Dr. Cinderella's Happily Ever After! WP/GF 2/14/12- End of Honeymoon & Trip Report!

[KitKat5]

Wow all of that looks so great!! You have some great ideas! Im really enjoying reading along! Ive got 8 gel cylinders for our dessert party (4 6" and 4 9") with coloured gel and black and silver Mickey confetti and 2 LED lights suspended in each cylinder. Its costing $160.

 

[Princess SarahK]

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE everything!! I had an epiphany yesterday and thought, "Oh gosh! What about our pre-reception??" Hahaha so needless to say thats a new thing to start thinking about. Everything looks fantastic!!

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

you're inspiring me to get focused on this stuff i've been saving a bunch of random pictures of things i like, and when you put them all together--nothing makes sense, lol!! everything looks great... love your details. i like the white bridesmaid flowers. they are a nice contrast as you said... plus, they'll make your really pop!!

 

[amyy]

Love all your details but especially the cake. We had a cake with the rhinestone bands and I loved it. Now I just have to figure out what to do with it now.

Enjoy the rest of your planning

 

[pezaddict231]

everything looks great! I love the candelabras, I'm sure you could have them at the WP and just have them moved. Disney uses fake candles for them, so there shouldn't be an issue with having them at the WP.

The gel things are like $17 - $20 I want to say depending on size, I can't find the actual pricing for them. I actually used them at the pre-reception and the DP so we got double duty out of them.

I love the cake idea, I'm sure it will look great!

 

[bellebride116]

Just caught up with everything! Congrats! Everything looks like it's going to be beautiful!

 

[Dr.Cinderella]

Thanks everyone for your comments on the decor!

Next up: Rings!

My engagement ring on the first page is an hierloom from Chris's family, he wanted to propose to me with it, but also wants to get me my own of my choosing one when he graduates and starts his new job in a couple months! So I think I will just wear my original e-ring on my right hand to represent our past, present, and future since it has 3 stones. Chris took me ring shopping the other day, and we decided to try to look for sets since we will need to get a wedding ring for me soon anyways. It was so much fun!

I had always thought I wanted a classic Tiffany style solitaire engagement ring, and Chanel setting wedding band like this one:

However, I just absolutely fell in love with this Neil Lane Vintage style set! It is very different from the other one, but it is just so sparkly and glamorous. It also has a matching band. My only concerns are if it is set a bit too high (My mom thought this when I showed it to her) and if Chris would be paying more for the ring just because of the name of the designer than what it is actually worth? I could also get a larger center stone if I went with the soliataire though, since the rest of it is so much simpler. But here are some photos of it! I love it!

We could also order one from somewhere you can design your own ring like the Zales website or Blue Nile to look similiar, but with a larger center diamond for the same price. I would be concerned that the band wouldnt match though because they dont seem to come in exact sets this way. Here are some photos of one I designed on the Zales website. It is similar except the setting is a bit lower, and it is much less intricate in its design. I would worry that we couldnt see it in person first, and I dont know if it would be returnable or not if I didnt love it in person?

Who knew I would like the Halo settings so much! Any advice or opinions? They would be much appreciated! I am confusing myself!

In other news, our consultant set up our Planning Session for us in July! We dont have a planner assigned yet, as they dont know their schedules for July yet, but I cant wait! We just booked a Bay Lake Studio for 4 days for the trip!

 

[*Pixiedust1438*]

I love the Neil Lane choice, it is beautiful, but I do agree about it being more expensive just because of the name. As far as the ring being high, mine is similar and I thought it would bother me at first but I actually really like it now, and my ring was a set, but I didn't end up getting the band that went with the ring, and was worried I wouldn't be able to find one that went, but because the ring was high, all the bands fit well because they slipped right underneath and didn't have to fit perfectly around the ring, so I don't think you will have a huge problem finding a band if you don't buy a set. I think all your choices are beautiful and am looking forward to see what you pick!

 

[pezaddict231]

The Neil Lane ring is gorgeous, I do think it looks really high though and I know that what bother me since I'm always knocking my hand into things, so I feel like I would be snagging on stuff a lot Just another thought since you're in med school. After I got engaged I went to the dr's office and he was saying his wife, who is a nurse, usually can't wear her ring to work since it would rip the gloves, so he was thinking he'd try to get her something lower for their anniversary. I'm not sure if you would even consider wearing it to work or not, but just something to think about.

If you do get it custom made, I think you should just get both pieces made together, or at least at the same place. We got all of our rings at Blue Nile and had a great experience, the quality is great and you can return in 30 days. Not sure how the custom stuff works but I would think they'd send some type of proof for you to review.

If you really love the Neil Lane one most, I think you should just go with that one, yes you are paying for the name, but it's also the design too. Good luck in your decision.

 

[JMat]

Hey! Just found your trip report in my ramblings this morning and was hooked at the pink shoes. I wore Barbie Pink shoes at my wedding last year, too! I mean... is there REALLY anything better?!

Anyways, im hooked on your updates and cant wait to read more - and I also have a high engagement ring, and you really do get accustomed to it. As long as youre not always working with your hands or doing any random gross-work. (Lets just say I made a meatloaf once, and forever remembered to take it off after that ) but its really been no bother, and the higher up the stone, the more light it catches and sparkley it is!!

Good luck, and let us know what you decide!

 

[Dr.Cinderella]

Thanks so much everyone for your advice about the rings! I am a bit concerned about the height considering I wear gloves at the hospital a lot. I still love the Neil Lane ring, but I have found a very similar one that I custom designed online. It is set a bit lower, and is much less expensive than the Neil Lane ring. It is returnable within 30 days, so I think we are going to order it and see how it looks in person. Here is a photo of it:

Now I just have to decide if I want to order it in white gold or platinum...I would rather have the stronger platinum because my ring will take a lot of abuse with frequent handwashing and it wont have to be redipped every year to prevent yellowing like white gold does, but I have read that platinum develops a greyish patina after a while and I dont think it would be easy to buff or polish such an intricate ring. I want my ring to stay shiny and white! Any advice about this?

 

[pezaddict231]

The new ring is beautiful! I'm sure in person it will look even prettier, since these type of photos are so close up and don't really show how sparkly it will be. I can say that the gold will wear away, DBIL works in a hospital and uses hand sanitzer a lot and DSIL says his ring has already gotten a little yellow. The back of my e-ring has worn away a little, but the front is just as white and shiny as ever. I have heard that about platinum and that it was a little duller than white gold, so that's why I went with white gold. I don't really know anyone that has platinum though to say if it really does turn gray quickly or not, I think it's more of an over time thing. To keep any ring shiny though I'd recommend cleaning it often. I have a cleaner that I use once a week and everyone is always telling me how shiny my ring always looks. I bought it at BB&B and it's in a red jar.

 

[Lisa29]

Loving all your planning so far. All the stationary looks great.

I like the white flowers for the bridesmaids as they will really stand out and contrast well with the dresses.

Going back to your planning, you seem to have picked loads of really nice (almost fancy) places to eat and I think I would question the Chef Mickey part. We just came back from vacation and had a 5pm dinner with my DD2, hubby and me and I found it really loud (I love kids and am not normally bothered by this), verrrry rushed especially with the characters and really busy when getting food. You just seem to have picked good upscale restaurants and there may be better places for a brunch.

So glad you got your date confirmed and can't wait for your next instalment.

 

[Princess SarahK]

Hey girl! Looks awesome! I completely agree with your worry of the setting being too high. I looked at a ring at Ben Bridge that I would have sold my soul for...but DF said it was too high of a setting. It was also platinum and very heavy...i mean verry verry verry heavy! It was a similar setting to what I have now and just oh so gorgeous..but looking back the heaviness and highness would bother me and I cant imagine anything else than what Ive got. Its perfect for me! Mine now gets knicked and hits stuff all the time so Im sure in the hospital it would be worse!--youd be poppin rubber gloves like crazy! lol I think you made the right choice trying out the other one, just in case! Good luck with it, cant wait to see it on you! If it doesnt work out, at least you know the exact one you want!

 

[Princess SarahK]

Oh and when is your "Holli-Diz" trip this year? Mom and I will be down in December as well!! Im so excited! Ive never been at Christmastime!!

 

[Dr.Cinderella]

Thanks everyone for the avice about the rings! I will post a photo of the rings in person when they come in!

Sarah I think we are going the week before Christmas, how about you? I cant wait, Ive never been there at Christmas-time either!

 

[JMat]

Great, cant wait to see how they look

Take a few pics and spread some Holiday cheer - Im jealous since I'd love to see Main Street during Christmas.

 

[Dr.Cinderella]

Hello again!

My rings are in now and I think they are just gorgeous! I totally love this set the best! I went a little nuts taking photos of them today because I am so in love haha

Without the flash...

With the flash...

And in the box...

I also got my rehearsal and dessert party back from alterations for the second time, and this new place did a much better job! Im very happy with it now, here's a pic

Thats it for now, off to stare at my new rings some more!

 

[BriarRose Bride]

I love how the dress came out this time, much better!! Your ring is absolutely to die for!! I bet the pictures don't do it justice. Can't wait for the next update!

 

[elleinad16]

Congrats on your rings!!! You and your sparkle, girl!