W-3
I forgot to mention that on the 15th (W-4), Michelle Wenzler-Dorr (our WP) tracked us down, left a message and emailed us to make sure she kept us up to date on how things were going. Up to this point, I had had several good conversations, lots of emails, and two PSs with Michelle, but when she went into execution mode she really shined! In the email she warned us about the temp (it was pretty cold at this point) and gave us the option to add heaters for the Welcome Dinner (outside at Italy Isola). She really was not pushy on these at all, but I thought it was great that she was proactive about offering them. She also gave me some insight into what she had in store for the tea party...and reiterated this when I spoke to her on the phone the next day.
I loved how she fed me details, instead of me having to fish for information. Heres a snippet of what she wrote:
I will not be at the start of your tea as I will be doing a
wedding then but will try and make it by sometime during it. I do have
one of my staff members that will be there in the beginning. I will be
setting it up earlier that morning and have a few props that I have
found that I think you will love to have there!!! Wait to you see the
cake. They have already showed me some of the stuff that they are
putting on it and it is sooo cute and in theme with Mary Poppins &
madhatter. You'll see it's very cute
Hope you and Tom are having fun and spending great time together after
so long apart !!
On Friday the 16th, everyone started to arrive. We had figured out the night before that DHs sisters actually arrived on the 15th and were already there! I cant believe they didnt tell us. I have to admit, its nice to have some people think about not bugging the B&G too much, but we were still relaxed at that point!
So, we woke up slowly and took our time at breakfast. We knew that this day was going to pick up speed, so we enjoyed our last quiet moments.
A few days before the wedding, Disney announced a Military Salute that gave each service member a free 5 day Park Hopper and the option to buy up to 5 Companion 5-day (plain or Park Hoppers) for $99 or $124 (depending on the PH option). We really thought this was too good of a deal to not take advantage of, so we decided we would buy them for our family (and they would pay us back). But that entailed us getting to Shades of Green, because the Service Member had to be the one to purchase them. We walked from the GF to SOG and there was a crazy long line, but we accomplished our mission!
We made our way to the CR, as my Dad and Aunt were scheduled to check in and DHs sisters were eating at Chef Mickeys with their families. We met up with them, and also found my Dad and Aunt eventually (they got lost!). The next event was getting all these folks to the main gate of MK to validate the companion tickets. So, we had to take EVERYONE (my parents and aunt and his sisters, brothers-in-law and their 3 kids) to the MK Guest Relations window. That was like herding cats!
By this point, we were all hungry (way past lunch), but DH and I had to get back to the GF to meet BFF/MOH and her DH and DD, as she was bringing all the supplies for the Welcome Bags (She was my Stateside Distribution Point for all the stuff I ordered). So, we abandoned everyone at the MK and made our way back to the GF.
The GF Bell Services was a BLESSING here. MOH pulled up in their car, we had Bell Services unload the TONS of boxes and such and later they delivered it to our room. SOOO easy! So, we started to put the bags together. Sticking to our turn-of-the-century theme, I had found snacks that were enjoyed by Americans around the beginning of the 20th century. MOH decided to add a sort of Pop Up Video style sticker to each to explain the meaning. I thought it turned out really cute!
Heres what the bags themselves looked like. MOH took the invitation design and made iron-on transfers which she put on some cheapo totes I bought. We should have gone with the linen color, as the weight showed the imprint of the transfer a bit. But, I still think they turned out gorgeous!
And inside, there was:
J tea bags
Planters Peanuts
Maxwell House Coffee
Wrigleys Spearmint
Hersheys Bars
Animal Crackers
Cracker Jacks
Snyders Pretzels
Necco Sweethearts
The Pièce de résistance...
MOHs DD helped
This was the scene
This took up most of the afternoon, and MOH had to check on her parents and in-laws who were checking in. So, DH and I made ADRs at O'hanas for our families...that's next!
Yeah for buying DVC; I agree I think BLT is definitely the best choice. We hope to buy soon in the next couple of years. Just have to take care of some grad school loans and the rest of the wedding first 
So, with Citrico's would you definitely go back? I've never eaten there before and have wanted to try it, so I was curious what your thoughts were compared to the other options available.
Warning, once you start its hard to stop 
DH and I ended up with two master's and now I'm teaching at a community college, so it has had me contemplating a PhD. 
. Your wedding was absolutly breathtaking, your dress was perfect! It is so obvious how in love you and Tom are... I think that is wonderful to be able to see that shine through in pictures
(totally kidding, actually...he's the neatnik!)
