BethanyMouse's Summer 2009 Wedding PJ- updated- possible bouquet pics

[BethanyMouse]

Hello all! I have been a lurker of the disboards for some time now and finally decided to join the fun! I have really enjoyed reading everyone’s planning journals. They have been so helpful. After a few weeks of reading I thought I would give it a go at my own planning journal.

About us:

Bethany- That’s me! I am 26 years old as of today (ekkk I really do feel old, slipping closer to 30!). I am currently employed as a School Psychologist in a middle school. I really enjoy my job and the kids that I work with. I am also a full time graduate student studying for my doctorate in Psychology. I have about 1-½ years of classes left and then a dissertation. In the middle of all of this we are planning our dream Disney wedding and trying to find a house! I am a Disney maniac and have been over 20 times. I just can’t think of anything that I enjoy more than Disney World! In my spare time (which is limited) I love reading about Disney, reading in general, shopping, and being with friends and family. I have one younger brother who I am very close with, and my parents who are all very excited and involved in the Disney wedding planning!

Anthony- My Disney fiancé! Anthony is 27 years old and just finished his master’s degree in Teaching. We went to school together as undergrad students where he graduated with a Business and Marketing degree. After much thought and discussion we agreed it would be best for him to do what he loves and teach. So back to school he went and here we are! He is looking for a job now, but teaching jobs around here are tough to come by. Anthony’s first loves (besides me of course!) are the NY Giants, super bowl champs, and the NY Yankees. He loves music and movies. Anthony is an only child and was raised by his mother. His father has remarried so we have an extended family as well.

How we met: We met at Ramapo College of NJ in the fall of 2001. We were housed in a hotel off campus because there wasn’t enough room for us on campus. My roommate’s boyfriend from home, who was also attending school there, became best friends with Anthony. At first she tried to set us up. I was in a relationship already so it took some time before we finally found each other! We starting dating that next fall (2002) and have been inseparable ever since!

Throughout the years many changes have taken place in our lives. I went right to graduate school from Ramapo and completed a double master’s degree in Psychology. During this time Anthony worked for Cingular Wireless Corporate Offices. He was making very good money but hated his job and wanted to be a teacher. We decided to wait on engagement and marriage and put him through school. Once Anthony decided to return to school he moved into my parent’s house, in our finished basement, so that he would not have to pay rent. My parents are so wonderful!

The Engagement: We got engaged December 2006 on Christmas morning. It was completely unexpected because we had discussed waiting until he was finished with school. We were in no rush because we knew it would eventually happen. But then, he popped the question with all of my family there on Christmas morning. It was the best moment of my life. We knew immediately we wanted a Disney wedding but we didn’t know when. Now that life has led me to further my education and Anthony his, we have decided on a summer 2009 wedding in the WORLD!!!!

I am sorry that this is so long and boring, I just wanted to give you an idea of who we are and what we are like. Thanks for reading. I hope to post some ideas, questions, pictures soon!!!!

 

[padisneyfour]

welcome looking forward to hearing more of your plans......

 

[helloirishkitty]

Congraulations and welcome!!

I'm working on my PhD in pharmaceutical sciences and DF and I are also looking for a house! I completely understand trying to plan all things at once

I can't wait to hear more!

 

[BethanyMouse]

welcome looking forward to hearing more of your plans......

Thanks, I hope to post some pics and questions soon!

Congraulations and welcome!!

I'm working on my PhD in pharmaceutical sciences and DF and I are also looking for a house! I completely understand trying to plan all things at once

I can't wait to hear more!

That is great! There is such a need for Pharm work, what a challenging degree! That is really awesome. Best of luck with your planning as well!

 

[Fantasia Sam]

I am sorry that this is so long and boring, I just wanted to give you an idea of who we are and what we are like. Thanks for reading. I hope to post some ideas, questions, pictures soon!!!!

Are you kidding? Not boring at all!! Congrats on the engagement, planning your wedding and starting your PJ

 

[BethanyMouse]

I am very excited to share my planning process and hear about everyone's wedding!

 

[BethanyMouse]

Thanks for all the well wishes. I thought I would post some pics of me and my DF.


Got the pictures up and running below thanks to some helpful advice!

 

[M&M126]

Congrats and welcome to Dis! Cant wait to hear all about your wonderful wedding plans

 

[shezfrombermuda]

Hi Bethany, welcome! I tried to post pictures today and did the exact same thing. You need to copy what it says after IMG Code and then the pictures will show up. HTH!

 

[BethanyMouse]

Let me give this another try...


My best friend's wedding

Here we are at the happiest place on earth!

 

[ElenitaB]

Bethany, I was so happy for your about your engagement but it's going to be so cool to hear all about a WDW wedding!

 

[helloirishkitty]

You guys make an adorable couple!

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

Can definitely sympathise!! And congratulations of course!!!

This July we will have been together 4 years, and we are desperate for our own home. He is in a full time job, but I am 6 months through my Ph.D in Law. I do have a scholarship, but very unlikely to get a mortgage on that. We are hoping to start renting in October/November after we come back from WDW in Summer.

Reading all these wonderful planning journals is torture, as I know we can't get married for a few years. I live vicariously through everyone else!! I want to finish my Ph.D first (2010), and then we need to save up as we really want a WDW wedding too. We want everything at once, but have to wait... and I hate waiting

It's nice to see someone else having been in quite a long term relationship, and now having quite a long engagement. That will probably be the case with us - we probably won't get married until 2011 or 2012.

 

[irisbud]

Hi Bethany!

Glad to see another 2009 bride!

I am psych major as well, and will be starting on my PhD in I/O psych in September. I bet that you will be glad to be all finished.

Looking forward to hearing about the rest of your plans!

 

[BethanyMouse]

Bethany, I was so happy for your about your engagement but it's going to be so cool to hear all about a WDW wedding!

Thank you so much, I am so excited to have found these boards to help me along the way!

You guys make an adorable couple!

Thank you!

Can definitely sympathise!! And congratulations of course!!!

This July we will have been together 4 years, and we are desperate for our own home. He is in a full time job, but I am 6 months through my Ph.D in Law. I do have a scholarship, but very unlikely to get a mortgage on that. We are hoping to start renting in October/November after we come back from WDW in Summer.

Reading all these wonderful planning journals is torture, as I know we can't get married for a few years. I live vicariously through everyone else!! I want to finish my Ph.D first (2010), and then we need to save up as we really want a WDW wedding too. We want everything at once, but have to wait... and I hate waiting

It's nice to see someone else having been in quite a long term relationship, and now having quite a long engagement. That will probably be the case with us - we probably won't get married until 2011 or 2012.

Patience is tough! I know how hard it is, we are struggling too. All of our friends are married or have homes or have both and we are just in the planning stages of all of that. It is worth it thought in the long run. Best of luck to you and thanks for your well wishes!

Hi Bethany!

Glad to see another 2009 bride!

I am psych major as well, and will be starting on my PhD in I/O psych in September. I bet that you will be glad to be all finished.

Looking forward to hearing about the rest of your plans!

I/O psych! That is great. Many people that I went to graduate school with were I/O students. We have to take many of the same classes. Best of luck to you on your education and wedding planning!!!!

Let me tell you planning that has occurred so far.

Last week I got in touch with a disney wedding coordinator. She called me back, we have been assigned Pam Pearce. She was very helpful and extremely nice. We have a preliminary date of July 31, 2009. This summer we are going to go down and do some site visits. I really would like to have our reception at the Grand Floridian Ballroom but I am not sure how everything will pan out. I was disappointed to hear that you cant officially book a reception hall until 8 months before the wedding......

What we do know-
Ceremony: Wedding Pavillion
Guests: Inviting about 125, estimating about 60-80 will attend
Reception first choice- GF ballroom

We will have a cocktail hour, just not sure of details. We definitely want Cinderella's coach as our transportation. We also have chosen our bridal party and I have 4 BM and 1 MOH. He has a best man and 4 GM. We have two young ring bearers and a flowergirl. I hope to post picture ideas soon of my vision. What I do know is that I want simplicity. I love everyones advice and info. Thanks so much for reading !!!

 

[BethanyMouse]

Ok all you disney brides, here are a slew of questions I have been wondering about for some time. Can anyone help? Thanks!

Which rooms at the GF can accomodate between 60-80 guests

Is it mandatory to give guests transportation from their disney hotels/pavillion?

Is it possible to have a 2:30 wedding at the Pavillion and a 5:00 cocktail hour?

How long is the average ceremony?

Can we have people do readings at our ceremony?

Are white tableclothes standard at the GF?

Does disney provide an aisle runner?

How can you hear the dj, see videographer/photographer work before booking?

Can we play a disney classical music cd at the cocktail hour? Does the cocktail hour room at the GF have a sound/system or cd player that we can use? Has this every been done before?

Thanks for reading!

 

[caryndisneydiva]

i'll try to help out as much as possible!

Is it mandatory to give guests transportation from their disney hotels/pavillion?

no, but how are they going to get to the pavilion? do you think most of them will have cars?

Is it possible to have a 2:30 wedding at the Pavillion and a 5:00 cocktail hour?

i'm sure anything is possible, but what are your guests going to be doing in the mean time? also, what time do you want to start your reception?

How long is the average ceremony?

we told our officiant the following, "10 minutes tops. i do, i do, we're done." and we got just that.

Can we have people do readings at our ceremony?

yes

Does disney provide an aisle runner?

no.

How can you hear the dj, see videographer/photographer work before booking?

not sure about the dj as i didn't have one. if you are booking your own videographer/photographer you should be able to see sample's, i've heard with disney photography/videography that you are not able to know exactly who will be at your wedding.

Can we play a disney classical music cd at the cocktail hour? Does the cocktail hour room at the GF have a sound/system or cd player that we can use? Has this every been done before?

this depends on the room. they might make you rent the equipment to play the cd, or you can bring your own in most cases!

 

[BethanyMouse]

i'll try to help out as much as possible!



no, but how are they going to get to the pavilion? do you think most of them will have cars?



i'm sure anything is possible, but what are your guests going to be doing in the mean time? also, what time do you want to start your reception?



we told our officiant the following, "10 minutes tops. i do, i do, we're done." and we got just that.



yes



no.



not sure about the dj as i didn't have one. if you are booking your own videographer/photographer you should be able to see sample's, i've heard with disney photography/videography that you are not able to know exactly who will be at your wedding.



this depends on the room. they might make you rent the equipment to play the cd, or you can bring your own in most cases!

Caryn,
First of all you rock! You always know the answers! Ok, let me answer some of your questions....
I think that many of our guests will have cars or will be staying at the POLY. If they do stay at a value or moderate and dont have a car perhaps they can take disney trans or rent a taxi? What do you think?

I wasnt sure about the cocktail hour thing. I was thinking the wedding will probably be about a half hour to 45 minutes. That brings it to around 3:30. Do you think it is rude of me to expect them to wait till 5? I was thinking that they could hang out in the lobby of the GF, take pictures, listen to the music, or grab a drink. The reception would start at 6. My reason for timing is pictures time and a 10:00 ending to watch wishes at the end of our night with everyone. What do you think?


Thanks for all your help!

 

[caryndisneydiva]

Caryn,
First of all you rock! You always know the answers! Ok, let me answer some of your questions....
I think that many of our guests will have cars or will be staying at the POLY. If they do stay at a value or moderate and dont have a car perhaps they can take disney trans or rent a taxi? What do you think?

I wasnt sure about the cocktail hour thing. I was thinking the wedding will probably be about a half hour to 45 minutes. That brings it to around 3:30. Do you think it is rude of me to expect them to wait till 5? I was thinking that they could hang out in the lobby of the GF, take pictures, listen to the music, or grab a drink. The reception would start at 6. My reason for timing is pictures time and a 10:00 ending to watch wishes at the end of our night with everyone. What do you think?


Thanks for all your help!

your guests would be able to take the resort buses to the ttc and then i guess walk to the pavilion, but that's not that close...i guess they'd have to take the bus to the ttc and the monorail to the gf and walk from there...you'd just need to be really sure to make that clear to them, like, drill it into their heads so they dont' miss the ceremony.

this is generally the timetable for the wedding day.
2:30-3:30- ceremony
3:30-4:30 cocktail hour
5:30-?- reception

depending on how long your ceremony is, you could probably start the ch at 4 and end it at 5. then, depending on where they'd need to go for the reception, it should be fine to be over by 10...usually you take pics during the cocktail hour!

 

[BethanyMouse]

your guests would be able to take the resort buses to the ttc and then i guess walk to the pavilion, but that's not that close...i guess they'd have to take the bus to the ttc and the monorail to the gf and walk from there...you'd just need to be really sure to make that clear to them, like, drill it into their heads so they dont' miss the ceremony.

this is generally the timetable for the wedding day.
2:30-3:30- ceremony
3:30-4:30 cocktail hour
5:30-?- reception

depending on how long your ceremony is, you could probably start the ch at 4 and end it at 5. then, depending on where they'd need to go for the reception, it should be fine to be over by 10...usually you take pics during the cocktail hour!

Thanks for the advice Caryn. We will definitely have to take this into consideration when planning times. Its all so tricky ya know? I feel like it is one enourmous jigsaw puzzle! Thanks again!