Ongoing Wedding/Honeymoon Trip Log with Pics

[RangerPooh]

Your pictures are wonderful! Thank you for sharing them.

 

[sajetto]

Codie that pic of your DH getting kisses from all those flower girls is adorable!!!!!!!

 

[p2oh]

Your pictures are beautiful!

 

[BelleMcNally]

How beautiful!!! You are make me so excited for my wedding!

 

[catwub]

OMG!!!! Codie, we have the same dress!!!! You look so beautiful in yours!!! I have to ask, was it comfortable the whole time? Stupid question, I know but when I tried it on I loved it but I felt like it was going to be some work to get around in it...not that I mind because it is soooo beautiful. I am so excited for you as you start your new life...best of luck to you!!! Oh, one last thing, looks like yours is in ivory, am I right? Mine is in the white.

Cat

 

[Codie]

OMG!!!! Codie, we have the same dress!!!! You look so beautiful in yours!!! I have to ask, was it comfortable the whole time? Stupid question, I know but when I tried it on I loved it but I felt like it was going to be some work to get around in it...not that I mind because it is soooo beautiful. I am so excited for you as you start your new life...best of luck to you!!! Oh, one last thing, looks like yours is in ivory, am I right? Mine is in the white.

Cat

Yup--mine was the ivory with the rum...boy was that difficult to choose It wasn't uncomfortable but I guess it depends on what you are used to...I used to be a ballet dancer so I am used to wearing corset like things. The one thing that I was very conscious of was that if you sit too much the bottom bubbles out a little making you look like you have a belly--but it was probably only me who noticed it!!! I absolutely loved the dress and was so so happy that I got to wear it twice (at my home reception). One thing--make sure that when you get pics taken from the rear that someone fixes the satin so that it lies right...I assumed that Randy would make sure that was right--but being a guy I don't think he ever thought twice about it and a lot of my pics the satin is folded under...good thing for your moh to check when you get to the altar too!! I got so many compliments on the dress and I just loved it!!! You will feel like royalty

 

[Codie]

I knew it was my turn and I was just jumping. Surprisingly my father was not too overly emotional. I had expected him to be the one to make me lose it, but I think he was as excited as my dh and I. One of the coolest things about the wedding was just the sheer joy that EVERYone seemed to share with us—that is an amazing, amazing thing! I heard the music that I had played over and over and over in my car, at work, and at home come on—So This IS Love—and the doors swung open. I was just so excited that this was finally happening and SO perfectly. My dad kept me from running down the aisle and managed not to step on my gown as he walked me down the aisle.

My dh (I guess at that point he was still fdh) stepped down from the stage and shook my father’s hand and then took my hand.

He guided me up the stairs where we waited for my father to change from his tuxedo jacket to his judicial robe.
In that all precious, emotional, momentous moment, you want to know what dh and I discussed? The surprise! I got up there and almost simultaneously we both said, “Did you see who is here?!!” It’s so funny because there just were no nerves because we were both so excited. I have no idea if that was our surprise guests’ intentions, but it was fabulous. DH went on to explain to me that he had walked (if you watch the video you would say he strutted!) down the aisle, totally pumped not only by the day but by the song. He made his way onto the stage and began scanning the audience acknowledging those he knew. He said he got to B__ and R___, nodded, stopped, jumped off the stage as the best man was approaching and ran to where they were sitting (in the middle of the groom’s side) and shook their hands and hugged each of them and then ran back to the stage just as his brother/best man got to the stage. That TRULY would have been amazing to see. Unfortunately, for those of you who read about my issues with Disney videography, this is one of the many moments, and probably the most momentous moment, that Disney chose not to video. So the whole time that my father was changing into his robe we stood up there about how surprised we had been.
Then my dear father was ready and the ceremony began.

He had us face each other right away and take each other’s hands.

My father began the ceremony and then asked who was to give me away. There was no answer. He cleared his throat and asked a second time, slightly louder and in the direction of my mom. I hardly even heard her respond but both dh and I giggled in relief, as did the rest of the audience. Apparently my mom was trying to figure out how to make her new camera work and FORGOT her part!!

It was pretty funny and we’ve been picking on her since. I was so excited that I began bouncing as I stood there. I guess it’s all relative—most people who noticed (or who weren’t kind enough to pretend they hadn’t noticed!) termed it as dancing. I literally was just going up and down on my toes as I stood there—only slightly and it is rather hard to see in the video, unless you are looking for it, but nevertheless!
My father asked if there were rings. We said yes. I removed both my gloves and obtained dh’s ring from my moh.

As we turned back we were supposed to listen to a story about the meaning of the rings, but I was very anxious and took dh’s hands and had him place the ring part way on my finger. (My father’s ceremony required that the giver place the ring halfway on the finger, say their vows, and then the receiver accepted the ring by putting it the rest of the way down the finger.) So we sat there for a minute while he explained the meaning and then he said, “Is there a ring for the bride?” Uh, yup, already on her finger halfway Oops, oh well!

Dh said his vows, beaming the whole time, and me bouncing the whole time. When he was done, I pushed the ring on and then placed his ring halfway down.

I said my vows, without a tear, but with a constant bounce. DH accepted his ring. We then kissed—more than a peck, but not really long enough for anyone to catch a great picture. (Of course, there was plenty of opportunity for that afterwards!) As we kissed, the music they play at the end of Cinderella chimed through and was so magical. Although I have to admit that I didn’t remember hearing it at the time.

Then my dad pulled out three roses and I realized suddenly that I had never told dh that I had ordered Roses for our moms and his grandmother. I wanted it to be a surprise for the mothers, so Tracy hadn’t rehearsed it, but I had totally forgotten about them. Dh looked very confused as my dad handed him two flowers (one for my mom and one for his grandmother). We quickly told him what to do…I went over to my new mother-in-law and handed her the rose and gave her a hug. She said “Thank you—Welcome to the family!” It was so sweet of her. I am so lucky with my inlaws. Then I hugged my new father-in-law and my new little nieces (flower girls). The littlest one was so upset that she couldn’t come back up to the stage with me!

By then dh was done finding my mom and his grandmother and we walked back up to the altar together.
My dad then asked us to face our guests and he announced that the Magic Kingdom’s newest Prince and Princess!!!! That was very cool and very unexpected and elicited a giggle from both of us.

The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow music erupted and we strolled out of the wedding pavilion and into the bridal vestibule.

(Notice my dad beaming in the background )
Our guests were instructed to line up for our staged exit and Tracy came into see if we needed anything and who we wanted to stay behind for pictures. He then gave us instructions on how to “exit.” We relaxed for a bit and then, when directed, headed out for our exit.

 

[Tinkerbelle14]

I'm loving your trip report Codie! We sound very similar. I was a ballet dancer (I never felt comfortable calling myself a ballerina b/c I wasn't in a company or anything, I know, a little anal of me ) for nearly 13 years and even went to the National Ballet School for 2 of them. I have a feeling that I will be bouncing/dancing throughout the entire ceremony too as that seems to be a trend with me anytime I am excited!

 

[Codie]

I'm loving your trip report Codie! We sound very similar. I was a ballet dancer (I never felt comfortable calling myself a ballerina b/c I wasn't in a company or anything, I know, a little anal of me ) for nearly 13 years and even went to the National Ballet School for 2 of them. I have a feeling that I will be bouncing/dancing throughout the entire ceremony too as that seems to be a trend with me anytime I am excited!

LOL Jessica...I never felt comfortable with the "ballerina" word either...I loved it but was never a star The National Ballet School is pretty impressive though--my first real ballet school had gone there and I always thought that would be incredible. I have a student who is there now--she went there for her senior year and now is in an apprentice program of some sort? She loves it! I had originally planned on doing all my ceremony song, except dh's, to songs from my favorite performances, but eventually gave up and went the disney way!

Your day is coming up SO fast!!

--Jess

 

[MOMOFMNM]

Codie


we had the SAME wedding dress!!

If I can find them on my computer I will post but I want you to know that after two kids, let's say, I fill mine out better than you!!! I love your tiara and veil I did not wear a tiara and regret it to this day...what else do I regret?? Well I weighed 170 pounds when I got married, now at 130...so...ummm I want to do it all over again!!

Anyway I love your pics and report! The gloves are a wonderful touch of elegance...

oh btw no go on my wedding pics....I forgot we got a new PC...our old one crashed and I did not have my pics backed up to disk!!!! but I do have hard copies of it so that is still ok!!


Congrats

 

[WDWAurora]

I just realized you had updated this! Glad to see it's still going, thanks for sharing with us!

 

[JonetteA]

I am so glad someone was blessed with grace. It wasn't me. I have 2 left feet and we are going to dance at our reception. Needless to say I am hiring professional help! I hope I don't fall!!!

 

[SparKeLLy]

Love your report, you looked beautiful. I'm an excited bouncer too! lol my fiance always makes fun of me.

 

[Codie]

With my train slung over my left arm and my right arm through my new husband’s left arm, we walked slowing towards the bridge connecting the wedding pavilion to the Franck’s area.

We had been instructed to stop at the arch and kiss. Everyone was cheering and blowing bubbles as we came up.

Then we walked through the bubbles and into our chariot (or limo). I had been warned that bubbles could ruin the material on my dress and I looked down in a momentary panic to make sure there was no bubble juice on my satin trim.

(this is too bad because this otherwise would have been a great "looking into the future" pic)
We got in the limousine and the window was down so that we could wave goodbye to everyone as we “drove away.” We sat back and relaxed as everyone was instructed back into the wedding pavilion for family photos or onto the bus. I had asked that all family stay behind so that we could get family photos for both sides. EVERYone had difficulty with these instructions. My dh ended up saying anyone who has blood that is related to mine should be here. It didn’t work. We ended up with all the present family members from both sides of my family and only one side of dh’s family.
We did the pictures of dh’s family

and then the extended family members joined the people sitting on the bus, along with our videographer and headed over to the pre-reception. We then did the rest of my family’s pictures,

(notice who's taking the pics?)

parent pictures,

bridal party pictures, and any other group pictures. By then the bus had returned and took everyone but dh and I to the pre-reception.
Dh and I were then able to do pictures under the arch in the back (thankfully it was mostly all dry by then),

out on the dock with the Polynesian behind us,

and then I needed a break. It was SO hot and humid, I just felt like I was melting. I was pure wetness under the ribbing of my dress. Randy checked with our escort and was told that we were well ahead of schedule and that we could take our time.

I really wanted beach pictures but was afraid of how they would come out with us completely overheating. Someone got us a glass of water and dh and I crashed on the pews for about 5 minutes.

I wish that I had waited longer, but I was anxious to get to our party and my delicious pasta. Although, I think truly without taking that dress off, I wasn’t going to cool off at all. So after five minutes we headed out to the beach. I was nervous because I wasn’t sure if my train was right, but Randy said it was fine (never trust a boy with that responsibility) and it was so oppressively hot that I almost didn’t care. You can tell from the pictures that we were just plain too hot.

This is one of my fave pics though.
The coolest thing, in my estimation, happened as we walked out to do our beach shots. It was just dh and I and the photographer. The monorail was coming along and dh said, there’s the monorail. (I have a habit of constantly pointing out the monorail sightings and Epcot ball sightings). I was a little pre-occupied with the humidity to comment back, when suddenly I heard the monorail HONK at us! It was so cool. I looked at dh and exclaimed, did we just get honked at by the monorail??? He laughed and said Yep! I then proceeded to randomly exclaim for the next hour (and throughout our honeymoon)…We got honked at by the monorail!!! I imagined some little girl in that monorail going, “look mom—a princess!”
I was so happy to get into the super air-conditioned limo.

Just as we were getting into the limo, our escort asked us what we wanted ready for us to drink when we arrived at the Green Room of the Atlantic Dance Hall. My husband ordered a beer, I had no idea what we even had available to us and opted for a corona. With that, we waved goodbye to the wedding pavilion and sat back to relax during the 10 minute ride.
As we had the limo, we were able to drive right up to the Atlantic Dance Hall entrance. Tracy greeted us as we exited the limo. He advised us of how we would first go into the Green Room and meet with the dj, then we would hang out in the stairwell to create the grand entrance. Tracy was surprised that my train had not been bustled yet. I had no idea when we were supposed to have bustled it. I also had not had anyone with me at my final fitting, so really I was the only one who had a clue as to how to bustle it. Tracy said he would get MOH to come to the Green Room after he got us settled.
We entered the Atlantic Dance Hall and it just looked so cool. We could hear our guests having fun on the second level at our pre-reception.

The banquet captain was coming up to greet us when I suddenly realized that there were no place settings on any of the tables. I had specifically requested that the tables be set with full place settings and water glasses. I had even had to pick out a napkin fold. I was very disappointed. Tracy asked me what was wrong and I explained that the tables were supposed to have been set with full place settings. I had been uncomfortable with the buffet and had felt more comfortable with it knowing I would have full place settings. Tracy addressed this with the captain and he indicated that they COULD do it quickly but that the hustle and bustle would be very noticeable to everyone upstairs. I had been nervous about the banquet team since day one and this made me a little unsettled as to the rest of the custom requests that I had made. This was the beginning of bad things from this team. I finally acquiesced that the tables looked fine and I would rather not have my guests see the mistake being corrected. One of my mottos, in planning the wedding and cutting things that didn’t fit into the budget, had been, no one ever knows what options you had, just what you actually did. SOOO, I finally told Tracy it was fine and that it should just be left as is. It was clear that he was uncomfortable in not having something as we had asked for it, but it was too late at this point. I shook it off and just hoped that everything else would go all right. Tracy escorted us to the Green Room and our beers were waiting for us. Both of us took some big gulps, partially because we were parched and partially to relax a bit.
Soon, we had three visitors: my MOH, my df, and the dj. My MOH managed to get my bustle up with only a little difficulty. My dad came down to tell us that the bartender had recommended that we switch to a full bar rather than beer/wine package, with liquor drinks on consumption. The bartender had told my father that at the rate people were drinking non-beer/wine drinks, we were going to owe a lot of money. This seemed incredulous to us as we had paid for 72 liquor drinks (one per guest, knowing that almost 2/3 of our guests were beer/wine drinkers). However, moh cleared it up. Apparently our bartender, Mike, had been pushing “Mike’s special punch” for our guests.

(here's me tasting Mike's "special Punch" YEch!)
This was disappointing since I had wanted a feature drink, but didn’t think it would fit in the budget, and I certainly wouldn’t have called it Mike’s Special Punch. But whatever, we told my dad to go ahead and up the bar to a full open bar. This meant now that everyone was going to have to drink at least 6 drinks for us to break even, so we asked moh to pass the word to drink lots. Finally, the dj double checked how to say all the names (which he still butchered my family name anyway, but we are used to that). He also asked about our wedding song and double-checked the format of how we wanted the evening to go.
With that, Tracy appeared and said they were ready to bring us up the back stairs. I was SO hungry. We sat in the back stairway and waited while all of our guests ignored the dj’s instructions to head down to the main hall and find their tables. I couldn’t believe no one was heading downstairs and I almost didn’t care anymore about the “grand entrance.” Thankfully, Tracy made me a plate of cheese and crackers and snuck it down to me in the stairway so that I could have some food.

 

[OSUBuckly]

Great post! Glad to see an update. Be sure to keep them coming!!!

-Buckly

 

[princessblueeyzes]

Thanks for keeping up with your trip report! I just love reading what and how everyone's special day went.

 

[Codie]

I'm loving your trip report Codie! We sound very similar. I was a ballet dancer (I never felt comfortable calling myself a ballerina b/c I wasn't in a company or anything, I know, a little anal of me ) for nearly 13 years and even went to the National Ballet School for 2 of them. I have a feeling that I will be bouncing/dancing throughout the entire ceremony too as that seems to be a trend with me anytime I am excited!

So Jessica--Did you bounce and dance through it all? We can't wait to hear your experience

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

great report! but where's the rest of it??? :O( looking for more!

 

[Codie]

Finally everyone was downstairs and we were able to check out our pre-reception food and our sign in table. The food was all so good, but we didn’t have much time. There really was a ton of food for the price.

Although, I guess when you think about the amount of time that there actually was for anyone to eat any. It was a shame that they didn't bring it downstairs and add it to the dinner buffet.
I had been really excited about my place card table and had spent a lot of time working on it. I'm one of those people that have pretty creative ideas but no talent in implementing them. I had explained my idea to Tracy and his assistant made it PERFECT! The florist added my "Card well" perfectly also!

an overall look

my place cards!

the card well that Cindy so creatively made for me!
Suddenly we heard the Notre Dame fight song and my dh was very excited...The dj began announcing our parents, our wedding party, and finally us.

Tracy held us back, so we had some time to inhale some cheese and fruit. It was then that he told us that my parents had prepared a surprise for us. I was so excited...I knew he had been up to something but figured that dh's bosses showing up had been it. Tracy said this surprise was for me...he told me to look for it on the head table. That was very strange, but I kept peering over the balcony trying to see the head table. I heard the dj announce my parents first--despite having asked repeatedly how to say my last--I mean maiden!--name, he pronounced it wrong. It's a happening that I've long become used to, but my mom was a bit annoyed. Thankfully she just laughed the whole way down...

Then he announced dh's parents. They were walking so slow and we quickly realized they had taken the two younger flower girls with them. I was a little annoyed because I had originally not planned on announcing them as I didn't think they could handle it. I had been assured that they could do it and that it was ridiculous that I wouldn't announce them...so at the last minute I had put them back in the lineup. I love them dearly, AND I do think they could have gone by themselves, or at least by themselves together, but oh well, whatever, it's done now.

So then when the dj announced the three flower girls, my beautiful 8 year old niece came sailing down the stairway with a beautiful smile...she was so confident and on cue the whole day--I was so proud of her!

Our bridal party was next and then it was our turn!!!

It was so cool to come down that beautiful staircase and then walk out onto the dance floor for our first dance.

I had imagined it over and over again so many times. It was great fun. In retrospect I wish that I had asked the bridal party to come out on the dance floor and semi-circle us, but I guess I'll have to do that at the five-year vow renewal. As we danced I peered at the head table...there, right in the center, was the white chocolate castle that most of the brides put on their wedding cake! I had had to give up the wedding cake because I could not bear the price and I had been so sad to not get the castle. But right there was my very own castle.

On the plate beneath it were cream and purply (just like my colors) colored seashells--starfish and scallopped shells. It was such a GREAT surprise and soooo delicious!
After our dance, we were toasted by my moh and dh’s bm.

My moh is my best friend from when I was a baby and dh's bm was his big brother. They were cute because they both made very personal quips casually inserted into their toast that really only the closest family and friends got from either side. When I was little I had difficulty learning how to speak so that others could understand me. I spoke frequently, just not really in English...I was always amazed and frustrated when people didn't understand me. I finally got the hang of it around first grade at age six. My moh made the statement that she knew me long before I spoke so eloquently. Two or three tables of immediate family laughed on my side of the dance floor. She also mentioned her numerous attempts to get dh to propose--as he took a little longer to propose than most of my familiy and friends would have liked. She used to add a "when are you getting married" quip into every card she would send us. I think I was the only one who got that joke Dh has a childhood nickname that he just plain detests..."Charmkins" and bm made sure that he noted that we got married with the castle of Prince and Princess Charmkins in the background. Once again, two or three tables of dh's immediate family chuckled as dh did a tiny pout. Dh and I also spoke, trying to thank everyone and express how much we appreciated the sacrifices it took for everyone to come. I don’t think we succeeded in really conveying our appreciation. We had both sat down the night before to write speeches, and neither of us could put anything on paper. I was so completely and totally overwhelmed by everyone's generosity in coming to Florida that I just really couldn't say anything. I mostly stuttered how much I appreciated everyone coming and that I hoped they enjoyed the event.
Dh did much better than I did...

however, he started to explain how he first knew that he loved me and I think he realized that it was way too personal and revealing--especially since his bosses had appeared, so instead he turned it into a joke about how he was going to talk about how I sooth him when he has bad days at work, but now that his bosses showed up he couldn't say anything! He then told everyone that our reception would go til 8 and that then we would hang out at the ADH until "our" special fireworks would go off at 9. Then we hoped that everyone would continue to enjoy and celebrate the evening either at ADH, around the Boardwalk, or out to PI. DH also invited everyone to utilize an open mike to make any comments/toasts that they wanted throughout the night. However, no one ever used it. I realized later that night (after the reception was over) that neither I nor dh thanked our parents...I was SO disappointed in myself. I had made a point of putting a special thank you in the programs and in my scrapbook that I had put out for display, but I had blatantly forgotten it at the most important time.
Dh's best friend then gave the prayer and then it was time to eat...FINALLY!

 

[luciloo]

Loving your TR, can't wait for more.
What a beautiful bride and handsome groom