CARYN & MARK's Trip Report****6/8 added more pics, dried bouquet and wedding album***

[monana]

I just caught up with your TR. You guys looked so amazing on your wedding day. I can't wait to see your top 10 of things you were happy with and things you wish you could've done.

Congrates!!

 

[caryndisneydiva]

You hit the nail on the head!!

And I love the retaliation wardrobe! I already working this in my mind for a few guests of my own...

seriously. i don't even own a pair of wranglers, but i will soon...

WOW! You've updated so fast!

I showed your ceremony pictures to my DBF and we both agreed that you looked absolutely FABULOUS!

Congrats to you and Mark!

thanks!

Hahaha!!

I don't remember if I posted in your PJ, but like everyone else I've been obsessed with reading your TR and I really love the way your wedding came out! I too do not want all that traditional wedding 'toss the bouquet' kind of stuff, and I'm impressed by all your great ideas...esp the birdcage! You've written a great PJ and TR. Congrats on being married!

But back to this jeans comment, that cracked me up! If anyone shows up in jeans to my wedding I'm seriously going to be annoyed. I mean, it's a wedding people! Also, you can put me in the category of "my DF thinks I'm nuts because of my obsession with DIS" - I've spent too much time the past two nights reading your TR!

Congrats again!

some people are so clueless when it comes to proper etiquette.

I just caught up with your TR. You guys looked so amazing on your wedding day. I can't wait to see your top 10 of things you were happy with and things you wish you could've done.

Congrates!!

thanks!

 

[caryndisneydiva]

VENDOR REVIEW​

Ana with Beaute Speciale
Grade:A

AMAZING. Truly worth ever penny. Given my nervousness that day, there is no way I would have been able to do my own hair/make up. She is excellent and I think they made me look fabulous!

Randy with Chapman Photography
Grade: A

He is great and knows exactly what needs to go on during a wedding. He made me feel comfortable and dealt with my bridezilla nervousness all day long. He took such innovative shots, I can’t wait to see them when they get here! He has such great reviews, that it’s hard for me to not repeat anyone else. The one thing that sticks out in my mind is that at one point during the morning, I saw most of my guests and I felt REALLY uncomfortable. He completely ignored my mother (who was just telling me to not worry about it and smile) and moved me to an area where no one could see me until they all left. He also really helped out my videographer since she had never done a Disney wedding before.

Sage with StarFruit Productions
Grade: A

Sage was great, she was so easy to work with. She just appeared behind this big camera during my bridal shots with Randy. She was a very sweet girl and I really enjoyed working with her. I know that she has changed her pricing structure since I booked her, but I would still use her, even with higher prices. She is very accommodating and not intrusive at all. At times, I didn’t even realize that she was there. She was so excited to be shooting at Disney, which she thought was so beautiful. The samples on her site are amazing. I can’t wait to get my video.

DFTW- Marion
Grade: A

Marion was truly amazing. She let me take the lead in what I wanted for our wedding and it was wonderful. Her many years of experience show through in how she handles her weddings. I truly enjoyed working with her. She stayed at my reception the entire time, though wasn’t in our face at all. I love her and highly recommend her!

Disney Floral- Laura Kidd
Grade: A

Laura did a GREAT job. Floral was the one thing that I REALLY stressed over. Everything looked amazing. The corsages, the boutonnière’s and most importantly, my bouquet were fabulous! Even though I wasn’t overjoyed with one of the centerpieces, everyone else loved them. I know that they are a bit more expensive, but for me, the results were worth the extra money.

Murielle Winery
Grade: C

They were a bit difficult to get ahold of. I had to leave three or four messages before I spoke to anyone and they weren't quick to reply to any emails. I almost panicked about them at the last minute...I liked my wine favors, but they weren't perfect. I would have done a better job myself, but for the price, they were pretty good. Mark thought they looked cheap, but oh well. They were $3/bottle and it was one thing that i DIDN'T have to make myself.

Periwigs
Grade: C

The girl was very nice, but I should have gone somewhere else. Given the business of my day, I chose periwigs because it was convenient, but the results were not good. My manicure started to peel the night of my wedding and a few days later, it was completely gone. Of course, it was super expensive because it was Disney, but I should have just gone off property or to a spa and had a massage as well.

Thrifty Car Rental at MCO
They get a big fat red “F” on my review.

HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE. DO NOT RENT FROM THEM. Even though they are located off airport grounds, their prices were reasonable and so I recommended them to everyone traveling from MCO to WDW. Bad idea. Our car was FILTHY, they gave us the wrong one the first time, after we had loaded 11 bags of luggage and 4 adults in there and then they asked us to change cars. My MIL and I had to go in there to argue with the guy and they ended up giving us a free day, but it added to my stress level. Then, the doors stuck the entire time we had the car and the hazard lights would come on when they opened. When we returned the ghetto van at the end of our trip, I told the attendant about the lights and he LAUGHED at me and said that it was normal. Now, I worked in the rental car industry for over 2 years and it was my experience to explain these things to my renters, NOT to laugh at them. Then, to top it all off, when my dad and best friend went to return their cars, they forgot to fill up with gas and they were all running late. The gas station closest to Thrifty, that was recommended by Thrifty charged $4.55 a gallon for regular. To compare, gas on Disney property was $2.99 per gallon. OUTRAGEOUS. Now, to be fair, I know that they don’t control this insane price gauging, but a warning would have been nice and I can’t help but think that those jerks are involved with this gas situation since they referred us to them. They don’t get a good review.

Southwest Airlines
Grade: D

They also don’t get such a great review. You can read in the TR about the flight attendant situation on the flight there. The flight back was uneventful, but Mark got yelled at for boarding with me (I was #31 and he was #33-PUHLEASE). I’m just not a Southwest fan. My MIL says we’re “yuppies” for thinking this, I’ll take it. I like my assigned seat # on other airlines.

Hotel reviews​

BoardWalk
Grade: A
The best of the deluxe resorts. I love that it’s not that big, I think the service is so much better. The Garden Suites are PERFECT for a wedding. I should have stayed there our entire trip.

All-Star Movies
Grade: B
For the price it was good. In my opinion though, Disney is failing just a little bit there. The dresser/tv thing in my IL’s room was broken, it looked like some of the rooms had been broken into, the locks were all messed up and there was a wet spot on the rug in my parents room that never really went away. That negativity aside, I’m always a fan of the AS food courts. I like a variety. It also provided a really good meeting spot for everyone. Had we not had this option, I’m sure they all would have been in MY room, which would have been bad. We met in that food court so often, people stopped sitting in the back corner, we were there so much.

Port Orleans, French Quarter
Grade: A
I picked this for our room block because Mark’s family is originally from New Orleans and it is so beautiful there. They LOVED it. Someone even had beignets for breakfast!!!

Polynesian
Grade: B
GREAT FOOD. Had we had a room with a king sized bed and had the resort had a hot tub, I would have given it an A. The restaurants are soooooo good. I’m actually craving the O’Hana breakfast right now…

 

[Gillian]

Congratulations! You were a beautiful bride. Can't wait to see Randy's pictures.

I'm sorry about your guests. A lot of times people don't know what to wear to weddings and never bother to find out. Maybe the wedding newsletters need an attire FAQ! We had people in "church" dresses at our Saturday evening dressy affair (you know NJ weddings!) but it was in a sculpture garden with an outside ceremony and I think that threw people. As long as everyone has a good time, what can you do?

Polynesian
Grade: B
GREAT FOOD. Had we had a room with a king sized bed and had the resort had a hot tub, I would have given it an A. The restaurants are soooooo good. I’m actually craving the O’Hana breakfast right now…

Did you request a king room? I'm kind of surprised no one told you they don't have them (except in suites), but not really because the phone CMs are sometimes clueless.

Lack of a hot tub seems to be the #1 complaint about the Polynesian! Our personal issue was having to go outside to get from our building to the GCH, because we were there during some crazy September rainstorms. It's no fun getting drenched on your way to dinner.

 

[caryndisneydiva]

Congratulations! You were a beautiful bride. Can't wait to see Randy's pictures.

I'm sorry about your guests. A lot of times people don't know what to wear to weddings and never bother to find out. Maybe the wedding newsletters need an attire FAQ! We had people in "church" dresses at our Saturday evening dressy affair (you know NJ weddings!) but it was in a sculpture garden with an outside ceremony and I think that threw people. As long as everyone has a good time, what can you do?


Did you request a king room? I'm kind of surprised no one told you they don't have them (except in suites), but not really because the phone CMs are sometimes clueless.

Lack of a hot tub seems to be the #1 complaint about the Polynesian! Our personal issue was having to go outside to get from our building to the GCH, because we were there during some crazy September rainstorms. It's no fun getting drenched on your way to dinner.

i did request a king room, 3 times in fact. so that was slightly aggravating. i'm really tall and we both sleep "crooked." anyway, they re-did the pool at the poly right around the time i did my cp (6ish) years ago and i can't believe they didn't add a hot tub. that just doesn't make any sense to me. had we not discovered the good food the night of our wedding, i would have switched resorts for sure...but oh well.

 

[Starr W.]

At least the guy wearing the jeans had a jacket on, Caryn. I've seen some other pictures pictures on here and one guy at the WP was dressed like he had a tee time shortly after the ceremony.

 

[caryndisneydiva]

At least the guy wearing the jeans had a jacket on, Caryn. I've seen some other pictures pictures on here and one guy at the WP was dressed like he had a tee time shortly after the ceremony.

he would have been asked to leave. i'm a snob. i know it.

there was a random guy taking pictures at sbp, like, standing on the ramp to the altar, right before my sisters were to make their entrance and lindsay was like, "HELLO! don't you REALIZE that we're about to have an event here." and he left. marion thought he was one of our guests and lindsay said, "can you imagine caryn's face if one of her guests wore THAT to her wedding?" and marion said, "well, she is a diva!"

 

[hope1826]

i hate working. i don't like having a set schedule so my job search is not going well...

thanks jaclyn! i LOVE married life. it's lovely!

I hate it too!! I actually had an interview today that I called an canceled. The headhunter actually hung up on me while I was canceling!

 

[figmentfan814]

I was glad to see your positive reviews for Randy, Marion, and Laura! They have been fantastic to work with so far in my planning process, so I'm happy to see that they're even better once the big day arrives

 

[Starr W.]

he would have been asked to leave. i'm a snob. i know it.

there was a random guy taking pictures at sbp, like, standing on the ramp to the altar, right before my sisters were to make their entrance and lindsay was like, "HELLO! don't you REALIZE that we're about to have an event here." and he left. marion thought he was one of our guests and lindsay said, "can you imagine caryn's face if one of her guests wore THAT to her wedding?" and marion said, "well, she is a diva!"

That is the only downsize I see to having our VR at WDW. DH does not want to be a performing monkey. I didn't realize how close SBP, my favorite, is to the walk way until I saw it in person. Man I might have to go with the WP it or go Wishes and have a bright and early ceremony at EPCOT(waiting for Lurky's TR)

They were shooing gawkers at Ariel's the one day during a reception(either Friday or Saturday of MLK weekend).

Thank goodness most of our family and friends know how to dress. I think my late "Vogue is my bible" designer clothed mother scared the family over the years into "what is appropriate attire." She would have loved your outfit(especially the shrug and birdcage, so original). She made me put "the attire" clause in our invitations(people just don't know how to dress anymore, so you have to help them. ).

 

[hope1826]

he would have been asked to leave. i'm a snob. i know it.

there was a random guy taking pictures at sbp, like, standing on the ramp to the altar, right before my sisters were to make their entrance and lindsay was like, "HELLO! don't you REALIZE that we're about to have an event here." and he left. marion thought he was one of our guests and lindsay said, "can you imagine caryn's face if one of her guests wore THAT to her wedding?" and marion said, "well, she is a diva!"

You're not a snob... you're a jersey girl! Stuff like that is just unacceptable!!

 

[mermaidbride1108]

VENDOR REVIEW​

Polynesian
Grade: B
GREAT FOOD. Had we had a room with a king sized bed and had the resort had a hot tub, I would have given it an A. The restaurants are soooooo good. I’m actually craving the O’Hana breakfast right now…

The Polynesion Doesn't have a hot tub?

 

[BaBeeCee14]

Great reviews Caryn! Thank you so much for writing them! I've booked Ana and Randy based on all the great reviews I've read from this board. I'm glad that you had a great experience with them also!

 

[donald&daisy]

Although I am not getting married any time soon, I have enjoyed reading this TR sooo much! It sounds like you had a great time, and you looked amazing. Good luck in the future and thanks for all the helpful info!

 

[Lisella]

here's the thing about the jeans situation. this guy owns several businesses AND he wore a jacket and a tie! he has more money than probably anyone else at my wedding, but money doesn't buy class. that's the only thing i can come up with. mark just told me that he's probably going to get married in the next year or so, i'm buying a pair of wranglers and ironing creases in them as we speak in preparation for his big day...

I had a feeling I was "reaching" with my thought on what "might" have happened - but I totally love your planned attire for his wedding.

 

[Gillian]

The Polynesion Doesn't have a hot tub?

Nope, and none of the rooms have king beds. Spread it around the bridal boards. Probably brides are too busy to spend a lot of time researching these things, there's so much else going on! It's a great place, killer location, big rooms, good food, but no king beds and no hot tub.

 

[2002Disneybride]

Congrats Caryn! You looked beautiful!

 

[twiu]

Where's the pic of your crinnie?

 

[DisneyLaura]

Caryn and Mark - first of all Congrats on the wedding. I just read your whole TR today. I love being married too. I have been married for 11 years, but I love reading the Disney Weddings because I plan on doing a vow renewal for our 25th (already told DH). Second I loved the yellow flowers. I love yellow. I too agree with you about the centerpieces, the ones with the flowers were much nicer. Your cake, what can I say about that, it was awesome. Are you a big Alice fan? That was so awesome. You loved absolutely stunning. I cannot wait to see more pictures. Great report.

 

[BethanyMouse]

Thanks for the review. It is really helpful to those of us planning. I am so glad that things worked out for you with most of your vendors. Really the most important, photography (IMHO), appeared to be wonderful as did your experience. Thanks for filling us in, you have been so helpful!