John & Mona's Memories VR - Disney Photography link - pg. 3

[wiserabbit]

Hello ya'll Here's my attempt at a PJ for my VR on 8/1/2011 at SBP....I've really enjoyed reading everyone else's thoughts and plans and now I'm ready to share.... so here we go.....

Me.....
http://

Hubby....
http://

When we met - he was 15 and I was 18...(I know - insert comments here about robbing the cradle....). We dated until he was finished with high school and then got married the August after he graduated....kids came quickly (three - now 28, 26 and 23).....and I'd like to say that we lived happily ever after - but everybody knows that would be a stretch......we've had our fair share of trials.... and now after 30 years, we're ready to show the world that we are still here and kickin

Our daughter had a Wishes wedding on 1/4/2008 at the WP with reception at the GF and then DP at Italy - it was so unbelievable that when it came time for us to have a VR, I knew that a DFTW was the only way to go....so ours will be the Escape VR at SBP with cocktail hour at Mizner's, dinner at Chef's Domain @ Citrcos and then a Wishes fireworks cruise on the Grand-I.

More info to come - wedding dress, flowers, cake, etc......

Thanks ladies for all your inspiration!!!!

(Sorry about the big pics - will try to downsize next time....)

 

[pixie921]

Congratulations!! And there is no way you look old enough to be celebrating 30 years --people must be so amazed when you tell them that!

We're doing our VR for our 20th a couple of months after you ... I'll definitely be reading to see what you've got planned!!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Yay for another VR bride!!!! We had our VR just four weeks ago and we had an amazing and magical day!!! I must confess to being a little envious of the fact that you are just at the start of all the excitement!!! I enjoyed every moment of planning our VR and would do it all again in a heartbeat!!
Good luck and looking forward to hearing all about it!!!

 

[that-a-way]

Welcome!! I am so looking forward to reading all of your plans.

 

[disneyido2015]

Congrats on 30 years of marriage, and your VR. Living viacariously through all of the VR brides, until we get the opportunity to celebrate our 25th in 2015 with our own Disney VR. Looking forward to following your PJ.

 

[BethieTink]

Yay!!! Another VR Bride. Can't wait to read all your plans. Congrats on making it 30 Years! That's quite an accomplishment.

 

[KristiLyn]

Welcome!!! Can't wait to read all your plans!!! 30 years is wonderful!!!!

 

[wiserabbit]

Thanks to all ladies for the warm welcome....

pixie921 - LOL - if you only saw us up close and personal - Disney keeps us young

tinkerbell 766 - I've followed your VR and it turned out so beautifully - I'm hoping I can get things to come together half as well.....

Okay - so after several years of looking/drooling/lusting over other's TRs and pics, DH and I decided to go with the bright colors used in the Mad Hatter/Alice in Wonderland Tea party events - so in discussion with Rosie I sent her these pics as examples (thanks LurkyLoo for your bouquet inspiration - Rosie immediately recognized the pic and even named the color of ribbon used in it)

So here are our inspiration pics - for decor and flowers......

We have asked that these be hung in groups in the arches just to the right and left of where the couple stands in the middle - Rosie said this has never been done at SBP before and she'll have to check with the "powers that be" so see if it will be possible - I just thought it would add a pop of color and a "frame" for the couple....

Here is a pic of the now famous bouquet and and other flowers that we really love -

http://

Have a great weekend everybody! See ya'll later - got to go do

 

[wiserabbit]

I've been very bad at keeping up my posts - I'm not sure what happened - I loved reading about everyone's plans and TRs (Thanks Joanne for your time and wonderful TR!).....Now that I'm back I thought I'd start to put a little trip report together....so bear with me as I try to keep it from being too wordy

ROAD TRIP TO THE KEYS AND MIAMI
After we down-sized the ceremony to Memories and cut out any extra family members (now just the 2 of us) - we decided to take some extra time to relax and get a "real vacation" done for 2 weeks - we've never had that much time off at once so this was the perfect opportunity to spend "quality" time before the busy week of the VR - you know how hard it can be to just relax when you are at the world....

It was our first time in Key West - it reminded us of New Orleans - without the smell We stayed in a great small hotel directly waterfront - with a little beach - lots of sun, walking Duval Street, eating and drinking.....

This is the lovely beach at the hotel....

We had to take the required photo at the southern-most point......

Next we decided to take on Miami Beach - do you think we can get into a club?

 

[tinkerbell 766]

My sweet Monarabbit - Wonderful so far!! Can't wait to read all the rest!! From the small pic in your signature, it appears that you looked really beautiful!!! More please, including vendor reviews etc, 'wish I did/didn'ts etc and as many photos as you can manage. You know, sweetie, I don't ask for much!!!!!

 

[wiserabbit]

Oh tinkerbell-Jo - you know I've got to stretch out the TR - I don't have that many pics to share yet - so I'm working my towards the "big day"

So - on the second part of our road trip - we came from Key West back up to Miami - I vacationed there every summer as a kid up through my teen's but hadn't been back since - and DH had never been - I had been inside the Fountain Bleau Hotel once when I was about 9-ish - or somewhere around the time the James Bond movie "Goldfinger" was popular and I knew that's where I wanted to stay - it was definitely worth it

On check in we got an upgrade to a ocean front junior suite - SWANKY-

Great balcony with perfect view....

The lobby was straight out of the movie with a great bar for people watching - the club called "LIV" is one of the spots in town and all the beautiful people line up, slip the doorman $1000 to "try" to get in - so were we on the list? Nope....

Didn't see anybody painted in gold though - or Odd Job lurking about.....

Also went to Ocean Drive to see the art deco district - got a pic in front of the Park Central where I spent many summers.....good memories...ahhhhh

All in all it was a great week - but we were definitely ready for some Disney Magic - next up I'll give my short but sweet reviews....

 

[wiserabbit]

I really don't want to give anyone a grade so instead I'll just give my glad I/wish I list.....

GLAD I:

Used Janet M. of On Site Beauty - She definitely gets a She was on time, listened to the general guidelines I gave her and then sprinkled pixie dust to make me look like the best possible ME! She was gracious, kind and easy to work with. Since it was just the two of us - she even helped me with my dress. Would not hesitate to use her services again if I needed them.

Chose the Memories package - it was not too big, not too small but just right for us - it gets a big too. The planning was super simple - there were still enough choices (flowers/music/limo) so it felt personal but not overwhelmed. Working with Vita as the planner (and thanks to her assistant Kelly on the day of VR) was a breeze - she always got back to me within a reasonable time frame, had the answers to my questions and on the day of the VR (you'll see her in a few pics) helped everything go smoothly and perfectly just as if it had been a Wishes Wedding in front of the castle!!!!

Chose Rev. Kevin Knox to perform the ceremony - He gets a 2 thumbs up.....We were familiar with him as he also performed our daughter's wedding in 2008. As we remembered he was professional yet personable, had our customized vows ready to go and just in general was excellent to work with...


WISH I:

My only big wish is that when I picked Luau Beach for the ceremony site - I had thought about how HOT-HOT-HOT it would be and opted for an earlier time in the day instead of 3:00 PM - You can see the sweat literally pouring off hubby because of the suit, etc....

 

[wiserabbit]

Okay (this is for you Joanne )

The morning of the VR we decided to sleep in and have room service breakfast - if you can imagine I'd never had Mickey Waffles so today was the day!!!

Mousekeeping was kind enough to lend us their heavy duty steamer - and we finished up steaming his suit and my dress - all the time being careful not to let him see it fully - cause just like the first time he wanted it to be a surprise..awwww....

While I was waiting for Janet M. to come by - he decided to take the dreaded before shot....

and just because I don't have a "before" of him - here's my revenge shot to show to the world....

While Janet was working furiously on my hair and makeup - we heard a knock at the door and it was room service. I must have had this really stupid look on my face as I said "we didn't order anything" but she confirmed she had the right room and person - my DH had ordered a cheese plate and some diet cokes for us to munch on while we got ready -

A few minutes after that - another knock at the door - and a bellman delivered a package from DH - he had a personalized pic of Mickey & Minnie drawn and framed for me at Epcot.....it said - "To Mona with all my Heart"....he was definitely earning brownie points today

Now ladies you know one of the most important things to think about is the shoe wear for the THE DAY....so for me, knowing we would be in the sand at Luau Beach - for the ceremony I chose....

Next up - Robert the "train conductor at the GF" shows up at my door.... and more pics...

 

[pixie921]

Oh, I'm so glad you're doing a trip report! I especially love vow renewals, as we are still hoping to have one!

 

[BethieTink]

Glad to see you had your big day! Great pics so far. Can't wait to see more and hear how you day was.

I booked Janet to do my hair and makeup for next November. She seems great on the phone and I am very happy with my choice so far. I am doing a trial run in June so I will actually get to meet her. Good to see a great review!

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

So excited to ready your trip report! Love all the little surprises your DH arranged for the morning of your VR.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Yay my sweet MonaRabbit, more photos to drool over!!! You sound like you have a very thoughtful and sweet DH there!!!
Very anxious to see more!!!

 

[gertiesquidge]

Congratulations on 30 years, three grown up kids and STILL looking young!!

I'm loving your VR trip report so far, and I think you're husband is so thoughtful arranging the little suprises for you - I'll have to get my hubby to read so he gets the hint

Can't wait to see some more pictures and hear more about your day

Best wishes
Gertiesquidge

 

[wiserabbit]

Oh, I'm so glad you're doing a trip report! I especially love vow renewals, as we are still hoping to have one!

It was so special - totally worth it - so I'm sending you a big heaping of pixie dust that yours comes together ....

 

[wiserabbit]

Glad to see you had your big day! Great pics so far. Can't wait to see more and hear how you day was.

I booked Janet to do my hair and makeup for next November. She seems great on the phone and I am very happy with my choice so far. I am doing a trial run in June so I will actually get to meet her. Good to see a great review!

BethieTink - you'll be very happy with Janet!!! I used her for the VR ceremony only - and then the next day for our DHS shoot I had to go it alone - needless to say - I'll keep my day job ....

So excited to ready your trip report! Love all the little surprises your DH arranged for the morning of your VR.

Thanks for following along - yep the hubby did good on this trip - he pretended not to be "involved" all along and then POW - he came through big time....

Yay my sweet MonaRabbit, more photos to drool over!!! You sound like you have a very thoughtful and sweet DH there!!!
Very anxious to see more!!!

Oh Jo - thanks for looking in - DH is a sweetie - no doubt about it!!!!