An Awesomely Awesome Fairy Tale Wedding - Oct 7th, 2011!

[princess_ariel_85]

Here are my shoes:

I wanted to go with a "Cinderella Glass Slipper" look.

So we originally were going to do a Fairytale theme at our at home reception. Then, since it is in late October (Oct 21st), we were thinking more of a Halloween theme. Well, now we are back to a Disney/Fairytale theme. Here is a picture of the favors we have chosen. The carriage perfectly fits two Hershey kisses (one purple and one orange for our wedding colors).

Wow! Love the shoes, very cinderella.

You're favors are lovely, I'm looking forward to more of your disney/fairytale ideas for your at home reception - you have such great ideas! x

 

[KristiLyn]

Love the favors! They look great, especially with the 2 colors!!
I like the Halloween theme! Before we decided on a Disney wedding, we were going to do a "horror movie" themed wedding and have it in October. (we are both big fans) We will probably still do that with our at home reception

 

[jshora]

Wow, I haven't posted in forever! So, I do have some updates.. I did a hair and make-up trial here at home (in MN). I'll get those pictures off of my phone and upload them. They are just of my hair (I should have taken them at the end but I was more concerned about my hair than my make-up), but I would love some feedback on them!

For my hair and make-up at Disney, I was not impressed by Yolanda's response time. I'll admit that I am a bit anal retentive when it comes to my wedding. She didn't take a deposit or write up a contract last fall when I contacted her. She said she wrote me into her books though and that I should contact her in the summer, closer to the wedding. So, last month I sent her an email, no response. I gave her a phone call and left a message, no response. Finally 3 weeks after my phone call she finally calls me back. By that time I had freaked out enough that I booked Beaute Special. I like having a contract.

The tricky thing in all of this hair and make-up was getting my bridesmaids done. First I thought that we could all get together in my room and get our hair/make-up done one right after the other. Then I remembered that we are doing the MK session that morning and I have to be ready by 6am. My bridesmaids don't have to be ready until 8:15am. I wasn't going to make them get up at 5:45, get their hair done and then sit around and wait. After much thinking and chatting, I actually booked their hair through the Grand Floridian Salon. That way they can sleep in, grab a taxi to the salon, get their hair/make-up done, get ready there, and then just wander over the GF for pictures when all is said and done. The bad news, the GF salon is not cheap. My sister, and matron of honor, is looking into alternatives right now but keeping the GF as a back-up. She's very detail orientated and very organized, so I have all the faith in her to do the research and make reservations that make the most sense for her and my other bridesmaid. It's nice to not have to worry about them!

I had my first dress fitting about a month ago! The great news is that the dress still fits me like a glove (gotta love corset backs!). No hem needed, just a bustle. Because my dress is organza with a satin lining under it, it needs 6 bustles!!! They are doing three bustles for just the organza lining and then 3 bustles for the satin lining underneath. They told me that if I tried to bustle the satin and the organza together, it would rip the organza (since it is such a light fabric). I'm curious if any other brides had to deal with this?

I go in for my next fitting this Thursday! I'm so excited and nervous at the same time! I'm totally fearing that 6 bustles is going to make the back of the dress huge and poofy. I'll take pictures and post for opinions!

My fiance and I have also been tossing around the idea of doing pictures at the Polynesian before the ceremony. Right now we have a MK session schedule the morning of the ceremony at 6:30am. We were thinking about having them drop us off at the Polynesian after for photos there before heading over the GF for pictures. Are we crazy? We just totally love the Polynesian and I think there could be some really fun photo opportunities there. So, this is how we are thinking the day will play out:

3:30am: Rise and shine, Court leaves the Beach Club Villas to get dressed at the Boardwalk where his family is staying
4am: Beaute Special shows up
4am - 5am: Hair
5am - 5:30am: Make-up
5:30am - 6am: Get in dressed, Court walks back over to the Beach Club Villas
6am - 6:15am: Wait for Disney to pick us up
6:30am - 7:30am: MK Photoshoot
7:45am: Get dropped off at the Polynesian (TBD... Might end up just being the GF)
8am - 9:30am: Randy shows up for photography (start at Polynesian until 8:30am, then head to GF for more pictures until 9:30am)
9:30am - 10am: Walk over to the WP, do final touch-ups
10am: Ceremony
After Ceremony - 11am: More pictures
11am: walk back over to the GF to pick up my cousin. I didn't want children under 8 yrs old at my ceremony, so my 5 yr old cousin is doing a Pirate Adventure at the Grand Floridian from 9:30am - 11:30am.
11:30am: Town car ride over to Hollywood Hideaway
12am - 2:30ish: Reception at Hollywood Hideaway
2:30ish: My parents drive us back to Beach Club Villas (nap time!)
After nap - 6pm: EPCOT or whatever we want
6pm - 8pm: Back in dress, hair and make-up touch-ups
8pm: Head over to EPCOT for dessert party
8:30pm - 9:30pm: Dessert Party
9:30pm: Head back to Beach Club Villas and pass out!!!

 

[jshora]

I'm not sure where to post this on the boards, but I wanted to get it out there for any brides that may be interested.

There are outside transportation vendors that will come on Disney Property!!!

Here are some quotes that have been given:

Vintage Rolls Royce - $450/ 3 hrs (Thanks FutureMrs.B!)
http://www.viptg.com/orlando_wedding_limousines_and_rolls_royce_transportation_services.html

Variety of Vintage Cars - $507/ 3 hrs
www.colesclassiccars.com

Horse and Carriage - $750/ 2 hrs + $110 insurance fee (to come on Disney property)
http://www.downtownhorseandcarriage.com/

 

[jshora]

Here are pictures of my hair trial. I'll add my thoughts after the pictures:

I like it, but I'm not in love with it. I was hoping to go more "Cinderella" style and have my hair higher in back. Here are the pictures that I was looking at and liking. Maybe I just don't have enough hair for them?

 

[roxysmum123]

Subscribing now!!

LOVE the hair trial, I think it's really unique!

I love your schedule for the day as well, I'm NOT a morning person but I think on my wedding day I'll want to make those 24 hours count!

Also, my boyfriend and I met about 2 months after you and your fiancee after meeting online as well. Hopefully we'll be getting engaged soon, but he wants to pay off our furniture first...... silly details lol!

Congrats on your upcoming wedding, can't wait to hear more!

 

[jshora]

Thank you so much for your feedback on my hair. For some reason I was just feeling really self conscious about it.

We're actually thinking about going a little more crazy and throwing a horse and carriage ride into the mix after the reception. I spoke with my wedding planner and she said that no outside animals are allowed on Disney property, so we are thinking of arranging to meet a horse and carriage after the reception at the Swan or Downtown Orlando. I'm just a little nervous that I'm trying to pack too much into one day.

 

[roxysmum123]

I spoke with my wedding planner and she said that no outside animals are allowed on Disney property, so we are thinking of arranging to meet a horse and carriage after the reception at the Swan or Downtown Orlando.

There are horse and carriage rides at the Port Orleans Riverside resort and at the Fort Wilderness resort as well. Not sure about your wedding schedule, but what about zipping over to Fort Wilderness and doing a ride there and getting some photography done at the corral?? Not sure if it's allowed, but that's where all the horses that live on Disney property live. You could probably squeeze it in around 6 if you don't do a park after your nap (don't give this up, you'll need it!)? Port Orleans Riverside is beautiful as well, and there's lots of great photo opportunities around there. It is a pretty hectic day already though, but I've said this on another thread it's your wedding day - make the 24 hours count!

 

[jshora]

You are my new favorite person, roxysmum123!!! I just called WDW-PLAY and scheduled a 7pm carriage ride at Port Orleans! It's perfect! It's only a 25 min ride (so we don't have to worry about spending 2 - 3 hours somewhere with another carriage company) and it's only $45! It's absolutely perfect!

We have it all set up so that we can take a nap after the reception, get up, get dressed, head over to Port Orleans, go on a carriage ride, take some pictures with the carriage, head back to the room to freshen up, and then head over to Illuminations.

I'm so excited I could burst!!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!

 

[roxysmum123]

That sounds awesome! Can't wait to see the photos from it! Are you going to have Randy come with you for it (I believe that's who you said your photographer was)? He's shot a few weddings there and seems to have a good eye for the resort. If not, I'm sure you'll have plenty of family and friends with a camera available, aka your own personal paparazzi lol

 

[jshora]

One of my friends attending the wedding is a professional photographer. We hired Randy for the ceremony because we wanted her to be able to enjoy the ceremony and not feel pressured by taking our "wedding photos". I will be dragging her along for this though!!

 

[princess_ariel_85]

You are my new favorite person, roxysmum123!!! I just called WDW-PLAY and scheduled a 7pm carriage ride at Port Orleans! It's perfect! It's only a 25 min ride (so we don't have to worry about spending 2 - 3 hours somewhere with another carriage company) and it's only $45! It's absolutely perfect!

We have it all set up so that we can take a nap after the reception, get up, get dressed, head over to Port Orleans, go on a carriage ride, take some pictures with the carriage, head back to the room to freshen up, and then head over to Illuminations.

I'm so excited I could burst!!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!

Sounds great, how romatic is a carriage ride.

 

[jshora]

Wow! I can't believe how fast everything is happening. Two weeks ago we sent out our invitations for the Disney wedding (I'll take a picture of them). This past week we sent out invitations for our Minnesota reception (I'll put a pictures of those up too). Last night I had another dress fitting where they showed me the bustles that they did. I'd love to hear comments on what people think of the dress and the bustle!

Dress not bustled:

Dress bustled:

Once again, the pictures do not do the dress justice. There is beading through out the top to make it sparkle and there are crystals scattered throughout the skirt that sparkle.

Now if I can just lose some weight, we'll be good to go!

 

[roxysmum123]

That dress is BEAUTIFUL on you! Don't worry about losing weight too much, it's a slimming dress and you look like a million bucks in it just the way you are! I like the bustling, it looks like cotton candy!

 

[jshora]

That dress is BEAUTIFUL on you! Don't worry about losing weight too much, it's a slimming dress and you look like a million bucks in it just the way you are! I like the bustling, it looks like cotton candy!

Thank you so much! I think I get self conscious about my weight because DF is really skinny. He, of course, is the most wonderful man in the world and constantly tells me that I am beautiful. But I just want to make sure I look my absolute best on our wedding day!

 

[DisneyShamrock]

Don't worry about losing weight too much, it's a slimming dress and you look like a million bucks in it just the way you are!

I hate to steal it, but it's so true! You look amazing in your gown just they way you are now!

 

[jshora]

I hate to steal it, but it's so true! You look amazing in your gown just they way you are now!

Thank you! I just subscribed to your PJ! I can't wait to start reading through it!

 

[jshora]

So, I realized that I totally forgot to mention that we are doing an EPCOT session the day prior to our wedding. We decided to actually treat this session as more of a honeymoon session (even though we won't be married yet) and practice session for our MK session.

Okay, so I'm sure the MK session will be completely different than our EPCOT session but DF is finding comfort in thinking of it as a practice run. We decided not to wear our wedding attire and to wear our wedding bands (thus more of a Honeymoon session). DF will be wearing a suit and here is the stock photo of the dress that I will be wearing.

 

[jshora]

Okay, so I had some really exciting news happen to me last week that I just have to share because it's driving me nuts!

I was on the phone with my sister when a weird number flashed on my call waiting. I let it go to voicemail and then listened to it later.

"Hello, this is *** from Disney Parks and Resorts Online. I came across your resume in our database as we have an open position in Glendale. Please call me back at your earliest convenience."

That's right! I got a cold call from Disney about and open position!!! I was completely freaking out!!! I called the person back and the more they talked about the position, the more I thought it would be a perfect match for me. Of course, I would have to relocate... But still! To work for the Disney Family! AAAAAHHHH!!! They said that they would email me.

This happened last Wednesday and I still haven't gotten an email. I sent them a "Thank you for calling me" email.. but nothing... I'm going nuts!!!

 

[jshora]

Okay, so I don't think I've said much about the week leading up to the wedding and the events that will follow. So, I figured I would just babble on for a bit.

So, we leave Minnesota on Friday, Sept 30th (one week before the wedding). We won't arrive into MCO until 11pm, so we decided to just stay at the airport. Literally, we are staying at that hotel there! Something I've always wanted to do but never wanted to spend the money. We figured we would be tired and we wouldn't want to lug everything around too much, so why not just stay there. That way we can wake up in the morning and grab the Magical Express the next day.

On Saturday, October 1st, we check into the Polynesian (our complimentary night). Im so excited because they have upgraded us to Concierge level! I've never stay CL before!!! We're planning on spending most of the day at the Polynesian to take advantage of CL and because we've never stayed there before and really want to enjoy it. At some point in the day we will have to leave to pick up our Wine & Dine Half Marathon race packets. That night we are running the relay version of the Wine & Dine Half Marathon. I ran the full half marathon last year, so I need the relay medal now (I have all the Disney 1/2 Marathon & Full Marathon medals.. Including the Coast to Coast and the Goofy). So, then that night we will race and have fun!

Sunday will be one of our major parks day. It will be one of the few days that we will actually have time to enjoy the parks. We're still debating over going to Mickey's Not-so-Scary. We went last year and loved it, but we have so many things going on this week that we're thinking we may save our money. This is also the day that most of my family flies in.

Monday morning we are waking up and doing errands. The first errand we are going to do is to get our marriage license. My aunt is getting married later that day at a park in Celebration, FL. It's a second wedding for her and her DF and she asked if they could "elope in Florida". She wanted to ask first so she could make sure that she wasn't stepping on my toes. I told her that as long as it is not a big wedding or a Disney wedding, we'd be fine with that. So, it will just be them and a couple family members at a park in Celebration. We are going to do a dinner for them later that night at the Kona Cafe. Nothing big, just all of us getting together for dinner to celebrate. So, that's Monday.

Tuesday is our other day to spend in the parks and enjoy the Food & Wine Festival.

Wednesday is more errands. DF will be getting his tux delivered this day, so he'll be trying it on to make sure it fits (and exchanging it if it doesnt). My sister, my pre-sister-in-law, and I will be going to get manis and pedis. Then some of us girls will be getting together at EPCOT for dinner and a tame bachelorette party.

Thursday is rehearsal day. Of course, since it is not 30 days out I don't know when exactly this will be. But when we know we will plan accordingly. Then we will be doing a grooms lunch/dinner (depending on the rehearsal time) at one of our favorite places to eat, the Yak & Yeti. I guess they have never had anything like this before, so when we called them up they went nuts. They are totally bending over backwards to accommodate us. I have to admit that it's fun to be pampered.

Friday is the big day and I've already posted the schedule for that.

Saturday we are waking up, taking our time and having some lunch with family before catching the Magical Express back to MCO. We're picking up a rental car there and then driving to Miami. Being that I lived just outside of Miami for two years, we're going to be meeting up with some friends that didn't come to to the wedding. Then we are passing out in our hotel.

Sunday morning we wake up and head to the Port of Miami for our 7 day eastern Caribbean cruise! Honeymoon here we come! We are sailing with Carnival Cruise, on the Valor. Our first Port of Call is Half Moon Cay then we head to St. Thomas/Virgin Islands then San Juan, PR and lastly Grand Turk. Right now the only excursions we have planned are a tour of the Bacardi Rum Factory in San Juan and horseback riding in Grand Turk. We each got to pick one excursion. He chose rum, I chose horses. I own a Peruvian Paso, so I really wanted to do the Paso Fino ride in San Juan, but that's a 4 hour ride. DF has only been on a horse twice and I thought that would be pretty cruel. So I went for the 1.5 hour ride in Grand Turk where you get to go swimming with the horses. I'm so excited I could burst!

So... That is our plans!!!