First off, thanks SO much for all the well wishes on our engagement! We are beyond thrilled, and really appreciate it!
So, anyways…it’s been exactly a month since I last blogged. But once I give you my excuse, I hope you’ll understand why!
Of course, since Todd “put a ring on it,” I’ve been in wedding planning mode. And I am THRILLED to report that we have both a date and a location for the big day.
We will be getting married on…
NOVEMBER 10, 2016. WOOHOO! <3
But even more exciting? Guess where we’ll be tying the knot?!?!
I’ll give you a hint.
That’s right.
WE’RE GETTING MARRIED IN FREAKIN’ WALT DISNEY WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, long story short, Todd and I do not have large families. And the extended family we do have, well…let’s just say we’re not close. We also only have a handful of friends we’d really want to invite. So the night we got engaged, I confessed that I had been looking into destination wedding options…specifically at The World (and let me tell you, he was SHOCKED, lol).
Honestly, it seemed like it could be the perfect option for us. Rather than sinking thousands of dollars on a wedding in the NY/NJ Metro area for a guest count that quite honestly wouldn’t total more than, say, 25-30 people at most…we decided to pretty much elope with just our immediate families.
Also? The thought of spending months choosing flowers and centerpieces and DJs and caterers made my head spin. It did not excite me. AT ALL. I think that I’m missing one of the genes that makes me a typical girl because I gotta tell you, I couldn’t care less about any of it. I’ve never flipped through bridal magazines or watched shows like “Say Yes to the Dress” or spent hours on Pinterest drooling over wedding ideas, and I have no interest in a bridal shower or bachelorette party or any of the traditional stuff. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I’m just not that into it.
But you know the one thing I *did* always secretly hope could happen? That I could get married in my absolute favorite place in the world to a guy who was willing to put on some mouse ears and slap on a “Just Married” pin and go take a million pictures in front of Cinerella’s Castle.
Check and check.
So you can imagine my excitement when I discovered that Disney has a package that’s JUST for couples like us. (Which, P.S., I had been researching long before I had a ring on my finger, haha.) Plus, a wedding at The World seemed only appropriate, and not just because I’ve been a crazy obsessed Disney fan pretty much since birth. Such a huge part of our relationship has been running…and running at Disney…and we’ve made so many awesome memories there already.
The Disney Fairytale Weddings & Honeymoons “Escape” package is for the couple and up to 18 guests, and for a pretty reasonable amount of money you get a package that includes all the basics: the limo, the cake, the bouquet, the venue, etc. Better yet, you get a “wedding planner” and they take care of EVERYTHING for you…all you have to do is check off a few preferences like flower color, cake flavor, etc., and show up on the big day.
So, um, yeah…not only could I get married at Walt Disney World, but I could do it in a way where I didn’t have to actually PLAN anything?
SOLD!
I was so excited to share the news here but wanted to wait until it was official (if you’re planning the smaller wedding package, you have to wait until 8 months out to the day to book your date…and we wanted November).
We’re still working on signing contracts and whatnot, but everything HAS been booked for us! Here’s the plan:
We will be getting married at Disney’s Wedding Pavilion at the Grand Floridian at 10am on Thursday, Nov. 10.
Then, as part of the package, you get to have a champagne toast/cake cutting ceremony at the Grand Floridian. Where we may or may not be inviting (read: paying) some special friends to stop by…
We will then proceed to a short “reception” at the California Grill in one of its private rooms (Napa Room) overlooking the Magic Kingdom. We’ll have the option to customize a buffet menu for our guests. (Did someone say Mickey waffle bar..?!?!)
And we’ll finish the day with a private dessert party at Epcot while watching Illuminations. Since we’ll be escorted into the park by a “guide,” I’m allowed to wear my dress in the park!
And the following night, I hope to book a private pontoon boat to take us onto the Seven Seas Lagoon to watch my most FAVORITE fireworks…Wishes.
Oh, and one of the MOST EXCITING THINGS EVER? We’re going to book a private bridal portrait session in the Magic Kingdom prior to park opening. Obviously this privilege costs about a million dollars, but I know it’s going to be SO, SO worth it. The plan is basically to cut corners on all the things we don’t care about as much (ahem, flowers) so that we can splurge on the once-in-a-lifetime stuff.
So, that’s the story so far. In case you didn’t pick up on it, I’m sooooo excited — and can’t wait to share all of the details with you guys along the way!
Who wants to share some of their favorite wedding planning tips/advice?
If you could get married anywhere in the world…where would you choose?
I’m so happy for you! Congratulations again and again!
Aw, thanks so much, Kim!!
You already have it down pat chica! Keeping it small and simple is definitely the way to fly. (See what I did there? Fly? The day literally does fly by so enjoy every moment.
Haha, definitely got it! A small wedding was DEFINITELY the right choice for us, and having it on Disney is just the icing on the cake.
this is everything! I am so excited for you! and I can’t wait for you to go through everything and write about it so I will know what to do since you’re basically planning my dream wedding!! love love love!!
and does this mean you two are thinking of doing wine and dine the weekend before? I am planning on being there-i cant pass up inaugural disney races
Aww, thanks so much, Juliana! Hey, I’m more than happy to share any tips/things I learn along the way…I’m literally obsessed right now and I feel like I’m a self-taught expert on everything there is to know about weddings at Disney, haha.
So, yeah, running Wine & Dine the weekend before was the original plan…but right now we’re leaning towards skipping it, mainly because of the extra cost of the race but also because since all of the changes I’m just not as excited about it anymore. But, yeah, you know I’m usually a sucker for ANY inaugural Disney race, lol.
That all sounds FABULOUS! A true fairytale wedding
Thanks! That’s EXACTLY what I’m going for!
So exciting! A couple of my parents’ friends renewed their vows at the Wedding Pavillion, and yes, Disney takes care of everything. Mr. Mouse himself even showed up to the reception.
Aww, that’s awesome. I know that no matter what, it’s going to be great because Disney knows what they’re doing, lol. It’s just not a Disney wedding without an appearance from The Big Cheese, right…?
Such exciting news! And getting married at Disney sounds perfect for you and Todd. Best advice: keep it small, and you’re already doing just that.
Thanks, Kathryn!! It is absolutely the perfect choice for us, and “small” isn’t even the word for the number of guests we’re going to have, haha…but I have no regrets whatsoever, I know it’s going to be amazing.
I am SO super excited for you! As you may know, I am a former Disney bride myself. We had many of the same thoughts you did and that’s why we chose to marry at WDW. We chose the wedding Pavilion and also did the wishes cruise. It was one of the most magical experiences of my life and I know it will be for you as well. If you have any questions or just want to talk “disney weddings”, let me know!!!!
OMG, I actually totally forgot that you were a Disney bride!!! And, YES, I would love to take you up on your offer to pick your brain! THANK YOU!! Even though the “Escape” package is super basic, there are so many options as far as what to do beyond your actual ceremony so all of these questions keep popping up, even despite the hours (and hours…and hours…) of research I’ve done on Disney weddings, lol. I was so torn between the Illuminations dessert party and the Wishes cruise so now I’m trying to budget for both, haha. Sounds amazing!!!
OBVIOUSLY this is the perfect option for you! I’m pretty sure I assumed this would be happening before this post went up So freakin happy for you! I know this is going to be a dream come true!
I’ve been at the Grand Floridian during a wedding celebration before and everything just looked as magical as you could imagine!
Thanks, Kristina! It is absolutely the wedding of my dreams, so I’m beyond excited!!
I’ve actually never seen the Wedding Pavilion, believe it or not! Well, from the monorail maybe, but that’s about it, haha. Which makes it all even more exciting!
Congratulations!! That sounds amazing!!
Thanks so much!! Soooooo excited.
I AM BEHIND! SHRIEK! HOW AWESOME! A dear friend of mine had a “Tangled” DFTW – I was unable to go but stayed glued to FB crying all the happy tears all day. (OMG. The lanterns. The “Best Day Ever” centerpieces. Rapunzel and Flynn SHOWED UP. I’m going to look a pictures again, BRB.)
Congrats and enjoy this time leading up to it!
JENNIFER!! Aaaaaahhhh! I’m so excited for you!! What an amazing wedding you’re going to have! Congratulations!!
Congratulations again! (I think again, I hope I already wished it). I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU AND JEALOUS! I wanted to get married in WDW but no way I was getting away with that, so now we’re talking about a vow renewal at 10 years just so we can pretend we got married at the World! (Otherwise, I have no desire to do something like that lol). Anyway, congrats and good luck and lots of fabulous things for you!
Congrats! I’m the in NJ/NY area too! I told my husband that I wanted to get married in Disney World for your exact reasons but he told me his family wouldn’t allow it. I was pretty disappointed because I wanted something small and private and meaningful and PSH, DISNEY!.. not a show for everyone else. I’m so jealous! SO JEALOUS!! Have you registered for the 2017 WDW marathon?