Michelle & Steve's VR, 4-13-11 (our 20th Anniversary); Updated Today is THE Day!!

[Tinker Bell Fan]

So I'm thinking I may make earrings and/or a bracelet to go with my dress. But, as a "backup plan" I came across these pretty things:

This one is a set: long necklace, bracelet and matching earrings. It's blue and blue/green crystals.
1.

I also liked these earrings - blue crystal.
2.

I loved this bracelet and just had to get it!
3.

I also found this set when I was looking for red jewelry.

And I also thought about pearls and found these:
4.

and
5.

Any thoughts?

 

[KristiLyn]

Tough choice. I love the blue jewelry. But with your dress, for some reason I'm leaning towards the pearls. But the red jewelry is nice too.
See, I'm indecisive...haha!
I'd probably go with the pearls if it were me

 

[pixie921]

I'm always happy to offer my opinion! I like the red jewelry or the pearls with your dress...I think the blue might detract from it. And the pearls are more wedding-ish than the red jewelry (though I really do like it!) I think.

 

[Tinker Bell Fan]

Thanks Ladies. At least I'm not the only one who can't make up my mind!

I do like the pearls with the dress. So if I go that route - I'll need earrings. Gee, I'll have to go shopping! I think I handle that! I've been lucky so far that the jewelry hasn't cost me all that much - everything has been on sale.

The search continues...

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Tough choice - they are all lovely sets!!!
I think that with your gorgeous dress, the red or the pearls would be better. IMHO the blue wouldn't be quite right. However, it may look stunning, as it is so difficult to tell with not seeing them together!!!!

 

[Tinker Bell Fan]

So I've been looking at the jewelry and so far I'm leaning towards the pearls. So we'll see - thanks ladies for your help!

Well, earlier this week I sent in to our planner the completed "planning kit". It had been on my "to do list" for that day and Tanis & I must have been on the same wave length because she called and left me a message about it so I finished it and sent it on to her. I had a couple of questions and she answered them the very next day.

Now I'm waiting to hear from Rosie. I had a couple of questions for Rosie regarding decorating the WP. I'm wondering how much it would cost for a small floral arrangement to go on the altar and how much would bows cost for the aisle. I'm also wondering if we'd be keeping the arrangement (because I might give it to one of our guests).

DH & I decided we didn't want too much decoration at the WP - but a little would be nice. And worse case I'll bring my own decorations and have a couple of friends decorate.

I figure if I don't hear from Rosie by next week I'll email her again (and perhaps my planner too). I know she's busy!

Also...my dress is at the seamstress being taken in (yeah!) Apparently I'm loosing weight in the right places! The dress should be ready by next week or so. I told her no later than April 1st! My plan is to have everything ready and done by April 1st so that I have about 2 weeks to just take it easy and get ready for our trip to Disney!

I have a 3-day weekend this weekend (Monday is a holiday - yeah no work). So I'm hoping DH & I will go and look at wedding rings.

That's all for now! Thanks for following along!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

I think the pearls are an excellent choice Michelle!!!!
Looking forward to hearing what you and Rosie decide on to decorate the WP!!
Yay for having to take the dress in!!! Well done you!!!

 

[Tinker Bell Fan]

So we got our BEO last Friday! We haven't hit $7000 (yet!)

My bouquet will be all roses (red & white) and is costing only $31 extra; and the other upgrade was for the Cinderella photo package "D" which is an extra $750.

I've emailed Rosie and asked about decorations at the WP. We were going to do a sand ceremony but I'm giving that up. I'm just not sure I want to do it (much less if DH will be able to stand at the altar and pour sand (since he's still learning to balance on his prosthetic leg). So I've taken the sand ceremony out of the picture.

I've been thinking I want some candles and a small floral arrangement and bows for the pews down the aisle. and that is all the decorations we want. So I got a list $200 for a huge floral arrangement (looks like it has candles with it - not sure if they are a part of the arrangement or if they are separate (like for a unity candle ceremony)). A smaller arrangement was $150 or so and a candle ring for $125. Not quite what I had in mind!

Bows were $15 EACH and there are 11 pews on each side of the aisle. Again, not what I had in mind for cost!

Candles were $5 each to rent and come in a variaty of sizes.

So now I need to decide. Do I want to do my own and have my friend decorate or do I bite the bullet (so to speak) and have Disney do it for a about $500.

Maybe I can talk to Rosie about a smaller floral arrangement - not necessarily roses either. And maybe bows on every other pew rather than every pew? Hmmm...

And there is talk that we might be shutdown at work - which means no pay for who knows how long!!! I work for the Federal Government and we'll know something by March 4th.

More later...

Thanks for following along!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Sorry to hear about the issues at work!!! Hope it all turns out okay!!
Why not wait and see how things pan out at work before deciding how to play the decoration thing? If things go well, maybe have Disney do the decoration for the WP (less stress etc), if not do it yourself!!!

 

[Tinker Bell Fan]

Sorry to hear about the issues at work!!! Hope it all turns out okay!!
Why not wait and see how things pan out at work before deciding how to play the decoration thing? If things go well, maybe have Disney do the decoration for the WP (less stress etc), if not do it yourself!!!

Hopefully we'll find out something around March 4th. There has been talk about extending the current budget until March 31st and then shut down the government. This happened once before in 1995 and the government was shut down for a month or 6 weeks. I told Steve I wouldn't mind being off in April for a few weeks to a month! That way we could go to Disney and I wouldn't have to use my vacation! But then I wouldn't get paid either (but hopefully we'll get back pay like they did in 1995. We'll see.

At least Steve has a contingency plan in case we do shut down and I'm out of work with no pay. Our bills will be paid and we'll go to Disney! yeah!!

 

[Tinker Bell Fan]

Not much to really update, but more in the mood to complain. Sad I know!

Yesterday was when our RSVPs were due. I emailed the two that were missing and low and behold...they aren't coming. I knew that! Still waiting to hear if my cousin (and her hubby) will be coming. I'm hoping they will, but my gut is telling me they won't be there either.

Even my FIL won't be there! That really irks me the most. I know there is a lot of stuff that happened WAY BEFORE I came into the picture, but my way of thinking is "Life is too short! What has been done is done...get over it!" It's complicated and I think they (Steve's dad and two brothers) are acting like spoiled little children. Steve's willing to let bygones be bygones but apparently they haven't.

But what irks me the most is that FIL asked that we invite Steve's two brothers. I've met both brothers and am not fond of either of them. I really don't think they are nice people. I put my foot down and said "no" to the younger BIL being invited (Steve agreed, plus he moved and never gave us a forwarding address - tells us he doesn't want to be in touch with us). I did relent and invited the older BIL and surprise he's not coming. So now FIL isn't coming.

So that means that our party of 20 (including us) has turned into a party of 6 (which includes us). Boy will we have a LOT of cake left over!! Not to mention the Wedding Pavilion will look really empty! I'm disappointed in that - I was kind of hoping there would be more folks.

Oh well...on the brighter side...we won't pay a ton for food!

My seamstress called and said my dress (I needed to have it taken in) is ready and I'm picking it up Sunday. I can't wait!

And we found out that we'll be working at least until March 18th at which time if they don't pass a budget, the Federal Government will shutdown. For how long? who knows.

We're also deciding on songs - Steve is thinking of having "Walk this Way" by Aerosmith play when he walks in. We started thinking about that and it cracked us up. We have a weird sense of humor anyway, but as you may recall, Steve has a prosthetic leg and walks with a very noticeable limp. Sorry! Told you we have a weird sense of humor!

More later...thank you for reading along!

 

[April Elizabeth]

I just started reading your PJ. I love it! You met your Steve on mine and my fiance's first date, anniversary. Can't wait to read more.

 

[Tinker Bell Fan]

I just started reading your PJ. I love it! You met your Steve on mine and my fiance's first date, anniversary. Can't wait to read more.

Hi April Elizabeth! Thanks for following along. It was fate that brought my Steve & I together that night!

 

[Tinker Bell Fan]

So I've been thinking since we are only having 6 couples, and two are Steve & me, that instead of the bubbles to be blown for our "exit" that everyone could wave ribbon wands. I'm hoping by the use of ribbon wands it will look like there are more people - I'm not sure bubbles from 4 people will have the same effect. I'm really disappointed in Steve's family but that a whole other rant. And I'm not too happy with the other folks we invited either, but that's another rant too. And I'm not going to rant anymore about them. It's not worth it.

So back to the ribbon wands. Since I do crafts I have a ton of ribbon I purchased to do various projects; and since most of those projects are unfinished and will never get finished because I've gone to other projects. I'm thinking I could take those ribbons and use them. It would make the wands much more colorful.

I had thought of making them only red & white (various shades perhaps) but then I thought that would be more expensive and this way, if I use the ribbons I have I'll serve two purposes (1. saving money and 2. getting rid of the ribbon I already have to make room in my craft room).

So today I'm hoping to start this project and since I only need 4 (I may make 6 just in case my cousin decides to come) it shouldn't take me too long to do. I will take pictures and post as soon as the project is done.

It's raining today so I'm thinking this is a good day for my projects.

I've also decided that we're going with candles as a "centerpiece" for the altar at the WP. I found various heights of the flameless candles and will use them on the altar; and we'll use white tulle draped on the pews in the aisle and then put red tulle bows on every other pew. At least that is the plan. And yes I'm making the bows too. My dear friends who are coming to the VR have volunteered to decorate for us. So I don't want to over burden them. Plus everyone will have Hawaiian leis - those may be in their welcome basket with a note to wear them the day of the VR.

I can't believe the VR is only a little more than a month away!

Thanks for staying tuned...more to come!

 

[Tinker Bell Fan]

We made some more decisions! DH & I have been talking about what music should be played for our ceremony. So we've finally decided that:

Disney music will play while our guests are seated (won't take long since there are only 4 guests)

1. DH will walk in to "A World of Our Own" by the Seekers (we're providing on CD)
2. Then while I'm getting ready - "Hawaiian Wedding Song" by Andy Williams will play (via CD)
3. I'll walk in to "When You Wish upon a Star"
4. After Rev. Day does the welcome and talks about love, we'll have "There is Love/The Wedding Song" by Paul Stookey (via CD)
5. Then we'll walk out to "Unchained Melody" (which is "our" song).

It took forever for DH to make up his mind, but finally it's done and the CD made!

Only 36 more days!!

 

[Tinker Bell Fan]

So I think I've found the jewelry I will be wearing for our VR next month! A friend of mine made them (bracelet and earrings).

They are freshwater pearls and red crystals. Just enough red! I love them!

and another view

The BEO is due by the 14th and I need to email our vows to Rev. Day - my goal is to send it this week.

Things are falling into place!

 

[pixie921]

Oh, your jewelry is so pretty! And even more special since it was made by a friend! It will look great with your dress.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Just catching up Michelle!!
Loving the new updates!!
The jewellery is very pretty and will be perfect with your gorgeous dress!!
It is getting so close now. How exciting is that!!

 

[KristiLyn]

Very pretty jewelry!! So sweet of your friend!

 

[Tinker Bell Fan]

I can't wait to actually see the jewelry! I pick it up on Saturday.

I cancelled the three rooms we booked for Steve's family (since none of them are coming - even his dad. He finally confirmed it yesterday AFTER I called him). And I changed our studio to a one-bedroom. We had been planning on staying at Saratoga Springs, but we will be staying at the Boardwalk Villas and we arrive now on April 10th (one month from today!!)

Also, this morning I sent our vow ceremony to Rev. Day.

Just wanted to add a quick update!