Ruth & James 10/04/11 *~* TR Day 7 updated 03/11 *~*

[princess_ariel_85]

After much consideration and with a little change in our costing plans we are now able to do the MK photo shoot.

Tanis has confirmed our date - 8th october.

I so can't wait.

Only approximately 6 months to go!

 

[elle1024]

Hi!
Congratulations on being 6 months out!!
I'm happy that you were able to squeeze in the MK shoot, I have seen some gorgeous pictures on here. Oh & I love that you have a little reptile family.. I would love at least one but am still trying to convince DF.

 

[princess_ariel_85]

This is probably a pointless update..... but I feel I ought to mention it.

I realised that I put pics up of my tiara and necklace but I forgot to add a pic of my earrings. These are more important to me then my tiara (even though I love it) and my necklace. My earrings were brought for me by James last feb whilst we were in Disney.

Conversations about our wedding obviously turned to suits and things for the men. James decided that he wanted some new cufflinks. I'm not sure if he was being serious or not but he suggested Dath Vader cufflinks. Originally I dismissed this - it was a bit too daft (miserable cow I hear you all cry! )

If he was going to have 'fun' cufflinks I suggested that they should be Mickey ones, they would match my earrings then and would fit the theming of the setting, however we couldn't find any.

Talk of cufflinks died down for a while and James's birthday was coming up, so I decided to buy him the Darth vader cufflinks. If i get to have my way on things then he should be able to wear what ever cufflinks he wants. Besides it's not like we haven't seen Darth Vader in Disney. So... here we are....

Before I go I uploaded 2 pics of my reptile family. The first photo is of Link (who's in my purple shoe) and Ezio the Beardies, and my other photo is of Pascal (of Tangled fame )

 

[Fay]

Loving the earings and the little reptile family! hehe

xxx

 

[PinkSleepingBeauty]

Hi to a fellow UK Bride! congratulations! I'm from the West Midlands so not far from you Look forward to hearing your plans. We are in October too!

 

[KristiLyn]

Love the earrings!
My df would totally love those cufflinks!! Both he and my son are huge star wars fans!!
And cute little reptile family

 

[belle2211]

Hi! Do you mind sharing where you got your purple shoes from? They look so cute!

 

[princess_ariel_85]

Loving the earings and the little reptile family! hehe

xxx

thank you.

Hi to a fellow UK Bride! congratulations! I'm from the West Midlands so not far from you Look forward to hearing your plans. We are in October too!

thank you and congratulations to you too! I'll be sure to wander across to your PJ. October will soon come round

Love the earrings!
My df would totally love those cufflinks!! Both he and my son are huge star wars fans!!
And cute little reptile family

thanks. The cufflinks grew on me, I suppose we can only get away with them at a disney wedding

Hi! Do you mind sharing where you got your purple shoes from? They look so cute!

Hiya, I got them in January from new look in England, they were in the sale so I nabbed them for £7. I can't really wear heels so I only brought them to practise in - my wedding shoes have a similar heel, so I've been wearing the purple ones around the house. they're my washing up dishes shoes lol

 

[belle2211]

Hiya, I got them in January from new look in England, they were in the sale so I nabbed them for £7. I can't really wear heels so I only brought them to practise in - my wedding shoes have a similar heel, so I've been wearing the purple ones around the house. they're my washing up dishes shoes lol

darn! I were hoping they were from the US...I'm having such a hard time finding shoes I like!

 

[princess_ariel_85]

I know I've already got my dress (and sadly I cannot show you because James might see...)

as soon as we decided to set a date for our wedding my thoughts immediately turned to wedding dresses and because we were originally going to get married in the UK I wanted a disney inspired dress.

I did some online research and found some beautiful dresses by Kirstie Kelly. I did spot a dress that I liked and this was it.... it's from the Cinderella collection.

Now luckily for me there are 3 stockist in the UK and one of them was (they have since closed down ) down the road in Burton-On-Trent - however unluckily for me they didn't stock the one I liked.

Not to worry! In October the NEC in Birmingham were holding the National Wedding Show and on 10/10/10 we went along (In our Group there were me, James, both Mums, Both sisters & James's Dad) to go have a look at what was on offer for us.

When we got there the blokes went one way and we went the other. To my delight there were dresses everywhere!! One of the first places we went to was called 'Formal Affairs'. I flicked through the dresses on the rails and found one that I liked the look of.

I decided to try it on. With it being a national wedding show you had to queue up with other brides and wait for a space in the changing rooms.

This is the one I originally looked at.

Whilst we waited you could see other people exiting the changing rooms and headed for a small area where they could see themselves in mirrors. It was a weird sight as there were about 4 brides at any given time.

Any way... a long way in the queue ahead of me this blonde girl was called forward and handed the dress that he chose to try on. I looked at the dress and immediately thought 'eugh - don't like that'.

However when she had got it on and stood infront of the mirrors I had to take a double look at her. The dress suddenly looked amazing - I'll admit it, I'm a weirdly complex individual

I said to my MIL who was nearest that I wanted to try that on too, so we organised to try that one on aswell. When it was my turn I was faced with a dilemma - which one do I try on first.

I had an instinct to try on the one I didn't like first - no idea why I felt compelled to try it on. I did and OMG it was amazing. i stood infront of that mirror and it was well it was just amazing.

I don't feel like I'm a pretty/good looking person but in that dress I felt so beautiful. It was weird I couldn't stop staring at myself. I knew that dress was the one.

Everyone said to me try on others you never know, like a good bridey I spent a good 3/4 hours trying on dresses, don't get me wrong though they were all beautiful but none of them compared. I did have fun playing dress up though

So thats how I got my dress. I paid for it there and then, getting 20% off in the process.

 

[PinkSleepingBeauty]

I know I've already got my dress (and sadly I cannot show you because James might see...)

as soon as we decided to set a date for our wedding my thoughts immediately turned to wedding dresses and because we were originally going to get married in the UK I wanted a disney inspired dress.

I did some online research and found some beautiful dresses by Kirstie Kelly. I did spot a dress that I liked and this was it.... it's from the Cinderella collection.

Now luckily for me there are 3 stockist in the UK and one of them was (they have since closed down ) down the road in Burton-On-Trent - however unluckily for me they didn't stock the one I liked.

Not to worry! In October the NEC in Birmingham were holding the National Wedding Show and on 10/10/10 we went along (In our Group there were me, James, both Mums, Both sisters & James's Dad) to go have a look at what was on offer for us.

When we got there the blokes went one way and we went the other. To my delight there were dresses everywhere!! One of the first places we went to was called 'Formal Affairs'. I flicked through the dresses on the rails and found one that I liked the look of.

I decided to try it on. With it being a national wedding show you had to queue up with other brides and wait for a space in the changing rooms.

This is the one I originally looked at.

Whilst we waited you could see other people exiting the changing rooms and headed for a small area where they could see themselves in mirrors. It was a weird sight as there were about 4 brides at any given time.

Any way... a long way in the queue ahead of me this blonde girl was called forward and handed the dress that he chose to try on. I looked at the dress and immediately thought 'eugh - don't like that'.

However when she had got it on and stood infront of the mirrors I had to take a double look at her. The dress suddenly looked amazing - I'll admit it, I'm a weirdly complex individual

I said to my MIL who was nearest that I wanted to try that on too, so we organised to try that one on aswell. When it was my turn I was faced with a dilemma - which one do I try on first.

I had an instinct to try on the one I didn't like first - no idea why I felt compelled to try it on. I did and OMG it was amazing. i stood infront of that mirror and it was well it was just amazing.

I don't feel like I'm a pretty/good looking person but in that dress I felt so beautiful. It was weird I couldn't stop staring at myself. I knew that dress was the one.

Everyone said to me try on others you never know, like a good bridey I spent a good 3/4 hours trying on dresses, don't get me wrong though they were all beautiful but none of them compared. I did have fun playing dress up though

So thats how I got my dress. I paid for it there and then, getting 20% off in the process.

I know how you feel. I felt so special in my dress. I can't wait to wear it! Can't wait for it to come in at the shop!

 

[brer rabbit 28]

I found your pj!

Love all your plans so far. shame we can't see your dress yet though.

Chris wants cufflinks that say "I am the Stig" so I laughed when I read about the Darth cufflinks!

Sounds like your wedding show experience was similar to mine. It was really wierd queueing up with other brides to try a dress on. Great fun though!

 

[princess_ariel_85]

I haven't forgot about this PJ.... Honest!

I had a phone call a few weeks back from the people making my wedding dress. They said it had arrived at their Tamworth store and asked if I wanted it sending along to the Sheffield branch. I said yes because the plan is to go to Meadowhall (a nice shopping mall) to go buy the bridesmaid dresses after my dress fitting.

Anyway... the lady said they'd phone me when it arrived in Sheffield. A couple weeks later and still no call (yes I'm aware I'm being impatient ). Me & James are both off from work this week, so we (us, both mums, both sisters & James's dad) will be taking a trip to Meadowhall.

I phone the lady, who by the way was lovely, who looked for my dress. I was a little worried that no one would know where it was. Luckily the nice lady said it had arrived and that they hadn't had time to phone me.

I asked (and was ready to beg) if I could have a fitting on saturday, she checked her diary and we are good to go!

So there we are... we're all going to meadowhall on saturday!! The reason for this post is that I'm sooooo excited to be putting it on again.

We still haven't decided on an at home reception yet. I have nightmares of not being able to find anywhere.

I looked at a website for a place called Branston Golf Club. Very nice place, not sure if we can afford it yet. So tomorrow I'm dragging James to a wedding fair they're holding to go check out their rooms and prices. I think it might be fates way of telling me to book this place because I didn't even know they were having a wedding fair till today

On the subject of the at home reception, James keeps looking at me like I'm crazy. I said I wanted center piece type things on tables at the reception. Now I know none of us will be having a sit down meal but I like pretty things and I wanted to go crazy with decoration. (note to James: we will have pretty things on tables! )

I want to find some little cinderella type slippery things that I can put colour themed Jelly beans in - maybe a little crazy but it works in my head!

While I'm in typing mode I want to grumble about something - nothing can be perfect and theres always ONE thing to rock the boat.

I don't think I've really talked about family. Going to WDW there will be a total party of 8 of us. There will be my mum, dad and my sister and his mum, dad and sister. Both sisters being bridesmaids.

Now when I said I wanted to get married at WDW they all said they'd come. My brother James said 'I wouldn't miss it for the world' and everything was rosy.

few months later (possibly in November?) I got a phonecall from my mum.. the phone call went something like this

Mum: Have you booked your wedding yet?
Me: No (my heart was sinking by this point) why?
Mum: James might not be able to come.
Me: Why? (I thought perhaps he couldn't get time off work)
Mum: Well Todd (my brothers friend) is getting married and he might be going to that because it's at the same time as yours
Me: Charming (I felt tears forming and I think my mum could sense this)
Mum: well he has known Todd for years and he is best man.
Me: yes because he's known me for what 6 months? (oh no just 24 years?!)

also I should point out that Todd was having 2 best men. I was gutted, really gutted - oh and a little bit angry. Angry because he couldn't tell me to my face and got my mum to do it.

Any way.. we booked the wedding without him. A few months later his friends plans fell through, from wedding abroad, to wedding in england to no wedding. My brother still wasn't coming.

Late on in feb my Grandad passed away and all the family got together. My brother then said he he might make it to Florida after all (I got my hopes up) and then said he would be there for the second week (yeah... missing the wedding but having a holiday all the same)

It's annoyed and upset me. Perhaps I'm being over dramitic? Oh well it's not going to ruin my big day.

I think I've rambled on waaay too much!

 

[PinkSleepingBeauty]

So sorry to hear about the situation with your brother I'm an only child but I would totally be upset if I was in your situation. Hope everything works out. Sorry to hear about your Grandad too, hope you are ok.

Yay about the dress! Have a fab time! Totally can relate about the at home reception! We haven't sorted anything yet either!

Looking forward to hearing more!

 

[princess_ariel_85]

So.... today (I can just about say that as it's 11.55pm here) I went to sheffield to try my wedding dress on. I was a little aprehensive to say the least...

I was a little concerned about weight gain, I eat alot of cake and recently the scales have been telling me that I put weight on. I've never been one to fuss about my weight before but there has been many a joke about my dress not fitting that I actually thought "what if they cant fasten it up?"

Also we weren't exactly sure as to where abouts in Sheffield we were going.

We arrived in Sheffied and jumped on a tram, we (ok...I) needn't have worried. When the tram arrived at our stop there we were, almost infront of the bridal shop.

We went in and we weren't in there as long as I thought we were going to be and to be honest I've had better experiences. The woman dealing with me was kinda miserable, when I had my dress on it was like she wanted me to hurry up and get back out of it. She hardly spoke to me, asked a few questions and said she liked my shoes but it felt like it was hard work. I might be being a little harsh on her though because in the next fitting area another woman was trying on some dresses and the lady who was dealing with her was fab! She chatted with her clients and even told me my dress was a "perfect fit"

Which brings me to the best thing about the fitting session. We put my dress on and originally I was told that body wise it was perfect for me and that it was just need taking up in length - not bad going for someone who thinks they have an awkward body shape. However now I was wearing the dress and my shoes the dress didn't seem that bad lenght wise, add to that my underskirt and the lenght was perfect. I don't need any alterations!

If I could have managed it I would have taken my dress there and then

After that dress fitting we all took the tram back to Meadowhall (a fairly large shopping center in Sheffield) and set about the next task - Bridesmaid dresses.

Me & James had decided a long long time ago that we would have purple dresses and thats what we searched for. Me, my mum, MIL and 2 bridesmaids must have searched high and low for sodding purple dresses but could we find any? nope!

We did come across two different dresses. One was a one strap teal maxi dress and the other was a short navy blue dress. The BM's tried them on and the teal one was lovely. Both BM's look good in them.

The only problem with the teal ones was that they only had the right size for 1 BM. We asked a lady who worked in the shop if she could track down another from somewhere else. She said she'd try and off she went. When she did come back it wasn't good news. Apparently no one has any left in the size we want.

Dismissing the teal dress idea we headed off into another shop not too far from the one we'd just been in. We hadn't been in the shop long when we found the exact same teal dress - with the size we needed!

In the end we had to buy one size from one shop and the other size from the 2nd shop. After alot of panicking that one of them would be sold we eventually paid for the two dresses.

Here is a pic that I found of said dress.

Having changed the main colour we now have to go to our suit hire place and try and find matching colours. But on a great positive note - thats the BM's dresses done! Another thing to cross off the never ending list.

So that concludes one very tiring day! Hopefully next time I update I should have info on our at home reception venue *Fingers crossed*

 

[DisneyChicky]

I love you BM dresses! I can't wait to read about your plans.

 

[KristiLyn]

That dress looks great!!!

 

[Fay]

Hey,

Sorry I havent checked in for a while! sounds like the planning is going well!

I have to say one of the 1st dress shops I went into with mum was AWFUL! I wanted to CRY! Seriously how they make any money I dont know! It was JUST like the pretty woman scene! But worse! They didnt speak... obviously im half naked, I was trying to crack jokes to lighten the mood... clearly going un noticed! and then when I asked if it was a mother daughter company, she said 'yes' I said.... 'Awww thats sweet' she looked at me puzzled... 'why'

I was like... GET ME OUT OF HERE! and yes that was my 1st experience... was nothing like i had expected! Luckly the other shops were not like that!

I hope your dress looks beautiful! HOW EXCITING!


About the trip to the U.S for the wedding. Greg and I had a long chat about who to invite and who was more likley to come... then gregs mum said if people said yes now, they would probably change their mind! (I was a little more optimistic)

So we have invited 90 people... lol and at the moment 60 say their coming!!!! However, I think when we send the invitations out... we may only get 45-50! But that is still good!


Any way... We shall see! Good luck with the planning! I love reading your posts!

XXXX

 

[loobzuk]

just followed one of your links here and have enjoyed reading all your plans. It sounds like that dress was definitely meant for you!

Sorry that your brother isn't coming for your wedding but the day is about you and James. It's nice to have other people there but it won't spoil things for you. My DH and I got married in Hawaii and there were only the 2 of us. The wedding planner grabbed a couple of her friends as witnesses and we had a husband/wife team taking photographs and shooting the video. Afterwards we had a meal in the hotel and then went to our room to pack for our flight the next day to a different island. It was all very initimate and private. We had a big family reception a couple of months later and showed the video and photos and I got to wear my dress again!

Love your bridesmaid dresses. Going to subscribe so that I can follow your plans.

BTW, I think if DH and I had discovered WDW back in 1997 when we were married I would have chosen a Disney wedding but it still would have been just the 2 of us.

 

[princess_ariel_85]

I love you BM dresses! I can't wait to read about your plans.

Thanks for reading, nice to know my PJs being read and I'm not some looney writing to herself

That dress looks great!!!

Thanks! I'm not a dress kinda girl but even I was taken in by them.

Hey,

Sorry I havent checked in for a while! sounds like the planning is going well!

I have to say one of the 1st dress shops I went into with mum was AWFUL! I wanted to CRY! Seriously how they make any money I dont know! It was JUST like the pretty woman scene! But worse! They didnt speak... obviously im half naked, I was trying to crack jokes to lighten the mood... clearly going un noticed! and then when I asked if it was a mother daughter company, she said 'yes' I said.... 'Awww thats sweet' she looked at me puzzled... 'why'

About the trip to the U.S for the wedding. Greg and I had a long chat about who to invite and who was more likley to come... then gregs mum said if people said yes now, they would probably change their mind! (I was a little more optimistic)

So we have invited 90 people... lol and at the moment 60 say their coming!!!! However, I think when we send the invitations out... we may only get 45-50! But that is still good!


Any way... We shall see! Good luck with the planning! I love reading your posts!

XXXX

It does make you wonder how these places make money, I was hoping for that magical experience... I just didn't get it lol. Glad the other shops you went to were much better.

45-50 is still very good, I struggled to get 9 lol

just followed one of your links here and have enjoyed reading all your plans. It sounds like that dress was definitely meant for you!

Sorry that your brother isn't coming for your wedding but the day is about you and James. It's nice to have other people there but it won't spoil things for you. My DH and I got married in Hawaii and there were only the 2 of us. The wedding planner grabbed a couple of her friends as witnesses and we had a husband/wife team taking photographs and shooting the video. Afterwards we had a meal in the hotel and then went to our room to pack for our flight the next day to a different island. It was all very initimate and private. We had a big family reception a couple of months later and showed the video and photos and I got to wear my dress again!

Love your bridesmaid dresses. Going to subscribe so that I can follow your plans.

BTW, I think if DH and I had discovered WDW back in 1997 when we were married I would have chosen a Disney wedding but it still would have been just the 2 of us.

Thanks for reading. Don't worry the absense of my brother wont spoil my day, I've waited too long a time to find an amazing person and marry them. I'm just dissapointed by his behaviour - oh well, we've now found a bearded dragon sitter whilst we are away
Your wedding sounds amazing, I'd love to go to Hawaii. Must have been nice and intimate with just the two of you.