10th Anniversary Help Requested

[MorenaSangre]

Okay, I'm totally paranoid posting this here on a place as big as the DISboards...here goes.

DH and I will have spent 10 amazing years as a married theme park loving couple this September 15. Our honeymoon was spent in empty parks in Sept 2011. We want to celebrate in a very special way, and I'd like some help and advice from the experts.

Quick background: DH doesn't want to put out the $$ for a vow renewal or cruise, so that's out. He also is not a planner, so arranging something special is up to me.

Personal tastes: We love adventure, romance, and being grown-up kids. We go to events in costume. My husband's favorite meal on property was CRT because of the atmosphere and princesses. We adore fine dining (BlueZoo Oh. My. Gosh.) and we are just a couple - we have no two-footed children. The kind of thing detailed on this thread on the boards is my version of porn...the kind of thing I'd love to do. I love theming and romance.

Right now, I'm thinking of private dining at the Grand Floridian. I've read good trip reports about it, and seeing the Electrical Water Pageant & Wishes from the balcony sounds amazing. I was also considering a custom cake to finish off the meal.

I was considering doing a photo session at GF before the meal as well...

Do you guys have any ideas or suggestions to add to the special night?
Is there a place/person I can call to have my makeup done professionally so I can look my best?

Ideas? Please?

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Congrats!!! We celebrated our 10th at WDW last year. I think a photo session and private dining sounds wonderful! In terms of hair and make-up, there is a salon at the GF. Or, you could book someone to come to your hotel room for this. I used Beaute Speciale and they were fantastic! It was a treat to be pampered right in my room.

For other things to add - you could order a special cake to be served at your meal. Or you could order something from the Disney Florist to be set up in your room when you get back (they have in-room celebrations, rose petals for your bed, etc.). Check out their site for ideas and I've also found that they are willing to do other things that aren't on the website so if you have something in mind that's not quite one of the packages they offer, call and ask.

Have fun!

 

[lurkyloo]

Congratulations on your upcoming anniversary! I think your idea of doing a private dinner at the Grand with a view of the Electrical Water Pageant is a great one. The whole thing can be arranged through Private Dining (407-824-1951): meal, cake, even butler service.

The food will be prepared by the main kitchen at the GF unless you pay extra to have it brought from one of the restaurants at the resort.

For more info about ordering a fancy cake, check out http://disneytravelbabble.com/how-to/order-cake/

You can also see all the standard Disney wedding cake designs in this thread for inspiration: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1618642

Disney Fine Art Photography's resort portrait sessions start at $310 (call 407-934-4004). You might find you get a lower price and better quality (or at least more choice in style of photography) by hiring a local wedding photographer instead. This board is full of recommendations on those.

The Ivy Trellis Salon is convenient for hair and makeup, but reviews are mixed. I prefer to have a pro makeup artist come to the room—I've hired Patricia LeJeune for all our photo shoots.

Hope this helps!

 

[MorenaSangre]

Thank you! I'm leaning toward the in-room hair and makeup. I know it's pampering, but it would be really, really special.

Hmmm...the idea of an outside photographer is intriguing. I'll look around the boards and see what I can find. We did one of the photopass portrait sessions several years ago and it was nice, but I'd love something better.

When we were married a decade ago, we were broke and our families didn't approve, so we didn't get any kind of fancy wedding or a wedding photographer. I'd kind of like to do a little making up for that this time around.

 

[MorenaSangre]

Thank you again - I'm so excited. I booked our intimate dining today, and ordered a special cake for us.

We're doing a cake inspired by Pixar's Up. They're making the 2 chairs for us, with the house on flat white chocolate in the back. It will read "Love is the greatest Adventure."

...and the head chef was on vacation, so they met my price and gave me a really fantastic price on the cake. Can't wait - I'll post pics of the cake here after the dinner. I hope it's beautiful! We were able to afford so little at our wedding that this means so much.

 

[jlocmac]

I just wanted to say Happy Early Anniversary!! That's the day me and my DF will be getting married!!

Hope you have a wonderful anniversary trip!!!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Congratulations on your 10th - the plan sound wonderful!!!
Just a quick heads up for you. If you are planning on hiring an outside photographer, I would get to it asap as those talented guys are booked up pretty early on!!! I hope you are able to sort something out for September!!
I would love to think you would do a little TR after the event and let us know how it all went!!!! I would love to see how it all unfolded!!
Good luck!!