Jilian & BT's VR 3/24/12 Crescent Terr/Il Mulino - Last of the Randy Chapman pics up!

[PrincessElla]

I'm so sorry for the loss of your DH's Grandfather.

 

[MrsDuck]

YAY for 2 months!! I'm sorry you're sick though.. maybe it's time for a trip to the DR? I hope it's not bronchitis!

I'm so sorry for your loss. My grandma is 92 and we know her time is short. Even though we are "prepared" I know it will still be tough to when she goes. I hope you all find peace soon.

Can't wait to see more of your plans!

 

[DoomBuggy0922]

I'm sorry for your and your husband's loss, Jillian. <3 I hope you feel better soon.

But: less than 3 months now!!

 

[Jilian]

Thanks everyone

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Jilian sweetie - Just wanted to chime in and say that I am so sorry that you are going through a difficult time.
My love and condolences to Brian on his sad loss and I hope this message finds you feeling a little better!!
Chin up sweetie!!!!

 

[2dogmom]

I'm so sorry to her about his grandfather. Make sure you take some time to rest and get better.

 

[Jilian]

You are all so kind. I'm still not feeling so hot but I'm taking it easy ...well...as easy as you can take it with 3 kids to take care of. I still managed to cut out a few more mickey heads so I can keep going on the mickey head fans. I've been watching "My Fair Wedding" with David Tuttera too while I rest. Wow, that guy does some amazing weddings!

 

[Jilian]

So I've been busy again and I'm almost done with the Mickey Head fans. I have 32 done, only 8 more to go.

I think I'm changing my mind about floral again. I'm really trying to go for the romantic look and I just love these flower arrangements:

So I've emailed Karen asking for a quote on 2 flower arrangments for the ceremony. Then I just said eff it and asked for a quote for a bouquet for me and bouts for the guys. So much for saving money by doing it myself. But you know what? I really just want everything to be the way I want it. We've waited so long to actually be able to have our wedding and I don't want to compromise, I want it how I've always pictured it. No regrets! So hopefully Karen will get back to me with good news and I'll get to get the flowers I love.

 

[Jilian]

And the spending continues...

I'm thinking that these last 2.5 mos are gonna be really expensive. I'm considering booking Randy for another hour. As of now we have him for 2 hours before the ceremony for a first look and pictures, then we have him for the hour of the ceremony. Then he's done and we leave for dinner @ Il Mulino. But I'm thinking that the Il Mulino will be so pretty and I really want pictures there too. So I'm gonna email him about adding on another hour. Hopefully it isn't too late. But will that be weird to book him for during dinner? I doubt people want pictures of themselves eating...lol. I'd hope that he would stop to eat with us for a bit and not feel obligated to shoot the whole time.

Another thing I keep going back to is the staged exit with rose petals. I love those pictures and I'm really thinking of adding that on. I don't think the rose petals are that much, it was $75 to add enough to line the 25' aisle of crescent terrace so I'm guessing it will be about the same for enough handfuls of petals for 40 people.

H didn't want Mickey and Minnie I'm a bit sad because I thought it would be an awesome way to surprise everyone. He's creeped out by characters that don't talk. But then the other day he slipped and told me he was thinking of surprising ME with them. Then I told him how much they were and that he would have had to plan stuff for them to do and go over it all with the planner, etc. So I don't think we're doing M&M, unless we get a massive tax return and add it in. Hey, its only money, right? H's motto is "Go big or go home"

I'm on a mission to get stuff done now. I'm dosed up on some crazy cough medicine that my doctor gave me and I feel like I'll probably never sleep again. Back to work I go!

 

[MrsDuck]

I ADORE your new floral inspiration! SO gorgeous! I think you're making the right decision-- just do it! You'll be so happy with it in the end! Crossing my fingers that the quotes are resonably priced!

I'd add Randy for another hour and do the rose petals too- it would be gorgeous!

I agree with H's motto!

I hope you feel better ASAP girlie!!

 

[2dogmom]

Those flowers are so pretty.

(I PM'ed you regarding your fans.)

 

[MrsDrewsky]

Jilian, I just adore your style, and all the choices you have made. Your wedding is going to be beautiful.

Here's hoping for a great tax return!

 

[Jilian]

Thanks, I really love the floral too. Still waiting to hear back from Karen. I'm getting worried that they are gonna be a fortune and I already have my heart set on them. Karen has slowed down in getting back to me, I think it is because she may have started her new position. I guess it could be the holidays too.

I went ahead and added another course to our menu too. We went with apps: meatballs and the meat/cheese platter. We were having trouble meeting the $3,000 minimum now that the count will be closer to 40 people. Our menu was only $55 pp (with a few kids who would be ordering off the kids menu) so that would have left us about $1,100 left to drink. We like to drink but come on, $1,100 in less than 3 hours?! So this gives us more like $750 to drink, that we can probably do.

I emailed Randy to see if he knew whether or not we could shoot at the Grand Floridian before the ceremony. He mentioned before that if there was a DFTW bride there at that time that we would have to do a different location. I still haven't heard back. I'm really worried about this. I have my heart set on getting the GF pictures, especially the chandellier shot. I think I'll probably cry if he says I can't do pictures there. Fingers crossed that it all works out.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Jilian sweetie - Just catching up!!
I absolutely LOVE the new floral inspiration!!!! I am very much a 'real flowers' girl and the ones you have chosen are so gorgeous!!!
Randy is very careful about not intruding on the 'space' of DFTW brides. When we arrived at the GF after our VR, there was a DFTW bride having photos done on the staircase. We just went outside and did those shots and the beach shots, and when we came back inside, she had gone and we had the run of the place!!! Since, however, you plan on a shoot at the GF before the ceremony, I guess you have a stricter time schedule to stick to and if a DFTW bride gets in the way it will be more difficult to work around!!

 

[Jilian]

Thanks Joanne, I knew you'd love the real flower plan! BTW, color me shocked that you are turning 50. You are fabulous at fifty, enjoy your fiesta and make sure you do a TR so we can all follow along.

I've been on a major VR project spree! I scored some beautiful frames at Michaels this week during their frame sale. They were 40% off then I used a bonus coupon for an extra 25% off, so these pretty frames were only $6! AND, I can use them after the VR for VR pictures. The pictures don't do them justice, all of the spots that look like silver beads are actually jewels, they sparkle a lot.

Here they are with my table numbers:

Here is a bigger frame to displat my Mickey & Minnie picture on the place card table. This was only $9 after coupons!

I also started making my place cards. I got the place card holders from PinkMiss3 a while back, she only had me pay shipping which was really sweet of her! They go perfectly with our castle theme.

I'm still waiting to hear back from Karen about the new flower arrangments. I guess the florist had to contact some peony vendors from out of the country - that isn't a good sign. I told her it was ok to substitute other flowers in for the peonies as long as the overall look was similar. So I'm just waiting.

Randy Chapman said he'd get back to me this week to let me know if we can shoot at the GF before the ceremony. Fingers and toes crossed. I really want that chandellier shot!

I'm just about done with the Mickey head fans, just waiting on some bows from an etsy seller so I can make some fans Mickeys and other Minnies. I really like how they've come out so far! I wrapped some of the sticks in hot pink ribbon and others in blue ribbon. I can completely see why some vendors sell these for $20 each. I've spent so much time making these! BTW, look at the banners this etsy seller makes: http://www.etsy.com/listing/68304899/minnie-mouse-happy-birthday-banner I'm trying to find one to need. I think they would be so cute in the hotel room window! But, I had already planned on having the kids help me make our decorations and they're really excited about it. I'm totally having a Minnie mouse party for dd one day and buying a banner though. She makes gift bags too!

 

[roxysmum123]

I love the lettering on the table numbers! The little mickey heads are a really sweet little detail!

 

[Jilian]

Thanks! Its the baroque script font and I shrunk little Mickey heads down as tiny as I could and added them in to bring in some Disney

 

[2dogmom]

Love the frames and definitely something that will look great reused! The banner would be cute!

 

[Jilian]

Thanks I think we're gonna make our own mini banner with the Mickey head template I have.

Karen finally got back to me and the flowers are pretty affordable. She offered either the peonies or a substitution of garden roses. I just adore garden roses so I'm going with them instead but the overall look will be really similar. The pedestal arrangements are $140/each. The bouquet in my picture was $385, they could make a smaller one for $225 or substitute the garden roses in and it goes down to $125! I'm going with the garden roses so it all matches. Bouts are $12.95 each. So here is the breakdown:

Pedestal arrangements $140/ea x 2 = $280
Pedestal rental (pair) =$35
Small bridal bouquet (bridesmaid size) =$125
bouts $12.95/ea x 3 =$39
Rose petals to lightly line the sides of the crscent terrace aisle then a few more for a staged exit =$150

So my floral total is $629 I think there is a delivery fee too but I'm not sure what it will be. Before it was $20. I'm so happy with the total. I was scared it would come back in the thousands and break my heart.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Jilian sweetie - Love the frames!!! You did a really good job!!
Glad that the florist quote is affordable. You know what an advocate I am for real flowers and I think yours will be stunning!!! Which florist are you working with?