Day 6, Part 1 (Wedding Day)
I awoke at 5.30am, a bit tired, nervous and excited.
I had my shower, grabbed my purse, list of telephone numbers, kissed Steven on the cheek and waved goodbye.
It was 5.50am and in the distance, at my moms door, I saw a woman, obviously from Carolyn Allens, pulling a steamer, knock on the door.
My mom let her in and I rushed over to meet her.
Its really strange, but I cant remember her name, most things on this day are a bit of a blur so I will just have to do my best when recalling the details.
Anyway, she is the same woman that I have seen come for most steamings. She was very polite and I told her that my wedding dress, moms dress and Stevens suit were to be steamed.
As my dress was silk, it required to be pressed. She decided to do this last, as it would take more time. She made some small talk about the wedding but basically just got on with her job. I was actually glad for this as I had completely no make up on and it was highly unusual for me to see anyone without make up, let alone talk to them. I was eager for Ana to come so I could feel more myself.
Ana from Beaute Speciale arrived about 15 minutes later. She was very friendly and easy to talk to. We agreed that she could start with my moms hair. She was very quick and seemed to know what kind of style my mom wanted. She started using curling tongs to give her hair more lift, which my mom likes, and put in the crystal pins that I had bought for her. In the meantime, Stevens suit was ready so I went upstairs with it to see how he was getting on.
I could tell he was nervous when he said, Im pretty nervous
I handed him the suit and he said he wanted to try and trim his goatee but my mom had the converter plug downstairs. I said I would go and get it and bring it back.
When I returned to my moms, Ana was practically finished my moms hair. It looked really good. I told them I needed to go back up with the plug so Ana said she could always do my moms make up first. I said fine (Bad move).
I quickly left and hurried up the stairs. It was getting light and I realised I would have to pass this man leaning over the balcony. I panicked, I knew I would have to say Good Morning but I hated that I had no make up on and really didnt want him to see me this way.
I passed him and he said Good Morning, I put my head down and mumbled Good Morning back and quickly moved past him. I decided that I would take a different route coming back.
I gave Steven the converter and told him I couldnt stay. I felt sorry for him that he had to be alone. I reminded him that he was to get picked up at 9.00am but they would call him. If the limo hadnt arrived by 9.05am he could call me. I grinned at him and left.
Ana was still working on my moms make up and the woman from Carolyn Allens was almost finished my dress. I asked her if it would be okay if I paid her by travellers cheques as I didnt have a chance to get them changed. She said no problem and she told me the total would be $180.
It was more expensive than I thought it was going to be, but my dress looked beautiful so I didnt mind paying more. I ended up tipping her $20.
It was time to put on my false nails.
The day before we left the UK, I had an acrylic nail appointment where I would be getting my nails done and they would hopefully last for the 3 weeks I was in Florida. The day of my appointment, I received a phone call saying the manicurist had come down with diarrhoea and could not make my appointment. I was so annoyed, this left me no time to get my nails done anywhere else, so I did the next best thing when I went to Glasgow and bought glue on nails. I thought as long as they lasted long enough to cover the Wedding and the MK Shoot, they were worth it.
It was a quick process once I figured out which nails I planned on using. This pack came with 32 nails, loads of different sizes. I have very long fingers but the majority of my nails require a similar size falsie, except my pinkie and thumb. So the more nails the better.
The nail glue was terrible, I had to cover my nail bed in glue for there to be any sign of adhesion. My thumbnail came off 5 times before finally giving up and sticking. These nails were very long but I didnt really have time to file them down so I just put up with them. For practicality these were terrible. I couldnt do anything anymore. I used to have long nails; in fact I wore acrylics for a year. They were different, as they felt far more secure and had much more manoeuvrability. These however, felt they could come off at any point and I ended up doing nothing for myself, I felt helpless.
I showed them to my mom who thought they looked beautiful, and I agreed, they did, look good. As it was only for a day, I thought what the hell and went with it.
By this time my dress was ready and the woman from Carolyn Allens was gathering up her things. She waved goodbye to me and wished me all the best.
After she had left I went over to fully check my dress. It looked beautiful and my veil glistened on the bed.
I have absolutely no problems in giving my highest recommendations of Carolyn Allens. She was very professional, on time and polite. She would occasionally jump into the conversation but mainly just continued with her work. I thought the price was a bit high, but she did have to press my dress and that was pretty time consuming so I didnt really mind. I took some pictures so you can see how my dress turned out:
This picture you can see my wedding dress, my moms dress and my veil on the bed:
I then went over to my Mom and managed to get a picture of her, make up almost finished:
So, it was my turn. Now I was nervous, I knew Ana had high credentials so I should have felt fine, but I am a girl that has done and perfected her makeup since the age of 16. I knew what I liked and exactly what I wanted, but unfortunately I tend to shy away from make up rules and go with what suits me, I think Ana stuck with the rules.
She first quickly straightened my hair and applied some product, she said she would come back to that after my make up and apply some hairspray. So, on to the make up
I was 4 days into my vacation so I had a slight tan on my face, not only that I had applied fake tan to my face the night before so I was a golden brown. Ana started with the foundation, and positioned a glaring light towards my face.
It didnt take long for my foundation to be applied and the powder used to set it. She asked if I used blush, but I told her my preference was for bronzer as I preferred to have a golden glow.
She let me check my face after all this was applied and I thought it looked flawless but very pale. I didnt mention it (Bad move) as I thought when the eye makeup was applied it would look very different.
She continued on, applying my eye makeup. I had discussed with her previously that I liked the smoky eye look; browns and greys, I also loved liquid eyeliner and heavy mascara. I thought I had given her a vision but I hadnt given her MY vision.
At this point there is a knock on the door and it is Randy, he is really early as it is only 8.00am, he immediately takes a picture:
I tell him he is very unlucky as he has to see me with no makeup, I tell him off jokingly for being so early.
He goes round the room and I cant see what hes doing as I am seated the other way. I hear the camera clicking away and him asking my mom to look out my jewellery and things so he can get a picture:
My beautiful Lord of the Rings necklace, Randy loved this:
Stan and Bonnie from STVS then arrive, also very early and start to film. I have no idea exactly what they film as again I cant really see.
So my eye makeup is usually like this
I first cover the whole eyelid in beige eye shadow, I then apply brown eye shadow just above the crease of the eye, moving from the center of the eye to the outer edge. I then apply a hint of silver underneath the brow, as a highlighter. Then I use a dark brown pencil to fill in the brows, I use my liquid eyeliner on the top lid only and carefully draw a thin line from the center of the eye to the end and I kick it out when I reach the tip, kinda like a cats eye. I then use a white pencil to draw dots where the inner corner of the eye is; this opens up your eyes making them appear wider. I then blend this into the eye shadow and all you can see is a light reflecting sheen. I then use black pencil eyeliner on my lower lid, drawing from the center to the end and blending it in as I go. My mascara is applied very carefully, doing 2 coats on the top and 1 on the bottom, black, of course.
Now, I realise the fact that I know all of this; tells me I really should have done my make up myself.
I was not given a mirror until my eye make up was done so I didnt have a chance to stop her. I thought we were on the same page, but we obviously werent.
I looked in the mirror and I was immediately disappointed, my eyes were so dark. I mean I have very dark brown eyes and although I normally wear brown eye shadow, I never wear it all over my eyes, it made my eyes look really small. The eyeliner that I had on could barely be seen against the dark brown background and I wish I realised it then but the huge thing missing was the kick at the edge of my outer eye. My mascara was great, my eyelashes looked wonderful, but I couldnt see the individual eyelashes because again they were against such a dark background. I didnt know what to say, it was 8.40am and there was no time to correct it, I hadnt even got into my wedding dress yet.
Basically I didnt like my make up. Technically it was correct, she had followed the rules, but it wasnt me at all. I have tried to find a close up pic of me in my usual make up, and a close up pic of me in the make up she did:
My own make up, ignore the look on both our faces as were larking about on the
Disney Cruise Line Coach, more of them to come later on in the TR.
Her make up:
Sorry I cant seem to find a close up of me with my eyes open yet
I will admit that looking back on it, my make up does look better in the pictures somehow, although not better than I do it, but in person; it was way too heavy and just not what I had hoped for. Personally I thought my moms make up was much better.
To be continued
, but I just had to say this. Meryll83, you will be at WDW during my wedding! You'll have to look for us on October 1st. Our reception is on the French Pavilion at 7:00pm. You might also see our party (about 30 of us) on Saturday, September the 29th in the evening at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival (we will be the ones in the white t-shirts with the teal Mickey heads on them!) Or you might see us Sunday the 30th at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween (we are going as Pirates of the Caribbean). If ya see me please stop and say hi. I'd love to meet a fellow diser at the world. Any of you out there reading this that are at the parks during our events please give me a shout out! I'd love to meet you!!!
so I caught up with you in Germany. I absolutely agree, you MUST go into the shops there - simply wonderful! JJ and I bought our cuckoo clock there a few years ago - well worth every penny. It has been fascinating to read about the countries through someone else's eyes.. Japan is lovely, I can spend hours there. Never having been to the UK, we enjoy this plaza but I do love the Totem poles in Canada... I hope next go round, you'll be able to spend more time in the world.
keeping it brief, I am truly glad that Disney's 
finally found you!! your TA should really be disgraced at how poorly they have botched this. these trials and tribulations should not have been a part of your trip. I understand the months of planning every little detail - bottom line, if you guys do decide to move to Canada, my tip is call Disney direct to book everything next trip! I want to go shake your TA -ggrrrr !!!!!!
