Ali & Chris's Planning Journal - WP/GF 6.30.14

[Courtney Woods]

I absolutely adore the fast passes! That is so cute!

 

[taylorali]

I absolutely adore the fast passes! That is so cute!

Thanks!

 

[taylorali]

So I graduated from college with a degree with Fashion Marketing & Management. So I'm kind obsessed with inspiration boards and all that. So I'm going to share my "general inspiration."

I am a pink girl. So you can count of seeing a lot of it at my wedding.

Will post more inspiration later.

 

[taylorali]

So I know it's been awhile since I've posted. We've been waiting to get our planner and today we finally did! Lisa Smith! From what I've heard from other Disney Brides, she's fantastic! We couldn't be MORE excited!!

Her assistant is Lacee Utt, who I've also only heard good things about!

I think it still feels surreal that I'm getting married in Disney! I mean, I always dreamed that I would - but I never thought it would actually happen!!!!! Someone up above definitely sent some pixie dust our way.


In other planning news, we picked our officiant, videographer, & (well we already knew we were going to use them) our photographer.

We are using:
Rev. Tim Herring for our Ceremony
Trinity Wedding Cinema - Video
David & Vicki Arndt - Photography

We have our wedding website up & running! http://www.aliandchriseverafter.com/ We still have a bunch of things to add, but it's starting to look really nice.

We also are working on our registries. We picked Macy's, Target, & Disney Honeymoon I've been told to also sign up for Bed, Bath, & Beyond - but there are so many things at Target & Macy's that I love! Plus, we really want people to use the Disney Honeymoon website!!

We also decided what we want to do for our Honeymoon! (Finally!)

After weeks & weeks of debate - we've decided to Honeymoon in Disney from July 1-5 and then go on the 4 days Disney Cruise on the 6th. I mean, when else can you go to Disney for the Fourth of July and have a free ticket with your husband? It would be pretty silly not to take advantage! Especially since we live in New York!!


What's on the agenda right now?

Finishing my Bridesmaid Boxes! 1 Maid of Honor, 7 Bridesmaids, & 4 Flower Girls. Woof! Lots of DIY work! (which I love!)

I made them each a personalized box that includes:

Maid of Honor/Bridesmaids:

Maid of Honor - Special Card/Drawing/Fake INFINITY tattoos (my sister & I always said we'd get them - and since I'm very sick (Crohn's, blah!) I know there in no way EVER I'm going to get a real tattoo. Lol.
Maid of Honor - Ring Box with a Ring Pop inside
Maid of Honor/Bridesmaid Tank
Personalized Disney Princess Mirror (With their fave princess)
'I'm With the Bride' Pin
Plastic Diamond Ring
Tiny Glass Slipper
Disney Princess Die Cut with Dress Info on it
Keep Calm it's a Disney Wedding Card (with booking information on the back)
"Will You Be My Bridesmaid Card"

Flower Girls:

Flower Girl Tank Top
Princess Tiara (of each of their favorite princesses)
Personalized Mirror
Princess Stickers
Princess Bracelets
Plastic Diamond Shaped Ring (with their fave princess on them)
Princess Necklace
'Be Our Flower Girl' Invite with a Silver Wand

Ring Bearer:

Mickey Ears (With his name of them)
Security Shirt
Mickey Mouse Gift Bag (has a cup, bubbles, frisbe, kazoo, pencil, crayons, coloring book, stickers)
Mickey Themed 'Be Our Ring Bearer' Invite with Badge

We also bought Mickey Ear Brads to attach our fast pass STD to our picture STD! Sending those out as soon as we get the brads! (Might order stamps from Zazzle - still not sure)


I will post pictures of everything once I finish! I'm done with the bridesmaid boxes! The flower girls boxes are painted! Just need to put the finishing touches on them! Getting there!!

I really like being a Disney Bride!

 

[taylorali]

So as my last post mentioned - I've been working really hard on my Flowergirl gifts & "Will You Be My Bridesmaid" Boxes.

Each box is a different color - (except for the flower girls; their's are pink.) I asked the girls their favorite color and then painted each box with acrylic pain with a Satin mod podge finish.

Here are the Flower Girls Boxes & Gifts:

Created By Etsy Store Owner: decadentdesigns

Each Box Includes:
* Flower Girl Tank
* 2 Princess Sticker Sheets
* Glass Slipper
* 3 Princess Pencils
* Princess Faux Diamond Ring
* Princess Necklace
* Princess Wrist Band
* Mini Personalized Mirror

Their Mom's told me their favorite Princesses. (I think they're more excited than the kids! lol) So each box is slightly different. I have four flower girls and they chose Ariel, Cinderella, Rapunzel, & Belle. Love my little girls!

 

[taylorali]

Bridesmaid Boxes:

You can see here that I lined the boxes with a different shade to make them pop & then added glittered tissue paper. Oh and can't forget the confetti!

Each is a different color - and a different princess. (With the exception of 4 girls who could not choose a different princess. So we have 2 Belles & 2 Mulans - but the boxes for each are different, so it's perfect!)

All Boxes Include:
* "Will You Be My Bridesmaid" Card - with personalized message written
* A STD Fastpass (we had a lot left over, so why not! )
* Card Stock Cut out of their favorite princess's dress - written on the back is "Dress Info Coming Soon."
* Hair Ties inspired by their fave princess
* Mini Personalized Mirror with their name & fave princess
* Faux Diamond Ring
* Glass Slipper
* Keep Calm it's a Disney Wedding magnet
* "I'm With the Bride" Pin
* Bridesmaid Tank top

There were some special things I added for my MOH (my sister)- but she has all this stuff too. I added:
* Necklace that says: "You're my Person." (Quote from Grey's Anatomy that we always said was us.)
* Custom Art Piece of a Bride & MOH in their robes on the day of the wedding. (Still looking for a great frame for it. No such luck yet.)
* Infinity-Sister fake tattoos. - My sister & I have always said we want to get the infinity sign tattooed on our wrists, but have them say sisters. Well, I've been so sick and everything and the thought of needles - well, just no haha. So I found these temporary ones on etsy! Perfection!

A lot of these things were bought off Etsy. If you want the shop I bought things from, please feel free to PM me. I can't remember off the top of my head right now.

 

[er3465]

You did such an awesome job on your gifts! Makes me feel like a slacker lol!

 

[taylorali]

You did such an awesome job on your gifts! Makes me feel like a slacker lol!

Lol! Well, thanks! I'm kinda ridiculous when it comes to gift giving. I get so excited to create things. Been like that since I was little. They were so fun to create.

 

[charliegirl76]

Loving everything so far! I adore the boxes for your flower girl and bridesmaid, what a great idea!

 

[taylorali]

Loving everything so far! I adore the boxes for your flower girl and bridesmaid, what a great idea!

thanks!!

 

[elphie101]

Hi there! Now that I'm engaged myself I'm coming out of lurkdom! I love you PJ so far! Your engagement shoot came out BEAUTIFUL!

Your bridesmaid boxes are the cutest - I love how fun and colorful they are.

 

[taylorali]

Hi there! Now that I'm engaged myself I'm coming out of lurkdom! I love you PJ so far! Your engagement shoot came out BEAUTIFUL!

Your bridesmaid boxes are the cutest - I love how fun and colorful they are.

Thank you so much! & Congrats!!! Where and when are you planning on having your Disney wedding??

 

[taylorali]

So we're a day away from our 9 month mark! Everyone says this time goes by so fast, but right now I feel like it's moving so slowly! Lol. I am sure it will speed up once things start to really get into motion!

On Monday we are sending out our Save the Dates! We've been pushing it off and off because we wanted to make sure we had our guest list as compact as possible because we don't want to go over budget!

I will post a picture of our stamp we had created by vista print. It has Mickey & Minnie and our names & addresses. We put them on the back of the STD envelopes. We also bought Mickey & Minnie stamps, which I am in love with. Just waiting for the cute stickers I bought off etsy that say "Happily Ever After" to make it here (which should happen Monday and then they're out!)

Lots of planning going on in my head! I've been trying to come up with the perfect favor to give our guests that really says something about us as a couple and it really special. We have lots of ideas, but haven't settled on anything yet.

For our escort cards, since we did fast passes for our Save the Dates, I think we are going to do name tags tied onto vintage style keys. (which is very Cinderella.) I don't know if I want to hang them on a board or do something different.

Does anyone know if Disney rents out such things? Like a board to hang the strings with the keys on? I've seen them on Etsy & Pinterest so I'm hope we can do something like that.

I also found theme name plates on Etsy that are Castles that I would love to put on each plate. I also really like the name cards that sit on a glass at the table. They're so elegant & delicate and I love that idea!

So many ideas going around in my head. Can't wait to get them all out and figure everything out!!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Sounds great!! I'm going to order our STD's the first of Oct even though I wanted them mailed before then. I was going to do FP as well of Etsy but then I loved our engagement pics so much we're doing that as magnets off Shutterfly instead since I have a $20 coupon. DF made me take a "break" from planning since I was going crazy with everything!! Too bad he still lives in TN and not here yet...heheh Happy 9 Months! Our 9 month mark is next week!!

 

[elphie101]

Thank you so much! & Congrats!!! Where and when are you planning on having your Disney wedding??

We're penciled in for 10/12/14 with an Italy ceremony and ADH reception, though unfortunately we're in a lottery for the reception. Trying to focus on the positive though, as of right now no one else wants our ceremony!

Happy (just about) 9 months! I do love Fastpass STD's, they look so cute!

 

[taylorali]

Sounds great!! I'm going to order our STD's the first of Oct even though I wanted them mailed before then. I was going to do FP as well of Etsy but then I loved our engagement pics so much we're doing that as magnets off Shutterfly instead since I have a $20 coupon. DF made me take a "break" from planning since I was going crazy with everything!! Too bad he still lives in TN and not here yet...heheh Happy 9 Months! Our 9 month mark is next week!!

I'm sure your Save the Date's are going to look amazing. I ordered Mickey & Minnie stamps from Zazzle. They look so disney, haha.

When is your wedding & where is it? So exicted for you!! & thank you!!

 

[taylorali]

We're penciled in for 10/12/14 with an Italy ceremony and ADH reception, though unfortunately we're in a lottery for the reception. Trying to focus on the positive though, as of right now no one else wants our ceremony!

Happy (just about) 9 months! I do love Fastpass STD's, they look so cute!

Well I shall keep my fingers crossed for you! Don't stress. What's meant to be will be.

Very excited to see how your wedding turns out & thank you!

 

[taylorali]

Ok!

So Planning got a bit interrupted by back surgery. It was no bueno. But I am back! And we are in FULL planning mode being that we are only 5 months and some change out!

When you girls told me this was going to go fast - I really had no idea just how fast it really does go!!

Things have been crazy with my family now - so I don't even know if anyone from my side is gonna show up. My parents are divorced and it's a mess. Meanwhile, DF's family is going to take up the entire right section. I honestly don't even care who shows up at this point - as long as me & DF have a good time and get to live our lives afterward!

So due to my back surgery, I am so behind on Bridal Fashion. Hopefully will be going this week to look at dresses with my FMIL. She's so wonderful to take me and I love her so much for everything she has done for me. She's stood in when my mom literally stepped out.

And I'm done with my mini rant!

I believe this is going to be the bridesmaid dress - just need to make sure we can find something a little more unique that works with this dress for my sister (MOH) - Her's will also probably be long too.

My colors are pink, gold, and ivory - so that is how I am looking for the girls to accesorize with, but haven't worked out details.

Not sure on a flower girls dress yet! I am in love with this dress from Nordstrom, but I feel like it needs a bow or something - and that flower has gotta go. But it's already expensive enough. I just want my girls to wear a soft pink - not white - and that's really hard! Lol (Any suggestions are welcome!)

We were supposed to have our Planning Session in person on the 7th of January - but being that I needed surgery/wanting to save for our honeymoon, we ended up needing to change it to a phone session. So that is in February, but Lisa & I are in contact almost every day. (She's even answers me on weekends! She seems really nice.)

So hmm. That's really all I've been able to get into which means the next 5 months are going to be INSANE.

We're also Catholic - and our Priest is not allowing us to just have our marriage blessed. He wants us to have it in the church first - which is fine - but now DF wants to turn it into a "lets invite everyone we can't invite to the wedding." And I want Disney to be my wedding, wedding! If you know what I mean! I'm so stressed!

I will try and post more as I go through the next couple of months! Just so much going on! My head is spinning!

 

[October 2014 Bride]

Hope you are feeling better. I can't imagine having to have surgery and plan for a wedding. 5 months is plenty of time to get everything else sorted so don't worry.

Sorry to hear your family aren't being as supportive you would like. Famililes can be hard work at times but your wedding is about building a lovely new family . Hope you enjoy your dress shopping with your FMIL and find the one.

I love your bridesmaid dress and the flower girl dress. I actually quite like the flower. Adds a little something but know what you mean about it not being on there as I'm fussy with details as well - prefer simplicity!

Exciting you have your planning session in February. Hope it all goes well.

 

[lcataldimay]

I am loving your journal. Just remember that whatever happens, at the end of the day you will be married
I look forward to reading more!