recovering in Saratoga Springs... oh the injustice of it all

I have also booked my photographer who is a local man and i think he will give us what we want so pleased about that.

And although it's probably way too soon i have also booked my florist... she is based at the venue and so i feel confident that she will know how to dress it well

 

[Nicola2010]

I still have the major stuff to decide but once May is here im sure it will all start flying by.

I have been on a weight loss mission since August 2007 (as that and saving our money was all i could do back then). I joined weight watchers at that time and to date i have lost 2st 4lbs (32lbs)... i would like to lose another 1st 10lbs (24lbs) and i am trying (although probably not as hard as i could be )

I am trying to lose the bulk of this before i start wedding dress shopping in May this year so time is slowly ticking away... will have to put more effort in i think.

Due to me wanting to lose weight i havent set foot inside a wedding dress shop since ive been engaged... i think ive done well to stop myself but i didnt want my first time of trying dresses on to be an experience that i hated because i hated the size i was... i still have a way to go but im feeling better in myself so even if i dont lose it all by may i think i will feel ok enough to enjoy the experience (fingers crossed).

So that is on the top of my to do list really.

Dont know what styles will suit me so i havent really done much research on that... love the look of Maggie Sottero & Alfred Angelo gowns but im keeping open minded really.

As for the rest of my plans i will be having 1 matron of honour (my sister Tracy who is 31 years old) and 2 bridesmaids (chris' twin nieces Emily & Sophie who are 8 years old).

I would like a nice pastel shade of Blue for my attendants... i am thinking that i would have my sister in a blue tea length dress with a white sash and then the twins in white flowergirl dresses with a blue sash.

Something along these lines i think:

Although i would want the bow at the back of the dress rather than the front but it gives you all an idea.

 

[Nicola2010]

As i am not yet set on what colour i am having i cannot look into the flowers in too much detail yet although i do know that i would like roses and peonies in my bouquet.

I will be carrying a Disney theme through the wedding as much as i can... some may not be obvious to all of our guests but they will be special to me and my DF.

I most definitely want the mad hatter wedding cake... luckily i took a pic of the one in the window of Francks... i didnt know then that i would be asking a non Disney cake chef to make this so im hoping that whoever i choose to make my cake will be able to pull this off

There is a little glare from the window but im hoping it's clear enough for my cakemaker to use.

I cant decide whether to have the cake in the wedding colours i.e blue and white or to just go mad and have it in true mad hatter lairy colours ive got time to make my mind up though i guess.

For my table centrepieces i really want blue LED lights in the vases as i saw some of you have this at your dessert parties and i really wanted it when i thought i was going to have a dessert party so ive been told it shouldnt be a problem to have this in the centrepieces and that will feel disney-fied to me.

We also want to try and incorporate Disney music into the wedding... ive had a look on amazon etc for Disney music cd's... can anyone advise on how the Disney Weddings cd sounds? Is it beautiful enough for a ceremony or are there any other ones that sound beautiful? I would like a string quartet/ trio if we can afford it but we're not sure at the moment if we can so that's why ive been looking into cd's (thank god for the ipod ) so if anyone can recommend one i would really appreciate it

Well that's probably about it for my plans so far but i will be adding to this page as and when i think of things.

Hope you've enjoyed reading so far and thanks for doing so!

 

[iheartpluto]

It sounds like you have quite a lot done so far! Your reception venue looks absolutely beautiful. I know a year seems like a long time, but trust me, it will fly! I have 2 and 1/2 months to go, and I still feel like I didn't have enough time! Your PJ is great so far, and Congrats on the wedding and Disneymoon!

 

[Nicola2010]

It sounds like you have quite a lot done so far! Your reception venue looks absolutely beautiful. I know a year seems like a long time, but trust me, it will fly! I have 2 and 1/2 months to go, and I still feel like I didn't have enough time! Your PJ is great so far, and Congrats on the wedding and Disneymoon!

Thank you iheartpluto... i get so excited when someone takes the time to read my plans

We really like the venue, the whole day will be at the same place and the marquee really is beautiful... plus im a fairylights girl and it's covered with them!

It does feel like ive been waiting forever but with it being April in a couple of weeks i am starting to feel like it really will be no time at all before i can start properly planning and do all the exciting stuff.

Im sure i will look back and appreciate the time that ive had to consider everything rather than rushing into things but at the moment i just cant wait to get married!

2 1/2 months away, wow! you must be ultra excited by now!

 

[iheartpluto]

Definitely crazy excited!! Especially with the shower only being a week and a half away now... It makes everything so real! I posted my shower dress on my PJ, let me know what you think.

 

[Bolanette87]

I love all your plans so far!! I'm a fellow UK bride having a home wedding (We'll be having our Disneymoon in Disneyland Paris though!).....

I love the look of your venue- Very very pretty! And I love the style of bridesmaids dresses you're thinking of!

Bob xoxoxoxox

 

[Nicola2010]

Definitely crazy excited!! Especially with the shower only being a week and a half away now... It makes everything so real! I posted my shower dress on my PJ, let me know what you think.

ooh exciting i will check it out right now

 

[Nicola2010]

I love all your plans so far!! I'm a fellow UK bride having a home wedding (We'll be having our Disneymoon in Disneyland Paris though!).....

I love the look of your venue- Very very pretty! And I love the style of bridesmaids dresses you're thinking of!

Bob xoxoxoxox

Congratulations Bob! Thanks so much... it's always nice to speak to fellow at home wedding dis-er's.

I havent been to DLP but i heard it's really good.

I really like those styles of dresses too... i think the tea length looks very sophisticated (but that could just be me lol)

I love my venue too... cant wait for a reason to go back there lol

I noticed your ticker says 10 months away til your big day... you must be quite far along with your plans by now... if i find a PJ for you i will def check it out!

 

[Bolanette87]

Congratulations Bob! Thanks so much... it's always nice to speak to fellow at home wedding dis-er's.

I havent been to DLP but i heard it's really good.

I really like those styles of dresses too... i think the tea length looks very sophisticated (but that could just be me lol)

I love my venue too... cant wait for a reason to go back there lol

I noticed your ticker says 10 months away til your big day... you must be quite far along with your plans by now... if i find a PJ for you i will def check it out!

I'm a huge DLRP fan..... I think it's rather under-rated!

I'm a huge tea length fan too- I'm having a tea length wedding dress!

There's a link to my PJ in sig, below my ticker.... (Plugging it or what?! Lol!)....

I forgot to ask- Are you going for a blue colourscheme?? Or blue with other colours?? I'm v.nosey about colours......!

Bob xoxoxoxoxox

 

[Nicola2010]

I'm a huge DLRP fan..... I think it's rather under-rated!

I'm a huge tea length fan too- I'm having a tea length wedding dress!

There's a link to my PJ in sig, below my ticker.... (Plugging it or what?! Lol!)....

I forgot to ask- Are you going for a blue colourscheme?? Or blue with other colours?? I'm v.nosey about colours......!

Bob xoxoxoxoxox

oh yeah i didnt see your link doh

aah i think the tea length wedding dresses are very pretty too!

colour scheme is blue and white/ivory... might throw in some silver too but i havent decided as yet.

blue is both mine and DF's fav colour so ive always wanted it (and DF is very happy to wear a blue tie lol) but what kind of shade is still yet to be decided.

 

[MrsVenn]

Hi there ,

Just wanted to say congratulations!! We had a mini honeymoon in Disneyland Paris last April (our wedding date was 16/03/08) and loved every minute!

We're heading to Orlando in 35 days for a first anniversary treat to ourselves and as this was meant to be our original honeymoon plan (had to cancel at the last minute due to work commitments) and to be honest we're going to enjoy every minute!

And I love the idea of the blue lights in vases!

Shula

 

[Nicola2010]

Hi there ,

Just wanted to say congratulations!! We had a mini honeymoon in Disneyland Paris last April (our wedding date was 16/03/08) and loved every minute!

We're heading to Orlando in 35 days for a first anniversary treat to ourselves and as this was meant to be our original honeymoon plan (had to cancel at the last minute due to work commitments) and to be honest we're going to enjoy every minute!

And I love the idea of the blue lights in vases!

Shula

Congratulations on your anniversary... im sooo jealous you will be in my favourite place in just over a months time.... i came back from florida in oct 08 and i have major withdrawal symptons

Thank you, i love all things blue and sparkly so i cant wait as i know they will make such an impact in the evening!

Im sure you will have a fabulous anniversary, there's no way it will be average in disney

 

[princess22]

Just wanted to drop in and say hi and congrats! Everything looks great so far. I like the flower girl dress, it's very cute. But I agree, put the bow in the back!

Congrats again, can't wait to read more!

 

[iheartpluto]

Hi there ,

Just wanted to say congratulations!! We had a mini honeymoon in Disneyland Paris last April (our wedding date was 16/03/08) and loved every minute!

We're heading to Orlando in 35 days for a first anniversary treat to ourselves and as this was meant to be our original honeymoon plan (had to cancel at the last minute due to work commitments) and to be honest we're going to enjoy every minute!

And I love the idea of the blue lights in vases!

Shula

So excited for you that you get to go to WDW for your anniversary! I'm sure DLP is lovely, too. Nicola, blue lights sound SO cool!