Lisa & Trace-1/25/2011-WP/GF - we got our wedding pics!

[Disney9.9.10]

Yay for random trips to DL! lol Seems like things at Disney are starting to get going for you now which is very exciting, and before you know it you will have handed over lots of plastic money! hehe And I had to laugh at your comment about lasering off your face - nothing at all to do with your face, but the way you said it was hilarious!

 

[sambycat]

Hiya!

Where did you get those fabulous shoes? I LOVE them! Also, I cannot show DH your cake topper or he will buy one. Although then we would need a cake to go with it... hmmmm...

Speaking of cake—they put buttercream underneath the fondant on wedding cakes to make it stick, and when they serve the pieces, the fondant's peeled off. So when they tell you it's impossible to make a Mad Hatter cake that's not covered in fondant, don't worry—no fondant will ever touch your plate!

the shoes were from nine west i think.... i feel like i can tap dance when i wear them.... maybe i can do the ol' soft shoe down the aisle....

i am worried there will be a battle royale over the cake - i know buttercream goes under, and i suppose i will give if forced, but there is no reason why you couldn't have the wonky looking layers and just have regular buttercream frosting in bright colors, with a design if any, piped on. its not going to be hot and its not going to be outside! i want lots of frosting and frosting flowers!!! they will bend to my will - i knows it!!



no face lasering has occured. YET...

 

[sambycat]

i just saw these "cootie catcher" programs linked on aisle dash. i am so making these!!!! thing is the etsy link is for printing really only - pay EXTRA to have them folded!!??!! so i just made me one for the first time ever, gonna figure out what i want to write on it and make'em myself!

WOOT!!

 

[Disney9.9.10]

Cootie catchers seem to be making their way to the wedding front lately (at least where I am from). But I have only seen them as some type of favour, not as a program. The program idea is very cool though! Your guests will have a great time with them, and it is something unique that you can keep. Love it!

 

[sambycat]

have sent in all that pre-LOA stuff. now more waiting.

in the meantime, i have confirmed with beaute especial - ok, i know thats not what its called..... anna? oh dear sweet baby jesus!! i'm tired!!! editing 2 podcasts (hi carrie!!) and worked today. also have a lead on a job in the city where my fiance lives and hae my fingers crossed - so if anyone has like a voodoo doll or special magic and just plain old prayers, i will take any and all good wishes heading this way!!

so, yeah. i booked hair and make up - at this point for BOTH the wedding and MK photo shoot. nervous about the whole "no trial run" thing most likely, but started thinking today about how i could do something kind of wild and wacky for the MK shoot - not QUITE lady gaga - but something fierce and fabulous!!!! and i got excited! plus i realized i bet my grandma would like getting her make up and hair done if she can make it!

havent done much else except fold and unfold my cootie catcher program mock up and try to think about what the he-double hockey sticks would write on it.and but yet more bridal magazines.and try and start the slim fast program.

and read board posts. most interesting and helpful lately has been a thread about BOC/bar packages (leaning towards BOC and doing the alcohol as 2 "signature" drinks - bloody marys and mimosas) and venting my fears and concerns about the kiss and recessional!


ok - here is my plan. and i am not entirely sure i've even written what my recessional music is - its kind of the only thing we've decided on (ok, i decided on this one but he hasnt complained). so, i picture this:

"i now pronounce you husband and wife!"
-------> as we kiss, the recessional music swells!
da da dah! DA DA DA DAH!!!!!!!
BANG - STREAMER CANNON SHOTS OFF!!! annnddddd

It's a great big beautiful tomorrow!!! Shining at the end of every day!!!!!​

so, yeah, i want a musical crescendo/kiss/explosion of streamers at a pre-determined moment! i am going to try for it, but i know in my head at least, the logistics will be tricky. but, in my mind, we aren't really having any extra decor at the WP, so, to me, the streamer explosion is the thing - i hope it works!!!!!

 

[sambycat]

Basically, I sent an email yesterday morning to DFTW to follow up on when in the heck we were going to get our LOA. Diane sent it last night, as TODAY is our 8 months and counting down date!

OK, little sunglass dude not withstanding, I am having a major panic attack. The LOA looks pretty standard, will be rereading and rereading today and tomorrow so I can get it back ASAP. The DF is in Texas and has a copy that he has to sign and initial as well. I am sure all contained within is standard, I guess I *thought* it might contain - not a budget - but, like, an "updated" proposal letter, like we got way back mid february, outlining basic costs and some ball park figures.

I'm just feeling very overwhelmed, like there is no way we can make this work for the closest to minimum as we can. And then I was perusing pictures of the WHR - which I've been loving and still feel the location is going to be perfect and I don't even want to try and change it - but I was looking at pictures and I am fearing that the "primary" colors of the Mad Hatter tea Party "examples" will not quite "go" and that also, by contrast, the lack of all the fancy "David Tutera threw up all over my wedding" tchotchkes will make it all look sad and empty.

I want the basic tables, I don't want to incur more and more costs and, even if we do end up getting to somehow do a planning session, I don't want to start looking at 8 million expensive table options, I just think that a more light purple or almost pastel version of the multi colored tables would look better with the room then perhaps primary? and not really that the other clashes, more that there isn't probably any other decor but the tables and thus the rest of the room looks kind of washed out...

my DF apparently still doesn't like gray, wants some kind of tux, which is fine, but i fear he is going to want the 1990s satin-y cummerbund (THATS how that is spelled? really?) special and it will be funky. and not in a good way.

i have to go to work now, but I just feel completely nervous. i was hoping this little freak out would pass after a nights sleep, but no such luck.

i should focus on the positives - i am awaiting hopefully a job offer that will take me to my sweetie this summer - and maybe get us a chance to go to an actual planning session!, i'm hoping i am done with losing the same 10 pounds over the last 3 months and moving on to the NEXT 10 - I am going to try on my dress again i thinking another 3 pounds, it just seems like everything i am doing is ticky tacky and cheesy and cheap. poo.

 

[helloirishkitty]

Basically, I sent an email yesterday morning to DFTW to follow up on when in the heck we were going to get our LOA. Diane sent it last night, as TODAY is our 8 months and counting down date!

OK, little sunglass dude not withstanding, I am having a major panic attack. The LOA looks pretty standard, will be rereading and rereading today and tomorrow so I can get it back ASAP. The DF is in Texas and has a copy that he has to sign and initial as well. I am sure all contained within is standard, I guess I *thought* it might contain - not a budget - but, like, an "updated" proposal letter, like we got way back mid february, outlining basic costs and some ball park figures.

I'm just feeling very overwhelmed, like there is no way we can make this work for the closest to minimum as we can. And then I was perusing pictures of the WHR - which I've been loving and still feel the location is going to be perfect and I don't even want to try and change it - but I was looking at pictures and I am fearing that the "primary" colors of the Mad Hatter tea Party "examples" will not quite "go" and that also, by contrast, the lack of all the fancy "David Tutera threw up all over my wedding" tchotchkes will make it all look sad and empty.

I want the basic tables, I don't want to incur more and more costs and, even if we do end up getting to somehow do a planning session, I don't want to start looking at 8 million expensive table options, I just think that a more light purple or almost pastel version of the multi colored tables would look better with the room then perhaps primary? and not really that the other clashes, more that there isn't probably any other decor but the tables and thus the rest of the room looks kind of washed out...

my DF apparently still doesn't like gray, wants some kind of tux, which is fine, but i fear he is going to want the 1990s satin-y cummerbund (THATS how that is spelled? really?) special and it will be funky. and not in a good way.

i have to go to work now, but I just feel completely nervous. i was hoping this little freak out would pass after a nights sleep, but no such luck.

i should focus on the positives - i am awaiting hopefully a job offer that will take me to my sweetie this summer - and maybe get us a chance to go to an actual planning session!, i'm hoping i am done with losing the same 10 pounds over the last 3 months and moving on to the NEXT 10 - I am going to try on my dress again i thinking another 3 pounds, it just seems like everything i am doing is ticky tacky and cheesy and cheap. poo.

I completely hear you about feeling very overwhelmed. We are trying to stay as close to the minimum as possible and I keep thinking that my wedding is going to look like I did.

I just read through your PJ and I can promise you that your ideas are not "ticky tacky and cheesy and cheap". I think the LOA makes everything seem so much more real and permanent and that this is actually going to happen so you start to question everything you loved about your wedding- that's exactly what I did. Don't do it! Your ideas are great and I love your cake topper!

 

[Disney9.9.10]

I saw LOA and was really happy for you, but then I saw VENT beside it and was sad for you This whole thing really is overwhelming - especially if you cannot get down for a planning session to see everything in the flesh. It all seems so permanent and you want to make sure that you love everything. I have loved your ideas this far, and I think that you will make the room work. I think that the WHR can go with lots of different looks. Maybe you could tell your planners what colours you are thinking about and see what they think - because they know what the room and the linens look like in the flesh. I hope that things get better for you real soon - try your best not to feel too overwhelmed. Here is lots of pixie dust!

 

[girli565]

Hi!!

I know the LOA seems generic and uninformative but really it's just outlining the venues you want and what the F&B minimums are plus what you're minimum expenditure is. It's only tying you down to those things, not the elements you choose. Let's say your minimum expenditure is $10k. That's what you're required to spend and that's what you agree to in the LOA. Yes it sucks that things like food and entertainment can't be nailed down until 6 months out but your expenditure will not change.

It seems so uncertain now but as you start planning you will feel better about it. You're not too far out, January is only 8 months away. Think, by August you will be able to lock in prices... that's only 3 months away (even a little less than that).

 

[sambycat]

thanks gals - BUT LISTEN TO THIS:

sat down on the phone with my man to go over the LOA so we could get it back to them ASAP.


I PUT AN ENTIRELY WRONG MIDDLE NAME DOWN FOR THE FH.


yes, i am AWESOME.

in my own defense, his middle name, wade, sounds just like his brother's middle name, wayne, when trace says it in his texas accent! at first i didn't even know what he was saying when he said "my middle name is wrong! it should be wade!" it sounded like "my middle name is wayne and it says wayne!"

for some reason i wrote tracey WAYNE. i think i know his name. HELLOOOOO?!? TOTAL BRAIN FART.

 

[sambycat]

OK. so trace and i went over the LOA finally, had a couple of questions - that folks here helped me with - thank you all - and we returned it friday by fax. i didn't look back at what i wrote last - did i mention the part about putting THE WRONG MIDDLE NAME DOWN FOR MY FIANCE?

yeah, ok, so we are all on the same page.....

so, the name is correct - I'M SORRY HONEY!!! - and there wasn't anything else we needed to add, again, just as you all had reassured me. of course, its a holiday weekend, and everyone is out of office, so i hope to get confirmation and word of what's next next week.

meanwhile, back on the farm....

first the GREAT news - I GOT A JOB IN DALLAS!!!!! yes, it's been an LDR for our entire relationship. the hubster was unfortunately laid off this spring and his job search has proven challenging, and the CRNA market has been tight in that area. however, something really good has come through, and hopefully i will have a contract in hand by the end of the week and i can give notice!! and i think that deserves a second nana

that will make things both more hectic and way better! we will be together! but the household merging is going to be quite an extravaganza and, right when we have to start paying for this ~14Kish (hopefully less) wedding, we also have to front a cross country move, his unemployment and ridiculous COBRA insurance payments and redoing all the flooring in his house - which REALLY needs to happen to make it more liveable, especially since we are adding my maggie mae into a mix of 2 cats and his cookie monster boston terrier. all frolicing on the ORIGINAL rust colored carpets from 1985. um yeah......

so all that is daunting and exciting! as soon as i get there, it will be so much easier financially as well, as my rent is like freakishly high. his entire house payment is like a third of my rent, so me getting out there will also free us both up a bit living expenses wise. also- side note - i am hoping that the planning process may continue such that perhaps we can make a super quick one night trip to WDW and get a planning session before august. i think this is probably way too optimistic, but a girl can dream....

so back on the wedding front

*today i colored! well, i am working on door hangers to include in our welcome bag and i've printed out quite a few, so, since its raining now, i was coloring them in for a while with colored pencils. nicely enjoyable.

*i've been doing well on my couch to 5k, getting back on a better exercise schedule. diet, as always, remains challenging, but i've lost like 12 pounds and am sure i've lost more in inches. so, of course i tried my dress on yesterday.

um, now i can zip it up myself. like right now, i would guess it fits perfectly for the size it is. so on the one hand, i'm thrilled i am getting back into old habits and maybe at some point i can wear my clothes in my closet again... so while i am super glad and know its easier to take a dress in that try to let it out...... but i am worried. worried that it will still be super expensive to alter when it is time. and i was looking at the dress and the only seam on the bodice really is at the zipper. so its not like it can just sort of be nipped in at each side. i mean, i don't sew so who the hell know *** they do with all that magical thread, but i already wanted to have it shortened and know this could be like a major restructuring! it worries me and i wish still i had taken the misordered size 14 dress that david's bridal got in first when i had the chance.

*also i have yet another little DIY moment that i am kind of in the mood for doing but given that i am not sure HOW the dress would be taken in if need be, i'm afraid. i want to embroider a heart with our initials in blue on the inside left of the front of the dress bodice. like a secret something blue. but i guess i need to wait on that.

*Rev. Miller got back in touch - i guess there was an email snafu and actually HE contacted trace wondering what happenend to us (sort of) only to discover his email was fubar-ed or some such thing, so we have him on board.

*we booked the MK bridal shoot. going to have the guy add on AK as well and request amy or regina if possible? i think these are the names i've seen the most.

also on the horizon:

• we dont have wedding bands yet
• trace has no idea what to wear and i fear he will try to rock shiny pants and a cumberbund and completely harsh my wedding day buzz
• we need to make a deposit on a condo for the family to stay in for the week-ish we are there - looking at all star vacation homes (uhdotcom and thank you matt hochberg)

i've also recomitted to really wanting to have mendhi henna tattoos sometime over the pre-wedding weekend done at EPCOT Morocco and I am wondering if there is anyway i can make a reservation or something. i guess just pick a day and go sit there?

ok. i'm done i guess. time to await the mysterious planning videos and checklists and DVDs and what not and work on my "no, the mad hatter cake does NOT need to be covered in fondant" speech....

 

[sambycat]

still waiting to hear from DFTW in terms of a planner and what next. our contract was faxed back to them with deposit info a week ago friday (before the holiday weekend) but we got an email from both diane and john at DFTW that it hd been recived. i guess i just thought we might hear something the end of last week, but not yet. dying to get the website out to people and print and mail our invitations.

how it can be recommended to send out invitations 6-8 weeks before a wedding i can not understand!

 

[sambycat]

well, as seems to be the way of the sorld, when it rains it pours!! fortunately, though still overwhelming, whats pouring down seems to be of the good news variety!!

Got a phone call today, followed up with an extensive email letting us know that Karen Heyn is to be our planner! very excited! will be talking to karen thursday morning. in the meantime, EXTENSIVE paperwork has arrived as well - looks to be 4 attachments outlining the ceremony et al and a variety of choices and decisions and options - again ALL totally exciting, but also overwhelming as i am sure other brides can attest! i'll try and detail some of the info in the near future, as to the types of questions and what not to give some of you all who are still in the earlier stages an idea of what it is you get to look at. I can say there is a big sheet that seems to outline many possible permutations of cake, but it is so long and detailed at first glance that i really cant make heads or tails of it at this point. looks like it is maybe an extensive spread sheet of potential cake designs, ike those listed on the DFTW website, and the different sizes?

theres a sheet listing ceremony music that refers to a CD (still), though i thought i read somewhere that brides no longer recieved CDs, but instead online materials. there is a resources sheet (or 4) that looks to be reiterations of info i've already recieved and gleaned from disney and the boards (officiants, dress streaming, etc...)

again the main big long thing looks to have 2012 questions about the ceremony and reception specific and appears to give options about all of this. not seeing pricing info or the like. anyways very excited!!!

also got an estimate on my move - seems reasonalbe and looks to be happening early july!

things are coming along and not a moment too soon!!!!

 

[DVC Bride 2011]

Exciting stuff! At least it is a good kind of overwhelming!

 

[sambycat]

Exciting stuff! At least it is a good kind of overwhelming!

indeed! and i see that its all kind of coming in waves for us all - lots of LOA's and planer assignments going on the last couple weeks!!

 

[Disney9.9.10]

Wow lots of exciting stuff happening for you! Karen is my planner as well! I think that you will be really happy with her! It is good to hear that the move is looking feasible!

 

[DVC Bride 2011]

indeed! and i see that its all kind of coming in waves for us all - lots of LOA's and planer assignments going on the last couple weeks!!

I know! We just faxed back our LOA yesterday so it won't be long before we get our planner too. I'm happy so many people on the DIS are going through the same stages at the same time, it makes it even more fun

 

[sambycat]

so, i faxed the pre-planning questionnaire in to karen heyn last night and just got off the phone with her a couple hours ago! she was awesome, didn't make me feel crazy for rambling on and on and was very helpful! this first discussion was pretty much the basics of what was on the questionnaire, she asked lots of questions about my inspirations etc.. and we talked generalities. obviously no budget issues really or the like.

things seem to be settling out as i've expected, our dates are solid, sounds like we can do some kind of rehearsal the day before in the time frame i'd hoped for (late morning/noon). not sure where that will happen - and she said they can't confirm till december, but i don't really care about that part, as long as it's somewhere at the GF if not the WP.

most exciting news is that we *may* get to do an in park planning sessin! she has an availibility 7/12/10, afternoon, and assuming i can tweak my move dates ever so slightly, i think we can make it work for trace and i both to go down!!

the only down side is the cash it will cost (looks as if we could fly though for a not bad price)... the first thing trace texted me was "we should get ADRs at yak and yeti!" i'm like : "dude, we are eating sticks only". i did put in an email with beaute special about maybe squeezing in some sort of trial run, although, honestly god only knows what will be up with my hair by january.

we shall see how it pans out by monday...

also, side note, i posted some pics on my blog of our birdie cake toppers!! too lazy to put them on photobucket and then upload at the moment! they can be found here, after my freak out of this morning if you want to see!

 

[helloirishkitty]

so, i faxed the pre-planning questionnaire in to karen heyn last night and just got off the phone with her a couple hours ago! she was awesome, didn't make me feel crazy for rambling on and on and was very helpful! this first discussion was pretty much the basics of what was on the questionnaire, she asked lots of questions about my inspirations etc.. and we talked generalities. obviously no budget issues really or the like.

things seem to be settling out as i've expected, our dates are solid, sounds like we can do some kind of rehearsal the day before in the time frame i'd hoped for (late morning/noon). not sure where that will happen - and she said they can't confirm till december, but i don't really care about that part, as long as it's somewhere at the GF if not the WP.

most exciting news is that we *may* get to do an in park planning sessin! she has an availibility 7/12/10, afternoon, and assuming i can tweak my move dates ever so slightly, i think we can make it work for trace and i both to go down!!

the only down side is the cash it will cost (looks as if we could fly though for a not bad price)... the first thing trace texted me was "we should get ADRs at yak and yeti!" i'm like : "dude, we are eating sticks only". i did put in an email with beaute special about maybe squeezing in some sort of trial run, although, honestly god only knows what will be up with my hair by january.

we shall see how it pans out by monday...

also, side note, i posted some pics on my blog of our birdie cake toppers!! too lazy to put them on photobucket and then upload at the moment! they can be found here, after my freak out of this morning if you want to see!

We just booked our PS for September and I am completely with you, we are eating sticks only! Unless we win the lottery between now and then....

I love the birdie cake topper! I want brids on top of my cake too, I just don't know how I want them to be yet.

 

[sambycat]

things are crazy! we get to do an in park planning session - got 2 DVDs in the mail today from our planner! I was able to change our move dates ever so slightly so we can drive to WDW from Virginia Beach, stay at WDW, then drive on to Texas. I have a dog and I didn't think it would be good for her to drive to her new home, dump her with 2 other cats and another dog then dissapear for a couple days! plus i wasn't up for driving all that much in a week and flights are rather pricey plus housing to consider....

so in a weird twist of fate, a pal had randomly booked a vacation his family couldn't take at the vero beach DVC. long story short, they cant use the points, will lose the points, the points were for the days we were going to go to WDW. so with one phone call, we've gotten a most amazing wedding gift!! we get to stay at saratoga springs in a studio for free!! and there is availability at the MK kennel, so stressful as it will be for my little pumpkin, we will have her, she will have a 4 night kennel stay but we can visit, ad we get to go to WDW!!!

we have sero money so its not some regular type trip, but we have annual passes so that is good though it so hot and crowded right now, i'm hoping for disney pool time and time lounging with my honey!!!!! we are going to drive down the 9th, get there that evening, check maggie in. looking forward to saturday being all day parks! didn't make it to AK on the last trip and, given the heat, i may just well do kali river rapids! i've heard the queue is amazing, but i've never been due to the soakage factor.

sunday i have confirmed a trial run of hair and make up!! woot!! then sunday and monday morning we can scope out the all star vacation condos, locate take out ideas for our rehearsal gathering and find me a place to get a mani/pedi pre-wedding. also realize i can find out about getting mendhi before the wedding! yay!!!

also a possibility - touched base with vicki arndt after getting our planner and wondering if she might be shooting around the parks while we were there and maybe we could meet and say hello. she suggested trying to do a e session. well, our schedule is indeed tight, but IF they don't have something booked at the odd hours we know we are available (after the hair/make up!!!) maybe we can!!! and now of course i want to go somewhere and get my little pup out and get pictures with my 2 little loves!!!

anyways, just a quick update. we are going to be recording and videoing the whole time. will try to do some interviews for my podcast as well!!
and have to find some brides to stalk....