When: May 1 May 10
Where: Disneys Polynesian Resort
Cast: Too numerous to list over 70 total with the starring roles going to:
DD Fairy Tale Princess
FSIL her Prince
Me Queen Mother to FT Princess, sometimes called MOB (mother of bride or she who writes the checks)
Mom my mother and roommate for part of our stay
Gracely Hectors Mom
Lisa Wedding Event Manager
Saturday, May 5
Saturday, May 5 dawned with blue skies and sunshine. At 8:30 am, Lucy, my mom, Hectors mom and grandmom and I all boarded the monorail to the Grand Floridian. We parted with Lucy in the main building she walked over to the spa for her herbal relaxation bath, and the moms and grandmoms went to the Ivy Trellis salon on the second floor for their hair appointments. My sister Mo joined us at about 9:15, and we were all finished (and glamorous) and on our way back to the Polynesian by 10:30 am. We stopped by Lucy and Hectors room to pick up Mos dress (which had been steamed on Friday), and Lucy seemed upset. She had just written sentimental cards for her best friend Vania, me and Hector, and she had made herself upset. Since she had us all teary-eyed, Mo and mom made a quick retreat, and I stayed while she tried to organize things we would need today. (Hector had decided not to go to a park today after all, and had been banished to the pool until noon.) As Lucy was unwrapping their (inexpensive) toasting flutes, she discovered that one had broken during travel. (She had put them in a checked bag didnt she ever see those Samsonite commercials with the ape?) She had told Lisa we would provide flutes, so she tried to call her but got her voicemail.
I remembered Francks and that my sister-in-law Barb really wanted to visit there. So I called Barb, and she and Meg soon joined me for the short walk over towards the Wedding Pavilion. (It was about 11:00 am.) We admired the wedding bricks and were disappointed that they are no longer available. We saw a guest bus arriving for a wedding at the Pavilion. (We were told later that there were twelve Disney weddings this day five of them at the Wedding Pavilion.) Barb and Meg really enjoyed visiting Francks (they both love the Steve Martin movie Father of the Bride) and we quickly picked out a set of Waterford flutes in the Mickey Mouse pattern. (Expensive but my late father collected Waterford, and I thought it would be a nice reminder of Lucys grandfather at her wedding.) I also bought Minnie wedding ear pens for the bridal party (and Lucy and I). Barb bought a small Mickey and Minnie wedding statue to put with her card, and we quickly headed back to the Polynesian. (Barb enjoyed the theming at Francks so much that she took Joel for a walk over there Sunday morning at 6:30 am!)
As we approached the GCH (at about 11:59 am) we ran into Lucy, who was panicked because the hairdressers had arrived and no one was there. I pointed out that: a) it was not quite noon and b) Lucy and Megan were now both there. She was also panicked that Paul Allen had not arrived, but we had seen him a few minutes before at Francks, and he was knocking on the FTCs door with Hectors tuxedo at exactly that moment. Barb and I met up with Paul and took all the dresses over to the South Seas Room in the GCH for steaming. Vania and Marjorie had joined Lucy and Megan, and the only one missing was Grace Lucy had told Mare to bring Brittany over a little later. There were three hairdressers and one make-up artist at this point, so I called Mare and asked that she bring over Britt as soon as she could. Grace arrived but didnt have her dress, so I called Hector and asked him to pick it up from his moms room and bring it to me in the lobby of the GCH. Lisa had also arrived at noon, and she needed to get some things for the reception from the FTCs room, so she left with Hector when he delivered the dress.
The South Seas Room is a conference type room that would have been a perfect back up for the ceremony site if it had rained. Some of the walls are papered in a green tropical leaf pattern, and the room is spacious with good lighting. They had it set up as a dressing room with tables and chairs, pitchers of ice water and glasses, a dressing screen, and dress storage racks in the back of the room where Paul Allen could take care of the bridal party attire steaming while the hairdressers and make-up artists were working. We had brought each of the bridesmaids and Lucy a short cotton robe to wear during hair and make-up, and packed it in a large gift bag that would then store their clothes to be returned to our rooms. We brought a smaller bag for Britt she has smaller clothes and instead of a robe hers held pale blue teddy bears for her and Shannon. (We decided if Shannon didnt drop rose petals it would be cute for her to carry a teddy bear.) Since the hairdressers were almost ready to start Brittany, I had to go back to my room for the photo of her trail run from home a few weeks earlier. I decided I should stay and start my make-up and dressing, so Marjorie came with me to pick up the photos and drop off her things so she could come back later and dress there. A few minutes after Marjorie left for the South Seas Room, I realized I still had the tip money for the hairdressers and the money to pay Paul Allen in my shorts pocket, so I returned to the GCH again. I stopped by the concierge lounge on my way out and filled a plate with cookies.
Lucys hair was done, and I could tell she wasnt happy with it. (Lucy has very curly hair, and she felt it was pulled back too loosely.) She wanted to have Vania fix it - so I hung around until all the hair and make-up was done to make sure they (Lucy and Vania) didnt pull out Lucys hair and start over. (Shes done that before.) Aside from my DDs hair obsession, the hair and make-up was all beautifully done. There was one small mishap Brittanys hairdresser had put her curls up too tightly (which was how her hair was done in the picture) and after one too many tight bobby pins she started crying because it hurt. Her mom and Lucy re-explained that they wanted soft, cascading curls for her and it was fine after that. After the hairdressers left Lucy had Vania gel her hair until she was satisfied. The change was barely noticeable but it made her happy.
Since there was less than an hour left before pictures, I had to leave again to go get ready. Marjorie walked over to my room again to pick up a few things Vania needed to get dressed. It seemed like it took me forever to get ready, and cousin Joan arrived before I was dressed to help mom finish up. I was headed back to the South Seas Room late by a little after 3:00 pm. I passed Hector and his family taking groom photos, and arrived just as Lucy was getting into her dress. (Thank you Vania!) Two minutes later she was getting out of her dress her bra straps were showing so she switched to the bustier she had worn to her dress fittings. (Less comfy but also less visible.) After just a few minutes waiting it was time for the bridal photos. We all took our flowers (I had opted for a white dendrobium orchid lei instead of a corsage) and were led to a spot just outside of the GCH. Disney photographer Toni and her assistant did a wonderful job posing the various groups of family and bridal party shots. As each group finished with their photos, Michelle (one of Lisas two assistants that day the other was Candice, who we had spoken to during planning) took each group on the short ride to the waiting area in the Tokelau building.
Lisa and her assistants had radio contact, so we were kept informed of what was happening at Sunset Pointe. (Bus arriving, guest seating and the like.) We thought we were set to go when Lucy realized that Andrew was NOT holding the ring pillow. Michelle radioed Lisa, and after a few more minutes wait, the pillow rings attached was delivered to the waiting area. More radio messages Hector is escorting his mom and grandmom to their seats; Reverend Tim has taken his place; send out the bridesmaids the ring bearer - the flower girls (and their mom). Brittany carefully drops rose petals along the pathway and Shannon carries her pale blue teddy bear and holds her moms hand. OK deep breath Tracey starts playing the Hawaiian Wedding Song, and my mom and I escort Lucy up that long path to Sunset Pointe. The sun is shining, theres a light breeze, the sky is blue over Cinderellas Castle, and there is a large crowd of people wearing leis, smiling and snapping pictures. (As part of the Polynesian theming, we had Tracey play Hawaiian love songs prior to and during the ceremony, and the three junior ushers (Lucys cousins Chris, Mike and Andy dressed is tropical shirts and khakis) handed out leis and bubbles to all of the guests as they arrived.) We reach the Pointe, Reverend Tim asks who gives this woman in marriage, Mom and I kiss Lucy and Hector, and the ceremony begins. When Lucy and Hector face each other it is truly magical you can feel the love out there on Sunset Pointe. Ivette and Steve deliver their readings, Reverend Tim speaks a little, and then Lucy and Hector repeat their vows and exchange rings. They are both smiling throughout and respond in strong and emotion filled voices. Tracey begins another Hawaiian love song and Reverend Tim has Lucy and Hector pretend light the unity candle its too windy to keep a flame going this day on Sunset Pointe. Then Lucy and Hector present roses to their grandmoms and moms, and I feel the first tears begin to stream down my face. I dont know what it was about that particular moment, but I do know they were tears of joy. I thought I had kept it pretty well hidden, but Megan told me later that she had seen me but she said it was OK cause I did real well until then. (On a more humorous note, a huge bee flew into Graces flowers during the vow exchange she saw it but kept her cool and it eventually flew off.)
Reverend Tim read the Apache Wedding poem, then proclaimed the FTC husband and wife. He instructed Hector to give his bride a nice long kiss, and as everyone cheered Hector obliged. Reverend Tim then asked everyone to prepare their bubbles, and the FTC exited to lively Hawaiian music. Lisa led Lucy and Hector to a waiting area inside the Hawaii building, and the bridal party was instructed to remain for pictures while the guests were escorted to the cocktail reception at Tangaroa Terrace. It took a little while to get everyone moving, and when Lucy and Hector came back out, Toni suggested that we take the family portraits closer to the beach there would be less wind to deal with. She re-staged the lighting of the unity candle as the bridal party headed down the steep slope from Sunset Pointe. As we completed each set of group shots, Michelle took us once again for the short ride over to the reception site. Tangaroa Terrace used to be a full service restaurant many of our guests remember having meals there before it closed several years ago. Now it is used for private events only. The restaurant was set up beautifully we had eight round tables and a rectangular head table, surrounded by plush Polynesian greenery seen through the large windows on three sides of the room. The tables were set with white linens and tropical print napkins, with smoky green stemware. The centerpieces were pink dyed mini-pineapple plants with burgundy roses and stargazer lilies in silver bowls. Each place setting had a Jordan almond filled orchid wrapped in fuschia ribbon with Lucy and Hectors names and the date, and a chocolate Mickey ears hat, wrapped in cellophane with a silver ribbon. (These were a huge hit with the boys and Hector who took turns wearing the tiny ears on their heads.) Place cards were in silver frames, and instead of table numbers, we used the names of the Polynesian longhouses Hawaii, Tahiti, Tokelau, Rapa Nui, etc.
The reception was lively when I arrived. The house drink was a guava / fruity drink that was a huge hit. Tracey was entertaining the crowd with more lively Hawaiian songs, and was very popular with the crowd. (Especially my nephew Mike she let him strum a few bars on her ukulele.) Soon we were led into the dining room to await the arrival of the bridal party and the FTC. DJ Richie got everyone seated, then introduced the bridesmaids and their escorts. (Hectors sister Grace walked in with their dad, ring bearer Drew escorted his sister Megan, and Vania and flower girl Brittany entered together.) The new Mr. and Mrs. S entered to strains of Now That We Found Love. Their first dance as husband and wife (prince and princess) followed to Savage Gardens I Knew I Loved You. Lucys uncle Joel gave a beautiful and moving toast, ending with the Irish blessing May the road rise up to meet you It was a wonderful speech but he forgot to tell everyone to toast. As he introduced cousin Steve to give the blessing, I noticed Lisa franticly gesturing a toasting signal to Richie. Steve gave the blessing, and then Richie asked us to raise our glasses in honor of the happy couple.
The Banquet Captain then escorted the bride and groom and head table to the Polynesian buffet: Pacific Sesame Caesar with Fried Wontons and Garlic Chips, Field of Greens with a Variety of Toppings and Dressings, Lo Mein Salad with Julienne Peppers, Carrots, Red Onions and Scallions in a Sesame Soy Sauce, Sliced Tomato and Buffalo Mozzarella in a Fresh Basil Vinaigrette, Grilled Teriyaki Chicken, Stir Fried Beef in an Orange Ginger Sauce with Oriental Vegetables over Jasmine Rice, Grilled Salmon with Mango Mint Sauce, Pineapple Fried Rice, Garlic Roasted Potatoes, and Polynesian Vegetable Stir-Fry. Everyone kept pretty busy enjoying dinner, and Lucy and Hector visited tables as people were completing their meals. Richie announced Hector and Gracelys mother and son dance to If I Could by Barbara Streisand. This was followed by that wedding staple The Electric Slide which got guests of all ages out on to the dance floor. The place was hopping for about a half hour, leading up to the arrival of special guests Polynesian Mickey and Minnie. The characters were a HUGE hit they danced with the FTC first, and then danced with very young and older guests alike. Mickey and Minnie danced several dances always surrounded by kids of all ages then took a break for the cake cutting.
Lucy and Hector chose a wedding cake called The Orchid Garden it was a three tier cake with live orchids attached at each tier and at the top. They couldnt decide which cake they preferred at their tasting in September, so the bottom tier was yellow cake with strawberry mousse filling, the middle tier was red velvet cake with cream cheese filling, and the top was the yellow cake again. Mickey and Minnie watched the FTC make the traditional first slice, with Minnie ready with a napkin for any messiness. (There was no cake smashing.) Lucy did put a small dot of icing on Hectors nose, and Minnie jumped right in and cleaned him up. After the cake cutting Richie announced another special guest arrival Polynesian Goofy! Goofy arrived with much fanfare and did his own wild little dance. My niece Shannon (flower girl and age 23 months) loved dancing with Goofy she thought he was hers alone! (Her mom says her current favorite movie is The Goofy Movie.) Goofy (with some help from Richie) got a Conga line started, and soon most of the crowd was circling the room. Richie then announced a kids only dance, and the kids got a chance to get on the dance floor with the three characters and the FTC. (Goofy took on the floor literally and sat down on the floor with Shannon and played with her.) Then it was time for Mickey and Minnie to leave (sigh) but Goofy got to stay (yeah)! Minnie and Mickey took Lucy and Hector with them, and Toni went along for some private couples photos.
After a few more dances Goofy had to leave as well, and as it started getting dark outside we caught glimpses through the windows of the Magic Kingdom fireworks (8:30 this night). Richie stopped the dance music and had everyone sit down for one more special announcement. Lucy presented my Mom her toss bouquet on what would have been my Mom and Dads fiftieth wedding anniversary. (They were married on May 5, 1951 which is why Lucy and Hector picked this date.) I had requested that Richie play Circle of Life during the presentation the words seemed like a fitting statement to me watching my mother and daughter sharing a special moment.
The final dance was announced (too soon!) Lucy and Hector had chosen Phil Collins Youll be in my Heart from Tarzan. As couples left the dance floor, Richie directed the guests back to Sunset Pointe where the dessert party had been set up. The dessert party started just as the opening bars of the Electrical Water pageant were heard on the nearby Seven Seas lagoon. Some guests wandered down to the beach, but the view from Sunset Pointe was great also. As the brightly-lit sea creatures passed by, I informed the guests that I had arranged this water spectacular just for you folks! (Maybe the barges werent the only things lit!) The dessert party was elegant and fun small candles in glass bowls filled with clear crystals and mini orchids lit each table, and the desserts were delicious: Kona Coffee Napoleon, Strawberry Passion Fruit Mousse, Haupia Chiffon Squares, Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake and Fresh Fruit Tarts with Pastry Cream. There was also coffee, bottled water and juice for the kids.
All too soon 10:00 pm approached, and after a little confusion as to where the bus was parked, some of the guests began to depart. Everyone agreed that it had been a magical day, and no one wanted it to end. So, many of the guests who were staying at the Polynesian changed back into shorts or bathing suits and --- POOL PARTY! (We had more guests stay here than the other resorts combined. We had 72 guests staying in 22 rooms for between three and eleven days.) We took over a row of lounge chairs at the volcano pool, sent Hector and his cousin Brian and uncle Luis for melon coladas, and covered ourselves with towels to stay warm. (The kids swam of course.) After about an hour, Lucy wrapped up in a Poly robe looked like she was about to nod off, so we started to gather our things. Some of the dads went over to Captain Cooks for hot chocolate refills for the kids, and we just about emptied the pool with our last call. Tired but happy, we ended a magical day!
Photos are on www.photopoint.com - visit albums - my email romckeev@aol.com - titled Fairy Tale Wedding.
Where: Disneys Polynesian Resort
Cast: Too numerous to list over 70 total with the starring roles going to:
DD Fairy Tale Princess
FSIL her Prince
Me Queen Mother to FT Princess, sometimes called MOB (mother of bride or she who writes the checks)
Mom my mother and roommate for part of our stay
Gracely Hectors Mom
Lisa Wedding Event Manager
Saturday, May 5
Saturday, May 5 dawned with blue skies and sunshine. At 8:30 am, Lucy, my mom, Hectors mom and grandmom and I all boarded the monorail to the Grand Floridian. We parted with Lucy in the main building she walked over to the spa for her herbal relaxation bath, and the moms and grandmoms went to the Ivy Trellis salon on the second floor for their hair appointments. My sister Mo joined us at about 9:15, and we were all finished (and glamorous) and on our way back to the Polynesian by 10:30 am. We stopped by Lucy and Hectors room to pick up Mos dress (which had been steamed on Friday), and Lucy seemed upset. She had just written sentimental cards for her best friend Vania, me and Hector, and she had made herself upset. Since she had us all teary-eyed, Mo and mom made a quick retreat, and I stayed while she tried to organize things we would need today. (Hector had decided not to go to a park today after all, and had been banished to the pool until noon.) As Lucy was unwrapping their (inexpensive) toasting flutes, she discovered that one had broken during travel. (She had put them in a checked bag didnt she ever see those Samsonite commercials with the ape?) She had told Lisa we would provide flutes, so she tried to call her but got her voicemail.
I remembered Francks and that my sister-in-law Barb really wanted to visit there. So I called Barb, and she and Meg soon joined me for the short walk over towards the Wedding Pavilion. (It was about 11:00 am.) We admired the wedding bricks and were disappointed that they are no longer available. We saw a guest bus arriving for a wedding at the Pavilion. (We were told later that there were twelve Disney weddings this day five of them at the Wedding Pavilion.) Barb and Meg really enjoyed visiting Francks (they both love the Steve Martin movie Father of the Bride) and we quickly picked out a set of Waterford flutes in the Mickey Mouse pattern. (Expensive but my late father collected Waterford, and I thought it would be a nice reminder of Lucys grandfather at her wedding.) I also bought Minnie wedding ear pens for the bridal party (and Lucy and I). Barb bought a small Mickey and Minnie wedding statue to put with her card, and we quickly headed back to the Polynesian. (Barb enjoyed the theming at Francks so much that she took Joel for a walk over there Sunday morning at 6:30 am!)
As we approached the GCH (at about 11:59 am) we ran into Lucy, who was panicked because the hairdressers had arrived and no one was there. I pointed out that: a) it was not quite noon and b) Lucy and Megan were now both there. She was also panicked that Paul Allen had not arrived, but we had seen him a few minutes before at Francks, and he was knocking on the FTCs door with Hectors tuxedo at exactly that moment. Barb and I met up with Paul and took all the dresses over to the South Seas Room in the GCH for steaming. Vania and Marjorie had joined Lucy and Megan, and the only one missing was Grace Lucy had told Mare to bring Brittany over a little later. There were three hairdressers and one make-up artist at this point, so I called Mare and asked that she bring over Britt as soon as she could. Grace arrived but didnt have her dress, so I called Hector and asked him to pick it up from his moms room and bring it to me in the lobby of the GCH. Lisa had also arrived at noon, and she needed to get some things for the reception from the FTCs room, so she left with Hector when he delivered the dress.
The South Seas Room is a conference type room that would have been a perfect back up for the ceremony site if it had rained. Some of the walls are papered in a green tropical leaf pattern, and the room is spacious with good lighting. They had it set up as a dressing room with tables and chairs, pitchers of ice water and glasses, a dressing screen, and dress storage racks in the back of the room where Paul Allen could take care of the bridal party attire steaming while the hairdressers and make-up artists were working. We had brought each of the bridesmaids and Lucy a short cotton robe to wear during hair and make-up, and packed it in a large gift bag that would then store their clothes to be returned to our rooms. We brought a smaller bag for Britt she has smaller clothes and instead of a robe hers held pale blue teddy bears for her and Shannon. (We decided if Shannon didnt drop rose petals it would be cute for her to carry a teddy bear.) Since the hairdressers were almost ready to start Brittany, I had to go back to my room for the photo of her trail run from home a few weeks earlier. I decided I should stay and start my make-up and dressing, so Marjorie came with me to pick up the photos and drop off her things so she could come back later and dress there. A few minutes after Marjorie left for the South Seas Room, I realized I still had the tip money for the hairdressers and the money to pay Paul Allen in my shorts pocket, so I returned to the GCH again. I stopped by the concierge lounge on my way out and filled a plate with cookies.
Lucys hair was done, and I could tell she wasnt happy with it. (Lucy has very curly hair, and she felt it was pulled back too loosely.) She wanted to have Vania fix it - so I hung around until all the hair and make-up was done to make sure they (Lucy and Vania) didnt pull out Lucys hair and start over. (Shes done that before.) Aside from my DDs hair obsession, the hair and make-up was all beautifully done. There was one small mishap Brittanys hairdresser had put her curls up too tightly (which was how her hair was done in the picture) and after one too many tight bobby pins she started crying because it hurt. Her mom and Lucy re-explained that they wanted soft, cascading curls for her and it was fine after that. After the hairdressers left Lucy had Vania gel her hair until she was satisfied. The change was barely noticeable but it made her happy.
Since there was less than an hour left before pictures, I had to leave again to go get ready. Marjorie walked over to my room again to pick up a few things Vania needed to get dressed. It seemed like it took me forever to get ready, and cousin Joan arrived before I was dressed to help mom finish up. I was headed back to the South Seas Room late by a little after 3:00 pm. I passed Hector and his family taking groom photos, and arrived just as Lucy was getting into her dress. (Thank you Vania!) Two minutes later she was getting out of her dress her bra straps were showing so she switched to the bustier she had worn to her dress fittings. (Less comfy but also less visible.) After just a few minutes waiting it was time for the bridal photos. We all took our flowers (I had opted for a white dendrobium orchid lei instead of a corsage) and were led to a spot just outside of the GCH. Disney photographer Toni and her assistant did a wonderful job posing the various groups of family and bridal party shots. As each group finished with their photos, Michelle (one of Lisas two assistants that day the other was Candice, who we had spoken to during planning) took each group on the short ride to the waiting area in the Tokelau building.
Lisa and her assistants had radio contact, so we were kept informed of what was happening at Sunset Pointe. (Bus arriving, guest seating and the like.) We thought we were set to go when Lucy realized that Andrew was NOT holding the ring pillow. Michelle radioed Lisa, and after a few more minutes wait, the pillow rings attached was delivered to the waiting area. More radio messages Hector is escorting his mom and grandmom to their seats; Reverend Tim has taken his place; send out the bridesmaids the ring bearer - the flower girls (and their mom). Brittany carefully drops rose petals along the pathway and Shannon carries her pale blue teddy bear and holds her moms hand. OK deep breath Tracey starts playing the Hawaiian Wedding Song, and my mom and I escort Lucy up that long path to Sunset Pointe. The sun is shining, theres a light breeze, the sky is blue over Cinderellas Castle, and there is a large crowd of people wearing leis, smiling and snapping pictures. (As part of the Polynesian theming, we had Tracey play Hawaiian love songs prior to and during the ceremony, and the three junior ushers (Lucys cousins Chris, Mike and Andy dressed is tropical shirts and khakis) handed out leis and bubbles to all of the guests as they arrived.) We reach the Pointe, Reverend Tim asks who gives this woman in marriage, Mom and I kiss Lucy and Hector, and the ceremony begins. When Lucy and Hector face each other it is truly magical you can feel the love out there on Sunset Pointe. Ivette and Steve deliver their readings, Reverend Tim speaks a little, and then Lucy and Hector repeat their vows and exchange rings. They are both smiling throughout and respond in strong and emotion filled voices. Tracey begins another Hawaiian love song and Reverend Tim has Lucy and Hector pretend light the unity candle its too windy to keep a flame going this day on Sunset Pointe. Then Lucy and Hector present roses to their grandmoms and moms, and I feel the first tears begin to stream down my face. I dont know what it was about that particular moment, but I do know they were tears of joy. I thought I had kept it pretty well hidden, but Megan told me later that she had seen me but she said it was OK cause I did real well until then. (On a more humorous note, a huge bee flew into Graces flowers during the vow exchange she saw it but kept her cool and it eventually flew off.)
Reverend Tim read the Apache Wedding poem, then proclaimed the FTC husband and wife. He instructed Hector to give his bride a nice long kiss, and as everyone cheered Hector obliged. Reverend Tim then asked everyone to prepare their bubbles, and the FTC exited to lively Hawaiian music. Lisa led Lucy and Hector to a waiting area inside the Hawaii building, and the bridal party was instructed to remain for pictures while the guests were escorted to the cocktail reception at Tangaroa Terrace. It took a little while to get everyone moving, and when Lucy and Hector came back out, Toni suggested that we take the family portraits closer to the beach there would be less wind to deal with. She re-staged the lighting of the unity candle as the bridal party headed down the steep slope from Sunset Pointe. As we completed each set of group shots, Michelle took us once again for the short ride over to the reception site. Tangaroa Terrace used to be a full service restaurant many of our guests remember having meals there before it closed several years ago. Now it is used for private events only. The restaurant was set up beautifully we had eight round tables and a rectangular head table, surrounded by plush Polynesian greenery seen through the large windows on three sides of the room. The tables were set with white linens and tropical print napkins, with smoky green stemware. The centerpieces were pink dyed mini-pineapple plants with burgundy roses and stargazer lilies in silver bowls. Each place setting had a Jordan almond filled orchid wrapped in fuschia ribbon with Lucy and Hectors names and the date, and a chocolate Mickey ears hat, wrapped in cellophane with a silver ribbon. (These were a huge hit with the boys and Hector who took turns wearing the tiny ears on their heads.) Place cards were in silver frames, and instead of table numbers, we used the names of the Polynesian longhouses Hawaii, Tahiti, Tokelau, Rapa Nui, etc.
The reception was lively when I arrived. The house drink was a guava / fruity drink that was a huge hit. Tracey was entertaining the crowd with more lively Hawaiian songs, and was very popular with the crowd. (Especially my nephew Mike she let him strum a few bars on her ukulele.) Soon we were led into the dining room to await the arrival of the bridal party and the FTC. DJ Richie got everyone seated, then introduced the bridesmaids and their escorts. (Hectors sister Grace walked in with their dad, ring bearer Drew escorted his sister Megan, and Vania and flower girl Brittany entered together.) The new Mr. and Mrs. S entered to strains of Now That We Found Love. Their first dance as husband and wife (prince and princess) followed to Savage Gardens I Knew I Loved You. Lucys uncle Joel gave a beautiful and moving toast, ending with the Irish blessing May the road rise up to meet you It was a wonderful speech but he forgot to tell everyone to toast. As he introduced cousin Steve to give the blessing, I noticed Lisa franticly gesturing a toasting signal to Richie. Steve gave the blessing, and then Richie asked us to raise our glasses in honor of the happy couple.
The Banquet Captain then escorted the bride and groom and head table to the Polynesian buffet: Pacific Sesame Caesar with Fried Wontons and Garlic Chips, Field of Greens with a Variety of Toppings and Dressings, Lo Mein Salad with Julienne Peppers, Carrots, Red Onions and Scallions in a Sesame Soy Sauce, Sliced Tomato and Buffalo Mozzarella in a Fresh Basil Vinaigrette, Grilled Teriyaki Chicken, Stir Fried Beef in an Orange Ginger Sauce with Oriental Vegetables over Jasmine Rice, Grilled Salmon with Mango Mint Sauce, Pineapple Fried Rice, Garlic Roasted Potatoes, and Polynesian Vegetable Stir-Fry. Everyone kept pretty busy enjoying dinner, and Lucy and Hector visited tables as people were completing their meals. Richie announced Hector and Gracelys mother and son dance to If I Could by Barbara Streisand. This was followed by that wedding staple The Electric Slide which got guests of all ages out on to the dance floor. The place was hopping for about a half hour, leading up to the arrival of special guests Polynesian Mickey and Minnie. The characters were a HUGE hit they danced with the FTC first, and then danced with very young and older guests alike. Mickey and Minnie danced several dances always surrounded by kids of all ages then took a break for the cake cutting.
Lucy and Hector chose a wedding cake called The Orchid Garden it was a three tier cake with live orchids attached at each tier and at the top. They couldnt decide which cake they preferred at their tasting in September, so the bottom tier was yellow cake with strawberry mousse filling, the middle tier was red velvet cake with cream cheese filling, and the top was the yellow cake again. Mickey and Minnie watched the FTC make the traditional first slice, with Minnie ready with a napkin for any messiness. (There was no cake smashing.) Lucy did put a small dot of icing on Hectors nose, and Minnie jumped right in and cleaned him up. After the cake cutting Richie announced another special guest arrival Polynesian Goofy! Goofy arrived with much fanfare and did his own wild little dance. My niece Shannon (flower girl and age 23 months) loved dancing with Goofy she thought he was hers alone! (Her mom says her current favorite movie is The Goofy Movie.) Goofy (with some help from Richie) got a Conga line started, and soon most of the crowd was circling the room. Richie then announced a kids only dance, and the kids got a chance to get on the dance floor with the three characters and the FTC. (Goofy took on the floor literally and sat down on the floor with Shannon and played with her.) Then it was time for Mickey and Minnie to leave (sigh) but Goofy got to stay (yeah)! Minnie and Mickey took Lucy and Hector with them, and Toni went along for some private couples photos.
After a few more dances Goofy had to leave as well, and as it started getting dark outside we caught glimpses through the windows of the Magic Kingdom fireworks (8:30 this night). Richie stopped the dance music and had everyone sit down for one more special announcement. Lucy presented my Mom her toss bouquet on what would have been my Mom and Dads fiftieth wedding anniversary. (They were married on May 5, 1951 which is why Lucy and Hector picked this date.) I had requested that Richie play Circle of Life during the presentation the words seemed like a fitting statement to me watching my mother and daughter sharing a special moment.
The final dance was announced (too soon!) Lucy and Hector had chosen Phil Collins Youll be in my Heart from Tarzan. As couples left the dance floor, Richie directed the guests back to Sunset Pointe where the dessert party had been set up. The dessert party started just as the opening bars of the Electrical Water pageant were heard on the nearby Seven Seas lagoon. Some guests wandered down to the beach, but the view from Sunset Pointe was great also. As the brightly-lit sea creatures passed by, I informed the guests that I had arranged this water spectacular just for you folks! (Maybe the barges werent the only things lit!) The dessert party was elegant and fun small candles in glass bowls filled with clear crystals and mini orchids lit each table, and the desserts were delicious: Kona Coffee Napoleon, Strawberry Passion Fruit Mousse, Haupia Chiffon Squares, Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake and Fresh Fruit Tarts with Pastry Cream. There was also coffee, bottled water and juice for the kids.
All too soon 10:00 pm approached, and after a little confusion as to where the bus was parked, some of the guests began to depart. Everyone agreed that it had been a magical day, and no one wanted it to end. So, many of the guests who were staying at the Polynesian changed back into shorts or bathing suits and --- POOL PARTY! (We had more guests stay here than the other resorts combined. We had 72 guests staying in 22 rooms for between three and eleven days.) We took over a row of lounge chairs at the volcano pool, sent Hector and his cousin Brian and uncle Luis for melon coladas, and covered ourselves with towels to stay warm. (The kids swam of course.) After about an hour, Lucy wrapped up in a Poly robe looked like she was about to nod off, so we started to gather our things. Some of the dads went over to Captain Cooks for hot chocolate refills for the kids, and we just about emptied the pool with our last call. Tired but happy, we ended a magical day!
Photos are on www.photopoint.com - visit albums - my email romckeev@aol.com - titled Fairy Tale Wedding.
