Joanne and Paul's VR - 4th May 2011

[tinkerbell 766]

Thanks for all the kind words girls!!!

Claire - Sorry you can't make it, it would have been fun!!

Here is the link for the bangle. It is really cheap but so lovely and very sparkly!!!


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DISNEY-MICKEY...2?pt=UK_Jewellery_Watches_CostumeJewellery_CA

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Everything looks beautiful, you are going to look amazing. I love Maggie dresses too, hope my daughter finds a dress soon.

Aw thank you!!!
I am sure your daughter will find a wonderful dress soon!!!

 

[belle1099]

Hello.... Hello... is anybody out there?
Oh well I'll plod on undaunted.

Welcome bag contents
Inside the welcome bags will be the following:-
One of these envelopes containing a welcome letter, park maps and an information booklet (I have bought brag-book style photo albums and intend inserting pages of (hopefully) useful information and tips. I stole this idea from another Disbride - acwinsett- thanks Andrea!!
There is one envelope for the guests staying at BLT and one for the guests staying at Kidani. Here they are

Also inside the welcome bags will be:-
A Bare Necessities kit containing plasters, indigestion relief tablets, paracetamol (I think it is called Tylenol in the USA), Ibuprofen, antiseptic wipes and (for those with children) paediatric pain relief sachets.

A pampering kit containing bubble bath/shower gel, a bath puff, shampoo, conditioner, a fragranced candle and lip balm (all in the same fragrance)

A hand care kit containing lavender soap, a nail brush and hand cream and manicure set

A clothes care kit containing stain removal wipes, a sewing kit and a shoe shine pad

A foot care kit containing blister plasters, a soothing foot cream and foot soak

Tissues

A notebook and pen

Ponchos (adult and child's sizes)

Breath mints

Insect repellant and sting relief

I am undecided whether to add a snack pack or not. I won't have time to shop for snacks in Orlando before handing out the welcome bags and I don't really like the idea of transporting foodstuffs all the way on the plane from England!! What do you guys think?

I would also like to add a lanyard for everyone to store their passes, fastpasses etc and also a water misting fan, but since I would need 13 of each of these, I need to find some inexpensive ones!!! I'm a cheapskate I know!!!

If anybody can think of anything I could add to the bags that I haven't thought of, I would be grateful to hear ideas!!

I have decided to make more work for myself by making labels for all the stuff to go in the welcome bags so that it all co-ordinates. Some of the labels will go on original packaging and some items, I will repackage in plastic bottles etc.
Here are some of the labels I have designed already. I have tried to incorporate as many of my beloved Disney films into this project as I can, but some films have had to appear twice. Again, if anybody has any ideas for appropriate pictures from films for any items, I would be grateful!!! I still have some to do and still have some stuff to buy!!

For the children, I have bought small backpacks (princesses and Toy Story 3) and will put in them an autograph book (which if I have time I will make myself), a fat pen for autograph signing, a pencil case containing the usual pens, pencils, erasers etc., a Disney activity and colouring book, hand-held fans (again either princesses or TS3), stickers, a Disney beenie and anything else I can find between now and the VR (which is cheap ). Again any ideas gratefully received!!

Wow!!! You have GREAT ideas! I can't lie...I'll probably be borrowing some of these ideas Thank you for sharing!!!!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Borrow away sweetie!!!
If you need any wording changed or any help with anything, let me know. I'll be glad to help!!

 

[jtanddolly]

I love the gown, shoes, and jewelry! If you are taking votes for hairstyles...I like the first one.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

I love the gown, shoes, and jewelry! If you are taking votes for hairstyles...I like the first one.

Thanks Dolly - I am leaning towards the first one too!!!

 

[Goofy4Ever]

Subscribing to your PJ...I love your garter and that logo is awesome!!

Congrats and can't wait to read more....

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Thank you so much!!!
Hoping to update a bit more this evening (if I can prise the computer from the clutches of DH!!!)

 

[tinkerbell 766]

So on to the colour scheme
I went back and forth for ages with colours. I went from orange to pink to blue to purple but nothing was 'sitting right' with me!! Then one day I was looking at photos of the ceremony site at the Swan, and I realised that my colour scheme was there right in front of me!!

So now my colour scheme is echoing the earthy/peachy/teracottery and bluey/aqua hues of the Swan hotel!! Accents will be white and silver (colours of my dress)

Here is dress we have chosen for my daughter who is MOH

Her accessories are still TBD. I don't think this dress needs a necklace, but am on the look out for suitable silver earrings. I think I will either get some shoes dyed to match the dress colour or go with silver shoes (easier to make use of later!!). I am still to decide.

Floral is still abit up in the air!!
I spoke with my florist last night on the phone. It is so difficult trying to visulize things when you are in the UK and your florist is in Orlando!! Everything needs to be done via e-mail or over the phone.
It is established that I want a full cascade bouquet for myself and a smaller round version with the same flowers for my daughter. My favourite flowers are roses and freesias, so the bouquets will consist of teracotta coloured roses and white freesias for definate. I think we will probably also go with peachy coloured lilies as suggested by my florist. I think adding these in the lighter shade will be nice. My florist also suggested adding light blue delphiniums. I am not sure. I agree that adding another colour will give the bouquets a 'lift' but looking for pictures of light blue delphiniums on the internet, the only pictures I found seemed to be the 'wrong' shade of blue.
Below are some pictures of the shape of bouquet I want for myself and some pictures of the colours and flowers we seem to agree on, although I hope to have lilies which are slightly more 'peachy' than in the picture. I have also posted one of the pictures I found of light blue delphiniums. I would be so grateful for opinions on whether I should include these or not!!!

Both bouquets will be wrapped in white ribbon and will have swarovski crystals both within the flowers and closing the ribbon wraps.

Mu husbands bout will probably be the teracotta rose accented with greenery and a white freesia and my sons' will probably be the teracotta rose just with greenery.

Ceremony decor is also still a bit up in the air!! I orginally wanted to have two pillars with arrangements of my flowers as in the picture of the ceremony site I posted above. My florist, however, is a little concerned about the pillars for an outside wedding as she has had them blow over in the wind before I certainly do not want to be worrying about that if it is a bit breezy on the day!!! She has a few other ideas and will be letting me see some pictures of a tri-fold metal screen thing she uses a lot and she assures me is gorgeous when decorated with flowers. I will keep you posted as to what I decide!! Whatever happens, I want ceremony decor that can be transferred to the tables for the reception at Citricos. So as you can see, floral is still a work in progress

For a ceremony musician, we have hired Christine MacPhail who is a very talented harpist. I always wanted a harpist to play at our ceremony but thought it would be too pricey!! I was pleasently surprisedat how affordable she is!!! She has been a joy to work with so far and she sent me a CD of her playing and it is beautiful. So she is hired to play at the ceremony and throughout the cake/champagne reception. I just need to decide on music, which I haven't even began to sort out yet!!!

Officiant is Rev Tim Herring who seems to get good reviews on the boards, so I have booked him and the deposit is paid.

I am still in the process of sorting out the service and readings, so will post them when they are finalised.

On to the cake. It is being made by Heather from 'It's Tasty Too and so far she has been great!! We are having a small two tier cake (tiers will be 8' and 6'). At the moment the flavours are standing at carrot cake with cream cheese filling for the bottom tier and coconut cake with pineapple filling for the top tier. This may change though.
Here is an inspiration picture but you will have to use your imagination (where is Figment when you need him!!) to imagine the differences between this cake and mine!!

So my bottom tier will be 'quilted' like the bottom tier of this cake and my top tier will be plain like the top tier of the pictured cake. Obviously, there will be no middle tier. The ribbons around the bottom of the tiers and the sugarpaste ribbon cascading down the cake will be the colour of my daughter's dress (I need to send Heather a swatch of fabric for colour matching) For the topper, Heather is re-creating a cake topper I found a picture of on the internet (see below) and adding a crystal Mickey head brooch in the middle of the two swans to reflect our Mickey meets Swan theme

Well, I think I have bored you all enough for one post!!!! Any ideas/opinions gratefully received.

 

[pixiegirl]

I love your colors. I agree that your daughter's dress doesn't need a necklace but would look nice with one as well.

I like your flower choices but I wouldn't use the blue flower. I agree that another color will give it pop but not the blue.

Your cake is going to be beautiful and the topper is perfect!!!

 

[Goofy4Ever]

I agree with Rebecca..no need for a necklace, but a nice silver charm braclet would be nice.

Not that blue for the flowers.

Love the cake.

 

[Chilly]

Lovely dress for your daughter.

I agree wrong blue in the flowers.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Thanks girls!!
I have already told the florist to cut the blue delphiniums and when she saw the picture of DD's dress, she agreed with the decision. I thought I had sent her a picture already but it hadn't come through on the e-mail at the other end properly and so when she suggested the blue delphiniums, all she knew was the dress was blue (although, on reflection, it is probably more green!!)
So the blue delphiniums are gone!!! Thanks for all the advice.
Great idea about the charm bracelet. Emily (DD) already has a lovely silver charm bracelet (with a number of Disney charms on it!!) so she will probably wear it on the day anyway.
Thanks for reading along girls!!!

 

[angel81uk]

It's great to see your plans coming together Joanne, your dress is really beautiful and I love the fascinator!

I ate at the Turf Club last September (bit of a last minute thing as I came down with a migraine and couldn't do the drive to our ADR). It was VERY quiet, I think there was only one other table seated whilst we were there but we really enjoyed the food. It wouldn't be my first choice in future but that's only down to the "safe" menu rather than the quality of the food so probably perfect in your situation. I know I enjoyed my steak, not easy to do with a migraine! So a bit of a hidden gem if you ask me!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Thanks sweetie
I agree - it wouldn't be our first choice either if it was just us, but considering the diversity of our party, I think it will be perfect. Also, as I think I mentioned, those with a bit of energy left can stroll to DTD afterwards and those who haven't can take a bus or taxi back to their resort!!

 

[brer rabbit 28]

It's wonderful to see how everything is falling into place for you. I love your dress and jewellery. Can't wait to see your Randy pics as we have booked him too.

I may have missed it but have you made any further plans for a DP? Sorry but I've been reading in my dinner hour so was on speed read!!!!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Claire
I think I have (almost) decided against a DP. As much as I would love to have one, I refuse to remove my precious gown to go into Epcot or DHS and so SCP for 'Wishes' would be my only option. That would be fine but I feel 'Wishes' without the music is just not the same and $500.00 for music on top of everything else is, I think, going to be a step too far for us.
I have read about Wendy (WeeDee) and her wonderful wedding and since our reception is at Citricos like her's was, I think we may steal her idea of wandering down to the Marina with our guests (and drinks) and watch from there. The music is piped in to the Marina and whilst it won't be private, it will be free!!
I will probably spend some of the money I save on a mini 'honeymoon' for DH and me at Discovery Cove the day after our VR. I will still be vastly better off doing this than going with the DP, and we will still get to see 'Wishes' complete with music.
Thanks for your nice comments on my plans so far

 

[Chilly]

I know i'm not the Claire you addressed that to but I think thats a really good idea.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Doen't matter which Claire - all the Claires on here are real sweeties!!!
I agonised long and hard over the DP, but in the end this was the plan which seemed to work best for us!!!

 

[spedtcr]

am planning a vow renewal, too, and am in awe at how wonderful yours will be! What is a DP?
Kari/Michigan/US