Alright, so since I last posted an update, I've been working to finish our photo books. Which I have now completed! And I've ordered our final book...we should have it in a couple of weeks. I also ordered the books for our parents. I got an email from snapfish for 60% off site wide which saved us a lot of money. I really hope they enjoy their books...I know my mom will. I plan on giving it to her on Mother's Day. I hope it makes it into my hands in time. We've been having issues with, well, I'm not sure if it's our PO or the apartment office....the tracking says the item is delivered, but the apartment office tells us we don't have any packages. Blah. Now, back to the trip report!
Let's see, I left off with us going back to the room and putting together welcome bags to hand out at the rehearsal dinner....no pictures of those. They were colorful and fun...we bought regular gift bags in multi-color packs. We decided against the reusable ones because we couldnt find ones we liked that also went with our theming. We put water, snacks, the multi-color flavored popcorn, hand sanitizer, gum (sorry WDW!), We're Celebrating buttons (which I got at the concierge desk in the All-Star Music resort), and a travel size lint roller. I think that was it....the snacks were a package of sandwich crackers (peanut butter, not cheese) and granola bars. We put special snacks in FMIL/FFIL's bag...they got super healthy stuff. We tried to accommodate where we could. After we finished that, we watched a little tv and then went to sleep. We had to be up early.
November 30. We got up around 6:30am (I think), though I'm sure we should've gotten up earlier. Somehow, I always seem to lose time when I'm at WDW...I end up being late for everything....oh, who am I kidding, I'm always late for everything.
Luckily, CA came to me to steam my dress, so DF had to be out of the room before they got there and would not be returning since my dress would be out in the room until I put it on the next day. So he had to pack his stuff up and head out. We're not superstitious; we just really liked the buildup of anticipation. Oh, and don't worry, he had somewhere to be that early. I didn't send him away with a bag and no place to go.
DF, FFIL, and FBIL were meeting up to go play some golf. I didn't realize it at the time, but the excitement of the wedding and being at WDW...and all the magic, awe, and wonder that brings when you're a willing participant....well, that was building within FFIL. As I stayed behind that morning to wait for the steamers, who were prompt and extremely efficient, I was oblivious. I was just hoping they wouldn't bring DF down by complaining about everything, like transportation, prices, the size of the property, and the time schedule they seemed to always be on with us. I just wanted them to relax and have a good time....I knew FMIL was not happy about the prices, she complained on FB about the cost of a few pieces of fruit, "and they aren't even organic!" Though, she was happy about the variety at the table service meals, so I don't know....sometimes it's hard for me to read her. Oh, well, you can't please everyone.
After my dress was steamed and hung up, I got ready to go meet everyone for lunch at Raglan Road in DTD. I was running a little late (SHOCKER!
), but I'd already been texting with DF so we would know where to meet. We ended up meeting just outside WoD. The guys were understandably hungry, so I bought them a snack....churros! Don't they look so handsome?!!
We walked around for a bit and then headed to Raglan Road. I should also mention that, as all of this was going on, I was still working on getting table names, escort cards, and programs done. Impressions had a little issue with their emails, so everything was crazy for them. Before I'd left home two days before, we had to send PMs through FB. The files wouldn't transfer and all kinds of craziness. I had to apologize to everyone for being on my phone while at lunch...but everything was taken care of, except the file we wanted on the program which didn't end up happening. Oh, well, now everyone can put their own photos on the disc. It worked out in the end and was worth everything. They did a really great job.
I was texting with my MOH and BM, BM was already there (and actually at DTD) and having lunch with her hubby. MOH was on a flight...as was her +1. MOH coming from Dallas, TX, +1 coming from Portland, OR!! A couple of members of our lunch party were running a little late, so we were a little rushed, but that was ok. I wasn't terribly hungry, and as it turned out, my MOH was getting in just a little early. She ended up getting to the resort before me, but occupied herself with the beauty of the lobby. I took her up to our room, changed my clothes, freshened my makeup (though looking at photos now, I wish Id had more time), and then we went back to the lobby where, magically, everyone had arrived and was waiting on us! They oohed and ahhhed over the lobby and took photos.
When everyone was done taking photos, we walked to the WP. My BM took this beautiful photo
Im not even sure when, I just had to share it.
We only had to wait a minute for Jamie to appear
.meanwhile; more photos were being taken, this time of the marquee with our names.
Everyone was impressed with the WP, my MOH almost started crying
she certainly teared up, saying Its just so beautiful! She walked around taking photos.
The rehearsal went smoothly and we were done fairly quickly. Jamie gave us a gift, which I opened. Now, Ive said this on FB, but Ill say it again here. When I started this process, I had no idea that we would be getting a gift from DFTW, then I found out the gift was his and hers watches. I cant say I was excited about getting watches. I saw a photo of them
while theyre beautiful, I thought, Well, its a lovely gesture
especially when I wasnt expecting anything. I dont wear watches and I dont wear gold, but I wouldve found something to do with them, even if they were just displayed. Then I heard they were discontinuing the watches and replacing them with another gift. My heart leapt, I was happy. The girls posted on FB a photo of the new gift which I saw by accident. The photo was in a thread I was reading. Anyway, my initial reaction was disappointment
Im not going to use any of those items. So, here I was in this moment, Jamie handed me my gift. I already knew what was contained in the box. I opened the box and right on top there was a card. I opened it. It was filled with a hand written message. As I read the message I began to tear up. Its so bittersweet. I really feel like I connected with Jamie and Jessica through planning this wedding
.at our planning session, I was so interested in talking to them during the cake tasting, that I didnt really taste the cake. LOL For me, they became friends. Jamie wrote me a lovely message and as I began to dig into the gift, it became something very special to me. I took the items out of the box and read the sentiments on each. I will use the items, maybe not on my wedding day, but they will have a place with the rest of my memories. I plan to do something with every item in that box
.Im just not quite sure what that is yet.
After we had a few details about the next day, we said bye to Jamie. I asked the guys if they would help me carry some gifts to the dinner, so they followed me back to the room where we got all the welcome bags and the gifts for DFs BM and GM, my DB, MOH, and BM
.I think thats it. There were a lot of gifts. LOL I think I took a photo of it all, but Im not sure where it is
.it was probably one of the blurry ones. Boo. Anyway, we walked back to the lobby. We were still waiting for my MOHs +1 so we could get to the rehearsal dinner, which was the Spirit of Aloha dinner show. DF and his family started getting antsy because his sisters were already at the PR and so he said he was going to take the rest of his family over. I asked to make sure he knew how to get there
.just get on the monorail and get off at the PR,, they will make an announcement. He assured me he would be fine. Ok. Off they went. We waited. MOH went to get a drink and came back. We were talking and having a good time. I texted DF and told him we were still waiting, and his response was, We just got here. We got lost. I had to laugh. I told him thats why I wanted us to stay together. Later, I asked how he got lost, All you had to do was get off on the third stop. He said he thought they were supposed to get off at the MK and switch monorails because the day before, when we were at the TTC, I said theres a monorail train that goes to the parks and one that goes to the resorts
.he misunderstood. Easy rookie mistake. +1 finally made it! Yay!! MOH took her to the room where she changed clothes and quickly freshened. When they got back, we were off! We had all the gifts with us and we got on the crowded monorail. Later, my BM told me a little girl saw all the gifts and asked if there was a party and said to her dad, thats a lot of presents! Something like that, it was cute.
We get off at the correct stop
the PR, find the rest of our party, and head down to the show. We lost FSILS because she wore some crazy tall heels
.have I mentioned she was about 4 or 5 months pregnant? Anyway, we had to wait for everyone to catch up and we went in. I kept the dinner plans a secret because I knew my mom and BM would know exactly what they were in for
Id been to the show with both of them before (separate trips). Both knew exactly where we were going and got excited. Everyone was impressed with the food and the show. We came in just before it started and decided to give the welcome bags and gifts at the intermission. My MOH took a few photos of the show, but she took more videos. I'll post the photos here and then I'll post links to the videos....
The next ones are of SILR (the blonde making the funny faces) and DM (behind SIL). The two of them went up when they called for all November/December birthdays....both were born in December!
Hopefully these video links work.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8adws3xlfndamai/20131130_212045.mp4
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4hixg6uw4dqf451/20131130_212223.mp4
https://www.dropbox.com/s/d1zg0djr78tcg76/20131130_212648.mp4
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vwjp3q99msj2d5m/20131130_213039.mp4
https://www.dropbox.com/s/i4fwsjmghat7h92/20131130_213112.mp4
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3cpr2cmh1z3s1q9/20131130_214737.mp4
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xgn83pkcorcaoa5/20131130_215110.mp4
https://www.dropbox.com/s/g9wcac9ntqm7chy/20131130_215143.mp4
Everyone was incredibly happy and completely impressed with their gifts. I wish I had photos of everything put together, but I didnt have the forethought to take any. My MOH, BM and DB all got teary when they opened their gifts, Im not really sure about anyone else except FFIL. He was so impressed with everything that he came over twice to tell us how thankful he was for everything wed done. We were just getting started
.no one had any idea what was going to happen the next day. After it was over, we all split. I left DF with his family since his uncle had just arrived in town and I thought it would be nice to give them some time. I was tired and wanted to try to get as much sleep as possible. One last photo while heading to the room....my MOH.
Up next
.the wedding day!!
I love my husband!
I'll try to look for it, in the meantime, here are some photos and a little commentary from the beginning of our trip (I don't think most of these have been posted...but who knows):
):
For whatever reason, he thinks the castle is the icon of DL and the Epcot ball is the icon of WDW....I still don't think he grasps the concept that each park at WDW has an icon, even though I tried to explain it a million times. I know for sure he thought Sleeping Beauty's Castle and Cindrella's Castle were far more similar.
