Ginger & Tim 10-30-12 CC/SCP; Update--1/2:TR Day 1: Checking into the CS

[mebbradley]

I may or may not be contacting your photographer right now.

[Freckledginger]

Originally Posted by dsnygrl21

Hey there! I followed you over from my PJ.

I have a bunny too! He's a smaller one, netherland dwarf, named Barley. Your bunny is so cute and I just want to fluff em!

I love your budoir shoot photos. They came out really nice and your eyes are so beautiful in them! I am not doing a budoir shoot, but I am doing a trash the dress after the wedding. I am really excited about that one!

I really like your creative invites and STD's.

I cannot wait to see what else you have planned so that I can get some good ideas!!

Aww, yay for bunny aficionados!! Netherland dwarfs are adorable! Is yours super energetic? I've only had the pleasure of meeting one another, and he was super zippy! hehe

Thank you very much for your kind words about the Boudoir photos! I was nervous about shooting them, but it turned out to be a really fun experience. The makeup artist there did a fantastic job on my eye makeup, so I must give her all the credit for my eyes Actually, that was the first time I had ever worn false eyelashes. Interesting experience...they photograph well, but I kept having that "there's something stuck to my eyes and I really want to yank it off" feeling. I suppose years of wearing contacts have made me too paranoid about stuff being around my eyes to wear false eyelashes successfully.

A trash the dress session sounds fantastic!! Do you have a plan or theme for it??

Originally Posted by LittleKittyMarie

Joining in! I have no useful information to offer about DCL weddings, but I am really enjoying reading your PJ! The plans and ideas you have so far sounds fantastic, and so very organized! I love your boudoir photos, they look really classy and elegant. Your dress is gorgeous! And I love the desserts you've chosen for your DP.

And lastly, those baby deer photos are so adorable! Looking forward to reading more!

Hi!!! I truly appreciate all your generous compliments! I'm glad that I'm managing to come across organized with all the planning, because it feels quite haphazard I am one of those brides that started looking at ideas/thinking about my wedding when I first got engaged, but spent way too much time thinking instead of doing. But it's starting to come together now, and hopefully it'll turn out to be a nice wedding
Thanks so much for following along!

Originally Posted by 1EvilQueenfan

Wow, I really love the boudior photos! I would so do photos like that. I'm not sure how I missed your post with your invitations but they came out really nice. I also really liked your news letter what a cool idea.

Thanks so much!! I was very happy with the Boudoir photos! I'm definitely more girl next door than bomb shell, so it was fun to get to play one for a couple of hours! I highly recommend doing it if you've ever toyed with the idea. If you have a photographer that makes you feel comfortable, it's quite enjoyable and not that nerve-wracking. I've just got to figure out how to present the photos to DF now...

Originally Posted by mebbradley

I may or may not be contacting your photographer right now.

She's absolutely brilliant! Great with a camera, cheerful and easy going. Are you considering doing a Boudoir shoot? It's great fun!

[lescal79]

Gorgeous!

Originally Posted by Freckledginger

When I first got engaged, I decided that I really wanted to do a Boudoir shoot as a groom's gift for Timmy. One of my friends had done one for her then fiance/now husband, and the photos turned out amazing. When I initially booked Jess as my photographer, I started discussing the possibility of a Boudoir shoot with her. As luck would have it, Jess was interested in expanding her portfolio of boudoir images and looking for models. So in April, I travelled down to Jacksonville, got all dolled up in my best lingerie, rolled around on a bed in a hotel room, and had an absolute blast. Jess was fantastic... I had only briefly met her before this, and she made me feel very comfortable and kept the atmosphere light. I haven't always had the best self-esteem, but I found the boudoir shoot to be a very empowering experience. There's always something that you wish you could change about yourself, but when you have to own it on camera, you quit worrying about those things. I was very pleased with how many of the photos turned out, and am looking forward to putting together a "little black book" for my groom

I'm mindful of the fact that DIS boards is a public place, so I'm only going to include a few modest images for those interested in doing a boudoir shoot also.







Photography by Jessica Cumbie Photography

Is anyone else planning on doing something like this for their DF?

[Freckledginger]

Originally Posted by lescal79

Gorgeous!

Thanks so much, Lesley!!

On your PJ, you asked if I was going to be making my own accessory floral. That question actually segways nicely into my next planning update, wedding floral

As my fellow DCL brides will already be aware, Disney provides a bridal bouquet and groom's boutonniere as part of the wedding package. Here are the choices they provide:

Bridal Bouquet:

Vendor: Disney Floral

Out of the above choices, the one that really spoke to me was the "Oceanfront Elegance" option: an all-white free-form bouquet of hydrangea, roses and calla lilies.


Besides working with my color scheme, I thought this particular bouquet had a soft and pretty look. I'm happy with it

Groom's Boutonniere:

Vendor: Disney Floral

In lieu of the white rose that Disney usually has accompany the Oceanfront Elegance bouquet, we're going to request a Calla Lily boutonniere in crystal white. DF really likes Calla Lilies (not a personal favorite of mine, I must admit), and thinks it's a more masculine looking flower than a rose

Accessory Floral:

Vendor: DK Designs Hawaii (http://www.etsy.com/shop/dkdesignshawaii)

Initially, DF and I considered purchasing the extra floral required for our wedding party through Disney Floral. The options available, however, are limited (roses, calla liles, & orchids pretty much) and quite dear. $125 + tax for a rose bridesmaid bouquet?!

Unfortunately, I am not blessed with the DIY talent to do something as complicated as floral pieces. I started looking at alternative floral options on pinterest and etsy, and came across the DK Designs Hawaii. Diane fashions beautiful flowers/floral arrangements out of CLAYCRAFT by DECO Soft Clay, which look amazingly real and apparently are quite light in weight. I like the idea that I would be able to select the types of flowers used in the arrangements, and that the wedding party would be able to keep the designs. After communicating with Diane (absolutely lovely person) about my floral preferences, I was able to get a quote to compare to Disney Floral--it turned out to be cheaper!

The floral won't be completed until the beginning of October, but here are the rough ideas for each arrangement:

-Hair Flower:
Diane does these amazing hair flowers, especially gardenias. Gardenias are one of my favorite flowers, so I couldn't resist ordering a flower for my hair. I'm not sure how I'm going to wear my hair yet, and I was planning on wearing a veil for the ceremony, so it'll probably be something I put on after I take off the veil.


-Bridesmaid Corsages:
I saw a photo on a wedding blog of a bride wearing a corsage in lieu of carrying a bouquet, and I really liked that idea for bridesmaids. Here is the inspiration photo, but I'm planning on having different flowers.


Each corsage will consist of 2 gardenias, light blue and medium blue hydrangea, deep blue hyacinth, greenery & ribbon (color TBD--I'm hoping for a navy and white striped ribbon; really digging stripes at the moment ) on a pearl wristlet. Here's a bouquet and corsage Diane did for another client, but it gives you an idea of the color scheme & utilizes some of the same flowers:



-Groomsmen Boutonnieres:
light blue & medium blue hydrangea, greenery & ribbon matching BMs' corsages. The inspiration photo:


-Father of the Bride's Boutonniere:
ivory english rose with light blue & medium blue hydrangea, greenery & light blue ribbon. Similar type of boutonniere:


-Mothers' Pin On Corsages:
ivory english rose with white & blue hydrangea, greenery, & light blue ribbon.
Couldn't find a photo to adequately characterize this... they will be similar to the FOB floral though.

-Sisters of the Groom Corsages:
single white/ivory anemone with navy center, greenery, & white or grey ribbon on a pearl wristlet.


To summarize (and give you more floral eye candy), here's an all-white arrangement that incorporates all the flowers we'll be using in our floral:


Whew... Everyone flowered out now?! Sorry for the long post!
I'm super duper excited to see all the designs! Hopefully, it'll turn out lovely and not too blue! Haha. I am trying to achieve a modified ombre effect with the varying shades of blue, but I'm worried it might be overkill. Diane said we could adjust things a bit or change the color of the ribbon, if needed... Maybe grey would be a better choice... Hmm, I'll have to meditate on that one a bit

Thanks for following along!!
Next update: BEO madness....be afraid, be very afraid...

[JBeanBunny]

Originally Posted by Freckledginger

When I first got engaged, I decided that I really wanted to do a Boudoir shoot as a groom's gift for Timmy. One of my friends had done one for her then fiance/now husband, and the photos turned out amazing. When I initially booked Jess as my photographer, I started discussing the possibility of a Boudoir shoot with her. As luck would have it, Jess was interested in expanding her portfolio of boudoir images and looking for models. So in April, I travelled down to Jacksonville, got all dolled up in my best lingerie, rolled around on a bed in a hotel room, and had an absolute blast. Jess was fantastic... I had only briefly met her before this, and she made me feel very comfortable and kept the atmosphere light. I haven't always had the best self-esteem, but I found the boudoir shoot to be a very empowering experience. There's always something that you wish you could change about yourself, but when you have to own it on camera, you quit worrying about those things. I was very pleased with how many of the photos turned out, and am looking forward to putting together a "little black book" for my groom

I'm mindful of the fact that DIS boards is a public place, so I'm only going to include a few modest images for those interested in doing a boudoir shoot also.







Photography by Jessica Cumbie Photography

Is anyone else planning on doing something like this for their DF?

YES!!!! I was totally planning on doing this for my DF! It was just a silly notion (thank you pinterest) but I got curious and looked up some boudoir photographers and found some in my budget! I headed to a Victorias Secret outlet store and got 4 pieces of lingerie for $15 each (they were originally each around $50-$80 each!) and hopefully it all works out! I love that you did this, some friends that I've discussed this with gave me strange looks! (My mom says... what if your kids find it? )

Happy Planning to you! (Your deers are lovely! I'll post a picture of my bunny for you on my PJ sometime soon!)

[LittleKittyMarie]

The "oceanfront elegance" bouquet is really lovely, it's definitely my favourite of the choices too!

I've never heard of clay flowers, that's a really interesting idea! From the sample photos they look very beautiful. Can't wait to see how they turn out!

[dsnygrl21]

Originally Posted by Freckledginger

Aww, yay for bunny aficionados!! Netherland dwarfs are adorable! Is yours super energetic? I've only had the pleasure of meeting one another, and he was super zippy! hehe

Thank you very much for your kind words about the Boudoir photos! I was nervous about shooting them, but it turned out to be a really fun experience. The makeup artist there did a fantastic job on my eye makeup, so I must give her all the credit for my eyes Actually, that was the first time I had ever worn false eyelashes. Interesting experience...they photograph well, but I kept having that "there's something stuck to my eyes and I really want to yank it off" feeling. I suppose years of wearing contacts have made me too paranoid about stuff being around my eyes to wear false eyelashes successfully.

A trash the dress session sounds fantastic!! Do you have a plan or theme for it??

Yes, super zippy and loves to do bunny tricks jumping in the air, lol.

Yes, she did a fabulous job on the makeup! Actually I am in the same boat as you with the fake eyelashes. I only first got them when I had my engagement shoot. Never had them before and I agree completely on how they feel like they don't belong,

I was thinking of either doing a beach or amusement park. Don't know what I am going to choose yet! I will keep you posted though!

Also, I love your taste! The flowers are beautiful and so right up my alley. I love the blues and whites together.

Keep up the awesome work and update soon!

[Freckledginger]

Originally Posted by JBeanBunny

YES!!!! I was totally planning on doing this for my DF! It was just a silly notion (thank you pinterest) but I got curious and looked up some boudoir photographers and found some in my budget! I headed to a Victorias Secret outlet store and got 4 pieces of lingerie for $15 each (they were originally each around $50-$80 each!) and hopefully it all works out! I love that you did this, some friends that I've discussed this with gave me strange looks! (My mom says... what if your kids find it? )

Happy Planning to you! (Your deers are lovely! I'll post a picture of my bunny for you on my PJ sometime soon!)

Hi Jillian!! SO excited to hear you're planning on doing a Boudoir shoot also! Please let me know how your experience is! I'm sure your photos will turn out gorgeous Are you giving it as a present to your fiancé on your wedding day??

Love love love the photo of your bun bun on your PJ! She's so adorable!

Originally Posted by LittleKittyMarie

The "oceanfront elegance" bouquet is really lovely, it's definitely my favourite of the choices too!

I've never heard of clay flowers, that's a really interesting idea! From the sample photos they look very beautiful. Can't wait to see how they turn out!

Thanks so much, Nicole! I really love it too! Last year, they only had roses, calla lilies, and the tropical bouquet available as options, so I'm really lucky that they included such a pretty bouquet for this year. Especially since it has hydrangea in it, which I really like! If I could customize a bouquet, it would probably be astilbes (they look so lovely in photos), but I'm super happy with the oceanfront elegance.

Yeah, I really hadn't heard of clay flowers either til I saw another DCL bride use them for her bridal bouquet. They looked really beautiful and real, so I started googling about them, and came across the designer I'm using. They're a good option for me, as I couldn't really transport real floral onto the cruise and I wasn't happy with the limited options that DCL has available. I'm excited to see how they turn out also!!

Do you have your floral inspiration for your wedding yet?? Judging from your plans thus far, I know you'll pick something gorgeous!

Originally Posted by dsnygrl21

Yes, super zippy and loves to do bunny tricks jumping in the air, lol.

Yes, she did a fabulous job on the makeup! Actually I am in the same boat as you with the fake eyelashes. I only first got them when I had my engagement shoot. Never had them before and I agree completely on how they feel like they don't belong,

I was thinking of either doing a beach or amusement park. Don't know what I am going to choose yet! I will keep you posted though!

Also, I love your taste! The flowers are beautiful and so right up my alley. I love the blues and whites together.

Keep up the awesome work and update soon!

Thanks so much, Kelly!

You look beautiful in your engagement photos by the way! Your makeup is gorgeous, and if you hadn't told me you were wearing false eyelashes, I would have never been able to tell (mine in the boudoir shots are a little too long I think to look very real).

Beach or an amusement park would be awesome! I've seen some amazing images on pinterest of trash the dress sessions in the ocean and on the beach! Amusement park would be really fantastic as well--great location to get unique and fun shots.

Thank you for the compliments about the flowers! So glad to hear you like the colors--gives me more confidence in my decision I was a bit worried that it was too monochromatic, but I think it'll look pretty!

[ccbride412]

Ginger, I love all your items for the wedding! Super cute!

I looked back over your posts (it's been a while since I've been on) and had a few suggestions.
1. I had asked Shanda to put all my family together for the dinners every night, but things got really messed up there. It sounds like the new guy is much more helpful in that area, but just make sure when you and your guests get your KTW cards that all the people who are supposed to be at the tables together, are. My parents were put at a different table than me and my in-laws were at my table (big issues there with my mom's feelings getting hurt). We also had 2 couples that didn't get a table anywhere near the rest of us. I felt so bad! Just make sure you clarify with the on board coordinator-apparently they can change any problems if you get with them asap.
2. If you have guests that are driving to the port and have an issue with the price of parking, there is a place that offers ~$7/day parking and a shuttle to and from the port. www.cruiseparkingofportcanaveral.com. Most of our guests parked there and no one had any problems.

Sorry for the long post! I wish you all the best!

ps- I almost did a boudoir shoot too, but ran out of time. Great idea!

[Freckledginger]

Originally Posted by ccbride412

Ginger, I love all your items for the wedding! Super cute!

I looked back over your posts (it's been a while since I've been on) and had a few suggestions.
1. I had asked Shanda to put all my family together for the dinners every night, but things got really messed up there. It sounds like the new guy is much more helpful in that area, but just make sure when you and your guests get your KTW cards that all the people who are supposed to be at the tables together, are. My parents were put at a different table than me and my in-laws were at my table (big issues there with my mom's feelings getting hurt). We also had 2 couples that didn't get a table anywhere near the rest of us. I felt so bad! Just make sure you clarify with the on board coordinator-apparently they can change any problems if you get with them asap.
2. If you have guests that are driving to the port and have an issue with the price of parking, there is a place that offers ~$7/day parking and a shuttle to and from the port. www.cruiseparkingofportcanaveral.com. Most of our guests parked there and no one had any problems.

Sorry for the long post! I wish you all the best!

ps- I almost did a boudoir shoot too, but ran out of time. Great idea!

Hi Meaghan!!
Great to hear from you again! How's newlywed life treating you?? Looking forward to hearing more details about your special day!

I so appreciate your advice! I'm sorry to hear about the situation with the seating arrangements on your wedding cruise. That's really unfortunate... I hope your parents and other guests realized that it was a goof by Disney, not you. Did they rectify the situation??

I contacted the new DCL coordinator the other day, and asked her about seating arrangements. She said that DCL will require a final head count before they can determine the table configuration. Once they figure that out, seating arrangements can then be requested. Hopefully this process won't be too painful, but based on your experience with it, I'm not holding my breath for that...

That's great to know about the additional parking! I think we'll have a mix of guests that are driving vs using the shuttle, so I'll definitely include that information in our welcome bags.

Any other tips or things you wish you could have done or would have changed? How was your experience getting your hair done on board?? Thanks so much! Hope you are doing well!

[ccbride412]

Originally Posted by Freckledginger

Hi Meaghan!!
Great to hear from you again! How's newlywed life treating you?? Looking forward to hearing more details about your special day!

I so appreciate your advice! I'm sorry to hear about the situation with the seating arrangements on your wedding cruise. That's really unfortunate... I hope your parents and other guests realized that it was a goof by Disney, not you. Did they rectify the situation??

I contacted the new DCL coordinator the other day, and asked her about seating arrangements. She said that DCL will require a final head count before they can determine the table configuration. Once they figure that out, seating arrangements can then be requested. Hopefully this process won't be too painful, but based on your experience with it, I'm not holding my breath for that...

That's great to know about the additional parking! I think we'll have a mix of guests that are driving vs using the shuttle, so I'll definitely include that information in our welcome bags.

Any other tips or things you wish you could have done or would have changed? How was your experience getting your hair done on board?? Thanks so much! Hope you are doing well!

Newlywed life is great! Since we lived on different continents for most of our relationship, we got really good at communication. The biggest challenge right now is getting my visa to stay in Spain!

Don't let my experience get you worried. I hear there's a new Shanda and like I said, if anything seems wrong, let your on board coordinator know ASAP. That's where I went wrong. I didn't say anything to Laura so my friends didn't get moved closer to us (my parents did).

If you're getting married on CC I would recommend getting up early and maybe doing your make-up before your hair appt. I went to bed late (we did the newlywed game the night before-DH slept in his friend's room) and so I slept until 15 min before my appt. My hair took almost an hour even though it was pretty simple and since we started late, I finished getting ready just in time. I was very happy with how it turned out! It looked great and, bless her heart, Nicole tried so hard to make the curls tight so they would stick, but my hair had lost all curl by the end of the ceremony!

The only thing I wish I had done differently would be to make sure I got pictures with everyone that came. I missed pictures with 2 couples on the wedding day, one is my best friend. Other than that, the only problem I had was the seating for dinner. Everyone did their own thing. I am the kind of person who always needs everyone to verify they're having a great time and as host, I never feel like I had fun because I'm so worried about everyone else. I heard everyone enjoyed themselves!

[Freckledginger]

Originally Posted by ccbride412

Newlywed life is great! Since we lived on different continents for most of our relationship, we got really good at communication. The biggest challenge right now is getting my visa to stay in Spain!

Don't let my experience get you worried. I hear there's a new Shanda and like I said, if anything seems wrong, let your on board coordinator know ASAP. That's where I went wrong. I didn't say anything to Laura so my friends didn't get moved closer to us (my parents did).

If you're getting married on CC I would recommend getting up early and maybe doing your make-up before your hair appt. I went to bed late (we did the newlywed game the night before-DH slept in his friend's room) and so I slept until 15 min before my appt. My hair took almost an hour even though it was pretty simple and since we started late, I finished getting ready just in time. I was very happy with how it turned out! It looked great and, bless her heart, Nicole tried so hard to make the curls tight so they would stick, but my hair had lost all curl by the end of the ceremony!

The only thing I wish I had done differently would be to make sure I got pictures with everyone that came. I missed pictures with 2 couples on the wedding day, one is my best friend. Other than that, the only problem I had was the seating for dinner. Everyone did their own thing. I am the kind of person who always needs everyone to verify they're having a great time and as host, I never feel like I had fun because I'm so worried about everyone else. I heard everyone enjoyed themselves!

I can totally relate to getting tired of having to do the long distance thing... Timmy and I've had to do it heaps, and are currently doing it temporarily until I find work in Houston. We're very much looking forward to being in the same place again soon. Spain must be amazing!!! I lived in Portugal for a year when I was younger, and loved it. What part of Spain are you living in??

I really appreciate all your advice! I wouldn't have thought about getting up before the hair appointment to start getting ready, but I'll definitely be doing that now. I will talk to my bridesmaids about it, but maybe we can all just get up and help each other get ready first thing in the morning.

I'm sorry to hear that you missed out on a few photos. I'd imagine that it would be easy to do in all the craziness... I know that was disappointing, but at least you have good memories from them being there.

I'm a very nervous hostess as well!!! haha. I get too worried about other people. I know this about myself, so I'm trying to combat this early--my mantra is 'you've worked for this for over a year... you should try to enjoy it.' We'll see if I'm able to do that though...

[ccbride412]

We live in Barcelona right on the water. Tracey said that if he was going to live here, he wanted to be able to see the sea! We're having a great time, but I get a little bored during the day. I don't want to do too much exploring during the week because Tracey hasn't seen much of the city and I want to explore it together. The only time we have together is on the weekends and a few hours after he gets home from work.

Living apart really helps with communication skills. If we had been able to be together, I don't think we would've learned to talk to each other like we did. It's hard, but so worth it in the end! And as long as my visa is approved, we'll be together for good soon!

Thanks for the comment on my pictures! We just got them last week on cd and are waiting for the printed copies to get here. I can't wait to my album together! I can't wait to read more of your plans!

Oh, and one more thing I read on another CC bride's blog- have a friend bring sunglasses for you and Timmy! It's VERY bright on the beach! And HOT. Water would be nice too, but there's a bar right near the ceremony spot.

[Freckledginger]

As promised, I've included my initial BEO/estimated expenses. I will update this further when I get the exact guest numbers and more specific details for the DCL component. Not the most uplifting of posts (and particularly depressing for me), but hopefully it may be informative to other/prospective DFTW brides:

Planners:
DCL Coordinator: Meredith Gallinaro
DP Consultant: Michelle Gilhooly
DP Coordinator: Karen Serrette
Disney Floral: Rosie Carabbia


Welcome Dessert Party:
October 27, 2012 8-10 pm at Sago Cay Pointe, Grand Floridian

Catering: 50 x Custom Dessert Menu = $2,512.87 ($39++ per guest; based on 1 hour of service)
Bar: BOC; Hosted Premium Brands Bar = $2, 290.57
AV Services: Wishes Audio Package with iPod setup = $495.00
Floral:
-12 x white paper lanterns (assorted sizes; 8, 10, or 12'') throughout trees with LED lights = $285.00
-3 x white hydrangea in a 5x5 square vase with clear marbles, 2 LED lights, and satin ribbon (color TBD) wrapped around middle tied in simple bow = $207.00 ($69 per arrangement)
- 3 x white astilbes in a 6x4x8 square vase with clear marbles, 2 LED lights, and satin ribbon (color TBD) wrapped around middle tied in simple bow = $207.00 ($69 per arrangement)
- 4 x floating white open rose in a 5x5 square vase with clear marbles, 2 LED lights, and satin ribbon (color TBD) wrapped around middle tied in simple bow = $86.00 ($21.50 per arrangement)
- 50 x individually wrapped Mickey Ears Rice Krispy Treats (to be distributed by catering when dessert trays are removed) = $197.50
Total (w/ tax) = $1,046.36

Estimated Event total: $6,344.80

Wedding: October 28 - November 1, 2012; Disney Dream
Ceremony on October 30, 2012; Time TBA; Castaway Cay, Bahamas
Estimation of 50 guests for planning purposes (more likely will be about 40)

Stateroom fee: $1,916.00 (ocean view stateroom with veranda for 2 adults)
Castaway Cay Wedding Package: $3,500
*Includes: ceremony, officiant, pianst, cake & champagne celebration (with two-tiered cake, one bottle of champagne, one bottle of sparkling apple cider), floral for the couple, dining for couple at Palo, steaming of wedding attire for couple, transportation and from the ceremony, and $100 stateroom credit
*Up to 8 guests + the couple
Additional guest fees: $840 ($20 pp for 42 additional guests)
Hair Appointment: $100
Dinner for the couple at Remy's: $150 ($75 pp)

Estimated Event Total: $6,506

Additional Expenses:

Photography: Jessica Cumbie Photography
-Engagement Session: $250
-Welcome Dessert Party Photography: $600
-Wedding Photography: $1,922 (cruise fare for 2 + $500 travel fees)
Estimated Total: $2,772

Invitations: Something Printable by Victoria Ann
-Custom Invitation Suite & Reply Card Design: $25.00
-Welcome Party Invitation: $10.00
-Poster for Disney Characters to Sign: $10.00
-Printing Costs for 50 invitations (Vistaprint): $134.40
-Stamps: $27.00
Estimated Total: $206.40

Accessory Floral: DK Designs Hawaii
-Gardenia Hair Flower for Bride: $35.00
-Bridesmaid Wrist Corsages x 2: $120.00
-Groomsmen Boutonnieres x 2: $40.00
-Mother's Pin-On Corsages x 2: $90.00
-Father of the Bride Boutonniere: $30.00
-Sisters of the Groom Wrist Corsages x 2: $70.00
Estimated Total (S&H not included): $385.00

Transportation: Escot Buslines
Motorcoach Travel from WDW to Port Canaveral & Port Canaveral to Orlando Airport for 36 people: $625.00

Accommodation: Disney's Coronado Springs
4 x $119 + tax per night = $535.00 (tax included)

Miscellaneous Expenses:
-3 x Personalized Dress Hangers (Erica May Made): $75 (S&H not included)
-Custom Cartoon Style Cake Topper (Sophia's Workshop): TBD
-Welcome Bags: TBD
-Attendant Gifts: TBD

Wedding Attire: TBD

Wedding Rings: TBD

Estimated Total for Additional Expenses: $4,598.40


Grand Total (thus far ): $17,449.20

Yeah...it kinda blows my whole initial $12,000 budget out of the water, huh? Especially when you consider that my dress & the rings aren't even added on there yet. Luckily, we have money in savings and my parents are helping (big time) by paying for my dress and the DP. I've learned two things from this experience: weddings are ridiculously expensive (for the most part; I realize there are exceptions to this, and some brides are able to do AMAZING weddings for a lot less money) and you will want more things for your wedding than you initially anticipated (e.g. DP, cute decorations that Etsy or Pinterest convinces you that you need, etc.). Oh well, I guess you expect to only get married once, so why not go big

[Freckledginger]

Originally Posted by ccbride412

We live in Barcelona right on the water. Tracey said that if he was going to live here, he wanted to be able to see the sea! We're having a great time, but I get a little bored during the day. I don't want to do too much exploring during the week because Tracey hasn't seen much of the city and I want to explore it together. The only time we have together is on the weekends and a few hours after he gets home from work.

Living apart really helps with communication skills. If we had been able to be together, I don't think we would've learned to talk to each other like we did. It's hard, but so worth it in the end! And as long as my visa is approved, we'll be together for good soon!

Thanks for the comment on my pictures! We just got them last week on cd and are waiting for the printed copies to get here. I can't wait to my album together! I can't wait to read more of your plans!

Oh, and one more thing I read on another CC bride's blog- have a friend bring sunglasses for you and Timmy! It's VERY bright on the beach! And HOT. Water would be nice too, but there's a bar right near the ceremony spot.

Wow, Barcelona!! I bet that is so beautiful! When we were living in Western Australia, we lived in Fremantle, which is a seaside town; it was really lovely to wake up everyday and be able to see the ocean. I hope that you all enjoy your time in Spain, and get to travel heaps around Europe! Best of luck with the visa process. Timmy and I had to go through that when he moved to the States, so I know how slow and frustrating that process can be.

Your point about long-distance relationships improving communication is a good one. You can't see each other very often, so you have to emotionally connect in other ways. I never really thought about how that may effect our day to day communication in person, but I suppose it really does. You made me realize something about my relationship that I hadn't really considered; cool!

Great point about the sunnies and water!! I will definitely ask someone if they wouldn't mind bringing along those items to the ceremony for us!

Love your wedding photos! You'll be able to make a gorgeous album with them! There's lots of good ones!