My intro and I have lots of questions (Escape)

[rumrunnergirl]

Hi,
I am not new to DIS but I am new to this forum, I've been reading here for a week.

A little background - my BF and I met 11 years ago on the company softball team. We were friends for a year and then kicked it up a notch. Nine months later our DD was born. Then we added DS. John is listed in my sig as my DH because after years of saying "no, we're not married", "yes, we've been together 10 years", etc., it's easier to call him DH.

So much happened so quickly when we started dating, I didn't want a shotgun wedding, and we've had some problems and been too stubborn to work them out. But after 10 years of "or worse", we decided to work it out and I am looking forward to many years of "for better". We just had our 10 year anniversary in May and I said "We need to make this official - are you in or out?" Does that mean I proposed? LOL

So - here I am at 46 and never been married, he is 45 and was married a very short time when he was very young. I've never been in a wedding either and I have no idea of what to do. I did tell John that I want a DFTW because I want to walk around the parks with my ears on, LOL. Also, I want to celebrate! I thought I'd never get married, so to be doing it when I'm pushing 50 (I'll be 47 in December but I feel 33, LOL) is pretty exciting to me.

Here's the plans so far:

Since our 11 year anniversary falls on a Sunday next May, I am planning on having my pastor marry us on that date so I can keep it as our anniversary, then do a formal wedding/reception at WDW.

We are doing the Escape wedding because we don't have a lot of funds and will have 18 or less guests (and that's if everyone we invite can come). I am thinking of a Friday 2:30 wedding, then a 5:00 buffet dinner afterwards so everyone should be able to find something they like on the menu. I also have a DDE card so that will help a little, and the 4-hr of limo should fit in nicely with that timeframe. I'm not planning anything in the parks in case guests don't buy tickets.

I have been reading here about welcome parties and meet and greets and dessert parties. We love BBQ so I was thinking of something along those lines for Thursday dinner - or maybe a DP at Sago Cay? I want everyone to have a good time but can't spend a lot. And I want to splurge on the Coach and a moderate hotel. We usually stay at POP (the OKW in my sig was a free upgrade, and next month at POR is because I'm bringing my Mom), but I'm thinking CBR. We'd love AKL but can't spring for that. Someday . . .

I think I will stick with Disney photography and videography to keep costs down - or is it better to cancel that and hire someone outside? I called the DFTW number and they said the cake they provide should be enough for our party. They also said that "save the date" notices are for Wishes only, so should I make my own?

Also, is there a checklist of what I need to buy? I have looked at online checklists, but they have things I don't need to worry about since the Escape wedding takes care of them. I know I need flutes, cake knife, guest book, to schedule hair/make up, make up STDs (that sounds awful! LOL) and invites, find dresses for me & DD, tuxes for John and DS (no other wedding party members, just us and the kids), and favors. We are not going to exchange gifts or do welcome bags.

Rings - lurkyloo mention palladium? Sounds great as I love platinum. Does anyone know where I can find a men's Mickey Mouse ring? We checked DTD and they have them in gold, but I want silver color.

Anything else? HELP! LOL

Thanks!

 

[hiwaygal]

Congratulations on your upcoming "offical for better" ceremony!

DH and I are coming up on our 3rd anniversary and we were both "nearly" 40 when we were married...it was a first time for both of us so I kind of understand the "older bride" feeling!

Your plans so far sound wonderful!

About the save the dates...I think you can easily make them but you might be able to do that via "word of mouth" and save some money for yourself on making/sending them. Especially if those you plan to invite are all family.

The cake is definitely enough for 20 people (and probably enough for almost 50!).

We used Disney Photography for our wedding because I didn't have a whole lot of extra money to go with an outside vendor. I was extremely happy with the pictures! But many brides here choose to use outside vendors for Photography and they can best answer your questions about the choices.

Be aware that getting a high resolution copy of your images (and the copyright) right after your wedding is costly with Disney. It costs less after three years, but you have to be patient. The cost after three years is still less than what you would pay for an outside vendor...but the immediate gratification is lost.

If you decide to stick with Disney, I would recommend Pre-purchasing your proofs and then wait three years to purchase the high resolution images. That's what I did and it worked very well for me.

I guess your checklist should include things you want. Technically you don't need the flutes and cake knives unless you want to keep them. Everything else you listed is a personal choice. And there are lots of ideas here on the boards and in the planning journals.

The only rings I was able to find that had Mickey on them were the ones at Downtown Disney. You can try to see if a jeweler will make a custom ring for you but some might not because of copyright issues. It also may cost more to do a custom ring.

I hope that helps some...as you think of other questions, just come back here to read and ask!

 

[tinkerlisa]

I am making my own "save the dates" and am fortunate enough to have my soon to be niece doing my hair and make-up(she's a cosmotology student)! We are doing the welcome bag thing since none of my guests have ever been to disney! We are undecided on the no gift/bridal registry thing. I feel that if i do a registry, the people that are not invited would think it not fair that they bought us something and we didn't even invite them! And it would be pointless to set up a registry since we will only be inviting 12 people, 9 of whom are definitely coming!
But I wonder the same thing: Is there a certain checklist of things i shouldn't forget?
And does DFTW supply the cake knife? I know we wouldn't get to keep it, I don't care about that. Its just a cake knife.

 

[lurkyloo]

Welcome!

Let's see if I can answer some of your questions....

I think I will stick with Disney photography and videography to keep costs down - or is it better to cancel that and hire someone outside?

Sticking with Disney photography will keep the costs down b/c the Escape package comes with a photographer. However it doesn't include videography, and Disney's services can get quite pricey.

Check out this thread for a list of inexpensive videographers: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1935843

They also said that "save the date" notices are for Wishes only, so should I make my own?

You can if you want them - lots of brides do!

Also, is there a checklist of what I need to buy? I have looked at online checklists, but they have things I don't need to worry about since the Escape wedding takes care of them. I know I need flutes, cake knife, guest book...

There is no set list of things you have to buy - you can get as much or as little as you want! (And as for wedding To Do lists, I had to stop reading checklists b/c they stressed me out and had hardly anything to do with the way we wanted our wedding.) For instance, Disney provides a cake server and flutes at the cake-cutting - you only have to buy your own if you want a keepsake set to take home with you....

lurkyloo mention palladium? Sounds great as I love platinum. Does anyone know where I can find a men's Mickey Mouse ring? We checked DTD and they have them in gold, but I want silver color.

You may have to do some Web searching for that. Palladium is only now becoming popular, so there just aren't as many styles as you'd find in silver or platinum. You might even consider commissioning a palladium ring. The metal is so inexpensive that it could still be a decent price even with the charge for custom work.

 

[tinkerlisa]

Ok scratch the cake knife question! lol! I musta missed the post above mine!

 

[tinkerlisa]

Where could someone find Flutes etched with a disney design?

 

[hiwaygal]

One place is mouseshoppe:

http://www.mouseshoppe.com/product.cfm?ProductID=1736

but that's pretty expensive!

I know you can get them in Disney (in World of Disney at DTD and probably at Mouse Gear in Epcot)...and they would probably be cheaper but you may not have time before hand.

You can also try ebay or just do a google search for them!

 

[tinkerlisa]

Thanks. I would like Cinderella ones. If not, i will settle for mickey and minnie!

 

[tinkerlisa]

WOW you weren't joking on the prices at that mouse shops place!!! I will try ebay!

 

[rumrunnergirl]

I will skip the cake knife if Disney provides one - I don't want to keep it, I just need something to cut the cake with!

Flutes - I saw them on Main Street in MK. They had Mickey groom on one and Minnie Bride on the other. They were marked $17.50 each - I guessed that was the etched price since they were already etched??? I'd like flutes to keep, but it's not a "must have".

I can wait 3 years to get the pictures - not like I don't have tons of us anyway, after 10 years, LOL! Thanks for that tip.

I will probably email people about the dates, and make "save the date" cards anyway. I can do a few crafty things so maybe that will be one of them.

One of my aunts being invited is a hair dresser. If she offers her services - fine - if not, I will be prepared to pay, LOL. She has cut family members hair for years & knows what we like.

I can't see us doing a registry as we've lived together 10 years and own a house, so we're set there. Although we do want to get a camper for Ft. Wilderness, LOL.

I will check out the videographers, thanks!

If I decided to do the DP at Sago Cay - is there a place to find the menu?

Thanks for all your help so far - any more advice is welcome!

 

[tinkerlisa]

DFTW has a honeymoon registry and I think you can sign up for it for your wedding? Or maybe it was only for couples on a disneymoon? I am not sure. it sounds cool and that would be the registry i would do since it is for stuff at WDW...like park tickets and rooms and other fun stuff. But like i said not sure about a registry since its only going to be a very small wedding and stan and i have been together for 7 1/2 years!

 

[rumrunnergirl]

OK, I googled to find a men's ring and I found another board where they posted pictures of rings off of this board!

Another post there showed a really nice men's band with Mickey heads on it, but the poster didn't say where she found the picture. It would be perfect for DH.

 

[Tink_Kel]

Welcome Rumrunnergirl!! Another "seasoned" Bride here (I'm 49) getting Married in May! What are your Wedding/Disneymoon dates?

I'm afraid I won't be much help in the planning part, as I'm having an even smaller wedding than the Escape But I'll lend all the support I can!

make up STDs (that sounds awful! LOL)

That's what I thought, the first time I saw that accronym. I thought "What the Heck?!", and finely found out through reading more posts what it stood for.

I hope you enjoy your engagement!

 

[MegKate]

Welcome Rumrunnergirl!! Another "seasoned" Bride here (I'm 49) getting Married in May! What are your Wedding/Disneymoon dates?

I'm afraid I won't be much help in the planning part, as I'm having an even smaller wedding than the Escape But I'll lend all the support I can!



That's what I thought, the first time I saw that accronym. I thought "What the Heck?!", and finely found out through reading more posts what it stood for.

I hope you enjoy your engagement!

Kelly - you sound like someone dumped pepper or some spice on you to be seasoned!

But I'm glad to have read this post - I always wondered what STD stood for. I didn't want to get into someone elses "personal" lives.

 

[Tink_Kel]

Kelly - you sound like someone dumped pepper or some spice on you to be seasoned!

Yeah, I'm one "Hot" Mama!

But I'm glad to have read this post - I always wondered what STD stood for. I didn't want to get into someone elses "personal" lives.

 

[rumrunnergirl]

Tink Kel - we booked May 15th at the Yacht Club Gazebo.

Another question - can rose petals be scattered down the aisle? Must they be real rose petals?

I am still trying to find a non-yellow gold men's wedding band with a Mickey Head.

 

[Swmhc]

Rose petals do have to be real. It has to do with the environment and the animals. However, you can have your bouquets and bouts in silk if you want to keep them (there is a small upgrade charge for this, but so worth it to me). My bouquet looks the same as the day we married, sitting in my curio. I couldn't justify spending over $600 to preserve one and it be all dried out and faded.

And yes, we are full of bodily abbreviations...BM (bride's maid), STD (save the dates). I am sure there are more, but it's late and those are the only 2 that presently come to mind !