Cam & Howard's Vow Renewal PJ -1/12/09 - WP&WH--p.98: TRIP REPORT BEGINS

[keenercam]

Thank you so much, everyone! You guys are really, really sweet!

I WISH I could get the dessert party invitations finalized but Meri said the fireworks time still isn't on their internal calendar and could be changed, so I'm going to hold off for a little while.

I started a thread about the VR invitation wording that I am struggling with -- I thought we had it perfectly composed until Marie pointed out that it didn't have our names in the text. Whoops!! LOL! So, we're still working on that piece. I may just add "Love, Cam & Howard" at the bottom.

The one irritation I have right now is that I'd told all of our guests to wait on buying tickets through any of the discounted websites until we saw the pricing through our DFTW website. Unfortunately, Disney raised all its park prices effective this past Sunday, from what I've heard, and now, unless the discount on our website is really good, our guests will end up paying MORE for waiting to buy "discounted" tickets on our website than if they'd bought them last week. And there is still NO information available about what the pricing will be on our website. I think it's absurd, really -- we are less than 6 months out. I have a hard time believing no one can tell me what the pricing will be. I guess I'm a skeptic, but it seems very "calculated" to me (excuse the pun). I'm glad none of our events require park tickets.
Sorry, rant over.

 

[JoJo1980]

Hiya honey!! Everything looks wonderful I wish I was as creative I might have a go at something, just to so I can say I tried

Thats so annoying about your park tickets! Maybe start a thread and ask other brides what sort of percentage discount they have received, so that might give you a rough idea of what you'd be looking at and then you could figure out whether to buy now or later. Personally, I would leave the option open to your guests and let them decide. Tell them the situation and let them choose - then its not on your head You need to eliminate as much stress as possible and giving them the choice is one less thing for you to worry about

 

[nucpharm29]

Cam--that stinks about the park tickets. I had to convince Scott to buy park tickets last weekend b/c of the increase. Maybe your discount will be equivalent to the old ticket pricing, one could hope right? And believe me, I think your guests will understand the extra $ for the park tickets to spend your special day with you and Howard. You don't need the extra stress honey!

 

[keenercam]

Hiya honey!! Everything looks wonderful I wish I was as creative I might have a go at something, just to so I can say I tried

Thats so annoying about your park tickets! Maybe start a thread and ask other brides what sort of percentage discount they have received, so that might give you a rough idea of what you'd be looking at and then you could figure out whether to buy now or later. Personally, I would leave the option open to your guests and let them decide. Tell them the situation and let them choose - then its not on your head You need to eliminate as much stress as possible and giving them the choice is one less thing for you to worry about

Thanks, Joanne!! As far as some kind of craft, you could start small, like me, by just making some Disney-ified labels for "bare necessities" bags, if you are doing welcome bags. Of course, my DD and DS had to be involved in formulating them -- there was the whole false start of using Pooh and having to change to Baloou, and then "equalizing" things by using Jenn's favorite -- Eeyore -- on the gum packs. It has been so much fun sharing the planning with them.
Love your idea of a thread about the discounts. I'll give that a try.

Cam--that stinks about the park tickets. I had to convince Scott to buy park tickets last weekend b/c of the increase. Maybe your discount will be equivalent to the old ticket pricing, one could hope right? And believe me, I think your guests will understand the extra $ for the park tickets to spend your special day with you and Howard. You don't need the extra stress honey!

Stephanie -- I am SOOO glad that you were on the ball about the tickets. You are a smart girl! I know the price increase doesn't seem like that much to some people, especially when you break down the increase of a 10 day hopper to per day, but in fact, those price increases are significant especially in this economy and especially if you are a family of 4.
Fortunately, I think many of our guests will have APs. The ones who have not been to Disney before probably will not end up purchasing multi-day tickets and just grabbing a few hours here and there, as they might have otherwise.

I have to tell you, I am the consummate Disney freak and am outrageously loyal to the Company as a business enterprise so I am usually the first to defend their need to be profitable. But this is really irking me. I think I need to let it go.

 

[Lynn5700]

Oh Cam everything looks great!!!!! The bags are so pretty,I love them!!!!!

 

[keenercam]

Oh Cam everything looks great!!!!! The bags are so pretty,I love them!!!!!

Thank you, sweetie!

Okay, friends, I am going to faint. I am so excited! (yes, Jenn had to get her flair for the melodrama somewhere! ) Our BEO had come in on July 26, but we were still waiting on floral because Laura was on vacation. Well, our floral proposal arrived today and I immediately couldn't stop the happy tears! Everything sounds so incredibly beautiful and elegant. Laura included this elaborately detailed list of everything I love and everything I don't like. ANd there are detailed instructions about what needs to go where and the fact that a particular candle needs to be pre-lit, etc. It all sounds so "right." And she provided very detailed descriptions of every component and I can imagine it all in my head. It sounds like a fantasy come to life.
We know there are lots of "pieces" that have to be cut on the BEO and the floral just because the totals are over the budget we have in mind, but it's so wonderful to see everything listed as a line item so that we can see the financial impact of cutting back on some unnecessary luxuries.

 

[keenercam]

I found a gorgeous bag and won it on ebay. On rehearsal day, I will be checking in to the GF, then going to the rehearsal, then to rehearsal dinner, then decorating for the DP and attending the DP. I found the cutest pink leather shoes for those events (now to find an outfit to match the shoes!), but had a hard time finding a bag. Today I decided not to go for pretty but non-functional, and I started looking for a leather tote.
Look what I found! It will be perfect for carrying all the paperwork I inevitably have with me.

 

[pjstevens]

Cam,

that is adorable. You are so cute, you got your shoes, got your bag, but not your outfit?!! silly girl!

 

[keenercam]

It does sound funny when you put it that way! I don't think I ever posted a picture of my cute pink shoes (originally bought to wear under my gown, but then decided to go with silver):

UGH! Have been having problems with trying to edit my earlier post, so I'll include this here:
I found an absolutely exquisite blanket the other day. I have no real need for it, but figure if it is cold the night of the dessert party, I can use it to wrap around me. If it isn’t cold, we’ll just throw it over the sheets on our bed. It is sooo soft. It is called a n.a.p. blanket by Brookstone and the pattern on it looks like individual rosettes. It is soooo pretty and it was ridiculously expensive, but I had a great coupon and Marie was urging me to get it (gotta’ love it when your best friend is willing to be your partner in crime for shopping!) LOL!
So, here is what it looks like (I got the one on top, called "ivory" but actually pretty white):

And here is a close-up of the texture, though it is too close to show the beautiful rosette shapes:

 

[Honeibee]

OK, I see I have to come over heeeeere to find out what's going on....

OK so I wasn't as smart as Stephanie. We didn't buy tickets. But I don't care. It's worth the increase and MORE to spend this day with you and "SM".

Everything you have picked is so lovely. I REALLY like that leather bag! And that blanket is gorgeous.

 

[keenercam]

OK, I see I have to come over heeeeere to find out what's going on....

OK so I wasn't as smart as Stephanie. We didn't buy tickets. But I don't care. It's worth the increase and MORE to spend this day with you and "SM".

LOL, Judy! I have had almost no AOL access today, and I misplaced my phone. It's just been that kind of week. I'm trying to distract myself from all the work stress by posting here while monitoring teleconferences, etc. Okay, I am confused -- who is "SM"? :

 

[Honeibee]

LOL, Judy! I have had almost no AOL access today, and I misplaced my phone. It's just been that kind of week. I'm trying to distract myself from all the work stress by posting here while monitoring teleconferences, etc. Okay, I am confused -- who is "SM"? :

Stud Muffin!

 

[keenercam]

Stud Muffin!

Geez, I am more fried than I thought!

 

[Valentine]

Geez, I am more fried than I thought!

Ha! Ha!! Even I knew that!!!.. I mean the Stud Muffin part.. not the fried part!! LOL!!

Well.. I am all up to speed.. and SOOOOOO sad I didn't get to partake in the weekend Festivities.. Ummmm

In case you all didn't know.. Ms. Cam here just had a Birthday... SOOOOOOO

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Bride to be (again )

Wooooo Hooooo.. And hey.. No worries about ticket prices here either.. Just imagine how annoyed I am with myself.. I need to by 2 AP's for my trip in 2 weeks.. and I heard tell of price increases.. but did I go and by those passes??? NOOOOoooOOOOoooo.. why would I do something so intelligent! DUH!! So... I will have mine in hand for your festivities..


Yippppppeeeeee.. I am soooo excited!!

Kathy

 

[keenercam]

Found my silver beaded & sequined wedding purse!
Here it is:

I got a great buy on ebay. I'd seen one similar for $120 that was embellished only on one side and the back was satin. This one is embellished on both sides and was $19.99 plus shipping! It is embellished with seed pearls and sequins and has all silver hardware.

Here are the shoes for the wedding:

 

[padisneyfour]

cam, very pretty! Congrats on the great price too!

 

[WithDisneySpirit]

You are using the time very well, Cam! I love everything The candy wrappers are so cute and I LOVE your pink leather tote!! The silver purse you scored on Ebay will look fabulous with your dress too!

 

[lpizzuro123]

Both the pink and the silver - love the pink and silver shoes also.

I got a silver bag off ebay but I like yours better. I just might have to look it up. I can give my bag to one of my DBM's as they are all wearing silver sandals.

Linda

 

[29apr00]

everything looks great Cam!! I love your pink bag!! can't wait to see what you'll wear with it!

Jennifer

 

[keenercam]

Thanks, everyone! Linda, good luck in your search. I have another thread on the main part of the weddings and honeymoon forum about finding a purse, and Carrie put together an ebay search query that I used to find mine. The seller has a very good feedback rating and lots of gorgeous purses at very reasonable prices. I haven't found another that had seed pearls & beads & sequins on front and back with silver hardware. I hope you are lucky in finding something you'll love!

Howard and I went to dinner last night and started our fine-tooth comb review of our BEO. Our transportation logistics will have a big impact on the BEO so I am hoping to get a better handle on what our guests will need and when before we finalize any decisions. We priced everything out for 40 people for the VR and for 70 for the dessert party, and I think those numbers will be lower, so we'll focus on that as well. Howard was the General Manager of a florist for a while and I left the floral/decor BEO to him for the first "sweep" and we both agree it looks wonderful. I'm hoping to turn the BEO and floral around soon, so that we can see a revised version.

I also got another small item done last night. I found all the quotes we want to use for the table tents for the dessert party. Mostly, they are phrases or verses from WISHES and there is one by Walt. My plan is for them to go on the same cool cucumber (shimmer pale green) card stock as the welcome bag decoration (trying to have continuity whenever possible), with some kind of embellishment - maybe a piece of that awesome pink ribbon or a pink crystal mickey head. Really excited to have these at the base of the centerpiece, sitting on a pink cloth napkin (I'll have to figure out how to tack them down, if it is breezy that night. Maybe I'll make the "tent" 3 sided and get more of the green & white seaglass and scatter it inside the base of the tent to hold it down.