Irisbud's PJ & Wedding TR: 1/22/09: NOW COMPLETE! 3/26/2009

[irisbud]

Ooohh... pretty dresses... they are very princessy...

Now I just hope that when I do go to try them on they look half as good on me! I really want the strapless kind, but I have no chest at all (32 A-AA depending on the store) so we will see...

Wow, all of those dresses are beautiful! I don't think its ever to early to start looking!

Glad to hear that! I think that I had better start looking. I am really picky about clothes and things and difficult to please. If there is one tiny thing on anything that I don't like I won't take a second look at it. I think it may take me a while to find a dress...

Hi irisbud - I've just read your PJ. Good for you and your wedding plans

I really like your choice in wedding dress pics

And urghh I wish I had American TV I would love to see those shows they sound like "train wreck TV" LOL

It was like a train wreck! It was hard to think that anyone would even want something like that. I mean, yuck. Plus she had a green veil, which she did wear over her face, and it made her look seasick or something. It was truly awful!

hi irisbud! that camo wedding is horrific. maybe it was a joke!!!

i LOVE all those bride shows on the WE. they got me through my last month or so before my wedding...

don't worry about your age difference. my husband is almost 10 years older than me, and if it wasn't written on paper, you wouldn't even know it!

happy planning!

I hope it was a joke! BF actually said "what's wrong with that" . For his sake, I hope he was joking . In a lot of ways, I feel like I am older than Randy, even though he is 19 years older than me. I don't think that I would be happy with someone my own age, and we are good for eachother, so that is all that matters!

I really like the demeitros dress!

Thanks. I will have to see how they look on. I will probably end up with something totally different.

OOOOHHHHH

i like the 1st & the 3rd dresses!!!!!!!!
& the last tiara!!!!!

congrats on your dftw!!!!

i love platinum weddings & big fat fab wedding too!! also rich bride poor bride & married away!!!!lol good shows!!!!!

i think people that have issues with your age gap need to see that love is not about a number(well unless your under 18 & DF is 45 ) but you two are adults...i think its great you two "found" each other !!!

i LOVE horses...worked at the "saddle shop" for 5+years in IL!!!

I love all of those shows to, and I agree that age is just a number (in most cases, lol). Horses are the best! Well, doggies too!

Thanks for reading everyone!

 

[irisbud]

So, today is going to be a big day for me .

First task: e-mail my sister.

Second task: Call my BFF and tell her the news (she has been away and unreachable for 2 weeks, urgh!). She graduates from USC this year, and has no idea where she will be next year. I would like for her to be co-MOH, but if she can't, I understand. We are only having 1-2 attendents each, so if she can't go we will only have 1 each.

Third Task: Visit my mom and tell her my news.

Fourth task: Call Disney FT Weddings and talk to someone. I just want to make sure I am doign the right things at the right times. I also would like for them to pencil me in if they will, but I don't know if they do that for EW or not. I know they can't confirm the WP until eight months out, but I would love to be penciled in!

 

[Fantasia Sam]

don't worry about your age difference. my husband is almost 10 years older than me, and if it wasn't written on paper, you wouldn't even know it!

LOL me too Caryn (and no I wouldn't have known that from your pics!) my hubby is just over 10 older than me, so Irisbud your deffo in great company

Irisbud - good luck with your three tasks today, let us know how it goes. Wow kudos to your sister and her studies It's lovely to see you check on your sister's dates and that she means a lot to you

 

[irisbud]

Well, I got all four things accomplished that I wanted to get accomplished yesterday. The first thing that I did was call DFTW. I spoke to Dani (sp?), whoc was just the sweetest girl. She took all of my information, and asked me a lot of chatty questions that made me feel really comfortable. She told me that someone would be calling me back within three business days, so I am anxiously awaiting that call. Anyone who is nervous about calling, take the advice of others and don't be. As I have said before, I hate the phone, and it was an easy, plesant experience.

Next, I called Carley, my BFF. She was working when I talked to her, so we didn't get much chance to chat, but she was so excited and has agreed to be co MOH in my wedding!

The next call I made was to my sister Katie who won't be graduating until December of 2009, she said. She was also excited to be co MOH in my wedding!

Finally, I worked up the nerve to speak to my mother, and it wasn't great, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. She told be that she was "afraid of that" and that Randy is "too old" for me. I thought about arguing, but I decided that the best thing to do was say that I was really happy and excited, and I value her opinion, so I wish that she would be happy for me. She was never thrilled over the idea, but she wasn't overly rejecting of it, and did like the thought of a WDW wedding, so no immediate need for the ! I understand where she is coming from, but I also don't think that I should end my relationship with Randy and try to find someone closer to my age just because he is older than me. That thought process makes no sense to me. Besides, I am older than me, if that makes sense. I just don't generally connect with other people my own age, unless they are mature as well. I am glad that it wasn't totally horrible. I do wish it had gone a little better, but I guess you can't have everything.

Will post more later!

Thanks for reading!

Amy

 

[mla1977]

Maybe all your mom needs is time to get to know Randy. I hope everything works out for you in the end.

 

[Fantasia Sam]

I understand where she is coming from, but I also don't think that I should end my relationship with Randy and try to find someone closer to my age just because he is older than me. That thought process makes no sense to me. Besides, I am older than me, if that makes sense.

Right all of that makes total sense Amy! I think the call went well and yay for the other tasks silly me I couldn't count yesterday clearly you had 4 tasks not 3 - I need more of this

 

[irisbud]

Maybe all your mom needs is time to get to know Randy. I hope everything works out for you in the end.

I'm sure it will. My dad is ten years older than her, so I'm sure at some point she will just accept it. I hope so, at least.

Right all of that makes total sense Amy!

Glad it makes sense to someone!

 

[padisneyfour]

congrats on getting things started.... sometimes that is the hardest step to make. look forward to hearing more of your plans

 

[irisbud]

Doreen from FTW called this morning! I was so excited to get my first call! She asked me if I had any questions, and I just totally blanked out! She told me that was okay, and said that she would send me an e-mail outline the answers to FAQs they usually get from brides.

Doreen told me that the WP can be booked at eight months (which I already knew thanks to these boards), and that I would be able to book on September 29, 2008 (September 28, 2008 is actually eight months from our date, but this falls on a Sunday).

Now that I got my FAQs, I thought of a couple of questions I want to ask, and maybe you all can help me out and keep me from sounding like a total idiot.

(1) I know there is an area for photos in the back of the WP, with an arched trellis of some kind. Can you see the castle through this trellis, does anyone know? If you can, is it possible to hold a wedding out here if the weather stays good, so long as you pay for the WP so you can have it for backup? We really want an outside wedding, but don't want to chance the weather and being stuck in a conference room or something (Hence the WP). The WP is beautiful, and I will be thrilled to be married there either way, but doing so outside would be great!

(2) Can you do a customized cake with an escape wedding (if you are willing to pay for it?) I don't want a huge cake or anything, and the cake that comes with the package is beautiful, but you are only married once (hopefully!) and I would like to have a cake that is more "us".

Some more wedding things:

Bridesmaid dress options:

I am wanting to do a sleveless dress with a removable sash tied around the front. We will likely do some form of darker blue and either silver or champagne for our wedding colors, so I would want the dress in blue and the sash in the lighter color. Or maybe one dress in blue with the lighter sash and one dress in the lighter color with a blue sash? I want my girls to have something they can wear again, so I definitly want the sash to be removable.

Option 1:

Option 2:

I forgot where I got both of these from! I think they were from Ann Taylor Celebrations, but I am not sure! If not from there, they were from a search on the knot, so I will be able to find them again!

Potential Cake Topper Base:

Potential Cake Topper:

I love Belle from Beauty and the Beast. This is the only Topper I have found so far that has the Beast after his transformation back into a prince. I don't think I really want Beast on my cake. BF may find it insulting...

Another Potential Cake Topper:

This is a lenox carousel horse with some of the Disney charachters on it. We love carousel horses. In fact, BF is planning on building a Miniature carousel after we get enough figurines. I thought maybe, if we got this as a topper, he could have everything built except this one, and it could be the last horse to go on, and the most important one! Or would it look cheesy as a cake topper? I would probably change the base somehow, as it would have to be removed for the mini-carousel anyway!

Thanks for reading!

Amy

 

[Fantasia Sam]

(1) I know there is an area for photos in the back of the WP, with an arched trellis of some kind. Can you see the castle through this trellis, does anyone know? If you can, is it possible to hold a wedding out here if the weather stays good, so long as you pay for the WP so you can have it for backup? We really want an outside wedding, but don't want to chance the weather and being stuck in a conference room or something (Hence the WP). The WP is beautiful, and I will be thrilled to be married there either way, but doing so outside would be great!

(2) Can you do a customized cake with an escape wedding (if you are willing to pay for it?) I don't want a huge cake or anything, and the cake that comes with the package is beautiful, but you are only married once (hopefully!) and I would like to have a cake that is more "us".

(1) yes you can see the castle from that shot. I believe that you can have your wedding out there if you do still pay the WP costs BUT I think there is a STRICT minimum (DFTW staff if you are reading this - forgive me if I'm talking rubbish LOL and I've got this wrong LOL)


(2) well I would have to say yes because anyone can pay for the GF bakery to make a cake anyway so I would deffo get Doreen to give you some upgrade prices!

 

[irisbud]

Hi everyone, thanks for reading!

Well, I sent an e-mail to Doreen with my questions this afternoon. We CAN NOT hold the wedding outside of the WP she sayd because there are no chairs and the organ cannot be heard out there. . Um, put chairs out there and I don't care about the stinking organ; I thought we got a violinist . Anyway, it dosen't really matter; the WP is beautiful. However, when we secure our date, I will keep working on it .

Doreen also said that we CAN upgrade our cake, and that a credit for the cost of the origional cake would be put towards the price of the new cake . She didn't have any options for me at this time, though, and said that after we book, I can send pictures and Disney will see what they can do.

I also asked about a room block. I was told that we can block 10 rooms at a 10% discount from rack rate . I don't think we will need 10 rooms, so I am thinking we might be better off to book a Grand Gathering through Dreams Unlimited. Do they even book these, does anyone know? I've used DU before and can't reccommend them, highly enough. I've gotten better than 10% with AAA, so Disney's offer dosen't seem like a very good deal to me. Also, if we do the Grand Gathering, we could do one of the cool extra GG activiteis. The safari dinner looks awesome, and BF would love it! Has anyone done this? Thoughts? Suggestions?

I also asked about extra floral, and was told that my bridesmaids boquets would be $75-$150 each . I wanted rose petals down the aisle too, but they said $10 per bag. How many bags would this take, roughly ? Does anyone know.

Finally, I asked about music. I like the violinist fine, but I wanted some Disney songs for the ceremony instead of traditional songs. Some songs I thought of were the theme from Spectromagic (we love this parade), the "transformation" orchestral from Beauty and the Beast, and the Beauty & the Beast theme song. She said that these shouldn't be a problem, and that they will try to accomodate music choices. .

Sorry for boring anyone, I just thought these answers may help some others.

 

[mla1977]

I'm on your side about this.

I often have to travel with DBF and his dad and brother. He gave me a lot of crap about going to DLR in 2006 and not bringiing his brother along with us. I told him it was wrong to take his brother out of school (esp since he wasn't doing very good to begin with) and he had just been a year earlier AND he would be joining us the following year at WDW. I was stessed and didn't enjoy myself as much because of his attitude. Fast forward a year to WDW. Traveling with his dad and brother is like traveling with two kids. I was thankful that my parents joined us (they do whatever I tell them to) because I was able to tell his dad where to go (in a good way, not in the way you think ) and I was able to tour the world at my own pace. The times that we had everyone together were way to stressful for me and I had to retreat to my happy place (blocking everyone else out and enjoying the scenery).

Good luck getting him to agree with you. I would think that after a week, everyone else would be burned out and would be happy to head home while you tow went on your honeymoon.

 

[shezfrombermuda]

I share your pain with you about the cruise! I am also getting married on a Thursday and then leaving Sunday for a 4 night cruise. My situation is different though because I have two kids. My parents really wanted to go on the cruise as well. I don't have a problem with this since they will take care of the kids and give us some alone time. They are going to be at Disney 3 nights before the wedding.

My BIL and FIL say if you are going for 3 weeks we are going for 3 weeks!! I explained that we are not going for that long. His BIL is making sure he is on the same flight as us both ways, they are staying at the same hotel as us, and going on the cruise as well!!! And my FIL does not want to go to Disney and even said he has no desire to go on a cruise! Travelling with them is like traveling with two kids as well and they can't do anything on their own. After the cruise they are coming back to Orlando with us. I just hope they don't ruin the whole trip.

I don't know the answers to your other questions but I think it is proper etiquette for your bridesmaids to throw you a shower, not your mother. If she did have a shower she shouldn't have it at your house if she is the host!

 

[Fantasia Sam]

I also asked about a room block. I was told that we can block 10 rooms at a 10% discount from rack rate . I don't think we will need 10 rooms, so I am thinking we might be better off to book a Grand Gathering through Dreams Unlimited. Do they even book these, does anyone know?

Real quick yes Dreams do do Grand Gatherings I'll come back on the other stuff {hug} in the morning - I'm off for an early night, urghh I hate the time difference sometimes.

 

[irisbud]

Hi ladies,

Why do school and work have to get in the way of DISsing?!?

Well, BF and I went out for Valentine's day last night (try to beat the crowds), and he was asking me questions about how all the wedding stuff at Disney works and how the rooms, etc. would work out for our guests. I was explaining everything to him and he was very disappointed that there wasn't more of a discount avalible. At this point, he asked me what would be avalible as the time grew closer, and I told him, honestly, that I doubted anything would, as we would be going during summer season, and Disney really dosen't need to entice people to their rooms at that point.

We also talked about how the parks would be crowded at that time, and how that was a concern for me. Many of our guests have never been to Disney and will probably never go again. Hosting them during summer has seemed like a dubious idea from the start, but BF origionally told me that he wanted to be married in late spring-early summer so that we could have a party back home.

I told him, honestly, that I think it would be better to do our wedding in mid January-mid February of 2009. Not only is this value season, the parks aren't nearly as crowded. He & I have always taken our trips during value season, and though I have been at others times, he has not (the park was a little crowded during early Jan this year, think 45-60 min waits for E-tickets, and he thought it was too full). I told him that he would not enjoy the summer as well, that it is hot & humid, crowded & expensive. By going in January instead of May, we would save $1500+ on our room at WDW and 4 night cruise!

So now we are seriously considering moving the date to sometimes in January of 2009, so long as everyone else is cool with that. My sister will be back in school, but she is a really good student and could probably miss a day or two if she had to. My mom will be teaching again then also, but it is easier for her to get time off in January than in May.

I called some dress stores around here, and no one has any of the dresses I was considering , so now I am looking at these. Both are by Alfred Angelo:

The three above are all the same dress. I would want it in white instead of pink. I like that it is clean and fairly simple in the front but still beautiful and princessy in the back.

This is the second dress I am thinking about. The second picture of it shows it in the color I am considering. BF really like this dress (I am letting him look at pics with me, but won't let him see the actual thing or me in it until our big day). I do too, but am not sure about the whole color thing. My biggest concern is that they won't have this color in the shop, so I will have to get it made and therefore won't know what it looks like exactly until I already own it. I like the color, but I don't want it to be too much. I guess I will just have to look at it.

If I got the dress with color, I would probably go BM dresses similar to this, in the same color blue as is on the dress, but with the ribbion in either champagne or silver, which ever we decide on as our second color.

I am really lucky that both of my girls have about the same build, so what one looks good in the other will (hopefully). If they want, though, they can pick different dresses so long as they are similar and the same color.

Also, has anyone had any experience with seperates? I was looking at these for my girls on the Alfred Angelo site. There are some that I think would look nice together, but they don't look like they match. One looks shiney and the other matte, or something. I choose the same colors, but one looks darker. I know they are just pictures, but has anyone used this? I think it would be practical in some ways, but I want a polished, pulled together look. I just don't want something cheap looking.

 

[OceanGdss]

I LOVE your dress picks!! (the 1st is my fave ) I am using an alfred angelo design for both my dress and my BM's. I had to order mine online because no one around me had the dress I wanted, but I lucked out by doing this and got 75% off!!! So definately worth the trouble!

As for moving the date, I think that is a great idea. Being a fellow Disney "expert" I know the differences in the parks those times of year. Jan-Feb is MUCH better! (Just stay away from the 1st week of the year...New Years & Marathon crowds) You will enjoy it so much more in MHO. Best of luck in whatever you decide

ps~ Looks like we have the same colors!

 

[lpizzuro123]

I am also choosing an Alfred Angelo dress with color. I am going with a white dress with claret accents. I really wasn't thinking about color and then I tried one on and loved it. My girls (I have 3 of them) will be in Alfred Angelo also in the claret color but I am letting them each choose their own dress. AA has so many great BM dresses and most of them come in the 55 different colors that AA makes. They also have a great separates line so they can pick out their own skirt and their own top.

Looking forward to reading more.

Linda

 

[lpizzuro123]

As far as the AA separates go - we have looked at them in a few different stores and they look much nicer in person then on the website. Some of the skirts look duller on the website, I think those skirts have like a chiffon material the others that look shiny are a satin type material. My girls have tried both on and they do mix and match well with the tops.

There are also some great bolaro style jackets that are not on the website and some shawls. The jackets come in a short sleeve and 3/4 sleeve. Not sure of the prices - someone on the boards said the jackets were on the expensive side. Honestly when we did our first dress outing we were not looking at prices that closely.

Happy shopping.

Linda

 

[irisbud]

I LOVE your dress picks!! (the 1st is my fave ) I am using an alfred angelo design for both my dress and my BM's. I had to order mine online because no one around me had the dress I wanted, but I lucked out by doing this and got 75% off!!! So definately worth the trouble!

As for moving the date, I think that is a great idea. Being a fellow Disney "expert" I know the differences in the parks those times of year. Jan-Feb is MUCH better! (Just stay away from the 1st week of the year...New Years & Marathon crowds) You will enjoy it so much more in MHO. Best of luck in whatever you decide

ps~ Looks like we have the same colors!

I think that we are definitely going to move our date up. we are changing our date to 01-22-2009, if it is avalible.

I love the colors!

I am also choosing an Alfred Angelo dress with color. I am going with a white dress with claret accents. I really wasn't thinking about color and then I tried one on and loved it. My girls (I have 3 of them) will be in Alfred Angelo also in the claret color but I am letting them each choose their own dress. AA has so many great BM dresses and most of them come in the 55 different colors that AA makes. They also have a great separates line so they can pick out their own skirt and their own top.

Looking forward to reading more.

Linda

As far as the AA separates go - we have looked at them in a few different stores and they look much nicer in person then on the website. Some of the skirts look duller on the website, I think those skirts have like a chiffon material the others that look shiny are a satin type material. My girls have tried both on and they do mix and match well with the tops.

There are also some great bolaro style jackets that are not on the website and some shawls. The jackets come in a short sleeve and 3/4 sleeve. Not sure of the prices - someone on the boards said the jackets were on the expensive side. Honestly when we did our first dress outing we were not looking at prices that closely.

Happy shopping.

Linda

I think they have a lot of great options to. This is what I am going to do with my girls, just let them choose what they want so long as it is the right color and from the AA line, so everything matches somewhat. I want them to have something they love and can wear again. Glad to hear that the seperates look better in person than on the internet. One of my girls is two different sizes (top and bottom), so seperates may be the way to go for her.

Thanks everyone for reading!

 

[irisbud]

Opinions please!

When did you register? We only want to do two registries. I want to do the Disney Honeymoon registry and BB&B or the like. BF just wants to do Disney Honeymoon, but I told him I think we should offer another option for people who like to give tangible gifts. I said we could just choose a few things, and if asked tell people that we really perfer them to give us gifts from the Disney registry. He says we don't need anything for the house anyway, but I think we can always look at getting upgrades for what we have ! I was thinking we could just pick a few things we really like and go from there. He wishes they had a registry at Home Depot

Does anyone think the whole registry thing is wierd? I mean, we are going to do it because I know the tastes of some of our guests and I would rather guide them in the correct direction, but it seems sort of greedy, in a way. I guess that dosen't make much sense, but it does me me feel a little odd.

BF gave me the sweetes card last night. He never does anything like that, so I wasn't expecting it, and found it laying on my pillow when I got ready for bed. He found a Mickey Mouse card that said "I love you with all my heart". It was so cute and sweet I nearly cried . I know I'm going to be a blubbering wreck at our wedding...

Thanks for reading!

Amy