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

[KristiLyn]

That dress is gorgeous!!! I'm going to have to make a trip to Davids Bridal. I need to look for another dress, and one that doesn't cost much!

 

[donald&daisy]

Did anyone else laugh when they got their BEO?

I saw the total for EVERYTHING and was like 'uh, yea, THATs not happening!' I set up an appointment to go over everything with her. I have made notes on everything to go over with her item by item to ask about cheaper alternatives, etc. and cut a lot of things that we just don't care too much about to blow our budget.

It all boils down to what is most important to you and your hubby/wife. For us, the fact that we are having a Disney wedding is the cool part - so it's just a matter of figuring out what is most important to us.

I'm sure we will go through that phase too, but that's why its important to remember what's really important you---just like you said! Please do share your BEO when you get it finalized (if you don't mind). I figure ours will be fairly similar.

So, I've never even once thought about having a second dress for my wedding. I think you should buy THE ONE and unless it's too big to dance in, you should only have the one. Well, I needed to buy a dress to wear for some promotional images for my flower shop (a 'Styleshoot'). I went to David's Bridal to see if there was something cheap just to use for photos and I ended up trying on this dress that looked like a poofy cupcake.... and I LOVED IT. So, we bought it for the shoot and I decided I would try to wear it for the dessert party if possible. I love it and wanted to share! David's Bridal has some cute dresses at affordable prices!

Um, cute!! I bought a reception dress because my ceremony dress is too much dress to have as much fun as I want to have at my reception, lol.

and really, why have one when you can have two??

 

[DisneyBride1207]

I'm sure we will go through that phase too, but that's why its important to remember what's really important you---just like you said! Please do share your BEO when you get it finalized (if you don't mind). I figure ours will be fairly similar.



Um, cute!! I bought a reception dress because my ceremony dress is too much dress to have as much fun as I want to have at my reception, lol.

and really, why have one when you can have two??

I will definitely share it once it's more 'realistic' based on our budget...it came to a ridiculously high amount! hahah -- It will help others see what current prices for certain things are, etc.!

Yea, reception dresses make sense when the ceremony dress is too restrictive! But, the weird thing for me is, the dress I got from David's is the opposite -- poofy! So, I may just wear it for the dessert party

Thanks for following along!

 

[DisneyBride1207]

That dress is gorgeous!!! I'm going to have to make a trip to Davids Bridal. I need to look for another dress, and one that doesn't cost much!

Thank you! Yea, I have always been anti-David's bridal until recently when I've seen some really cute designer-like dresses. Of course, the fabrics aren't AS high quality as the designer couture gowns, but they are still beautiful!

(I'm not shy about revealing prices), this dress what only $550 after a $50 discount! I bought it just two days ago and it was one of their current line dresses. They even had some Vera Wang ones that were only $900! I will however say that I got my couture 'Rivini' gown at a 50% off sale from a designer boutique, so shopping the sale racks at the smaller shops can even be a great way to find a gorgeous dress at a discount!!!

Thanks for following along!

 

[KristiLyn]

Thank you! Yea, I have always been anti-David's bridal until recently when I've seen some really cute designer-like dresses. Of course, the fabrics aren't AS high quality as the designer couture gowns, but they are still beautiful!

(I'm not shy about revealing prices), this dress what only $550 after a $50 discount! I bought it just two days ago and it was one of their current line dresses. They even had some Vera Wang ones that were only $900! I will however say that I got my couture 'Rivini' gown at a 50% off sale from a designer boutique, so shopping the sale racks at the smaller shops can even be a great way to find a gorgeous dress at a discount!!!

Thanks for following along!

Yay thanks for the tip!!!

 

[DisneyBride1207]

THREE MORE MONTHS AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

So I've been going over everything that was on our BEO and trying to downsize from the original proposed $40,000 price tag. I was surprisingly able to trim it down to $20,000 by making some pretty minor changes, believe it or not!

The entertainment value of our wedding is VERY important to us. More important than floral, small details like a tulle canopy, colored napkins and specialty linens or chair covers (don't mean to offend those that feel this is important -- just my opinion! do what makes YOU happy).

My thoughts so far in our planning:

1. I would rather spend money on entertainment (actors) than any elaborate floral

The flower aspect: (I guess being a flower shop owner I just can't justify spending what they charge for flowers considering I can normally get them at wholesale cost, which is WELL under their markup). I guess my piece of advice for others would be that maybe you could make your own bouquet if you are into alternative bouquets like buttons, feathers, etc. I am bringing my own bouquets for myself and my bridesmaids and I am having Disney provide a few centerpieces that are made with submerged orchids and floating candles. Whenever I do wedding consultations here with any brides 'on a budget', it is the first thing I recommend because of the wow factor and beauty they still have while being a fraction of the cost of a large centerpiece densely packed with flowers. Candles, Rose Petals, and submerged orchids gives an automatic ambience that is just beautiful. The water helps to magnify the flower that is submerged *in this case, orchids* and you really 'see' the flower for its detail and beauty. So, this is why I am totally cool with doing submerged orchids -- cymbidiums and mokaras. I think I live vicariously through other brides, so I'm just not that bothered by needing centerpieces when I do two weddings per weekend in my flower shop! I hope that explains why I'm so non-flower-needy for MY own personal wedding...

p.s. -- I was noted on theknot.com as 'tips from the pros' - I was very excited about this: http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-...wer-tips-from-the-pros.aspx?page=5&MsdVisit=1

the entertainment aspect: We love Disney because of the atmosphere. The entertainers create this atmosphere. A favorite part for us is the 'Streetmosphere' performers from Hollywood Studios (and any other park for that matter). They really give you a sense of 'scene'. They can make you feel like you are part of a movie. We also love the old Adventurer's Club. We wanted our guests (most which have never even been to Disney), to have that DISNEY experience that you just can't get really anywhere else! So, why not have our wedding give them that feeling. They have been to other weddings, why spend our money on traditionally expected elements, why not give them surprises that will knock their socks off that they will remember forever?!

2. spending an extra $600 for a spanish style guitarist to place during our ceremony and pre-reception is a better idea than paying for an ipod setup (that I have to deal with loading and making sure gets to FL okay - I DO have an iPhone, but I'm not comfortable passing my phone over and hoping I get it back okay). A regular guitarist is only $600(ish), but to have a spanish style guitar it is about $1200....this is key in giving our guests the romantic spanish ambience that only a 'spanish' guitar can provide. I just don't like the idea of someone timing out the songs on a player. I would rather have a guitarist just naturally play and be able to stop or start in a way that just SOUNDS better. I remember one time I went to a wedding and the person playing the music on a cd player was playing specific songs when certain people walked, etc. and it was just unnatural and weird.

3. I'm not booking the darned rehearsal dinner, my DF's family can do that...I"M NOT GETTING STUCK WITH THE BILL! ....long story...

4. I was asked which kind of napkin fold I want. hahaha! Okay,....If I start obsessing over a friggin' napkin fold, I'm going to pay attention to it on the day of the wedding and if it's the wrong one I'll be upset....I'd rather be surprised about little details like that! (I would prefer a square fold though )

5. We are going to have our ceremony seating sorta 'in the round'...this is more 'interactive'...and as long as those seating sorta 'behind us' are set back a bit, the images should be just fine! This also gives an intimate feel and everyone can hear us as we are not doing the AV setup.

6. I'm still not sure who to have do our photography and I'm still not sure what length of time to do...there is a HUGE jump in price difference for just a few hours... any recommendations welcome!!!

7. random: ESPN club is right new SBP....is groom going to get distracted?!!!! LOL!

8. Do SBP rose petals blow away? My planner keeps telling me 'well if they blow away that's not our fault'...how windy does it get there?! thoughts?!

9. Where do you store your second dress if you have a dress just for the DP?

10. I'm NOT getting rid of the $15 smoking sorbet thing on our menu,...talk about WOW factor!

11. I was starting to get a little 'down' about the fact that many people have started backing out of coming to the wedding, bringing the total to probably about 35 guests. This helped out budget amazingly, so I guess now I don't mind hahaha! more money for videography/photography!!! haha - it's sad, but, really - on my wedding day it will be all about my new husband and I. Our closest family will be there (and DF and I have lots of brothers and sisters, and in-laws etc.), so it will still be lots of fun! We originally wanted an intimate wedding in the Caribbean, so this is still going to have that intimate vibe

12. I CANT WAIT to show pictures from the reception about our actors we have requested. They are a 'customized' type of selection (kinda, sorta), based on our wedding theme. I think it will be fun to keep this aspect a secret for three more months just in case family stumbles upon this thread in a google search for our wedding website! We have chosen two actors for a total of two hours and the piano player will also be dressed in this same character. (It may be hard to keep this aspect a secret because it is a huge part of our theme). My invites might give it away... hahaha

13. I have finally decided on a 'theme'. I might just reveal this in pieces as it might sound cheesy if I just tell it. It's not necessarily a 'theme', but more a sense of ambience for the evening based on the actors and small details.

14. We aren't exactly going to have obvious wedding 'colors', moreso a theme. It will be an oceany/nautical/sea-faring vibe with pops of blue, green, magenta and yellow to add some color. Our reception is in the Living Seas, so our vibe is just underwater! The blue tablecloths in LSS go perfectly with our theme, we will just accent with pops of green flowers, etc.

15. I finally have my dress fitting next week!

16. Is it okay to wait until I get to Disney to go to the Polynesian to purchase some fancy jewelry for the wedding? I saw the perfect jewelry when I was there in May and want it SO BAD! I have looked and looked since then and cannot find anything better suited...and how awesome would that be to have DISNEY jewelry from your wedding to wear for other special occasions? This jewelry was gorgeous, I highly recommend any of you stopping in to the Polynesian to see the gorgeous jewelry there. I went to all other jewelry stores in the parks AND at GF and didn't see as beautiful of jewelry (or at least as many options).

17. still can't decide on shoes! AHHHHHHHH white, color? eek!

18. I hope my veil will look okay! I bought a tulle veil that is cathedral length, but it is all folded up....should I do a trial run by steaming it out, etc. ?

19. does anyone else ever feel like they have forgotten someone on the guest list?!? I feel like there is someone missing!

20. will a 6 night stay feel like enough of a honeymoon (three days before and three days after the wedding)

21. I'm worried about a flight there and back. I have POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) and I have issues with lightheadness, headaches, etc. that really are bothered by flying and I worry that the whole first day there will be shot due to my body being all out of wack! I feel at this point it would be more relaxed to drive... ?

any feedback or thoughts would be awesome! HAPPY PLANNING FELLOW DISBRIDES!!!!!

 

[DisneyBride1207]

anyone else having entertainment as a huge theme or focus for their wedding?

 

[DisneyBride1207]

So, I've made like 100 trips to Michaels just to try and sort out what to do for my new invites. Over the course of our wedding planning, we have postponed our wedding twice. The cruise wedding I made hand-sewn passports, the second I made some other blue invites...but now, with our new theme, we came up with a fun, more theme-y invites I am planning to do a wax seal on the folded map folded invite. I am also thinking to wrap a small twine *smaller than the one in the photo* that I seal with the wax. BUT, I can't seem to find a V to do the wax seal with... grrrr... So, we will see! I think I may use our 'colors' of fuschia, blue and apple green for the fonts. I am going to use a font that resembles a spanish calligraphy type font. I got Kraft paper envelopes and little cards to use either for registry info or for the additional accomodations or wedding website info.

 

[Mindyjoy]

Wow, your new invitations sound like they will be great! By the looks of the picture you seem to be off to a good start!

As far as entertainment, we decided that having M&M would be enough "Disney" for us ... the majority of our guests are NOT as obsessed with Disneyland as we are so we don't want to overwhelm anybody. We are doing the normal DJ and dancing thing.

Your list made me !

 

[kmg148]

Love the planning so far. Can't wait to hear more!

 

[DisneyBride1207]

Wow, your new invitations sound like they will be great! By the looks of the picture you seem to be off to a good start!

As far as entertainment, we decided that having M&M would be enough "Disney" for us ... the majority of our guests are NOT as obsessed with Disneyland as we are so we don't want to overwhelm anybody. We are doing the normal DJ and dancing thing.

Your list made me !

thank you!

Love the planning so far. Can't wait to hear more!

Thank you [glad someone out there is reading this! I hope I can somehow share ideas with others, like how I made my invites, etc...]. I hope my PJ can help others as other PJs have help me!!

 

[DisneyBride'03]

HI!!! You LOOK amazing!!! Love the dress...I got my gown from Davids too....long time ago! You must be SO excited....look at your ticker!

And Look ...I have a link in my signature...we are doing a VR! Hope you come back! Sure you are so busy!!!!

 

[donald&daisy]

I don't know how I missed this huge post! My thoughts are below in red.

THREE MORE MONTHS AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

So I've been going over everything that was on our BEO and trying to downsize from the original proposed $40,000 price tag. I was surprisingly able to trim it down to $20,000 by making some pretty minor changes, believe it or not!

I have a feeling our initial BEO is going to be pretty insane. I really don't want to pay Disney more than 30k and I know that its totally do-able. I'm glad to hear that trimming it down was relatively painless!

The entertainment value of our wedding is VERY important to us. More important than floral, small details like a tulle canopy, colored napkins and specialty linens or chair covers (don't mean to offend those that feel this is important -- just my opinion! do what makes YOU happy).

I agree with this thinking especially for LSS because the linens are already colored and the whole room is color coordinated. Its not an empty ballroom that I feel the need to dress up.

My thoughts so far in our planning:

1. I would rather spend money on entertainment (actors) than any elaborate floral

We're having at least two characters....I don't know if we'll do actors. Maybe reading your trip report will change my mind! I really love the idea...where else could you do something like that? Nowhere!

The flower aspect: (I guess being a flower shop owner I just can't justify spending what they charge for flowers considering I can normally get them at wholesale cost, which is WELL under their markup). I guess my piece of advice for others would be that maybe you could make your own bouquet if you are into alternative bouquets like buttons, feathers, etc. I am bringing my own bouquets for myself and my bridesmaids and I am having Disney provide a few centerpieces that are made with submerged orchids and floating candles. Whenever I do wedding consultations here with any brides 'on a budget', it is the first thing I recommend because of the wow factor and beauty they still have while being a fraction of the cost of a large centerpiece densely packed with flowers. Candles, Rose Petals, and submerged orchids gives an automatic ambience that is just beautiful. The water helps to magnify the flower that is submerged *in this case, orchids* and you really 'see' the flower for its detail and beauty. So, this is why I am totally cool with doing submerged orchids -- cymbidiums and mokaras. I think I live vicariously through other brides, so I'm just not that bothered by needing centerpieces when I do two weddings per weekend in my flower shop! I hope that explains why I'm so non-flower-needy for MY own personal wedding...

p.s. -- I was noted on theknot.com as 'tips from the pros' - I was very excited about this: http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-...wer-tips-from-the-pros.aspx?page=5&MsdVisit=1

A month or so ago after seeing Irishwishes bouquets, I decided to use an online vendor for all my person floral. Her work is awesome and I get to have flowers I couldn't otherwise (plumeria and orchids), plus I won't have to pay for a floral refresh since our photo shoot isn't until two days after the wedding. I'm still undecided on what to do decor wise at SBP and LSS, so once again, I can't wait to see how yours turns out!

the entertainment aspect: We love Disney because of the atmosphere. The entertainers create this atmosphere. A favorite part for us is the 'Streetmosphere' performers from Hollywood Studios (and any other park for that matter). They really give you a sense of 'scene'. They can make you feel like you are part of a movie. We also love the old Adventurer's Club. We wanted our guests (most which have never even been to Disney), to have that DISNEY experience that you just can't get really anywhere else! So, why not have our wedding give them that feeling. They have been to other weddings, why spend our money on traditionally expected elements, why not give them surprises that will knock their socks off that they will remember forever?!

fun!

2. spending an extra $600 for a spanish style guitarist to place during our ceremony and pre-reception is a better idea than paying for an ipod setup (that I have to deal with loading and making sure gets to FL okay - I DO have an iPhone, but I'm not comfortable passing my phone over and hoping I get it back okay). A regular guitarist is only $600(ish), but to have a spanish style guitar it is about $1200....this is key in giving our guests the romantic spanish ambience that only a 'spanish' guitar can provide. I just don't like the idea of someone timing out the songs on a player. I would rather have a guitarist just naturally play and be able to stop or start in a way that just SOUNDS better. I remember one time I went to a wedding and the person playing the music on a cd player was playing specific songs when certain people walked, etc. and it was just unnatural and weird.

I am still on the fence here. Part of me really wants the calypso trio, but then part of me is really stuck on using certain original music. I guess it will depend in our budget and whether or not mics are needed for the videographer, etc. I LOVE the idea of spanish style guitarist, it will really set the mood!

3. I'm not booking the darned rehearsal dinner, my DF's family can do that...I"M NOT GETTING STUCK WITH THE BILL! ....long story...

LOL! Seems like the rehearsal dinners have been an issue with a lot of disbrides recently. Sometimes its easier to just wave the white flag...its just one meal after all

4. I was asked which kind of napkin fold I want. hahaha! Okay,....If I start obsessing over a friggin' napkin fold, I'm going to pay attention to it on the day of the wedding and if it's the wrong one I'll be upset....I'd rather be surprised about little details like that! (I would prefer a square fold though )
Maybe I'll let DF decide this one....

5. We are going to have our ceremony seating sorta 'in the round'...this is more 'interactive'...and as long as those seating sorta 'behind us' are set back a bit, the images should be just fine! This also gives an intimate feel and everyone can hear us as we are not doing the AV setup.

I was looking at pics on line last night and that set up looks really pretty in pics. Are you using existing chairs? The pics I saw had chiavari chairs, but I'm not sure its worth the cost to upgrade.

6. I'm still not sure who to have do our photography and I'm still not sure what length of time to do...there is a HUGE jump in price difference for just a few hours... any recommendations welcome!!!

I'll be honest, I have budgeted for the enchanted rose 10 hour package. I'm using them for videography too so I can get the 10% discount...in for a penny in for a pound! Also, I read that if you have the enchanted rose package you can break up the time over the course of two days...so you could have pro pics at your rehearsal dinner, etc.

7. random: ESPN club is right new SBP....is groom going to get distracted?!!!! LOL!

8. Do SBP rose petals blow away? My planner keeps telling me 'well if they blow away that's not our fault'...how windy does it get there?! thoughts?!

No idea on this one! Will they let you provide your own? If so, I would just find a trusted guest and have them sprinkle them right before the ceremony is set to begin.

9. Where do you store your second dress if you have a dress just for the DP?

Also no idea, but good question! I would think your planner could stash it somewhere....I have a dress just for the reception, not sure if I will change during the cocktail hour or after the first dance....hhmmm I will need to ponder this, lol. We ended up switching our DP to the night before the wedding as a welcome party to avoid food overload and so we can have more time to spend with guests.

10. I'm NOT getting rid of the $15 smoking sorbet thing on our menu,...talk about WOW factor!


Go for it!

11. I was starting to get a little 'down' about the fact that many people have started backing out of coming to the wedding, bringing the total to probably about 35 guests. This helped out budget amazingly, so I guess now I don't mind hahaha! more money for videography/photography!!! haha - it's sad, but, really - on my wedding day it will be all about my new husband and I. Our closest family will be there (and DF and I have lots of brothers and sisters, and in-laws etc.), so it will still be lots of fun! We originally wanted an intimate wedding in the Caribbean, so this is still going to have that intimate vibe

The people you really love will be there and at the end of the day, thats all that counts! I think we will end up between 30 and 40 guests.

12. I CANT WAIT to show pictures from the reception about our actors we have requested. They are a 'customized' type of selection (kinda, sorta), based on our wedding theme. I think it will be fun to keep this aspect a secret for three more months just in case family stumbles upon this thread in a google search for our wedding website! We have chosen two actors for a total of two hours and the piano player will also be dressed in this same character. (It may be hard to keep this aspect a secret because it is a huge part of our theme). My invites might give it away... hahaha

Can't wait!!!

13. I have finally decided on a 'theme'. I might just reveal this in pieces as it might sound cheesy if I just tell it. It's not necessarily a 'theme', but more a sense of ambience for the evening based on the actors and small details.

Don't worry about it! I have gotten over the fact that our tropical/under the sea vibe sounds like a prom theme, I know it will be beautiful!

14. We aren't exactly going to have obvious wedding 'colors', moreso a theme. It will be an oceany/nautical/sea-faring vibe with pops of blue, green, magenta and yellow to add some color. Our reception is in the Living Seas, so our vibe is just underwater! The blue tablecloths in LSS go perfectly with our theme, we will just accent with pops of green flowers, etc.

15. I finally have my dress fitting next week!

16. Is it okay to wait until I get to Disney to go to the Polynesian to purchase some fancy jewelry for the wedding? I saw the perfect jewelry when I was there in May and want it SO BAD! I have looked and looked since then and cannot find anything better suited...and how awesome would that be to have DISNEY jewelry from your wedding to wear for other special occasions? This jewelry was gorgeous, I highly recommend any of you stopping in to the Polynesian to see the gorgeous jewelry there. I went to all other jewelry stores in the parks AND at GF and didn't see as beautiful of jewelry (or at least as many options).

I might call and see if you could order it over the phone in case it sells out.

17. still can't decide on shoes! AHHHHHHHH white, color? eek!

Why not have both? Lol, you have two dresses after all....

18. I hope my veil will look okay! I bought a tulle veil that is cathedral length, but it is all folded up....should I do a trial run by steaming it out, etc. ?

I'm not having a veil so I don't know, but I can't imagine steaming it would hurt in any way.

19. does anyone else ever feel like they have forgotten someone on the guest list?!? I feel like there is someone missing!

Yes, except we actually did! Df's parents told us they never got a STD so we thought it just got lost in the mail, but it turns out when we went to mail the newsletter we noticed they weren't on the list1 OOPS!!!

20. will a 6 night stay feel like enough of a honeymoon (three days before and three days after the wedding)

We're taking a full week after the wedding, but I think as long as you have private time and your guests know its your honeymoon, you should be fine.

21. I'm worried about a flight there and back. I have POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) and I have issues with lightheadness, headaches, etc. that really are bothered by flying and I worry that the whole first day there will be shot due to my body being all out of wack! I feel at this point it would be more relaxed to drive... ?

any feedback or thoughts would be awesome! HAPPY PLANNING FELLOW DISBRIDES!!!!!

wow that was a big post! I hope you don't mind all my comments! You must be getting soooooo excited!