Joanne and Paul's VR - 4th May 2011

[momto1]

I am so glad that you had a good experience at The Turf Club. We found them last summer by chance and would like to go their during our VR next summer!

Lori

 

[Tinker Bell Fan]

Hi Joanne!

Love the TR so far. Turf Club is great - DH & I will be at SSR this October! We decided we need a vacation in the Fall and will be (hopefully) attending Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween party. DH has never been yet - I've been twice!

Can't wait to see more pictures!

hugs!

 

[Groom Mickey]

I continue to read your TR and how much fun you had. Hard to believe it has been over a month now. I have to get on my TR but have very little picture wise. Has Randy gotten your pictures to you yet. Keep on writing, enjoying every minute of it.

 

[Kasper]

Hello Joanne,
I am having a blast reading all about your VR. You looked so beautiful. I am holding my breath waiting to read some more and see the pictures. This may sound sentimental but I love the photos of your son and daughter being silly drinking the cokes. Reminds me of my son and daughter. It truly captures how much your children love each other and how close your family must be. I wish I could meet all of you. I can't wait to see the pictures Randy took of your special day.
We are all set for Jessica's wedding ceremony at the Swan on Dec. 22nd. Karen is so nice and has been so helpful. She sure responds quickly. It looks like we will go with Citricos for the dinner after also. Out of all the places we contacted and Jessica loving the menu at Citricos there doesn't seem any better place. Not to mention at Christmas the GF will be amazing I am sure. What time was your dinner? Did you get to see the fireworks during your dinner? How long were you able to linger at the dinner?
I would also be interested in knowing who you used for transportation for the VR and also you said you did a minibus one day. Were they expensive?
Thanks for the help.

 

[Goofy4Ever]

Hi Joanne!!!
Just saw your pics on Randy FB page!!! They turned out awesome!
Everything looked so nice and loved the TTD pictures

Lisa

 

[Jilian]

Oh wow! I just rushed on over to facebook to see them too. What beautiful pictures Joanne! You must be so pleased. It looks like the TTD was a lot of fun and your ceremony was beautiful. I love the staged exit photos, you both look like you're having such a great time.

 

[quandrea]

Joanne, I am in the midst of planning a VR with Karen at the Swan for Dec. How did you go about getting favours brought to the site and set out? How was the cake handled. Did you have any decorations at the site that needed putting up and if so who did it. Also with your welcome packs, how did they get to your guests at various hotels? Did you leave them with the front desK? We are hoping to have afternoon tea in the West Courtyard immediately following the ceremony and I was wondering how I will get my favours and decorations there. Does Karen do it? TIA

 

[tinkerbell 766]

I love the photo in front of World of Disney. It is very artistic.

What a lovely surprise and I agree that this was all the more special as everybody contributed.

Corinna

What a great surprise to come back to! How sweet of your family to do that for you both. Great TR so far!

Lovely new installment, Joanne! What a sweet surprise your daughter and guests arranged for you -- so very thoughtful!

How nice of them to sort that out for you.

Hi Joanne!

Wow what a lovely day - and great pictures of the Disney Florist surprise! I have booked that for DF (or.. will be DH very soon!) for when we are at the Grand Floridian, can't wait to surprise him



Emma x

What a wonderful surprise! You have a beautiful family too!

I am so glad that you had a good experience at The Turf Club. We found them last summer by chance and would like to go their during our VR next summer!

Lori

Hi Joanne!

Love the TR so far. Turf Club is great - DH & I will be at SSR this October! We decided we need a vacation in the Fall and will be (hopefully) attending Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween party. DH has never been yet - I've been twice!

Can't wait to see more pictures!

hugs!

I continue to read your TR and how much fun you had. Hard to believe it has been over a month now. I have to get on my TR but have very little picture wise. Has Randy gotten your pictures to you yet. Keep on writing, enjoying every minute of it.

Hello Joanne,
I am having a blast reading all about your VR. You looked so beautiful. I am holding my breath waiting to read some more and see the pictures. This may sound sentimental but I love the photos of your son and daughter being silly drinking the cokes. Reminds me of my son and daughter. It truly captures how much your children love each other and how close your family must be. I wish I could meet all of you. I can't wait to see the pictures Randy took of your special day.
We are all set for Jessica's wedding ceremony at the Swan on Dec. 22nd. Karen is so nice and has been so helpful. She sure responds quickly. It looks like we will go with Citricos for the dinner after also. Out of all the places we contacted and Jessica loving the menu at Citricos there doesn't seem any better place. Not to mention at Christmas the GF will be amazing I am sure. What time was your dinner? Did you get to see the fireworks during your dinner? How long were you able to linger at the dinner?
I would also be interested in knowing who you used for transportation for the VR and also you said you did a minibus one day. Were they expensive?
Thanks for the help.

Hi Joanne!!!
Just saw your pics on Randy FB page!!! They turned out awesome!
Everything looked so nice and loved the TTD pictures

Lisa

Oh wow! I just rushed on over to facebook to see them too. What beautiful pictures Joanne! You must be so pleased. It looks like the TTD was a lot of fun and your ceremony was beautiful. I love the staged exit photos, you both look like you're having such a great time.

Joanne, I am in the midst of planning a VR with Karen at the Swan for Dec. How did you go about getting favours brought to the site and set out? How was the cake handled. Did you have any decorations at the site that needed putting up and if so who did it. Also with your welcome packs, how did they get to your guests at various hotels? Did you leave them with the front desK? We are hoping to have afternoon tea in the West Courtyard immediately following the ceremony and I was wondering how I will get my favours and decorations there. Does Karen do it? TIA

So sorry I have been AWOL from this TR for a while. Work has been super busy and Henry just finished his BA in Drama and Theatre Studies at University, so we have had to re-locate him to a new flat with his girlfriend Katie. Henry intends to work for a couple of years and gather funds to pay his way through drama school (he has his eye on RADA, but we'll see).
Thank you all for your lovely comments

Corinna - That photo is one of my favourites too!!! Craig is very sneaky when taking photos but they end up being very interesting!!! It was a lovely surprise and meant all the more because every one of our guests made it possible!!!

Sweet Krysten - Thank you. It was the best of surprises!!! Thank you for sticking with the TR!!!

Amy sweetie - yes, it meant so much to us!!

Claire sweetie - They are a sweet bunch really!!!

Emma sweetie - Disney Florist is the best!!! I am sure your very soon to be DH will love his surprise!!!!

Jilian sweetie - Thank you for the comments about my family!! I think they are beautiful, but I am a tad biased!!!

Lori - We absolutely loved the Turf Club Grill!!! It is a bit of a hidden gem, I feel. Good luck planning your VR - I would love to hear more about it!!! Are you doing a PJ?

Michelle sweetie - I am so envious that you are planning a trip in the autumn!!! I fear my next trip is over a year away!!! May squeeze in a little trip to Paris if I can so as I can get my Disney fix!!!
I have never done MNSSHP, but would love to. I have done MVMCP and the Pirate and Princess party and loved them both!!
I have only stayed at SSR once but loved it!!! It is so big and not as themed as some of the other resorts, but very peaceful!!!

Dearest James - Great to hear from you!!!! I am waiting until I receive all of Randy's photos before I review the big day itself!!! Idid, however, yesterday get some 'sneek peeks' come through. I am thrilled with them!! Worth the wait!!! I am making a trip to visit family at the end of July, and would love to have the CDs by them so as I can show off our photos!!! We have two (VR and TTD) and they will have to come by mail to the UK, which takes time, so I will have to jivvy Randy up a bit I think. I hate to nag though, as I know he is so busy!!!

Teresa sweetie - Thank you for your lovely comments!!! My daughter and sons are all very close!! I am very lucky!!! I really wish we could meet too!!! I would love to be out in Florida at the time of your daughter's wedding so I could have a nosy little look!!! I am sure it will be beautiful!! It has been planned out with so much love and dedication, how can it be anything else!!!
I am certain that you will not be disappointed with Citricos!!! They really were amazing!! The service was outstanding and the food exquisite!! We didn't end up viewing the fireworks from the GF in the end!! We found out the previous evening that the CM on duty at the Top of the World Lounge at BLT, would allow our guests who were not staying at BLT (they were staying at AKV), to accompany us up to the lounge on our special night (usually only DVC members staying at BLT on points are allowed access - no guests). We ended up viewing the fireworks from up there and it was fantastic - an amazing view!!!
We never felt at all rushed during dinner at Citricos and felt we could have sat there all night if we wished. I am sure you will be able to linger long enough to be able to go down to the Marina and see the fireworks. I am not sure you would get a good view from the restaurant itself, and I don't think that they pipe in the music (I may be wrong though!!).
We rented a 10 minibus for the journey to SSR for our Welcome Dinner as the resort is a bit awkward to get to!!! It worked out well and was very reasonable. I am really sorry, but I can't remember the name of the company we used and I have thrown away the paperwork now!!! I just googled 'Orlando minibus hire' and e-mailed several companies for quotes. We only had the minibus one-way and it was about $60.00 including gratuity. It was about $6.00 per passenger. Sorry I can't be more help!!

Lisa sweetie - Thank you!!! I am thrilled with them. I am sure the rest will be just as good!!

Jilian sweetie - Thank you!! We were having the time of our lives!!!

Quandrea - Because we had a reception meal at the GF, our favours were actuallu delivered there the day before the VR and put on the table for my guests at Citricos!! We did, however, have things we wanted put out on the ceremony chairs. DH and I travelled to the ceremony in an earlier limo to our guests, as we had done a 'first look' and wanted to get our photographs done around the Swan and the Boardwalk before the ceremony. Our DD (our MOH) travelled in this limo with us, took the box of things to be laid out with her, and she and Karen set them out on the chairs before the ceremony started Here is what we had put out on the chairs

Paddle fans (very welcomed by our guests as it was so hot), confetti bags and Order of Service programmes
The only decoration we had at the ceremony location was floral and that was set up by our florist.
We handed out our Welcome bags in person as we only had guests at two different resorts and it was easy to do!!
As for the cake, our outside vendor set up the cake at the venue for us and we paid a small amount ($3.00 per guest) to hire a Swan server to cut and serve our cake for us. This price also included plates and flatware. They also boxed up the cake after the ceremony and it travelled in the limo with my daughter to the reception and then back to our resort. I think that if you get your cake through the Swan, the handling is included. HTH. I am sure Karen can help you plan all these things, but if I can help with anything else, don't hesitiate to ask!!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

For those of my friends who are still awake and interested, the sainted Randy has posted a few 'sneek peeks' on his website!!

http://chapmanphotography.typepad.com/

We are thrilled with them and if the rest are as good as this, I will be one happy lady!!! Hope you like them!!

 

[quandrea]

Thanks so much Joanne. We may end up having our reception dinner at Grand Floridian Cafe instead of the tea on site. I'm a bit concerned about a $150 per person staffing charge that was in my quote--we'll see. I love your ideas about the fan and order of ceremony. I may do that too. I'm trying to do a lot myself. I guess Karen will walk me through all of this. We haven't written up a contact yet, so I imagine we are still in the early stages. Things will come together as the day nears. It is a bit strange doing everything from so far away.

I'd like to start a journal too, but don't know how to do things like mult-quote and include photos or a table of contents with links. ANy help on that. Thanks so much. I'm loving your journal and have used it for inspiration for my special day.

 

[dolphingirl47]

For those of my friends who are still awake and interested, the sainted Randy has posted a few 'sneek peeks' on his website!!

http://chapmanphotography.typepad.com/

We are thrilled with them and if the rest are as good as this, I will be one happy lady!!! Hope you like them!!

The photos are absolutely amazing.

Corinna

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Thanks so much Joanne. We may end up having our reception dinner at Grand Floridian Cafe instead of the tea on site. I'm a bit concerned about a $150 per person staffing charge that was in my quote--we'll see. I love your ideas about the fan and order of ceremony. I may do that too. I'm trying to do a lot myself. I guess Karen will walk me through all of this. We haven't written up a contact yet, so I imagine we are still in the early stages. Things will come together as the day nears. It is a bit strange doing everything from so far away.

I'd like to start a journal too, but don't know how to do things like mult-quote and include photos or a table of contents with links. ANy help on that. Thanks so much. I'm loving your journal and have used it for inspiration for my special day.

The photos are absolutely amazing.

Corinna

Quandrea - Thank you for saying my journal has been an inspiration!! It makes all the time spent writing it totally worth it. I am thrilled that it has been of some help to you!!
That said, it hasn't been the best organized of journals. I have never done the index with links thing, but I guess the way to do it would be to copy the address at the top of the page to which you are linking, paste it into your first post and then just edit the wording. Since I have never done it, however, I may be wrong!!!
I do know how to multiquote!!! Just to the right of the quote icon is another icon which looks a bit like a pair of quotation marks. For every post you wish to include in your reply, you click on this icon (when you click on it, it turns orange). When you come to the last post you wish to include, you click on quote (which also turns orange) and they should all then appear in your reply!! Good luck!!
We looked in to the GF Cafe for our reception dinner and e-mailed back and forth with the manager a few times. She was lovely and couldn't have been more helpful, but couldn't guarantee that our whole party would sit together. I really could not bear the idea of our guests potentially having to sit away from us, so we discounted the GF Cafe as an option.
If it is tea you are planning, have you considered the Garden View Tearoom at the GF? I had tea here with the girls the day before our VR and it was beyond amazing. I am going to be reviewing it in the next installment of this TR so stay tuned!!!

Corinna sweetie - Thank you so much!!! We are thrilled with them, but it just makes me more impatient to see the rest!!!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Today was to see the first of our 'planned events' and I awoke very excited and feeling that things were really getting underway now!!
We had a breakfast ADR at O'Hana's. This is one of our favourite places to eat breakfast and we eat here most trips. Stitch is a great favourite of my daughter (she is 23 and, like me, has never grown up!!) and the food is always delicious!!! I really love the pineapple bread!!
The restaurant were a little behind and we had a bit of a wait to be seated. We were a large party (14) and that size of party is not easy just to 'squeeze in' somewhere. I understood this, and really our wait was only about 20 minutes long, but both the mothers did nothing but moan about the wait I had to sit and wait away from them to prevent my saying something I would later regret!!!
Anyway, we had a wonderful breakfast. Here are a few pictures

My wonderful friend Karen and her gorgeous daughter Bethany

Henry and Alfie with Pluto

Bethany and Ella with the Main Mouse

Emily with her best boy!!

Me and my Mouse!!

After breakfast (which was more brunch as the ADR was for 11.00), everybody decided that they would go swimming (my friends who were staying at AKV went off to their pool and the rest went back to BLT). I went back to our room as I was expecting Lori from 'Loftis Productions' who was coming to steam my dress ready for tomorrow.
Lori was right on time (despite the inevitable 'gaining entry' problems - see my review of BLT if you have no idea what I mean), and did a fantastic job of getting my dress ready for the big day and then hiding it again from prying eyes!!!
By the time Lori left (we did spend some time just chatting!), it was time to get ready for the afternoon's events. Everybody had returned from swimming and the villa was a hive of activity as people (particularly the ladies) got themselves all dolled up!!
We were to meet those who were staying at AKV, in the Contempory lobby and all travel together to our events. When everybody had arrived, I handed out the favour bags I had made for everybody. They were all thrilled with them, and I am so glad I took the time to do them. Little Ella was really pleased with her bag as it contained an 'Alice' doll. Those who have been kind enough to follow my PJ, will know that my teaparty was loosly themed on the original 'Alice in Wonderland' book as it was a favourite of mine in childhood. The Alice doll, however, was a Disney one as it was all I could find!!
The boys went off to have lunch at 'The Fountain' at the Dolphin and then play miniature golf at 'Fantasia Gardens'. I believe that after golf there was an 'impromptu' stop at the 'Boardwalk' for a couple of beers!!!
We girls caught the monorail over to GF for our tea at the 'GardenView Tearoom'. We had all dressed up in dresses, hats and fascinators and attracted quite a bit of attention!!!
Here we are all dressed up

My daughter is missing from the photo as she is taking it!!

The ladies serving at the Tearoom were lovely and so thrilled that we had all dressed up for the occasion!!
We all had the 'Buckingham Palace Tea', which includes a plate of various sandwiches with an onion tart, scone with jam and cream with a jam tart and your choice between strawberries and cream or two pastries from the tray. It also includes your choice of tea. I chose the 'Princess Blend' which was sweet and delicious!! Ella had the 'Mrs Potts' tea, which was the children's tea and featured chocolate milk served in a teapot!!
It was all so delicious and served so beautifully on 'Royal Albert' china. We all had a wonderful time and agreed it was a lovely experience - although, if I am honest, it was no different from taking Afternoon Tea anywhere in England. One server took great pride in informing us that the cream had come all the way from Devon, England. She laughed when my friend Karen informed her that she had also come all the way from Devon, England!!
Here are a few photos

Tracey and Ella

Sweet Princess

Scones and jam tart

Scones again

Ladies taking tea

My beautiful daughter

Ella pouring her 'tea'

Strawberries and cream

My choice from the pastry tray

Me tipping my pinkie and pretending to be refined!!!

After tea, Emily and I went up to Citrico's to drop off the favours for the next day. It was a chance to meet Vivianna (the manager) who had been so helpful in helping me plan our reception dinner. She was not going to be present at our reception dinner (due to other arrangements) and I was keen to meet her and give her a little thank you present. She was absolutely lovely, and I am so glad I made the effort to go and meet her!!!
We returned to our room to change and meet the boys. Since we were all so full from breakfast/lunch/tea, we had a snack from the Contempo Cafe and them headed to Top of the World lounge for a drink. I was keen that nobody see the fireworks until we saw them on the VR day, so we all sat inside with our backs to the window whilst they were on!!!
We were chatting to the CM who escorted us up to the TOTWL, and he informed us that he was on duty again the next evening and if we wanted to end our VR day up there for fireworks and drinks, he would allow our guests staying at AKV up there with us!!! We were amazed, as usually only guests staying at BLT on points are allowed up there (no guests). I was thrilled that we would be able to do that and that my other guests would get the chance to visit TOTWL!!!
I was full of excitement as I went to bed that night. Tomorrow was our special day - the day we had been planning and dreaming of for so long!!!!

There will now be a break in this TR. I really want to do justice to our big day, so will be waiting until we receive the rest of Randy's photos before I review it. Thamk you to all my sweet friends for your patience!!!!

 

[disneybarbie]

Hi Joanne.. lovely update, the afternoon tea looks perfect! great that you all dressed up for it too.

Btw also love your new signature with the VR photos, beautiful!



Emma x

 

[disneemama]

new pics are so cute, love Emily's fascinator(hope thats the proper name) for the tea, you all look fabulous. We were on property at that time, took everything in me not to pop in to say hello! I have Randy's website on my FB so I was able to see your sneek peeks a few days ago.
We still have not heard from DPS!

 

[Tinker Bell Fan]

Sorry I've been sort of missing in action - been taking care of a sick kitty, who passed away yesterday.

But I wanted to tell you I just love the pictures from Randy! Oh wow!!! you look so beautiful and so happy!

I love the pics from the Tea too! Absolutely loving your TR!

 

[KristiLyn]

Love the pics from the tea! That looks like alot of fun!!!

And I love your pics in your signature

 

[pixie921]

More photos -- yay! Joanne, breakfast looked fun (we may have to try Ohana some day!) and your tea looked like it was lovely. I love that you all dressed up for it ... you ladies all looked absolutely smashing!

 

[J.ThaddeusToad]

Love all the pictures Randy posted! And all the ones you have posted! Looks like everyone enjoyed themselves immensely from the pictures!

 

[quandrea]

Hi Joanne, Thanks for your help with the multi quote. Love all your tea pics. we've been there a few times and love it. We will be going with the private tea reception in the West Courtyard of the Swan following our ceremony. Lindsey, from the Swan just got back to me and the price is quite reasonable. My only worry was a staffing charge, but there won't be one. And my twins will be free because they are under 2, so it will be very reasonable. They will be doing my cake too. I think I'm just about ready to deposit, so I guess I will soon start my PJ too. Really enjoying checking in with yours every day!