Just Started Planning My 2012 Wishes Wedding :)

FutureDisneyBride

Earning My Ears
Joined
Apr 10, 2011
Messages
38
Hello my name is Jessica. Ive been reading these forums for about 2 weeks now and finally decided to join :) All of you ladies have such good ideas and wonderful tips. Ive wanted to have a Disney Wedding ever since I found out they were possible. I am 20 years old but by the time we get married i will be almost 22. We have been together for over 5 years now, so were more than ready to start our new lives together :) We decided on a wishes collection because my BF has a pretty big family and they tend to get together a lot so we know that they will all attend, plus my family, and our friends so all together we have between 70-75 people. But were not allowing more than 75. We are on a budget since were both still in college we don't have a ton of money to spend. But i did pick up a second job, and all the money I make there has been going into my savings for the wedding!!! Were thinking our budget for Disney will be between $10,000 and $12,000 but were not exactly sure yet. I called Disney on Friday and a wedding consultant should be calling me this week so I'm excited :) We picked our wedding to be on October 21st 2012 and we want a Fall Theme!!! If anyone has any ideas on ways to keep our budget, tips about their wedding, or any Fall ideas let me know!!! Thank you I'm happy i joined this forum!!!
 

Hey... Im going to post this on my PJ now...
HAVE A LOOK! DONT LET IT SCARE U EITHER! LOL

At Least One Year in Advance
First decide on the basics...

Choose wedding date
Decide type of wedding desired (traditional, big/small, etc.)
Determine what religion the service will be performed in, if any
Decide time of wedding and reception
Choose desired location for wedding ceremony
Choose desired location for reception
Set wedding budget and decide how wedding will be financed
Then hire the individuals from whom you will need their services on the wedding day...

See if ceremony and reception locations are available and book them
Choose/hire individual who will perform your wedding ceremony if this is not included with your choice of ceremony site
Interview/Choose photographer and then book him/her
Interview/Choose Videographer and then book him/her
Interview/Choose Florist and then book him/her
Interview/Choose Baker (for cake) and then book him/her
Decide type of music desired for reception, if any
Interview/Choose Band/DJ for reception and then book him/her/them
Choose reception format: buffet or sit-down dinner etc.
Interview/Choose caterer and then book him/her/them
Ten to Twelve Months in Advance
Ensure home/renter's insurance covers engagement ring or buy additional jewelry insurance
Determine a color scheme for the wedding/reception if desired
Decide if all/part/any of vows will be written by bride/groom
Decide how large/small wedding party will be
Choose/order wedding dress and veil
Buy wedding shoes
Buy undergarments for wedding attire (need prior to fittings)
Begin looking at invitations
Set honeymoon budget
Announce engagement to friends and family
Put engagement announcement in local paper
Six to Ten Months in Advance
Decide if unity candle ceremony is desired
First meeting with minister/officiant
Begin writing vows
Choose ceremony music (prelude, processional, solos, recessional, postlude, etc.)
Choose and hire soloist(s) for ceremony/reception/rehearsal dinner
Choose attendants and ask if they'll accept the position
Begin looking for bridesmaid dresses
Pick out tuxes for groom and groomsmen/ushers/fathers
Choose/book desired location for rehearsal dinner
Look for and book (reserve) block of rooms at nearby hotel for out-of-town guests
Choose invitations
Decide if programs and/or personalized napkins will be purchased and select them
Make first draft of invite list
Get directions to church, from church to reception, and from church to rehearsal dinner
Make list of attractions/things to do (in town where wedding is) to include with directions
Plan honeymoon and book all lodgings/transportation/event tickets
Check passports/visas
Discuss if a bridal registry is desired and what items would be on it
Choose china/crystal/flatware/cookware patterns for bridal registry if desired
Four to Six Months in Advance
Make appointment for bridal portrait
Make hair/nail appointment for bridal portrait
Choose prose/poetry/scripture readings for ceremony
Choose readers for ceremony and ask if they'll accept the position
Ask minister if it mattters which version of the Bible (King James, Good News, etc.) you use for the scripture reading
Find out from minister if flower girl can drop flower petals on floor in sanctuary
Find out from reception hall if guests can throw birdseed or rice
Decide how you want your exit at the reception/ceremony (guests throwing birdseed, etc. or just a casual exit?)
Buy/make favors to give guests, if desired
Buy/make centerpieces for guest tables at reception
Order bridesmaid dresses
Hire limo driver or arrange other transportation to/from ceremony and reception
Buy wedding attire accessories such as gloves, earrings, necklace, purse, shoes, cufflinks, etc.
Pick out/order wedding bands
Select reception decorations such as candles, flowers, balloons, arches, etc.
Meet with florist to choose amount and type of flowers for ceremony and reception and any other accessories (ex. pew bows, candleabras, etc)
Ask mothers if they want to wear a flower corsage or carry a single flower instead and inform florist
Decide if roses will be given to the mothers at the end of/during the ceremony
Buy/make basket for flower girl
Buy/make pillow for ringbearer
Meet with baker to choose flavor(s) and style of wedding cake
Decide if a groom's cake is desired; if so, choose flavor and style and inform baker
Make/print directions and map for ceremony and reception to include with all wedding invitations
Make/print maps to rehearsal dinner to include with rehearsal dinner invitations and send to groom's mom (if his parents are hosting rehearsal dinner)
Make 2nd draft of invite list
Register gift preferences with one or more bridal registries at nearby and/or nationwide store
Get measurements from groom/ushers/fathers/groomsmen for tuxedos
Three to Four Months in Advance
Confirm bridal portrait appointment
Confirm hair/nail appointments for bridal portrait
Determine how many disposable cameras should be purchased, if any
Write/choose disposable camera poems if desired
First wedding gown fitting
Sign up to donate ceremony centerpiece to flowers for Sunday's service, if desired
Buy/make birdseed roses/birdseed packets/bubbles/etc.
Decide on living arrangement once married
Two to Four Months in Advance
Choose soloist's song(s) and get soloist's approval to perform them
Mail/take music to soloist
Buy disposable cameras
Get bridal portrait taken
Determine wedding band inscriptions
Choose reception food
Design program layout (or have a printer do it)
Determine reception layout (i.e. how many tables, chairs, etc.)
Determine seating arrangement at reception if it's a sit-down dinner
Determine seating arrangement at rehearsal dinner with groom's mother if desired
Determine who will put suitcases in limo at reception
Determine how attendants will process and stand at ceremony
Choose reception music (1st dance, father/daughter dance, mother/son dance etc.)
Find out if smoking is allowed at reception hall and how to prevent it if desired
Make rough draft of list of duties of all involved (Mistress of Ceremonies, etc.)
Finalize vows and memorize (if necessary)
Make sure flower girl dress is purchased
Make sure the mother's dresses are purchased and are complimentary
Determine length of bridesmaid dresses
Determine hose color and shoes for bridesmaids
Bride buy gifts for bridesmaids, parents, fiance, personal attendant
Groom buy gifts for groomsmen, parents, fiance, ushers
Buy gifts with fiance for Mistress of Ceremonies, Host/Hostess, soloist, guest book attendant, etc.
Schedule bride's hair appointment
Schedule nail appointment
Finalize invite list
Get addresses of all people on invite list
Ask groom's mother if she wants rehearsal dinner invitations and/or place cards matching invitations
Order invitations
Order programs
Order monogrammed napkins for reception if desired
Reserve rental items: candelabra, linens, canopy, tables/chairs, etc.
Set date with fiance to get marriage license (check restrictions on how long it's valid prior to wedding)
Get blood tests/physicals for marriage certificate if required
Get any immunizations you will need for the honeymoon
Two Months in Advance
Schedule groom's hair appointment
Give soloist's music to organist (if he/she is accompanying)
Book rooms for out-of-town attendants at hotel
Go over rough draft of duties with all involved in wedding
Choose one person to whom the groomsmen can return their tuxes, and have that person return the tuxes to the rental place if desired
Determine who will return the groom's tuxedo to the rental place
Determine order/timing of events at reception (cake-cutting, garter toss, etc.)
Second wedding gown fitting
Buy honeymoon clothes and going away outfit if necessary
Buy/decide on rehearsal/rehearsal dinner outfit
Put invitation to wedding ceremony in church newsletter
Determine the "something borrowed, ...blue, ...old, and ...new" to wear on wedding day
Acquire six pence for shoe
Get wedding bands inscribed
Get final order of prelude and processional music from organist
Hire babysitter to watch any children during wedding ceremony
Call to inform all people who need to be at rehearsal
Buy guest book and pen
Obtain marriage certificate
Last meeting with minister/officiant
Determine where bride and attendants will get dressed (at home/hotel or ceremony site?)
Determine where groom and attendants will get dressed (at hotel or ceremony site?)
Buy/make throw and keepsake garters
Buy wrapping paper for attendant, etc. gifts
Make itinerary of wedding day for all involved
Choose songs for video (background music for intro/pre-wedding)
Buy stamps for invitations, response cards, and some to get started on thank-you notes
Ensure formal-wear shop has all tuxedo measurements
Give addresses of rehearsal guests to groom's mother if she is mailing rehearsal invites
One to One-and-a-Half Months in Advance
Address/mail wedding invitations
One Month in Advance
Ask florist if you can keep/buy unity candles if he/she is providing them
Order flower arrangements for rehearsal dinner tables if desired
Find out if reception caterers will make a basket of food for you to take to your hotel after reception
Determine who will be in the limo (i.e. just newlyweds or attendants/parents too??)
Determine when items needed at reception (toasting glasses, etc.) will be taken there
Show final program to minister and organist to check for accuracy
Box and wrap all gifts for attendants, etc.
Decide if gown will be preserved and where
Decide if bouquet will be preserved and make arrangements
Figure out how to affix six pence to shoe
Print disposable camera poems
Ensure band/DJ has equipment/music needed tp play your chosen reception music
Ensure groom's mom has addressed/mailed rehearsal dinner invitations if his parents are hosting it
Pick up wedding bands
Ensure home/renter's insurance covers wedding bands or buy additional jewelry insurance
Confirm honeymoon reservations
Check registries to make sure shower gifts and/or early wedding gifts have been marked off as purchased
Record gifts as you receive them and send thank-you notes
Open joint checking and savings accounts
Change beneficiary to fiance for will and life insurance policy
Inform car/home/renter's insurance of marriage (discounted rates may apply)
Make list of all places with whom bride needs to change name and submit changes
Two Weeks in Advance
Final meeting with florist - overview and give him/her map to ceremony and reception sites
Final meeting with reception hall/caterer - overview and tell them names of florist, band or DJ, and baker (just in case!)
Final meeting with videographer - overview, give him/her music and map
Final meeting with photographer - tell him/her about any specific pictures you want, choose album style and color, and give him/her map
Final conversation with band - overview of times & special songs, mail him/her/them map
Mail directions to limo driver and confirm times
Meet with rehearsal dinner caterers for final details
Print programs
Print rehearsal dinner maps (extras in case guests forget map that came with dinner invite)
Finalize and print list of duties for each person involved
Print itinerary of wedding day (copies for all at rehearsal)
Print readings and spare copies
Confirm nail/hair appointments
Print list of reception dances for MC/band/DJ
Final wedding gown fitting
Affix poems to disposable cameras
Confirm hotel reservations for wedding night
Confirm hotel reservations for attendants
Determine personal wedding morning itinerary (time to wake up, ... time to leave for church, etc.)
Groom's hair appointment
Submit wedding announcement to local newspaper for publishing day or weekend of wedding
Move belongings to new home
One Week in Advance
Make bride's emergency kit
Pack for honeymoon
Get traveler's checks for honeymoon; exchange money to foreign currency now if desired
Fill out first page of guest book
Buy spare hose
Fill birdseed roses
Remind attendants about rehearsal time
Take marriage certificate to minister/officiant
Give best man the clergyman's fee (if to be payed day of ceremony, otherwise pay this week)
Finish centerpieces for guest tables at reception if it's a last minute duty (i.e. need fresh flowers, etc.)
Give final guest count to reception facility and/or caterer
Remind groom/fathers/ushers/groomsmen to pick up tuxedos on day before wedding
Ensure delivery of flower arrangements for wedding rehearsal dinner have been made
Day Before Wedding
Pick up wedding gown and veil
Pick up tux
Take favors, disposable cameras, centerpieces, cake knife and server, toasting glasses, CD's, and birdseed roses to reception hall
Nail appointment
Give mom lipstick to keep in purse on wedding day for bride (or prepare bride's purse)
Rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
Morning of Wedding
Bride's hair appointment
Give groom's wedding band to Maid of Honor and bride's wedding band to Best Man prior to ceremony
Relax and let it all sink in!!
Leave yourself off the things to do list today if there are any remaining items. You need to relax and enjoy the whole day, and in the long run, you won't remember the little things.

:headache:
 
Thank you soo much Fay!!! A wedding consultant called me today and i was thrilled. Now its starting to feel so real!!!!
 
/
There are so man things to start thinking about!!! I am soo excited!!! My only down fall is i want to buy a kit for invitations but i dont know how that works with printing them out on your own computer!! So i guess i have a lot of learning to do!! Because I am going to make my own invites, save the dates, and table names so i have to start figuring out the printing stuff!!! I'm going to call my consultant today because i would really like to have our reception at the Contemporary Ball Room!!! I hope no one has it on hold yet. I have been looking at tons of things i know that i am going to make my own centerpieces for my reception and things like that i have some colors picked out so im going to share some of my ideas. First of all my theme for my wedding is Fall ( fall leaves, pumpkins, etc.) Ok center pieces... not this big but similar to this is what im hoping to be able to make :)
Fall+Centerpieces+wedding.jpg


I love these flowers another Disney Bride had!!!!

Roots4.jpg



And i want to try to make our aisle look similar to this Disney Brides.

Picture+4.jpg


and thats it so far!!!
 
congratulations and welcome to the dis boards!

You'll enjoy being on these boards, theres so many great ideas thrown out there and theres always someone who will be able to answer your questions.

Happy Planning :goodvibes
 
Loving your inspiration photos! :)

My friend is getting married this Aug 2011, and Today we put all her invitations together... she typed all her invites herself and went to a printers and got them to print them out on card. I think this cost her approx 40 Dollars - Obviously converted from pounds! But they look brilliant! And definatley have the personal touch!

Good Luck

XXX
 
Congratulations and welcome!! I love the fall theme, the colours are all so beautiful and there is so much that you can do with them! Looking forward to more!
 
Thank you guys very much!!! I know its way too early but i am going to our local Alfred Angelo's tomorrow because i saw a dress that i fell madly in love with it and i just want to try it on to see how it looks haha :)
disney-wedding-gown-sleeping-beauty.jpg


Sleeping Beauty :):):):)
Well i found out today that there are no ball rooms available on the day of our wedding so were going to have to pick somewhere else... so were thinking Ariels :) I havent really heard a lot about it but it looks nice. I havent been able to figure out exactly what color i want for my bridesmaids so can you guys help me out??? I like Orange because of the fall theme and i am obsessed with pumpkins :) but my mother in law likes the red apple color???

And i talked to my mother in law today and she told me i should do that, make the invitations and then go to a printing company to print them for me. :) Thank goodness because i was really scared about that, because i saw all these neat ideas for invitations but i couldnt figure out how people printed them from there own computers haha!!!
 
Hi there!
Welcome & Congratulations! :goodvibes
I'm loving your inspiration pics, having a fall theme really opens up endless possibilities! Orange would be really pretty for bm dresses but you could also do the deep apple red your MIL suggested or even a brown or golden color where the flowers will pop. It would be a nice contrast... :) love the dress your looking at! & don't think it is too early, I went to "look" at dresses about two weeks after getting engaged... I ended up purchasing my dress that day!! :rotfl2: I knew it was the one for me & I had a lot of encouragement from my mom... it was a good decision because they take a long time to arrive, and you may have to make changes? The dress I tried on was way too big so they ordered mine my size in petite. I am short but the dress was way way way too short and I had to re-order. Something to think about!

Anyways can't wait to see what else you come up with! :)
 
congratulations on booking your wedding and becoming a Disney Bride.
The fall theme sounds amazing, i'm loving the colour scheme you have there.
 
Thank you all so much for the support. I went and tried on the dress today and it is beautiful. But when i got home to put the pictures on my computer my computer some how caught a virus so now im on my BF's computer and i cant put them on here because i dont want him to see the dress because i think it might be the one :) but im keeping my options open because that is the first wedding dress i have ever tried on so i have more shopping around to do before i really decide!!!! But i really do love it and it fit me perfect without any thing needing to be altered which is wonderful!!!
 
Hey,

How exciting that you think u may have found a dress! I found mine quite early... my BMs and MOB kept telling me to keep my options open, and I did for a while! But when you go back and try on that dress YOU will know! I burst into tears! lol Was amusing! :)

Anyway... I am loving the autum theme, I like the idea of pumpkins... you could have lots of little ones for centre pieces with candles in! lol Just an idea! lol What about having like a pastle orange colour, maybe with a chocolate brown shash? then you could mix up the colours in the wedding? Hmmm... I see your predicament! l:confused3

Right, good luck with the dress hunt! Btw Im not getting married until May 2012 and I put a deposit on my dress in Oct 2010! lol

XXXX
 
WELCOME!! Glad to see another 2012 bride!! I bought my dress June or July of 2010 and I'm not getting married until June 2012. I just loved it so much I left it behind at Alfred Angelo, went to a few more dress stores, and couldn't betray my dress any longer I knew it was THE ONE! So if you go to other bridal shops and try on more dresses, and they don't make you feel like the first one and you keep thinking about that one then it's probably your dress!! GOOD LUCK

Can't wait to read more about your plans, everything looks wonderful so far!! :goodvibes
 
Thank you guys very much!!! I know its way too early but i am going to our local Alfred Angelo's tomorrow because i saw a dress that i fell madly in love with it and i just want to try it on to see how it looks haha :)
disney-wedding-gown-sleeping-beauty.jpg


Sleeping Beauty :):):):)
Well i found out today that there are no ball rooms available on the day of our wedding so were going to have to pick somewhere else... so were thinking Ariels :) I havent really heard a lot about it but it looks nice. I havent been able to figure out exactly what color i want for my bridesmaids so can you guys help me out??? I like Orange because of the fall theme and i am obsessed with pumpkins :) but my mother in law likes the red apple color???

And i talked to my mother in law today and she told me i should do that, make the invitations and then go to a printing company to print them for me. :) Thank goodness because i was really scared about that, because i saw all these neat ideas for invitations but i couldnt figure out how people printed them from there own computers haha!!!

Wow, just wow on that dress. Thats so beautiful, I can see why you fell in love with it.

how many bridesmaids were u having? Because you could have orange with red sashes for some and vice versa for the others? OR you could have your MOH in one way and the rest in the vice versa option. I may be going OTT as I type this but all the possibilities make me excitable - I wish I had more then 2 bm's now ha ha x
 





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