~*Amy and Shawn’s PJ*~June 6th, 2011 - Our Hawaiian Honeymoon!

[*Pixiedust1438*]

I need some advice on when we should arrive in Disney before the wedding. I was planning on getting into Orlando on Saturday, two days before the wedding. Now that I start planning, I am thinking it might work out better to arrive on Friday. I really want to "Drink Around the World" with my guests, and if we didn't get there until Saturday, we would have to do it a few days after the wedding when many guests have already left. I also am thinking it would just be better to get there a little earlier. If we left one day earlier we would leave for our honeymoon one day earlier, which means we could come home on a Saturday rather than a Sunday which would be nice. Only downside to leaving on Friday is DF would need another day off work and he already has to take two weeks, which might be a problem. Any thought on what would be better?

I also have been talking to family/friends and yesterday I made a list of who said they are deff. coming, and we have 41 people so far, which is great because I am hoping around 50 come, any less than that and I would worry about using ADH.

 

[lzimm13]

We're leaving Friday. I figured it would just be easier and if anything needs to be dropped off at Franck's I think it has to be on Friday because I believe they are closed on the weekend. The weekend would give us enough time to get suits and dresses steamed and pickup anything we might need as well as get settled and even have a little fun! ALSO that weekend should be starwars weekend and DF is totally Stoked about that! lol

Edit: I'm also taking 2 weeks+1day for the same reason, We're doing a week in disney and a week in the DR. I think my fellow managers(there are only 4 of us) will suck it up and work the extra day and if not then I'll just come back a day earlier.

 

[DisneyDiva84]

I would definitely leave on Friday The earlier the better when it comes to Disney and plus you will get to spend more time with your guests!

Love your rings by the way they are gorgeous!

 

[*Pixiedust1438*]

I just checked my email, and apparently I have been assigned a new wedding planner. I had Ken, and I guess he got offered another position for DFTW, so now I have Amy Riendeau. I'm really hoping she is a great planner (I think she normally does Escape weddings.) I'm glad I haven't done a lot yet, I would be kind of mad if I was close to my wedding date and my planner got switched on me! My only worry is that we just booked out PS and tasting, and I hope they can remain at the same date and time. Has anyone else gotten their planner switched?

 

[BecBennett]

Maybe 12 months ago there were some cut backs at DFTW and a lot of people got new planners. I don't think anyone had any problems in the switch.

Then I also remember someone having a planner that went away on maternity leave, so she got a new planner as well.

I don't think anyone's had any problems when they've had to switch planners.


I love your dresses for your rehearsal and shower! Where did you get them?

 

[NYPrincess422]

and I got switched from Ken to Amy as well...

 

[*Pixiedust1438*]

Maybe 12 months ago there were some cut backs at DFTW and a lot of people got new planners. I don't think anyone had any problems in the switch.

Then I also remember someone having a planner that went away on maternity leave, so she got a new planner as well.

I don't think anyone's had any problems when they've had to switch planners.


I love your dresses for your rehearsal and shower! Where did you get them?

Glad to hear! Thanks, I got the shower dress from Kohl's (forever ago lol!) and the rehearsal dress from JC Penny.

and I got switched from Ken to Amy as well...

Wow! I would be upset, but Amy seems really great so far so I'm sure everything will turn out great for you!

 

[BecBennett]

Thanks. I was secretly hoping you'd say Ebay, and there would still be some available Why is it I see so many dresses I like on here, but can't find any in the real world!?!?

 

[*Pixiedust1438*]

Thanks. I was secretly hoping you'd say Ebay, and there would still be some available Why is it I see so many dresses I like on here, but can't find any in the real world!?!?

It's funny because I found both dresses when i wasn't even looking! The one at Kohl's reminded me of this dress I wanted really bad when I was younger, and I bought it before even deciding on the theme for my shower. I hadn't worn it yet when I decided to do the Alice in Wonderland Tea Party theme, and thought it would be perfect! The other dress I was shopping for a shirt for work and just happened to see it and try it on and I loved it, and it was on sale so of course I couldn't pass it up! I bet you will find something when you least expect it!

 

[*Pixiedust1438*]

A few little updates:
I just edited a few things in my PJ and realized I needed to update some things I forgot to mention.

I posted some pictures of cakes we were considering but never mentioned which one we officially (well I, this is one thing DF totally didn't care about) decided on. Here it is, but we are only going to have it be two-tiered and have periwinkle roses rather than the red:

Also, I was considering doing a grooms cake, but then I realized, DF doesn't really like cake! So, I think I am going to nix that idea and spend the $ on a nicer wedding present for him.

Another thing I forgot to mention was we booked a Candlelight Dinner Package for our December trip at Biergarten, which I am super excited about!

We also decided on the Polynesian for the location for our engagement shoot in December. I LOVE the Poly, and actually would have stayed there for the wedding but since we are going to Hawaii for our honeymoon I thought that would be kind of silly. I am also hoping to maybe get a few pic's at either the GF or WL since Christmas decorations will be up. I'm not sure how many places Randy will want to travel to in an hour though. Did anyone else do multiple locations?

I also booked our rehearsal "dinner" dessert party at UK Lonchside for the night before our wedding, as well as an MK and Epcot photo shoot for two mornings after the wedding. Me and DF decided we really just want to sleep in and relax the morning after the wedding, so decided to do it the next day instead. (I'm just not mentioning this to DF right now since he thinks it's too expensive.. although he probably forgot about that anyway! lol)It's at 6:00am and I am hoping that we will still be able to get some pictures in the dark since I absolutely love the castle lit up. I'm glad both were available!

I also set up a phone appointment to get aquainted with my new planner Amy next week, so I'm excited for that.

Oh, and one more thing! I decided we are going to stick with leaving for the wedding on Saturday, but just do the Drinking Around the World Saturday night. This way we can invite all our guests and it can be like and informal "meet and greet." I just had to re-arrange some other plans but it all will work out. We are also going to do the Around the World Seagway tour at Epcot on Sunday morning with my sister and brother in law so I'm really excited about that since I love Epcot. We also decided to cut a day out in Hawaii so we can get home on Saturday instead of Sunday because after being gone two weeks I think we are going to need Sunday to vege and unpack before going back to work. We are going to do a day (not even 24 hours) in Seattle on the way back too since we have to fly through there anyway and it's either sleep in the airport or get a hotel and have a few hours to explore Seattle!

I think that's it for now!

 

[lzimm13]

lol So you took my 6am MK slot! lol We're doing our Shoot the same day for the same reason. I e-mailed my planner it get it scheduled and she emailed me back saying that we would have to take the 5 am because the 6am had been taken! Maybe we'll run into each other on the way in/out.

 

[Nichole33]

Everything looks amazing so far!

How are you arranging your tables at ADH? Are you planning on having them all in the space between the DJ and stage?

 

[April Elizabeth]

I love your rehearsal dinner dress and the dress for your shower.
I started reading your PJ late one night and I just finished it this morning. Everything sounds great. I love your wedding bands too.

 

[*Pixiedust1438*]

lol So you took my 6am MK slot! lol We're doing our Shoot the same day for the same reason. I e-mailed my planner it get it scheduled and she emailed me back saying that we would have to take the 5 am because the 6am had been taken! Maybe we'll run into each other on the way in/out.

Sorry! I just booked it like a week ago so you must have called very shortly after me. At least you will get plenty of pic's of the castle lit up at night, I am a little worried we won't get many, but I know getting DF up any earlier than he's going to have to for the 6am shoot would be a nightmare!

Everything looks amazing so far!

How are you arranging your tables at ADH? Are you planning on having them all in the space between the DJ and stage?

Thank you! Yes, I will be placing the tables on the dance floor. We are hoping to have around 50 guests, so we are going to have a long head table to go right in front of the stage, and then four (or possibly five) 10 top tables places on the edges of the dance floor. We still want to leave plenty of room for dancing!

I love your rehearsal dinner dress and the dress for your shower.
I started reading your PJ late one night and I just finished it this morning. Everything sounds great. I love your wedding bands too.

Thank you!

 

[*Pixiedust1438*]

Inspiration Board:

 

[*Pixiedust1438*]

Right now i am working on two things: The planning packet and tasting checklist, and finding a dress for our engagement shoot. I just sent our tentative menus over to our planner and she is having the Disney chef's price them out. I feel like it will be so much easier to pick what to taste after this because if the menus end up being more expensive or cheaper than we are thinking (hoping) then we may want to try more food, less food, or completely different food! I'm keeping my fingers crossed they will be around what we want to spend. Since we are doing our engagement shoot at the polynesian, I want a dress that will work well there, and am having trouble finding one, so if anyone knows a good store or website that would be great! I also FINALLY got DF to sit down last Saturday night and look at some wedding stuff with me. He liked everything except the centerpieces, so I am also now looking at some other options for these. In non-wedding related news we made a trip to Allegany State Park and Ellicottville yesterday with our Maid of Honor and one of the Best Men, to see the Fall Foliage. It was so much fun! Here are a few pic's:

 

[*Pixiedust1438*]

We got our menu pricing from our planning assistant today, and I am pretty happy with what we are getting, and I thought I would share:

Dessert Party (after rehearsal):

Fajita Station
Grilled Chicken with Onion and Beef with Pepper Fajitas with Flour Shells, Lettuce, Cheeses, Salsa, Sour Cream, Guacamole, Olives and Jalapenos

Dessert Station
Chocolate Éclairs
Pistachio Cannoli
Warm Chocolate Banana Torte with Rum Glaze

Pomegranate Lemonade, Coffees and Teas

*We are also going to include beer and wine. This is costing a little more than I had hoped, but I think it will be worth it.

Cocktail Hour:
International and Domestic Cheese Display with Flat Breads
and Dried Fruits

Dinner Buffet:
Seafood Station
Jumbo Shrimp, Steamed Clams
served on Ice with Cocktail Sauce, Lemons, and Limes, and mini bottles of hot sauce

Salad Station
Medley of Greens with toppings:
Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Red Onion, Broccoli, Carrots,
Marinated Mushrooms, Olives, Cheddar Cheese, Bacon, and Croutons
Balsamic, Low-fat Zinfandel and Ranch Dressings

Action Station
Roasted Chicken with Applewood Bacon, Caramelized Shallots, Apple and Cabernet Reduction
Two Pepper-rubbed Beef Strip Loin with Sweet Onion Sauce
Yukon Gold Potatoes topped with Aged Cheddar served with Chive Sour Cream and Crisp Prosciutto
Rolls and Butter

Dessert Station
White and Dark Chocolate Fondues with Berries, Pineapple, Bananas, Angel Food Cake, Pretzels, Graham Crackers, and Marshmallows

*So now we just have to decide what we want to taste! Any suggestions?

 

[DVC Bride 2011]

Love the pictures! It's such a pretty time of year in the northeast.

Menus look yummy! Maybe try the things you've never had before, things you aren't sure of the taste? I would want to try the potatoes, they sound SO delicious!

 

[Dr.Cinderella]

Your menu sounds delicious! When do you get to taste everything? Would you mind posting the pricing they gave you? Thanks!

 

[*Pixiedust1438*]

Love the pictures! It's such a pretty time of year in the northeast.

Menus look yummy! Maybe try the things you've never had before, things you aren't sure of the taste? I would want to try the potatoes, they sound SO delicious!

Thanks for the advice! The potatoes are #1 on my list to try.. I know we will love them but they sound sooo good I can't wait till June to try them!

Your menu sounds delicious! When do you get to taste everything? Would you mind posting the pricing they gave you? Thanks!

Thank you. We are going to do a tasting at our Planning Session in December. The pricing we were given was $28++ per person for the Dessert Party and $83++ per person for the buffet, which I don't think is too bad. And the cocktail hour cheese display is $9.75 per person. HTH!