Sarah's Planning Journal - YC Gazebo/French Island Lower

[sarah_n_brian2006]

Ok. We have not signed a contract yet, so this is not final.
We are already married, we had our ceremony on August 4, 2006 at the courthouse. (Well I have a very traditional family and we were living together, so we got married and saved alot of money and worry about my family finding out.) This is a wedding and not a vow renewal per se as I still haven't changed my name and most people do not even know that we're married. I have always dreamed of a DFTW and I have to have one. Even if it kills me!! This is us from last April, it's our best picture. We do not take alot of pictures, we're boring workoholics that never go out.

Our Ceremony location is the Yacht Club Gazebo. I know this is Taz's pic but I am going to be saving this in my wedding scrapbook.

We have some history at this location. When we were planning our courthouse ceremony and 3 day honeymoon, we were going to stay at POFQ, but there was a discount at the YC and the CM talked me into it. When we checked into our room we noticed a balcony and had to check it out. It was the Gazebo! We actually was going to WDW for our site visit, we were going to have it at France, but decided that an evening wedding would be better.

Our reception, I wanted spectacular and a Disney only experience. I wanted to knock my guests socks off. The night after we were married, I took DH to see IllumiNations and he was astonished, even more than with Wishes (I like Wishes better myself). So I figured our guests would feel the same as him. I have lots of Disney-addicts in my family, an aunt and uncle with Epcot Pm APs, and aunt, uncle, cousins and second cousins with Aps. The list doesn't stop there, this will not be a first time viewing for most of our guests, but a new experience. We're excited! I do not know who's pic this is, I got it off the web.

 

[disprincessatheart]

We're having our reception at French Island for the same reason. Good luck with the planning!

 

[Maggimus]

Well Congratulations on being newly married!! I think your ceremony at the YCG will be beautiful and full of memories!! Congrats again and hopefully we will hear more details as time moves closer!

 

[PrincessBride07]

Congratulations and good luck with the planning. I am looking forward to reading more.

 

[sarah_n_brian2006]

This is a summarized version of our Site Visit Trip.

We arrived (late) to WDW. The Oseola Parkway was closed so we had to go up to I-4. We were passing the Welcome sign at the time we were supposed to be seated at Cinderella's Round Table. And we had lost our Seasonal Passes that were blocked out and needed to upgrade. Great start huh? We hit all kinds of traffic up there. Normally it takes 2 hours and 45 minutes to get there, this time 3 hours and 20 minutes!!!!
We get to the ticket window to MK and a CM called CRT to let them know we were there and hold our table. The only way they could was to add a infant to give us a bigger table. The CM said it would take too much time to upgrade then, but can see that we had the Seasonal Passes. So she walked us through and let us go to CRT. As we were running through MK to the Castle, it seemded that no one could hear us saying excuse me. They would just continue sitting on Main Street to see Wishes. We almost did not get to the Castle as Tinkerbell was getting ready to fly, but when we explained everything to the CM, she let us through and said, "Do not stop and look up". Ok can I admit, as we were running up the ramp, we both looked up. Didn't see anything. Finally, we get to Cindy and take our photo and to our table. Wishes was very limited in there. Some people recommend it, I think it would be ok with an infant but there are better places. It was cool because you can see them launch off the stores right outside. Well, the Fairy Godmother totally embarrased DH, by asking him our anniversary date after we told her we just got married. Poor guy had Prime rib in his mouth and wanted to die!!! We were given the Champagne fultes instead of the lithograpgh, we're using these at our Reception.

After dinner, was SpectroMagic, it was a battle trying to get to the City Hall to upgrade our tickets. And yeah, even if you buy tickets from AAA and upgrade your APs at WDW, first you have to pay the difference of the original passes, then the upgrade.

We checkin at YC and see our awesome room, Man I wish I took pics while I was there, if I did I can't find them anywhere!!! The Gazebo was gorgeous with the lights on. It made our room that much better!!!

The next morning we decided to go to AK and ride EE before the SV. We waited for like forever and ended up 10 minutes late to the SV. I forget the lady who was assigned to us, but she was great. I think my DH was more impressed with her car, brand new Cadalliac. We went and saw France, Living Seas VIP and AA Parlour and Bistro de Paris.
France - great location just too early.
Living seas - We thought the sand box would be too risky as we were having kids, also the decor seemed out of date.
AA Parlour - didn't impress me and seemed very tiny as they told me 40-50 guests could fit.
Bistro de Paris - stole our hearts but too many tables to dress.

I loved going behind the scenes Epcot, I felt like I was supposed to cover my eyes!!! But I couldnt!!!

We spent the day at MK. Oh and come prepared for August. We roasted. I have arthritis and my body was swollen for a week!!

We left early to go swimming and see IllumiNations.

Next day we went to Epcot in the morning and MGM in the evening. My DH new fave ride is RnR. Same as me . We were getting drenched for the whole Fantasmic and DH did not like it. It was very hard to enjoy, he can't believe me that it's a great show!!!!. After that we went back home.

We came to the realization that summer is too hot and there is not enough ice in WDW to make us go back during summer. My hands hurt just thinking about it. The worst thing was that my hands swelled so much I had to wear my wedding set on my pinky and it was still tight!

Ignore ugly hands, Im 22 with arthritis and have ugly hands.
We did have fun though.

 

[sarah_n_brian2006]

We plan on staying 2 nights at YC before wedding, night of wedding at GF, next 2 nights at YC again, then 5 nights at POFQ. I'm going to register for the honeymoon, and hope to pre-pay entire honeymoon before leaving to go up there. Less money to worry about.

So that we do not have to worry about burdening our business or parents, I picked up a part-time job. Your going to laugh at Wal-Mart in their shoes department. Trust me, they do not pay enough to have to handle the dirty sticky shoes men leave behind, but that's another story.

Photos I am not sure about. I am not sure if I am going to have DPS or Randy. I think the keep money down, we are going to go with DPS and do without on other things.

Video I need help with. I only want like 4 hours of video, Ceremony, guests at FI before we arrive, typically cake thing and fireworks. So from like 6-10. I fgured since he never watches home novies and I hardly do, that we don't need to spend all that money on it. Any one know where I could get 4 hours without having to spend alot???

Transportation I figured that I could use a round trip bus which is only YC to Epcot and back to YC for $364. With a possible additional stop for $50. For most of our guests. A Limo for my parents, his parents, my grandparents, flower girl and ring bearer. We could use the Breathless, if it's available. Does anyone know how much the Breathless costs for this? I am dying to know.

Flowers I was thinking roses and hydrangeas. I love the picture on Disneyweddings where the walkway is lined with roses. I really want that!!
http://disneyweddings.go.com/site/wed/cus/cer/location/featured/index.jsp?styleName=style03 Click on See Photos or More. Then click photo 5. That's so pretty!!!

I want a violinist. In the wishbook it says that theres a 3 hour minimums, does that mean if I wanted them to play at the first part of my reception, they could? Does it have to be 3 consecutive hours or can I have 1 hour ceremony, 2 hours after Epcot closes? Or do I need to pay over time? How does that work? because we only need him for the ceremony and from 10-12 after park closes? And can you even hear over the epcot music?

 

[PrincessBride07]

Well, it sounds like you are on the ball with your ideas. I love those toasting flutes and your rings. I really can't help you out with any of your questions. I would be interested in knowing if there is a cheap videographer for only a couple of hours too.

One thing when considering your photographer. You might want to think of how many copies you get and for what price. You mentioned that you don't really have that many pictures of you and your dh, so you may want a lot to make up for lost time. If you go with a photographer like Randy you get the copyright to all the pictures, and with Disney you have to pay for you copies. In the long run in might be cheaper to use outside photography.

 

[Maggimus]

YAY for Randy Chapman and his work-- if you need some info on him let me know!

 

[JJClemson]

Wow, it sounds like everything is coming along nicely! I bet your reception will be lovely! I cannot wait to hear more about your ideas

 

[myprincessgirlisa]

great planning journal...its really coming together

congrats & dont ever stop dreaming big...DFTW big

I love th YCG...I got married there...great atmosphere.

keep us up to date

 

[sarah_n_brian2006]

My parents bought me my gown last year. I tried it on in the store several times, (always fit in 4 comfortably) my mother bought and picked it up in April. Since May, it has been too small. Not by much, I just can't zip it on my own. I plan on losing abot 5-10 pounds to fit in it perfectly. I took some pics with me wearing it, but it looked funny zipped half way.

Here's the back

Front detail

Back detail

Skirt Detail

I may have to have some work done on it, I'm trying not to though. I have loved this dress since it first came out. I bought it at Davids. I bought this one off the rack because it had no train and I didn't want to hassle with ordering. I didn't want a train, since we're traveling, I figured it would make the dress heavier and more of a steaming hassle. I plan on steaming it pre-trip, again I only live 3 hours away, Then bringing a travel steamer and touching it up and do the veil the morning of.
Here's my veil

My Tiara

My Shoes

I plan on wearing a up-do for the wedding and my hair wavy for the MK Photo Shoot

 

[Maggimus]

i LOVE all of your things!! Your dress is beautiful!! So is your veil!! LOL i know what you mean about not getting it zipped all the way-- those things are nearly impossible arent they?

 

[DisneyFairy19]

WOW I LOVE YOUR DRESS.. Its sooo beautiful...your wedding will be amazing at the YCG.. Keep us posted on all your details...

 

[sarah_n_brian2006]

This is a little off subject, but I'm going through some dellimas (sp?). My husband and I were running a business we bought from his DM, with a friend. Our friend started going crazy (i.e. almost hit me!!!! ) so she repossed it to get him out. Now she's blowing up at us every day. My brother was working for us and when she started on him, he quit. She's refusing to pay him! She wasnt paying me, I was doing it as a favor. But minimally paying my husband. Now she's refusing to pay us as well. So yesterday when I confronted her that DB's check was wrong and she forgot what we had agreed to she started telling me that she can change her mind about anything and everything, I have no say in this company, I am screwing it up, and I do nothing for this business. So I quit. I can't take it anymore. She has us severly behind on our bills and we're almost to the point where 2 of our credit cards wants to send us to collections!!!! I am so frustrated and hurt by all of this. It's like the only people in her life that matter are people that work at her husbands office. She's always trying to buy us (i.e. when things got rough last year she took us to the Bahamas). We're married and the week that we went to the courthouse, she started making our lives hell. Ever since then the only times she's been nice to us was when the company was ours and she couldn't complain about it then. I, like I said before, do have a job at WalMart. I'm going to be working full-time. But that's not going to pay our bills. DH was stuck in a enclosed room with a friend of hers while he was smoking a blunt (i.e. we share office space and he would walk around smoking) so we're afraid it may show up on a drug test. It's like things can't get worse. (financially). The good news is I no longer work with or for her, bad news is DH still does and she's really pissed off at me. I really do love her and know that she is taking all kinds of frustrations out on me and DH, but it really hurts. I want her at my wedding. But even with how things are, we may not be able to have the wedding yet. It may have to be bumped one more year due to how she's not paid us like she and we agreed. We really need all the we can get. Pray for us. But I will keep this posted with things later on next week