Amanda & Robby PJ . 10/25/2011 SBP, LSS,UK DP *Invitations*

[DisneyBride1207]

Planning Index of Photos:
The Proposal
The Dress!
Dress #2
Invitations, Passports
Invitations, Version 2!
Planning Session Report
Inspiration Images

about us

me
I have a BFA of Interior Design from JMU (just graduated last summer) and own my own flower shop. Somehow in my job search I ended up being offered a free standing building by my best friends dad that was vacant, and BAM -- I own a flower shop! I work so hard and absolutely love what I do -- even though that means I don't have much personal/free time. There's nothing like being your own boss. It's very hard and definitely makes me appreciate small business owners even more.

him
Robby is a Ford Diesel technician and his hobbies include being obsessed with the Dallas Cowboys, fishing, golfing and everything in between. We both have always had a thing for mustangs, four wheelers and anything that has wheels basically. It actually was one of our first common interests - I was a tomboy that rode four wheelers and dirt bikes with all his buddies and we easily had something fun to do together. He's so perfect for me -- he really does compliment me, he's patient (opposite of ME!), he would give a stranger the shirt of his back, he's so caring and sweet and he's just my best friend. I'm sure we can all agree that no amount or choice of words can ever fully describe the love/bond that you have with the love of your life.

how we met
We met when we were in middle school and had the same best friends. We always each had someone else we were dating, but always had the hots for each other (yes, even when we were very YOUNG) Finally in high school we both ended up single at the same time and quickly started dating. We have been together eight and a half years now and have NEVER broken up (can you believe that?!). We have grown up together and yet have GROWN together, surprisingly never apart I am looking forward to learning and growing more with him and love him to death!! I've always felt there is a perfect someone out there for everyone, and I am so lucky I found him so early in life. I had severe depression when I was a teen, and he really helped get me through it. So, our relationship really started with a great loving, trusting friendship (well more than friends lol) -- and over time just keeps getting better. *am I getting to cheesy yet???*

how we got engaged
For my graduation my family (mom, dad, three sisters) were all planning to take a trip down to WDW as we do every few years as a family. Except, this time I wanted to take Robby. This was his first trip as an adult and he wasn't too enthused.... I was looking forward to him experiencing that Disney magic!! We normally take the family RV down (yes, we all fit comfortably) to Fort Wilderness to stay. Half way into the vacation, we went to Magic Kingdom for some evening festivities. I should've known they all had a motive because we all got dressed up in nicer clothes after dinner and made the trek back to the park at 5 - I'm such a goober - I should've seen that coming! We walked up to the castle and my parents said "Can you take a picture of us in front of the castle?" Then I handed them the camera so they could take a picture of Robby and I. As we were walking to pose, he seemed very nervous (excessive gum chewing, shaking). Then he started with his proposal speech that I can barely remember because of how shocked and nervous I was as well! It was so nice because in our pictures there are no people around us, so the pics are very cool that we are 'alone'....kinda... hehe!

I told him one time that I DIDN'T want to be asked in front of the castle, I thought it was cliche. But, now I think it is cute how he saw that as the iconic Disney World symbol and that's why he chose it - so, it makes it more thoughtful heheh!

wedding day plans
When we were planning our wedding we kept an open mind about all possible venues - The Virgin Islands, South Carolina, Florida, etc. Anything except Disney World (for him) -- he felt it was too ME and didn't feel like it fit him really (again, he didn't know much about the different things available for their weddings). We then agreed on a cruise wedding on DCL in the Bahamas in December of 2010. Everything was going as planned..UNTIL, my sister go pregnant The only reason this is a problem is because they don't allow women in their third trimester to cruise. So, in thinking long and hard about the re-planning of the wedding we realized it was easy (and my DREAM) to have a WDW Wishes wedding of course I was OVER THE MOON!!!!! MUAHAHAHA, my evil plan! lol I just opened my own flower shop and I really don't have the time to be planning a wedding - so they fact they give you a planner and you pretty much just SHOW UP made it seem like a very wise decision. I had to call DFTW to get details about exact locations in order to convince Robby that spending $12,000+ was worth it. We are both water-lovers (water signs, love the beach, grew up at our parents lake houses, he loves to fish, I love to swim, yadda yadda). So, I told the DFTW consultant about our personalities and she gave me the idea of the Yacht Club beach wedding, Living Seas Reception in the aquarium with the fish and dessert party illuminations viewing. He LOVED the ideas! He really feels now like it's fit for his personality too! I guess he just doesn't like the princessy types of weddings he has seen on those shows sometimes with all the glitz and glam that just isn't 'us' (while pretty, isn't our thing). I had to show him that there are personalization options! so, that's the start of it all -- HERE WE GO!!!

 

[DisneyBride1207]

and of course we had to go get some bride ears!

Our pictures we had done the following day at the Polynesian:

 

[Disney9.9.10]

Congratulations on your engagement and welcome! It is really sweet that you guys have been together so long, you will have a really secure and loving marriage. I wish you the best with your planning and look forward to reading more!

 

[DisneyBride1207]

thank you!! I'm trying to figure out how to post everything...I have to figure out how everyone else does their PJ's...I'm guessing just posting it into the thread - like a comment, but include pics of things I'm planning...??

 

[Disney9.9.10]

That is pretty much it! Just post a comment, write whatever you have done lately, add pictures if you want, etc. Some pj's also have an index on the first page - I did this to mine to keep it organized. You should take a look at some other pj's to get a better idea of how it works. Good luck with everything! How is your planning going?

 

[pixiegirl]

Congrats and welcome!!! You guys are such a cute couple. My DF and I have been together for 8 years so we also have been together for a long time. Can't wait to hear all of your plans!!!

 

[DisneyBride1207]

thank you!! : )

Update: So, we think we might try to do a PS sometime this winter in WDW so we can mainly try food. We are wanting a mixture of seafood/island types of flavors and some other foods that non-seafood people will like - chicken and steak with nice island sauces...does this make sense? hehehe! Since we are going with the whole tropical type of theme (Yacht Club Beach ceremony, Living Seas Reception, Lochside). We love Ohana (mainly the salad hahah) - although the only part that sticks out is the salad and not so much the steak, etc...which makes me think there might be better options out there for food flavorings. We went to WAVE at the Contemporary and had the best steak of our lives! If I could only find out what type or how it was prepared so we can request it!!! Anybody know what steak I'm talking about? hehehe! it was on a bed of like shredded sweet potato or something?! . Any recommendations for polynesian/tropical types of foods - I'm all "ears" ahhah!

 

[DisneyBride1207]

We haven't been assigned our planner yet - I'm so excited! I can't wait to see who it will be! If anyone has any comments about theirs, let me know!

We have to send out new invites since we completely changed from a DCL wedding in December, to a more formal - larger wedding in WDW. I will be uploading all of my images of past invited (they were passports I hand made!). I also had sent out a flyer to give people an update, but I don't think people understood the whole process since the update was sent out in June and wedding isn't until next May! So, we are making new ones to send out in like December

Also, I have decided I will be making my bouquet with Vanda Orchids and Phalaeonopsis Orchids.

Still deciding on the length of the veil and what type of headpiece to do, if any.

 

[DisneyBride1207]

So, I'm in the process of trying to come up with something fun for our NEW invites. I made passport invites when we were originally doing a DCL wedding in Castaway Cay. I bought cardstock and also used a thick printer paper for the inner pages. I ran everything through my printer and used a sewing machine for the binding (surprisingly easy!). I then made my own postcards for the response cards that had a collection of DCL Castaway Cay images and the postage was cheaper But now we have to make new invites since the wedding has changed to a Wishes wedding in WDW (sister couldn't cruise because of pregnancy) - But everyone LOVED the passport invites!

Our wedding is all about water, lake, ocean, etc. Since it is YCB, Living Seas and Lochside for DP we are going with the water theme since we both love water. We both love blue mainly, but accented with tropical colors. So, we have to nail down the invite idea since I will be making them myself I have to just come up with something as cool or cooler than the last invites we sent! haha

 

[DisneyBride1207]

So I got an email from Meri today that our planner is Pamela....I haven't heard of her on the boards? I have heard alot about Meri being good, so I was bummed when she said "I am filling in for her for the next few weeks"... - But I'm hoping Pamela is just as wonderful! Please God, if anyone has any bad reviews PM me! haha

 

[DisneyBride1207]

My dress is by Rivini and I bought it June '09 (a month after my engagement). We went dress shopping thinking that I would just get an idea of what I might want in future - so I wasn't really even ready to buy. We were planning on getting married in May 2010 (which has now been pushed back to May 2011 because of the fact I couldn't get a job when I graduated college). So, by now I have had the dress for over a year and it's still the most fabulous dress I could've ever found! I always see other dresses that I like, but there's always that one that JUUUUST right for your bridal style,...ya know?

I purchased it as a sample when it was discounted at my local bridal shop from $6,000 to 3,000 because it was from the '08 collection and it was a sample THAT FIT ME PERFECTLY (with a little wiggle room of course since I've lost 20 pounds since I bought it)!--- I went way over what I wanted my budget to be. I put the dress on because my future mother-in-law thought it looked so weird and different on the hanger and to try it sort of as a joke...well you know what they say! Don't come to by a Honda and test drive the Lamborghini!!! But, it was THE dress and my mom wouldn't let me leave without buying it I wanted to take it off and not even consider it because of price and even went on to try other dresses, but my family was plotting to pay for the dress themselves just to make sure I got it

I didn't know very much about designers and which designer I wanted to look for when trying dresses, so it's funny that after choosing the dress I now am obsessed with Rivini's dresses because of how well the dresses fit my personality.

Here is the stock photo from Rivini, and other images of me in the dress (being silly in one of them )

this image is one a photographer (Stephen Gosling Photography) took of me in my dress holding a bridal bouquet for images for my flower shop. So, it's cool to have a professional image of me in my dress before the wedding! It helps show the detail of the top

 

[FutureMrs.B]

Hi I just found your PJ. I loved your story it was really cute. The pics were really cute as well. Great idea for the invitations. DF and I were thinking of doing something similar except more like a classic book. Also you look really great in your wedding dress. It's very different..the pattern. It's really nice. Looking forward to reading more.

 

[DisneyBride1207]

awww thank you! I was beginning to wonder if anyone was reading it!

The passport invites were super easy to make as long as you have a word processing program! I sewed them (also easier than you would expect!) - good luck with your book invites - that is a great idea

 

[DisneyBride1207]

So, advice please?

We have the Shipwreck Beach (at the Yacht Club) booked as our ceremony location...and we are having second thoughts.

2:30 in the middle of May is PROBABLY going to be hot - and in considering the fact Shipwreck Beach has no shade, we are a bit turned off. Kristi told me 'well, you could hurry the ceremony like other brides have done'...but I don't want to rush...I want to have a nice, SHADED, but yet still-outside ceremony. I don't want DF or myself squinting in our wedding pics! I am thinking we should switch to Sea Breeze Point. We originally were going to be married on Castaway Cay on the DCL, so we waned something along that theme (water/beachy). I thought I didn't like SBP...but, now that I've seen more pictures it seems like it might be a smart decision to switch

I know we wanted to get married in the sand an all, but I don't think it's going to really work out how we want it if the sun is blaring in our eyes (not to mention my black hair being super hot from the sun!), and no protection from a light afternoon sprinkle! Plus - I really like how the images of being at the altar are of the Yacht Club from the SBP, as opposed to a backdrop of the Boardwalk and Swan and Dolphin from the SRB location. I think SBP is a bit more formal of a ceremony location too....

I guess I know what we need to do - just a nudge in the right direction or some hopeful thoughts that SBP will still be available for Friday May 13th at 2:30! If it's not available, then we will have to explore other options!

Any thoughts? Past brides? Brides that have had a similar dilemma?

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Have you thought about the beach at the S and D? They do weddings there.

 

[FutureMrs.B]

I know what you mean about wondering if people read it. I feel like that sometimes..

Are you definately set on the hour? I was just thinking maybe if you have it a little later in the day it would be slightly cooler and you would still have sunlight for your pictures. Maybe the 5:00 pm slot. When I was in Orlando in July DF and I noticed that it was a bit more bearable like around 5ish 6 ish. And since it's still not summer I'm assuming maybe it might be ok. Just an idea.

 

[DisneyBride1207]

Thanks for the ideas y'all!!

buuuuuuut, our reception is from 3:30-8, and if we pushed it to 5 the whole issue of sunset comes in to play (based on what Kristi Davis said) and that would make our reception super short....so...hopefully we have a good alternate!

We have been to Disney multiple times in May and 2:30 is fine as long as you are in the shade .... so I'm not worried about the heat as long as we are shaded...I'm just wondering what my options are for another location as an alternative - in this case, thinking Sea Breeze Point.

I am waiting for a call from my 'stand in' planner, while my planner Pamela is out of the office (Meri is her sub), in the morning and I will ask her about location options. So keep your fingers crossed that SBP will be available for my 40-50 guests and that time slot!

Can you use SBP if you have 50 guests???

 

[DisneyBride1207]

So we changed our ceremony location to Sea Breeze Point - PHEW! Thank God it was still available for our time slot! WAHOO!

Other info we are working out for our reception: Streetmosphere! We want to have uninvited guests for the reception to confuse guests and make them wonder "Who are they?" They will also MC the reception parts like the entrance, the dances, etc. If anyone has any experience with Streetmosphere people, I would love to hear!

 

[FutureMrs.B]

Oh yey! I'm so glad that you were able to change your location but still keep your same time slot. Gratz!

 

[DisneyBride1207]

thank you!! huge relief!! p.s. - how do I change the title of the thread? .....to note updates?