Katie & Mike TR - SBP/Bluezoo/Morocco - Dessert Party (8/5)

[PrincessShea]

An interlude...accessories, rings, and things

Well I said a couple posts ago that I was going to post about the accessories, and I forgot. So here it is..

First the obligatory makeup picture. I love the colors. Actually when my makeup was finished my immediate reaction was that it was too little. I thought the lipstick I had on was too subtle and I asked Patricia to make it pinker. Well, she told me to wait until Becka took a picture so I could see how it photographed, and if I didn't like it, she would make it pinker. Well, after I saw how it photographed, I decided to keep it. Lesson: trust the professionals. They know what they are doing.

Here are my earrings that I bought a month before the wedding. Originally I was going to wear a Mickey necklace but decided it would be too much with all the detail at the top of my dress, so I went with big blingy earrings instead. Becka photographed a lot of the jewelry on the itinerary that I made for the week. It didn't have a lot to do with the wedding, but she was obsessed with it!

I wore this ring on my right hand. Why? Well, it had a pink and purple (wedding colors) flower and looked cool. Hahaha, no sentimental story, sorry.

My sisters wore the hidden Mickey necklaces which I have posted about extensively already in the PJ portion of this thread.

My beauteous shoes. Make fun of me all you want, but all the girls were in flip flops by the end of the night, so I do not regret wearing my flat weirdo mouse shoes at all.

Now the last accessory to cover is the rings. And let me tell you, if we ever lose the rings we have plenty of pictures to give to a jeweler to have them replicated. Studio 222 took a BILLION pictures of them. It is handy though because it helps you fill in empty spaces for Blurb books. I'll go into more details later once I get my blurb book. But let me tell you, I have been OBSESSED with making it the last couple days.

Ok, the rings....

Love this shot

My engagement ring. Again, the itinerary makes an appearance

Now I have no idea where this was taken but I like it

Now everyone received the itinerary the night before the wedding and I threw in this picture of Donald and Daisy from the Jitterbug cartoon...FORESHADOWING if you will ;-)

We were on that day...and hi? The symbolism of this shot evades me

Now the symbolism of this shot I can appreciate ;-)

Not a fan of Cinderella, but cute picture

Pretty

And ladies I now present the winner of favorite ring shot...the picture that actually made the cover of my blurb album

And I shall close with my dad's tie. Michael is actually a die-hard Cubs fan, and shockingly, they still get along

 

[MainStMandy]

YAY!!! Katie your pictures are just beautiful! And I love your ring shots!! Very nice!

 

[LLLBelle]

Love the pics! I loove that picture on the map as well, I saw in on their blog.

 

[PrincessShea]

YAY!!! Katie your pictures are just beautiful! And I love your ring shots!! Very nice!

Love the pics! I loove that picture on the map as well, I saw in on their blog.

Thanks ladies

I'm trying to pound out this report because school is starting soon and I know if I don't finish before it starts, it will never get done.

Studio 222 took a lot of pictures for some reason of SBP before everything was set up. Well like I said earlier it took Mike and company about 5 minutes to "get ready" so there was a lot of standing around for them. According to Mike Disney didn't put out any petals until like right before everything started. Another thing they didn't put out until the last minute was the food. Well...Mike didn't realize that at first.

I want to preface this by restating that Mike was not really involved in the planning of this wedding. Now I am not a crazy bridezilla or a psycho princess-wannabe. At the beginning I was very open about everything and Mike truly didn't care about a single detail. He is a not a planner. He is a "tell me when to be there" kind of guy. The colors of the wedding fell into place around the bridesmaid dresses. I found a dress style that I thought would fit both my sisters well. One is 5'7" and one is 5' even....so all I cared about was fitting two different body types into a dress that worked for both. Once I found the cut, they gave me the color options for that dress and the iridescent taffeta looked best, so I picked it. When it came to picking all the pink...well, I thought it complimented the bridesmaids dresses.

Originally I was going to have MIke wear a purple tie like Carl. I asked if he minded; he didn't. I found ONE purple tie that matched perfectly at a tourist stand at Navy Pier here in Chicago. Well, after much searching and phone calls, I could not find another, so I decided to just have Mike wear a black tie...and frankly I think it worked out better in the end. My main point is that Mike didn't care about wearing a purple tie.

Well then I asked if he cared about wearing a pink rose. He could wear white if he wanted. Again, he said he didn't care.

I may have already told this story. But several months before the wedding, Rosie had sent me swatches of different chair sash colors. So I asked Mike if he wanted to be involved and help me pick. "Sure," he said. So I showed him the colors, which were fuchsia, hot pink, and magenta. "Which one do you think would look best?" And then I talked for about 5 minutes about the pros and cons of each. Once I finished, Mike just stared blankly and blinked. "yea, I don't really care what you do for any of this." Hahaha, ok then.

So basically, long story short, Mike had pretty much no clue of what was happening that day. All he knew is how much it cost. As far as the details, he knew nothing. SOOOOOO

When they were standing around Sea Breeze Point, Mike looked over at the cake table.

His first thought, he told me later, was "oh man is she gonna pissed about that cake."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Oh dear god. He thought the cake stand you see there was the actual cake! Hahahaha, he later reported relief when they brought out the actual cake.

 

[Pirate's Princess]

Hooray for photos!! I definitely agree about some of the ring shots...they are lost on me too. And I love the map picture too!!!

And I will NOT make fun of the mouse shoes. I want the mouse shoes!!! Just trying to get up the guts to buy them.

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

His first thought, he told me later, was "oh man is she gonna pissed about that cake."

Great updates, loving all the pics.

 

[PrincessShea]

The ceremony: Part 1 | Lots of people walking

Sidenote: I hate you photobucket. I just spent forever doing this and many of the pictures look jagged and weird after the resize but frankly at this point I do not care.

So as you can see, it was a nice day. It was REALLY sunny though. Keep in mind, this was a 2:30pm wedding in June. A lot of the pictures look like it's supernoving in the background.

The sand ceremony setup

Generally, I am pleased. If I had to do it over though, I probably would have done it differently. I wanted the gel cylinders with light up cubes because everything was being moved to bluezoo for dinner. So I thought they would look cool in the restaurant. Well, the sun didn't set until after 8:30 that night, so the glow cubes were kind of pointless in bluezoo. I probably would have just a flower splay or something if I did it again. It looked cute though.

Flowers in glass bowl on columns with chiffon overlay

Now this is a decoration I got based on the possibility of rain. It would have been cheaper to just get flowers that hang. However, Rosie told me if it rained and everything was moved inside, that the flowers might just be laid on the floor since there is no place to hang them in the ballroom. Well, that's irritating, so I decided to just have the columns. But that led to another problem. The columns are gross. Different strokes for different folks, I know, but doric columns in the middle of a wooden New Englandish gazebo. Uh...no. Rosie told me that the chiffon was not a good idea because the flower bowl wouldn't be heavy enough and the chiffon is slippery and it would all blow away. I said I'd take my chances. You could still kind of see the column through it, but it was well enough hidden.

The fan with Donald and Daisy...again more foreshadowing ;-)

My favorite part...the flowers in the aisle. This was the first thing I noticed walking down the aisle. It was way better than I expected.

Everyone stands around and waits

Finally, this show gets on the road. I'm at the entrance with my sisters. "Colors of the Wind" starts playing and Amy tells my sister to start walking.

"Ok, Mary, go," Amy says.

I'm saying something I don't remember to my dad, making fun of my sisters probably. Well at that moment my dad RIPS ANOTHER FREAKING TAG OFF HIS SUIT. And then literally as soon as he finished ripping, Amy says, "Ok, go..." as the bridal chorus begins.

So looking at the pictures I see that my dads eyes are closed for literally almost all of them. I think he was having a zen moment. Harnessing his chi if you will after the suit tag drama.

Michael had explicit instructions from Ron to not turn until he was told.

He turns

First look. Great expression. Ron later tells everyone that Mike said "wow" when he saw me

This picture did not make the album ;-) Mike keeps his line of vision classy

So Ron tells us that Mike said "wow" and that this was going to be a good wedding, and then the whole being given away thing starts.

Ron asks who gives this woman and my dad says "I do." and then promptly realizes his error and hastily adds "oh, and her mother."

A kiss

My dad passes Michael off to me

After that Mike and I just look at each other like "oh my god. this is it. it's really happening."

Just the two of us now

 

[lurkyloo]

I think you're prolly right in the middle of posting another installment, but I thought I'd share a Photobucket tip that I got from FigmentFan814 after years of frustration with re-sizing:

You can set Photobucket to upload your pix at the size you want before you upload them. You may know this already - maybe it's not the problem. But my wedding pix were HUGE, and I was resizing each by hand. The option is below the panel where you select the pictures (or, for the bulk uploader, it's underneath the window where they appear as you select them, before you hit Upload).

Sorry if you already know this....

 

[MiaBella05]

its looks so beautiful!!

 

[lpizzuro123]

Wow - your photos are just wonderful. Love the way SBP looks and love the color combo. Can't wait to hear about your blurb book. I have been working on a Shutterfly book and should be finished by next week. I am a very bad Disney bride - we have been married since November - but I am making it my vow to be finished by next week - besides the fact that I just got a coupon for 25% off if I order by August 5th. I am working non-stop now.

How many pages can you make in a blurb book? Unfortunately in Shutterfly you can only do 100 - you would think that should be enough - but after receiving 3500 photos from Misty - 100 pages is not enough.

Enough about my book - back to your journal.

Linda

 

[PrincessShea]

Hooray for photos!! I definitely agree about some of the ring shots...they are lost on me too. And I love the map picture too!!!

And I will NOT make fun of the mouse shoes. I want the mouse shoes!!! Just trying to get up the guts to buy them.

Thanks And get the mouse shoes!!!

Great updates, loving all the pics.

Thanks

I think you're prolly right in the middle of posting another installment, but I thought I'd share a Photobucket tip...

Yea I did that. I am resizing them all 640X480 and the vertical ones are coming out different sizes and all jagged and weird. But like I said, whatever I'm too aggravated right now, maybe later tonite I will attempt to fix. Thanks though

its looks so beautiful!!

Thanks

Ok I gotta go make dinner, but I hoping to post some more tonite

 

[PrincessShea]

Wow - your photos are just wonderful. Love the way SBP looks and love the color combo. Can't wait to hear about your blurb book. I have been working on a Shutterfly book and should be finished by next week. I am a very bad Disney bride - we have been married since November - but I am making it my vow to be finished by next week - besides the fact that I just got a coupon for 25% off if I order by August 5th. I am working non-stop now.

How many pages can you make in a blurb book? Unfortunately in Shutterfly you can only do 100 - you would think that would sound like alot - but after receiving 3500 photos from Misty - 100 pages is not enough.

Enough about my book - back to your journal.

Linda

I just posted and saw I missed yours. Thanks for the compliments

I really don't know how big a blurb book can be. The biggest number they show on the price list is 440 pages. My book is 200 pages. Actually, it was 202 pages, but I found out that the price difference between 200 and 202 pages was like $15 so I made some sacrifices

And I agree 100 pages is nothing. Actually, I showed my mom the preview of the book and when it finished she was like "that's it!?" I feel the same way I didn't get anywhere near 3500 photos, so I cannot imagine the decisions you have to make. Good luck though

 

[figment fan21]

Great Updates Katie!!!!!

Your e-ring and band are so beautiful! I love them both!!

All of your pictures came out amazing! I love that Mike thought the same stand was the cake! I read that and started laughing out loud!

And the picture that didn't make the album is priceless.

I can't wait to read more and thank for posting all of your helpful escape bride/sbp tips! it's much appreciated

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

Everything looks so gorgeous and perfect!! I really, REALLY love your wedding band. If my e-ring didn't come with a matching one, I would def find one like yours! You have def inspired me to get chair covers and petals, I think it really makes it change from a "nice" place to a "wow" place! Can't wait for more!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Your wedding was absolutely fabulous and you were an elegant and beautiful bride!!!
Was the pink bow on the cake table included (and if so were you able to choose your own colour) or was it an extra?

 

[Pirate's Princess]

Everything looks so beautiful. Your pictures are great (especially the one with Mike's eyes ). Enjoy dinner and I can't wait for more. What do you teach by the way? I'm going to try to wait until September to order the shoes because that's when I get my nice pay check again. Oh the sacrifices of teachers haha

 

[PrincessShea]

Great Updates Katie!!!!!

Your e-ring and band are so beautiful! I love them both!!

All of your pictures came out amazing! I love that Mike thought the same stand was the cake! I read that and started laughing out loud!

And the picture that didn't make the album is priceless.

I can't wait to read more and thank for posting all of your helpful escape bride/sbp tips! it's much appreciated

Thanks Glad to help. I actually have a good tip coming up next so keep reading

Everything looks so gorgeous and perfect!! I really, REALLY love your wedding band. If my e-ring didn't come with a matching one, I would def find one like yours! You have def inspired me to get chair covers and petals, I think it really makes it change from a "nice" place to a "wow" place! Can't wait for more!

Thanks I definitely think Sea Breeze Point would look great without any decorations, but the chair covers are relatively inexpensive and do add that extra touch.

Your wedding was absolutely fabulous and you were an elegant and beautiful bride!!!
Was the pink bow on the cake table included (and if so were you able to choose your own colour) or was it an extra?

Thanks I had absolutely zero input on the cake table. The bow matched the chair sashes but that was put there without me knowing about it. I really don't remember looking too closely at other escape brides tables so maybe it's standard. I don't really know though.

Everything looks so beautiful. Your pictures are great (especially the one with Mike's eyes ). Enjoy dinner and I can't wait for more. What do you teach by the way? I'm going to try to wait until September to order the shoes because that's when I get my nice pay check again. Oh the sacrifices of teachers haha

Thanks I teach high school history. Yourself? And yea I know what you mean, its rough during the summer when you pay bills and your checking account is just constantly going down and you have to wait until August for deposits to finally be made again

 

[PrincessShea]

The ceremony: Part II | I obsess and we exchange vows

So Ron starts talking and I am trying to be present and listen but it's really hard. All I want to do is turn my head and inspect the cake table. I want Ron to move so I can inspect the sand ceremony table. I want to look at the flowers on the columns. So I tell myself they aren't going anywhere and try to focus myself.

My sister starts walking behind me and my immediate thought is that she is for some reason going to sit down, so I start mumbling "uh no...what are are you doing?" I then quickly realize she is just straightening my dress. hahaha.

So Ron is still talking. I think now is a good time to give some more SBP tips. Well, as you all know I am sure, chair covers with sashes are $8.50 each. I wanted 8 chairs for "the audience." Now as far as the chairs for eating, to me the logical thing would just be to reuse the same chairs. I assumed based on all my reading here that the chairs would be the plastic lawn chairs that you see in many other TRs...so they would be easy to just lift and bring over to wherever they set up the eating tables.

Sidenote: don't ask me how they decide where to set up tables. I have seen so many TRs with the food chairs and tables all over the place...on the grass, on the other aisle, in the back. So I have no idea how they decide.

Well anyway, during the planning Amy tells me that isn't possible, they don't want guests moving the chairs. Well I wasn't about to pay for another 12 chairs (because keep in mind now the bridal party would need to sit and each) to be covered. Because honestly, who has pictures of people eating? So in my mind I thought whatever, I'll just have the plastic lawn chairs for eating.

Well...let's just say these wide shots will not make the book.

I have NEVER seen these type of chairs in all my research at SBP. I have no idea why they were there. But if it's really important to you, I guess I would not make assumptions about the plastic white chairs being there.

Here is a shot from the back. This is another one that didn't make the book, but I thought it would be helpful, because it gives you an idea of the logistics of things. You can see where the water table is; where they have the wheely cart thing for the cake, etc.

Finally, it's time to exchange vows. While I was getting ready Patricia asked if I thought I would cry. "Pft. NO!," I said. I am your cliche-holds-in-all-emotion-Irish-Catholic. When a facebook quiz tells me I would be Snape if I was a Hogwart's teacher, all I can really say is "yea, well, it's true." Sarcasm is about as emotional as I get. I was CONFIDENT I would not cry.

Well, I didn't cry, but boy was I close. I kept pausing and choking up because I could feel the tears coming and I refused to cry in front of people. hehehe. Michael's hands were shaking and that didn't help. I could hear my mom crying. I could hear his mom crying. It's just very hard to describe. I planned for almost a year. For the past few months during the last period of the day at exactly one minute before the bell rang I was like "ok, let's go. Pack up and get out of here. Ms. Shea has -a dress fitting -to pick up jewelry -to make a phone call ...etc, etc." It consumes your life. And then finally the moment is here. I couldn't believe this was it. I couldn't believe there was no major catastrophe yet. It was going according to plan. This would never happen again. Again, I'm not writer, so I really can't describe it. You'll know what I mean when your up there.

The last major milestone of my life...the first of my family to get married. DAD WAKE UP I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT

 

[PrincessShea]

The ceremony: Part III | Exchanging rings and pouring sand

We exchanged vows and now it was time to exchange some bling. :-D

My sisters, ahem sister, watches intently ;-)

Again, not crazy about the greenery in their bouquets but whatever.

Carl watches

Donald and Daisy watch

Now originally I wanted a unity candle because I thought a sand ceremony was kind of a weird fad and no one would get it. Well I actually recently just went to a Chicago wedding with a sand ceremony so I ran with it. In the end I think it worked because as weird as displaying a glass bowl of sand is in your home, it works more to me than displaying a candle. Plus I didn't have to worry about the flame blowing out; which it would have. So Beauty and the Beast starts to play and Michael and I start pouring sand.

I am pouring MUCH faster than Michael at this point and I try and slow down so it doesn't look all uneven and weird. I really want to just grab his sand and tip it over more so it starts pouring out faster but I controlled myself.

And Michael tops it off

 

[lurkyloo]

For the past few months during the last period of the day at exactly one minute before the bell rang I was like "ok, let's go. Pack up and get out of here. Ms. Shea has -a dress fitting -to pick up jewelry -to make a phone call ...etc, etc." It consumes your life.

This is great!

Also, re: the chairs, I think that since they use that kind of chair when you ask for covers, they just brought extra for your cake-cutting, instead of having to bring the plastic chairs plus the convention chairs that were to be covered.

I'm sad you can't use that great wide shot because of the chairs - I'll bet Studio 222 could Photoshop them out for ya!