Mim and Merlin's Wedding May 3, 2012! WP/Narcoossees/SC Got our PLANNER!

[madamemim1975]

Wow, I can FINALLY post after lurking on this board for a couple of months as I'm now officially ENGAGED!

Guess I should start with introductions (using code names as I don't want peeps searching for me..lol!):

Me - I'm Mim. 35 yrs old and lover of all things Disney! I have lost track of how many times I have been there This will be my first marriage (and um, last!!)

Merlin - My fiance (aka M to shorten it up!) 37 and NEVER been to Disney. Can you believe it?? He will be going on his first trip this October!

J - my son from previous relationship. He will be 18 in September. He grew up going to Disney all the time -however will not be joining us in Oct this year

K -Merlin's daughter, age 11 from previous marriage. Never been to Disney either but celebrating her first trip this October!

We just got back from vacation where he asked me to be his wife on Monday, July 12th! Pics to follow if I can figure out HOW to post them!


We have known for awhile that we wanted a small wedding with just immediate family (and MAYBE a few friends). Since my immediate family goes to Disney World together on family trips, we thought this would be a perfect plan! We are looking to have an Escape wedding in April 2012. We would have done 2011, but my brother is getting hitched in Hawaii next April so we need to budget!

I know I have quite awhile but hope to do a little planning here and there up until the big day!

PS - if anyone can tell me how to upload pics that would be GREAT! LOL Thanks!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Congratulations and welcome!!
Looking forward to hearing all your plans!!

 

[madamemim1975]

Here are some shots of our engagement!! Sorry for the size..still getting the hang of it!

 

[madamemim1975]

Just wanted it to check in real fast. We are going to the beach for a few days ALONE to celebrate our engagement since the whole family was with us for the event!

We talked a little last night about the ceremony and we are pretty set on Sea Breeze Point but debating a 10am or 12 noon time slot. Of course, I still have PLENTY of time since I can't even book until next year around this time..sigh..such a LONG wait!

I will post when I get back about how we met and our engagement story

 

[brer rabbit 28]

Congratulations. Looking forward to reading all your plans.

Your engagement pics are lovely.

 

[Mlissa88]

Hi Mim!

Congratulations on your engagement! I agree with brer rabbit - your engagement pictures are lovely.

Sea Breeze Point is a great location - I think that's where I want our vow renewal.

I look forward to your updates.

Take care,
Mlissa88

 

[pixiegirl]

Congrats!! Your pics are so cute!! Can't wait to read all your plans.

 

[madamemim1975]

Thanks everyone! We had a great few days away

How we met:

M and I met back in high school. He was 2 years older than me, but we had a free period together. This was like a study hall but you didn't have to be in a specific room. We would mostly hang out in the cafeteria. We really didn't hang out other than in school. I was dating my son's father all through high school so I didn't really think of M as anything other than a friend. He graduated in 1991 and I lost track of him after that
I ran into him once during our 20's but only briefly at a get together we were at. He doesn't even remember it! It is AMAZING that we never ran into each other again though b/c we have SO many friends in common. We believe the timing must have never been right

Fast forward to Fall 2008 - I wasn't dating anyone after coming out of a bad relationship a few years earlier. I was focused on myself and my son. I had joined Facebook earlier that year at the urging of my sister. I got a friend request on day from M and was so excited as I always remembered him being a cool guy friend. We went back and forth via facebook and he asked to maybe catch up for a drink. Being the homebody that I am I was hesitant, but I told him that it would be nice to get out of the house and meet up with him when we could arrange it. We exchanged numbers and started texting that weekend..just friendly texts about meeting up. He called me the following week and we ended up chatting for HOURS that night. Same thing the following few nights..at this point I was wondering if this could be turning into a DATE! Lo and behold, he was wondering the same thing! By Thursday we just came out and asked each other if it was in fact, a date. And we both hoped it was! We went out on our first date that Saturday and have been together ever since

Being that we both had kids, we were a little leary about that..however everything felt so right from the beginning. We slowly started introducing each other to the kids. Eventually, he moved in and its been WONDERFUL!

The kids enjoy each other (i think b/c there is such an age difference!) and our familes get along well. In fact, my whole family was in on his engagement plans!

Engagement story coming up soon!

 

[madamemim1975]

Onto the Engagement Story!

We had talked for awhile about getting engaged. Unfortunately, things were kind of crazy with work with a threat of a strike, so we were trying to save money and not make any big purchases. I actually went on strike in June, but thank goodness it only lasted 2 weeks

After I got back to work, DF told me that he was going to purchase a ring, but I had no clue when he would ask. I was thinking it would be in October when we make our trip to Disney!!

My sister and her family live in NC by the beach, so we go every summer on vacation. We scheduled this year's vacation around my sister's birthday. On the night of her birthday (7/12/10), we scheduled dinner at a restaurant right on the ocean. Before dinner, we decided to take some pictures up on the beach of the family. As we were taking pictures, all of a sudden DF dropped to one knee. I was so shocked - I really didn't expect this here, in front of my family on my sister's birthday!! Since we were taking pictures, my brother-in-law caught the whole thing - which I'm SO thankful for! Everyone was in on it and kept the secret during the whole vacation!!

Details so far!

Escape Wedding
Where: Sea Breeze Point
When: April 24, 2012 - prob 10am or noon

Going to have a small wedding party consisting of my son (J) serving as Best Man, and DF's daughter (K) serving as Bridesmaid. We will also have my niece and nephew as Flower Girl and Ring Bearer.

Thinking 20-25 guests.

I think my colors will be pistachio and pink - but not 100% decided on this yet!

I still have lots of time and hope to use our October trip to Disney for some inspiration!!

 

[pixiegirl]

Such a cute engagement story. I love that he asked in front of your family. Congrats again!! Can't wait to hear your plans and I love your colors!!

 

[madamemim1975]

Thanks Pixiegirl!

This morning I sent Randy Chapman an information request for package pricing. I'm hoping it is within our budget to hire an outside photographer and from what I'm reading, he seems to have reasonable prices! Hopefully I will hear back from him soon and will have time to save $$. I'm also debating on whether to do an engagement session while we are in Disney this October

If not, I think I will have my sister take some pictures of us and maybe us those for our STDs.

I have decided that I'm not even going to look for a dress until May of next year. There is so much out there and with styles changing all the time I don't want to end up buying something and seeing something I like better at a later date. I swear I am the most indecisive person in the world

We are also trying to narrow down if we are sticking to 18 guests or going to splurge the extra $500 for a few more people. I'm not sure I want to spend basically $100/pp if I can keep the list down. I know some people are going to be upset, but if we keep it right at 18, we include our immediate families and that is good for me.

Other than that, I'm just enjoying reading everyone else's plans on the boards!

 

[pixiegirl]

There are so many decisions to make!!! I went dress shopping and picked my dress but what I do is once I have made a decision I don't look anymore. Or at least that is what I am trying to do!! Good luck with your decisions.

 

[madamemim1975]

So I just made my first official wedding purchase!! SO excited!

We talked over the weekend and we have decided we are having an UP themed wedding. This is 'our' movie and its Disney so it just makes sense. I wasn't going to do a theme of disney at all b/c I was afraid of DF's reaction - but HE actually brought it up and LOVES it!

I bought the wedding cake topper off of Etsy - its Ellie and Carl and I can't WAIT to get it!

Thats about it in wedding news!

 

[Sccrmnky2005]

So I just made my first official wedding purchase!! SO excited!

We talked over the weekend and we have decided we are having an UP themed wedding. This is 'our' movie and its Disney so it just makes sense. I wasn't going to do a theme of disney at all b/c I was afraid of DF's reaction - but HE actually brought it up and LOVES it!

I bought the wedding cake topper off of Etsy - its Ellie and Carl and I can't WAIT to get it!

Thats about it in wedding news!

Awesome I love that!! If you go to david and vicki's facebook there is a couple on her page that is having an up themed wedding this year I believe her name is Michelle check it out Michelle has some fun UP epics you might enjoy!!

 

[pixiegirl]

Congrats on your first wedding purchase!!! The first of many LOL!!!! I love that you guys are having an UP themed wedding. It is so original.

 

[madamemim1975]

I really want to do the Mickey fans or something like that for our programs, but there is no way that I can order them and stay on budget. I have decided that I'm going to try to make as many things as I can to save..soooo....

I went to Joann's Fabric website today and all the Cricut stuff is on sale. I snagged the Mickey and Friends cartridge for $33.99!!

Just a heads up to all of you out there in case any of you guys were looking for one..the actual machines are on sale too!

 

[Disney9.9.10]

Making the fans yourself is so much cheaper! I cannot even believe the difference. And you got an incredible deal on your cricut cartridge!! I think that I paid about $120 for mine (in Canada when it first came out). It is a great cartridge, there are so many things that you can do with it, I hope you enjoy it!!

 

[weedee]

congrats on your first purchase and of course your engagement! I've heard the Cricuts are fun

 

[pixiegirl]

Thanks for the heads up on the cricut cartridge on sale!! I will definitely check it out!!!

 

[madamemim1975]

Just checking in after the weekend - I went to the beach again but this time with my BFF!

Randy emailed me with some package prices and they are VERY reasonable. I am going to email him back asking if we can just tweak some times and see what that would cost. I'm so excited that DF said we should hire an outside photographer!

We also talked about a Magic Kingdom photo session thru DPS but I'm not sure I really want to spend the $$ for that. I just don't want to regret NOT doing it but that money could really be spent elsewhere..

Not much else going on...trying to work on a budget and savings plan!