Renee AND Nate: July 19, 2012 Wishes Wedding

[Disney12bride]

I thought as a good way to vent about my excitement I would create my own planning journal.

About us:
My name is Renee, and I am a huge Disney fan. I have been to Disney World every year of my life! I am an elementary school teacher (29). I have one son who is 8.

My fiance is Nate, and he is 28. He is a network engineer. He loves technology and even hosts his own pod cast!

How we met:

We met through friends on a blind date (May 16, 2009). He says to everyone when he first met me that he thought I was too good for him. It was certainly love at first sight! However, I made him wait six months before he met my son Ben.

Engagement:

We planned a trip to Disney with my family August of 2010; it was nates first trip. We stayed at the Polynesian. On August 17, 2010, Nate took me for a walk during the wishes fire works. We made it back to the beach right before the finale where I saw my son waiting on a bench with my family. He was holding a Cinderella pillow with a glass slipper on it and tiara. At that moment, Nate dropped to one knee and said, "Renee I love you and Ben more than anything. I want to make you as happy as you have made me. Will you marry me?" We were both crying and I felt as though everyone on the beach was clapping!

Planning the Wedding:

Planning has been quite an interesting story! I told everyone from the start I wanted to get married in Disney World! However, I got a lot of flack from everyone I told. So I planned an entire wedding in my home state. Paid deposits and everything. Then this summer July of 2011, we visited Disney on our annual vacation. We took a walk to the wedding pavillion, and agreed to change our minds! I cancelled everything!

August 22, 2011 our Disney Fairy Tale Wishes wedding was officially booked!!!

Overtime everyone's reactions have started to change. I am planning to have 25-35 people in attendance.

I have been vigorously planning with my planner.

Events:
July 18 2012, Catered dinner for my wedding party on the outskirts of china to view illuminations. Myself and my mo are spending the night at the Grand Floridian and future hubby and family are at poly.

July 19 2012,
5PM wedding at wedding pavillion, I am having Cinderellas coach...Rev. Tim herring for the ceremony and a rose petal exit.

6pm h'ordeurves in the salon of the GF.

7pm reception in the Whitehall room and Patio... Mickey is attending

930pm Dessert Party at Sago Cay point... wishes music is going to be piped in


So far this is where I stand. As I learn more about the site, I am hoping to put up pictures .

 

[NicknNancy]

Welcome Renee! We got the same reactions from people too about having a Disney wedding. But, in the end, it's your day and you do what you want. We are getting married a week before you! The perks of being a teacher eh? You can really only take enough time off come summer time. I teach too and March break was just too short to go away and get married...that would also mean I would be getting married a week from now Your proposal story is so cute and it's awesome that he got your son involved too! He sounds like a keeper

Can't wait to read more! and to see pictures!

 

[yourgypsy]

Hello and congratulations! What a sweet proposal story! I love how he got your son involved; I got a little teary just reading I look forward to reading more your plans

 

[dreamcometruemom]

congratulations! i too loved your proposal story.. he sounds like a great guy to have your son involved. you will love having your wedding there... and all your touches sound perfect!! who is your planner?

 

[virtuous girl]

Congrats on ur BIG day!! We need more details Colors, dresses, ect... i can get pretty nosey

 

[Wshs0127]

What an awesome story, I got emotional just reading it! I'm the same, a Disney finatic (12 visits just last year)!! My family is the same, they think I'm going over the top but the Disney wedding is my dream and this is one that's in my control. Looking forward to following your plans. We book our date in 6 weeks for April 2013!!

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

lovely

 

[tinydancr06]

Congratulations! Love your proposal story. Excited to read more!

 

[Disney12bride]

 

[Disney12bride]

just so everyone knows the tall dark and handsome guy, is my cousin rusty. He has been my disney partner since we were kids. he helped nate plan everything because he is a disney expert and my best friend he also had just engaged t shirts made which is what you guys see there...

 

[NicknNancy]

AWWW that is so awesome! Your son looks SO pleased with himself lol It's great that you had someone there to take pictures...your reactions were awesome!

 

[Disney12bride]

What was really funny is the pictures were taken by a stranger who was helping my cousin hold that bench for me so I could sit down lol. She was an orlando blogger there to watch wishes from the polynesian beach. She emailed them to my fiance within fifteen minutes of leaving. Its funny how in Disney, you can rely on the kindness of strangers. My son was very very proud of himself! He is definitely a mommy's boy, he loves to make me happy. At the wedding, he is going to wear a diamond white tux to match my dress, and he is going to be accompanying me and my dad down the aisle. I also cant wait for him to tear up the dance floor with mickey!!!! Thank you soo much for all your comments!!!

 

[DisneyEverAfter]

WELCOME!
Love the engagement pictures & your story!
My side of the family had the same reactions to the destination/DFTW, but it's what you want in your heart so I say go with it like we did
Can't wait to hear all about your plans until the big day!

 

[CDsSleepingBeauty]

Welcome! Your proposal story and the pictures are so sweet! I can't wait to read more!

 

[Disney12bride]

Ok girls I am not sure if I am supposed to put this on my planning journal but I am going to. So ladies don't hold back the advice!!!

I wanted to hold a rehearsal dinner at Epcot. It is the first time my fiances family has ever been to Disney so with the wedding viewing wishes, I thought illuminations are a must!!! So my wedding planner sets it up in China!!!

Problem 1# they are only setting up three "tall boy" tables and then using the park benches in the venue for seating. My fiance does not like this idea. Because some people will probably need to stand the entire time.

Problem 2: Looks like there are trees in the way of the viewing!!!

Problem 3: My wedding planner was not going to charge the price for viewing the illuminations with the thoughts that everyone would have a park ticket. But to throw a wrench into my plans to save money, my fiances biological father is not getting a park ticket...

Now I am at the point where I just want to cancel the rehearsal dinner... Any thoughts????????

 

[NicknNancy]

I hear the word "dinner" and automatically I think of tables and chairs. Were you planning on having a dinner during illuminations? If that's the case, I would talk to your planner and say that you would like to be in an area that accommodates the tables and that has a better view. Not sure if you had already talked to them about that but it's worth a shot. As for the viewing fee...I believe it's only something like 12.95 so it's not that much. Also, I am pretty sure that, if you pay viewing fees for everyone, they end up reimbursing you the ones that did have park tickets to begin with.

I wouldn't cancel it, I would talk it over with your planner and see what you can come up with.

Hope that helps !

 

[Disney12bride]

Thanks Nancy you are right!! I came up with my planner to do like a ton of appetizers. Everyone is so fussy, and just wants american food so we are doing things like pizzas and hamburgers and chicken fingers hot dogs lol!!! However, I do have parents and grand parents to think about so standing around an hour and a half is just not an option!!!!!

 

[CinderALLIE]

Congrats on the engagement. Love the pics.

As for the Dinner try to change it so there are tables and seats, if they can't accomodate you just make sure everyone knows the seats are reserved for certain people. Don't cancel it as it's a once in a lifetime experience

 

[tric8783]

Welcome and Congrats!!
Love your proposal, your son does look so proud!
I wouldn't cancel your DP if you can keep it, I'm not sure about the China area, if there are just benches where will people eat all of their foods, even if they are finger foods? Maybe ask for a bigger area to put more tables and not just the hi-boys? Hope this works out for you! You could also have dinner somewhere around the Boardwalk/ Beach Club area (Cape May, Yachtsman Steakhouse, Captain's Grill) and then do an Illuminations cruise so you are seated the whole time in the boats and have a perfect view? I think for 20-30 people you'd need two boats, just a thought! This is definitely something I think even people who have been to Disney so many times would be excited about!

 

[tinydancr06]

I just love the pictures from your engagement. How sweet! I can't give you specific advice as to the RD situation but I will say that you should definitely voice those concerns to your planner (and if you already have and they haven't listened, do it again!). It's YOUR event and it is their job to help you figure out how to best accommodate your needs. Well, that's all I've got. Hope it helps in some small way!