1st trip as Mr. and Mrs. (lots of pics!) Updated 9/29: TR Link Posted!!

[jenjolt]

What a beautiful proposer, that was an amazingly sweet story!! And to be able to share that with your family...how exciting!!

I can't wait to hear all about the wedding!!!

 

[stacikristine]

What a beautiful proposer, that was an amazingly sweet story!! And to be able to share that with your family...how exciting!!

I can't wait to hear all about the wedding!!!

Thanks! It was really special.

 

[stacikristine]

Here are some of my Bridal Portraits. I wish I could put them all up…but then I’d have no more picture room!! My photographer was awesome! You can check out more of her photos at www.manwellphotography.com. She took me all over. We went to her parents’ land, an old train, some alleyways, different buildings, her land and to the studio at her house. Here’s some of my favorites:

 

[stacikristine]

I got married on December 20, 2008 to my best friend in the world. We met during freshman orientation the summer before we started college. We went to Dallas Baptist University and loved every second of it. We immediately became great friends. We started dating the spring of our sophomore year and got married 1.5 years later.

Since we go to a really small church, we got married at one of the bigger churches in our town. FYI we both have HUGE families! We were expecting over 150 FAMILY MEMBERS! And that’s with most of his mom’s family not being able to come. And since DH works for a church, we invited the entire church. Plus friends from college and the camp where we worked in the summers. And family friends…and the list goes on. We ended up having over 300 at the reception and more at the ceremony. We were shocked so many people came the Saturday before Christmas!

It was honestly the best day of my life. And I’m so thankful I was able to share it with so many of my friends and family. My face hurt so much from smiling all day, but I couldn’t help it. The reception was my favorite—we just got to go around and hang out and visit with everyone who came. It was a gigantic party and we had a BLAST!

Again, I would love to put all the pictures up, but there’s over 500…so no can do. Here’s some of my favorites. (I’ll commentate at the bottom of the pics)

We decided to see each other before the wedding. We did this so that we would have time to take all of the pictures besides the family pics before the wedding. We also wanted time to pray together and just sit by ourselves and cherish this special time before everything got crazy. This was me before we saw each other.

Our first hug after we saw each other for the first time

This is our wedding party—I know, it’s huge. But we love these people so much! We couldn’t narrow it down.

And these are all of the kids under 18 who had a part in the wedding!!! And they all did so great—no one did anything crazy. We have so many kids in our family, and we couldn’t ask one cousin without the other, so they’re all in! I think it was one of the best parts of the wedding though. They loved being included.

My uncle officiated the wedding. It was extra special for me because he married my parents too! They were his first wedding.

Balcony shot of the ceremony

After the wedding with our new rings!

 

[stacikristine]

His Cake—we didn’t get any. My mom’s best friend kept some for us, but my brother ate it while we were on our honeymoon!!

My Cake—it was super yummy!

Our first dance. We danced to Etta James’ “At Last”

I have no clue why, but I cried—cried, not just a few tears—when I danced with my dad. I’ve always been a Daddy’s Girl.

We seriously had the most fun reception I’ve ever been to—and I’m not just being biased! Our DJ and his wife were incredible. She was out in the middle dancing with all of us and getting everyone to participate. I think here we were doing the Cupid Shuffle. I was surprised at how many people danced!

This is us doing a “Grease” medley. She had the girls line up on one side and the guys on the other. It was so fun! I love this pic because it has my little cousins and some of my aunts. The video showed people lined up all the way to the dinner tables!

We LOVE dancing. We used to dance all the time in Dallas. We’d go country, salsa, or swing dancing!

This is one of my favorites. My brother is dancing with my cousin’s little girl. She tells everyone that he’s her PRINCE and that her favorite song is “At Last”!! There’s a Disney Princess if I ever saw one!! Btw they go to WDW every year.

My little sis caught the bouquet!

We changed and then came back down for one more song with everyone. It was such a great night! The best of my life!

 

[ClaraBug]

You are beautiful with extraordinary eyes. Your eyes were the first thing I noticed in your pictures. You are truly blessed to find a great guy like your husband! I wish you two many, many years of happiness!!

My sister and her husband also danced their first dance to Etta James "At Last"

I can't wait to see more!!

 

[stacikristine]

You are beautiful with extraordinary eyes. Your eyes were the first thing I noticed in your pictures. You are truly blessed to find a great guy like your husband! I wish you two many, many years of happiness!!

My sister and her husband also danced their first dance to Etta James "At Last"

I can't wait to see more!!

Thank you so much!! You're so sweet. My husband is great--I couldn't ask for better. Thanks for reading my PTR! I'm very excited about it. I'll post an actual Disney update soon!

 

[Roxychica7]

Man! You've got some GREAT pics. I LOVE the one of you getting out of the carriage and all the wedding pictures that has the bright red contrasted against your white dress, you had another AMAZING photographer. Such a beautiful wedding and you two look SO happy together!!

 

[stacikristine]

Man! You've got some GREAT pics. I LOVE the one of you getting out of the carriage and all the wedding pictures that has the bright red contrasted against your white dress, you had another AMAZING photographer. Such a beautiful wedding and you two look SO happy together!!

Thanks! I love them. I'm glad that we're going to have these pictures to remember everything! We are SO happy!!! Thanks for the sweet message.

 

[BridetobeDisney]

Oh Wow! You are just beyond gorgeous! The pictures are amazing. The proposal was the sweetest thing I've ever heard. DH proposed to me at his apartment too. The ring was under the bed and he had candles lit. It was so sweet. I'll always remember my little yorkie mix he had bought me was so tiny and she was trying to steal his spotlight. She just kept barking. That's a special memory because she went over the rainbow bridge way to early in life at only a year and a half. It's nice to know she was there with us to share the proposal.

 

[swtmommie2four]

Oh my, your wedding pictures are gorgeous! You make me really, really want to get that e-book! I can't wait till September!!!!

 

[kellbelle0618]

Your DH planned a wonderful proposal. It's funny that the pillow caught on fire because is something that would have happened to my fiance. He proposed to me on a hot air balloon and was terrified the whole time that he was going to drop the ring over the edge.


I love your engagement and wedding pictures. Your dress was gorgeous...you made a beautiful bride. I ordered my dress this week and I am excited.

 

[BellaSoleil]

I loved all of the pictures! I'm so glad you had so much fun!

How much are you loving (because I know you are) playing house? Isn't it such a sweet time?

 

[jenjolt]

Your wedding was just pure magic!! Congratulations!! I'm so glad you had the best day ever...just like every bride deserves!!!!

 

[stacikristine]

Oh Wow! You are just beyond gorgeous! The pictures are amazing. The proposal was the sweetest thing I've ever heard. DH proposed to me at his apartment too. The ring was under the bed and he had candles lit. It was so sweet. I'll always remember my little yorkie mix he had bought me was so tiny and she was trying to steal his spotlight. She just kept barking. That's a special memory because she went over the rainbow bridge way to early in life at only a year and a half. It's nice to know she was there with us to share the proposal.

Thanks so much! You're sweet. What a neat memory! That is so special--I'm sure you'll always have a really special place in your heart for your yorkie! I'm sorry you don't have her anymore. I think sweet proposals are so great because they show just how much the guy is going to go out of his way to make us feel special! Yours sounds wonderful too!

Oh my, your wedding pictures are gorgeous! You make me really, really want to get that e-book! I can't wait till September!!!!

Thank you so much! You should get the e-book! It's only $20. And I'm saving $250 of what I was originally planning (staying at POP) and $1400 of what we would be spending if we booked the "traditional" way!!! It's www.dw-secrets.com. I fully encourage you to get it!

Your DH planned a wonderful proposal. It's funny that the pillow caught on fire because is something that would have happened to my fiance. He proposed to me on a hot air balloon and was terrified the whole time that he was going to drop the ring over the edge.


I love your engagement and wedding pictures. Your dress was gorgeous...you made a beautiful bride. I ordered my dress this week and I am excited.

What an amazing story! I've never been in a hot air balloon. I bet it was so special! Haha--at the wedding, I was standing over a little hole in the stage (I think it was for something to do with the sound) and I was terrified I was going to drop his ring in it during the ceremony! Tell your DFi I sympathize with him!

Thank you--I loved taking all of the pictures--we had a blast! And the bridal portraits were 4.5 hours of ME IN THE SPOTLIGHT which I loved. Wow--I bet you're so excited! It seems like it takes forever for the dress to come, but when it does..... I'm so happy for you!

I loved all of the pictures! I'm so glad you had so much fun!

How much are you loving (because I know you are) playing house? Isn't it such a sweet time?

Thanks! I can't even say how much I love it! It's what I've wanted my whole life (well...besides being a Mommy!) But it makes me want to quit my job and be a stay-at-home-wife! I just have to keep reminding myself that the only reason I'm working is to pay off student loans and save for a baby so I can stay home with him/her! And that makes it worth it! Yes--It's such a sweet, sweet time! I can only imagine what a sweet time being a Mommy is too--I bet you cherish every minute with Belle!

Your wedding was just pure magic!! Congratulations!! I'm so glad you had the best day ever...just like every bride deserves!!!!

Thank you! I couldn't have asked for more!

 

[stacikristine]

Thank you all for your sweet words! You just made my day.

I just want you to know that I showed DH the Boards for the first time last night!! I showed him my thread and then showed him all of your PTRs and pictures of you! I had no clue that I would be so excited to share this with him until last night. It was like I just started Kindergarten and I was showing him my "new friends at school!" So thanks for making my night last night too!

 

[ClaraBug]

. It was like I just started Kindergarten and I was showing him my "new friends at school!" So thanks for making my night last night too!

I feel like that sometimes too!!

 

[stacikristine]

First of all, I ordered two new Disney books!! I got “The Unofficial Guide…” and “Birnbaum’s…” !! I bought both of them on Amazon and since it came to $25.12, I got free shipping. I can’t wait for them to come in—I just hope I don’t abandon all of my school work to read them as fast as I can!

Secondly, Michael is ridiculous! Every since I showed him the boards, he’s been such a goof! He adds “D” in front of everything!! For example: We were grocery shopping and he said, “We’re buying DF—Disney Food!” And “You’re DF—Disney Funny!” And “Can I have a DK—Disney Kiss?” Even though it drives me nuts, I can’t help but laugh so hard every time he says it—it’s crazy the things he comes up with! And yesterday he sent me this text: “Thank you for wanting us to have a very special vacation at Disney! I know that I pick on you for all of your research, but I do it cause you’re cute and I love you! I am very thankful to know that you just care very deeply and just want it to be an unforgettable experience together! I love you! PS did you write about me putting a D before everything?” It made my day—and I thought it was really cute that he wanted me to tell you all that he puts a D in front of everything!!

**I also have a tentative schedule finished! I’ll revise this once the park and EMHs are posted, but going off of last year’s calendar, this is where we’ll be going each day:

19—Saturday
Drive to Dallas
Hotel by the Airport

20—Sunday
Arrive in Orlando
Check in at AKV! (we might have to go to the park and then check in—our room won’t be ready yet)
AFTERNOON: Magic Kingdom (hopefully by 1pm)
NIGHT: Magic Kingdom

21—Monday
MORNING: Disney’s Hollywood Studios
AFTERNOON: DHS
NIGHT: DHS

22—Tuesday
MORNING: Epcot
AFTERNOON: Epcot
NIGHT: Epcot

23—Wednesday
MORNING: Animal Kingdom
AFTERNOON: Animal Kingdom
NIGHT: Epcot

24—Thursday
MORNING: Visit Resorts/Relax at AKV
AFTERNOON: Visit Resorts/Relax
NIGHT: Relax at AKV

25—Friday
MORNING: Magic Kingdom
AFTERNOON: Magic Kingdom
NIGHT: ?? Whatever we want

26—Saturday
MORNING: ?? Whatever we want
AFTERNOON: ?? Whatever we want
Head back to the Airport (leave the parks around 3)


So…these are our plans so far! I’m more and more excited every day! I think Thursday might be one of my favorite days. I’ve never had a “relax day” at Disney before. I really want to explore the different resorts and have time to actually enjoy ours!!

NEXT UP: ADRs—Or our plans so far!

ALSO: Let me know if you have an attraction/something we should make a priority! We’ve started looking at things we want to do, and we don’t want to leave anything out!

 

[DreaGirl]

I love having a relax day! It really recharges you. We always go and walk around a few resorts on our down day just to check them out.

 

[autumnpalm]

Hi! I just read your whole trip report. Oh my gosh, your wedding pictures had me tearing up, they are so beautiful. Congratulations!!!

That is so exciting you are staying at AKL for less than the POP! I would love to rent points but I find the whole process kind of intimidating LOL. But after reading this I might head over and check it out.

I keep promising myself... no more PTR to read because I spend waaayyy too much time over here... but I couldn't help myself. You have such a great one going, I've got to keep reading!