Leigh & Chris, 1/3/12. updated 3/3/12 (Disney vendor reviews)

[LWatson]

Oh fun!!!! I wish I could play w/ my hair, but I'm trying to grow it out as its only chin length. I'm hoping to find an easy DIY kind of thing for it (ok yeah you can laugh).

 

[mebbradley]

Can't wait to see pictures! I am so nervous about my hair! I know it can't be curly! lol It would fall faster than a snowman melting in an oven.

 

[LWatson]

Can't wait to see pictures! I am so nervous about my hair! I know it can't be curly! lol It would fall faster than a snowman melting in an oven.

I've never heard that b4. I'll have to remember that one.

 

[iluvasoldier]

i was a little nervous about my hair holding the curl as it is naturally really curly and has a mind of its own. We've decided I'm going to straighten my hair a few days before so that it'll hold better and hopefully not have the curls drop

I'm hoping she'll get pictures to me either Monday or Tuesday.

 

[iluvasoldier]

So here are my new updates:

Today marks the last day for me to send packages to hubby overseas which means we are about 35 days away from him being home! EEK!

I decided to go with an outside florist instead of Disney. Disney was just SO pricey and we were trying to cut cost down without cutting the carriage. Jonathans Flowers is amazing! 5% military discount and if you pay in full for your quote when you sign the paperwork you get another 10% off! Not to mention the full $ (if you don't pay it all at the beginning) isn't due until TWO weeks out! Not 1 month! Which helps us since that means we'll have another pay check to help. Overall I'm getting more floral with JF and still saving about $300 in just the ceremony, and easily $300+ in the reception.

Money was still a little tight and after talking to some good friends who are local about it they have offered to only attend the ceremony (as I see most of these families at least once a week). It brought our guest count from 75 to 65 which is a big difference when food is $70 a head. I was so amazingly grateful for them. I feel completely awful about it but my in-laws only have about $4,000 to help us and we were looking at needing them to help with twice that amount.

I'm also changing my linens to cheaper ones. I just can't justify $22 for a tablecloth! Not unless it has real gold inlay lol. So cheaper linens also saves us about $300 but still gives us the look and colors we wanted.

Today I get to go pick up my wedding dress. I had cups sewn in. Only $20 at our local semstris! It's the only alteration I need since it fits length wise and width wise everywhere. So excited!

with Vetern's day Joann's offered 20% off your entire purchase with military ID. I took that option and bought some stuff for favors. 20% off entire purchase INCLUDING clearance/sale items, heck yes!

All the stuff for my flower girl and bridesmaids are bought and put in nice bags. I'm going to give the stuff to my flower girl at Christmas so that her mom(my aunt) can put it up and make sure she knows right where it is for the day of.

As we get closer I get anxious. So crazy how close I am! once December 1st hits I am gonna be mad busy trying to get all the favor bags put together and make sure everything is done BEFORE Christmas as dh is due to land stateside either a day or so before christmas or just after.

 

[MrsDuck]

So excited that your man is almost home!

That's great you get a discount with Jonathan's Flowers!! What a good savings, too!

It was really nice your friends agreed to attend the ceremony only-- very considerate!! It sounds like you are making some smart financial decisions!

It's awesome your dress doesn't need any alterations- sometimes the altertions cost more than the dress!

You're getting so close to the big day!! I hope you really enjoy this time and soak it all in!

 

[LWatson]

YAY for him almost being home!!!! Dont stress, just relax and remember to take a hot bath or do some yoga here and there!!!!

 

[Ash8716]

That's awesome that Df will be home soon! You must be getting so anxious! You day will be here before you know it. It sounds like you are making great progress. Glad you were able to save some money with floral, Disney gets cray on some of this stuff!

 

[iluvasoldier]

Thanks ladies. I can't believe just how close it is. I know once Next week starts and the holidays come quick that I'm gonna feel WAY rushed bu it'll be good to finally have him home and have the wedding of our dreams.


Today I'm meeting with our new florist to put down our deposit. So excited.

I also think I may order the one item for favors that I need that I can't just get at the store. I'm gonna order wedding fortune cookies from oriental trading. For a unit (which is 50 peces) it's like $5. The rest of the stuff going in their favor bas an be picked up at local stores.

I am stressing a little though. I have not bought jewelry yet, nor the slip skirt thing, or the bra thing, or the veil. I'm only wearing the veil for the ceremony (not even for pictures) so I'll probably just buy the $12 one from Joann Fabrics. But the other stuff I'm getting worried about. I do feel all of a sudden like there is so much to do and not enough time.

To do list:
Order/buy the rest of the favors
Buy bags to put the favors in
Buy Jewelry
Buy a Tiara
Buy a bustia(sp?)
Buy a slip/skirt thing
Buy flats for the reception
Create/put together the favor bags
Get my two sister's dresses hemmed
Find something for my mom to wear (she does not wear dresses or skirts)
Buy my dog his tux
Buy ties for the groomsmen
Have an eye appointment so I can get contacts for the wedding

Gah! I'm gonna run out of time!

 

[MrsDuck]

It's so exciting you're at 1 moonth!

You've made a lot of progress!

Don't worry-- you'll get it all done. Just priortize your list and set deadlines! You can do it!!

 

[iluvasoldier]

Eek! Getting so close it's hard to believe.

My neighbor is wonderful! She is 5 years older than me, but my size/heigth and everything. She got married almost 2 years ago. I happened to be talking to her about my dress when she asked if I had the skirt for underneath. I told her no and she offered to let me see if hers will work under the dress. I was ecsatic. She got it out of the closet and I immediately tried on my dress. I had her come over to look at it. She was in love. She then asked if I had a bustia(sp?) and again I told her no. She ran over to her house and came back with hers. It fit me perfectly and makes the dress fit perfect. I was so grateful. Then her husband stops by and offers me their aisle runner. I could have kissed them both! I had accepted the fact we couldn't afford an aisle runner and here they were offering me theirs for free! It's plain white but i don't care because it's something I wasnt going to be able to have! They are amazing! So I'm gonna figure out how to get the extra money for them to attend the wedding. they know money is tight and offered to only go to the ceremony, but I insist they go to the reception. They have done so much to help me save on dress essentials and helping me stay non stressed that I owe it to them.

So now my dress is 100% ready to go.

On black friday I was able to get ties for my groomsmen in my unusual orange. They were originally $35 each but I managed to get all 3 for just $40! Yay!

So my check list is getting smaller and smaller.


My only stress is my room block. It ends Dec. 4th and so far we only have 6 nights :/ We really need 24! I know my mom is gonn go in and book a few nights, But I'm gonna send out a reminder text today to try and get my in-laws to book some nights and my aunt (she already said she'll stay on property she just hasn't decided where she wants to stay). A wonderful past disbride got married on my date last year (2010) and will be at the world for her anniversary. She was kind enough to let me use her room nights as some nights in my room block.

I'm starting to second think welcome bags. I may tell my in-laws (since their family is the ones traveling) that they can do it but I really just can't afford it.

my sister's who are in my bridal party went for an alteration appointment. They both need the dress just hemmed. So that'll be done Dec. 5th. So that's another relief.

Anyways, sorry for rambling. I'm just nervous and excited with how close I am, what I've gotten done, and what has to be done.

 

[MrsDuck]

Wow!! Sounds like you have some nice neighbors. How wonderful!

Great deal on the ties! I love Black Friday!

I'm crossing my fingers that your room block gets filled.

I don't blame you about the welcome bags.. they are a hassle and can get pricey. I vote you skip them!

You're so so close! Excited for you, girlie!

 

[mebbradley]

What awesome neighbors!

I bet you are beyond excited that this deployment is almost over! I'm over the moon because we're halfway through night shift (as long as the typically, 6 months limit applies still) today!

 

[LWatson]

aww that was nice of your neighbor!!!!!!

Not much longer!!!!

 

[iluvasoldier]

thanks ladies

I had my phone glued by me all day and yet still managed somehow to miss a call from hubby I also missed his call on saturday so it really sucks to have missed his call today.

My in-laws called today. They did not get approved for the loan they were hoping for to help us pay for the wedding. So my father-in-law's twin brother has offered to help, but doesn't know just how much he can help.

We have to pay $6,000+ NEXT MONDAY! My stress level mad me very uncomfortable and i had to work hard not to have an anxiety attack. Over the holiday break we had 3 ppl say they couldn't cme so I am waiting for the new budget with 3 less buffet prices and 3 less soda bar prices. At $70 a head and $25 for drinks that will help us lower numbers a little.

I have the money to pay my photographer (which is due Friday) but that will leave me with only $1,000 extra to put towards Disney and about $850 I can put on a credit card.

I'm just really stressed now.

 

[LWatson]

Some faith, trust, and pixie dust your way.

 

[iluvasoldier]

Ok so where to begin.

As I stated on the facebook page my father-in-law waited until this past thursday to tell us they weren't going to help us pay for the wedding. Our remaining money is due any day now (was due Friday but planner has been busy and unable to call to collect). When I told hubby he asked me to send the guest list to him and he would make the cuts. we can afford 40 people instead of the 60 we had. I have only 19 people coming and so I told hubby the other 21 were up to him to figure out since his side was 41 people.

hubby decided to cut family. When I told his family his parents decided they weren't going to come to the reception. I told hubby and he called his parents, they told him they were coming even though I'd forwarded the e-mail to hubby where my MIL said they wouldn't come. So yesterday I got the final list from hubby and let my in-lws know. Again they said they wouldn't come to the reception if we were cutting family. 1 hour later my FIL tells hubby that he didn't say they wouldn't come. I texted my inlaws and told them I was tired of them being two faced telling me one thing and him another. My FIL had the gull to say "You need to remember who your talking to and what you say. These texts can be saved and shared". I continued to tell him I didn't care and I had already told hubby that I was pissed at his family and wanted nothing to do with them (which was true).

So to sum it up hubby got mad and told me he didn't care what I did. Then about 3 hours later he calls at 11:30pm and wakes me up. He apologizes and explains he understands that his family is driving me crazy and that after the wedding I don't have to have anything to do with them but that he wants them at the wedding. He explained his plan on getting the $5,000 his parents were supposed to help with so that we wouldn't have to make cuts. I was so over the situation I gave him our planners number and told him to take care of it. I know no matter what me and mhy 19 people are going and that's all that really matters right now. So the rest is up to him

Should be interesting to see how this turns out since he's gonna be home soon.

wich leads me to the 1 bit of good news I got. Instead of hubby being on the 2nd plane out of Afghanistan he got moved to the 1st flight which means he could be home in just 5days! eek!

So my goal for today is to pay the photographer and be done. Right now it's looking like we wont be able to afford to get the stuff needed for our favors. :/ idk guess we'll just have to wait and see. All the major stuff is taken care of. I have all my dress stuff, my girl's dresses are altered, and working on my moms outfit.

So yea. Since hubby is no longer in danger I'm gonna let him handle the wedding and see how stressul it is. I've had so many anxiety attacks over ths it'll be kinda nice to have a break although I'm sure I'll tress about not having control since I'm OCD.

 

[MrsDuck]

I'm sorry to hear about the in-law drama

I'm SO glad to hear that he will be home soon though! That's fantastic! I bet you are so excited.

Keep us updated on making the cuts. Sending your way in hopes that it all works out!

 

[iluvasoldier]

Well hubby has managed to scrounge up $5,000. We talked about the guest list and all the other stuff that still needs to be paid for. We've decided to make the guest list 55people. I have two people I can cut (It's the parents of the bridesmaid that up and moved to the UK without telling me). Then hubby has 8 people he isn't all that close to whom he can cut too. So all his family can come and his parents can quit being butt heads about the entire situation.

Gotta love how all of a sudden my mother-in-law can find the money to throw me a bridal shower. Yep, you read that right. She has been asking my hubby what day we'd like them to throw us a bridal shower. ***! Ugh I don't even want to get into that.

Due to hubby being unable to get long leave until the end of Jan we have had to change the days for our honeymoon. Now it's looking like we're gonna go from the 21-28th. So we'll have to move into our new place early and then fly from KY to FL to go on the cruise and then fly back to KY to our new place and start our new lives. CRAZY!

I can't believe how close we are. There is still so much I need to do. I gotta get all the stuff for the favor bags, make the favor bags, get jewelry, get a tiara, print out welcome letters. IDK how I'm gonna do it.

oh and i gotta apply for a passport since the last passport i had was when i was like 13 or 14 years old. Hopefully i can get that figured out between now and mid jan. If i have to we'll pay extra to get it expedited.

As it gets closer i get more and more nervous. I have never lived away from home. Granted I used to go to summer camp for many weeks/months at a time but that wasn't anything like living on my own let alone to mention half a country away.

So yea. i'll keep y'all updated

 

[LWatson]

RELAX!!!!!! LOL

BTW KY isnt bad. I live down at Ft. Campbell. Just know people here CAN NOT drive in the snow. I moved to ND at 19, so I know you can do it. Just keep that head up, say calm and go get a quick massage.

Well hubby has managed to scrounge up $5,000. We talked about the guest list and all the other stuff that still needs to be paid for. We've decided to make the guest list 55people. I have two people I can cut (It's the parents of the bridesmaid that up and moved to the UK without telling me). Then hubby has 8 people he isn't all that close to whom he can cut too. So all his family can come and his parents can quit being butt heads about the entire situation.

Gotta love how all of a sudden my mother-in-law can find the money to throw me a bridal shower. Yep, you read that right. She has been asking my hubby what day we'd like them to throw us a bridal shower. ***! Ugh I don't even want to get into that.

Due to hubby being unable to get long leave until the end of Jan we have had to change the days for our honeymoon. Now it's looking like we're gonna go from the 21-28th. So we'll have to move into our new place early and then fly from KY to FL to go on the cruise and then fly back to KY to our new place and start our new lives. CRAZY!

I can't believe how close we are. There is still so much I need to do. I gotta get all the stuff for the favor bags, make the favor bags, get jewelry, get a tiara, print out welcome letters. IDK how I'm gonna do it.

oh and i gotta apply for a passport since the last passport i had was when i was like 13 or 14 years old. Hopefully i can get that figured out between now and mid jan. If i have to we'll pay extra to get it expedited.

As it gets closer i get more and more nervous. I have never lived away from home. Granted I used to go to summer camp for many weeks/months at a time but that wasn't anything like living on my own let alone to mention half a country away.

So yea. i'll keep y'all updated