Forget our 25th ann.our Aug 5th, 2013 VR @ Fultons_ The dress and the alternate

[disneyido2015]

Hi welcome to the PJ for our Bermuda themed Vow Renewal at Disney!

I can imagine that there are a lot of confused looks on your faces right now. Why would anyone be planning a vow renewal in Disney with a Bermuda theme? Well I guess it helps to explain that we are from Bermuda and we love our island home. Second to that has to be our love for Orlando in general and Disney in particular, so I thought why not combine the two places that mean so much to us and celebrate our marriage and family in our favorite family vacation spot.

Cast of Characters:
C. Rochelle - Hmm, I’m sure the observant folks in the DISbrides FB group will say I thought your name was.. , but the short version of it all is that I do go by my middle name. It was not until HS when they insisted on calling me by my first name, resulting in a bunch of people knowing me by first, but those closest to me knowing me by Rochelle. Don’t worry I answer to both! I am 44 years old, working in Accounts , and married for 22 years to….

Morris – My handsome, hardworking husband, age 45. He really is the love of my life, my best friend, and just an all around good guy! A Contractor by trade, he works very hard to provide for his family, and deserves all the accolades I can give him. Together we are parents to….

Stefan – Our 24 year old , intelligent, athletic, and handsome son. He is more often away from home than not, either for education or playing cricket. Presently living in Cardiff, Wales where he is working whilst pursuing his Post Graduate Degree and the most excellent big brother to …

Moira – 16, our artsy flower child! Beautiful, both inside and outside but painfully shy. Moira has just left home to live with her brother in Cardiff to do her A’ levels and then off to university after two years. It was difficult to let her go, but know that under the guidance of her brother that she would gain the confidence and independence needed for her next steps. We do miss her though…

Actually we miss them both, and that is why after some stops and starts, we are now planning our first family vacation in some time for all four of us, and decided to not wait until our 25th anniversary in 2015 and have our Disney VR next year!

Next up … the story of Morris and I

 

[disneyido2015]

Ok, so I am going to begin this post with an apology.
I’ve come to the realization that unlike most of the PJs here, couples who are planning a vow renewal are already in the middle of their “Happily ever after” and that in the initial stages of my PJ I’m going to ramble on about us a bit before we get to the actual planning. No, probably not as exciting as a fresh new bride and groom, but it lays the foundation for the story, so again, my apologies in advance….

On May 5, 1987, having recently moved to the eastern end of the island, my sister closest to me in age, begged me to accompany her to a club so she could meet up with a guy who would be DJing that evening. “Do I have to”, I thought … it was a week night, and I had no interest at all in hanging out. She was the flighty, single one, I was dating a very nice guy a few years older than me, and so not interested in the club scene, but she wore me down, dragged me along…. and has been taking credit for my marriage ever since.

She met up with her DJ, who had a friend with him in the booth. Wow, he has really gorgeous eyes, I thought, but that’s about it. I stayed in the booth with my sister for a while then figured that, as long as I was there I might as well enjoy myself. I danced the evening away, and really had a great time. I would periodically check in with my sister, but basically spent my night on the dance floor.

Towards the end of the night I came to the DJ booth to rest a bit, and Mr. Gorgeous Eyes turns to me and says, “I’ve watched you dance with everyone all night, now it’s time for you to dance with me.” My sister froze….. she was convinced that I was going to go ballistic, and I don’t know who to this day who was more shocked at my response. “OK”… and off we went to dance. His name was Morris.

Fast forward six months after a fun summer of beaching, boating, and Cup Match, The Bermudian Holiday, consisting of a long party weekend around a two day cricket match, it was the eve of my birthday and we were out on the town. I guess my first indication that something was up should have been that my siblings (4 sisters and 1 brother) were at the club, not a normal occurrence, at least not the places where we would frequent. At the stroke of midnight a cake was delivered to our table with a single candle… and diamond ring! So at the tender age of 20 we got engaged.

And so we settled in for a nice long engagement, I mean we were only 20.. there was still college to sort out and some growing up to do. However sometimes life throws you a curve ball and two months later we were 20, engaged and expecting, Yikes!

The pressure to get married immediately was immense, but I dug in my heels. In hindsight maybe I was pretty selfish, but I was not getting married because I had to. So we put it off and enjoyed the new addition to the family, Stefan. We found it pretty easy to adapt to having a newborn, and he fit right into our lifestyle… the beach soon became his favorite place to be.
Becoming parents also made us grow up a lot faster, and we finally set the date for the wedding, May 5, 1990.

Let the browbeating begin.

 

[chris31997]

I look forward to follow you on your journey. I am sure your vow renewal will be quite the blast.

 

[disneyido2015]

The wedding date had been set and we were quite willing to go to the Registrar’s office for a quiet ceremony. Unfortunately neither family were… it had to be a church wedding… we couldn’t just have siblings from one side in the wedding party , it was both sides or none. Ok how about simple wedding suit for me… sorry it had to be a gown with a train… to this day I recall the lady in the bridal store commenting that most brides were happier trying on their gowns… well most are when they aren’t forced to go with some huge dress that wasn’t my style to please our families. I can say that my menfolk were extremely handsome that day.. and that 3 years after we met I married my best friend.

Perhaps its cliché to say we grew up together, but basically that’s what we did. Those first couple of years were rough, I guess because we were so young, our families thought that gave them carte blanche to be involved in our marriage, but we were both committed to our family and we made out ok. Along the way we purchased out first home, no mean feat if you know of Bermuda’s housing market. Morris decided to start his own company, frightening to say the least when you have a young family, but it worked out and to this day he is happily renovating and repairing properties in Bermuda. In 1996 we added a daughter to our family, and then I thought why not make this more interesting by going back to college. … Let’s see full time school, with a newborn, and son in grade school, and a husband with a brand new company… sounded simple at the time. Don’t ask how I pulled that one off, but I did it LOL. Well that’s not exactly true, I know I only did with Morris’ support. Then…

We Discover Disney

Neither Morris nor I grew up with Disney. In my case it wasn’t the lack of opportunity, I guess I was just a slow learner. My mother actually made her first foray to Disney when I was in my mid-teens. An unexpected widow at 39, she had concentrated on raising the six of us more than travelling, so it was not until I was about 14/15 that she first travelled to Orlando with some of her friends. They went to Disney and she fell in love. As her baby, she was always impressing on me to accompany her on her annual summer trip to Disney, but let’s see… Hang with mom or get two free weeks under the supervision of my older , so much cooler than you mom, siblings? “Sorry I’ll stay home, have a great time, love you.”

Our family complete, we decided in 1998 to take out first trip to Disney. My aunt had offered us a week in her timeshare, so we decided on a 3 day package at All Star Music followed by the week in the timeshare. OMG…How could I have missed this.. I don’t know who was more excited on that trip us or the kids. I remember crying at the joy on my children’s faces as we watched the parade in Magic Kingdom; the wonder at finally going to Epcot, which had been my mom’s favorite… it was just magical! The 3 days over, we left Disney and checked into the timeshare. What an instant let down. All we could do was compare it to Disney… and there was no comparison at all. We went home, and like the town criers of old, spread the news…. You have to go to Disney.

We took our own advice and did the following year, and the year after that, and the year after.. well you get the picture! Sometimes by ourselves, mostly with others, but always the four of us, until at age 14 Stefan went far far away

 

[disneyido2015]

So it’s been a while since I’ve posted, but we decided on to go to ORLANDO for our first trip sans children! We managed to visit a few sites for the VR, and we had started to have a really great time until I came down with the flu with a side order of acute bronchitis…., but I think we’ve have determined our site, so if you indulge me in a bit more back story we will get down to this VR planning business.

…I left off with our firstborn leaving home.
Stefan grew up loving the sport cricket and by 14 was a member of Bermuda’s Under 15 national team. Through this a totally unexpected, but wonderful opportunity arose wherein members of the team were invited to sit for a full scholarship at Oakham School, a UK boarding school, with both excellent academic and sporting programmes. Our pride in Stefan being the top scorer in the examination soon turned to shock when, instead of the September start date we had anticipated, we were informed in February 2002 of the recommended start date of April 2002 so that he could be involved in the upcoming cricket season. Reeling from the short turn around we packed up our firstborn and deposited him in the UK for what was the beginning of the adventure of a lifetime for him. For me… well let just say it is possible to cry for 7 hours straight ( BA direct flight from Gatwick to Bermuda.)
This opportunity opened the world for him, and while we still took advantage of the school holidays for our annual trip to Disney for a couple of years, as he became more involved in his sport Stefan began to bypass Disney for more exotic locales such as South Africa and Dubai.

And so Disney trips were being planned for 3.

As time passed the UK effectively became Stefan’s home base, and he is now working in Cardiff while studying for his Masters. For a number of reasons, we then realized that it might be a good idea to wean our youngest before university, and for reasons of his own, Stefan decided to take his little sister under his wings. Loving her no less than her brother, I knew that the right decision had been made, and only cried a little the way back home.. I knew Moira was in good hands.

Cue Disney vacation for 2 and a vow renewal to start this new phase of our marriage. Or so I thought, until my supportive “ whatever you want honey” husband put down his foot and said there will be no renewing of vows without the kids……..And now the planning begins.

 

[disneyido2015]

[/IMG]

And if this works, aboce are Stefan; Morris and Moira ( Cupmatch 2010)

And me.. Rochelle

[/IMG]

 

[disneyido2015]

It has been a long time since I’ve updated, but It has been such a busy time. Since getting well enough to return to work after our vacation, I’ve just been going, going, going. However through it all, I have still been making plans for our Vow Renewal, and am happy to report that we are days from getting our agreement from our planner, and I hope to remitting our deposit to secure everything in the coming week! That being said, here are the( just about) confirmed details of our Vow Renewal:

When: August 5, 2013
Where: Fulton’s Crab House, Downtown Disney
Time: 11:00 AM
Planner: Carrie Engler, Destination Occasions
Officiant: Rev. Tim Herring
Photographer: Randy Chapman

How we made our Choice:

We were travelling to Orlando, with the intent of viewing the ceremony locations for both the Memory and Escape Disney Weddings. I was really keen on having an official Disney Wedding. However, just before we left, I came across a vow renewal at Fulton’s on Youtube. It was intimate and lovely, and just very appealing. I learned that the planner was Carrie Engler of Destination Occasions. She is used by many of the UK brides on the DIBB, so I emailed her before we travelled, and she sent me details on her Intimate VR package at Fultons. In comparision to Disney, the package was a great price and very flexible, and so I decided we would definitely consider this as an option.

We had dinner reservations at O’hanas the second night we were in Orlando, so I thought that we would take a look at Luau Beach while we were there. That never materialized, when Morris said that we might as well have the renewal at home if we were to have a beach ceremony. Then he sprang the news that he had thought of a few people he wanted to invite, which would mean our party would have been too large for the Memories Collection anyway. Ok, scrap Sunrise Terrace as well.

After leaving O’hana’s we drove to see the WP. There was a wedding going on at the time so we couldn’t go in, but I still felt giddy just being there. This too was vetoed by DH, we had already had a church wedding, let’s go for something else. I knew just where I wanted to go next…. SBP. This location was even more beautiful in person, we took photos and I knew that this would be the location, if we decided to go with an Escape VR.

At the time, I was also following Randy’s Chapman’s UK Bride series, and the next ceremony was to be a VR at Fulton’s, arranged by Destination Occasions on the Monday we were in Orlando. We decided that once I saw how that turned out, we would definitely make a decision. Again, Carrie had organized a beautiful ceremony…. I knew which way we would proceed.

I would like to note however, there were other factors that lent to us deciding on Fulton’s. Yes the increased flexibily, and cost differential did factor in our choice, but we also realized that as beautiful as the Disney sites were, there was a certain disconnect associated to all of them. The locations really meant nothing to us. However, as a family , we’ve always enjoyed Down Town Disney. It is somewhere we always go… for our annual Christmas Ornament, for the Art, the Italian Ices… heck even for the Movie theatre …. And funny enough, it’s always where we are when I get a telephone call from my job… honest, every time we are DTD, my cell rings!

All in all, Downtown Disney is just us, and we decided that we would be more than happy to having our Vow Renewal there.

 

[tiggerfan77]

Hello Rochelle!

Just read your PJ and I love the story of how you two got together I am not engaged yet but my DB wants me to be surprised so I am quietly doing some research until then. I've been doing some pricing for Disney alternatives. We are going to both be second timers and I want my son to be part of the ceremony so I love the idea of having such an intimate space like Fulton's! I will definitely look forward to see how your VR turns out.
If you don't mind asking, how much is it to do a private ceremony at Fulton's?

 

[disneyido2015]

Hello Rochelle!

Just read your PJ and I love the story of how you two got together I am not engaged yet but my DB wants me to be surprised so I am quietly doing some research until then. I've been doing some pricing for Disney alternatives. We are going to both be second timers and I want my son to be part of the ceremony so I love the idea of having such an intimate space like Fulton's! I will definitely look forward to see how your VR turns out.
If you don't mind asking, how much is it to do a private ceremony at Fulton's?

My research indicated that there are a couple ways to book a ceremony at Fultons. you can either deal with them directly or use a local planner. I decided to use Destination Occasions as Carrie has an excellent reputation, and to be honest I just want to show up in my finery and know that everything is taken care of.

Destination Occasions offers an intimate ceremony at a cost of $1740 for up to 15 people, and it includes all planning services; ceremony use for 1 hour; the officiate; photography (1 hour unlimited/ master CD with full copyright) personal floral; aisle runner and a harpist. You are required to make a reservation at Fulton's for the same day, either for lunch or dinner.

In my case this served as a jumping off point for our plans. Both sides of the family, right now are keen to attend, so I will probably be looking at a space rental fee. I've also added chair/ chair covers & bows; pedestal rentals; an extra hour of photography with Randy Chapman; upgraded my bouquet and added getting one bridesmaid bouquet and one extra boutinerre, and two arrangements for the pedestals; and hair and makeup for my daughter and myself. The cost all of this has brought the cost up to just over $3,000.00, which i am more than happy with.

So, I hope this helps. I did see in my research there are a couple planners that offer Fultons ceremony for less, but I'm feeling very comfortable with my choice.

 

[tiggerfan77]

Thank you so much!
This helps out tremendously! That is a great price for everything and definitely in our price range! I thought about the three of us eloping with the Memories package but to have a small wedding with our immediate family and a few close friends for the same price would be great! Can't wait to show the DB some price estimates, so until then I look forward to doing some lurking

Looking forward to reading about your anniversary plans!

 

[disneyido2015]

Wow it has been a while, but I'm taking a vacation day so have the opportunity to update.

We have sent our deposit,so we are offically confirmed

Now, here some things that have served as inspiration:

The first is a photo of one of our south shore beaches, and the second being a necklace by a local jeweller named Alexandra Mosher. It is from her Bridal Collection and is made with Sterling Silver and Bermuda Sand. My initial thought was to get it for myself to wear on the day, but I had the opportunity to meet with Alexandra, and she will be doing something even more special for us... more on that later.

Anyway, these two images were our colour inpirations, but this too has been tweaked a bit and we are looking at using a pale pink and deeper blue ( see the shade on the horizon.) So instead of the beachy hues we've evolved to the colours of our public buses, but hey it's still a Bermuda theme right LOL!

And what Bermuda theme would be complete without Bermuda Shorts! Yup, my boys readily agreed to wear Bermuda shorts, which is actually Business Attire for men during the summer. Unfortunately DH has drawn the line at wearing pink ones, but I still have time to work on him

Here is how our guys rock Bermuda Shorts:

yes the really cute one on the left is Stefan, and here they are as wedding attire:

So we will be bringing a little bit of Bermuda to Florida in our colours and attire, but that's just the beginning.

Next up my dress ( and the alternate) and my daughter's dress, and the flowers.

 

[disneyido2015]

Another vacation day means that I have time to update.

When it comes to dresses the only request from DH was that I not get another wedding gown. I agreed, but it certainly did not stop me from looking!

in 2011 I came across a Galina dress on Davids Bridal website, I knew that I had found my dream dress, and DH even agreed to this choice. When it first came out we were still looking at renewing on our 25th ann., and it would be silly to make the purchase for an event in 2015. Then it disappeared from their site, and I figured it wasn't meant to be.

Earlier this year it reappeared as a closeout sale, and after pondering a bit, I pounced. This was meant to be my dress, so unbeknownst to DH I ordered it. And what the heck, I have a few years yet, decided to get it two sizes smaller. Here is my dream dress:

It is sitting in my closet, and with our changes to 2013, I am on a mission to get in it by next August.

I've been on a diet/fitness regimine for 6 weeks and have enlisted the services of a personal trainer, so I'm on my way.

I have to be realistic, and realise that I may need a backup, so I have found this dress on a site called Kiyonna, that will be my second choice if it comes to it:

So I know there are a lot of readers vs posters, but what do you think of them?

 

[bradleyjess]

I love your first choice, but they're both gorgeous! I'm sure either one would look great!

 

[charliegirl76]

Love the first dress! Very pretty!