Krismark's CS/WHR Wedding 10/26/2012 ~Final Update

[super_k0116]

Hello to everyone in DISboards World!


I'm dipping my toe in my PJ today. (Mainly because I just typed a big post and it was accidentally deleted by my oh-so-awesome computer anti-skills, now it's almost time for work. oops)

Quick rundown more to follow soon.

I'm Kristen, age 27. Mark is my DF, age 27 as well. We have a 2 year old daughter A.B.

We're looking at getting married on our 5th anniversary date. It also happens to be my grandparents wedding anniversary date as well. I'm hoping to find some way to pay tribute to them and their 50s wedding as well as making a unique theme that fits our personality. Lately I've been kicking around some ideas and we'll see what I finally settle on in a little bit.

I'm looking for a bit of advice. As a newly bride-to-be with so much planning to be done and so many details to consider, how did you keep yourself from feeling all over the place?

I kind of feel like I don't know what to start with so I'm looking at everything all at once. Should I start with picking a dress? Theme? Colors? What made planning less overwhelming for you?

I think we'll have our ceremony at Sea Breeze Point and I have my heart set at the Tower of Terror Courtyard for our reception.

That's all for now. See ya real soon!

PJ Index
How We Met

The Proposal

Pictures of the Proposal

The Dress

Site Tour TR

Bridal Party: The Ladies

CEREMONY: Coranado Springs Resort - Casitas Courtyard @ 5PM
RECEPTION: Whitehall Room & Patio
COLORS: Aqua, Light Green & Yellow

OFFICIANT: Glynn Ferguson
PHOTOGRAPHER: Jennifer Werneth

 

[super_k0116]

Ok, I suppose it's time to post again.

Here's a little bit about Mark and me.

In 2007, I was finishing up college in my hometown and working nights as a cocktail waitress at a local casino. Mark has just started his job as a slot attendant at the same casino. I remember seeing him as he was learning the ropes on the gaming floor and seeing the look he gave me. The first thought that crossed my mind was, "Great here comes another one." Cocktail waitresses see the look he gave me a lot.

A week or so later, he came looking for me on the floor to let me know someone in his work area on the floor needed a drink and he'd be happy to show me where the person was. As I passed by him, he put his hand on the small of my back to guide me along. It was a very sweet and gentle gesture that perked up interest about him. After taking the drink order I asked around and found out he was single.

We started eating lunch together on our breaks and learning about each other. Occasionally, I'd catch him scoping me out as I served the card tables. But, then again, he was a 6'4" tall guy in bright red shirt among a sea of purple and green carpet. How could anyone not notice him following them around.

One evening, after hanging out with some friends he and I decided to meet up for a late night meal at Denny's. As we sat there chatting he leaned over and he kissed me. We've been inseparable ever since.

It should also be said that about a month after that first kiss, our daughter, A, became a part of our lives or, at least, we found out that she would be a part of our lives.

She's an amazing little kid and we can't wait to see her as our flower girl.

 

[FutureMrs.B]

Welcome to the board. Your story is so cute. I'm sure your daughter is going to make a beautiful princess/flower girl.

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

I'm looking for a bit of advice. As a newly bride-to-be with so much planning to be done and so many details to consider, how did you keep yourself from feeling all over the place?

First of all... Congrats!


The all over the place feeling is common... I think? I'm new to the game too so here's what I did: Picked venues--scheduled a site visit to assure those are what we want. Picked colors--so I can get moving on ideas. I made a list of things that I wanted, AND things I definately didn't want. This keeps me focused, although my want list just keeps growing We haven't nailed down a date or a budget yet, so I'm waiting on a lot of details until we talk about that. It's also a good idea to make a pre-liminary guest list to get both of you on the same page for an approximate number.

Also, if you don't have it already... download the Passporter for Disney Weddings!! It's soooooooo helpful!!

 

[super_k0116]

FutureMrsB
Thanks for the welcome. I appreciate it.

LuvLuvLuv

Thanks for all the great pointers. I have gotten the Passporter and it has been great. It's like my new personal bible. It's covered in pink highligher and pencil marks (crazy drawings of strange faces, eyeballs with legs and flaming hearts: Mark's contribution)

Luckily we're starting to get in a direction. We have an idea of our minimum budget. Colors have been picked, theming has been pinned down. I'll be sharing that stuff soon.

 

[super_k0116]

Mark, AB and I took our third trip to WDW this year in August. It was our first time to go without my mom or his dad meeting us there.

On our third day at the parks we decided to take advantage of EMH and boogied over to the Magic Kingdom to beat the crowds and the heat. After separating at the bag check, Mark and AB went on ahead, our battle plan was to meet at Peter Pan. How insane are the lines there the rest of the day?!

I made a mad dash to Peter Pan only to find no Mark and about four missed calls on my phone. It turns out the two of them had stopped to meet Pinocchio and I had ran right past them.

Once they got to Fantasyland, we got onto Peter Pan, Dumbo and the Carrousel. By this time Mark proclaimed that he was hungry and could use a cup of coffee. I suggested we get the food from the Main Street Bakery. On our way out of Fantasyland, Mark told me he wanted to get our picture taken in front of Cinderella's Castle before the heat set in and we looked melted and disheveled. I tracked down the first photographer we saw and got in line to get our castle mug shots.

AB refused to get out of her stroller and proclaimed she had no intention of being in the picture or as a two year old would put it, "I don't want to!"

So, I left her in the stroller and stood by Mark. We took our first shot and then Mark knelt down on one knee, little black box in hand and asked me to marry him.

Of course, I said "yes" all the while the photopass photographer is taking shots of the whole thing.

Here is my ring-a-ding

When I get our photopass cd, I'll post a shot of the actual moments.

 

[goofyfordisney16]

signing onto your pj, congrats on your wedding!

 

[super_k0116]

When DF and I started planning this whole shindig out we had a tough time figuring out where to have the ceremony and reception. I really like the Tower of Terror courtyard, but I didn't like making our guests wait until 9pm to have dinner.

Mark liked the LSS, but I thought it would be too dark and I've never been a huge fan of wood panelling.

Finally, we decided that a morning ceremony in France followed with a brunch style dessert party on the lower terrace in france and an evening reception at Tamu Tamu courtyard. I loved this location. I even designed an invite and had it ready to go when we started looking at all the little bean-counting details.

Here's the original invite, designed my little 'ole me.

I had no idea that we would have to charter two 5hr minimum buses to do this. (One in the morning and one in the evening) This would double our transportation budget and we'd have to drop enough money to feed a small country just for video and photography.

So, we are now having an evening wedding at SBP with our reception at Tamu Tamu

Here are the three options for invites that I whipped up today:

What do you think?

As for colors, I think this is where my bridezilla moment has been tied to.

First, I wanted to do a pool, raspberry, lemon, orange, violet color scheme. Something really bright and cheery that pops. It definitely popped. I just couldn't stick to it. DF thought maybe we should pull colors from the art nouveau paintings we liked. So we went with an opalescent palette of pastel pink, yellow and purple. I liked this for a while but after looking at stationary and trying to match up the colors on paper, it felt like it matched the color scheme to all of my daughter's princess toys.

I couldn't live with that, I'm just not that girly.

I think we've finally settled and I'm doing my best to stick with it.

Here they are:

I think that's all we've got for now.

I did buy my dress yesterday, but I'll save that for later.

We are trying to pick an officiant and I'm between Jack Day, Tim Herring and Rev Kev. If you have any input, please fill me in.

 

[CityGirlLost]

Awww, I'm so excited to see your plans come together. Those invitations are amazing. Even the one for the France wedding that was not to be. Those transportation requirements are KILLER.

 

[super_k0116]

Ok, so, I'm pretty indecisive about my wedding colors. I've come up between three color palettes: the old one and these two

and

I'm leaning towards the violet/chocolate scheme but I'm not sold and worried once I make this the new official color theme, I'll change my mind.

So, we'll see. Input is welcome on these colors.

Oh! As I said before, our wedding date is mine and Mark's anniversary and it is also the same day as my grandparents' wedding day. They were married in 1955. I found a picture of their wedding day and thought I would share it because I think they were just adorable.

The photo isn't in the best quality but, hey, it's over 50 years old.

I bought my dress almost a week ago and can't wait for it to get here.

I have some shots of me in a size too big sample at the bridal salon, but I think I'll start with what it looks like on the model.

Hopefully, it will look closer to this when I get it in my size (fingers crossed)

I chose my attendants recently and they all said "yes!" (Hooray!) I had sent them blank Hallmark cards with the words "Will you be my bridesmaid?" written with a caligraphy pen but in my hadwritting (nothing even remotely close to caligraphy).

Kate (left),

My Matron of Honor replied with a card saying yes.

Rose,

a college friend responded with a text

Rachel,

also a college friend responded with a text that said she meant to sent a card

Well, that's all for now.

 

[April Elizabeth]

Joining in here. I love your story! It's so sweet and romantic.

Your dress is beautiful! Excited to read more.

 

[super_k0116]

signing onto your pj, congrats on your wedding!

Welcome! Congratulations on your wedding as well!

Awww, I'm so excited to see your plans come together. Those invitations are amazing. Even the one for the France wedding that was not to be. Those transportation requirements are KILLER.

Thanks. I've never used photoshop and was kind of worried that they'd turn out terribly. I even asked a friend with a background in art to come up with something for us. Luckily, I don't think I'll need him after all. Transportation is outrageous! Oh, and congrats to a fellow castle engagementee

Joining in here. I love your story! It's so sweet and romantic.

Your dress is beautiful! Excited to read more.

Aww, thanks. We are usually anything but sweet and romantic. So, go figure. Thank you, I hope it won't be too heavy for the heat in May. (fingers crossed)

 

[CityGirlLost]

I'm am a total purple person but I like your original colors better. I think purple is the "color of the year" right now and everyone is doing it. Unless you've got another color scheme cooked up already?

Love the photo of your grandparents. And your gown!

 

[KitKat5]

Hiya! Just joining in! I have to say my fav colour scheme is the violet/chocolate! I love the picture of your grandparents...its so lovely and they look so happy! Your dress is beautiful aswell! I can wait to read more!!

 

[super_k0116]

I'm am a total purple person but I like your original colors better. I think purple is the "color of the year" right now and everyone is doing it. Unless you've got another color scheme cooked up already?

Love the photo of your grandparents. And your gown!

Hiya! Just joining in! I have to say my fav colour scheme is the violet/chocolate! I love the picture of your grandparents...its so lovely and they look so happy! Your dress is beautiful aswell! I can wait to read more!!

You're right about the purple, I've been seeing it a lot lately and it was one of my MOH colors at her wedding, so I'm kind of hesitant to use it. Still love it though. Pink/Gray has been easier to find inspiration photos and research on, but I don't want to feel like I'm stealing curiouser's colors. I haven't cooked up any new color schemes Work has been changing gears, so I have less time to think about colors. Maybe I should post what I've found from each palette and put up a poll...

My grandparents are/were a big deal to me. Thanks. They were always around and in my and my mom's corner when she was raising me as a single parent. My favorite married couple.

 

[super_k0116]

Almost as soon as I got engaged, I started looking at dresses. Honestly, nothing really jumped out at me. I wanted something that wasn't too bulky, over the top or trendy. Other than that I was lost. Lace was something I was drawn to, but I wasn't sure if it would flatter my figure or hide any places I'd be self-conscious about.

The first shop I went to, I went by myself. I didn't want to get caught up in too much emotion in buying a dress and I didn't want to cry in front of anyone that would come with me and have them convince me that the dress I was wearing was making me cry out of happiness and not because I was depressed about my body or just crying out of stress. (Everyone needs a release now and then, even in a dress shop)

After trying on about a dozen dresses I found one that I liked but I didn't love it.

But in the days following, the more I thought about the dress the more I could picture walking up to the altar at SBP and wearing it in the warm weather. I almost teared up over it at work (bad idea, I work with all men)

I wanted a second opinion and I also wanted to see what else was out there. A week later I went to a second shop and tried on a few gowns there by myself as well. I liked this dress, but, again, didn't love it.

I came home that day frustrated and consumed with an overwhelming feeling. I showed DF online shots of both dresses and he said he liked the second dress more. This was a bit of a bummer for me but I took it in stride and tried to forget about the first dress.

That following weekend Mom and I went to a bridal show and I ended up winning $250 to spend on any vendor at the show! I planned to use the money at David's Bridal on BM dresses and was running around frantically to make sure I could use the certificates in store at not at the convention hall because I had to leave for work in 10 minutes after I won the moolah. I scheduled an appointment to look at dresses later in the week and brought MOH and Mom.

While there DF took DD out to look at the recently opened Halloween store nearby so she wouldn't have a melt down about not being able to go to the dress store too. After trying on a few dresses, I heard Mom say, "Are you supposed to be here?" and I knew what was going on. DF and DD stopped by to see me try on a few gowns. He knew I had no intention of buying anything at David's for myself and I was there to get opinions on what silhouette would work best for me. Here is what I tried on and liked:

DF liked the first one, everyone else vetoed it. The second one just felt like a dream to wear, but it was a little plain for what I had in mind. AB all the while had to help me with my train every time I walked back to the dressing room. No one told or taught her to do this.

A few weeks later, Mom, MOH and AB hiked it up to the second dress shop I went to to scope out the stock. I gave a green light to pull dresses along with me to try out. After what felt like 30 dresses, we whittled it down to four. The original dress, a sleek champagne colored sheath the was reminiscent of Gatsby, a two-toned a-line/ball gown with ruching around the waist (mostly kept this b/c Mom was practically salivating over it : ), and a sweetheart, a-lne dress with multi-tiers of lace trailing down the skirt.

I tried on the last dress I mentioned first and couldn't say I didn't want to keep wearing it. The consultant brought out a veil and put it on me. I lost it, I began to tear up. I couldn't speak, because I would have started to sob. I took it, it became my dress.

Me trying not to cry and smile at the same time

Front and back (kind of)

Profile

To this day, I'm having a bit of anxiety about this dress for three reasons.
1) It cost about twice as much as we had budgeted for between me and Mom. I agreed to pay whatever the difference would be if we went over that number but Mom went on ahead and payed for all of it and didn't want me to pay her back. Guilty feelings, but totally grateful.

At least they took the $250 wedding show bucks and put them toward my dress.

2) I won't let DF see a picture of it and I'm worried he won't like it. His taste is so different from mine and he really liked the frilly layered dresses I tried on/showed him. This was a huge shock to me. He's an only wear black t-shirts, pierced his own septum with a torso of tattoos kind of guy. Frilly/fancy he is not.

3) I'm not sure exactly why I cried in the dress and I'm worried it wasn't b/c of the dress. Is it really the one? It's payed for. No returns. No exchanges. Can't handle more guilt that would come with buying another one.

But the more I think about it and look at it and look at other dresses, the more I feel like this won't look so dated in 20 years or when my grandchildren see our wedding album. So, I'm working my way to be at peace with it. Hopefully, the dress that will be sized and built for me will look better on me too.

I did some early shoe shopping. I think these are cute and won't kill my feet. Taking votes/opinions

#1

#2

#3

 

[pixie921]

Your dress is beautiful, and it looks lovely on you. I'm sure your fiance will like it ... it has a bit of the layering you said he liked going on and it's very feminine!

And I vote for #3 in the shoe poll!

 

[FutureMrs.B]

Oh wow! your dress is so gorgeous! It has that classic elegance. You look great in it. As for the shoes number 3 but I'm bias bc that's going to be the color of my wedding shoes.

 

[super_k0116]

Ok, small update.

I'm not too sure about our reception location. It holds about 50 people but we're inviting more than 50 and we don't know for sure who will come and who won't. We also would like to have photography for the whole time and we don't want to pay for Disney photography for just the reception. So overpriced.

So, now we've booked a site tour January 11th. We'll be looking at Tamu Tamu, GF Marina, Backstage Prop Shop and, hopefully, Casitas Courtyard. I'm pretty excited about this because it will be our first trip with just DF and me! I just can't wait to do what we couldn't do before because we had DD with us.

I'll do my best to post pictures of the sites.

 

[super_k0116]

Our PhotoPass CD came in yesterday!

Here is a photo recount of the proposal and a few other shots from the trip that were too cute not to post.

Sorry if they're so big. Not sure how to size them down and I was too excited to post them to take the time to figure it out.