Mark and Sarah Wishes Wedding 11.8.13 SBP/ADH *updated Save/Dates & beauty options!*

[SarahFarra]

To ease my confusion in all this crazy Disney wedding planning I decided to start a PJ!

We are:
Sarah (31), bubbly, sometimes people think I'm funny and silly, creative, seamstress, singer, photographer, avid reader of trashy books on my Kindle, lover of my cat Ringo, have a boring job but don't mind it, and my favorite moments are those where I'm cuddled with my boy.
Mark (31), even more creative, hilarious, a marketing genius, loves ALL sports and plays on and coaches for a men's baseball league, plays video games every time I turn around, and adores me (so lucky!).

How we met:
2009 was a big year for Twitter for both of us. We were extending our social networking and I was trying to help a Disney author friend of mine and in my search to find a designer to create a website for my friend I stumbled upon @MRDingman (Mark). We started talking and I talked him into doing the website! During our communication regarding said site, we realized there were some major sparks building between us. It didn't take long before we realized we had to meet in person. In our first moments together, we both knew.

It was meant to be and we'd do whatever we had to to make US happen. Several months later after some grueling long distance never ending phone calls, I ended up packing up my cat and Mark drove us halfway across the country to move in with him in New Hampshire. Best. Idea. Ever.

He asked me:
Fast forward 2 1/2 years to November 2012 when we took our second WDW vacation together. By this time I sort of expected him to ask me while we were there but I still wasn't sure he was totally ready or when or how he would do it. Afterall, we still hadn't gone to look at rings together. Our second to last night of our trip we had reservations at Jiko (our favorite) and before we left I suggested we set the timer on the camera and take some photos of ourselves in all our happy glory! He usually hates pictures being taken but this one time he jumped on it and said yes! We took a few...

And said that was probably good but he insisted on one more...

And got on one knee at the exact moment the shutter when off! I was shocked!! And SOOO happy! The moments after this picture I was a complete mess and had to completely redo my makeup before we could go to dinner.

The Ring:
I mentioned his genius, and this is another example of it! I have a Pinterest account, much like 90% of all women these days and had a 'Dream Wedding' board where I was constantly pinning gorgeous rings that I was sure I'd never have. Well, he pulled up that board, found that most of the rings were very similar and took a picture of the most recent one I'd pinned and told the jeweler he needed 'something like this.' The result? Absolutely perfect in every way and I love him even more for finding it this way.



The plans:
I had started planning a ceremony at the Swan and Dolphin Resort with plans to have a bigger reception back in New Hampshire about a month later. I was pretty happy with these plans but I also knew not everyone would be able to make it to both celebrations (namely my family who all live in the Midwest). Yesterday in a conversation with Mark's family we had the idea to do everything in Disney! It's not important to us to have a big wedding with a ton of friends that we haven't spoken to in years so having a big drawn out at-home reception really isn't us. This, we've settled on. Details beyond that are still blurry. We may keep the Swalphin ceremony and add a reception or we might scratch the whole idea and do a Wishes Disney Fairytale Wedding. It's up in the air at this point but I will keep you posted!

I hope no other posts of mine will be this long so I'm sorry if I put you to sleep half way through!

[Ltl Mermaid]

Love the ring! He did a great job discovering what you like on Pintrest! Congrats to both of you...can't wait to read more!

[SarahFarra]

Originally Posted by Ltl Mermaid

Love the ring! He did a great job discovering what you like on Pintrest! Congrats to both of you...can't wait to read more!

Thank you! We're pretty excited but a little overwhelmed by all the choices involved with planning a Disney wedding! We'll get there eventually and I hope you'll follow us along the way.

[MickeysStarTrader]

Hey Sarah! So happy that you started a PJ! It's definitely a great place to organize your thoughts I hope it's not too hard to decide what you want, but believe my I've been there too! I can't wait to read more

[SarahFarra]

Originally Posted by MickeysStarTrader

Hey Sarah! So happy that you started a PJ! It's definitely a great place to organize your thoughts I hope it's not too hard to decide what you want, but believe my I've been there too! I can't wait to read more

Thanks!! I'm sure we'll figure it out soon enough. Thanks for stopping in...next update will probably be on my upcoming GOWN SHOPPING! Eeeek!!

[SarahFarra]

Well I shopped for gowns last week and it was an AMAZING experience!!! I completely fell in love with one dress which I wasn't expecting! I'm hesitant to post pictures as my DF has a disboards account but if I get the go ahead I definitely will! Or at the least I'll post pictures of the dresses I didn't pick! Haha

[SarahFarra]

Well, we had a dinner meeting with another set of parents and have a group meeting on Sunday to further discuss the wedding (mostly finances blech) and last night went SO well! We have locations held and I think, fingers crossed and all hopes up, that we will sign a contract next week!!!!!

As of right now this is what we have HELD:

10AM ceremony at Seabreeze Pointe
Reception immediately following at the Atlantic Dance Hall

We are planning on using the video screen available with the dance hall and my genius, very talented DF will be putting some video packages together for us to coordinate with music! I want to do a slightly vintage 1940s theme to go with the theming of the Boardwalk and we will include much of the inspiration that was used to build the Boardwalk itself throwing back to Atlantic City in its height of the 30s and 40s.

We are not huge on flowers so we were thinking of using fruit for centerpieces. The colors we've settled on are orange and dark plum. SO I'm thinking possibly tall vases of oranges (after all, we are in FL!).




Who knows though, that could change a million times before our Planning Session! BTW we are now planning to attend a PS when before we didn't think we'd be able to actually make the trip down! It will probably be pretty short as we don't have much time off work but a trip nonetheless!

That's pretty much all I have at this point. Will update more once we've finalized the bookings!

[MickeysStarTrader]

Thanks for sharing! How exciting! Sea Breeze Point is SO beautiful! Are you going with Escape or Wishes? When's your PS?

[SarahFarra]

Originally Posted by MickeysStarTrader

Thanks for sharing! How exciting! Sea Breeze Point is SO beautiful! Are you going with Escape or Wishes? When's your PS?

We're having a Wishes as our head count for just immediate family alone exceeded the guest count for Escape! I'm glad it worked out that way though because I'm REALLY excited about a wishes wedding!!! Not sure when our PS will be yet but will find out when we're assigned a planner but our 6 month point will be May so I hope we can go in May or early June!

[SarahFarra]

We tried on wedding bands yesterday!! Need to order/purchase in the next couple weeks. I think they might just be perfect though! Of course mine have to be ordered because the rings in the store are a size and a half too big for me but the men's size in the store is EXACTLY Mark's size. Go figure. Everything is always easier (and a whole lot cheaper!!!) for guys.

[bradleyjess]

That's funny about the rings! Ryan and I have the opposite problem-- all of the rings fit me but none of the bands are his size. I was able to get mine 60 percent off at a close out sale, so may e your DF will have some luck with that

[charliegirl76]

Congratulations! Beautiful ring! I'll be following along, I love themed weddings!!

[SarahFarra]

Originally Posted by charliegirl76

Congratulations! Beautiful ring! I'll be following along, I love themed weddings!!

Thanks!!! We're getting excited now that it's getting real!

Our consultant is working up the wedding agreement now! We should have it by the end of next week she told me! Eeeek!!

[pommiepup]

Hi Sarah,

I am following along on your pj. Beautiful ring and sweet proposal.I am a sbp bride also....08/03/2013.

can't wait to hear more

[SarahFarra]

Originally Posted by pommiepup

Hi Sarah,

I am following along on your pj. Beautiful ring and sweet proposal.I am a sbp bride also....08/03/2013.

can't wait to hear more

Thank you!! Yay for SBP bride! It's a beautiful location and actually the first and only location I've ever seen someone getting married! At that moment I knew I wanted to get married there someday...

Have you done a PJ? I love hearing how other's plans are going as well!