Our DVC 25th Wedding Anniversary Celebration

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

I've received several messages asking about the details for our 25th wedding anniversary celebration (some photos are in my signature), so I thought I would just post some of the details here. I hope this info can help a few of you in the planning stages of your own celebrations.

A Summary of our Anniversary Celebration:

Event: 25th Wedding Anniversary

Time of Year: Week before Christmas

Planning: Self-planned with recommendations of Disney-approved vendors from the brides in the "Disney Weddings and Honeymoons" forum here on Disboards.com (http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=55)

Invitations: Handmade with bride & groom Mickey/Minnie trading pins attached

Attending: Anniversary couple, my parents, our daughter and her husband, our son and his girlfriend

Lodging: Boardwalk Villas

Welcoming Gift for Guests in their rooms: Card with tickets to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and Christmas Mickey/Minnie trading pins

Vow Renewal: local church in Kissimmee

Flowers: Jonathan's Flowers, Orlando, FL

Photographer: Randy Chapman, Orlando, FL

Hair and Makeup: Lisa's Magical Weddings, Orlando, FL

Limousine Service: Absolute Limousine, Orlando, FL

Anniversary Luncheon: Grand Floridian Cafe

Cake: Grand Floridian Bakery (with Minnie's Dream Wedding cake topper by Lenox China)

Champagne: Disney's Iron Horse Fairy Tale Cuvee

Anniversary Dinner: Upstairs alcove of Bistro de Paris during the Fireworks

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

It was personally important to us to have a vow renewal in a church of our denomination. So, our first step was to locate a local church where we could hold the ceremony. We were fortunate because the first church we contacted had the date open, and a willing minister and organist. =)

Once that was squared away, we looked at lodging for our guests. When we began planning, we knew we wanted to have everyone staying in the same general location, but with some space. We felt the best option was to book deluxe view studios at the Boardwalk Villas for each couple in our party (a total of four studios). Luckily, we found some wonderful DVCers who were willing to rent points to us through the Rent/Trade board here at Disboards.com (http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=29). We only added a special message to one of the reservations... the one for our own villa... and it simply said "25th Wedding Anniversary".

With the lodging and church booked, I set about making the invitations. I was able to find the Mickey/Minnie collectible trading pins I wanted with shopping advice from the folks on the Collectors Forum here on Disboards.com (http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=37). Here's a sample of the invitations I made with a pin attached (personal info whited out):

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

With the simple comment on our reservation ("25th Wedding Anniversary"), we were given Room 5050, which I highly recommend. Due to its location in the building, this studio is about 1.5 times the size of other studios.

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find my photos of the room. If I locate the zip drive with the rest, I will add them to the thread. But, here are a few resort photos.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

We checked in a day earlier than the rest of our party, and we asked the staff to place welcome gifts in each of the villas for our incoming guests. Each room had a Christmas poinsettia arrangement with a card tucked into it. The card had tickets to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party for that night, along with Disney trading pins with Victorian Mickey and Minnie on them. Here's a pic of the pin:

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Our larger studio was perfect for all of the hub-bub that took place on the morning of our anniversary, as there was plenty of space for the ladies of the party to have our hair and makeup done by Lisa of Lisa's Magical Weddings while we enjoyed a light breakfast of fruit and crepes on the balcony. The men of the party enjoyed a special breakfast at Spoodles (so sorry they closed!!!).

Following breakfast, we headed down to the lobby to meet our limousine for the ride to the church. Absolute Limousine provided a limo that was large enough to hold all of us.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Our photographer, Randy Chapman, met us at the church. We also had the flowers, which were arranged by Jonathan of Jonathan's Flowers, delivered to the church. Here's a photo of the outside of the sanctuary, which is located in Kissimmee.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Following the ceremony, we headed back to Disney and our photographer followed. Since Randy is the photographer for many Disney weddings, he knew all the great locations to shoot family portraits to commemorate the day. We headed to the Grand Floridian.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Before beginning our photos, we stopped by the Grand Floridian Cafe to let them know we were there and ask them to call for the cake (prepared by the Grand Floridian Bakery). We also dropped off the cake topper and the great staff at the Cafe got our table ready for the special luncheon while we took photos around the resort. To top the cake, we chose Minnie's Dream Wedding, by Lenox. The bakery had prepared the cake with a white chocolate disk on top so that the cake topper could easily be set on top once we arrived. Here's a photo:

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

First stop for photos was the gorgeous Christmas tree. There we took a formal portrait of the family. In the back, you see our daughter and her husband on the far left, then hubby and me, and then our son. My mom and dad are seated in front. Since my mom and dad were celebrating their Golden Anniversary that year, they wore gold, then we wore Silver as it was our Silver Anniversary... and our daughter and her husband wore Bronze because their first anniversary was a few weeks after this. Gold, Silver, and Bronze... =)

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Next, we headed out to the beach. I won't bore you with all the lovey-dovey photos we took out there, but this is hubby and me heading down the walkway toward the water.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

After that, we went to "Katie's Cove"... so that our daughter Katie and her husband could take some photos.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

And here they are, just before they would celebrate their first wedding anniversary!

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

One of the things I really liked about our photographer was how he could snap photos when we didn't even realize it. Hubby and I were sitting on the rocks nearby while the photographer took photos of our daughter and her husband, but somehow he still managed to snap this photo of us as well.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

We finished up with some photos in the grass and around the fountains. I definitely wanted to get a great photo of my parents in their gold outfits. They didn't know it yet, but my brother and I had planned a surprise Golden Anniversary reception for them... and this portrait was to be used at the entrance to their reception. Here's how it turned out (this pic is from their anniversary reception):

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

At last, it was time for the luncheon. It was a wonderful afternoon! The table was set with red roses. I set my bouquet on the edge.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

We had lots of great luncheon choices on the menu.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

When the food came, our server moved my bouquet to the cake table. In this photo, you can see the full cake design that was prepared by Grand Floridian Bakery. I had sent them a drawing of the design I wanted when I ordered and paid for the cake, and then again when I confirmed a few days ahead of our trip.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

And, of course, we celebrated the day with a toast of Disney's Iron Horse Fairy Tale Cuvee!

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

After the luncheon, we all went our separate ways for the remainder of the day. Hubby and I went for dinner at Bistro de Paris that evening, having arranged for the alcove table overlooking the fireworks. It was the perfect spot for a romantic dinner. The staff there does not rush you, but encourages you to take your time with the meal. They also seem to stay open later than the other restaurants.

We literally were the last guests to leave the park that night, strolling all alone on our way back from the restaurant to the Boardwalk Villas. We didn't realize we were being watched, and we took our time, acting like newlyweds. Then, as we exited through the gate to the Boardwalk, we heard it on the speakers behind us.... "The last guests have left the park." Haha!!!

It was a PERFECT Disney day!

 

[AnnaS]

Thank you so much for sharing. I absolutely loved it from the beginning to the end . Beautiful family, pictures, flowers, invitations, cake. Congratulations to all of you!!!!!!!!!!!!