Nicole & Evan's PJ: 12/29/2009 SBP/Ariels

[ColeV]

Hi everyone! I've been around the boards for a little while, but since we're doing our planning session tomorrow, I figured I should get around to a PJ!

I'm Nicole and my fiances name is Evan. We met over 7 years ago in high school and started dating soon after. Evan is actually a couple years younger than I am, so when I went off to college (Ball State) he ended up going to an academy on that campus, then on to Purdue. Flash forward a few years later and I live in Williamsburg, VA as a tailor (I think you can guess for what company) and Evan is currently in the Navy, doing school in Charleston. The military thing has made planning this wedding pretty difficult, but we're hoping it'll work out!

He proposed to me last December (with some mischief from my friends). They got me to go to an evening performance (18th century ball) with them one weekend. Unknown to me Evan had driven up from Charleston, they had gotten him a full 18th century silk suit from work, and he was waiting to surprise me at the end of the show. When they invited him in, it took me a few seconds to recognize him! Well, it went off beautifully and my friends were smiling about it for days. Turns out half of where I work knew about it before I did!

As for the wedding, since I'm a theatrical design person, it's going to be a 1930s style gala. I'm sure I'll have a lot more details soon, but for now I can say I'm not only building two gowns for me, but Evan's morning suit as well. My two bridesmaids are seamstresses as well, so they're making their own gowns. I think part of the reason we're doing a Disney wedding is so I don't try to do everything myself! I'm already making the invitations and favors on top of the sewing projects (I did give in and purchase the top hats though).

We'll be meeting with our wedding planner (Ken) tomorrow, so I'll be trying to add lots more after that!

 

[malibustacey]

oooh my goodness i cannot wait for more plans!! congrats!! i hope tomorrow goes okay, let us know!

 

[Pirate's Princess]

Wow!! a 1930s style gala sounds awesome!! I can't wait to hear more from you and all about the planning session. Welcome to the boards!!

 

[MainStMandy]

WOW your plans sound great,and very unique! I love your avatar btw...Snow White is my favorite

 

[Ann117]

I can not wait to hear more sounds like you will have many unique ideas.

 

[ColeV]

Well, Monday was great, if not a little overwhelming! I just flew home this afternoon, so I don't have time to go through it all right now (but soon!). So, here's my inspiration board I put together. We're using a lot of silver, navy, aqua blues, and some copper. For decorations think orchids, mercury glass, and palms.

 

[DISNEYMAGIC2005]

Well, Monday was great, if not a little overwhelming! I just flew home this afternoon, so I don't have time to go through it all right now (but soon!). So, here's my inspiration board I put together. We're using a lot of silver, navy, aqua blues, and some copper. For decorations think orchids, mercury glass, and palms.

Congrats on your engagement. Can't wait to hear about you PS. BTW I love your inspiration board. We are using navy blues and silver and pink for our wedding. And I really love the silver and blues together.

 

[ghoulish delight]

Ooh!! How exciting! I can't wait to see more of your plans!

 

[rumrunnergirl]

.

 

[ColeV]

I suppose this is the point where I'd put up pictures of my gown, but seeing as 10 yards of silk doesn't look like much, that's going to have to wait a couple months! Hopefully I'll get my sketches uploaded soon though. In the mean time, I can put up pictures of the top hats and the fascinator I just got this week (squeal!).

While on the subject of accessories, my bouquet is going to be the vintage layed-out style with cala lilies and orchids. I'm going to go on the hunt for a vintage brooch to pin to the wrapped stems soon. Adding that to the list along with hair combs for the BMs, a silver purse, and something for my hair at the reception. Why is it that the guys get off so easy with all this? I picked Evan up some cufflinks last week and all he needs now is a tie-tack. Eh, but I'd miss the feathers if I was a guy.

 

[ColeV]

I actually had time off last night, so I got some sketches done and uploaded! These are the two gowns I'm in the process of building:

It's going to be out of an off-white silk charmeuse, and possibly a silk velvet for the jacket.

This is for the reception and I managed to find a real silk lamé in silver (not the scary spandex kind). I'm going to have a shoulder wrap piece with long strands of beading (inspired by Ginger Rogers).
Now I just have to make sure I don't eat so much at the reception that I bust out of the gown!

 

[Bolanette87]

I actually had time off last night, so I got some sketches done and uploaded! These are the two gowns I'm in the process of building:

It's going to be out of an off-white silk charmeuse, and possibly a silk velvet for the jacket.

This is for the reception and I managed to find a real silk lamé in silver (not the scary spandex kind). I'm going to have a shoulder wrap piece with long strands of beading (inspired by Ginger Rogers).
Now I just have to make sure I don't eat so much at the reception that I bust out of the gown!

That is stunning! I seriously love the design!! Soooo beautiful!!

Bob xoxoxox

 

[gemmybear83]

OMG I love all of your ideas - I adore vintage and 1930s - your dress sketches are amazing too - I want to read more!!!!

 

[Ann117]

You are so talented

 

[spacerangerqueen]

ooo I love everything! I'm doing an Art Deco theme myself.

My MOH just moved back to VA, well it's almost been a year , but she's going to William and Mary for Grad School. I love Williamsburg. I always say that whereas most kids had annual passes to Disney etc., I had one to Colonial Williamsburg, still have mine from when I was 5 lol.

Can't wait to read more

 

[pink_tink8i8]

I love the sketches. So beautiful. Can't wait to see the final product

 

[meanmom121]

Love love love your inspiration board. - dress sketches are amazing.

 

[ColeV]

Thank you for all the compliments and good words!
Spacerangerqueen: I hope your MOH likes it up here! It's really a great place to live (except for all the storms this week).

I finally have enough time today to go through our planning session we had last week. Since Evan is in the navy, getting time off for trips just doesn't happen, so my mother and I went down. We met with our planner, Ken, at 9 and started covering all the logistics. Table layouts, time schedules, transportation needs, music, and a long check-list he had. It's amazing how many things you have to decide before you even touch the floral and decorations!
We're using SBP, which is a fairly simple setup of chairs. Thankfully we get to use the new plastic ones (I think they said they have 58 or so) which look like wood folding chairs. We're keeping the ceremony basic, so no table for candles or sand. I was also glad to find out they have a table set up with a water dispenser for the guests! We've also got a string trio somewhere off to the side, depending on the angle and brightness of the sun.
The reception is the complicated part! Ariels has three areas, one of which is used as the dance floor. We decided to use the back lower area for pre-reception and buffet, and the upper for the main tables.

We've still got the string trio for the pre-reception, but after that we're going to an ipod set up. I've got hours of 1930s music downloaded, so I might as well use it!
Our transportation is going to be the Rolls Royce. Since the ceremony and reception are so close we aren't doing anything between for the guests and our wedding party wanted to walk and "show off". So Evan and I are getting in the car, driving down the Boardwalk and taking pictures down there. We'll get picked up in front of that hotel and taken around to the Beach Club so I can get changed. After making that drive last week, the bridal party walking might get back before we do!
Next will be the fun stuff: decor and food!

 

[ColeV]

Our florist came at about 1, and that's when we got to the really fun stuff! The colors I'm focusing on are silver, navy, mint, and a misty blue-green. Walking around Francs I fell in love with the silver pebble charger, so we started there. We're using navy bengaline tablecloths in the reception area, and silver on the pre-reception tables and highboys. Our centerpiece ideas are small lamps in the pre-reception area (like an old nightclub), palms with peacock feathers with mercury glass for the guests tables, and frosted glass candle containers with orchids on our table. We're using palms and orchids in the ceremony as well. I've got a bit of an addiction to orchids, so it's a good thing they fit in well!
I don't want to fill up a whole page putting up inspiration photos, so if anyone is interested they're up on a blog.

Our cake design is still up in the air. The baker had to finish a 7' tall cake for a wedding on Saturday, so he was too busy to get a lot of ideas drawn out. If anyone has pictures of that cake, it'd be impressive just to see! He said he was on a ladder most of the day. So, with a few new ideas (my favorite is going to be kept a secret, because it's just that amazing!), I sat down with a sketchbook and came up with a new design. I just have to colorize it, then we'll see if it's feasible. My first idea was apparently a "fake" cake done for a show and isn't really physically possible! However, the inside was easy. After stuffing ourselves on cake, we approved Evan's pick of almond cake and amaretto mousse, then made the center layer with tropical mousse for some variety. All of it was really very good, but I'm just not excited by chocolate wedding cakes since I can that from regular restaurants around here. Once you see the rest of our menu, you'll see that "normal" just doesn't fit with us!

Our day ended with a tasting session in the afternoon. I remind you that it was just my mother and I (they had apparently emailed us to "narrow down" the list, but we were on a cruise...oops!). After our appetizers of flat breads from Jiko's (I'm still amazed they could do those in a regular oven!), they brought out this:

Beef w/ potato wedges, Chicken w/ Anandapur sauce, Spice-encrusted cornish game hen, jasmine rice & stir-fry vegetables, Miso Salmon, Maize encrusted halibut, and Tandoori chicken. Obviously, we aren't having that much at the wedding! We choose the beef, a poultry, and a fish. The rice and (now) steamed vegetables will be sides. It was an easy choice, but everything was still amazing! I'm still drooling thinking about it a week later.

Once I get the cake design and an image of our "logo" in to Ken, it's all on them, which is a great feeling!

 

[ColeV]

Just wanted to say how excited I am today! Evan just found out his prototype schedule for Naval school and it all works out. He'll actually have almost all December off, so we don't have to worry about rescheduling the wedding! (and I get to see him for two weeks in June!)