Tom & Heidi 1/19/09 Italy WD/WP/Narcoossee's/Sago Cay...Sprint to the Finish!!!

[DisneyBrideToni]

Your theme is so unique and I love it! The artist idea is great! Sounds like it will be fun!

 

[bridetobe789]

How exciting for coming in to do a planning session!! I'm sure in the end it will definitely be worth it!! I'm guessing you already worked it out so you can get off? Hopefully!!

 

[IndyBride]

OH!!! That's great you get to do a planning session. The tasting is so much fun but come hungry! And take pics- you know the rules!!

 

[tiggerrifficheidi]

Congrats on all of your updates. I love your theme. It is very original and it will work perfectly at the GF. And I love the colors you are going with, also!

Thank you! It's definitely growing on me!

Oh, good for you, Heidi, a planning session for the big wedding is a very good idea! I think those shoes are just beautiful!! You and Sarah have great taste!

Yes, I know she didn't end up getting them, but she has GREAT taste!

Your theme is so unique and I love it! The artist idea is great! Sounds like it will be fun!

I hope the guests enjoy it, because I think it's pretty cool! I've never had a silhouette done, and they'll all get one for free (to them, at least!)

How exciting for coming in to do a planning session!! I'm sure in the end it will definitely be worth it!! I'm guessing you already worked it out so you can get off? Hopefully!!

Yes, I had to work my leave before I bought the ticket. I was going to try to go at Christmas time, and leave is easier to get them...but the ticket would have cost much more. I still think a lot of the decorations will be up, so hopefully I'll get a taste of the holiday decorations.

OH!!! That's great you get to do a planning session. The tasting is so much fun but come hungry! And take pics- you know the rules!!

Val-Okay, yes, I will! I will tell my MOH to remind me! My DH will want them, too, so I'll get beat up by you guys AND him if I forget!

 

[tiggerrifficheidi]

I have been BAD about updating this! No excuse!

I've contacted Rev. Jack, and I'm thrilled he's going to do our service again! It feels so much more personal...since we actually KNOW him now!

I'm getting sensitive about guest count, which is kinda weird. We we were WORRIED we would have less than 50 people at first. That was a problem, because we want to do our Welcome Dinner at Italy Isola, and if it's less than 50, they could move us, and I don't want to move (of course). Well, right now, based on my general polling (and not including any possibility of last-minute, dark knight guests) we're at 63 and 9 kids!!!!! Now, I'm worried we won't fit in the Whitehall Room. Kristi Davis told me she reserved a ball room just in case, but I would rather move the location than move to the ballroom. It's just not the look I'm going for. Does anyone know how many people you can squeeze into the WHR? I think the consensus is 50 without a dance floor and 40 with, but it seems to me you could squeeze 2 banquet rounds in where the floor goes.

So, if they force me into the ball room...give me your opinions on whether it'll be okay...or if I should switch location...and where to?

In other, happier news, my wedding ring came in!!!! At first, I didn't like it, and it made me sick that we had had something custom made that I now did not like, but I wore it around for a day (I'm not allowed to wear it till Jan) and I like it now (whew!). It's weird how you have to adjust to things sometime! Here's a pic.

Still no decision on the BM dresses!!!!

 

[padisneyfour]

I am glad you got and like you ring after wearing it,it is pretty. congrats on using rev. day again. good luck with he BM dresses

 

[trudy88]

Will really be pretty. LOVE the shoes!
trudy <><

 

[IndyBride]

Your wedding ring is so pretty!! But I feel the same way. I haven't seen any that I reallly love so I guess it's best he got a ring without consulting me. Because I never would have been able to choose one!!

 

[bridetobe789]

Your ring is very pretty! I'm glad you got a chance to war it to like it! How great that rev. jack can do the ceremony again !

 

[29apr00]

yeah for another PS!!! WOW that must be coming up soon, huh?

Beautiful ring!!

 

[figmentfan814]

I would ask your planner to see what else is available that day if you're worried about the ballroom. I'm with you I would prefer something a little more Disney-like similar to the White Hall Room.

I'm glad things worked out with your ring, sometimes it does take a while to get used to something

 

[lurkyloo]

Does anyone know how many people you can squeeze into the WHR? I think the consensus is 50 without a dance floor and 40 with, but it seems to me you could squeeze 2 banquet rounds in where the floor goes.

So, if they force me into the ball room...give me your opinions on whether it'll be okay...or if I should switch location...and where to?

According to the floor plan on DisneyMeetings.com, Whitehall holds 70 people at banquet rounds (but kids count as half a people, right? ) or 150 for a "reception," which must mean a stand-up cocktail kinda thing.

Go here, Click on Virtual Site Inspection, then select the Grand Floridian. After you Click on Whitehall in the little list that pops up in the lower right-hand corner, you can click on "View Arrangements & Capacities" at the very top in the yellow bar.

Whew - wish they'd just let me link to it!

 

[tiggerrifficheidi]

Oh! I am so bad! I've been obsessing about so many details, I've been forgetting to write!

Okay, this has been decision making week! (and weekend).

Tom and I decided to move our reception to Narcoossee's. It's got pros and cons, (pros being the naturally gorgeous location...which requires less money on decorations! The cons are the restaurant-style seating). But, I think it will look fabulous! And we don't have to worry about guest count

Next decision...I had wanted to use the Attic for a Bridal Tea, but I was having a hard time coming up with things to spend $2500 F&B min on! On a lark I asked if the Whitehall Room was available on Saturday. I'm thinking "no, way!" but I ask. Well, it was! So, since we're not using it for the reception, we're moving the Bridal tea to that location. I still love the Attic...but $1500 F&B min vs. $2500 F&B min is too hard to pass up! So that will be Saturday.

Also, we found out Sago Cay is open for a WISHES DP the night of the wedding. So, we're going for it. I think it will work out really well.

Okay, I also drove to a store in Neustadt an der Aisch that carried B2 by Jasmine. I was FINALLY able to see the ACTUAL fabric colors and pick a BM dress! It has a maternity style to match which has more of an empire waist. It is B1039 by B2.

Now, we're debating about a Farewell Breakfast...any advice on that?

Thanks!

 

[pjstevens]

Heidi,

You've been busy!!! Love your ring and the BM dresses! So glad the other locations were available.

 

[lov2b@disney]

wow you have been busy! I love the BM dress! Glad all the locations worked out!

Just an FYI they have put rounds in Narcoossee--I'm sure for a price! The planners have a picture of a reception there with them.

We had our reception there and did long tables along the windows.

 

[jessesgirl-080708]

That color is really pretty!

Your gonna love Sago Cay for the DP!!!!

 

[figmentfan814]

How great that you were able to get the DP location. This was definitely a highlight for our guests and I'm sure it will be for yours too.

I'm glad you were able to check out the bridesmaids dresses, that must be so frustrating trying to find things while you're still in Europe.

I think switching the tea was a great idea; I can't wait to see shots from your more formal tea since we only did ours in the Gardenview Tea Room.

For a farewell breakfast, would it be the day after the wedding or later? I was a little disappointed on how ours turned out. We had one schedule for the day after the wedding, but everyone was so tired from our 9 a.m. ceremony that we ended up cancelling the night before because everyone wanted to sleep in the next day We also had a bunch of people that had magical express picking them up earlier than they anticipated.

 

[IndyBride]

Very pretty BM dress Heidi!!! Sounds like you are getting almost everything you want!!! That's the way it should be!!

 

[tiggerrifficheidi]

Heidi,

You've been busy!!! Love your ring and the BM dresses! So glad the other locations were available.

Thank yoU! I HAVE been busy...so busy I forget to write! And I'm glad it worked out in the end, because I was stressing the locations

wow you have been busy! I love the BM dress! Glad all the locations worked out!

Just an FYI they have put rounds in Narcoossee--I'm sure for a price! The planners have a picture of a reception there with them.

We had our reception there and did long tables along the windows.

I think she mentioned rounds were possible...but that there wasn't much room to maneuver around it. Do you have any pics of your reception? I would LOVE to see how you set it up, because that sounds like a really friendly seating style. Also, did you do a CH? The WP said that it had to be at Narcoossee's, so I'm wondering where they set it up for you.

That color is really pretty!

Your gonna love Sago Cay for the DP!!!!

Thank you! I definitely have you (and other Sago Cay brides) to thank for putting the idea into my head!

How great that you were able to get the DP location. This was definitely a highlight for our guests and I'm sure it will be for yours too.

I'm glad you were able to check out the bridesmaids dresses, that must be so frustrating trying to find things while you're still in Europe.

I think switching the tea was a great idea; I can't wait to see shots from your more formal tea since we only did ours in the Gardenview Tea Room.

For a farewell breakfast, would it be the day after the wedding or later? I was a little disappointed on how ours turned out. We had one schedule for the day after the wedding, but everyone was so tired from our 9 a.m. ceremony that we ended up cancelling the night before because everyone wanted to sleep in the next day We also had a bunch of people that had magical express picking them up earlier than they anticipated.

We were going to forgo the DP, since we're having an IllumiNations WP, but I'm excited we're doing it!

And Europe...YES! Driving me nuts! Great place to live and shop as long as you want EUROPEAN thing. Not so great for hunting for American styles.

I would like to do the GardenView, but I think we're going to have too many people and they won't let us do it there. I really prefer the style of the GardenView, because it's so classy! And I LOVED your hat! But, I'm excited about the WHP.

You bring up a good point about the Farewell B'Fast. I know some people have early flights, but I didn't think about those who have later flights and STILL have to make the DME time. I do remember them picking us up earlier than I had thought.

Very pretty BM dress Heidi!!! Sounds like you are getting almost everything you want!!! That's the way it should be!!

Oh, thanks! You're too kind! I think "Spoiled" is the term my Mom would use!

 

[29apr00]

Yeah for getting SCP for your Wishes DP! That's going to be lovely!

And yeah for WHR being availaible for your tea!! I'm excited for you! can't wait!

And the Bm dress is beautiful! great color!