John & Beths' VR PJ, SoG, undated!augh!

[hollybearsmom]

Oh no... You definitely need more pixie dust to come your way!

When we started planning, we wanted immediate family and closest friends, but none of his friends could make it (between deployments, current assignments not allowing vacation time, and budgets

Ultimately, it's YOUR day, and it's about the two of you, and I hope that your family and friends will remember that, at least most of the time.

That sounds so much like our planning problems and we only have three military families, all the rest are civilians making it so hard!
Thank you for the reminder about who this is for, that's so hard to do when we want to please everyone.

for my two cents, you could do your VR when it works for you..... ours is not on our actual anniversary date (though we had hoped it would be but the WP is unavailable then) so we moved our VR date a week but other VR brides have had it when it worked for them.....our VR is around the time we usually go to wdw.....good luck

Thanks for the vote. We are really considering a major date change to appease more people, and in the end, I guess it doesn't matter when we celebrate at Disney.

 

[hollybearsmom]

WE have talked about, called to check on reservations, looked at pricing and leave and school schedules and it is VERY possible, that this could become a DEC 2010 VR at SoG.

oh yeah, Christmas in the World, celebrating my anniversary with a few thousand of my friends on New Years Evewoowoo

So if you should be planning an end of the year 2010 trip and want to recover from New Years Eve with our ceremony, reception, pool party and viewing of fireworks from Poly beach, drop me a line...we'd love to add our Dis-friends in on the fun!

Hoping to have a confirmation by the end of the week, I'll change the date in the title as soon as I know!

 

[NitroStitch]

Congratulations on almost possibly setting a date you can be excited about and that will work with a lot of your intended guests.

Disney is gorgeous around the holidays, and it will be a beautiful time to visit! We December brides may be a little biased there...

 

[hollybearsmom]

Hooray for December brides!

As I'm stewing and waiting for a date to be determined, I've been trying to find articles on vow renewals. I spent some time on about.com yesterday, and here's my notes organized...
A vow renewal IS a sentimental event celebrating life and love. A VR should be simple and casual.

A vow renewal IS NOT a second wedding. There should not be showers, bachelor/bachelorette parties, attendants, processional, aisle runner, flower petals, tiered cake, tossing bouquet or garter, registry or gifts. Dress should not be white or long.

It seems there are a lot more oh no's then ok to do's.
I have a dream ceremony in my mind, and most of those weren't on my list.
but a few things are really special and sweet and I thought about having them, now I wonder, Is this etiquette set in stone? Will I be tsk-tsked if I do have an aisle runner, just for the two of us to stroll down?
hmmmmmmmmm. things to think about.


And I have been looking at dress sites too, I want something sort of casual, but very classic, and wearable too. I want to be fancy schmancy for the ceremony. It is important to both John and I that it is serious in nature and meaningful, not just I did I do, I would again, let's dance! Anyway, as we think about what is and is not correct and what we want to do anyway, here's a few dresses I've put into my "look book":

Alfred Angelo

Alfred Angelo

Davids Bridal

 

[NitroStitch]

Gorgeous dresses! As far as the official etiquette goes, I don't know if the authors of any of the articles are planning to show up at your VR, and I'm not sure if any of your invited guests plan to read those articles either, :0) so....I'd go with having your dream VR! Of course, I'm a big advocate of it being your day and you doing what makes YOU happy on that day. You can still be a princess all over again.

 

[hollybearsmom]

Gorgeous dresses! As far as the official etiquette goes, I don't know if the authors of any of the articles are planning to show up at your VR, and I'm not sure if any of your invited guests plan to read those articles either, :0) so....I'd go with having your dream VR! Of course, I'm a big advocate of it being your day and you doing what makes YOU happy on that day. You can still be a princess all over again.

Thanks for the smile! I started laughting as soon as I started reading your response. I've told so many other brides to be to do what makes them happy because it goes so fast, and I'm not taking my own advice!

So against the opinion of 'them', John and I plan to have music playing as guests are seated. Then we will walk in hand in hand over our personalized aisle runner to the front. There will be a small lace covered table to the side with a candle burning in memory of my mom. Hopefully my brother will be there to light it for me, if not, I'll just light it really early!
No pew bows. No sand ceremony. Just us, a couple of readings, vows, right-hand rings with special blessing for the future, a little more music, a big fat kiss and then we take our children by the hands, and walk out together.

Then go eat our tiered cake! And enjoy ice cream and sweets. There's a lot more to work in and so many things I want to do, but trying to remember to reign it in, not go over the top, keep a small budget so there's more Park money, and not leave people wishing they were on space mtn right then instead!


***How do i make one of those monograms I keep seeing. They are so beautiful, and I really want one on the runner, in a size I can take and get framed for our dining room afterwards...anyone? anyone?

 

[NitroStitch]

Yay! I'm so glad you're going to do what you really want to do for your VR.

It's so easy when we're researching these ceremonies and occasions to get swayed away from what we WANT to do and to forget it's all OUR day. I think that's one of the reasons we're going extra-extra-extra tiny. Fewer naysayers at the actual event.

I'm not sure how folks are doing the monograms, so I'll have to leave that question to another bride.

 

[hollybearsmom]

I just noticed the 4+3 was through the end of March! Here's hoping my hubby can get leave sometime early in the year for a planning trip!!!!!!!

BTW, did I mention he left on his tour this weekend?

 

[Monny2AE]

Thank you for the pixie dust!!!!!!

I think planning is the most fun and I get a little too attached once I make a choice and then it isn't popular.

So my MOH and her family are going to Disney, and want to go when we go, but they are not sold on the summertime if there is a choice.
Can you have a VR not near the time of year you were married, does it matter? I'm thinking that the best way to make everyone happy is to move our "date".

John and I know for sure that we are not going to have a ceremony here and then just go to Disney as a 2nd honeymoon. We want our kids involved and to have the trip experience with us. We are just that kind of family.

So, if we go in the fall, we could have a Pirate and Princess theme.
Or we could go in December and have the winter fantasy.
Or we can go in August and have the melted ice cream theme.

Please, weigh in on this,

IS IT OKAY TO HAVE YOUR VR MONTHS AFTER YOUR ACTUAL ANNIVERSARY??

I don't see any problem with it. Our anniversary is in July and we went to Disney for our honeymoon. I'd love to plan a VR for our 15th or 20th but NO WAY would you get me to WDW in that heat again. It would definitely be after our real anniversary.

Thanks for the smile! I started laughting as soon as I started reading your response. I've told so many other brides to be to do what makes them happy because it goes so fast, and I'm not taking my own advice!

So against the opinion of 'them', John and I plan to have music playing as guests are seated. Then we will walk in hand in hand over our personalized aisle runner to the front. There will be a small lace covered table to the side with a candle burning in memory of my mom. Hopefully my brother will be there to light it for me, if not, I'll just light it really early!
No pew bows. No sand ceremony. Just us, a couple of readings, vows, right-hand rings with special blessing for the future, a little more music, a big fat kiss and then we take our children by the hands, and walk out together.

Then go eat our tiered cake! And enjoy ice cream and sweets. There's a lot more to work in and so many things I want to do, but trying to remember to reign it in, not go over the top, keep a small budget so there's more Park money, and not leave people wishing they were on space mtn right then instead!


***How do i make one of those monograms I keep seeing. They are so beautiful, and I really want one on the runner, in a size I can take and get framed for our dining room afterwards...anyone? anyone?

Your plans sound so simple and sweet! Perfect! I hope you don't take other's opinions into consideration too much. Remember who this is all for

P.S. Sorry DH is away again

 

[hollybearsmom]

Thanks you two. You keep me grounded when I start getting swept away in the planning.

My contact person is off today, so no updated contract, ack! I did get to talk to hubby today, he sounded really happy, and he will be home in two weeks to get his household goods. The kids and I aren't relocating since it's not a full year.

I've been looking through some beautiful things on etsy, and I am sure I want to wear a tiara, so now I need to think about hair styles since I'm getting a cut this weekend coming, and will have maybe shoulder length by next fall.

I've been looking at Disney love songs too, thinking about making a cd for our favor bags. Using our ceremony music and some of our special songs, with a personalized insert explaining why we chose them. Do people keep these and really look at them? Or are they a waste?

 

[hollybearsmom]

I just saw the pictures from a Sago Cay DP and now I want one.
Is two dessert functions too many? The cake right after the ceremony and then one for Wishes?

 

[NitroStitch]

I just saw the pictures from a Sago Cay DP and now I want one.
Is two dessert functions too many? The cake right after the ceremony and then one for Wishes?

Ooooh. Can you ever really have too much dessert? (Of course, I look like I live by that philosophy! LOL) That sounds like fun, and I've heard they treat you really well at the Wishes Dessert Party!

 

[hollybearsmom]

There is a definate date change, the contract is being approved, the date will be posted in this space tomorrow morning!!!!! Wanna guess....

 

[pezaddict231]

Congrats on 15 years together! That is wonderful and I wouldn't worry about what etiquette says, this day should be exactly what you want! There are two few couples out there these days that after 15 years can say they would do it all over again, so I think you've definitely earned the right to have an aisle runner or wear a white dress or anything else you want. BTW, there are so many wonderful VR couples on here and it's so inspiring...I'm thinking a love of Disney may be the true secret to a happy marriage.

I love the story of how you first got together and your proposal story, you had me lol at how mad you were, I would do the same thing!

I'm so jealous you guys have a paving stone at Disney, I really wish they still did that. On our Engagement trip DF was really jealous that we didn't have one and asked why I never got him one

Okay so the monograms, I'm not really the best at this sort of thing, but I think mine came out okay... I used Pages for Mac, but you could probably use Word or Powerpoint. I used one text box and did a big "C" for our last name, then I made the color lighter and it let's me adjust the opacity so I made it lighter, like 40%, so that the initial would appear behind our names. Then I put another text box on top and wrote our names. I then googled a mickey head image and put that in there too. On the mac I can save things really easily as a PDF or a JPEG, so I just did that so I could adjust the size. I know you can also use photoshop, but I tried that and it was way too confusing!

Hope the helps!

 

[NitroStitch]

There is a definate date change, the contract is being approved, the date will be posted in this space tomorrow morning!!!!! Wanna guess....

Ooooh, I don't know, but I'm wondering after this loooonnnnng drum roll to the date!

 

[hollybearsmom]

After much planning and shuffling and hoping and praying......

THE DATE IS.......
















































1*1*11
HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

[NitroStitch]

What a fun date! What a great way to start off that year AND to enjoy the fun of an interesting number date.

 

[padisneyfour]

cool new date! how fun! great way to bring in the new year! good luck

 

[hollybearsmom]

Congrats on 15 years together! Okay so the monograms, I'm not really the best at this sort of thing, but I think mine came out okay... I used Pages for Mac, but you could probably use Word or Powerpoint. I used one text box and did a big "C" for our last name, then I made the color lighter and it let's me adjust the opacity so I made it lighter, like 40%, so that the initial would appear behind our names. Then I put another text box on top and wrote our names. I then googled a mickey head image and put that in there too. On the mac I can save things really easily as a PDF or a JPEG, so I just did that so I could adjust the size. I know you can also use photoshop, but I tried that and it was way too confusing!

Thank you for sharing how to do this, I'll give it a try in Powerpoint sometime this week. Actually my dd could probably do it better and faster than I could!

What a fun date! What a great way to start off that year AND to enjoy the fun of an interesting number date.

Thank you and I totally think thank that is a great number!

cool new date! how fun! great way to bring in the new year! good luck

Thank you, and what a pre-party on New Years Eve huh?

So dh and I got to talk some this weekend about the ceremony, and he is worried about the number of people who would want to come and the cost. He'd rather not have the VR if there aren't a dozen people and use the money for an extra Park day....I want my VR!!!!! I can't believe I've give up an extra day for this, but I would. Anyone want to take their mid-day break at a Vow Renewal of a DIS buddy? There will be some empty seats!
He really wants to keep our colors as they are and not change to Christmas red and green. And we agreed that this is going to be very "Florida Casual", shorts and sundresses. ((Except I am going to get a fabulous dress for the ceremony and then change, but he doesn't know that yet.)) He mentioned a beachy feel, which I vetoed because we live at the beach and I don't want to feel like I am home, I want the Disney magic. He wants the kids involved somehow. He would prefer no flowers anywhere.
I also haven't mentioned photography because of the budget, but I am going to make that work...I'll spill the beans on who pretty soon...because I want us to have this memory preserved.
And we are still trying to find a weekend we can get away in the Spring, to plan. And to play in the Parks...get some souvies for favors...try some restaurants for a dinner afterwards...

I am looking at A Moore and Michaels and WalMart and Targets' Christmas decorations, and hoping that when it goes on sale after the holidays, I can fill up my closet with decorations in the blue and silver colors we want to use for pennies!

 

[hollybearsmom]

If I make a monogram in powerpoint, how do I make that a picture and upload it?