Monthly Archives: May 2012

Trends We Love: Untraditional Guest Book Ideas

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Remember the days when the only option for a guest book was an actual book with a series of delicate lines for your guests to sign?

If you are planning your wedding now you have limitless possibilities for guests books. The latest trend in guests books seems to be the untraditional and we love it.

Couples really are adding their personalized stamp to these ideas and making statements.

How about having guests sign a game piece or a puzzle piece? How cool is that Jenga game to display in your home.

For the Bride and Groom who love music, how about Vinyl records to be displayed as art in your home after the wedding?

or a guitar!

How about a big monogram for guests to sign?

Of course we are still seeing those great personalized photo guest books that are filled with images of the happy couple.  Guests can sign special messages and wishes on each page.

Adding a Disney spin on the guest book, more couples are using Vinylmation as their guest book, which can be displayed after the wedding.

How about adding an UP! theme and having your friends and family sign the pages of your very own Adventure Book?

So the rule for guests books:  There are no rules.  Basically if you love it, its big enough for your guests to sign, go for it!  We’ve seen guests sign wine corks, wine bottles, plates, and even pages of their favorite children’s story book. Have fun!

Please join the fun in our private forums on Disneymooners!

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Trends We Love: Here comes the… braids?

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Wedding hairstyles are getting a fun twist this year with braids. And we are loving everything about them!

From prim and polished…

To loose and beachy…

any type of wedding can be complimented with this new trend.

We’re especially fond of creating a faux “tiara” out of a sleek braid.

Tell us what you think of this trend? And, for the Disney brides out there, have you joined our private forums yet? We’d love to hear all about the trends you’ll be showing off on you big Disney day!

Featured Venue Fridays: California Grill

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This week’s Featured Venue post was written by Disneymooner Heather, who used the main dining area for her wedding. Images are from Paul Triller Photography. To read more about her wedding and others please join our private forums.

The California Grill, located at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is a great choice for a bride and groom who want a view of the lakes and Magic Kingdom area.

You can fit up to 150 guests in the main dining room. Tables for 4, 6, 8, and 10 can be set up to accommodate your guests. The main dining room can be used for brunch and lunch receptions only. The Napa and Sonoma rooms can also be used for dinner receptions.

With wall-to-wall windows overlooking the Seven Seas Lagoon, Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Magic Kingdom, guests will be stunned by the views. California Grill is perfect for a bride who likes minimal décor.

The food was absolutely amazing. We had a brunch buffet that the guests were still raving about months (and even a couple of years!) later. The chefs at the California Grill generally do not allow a tasting, but if you’ve ever eaten dinner there, you can get a very good idea of what type of meal you’re in for.

Brides and Grooms wanting to use this venue should consult their planner regarding which room and time frame will work best for their event.

Events in the main dining rooms area must end before 3 p.m.  Those couples who wish to plan their event to coincide with Wishes fireworks at the Magic Kingdom, could utilize the smaller private rooms : Napa and Sonoma. Stay tuned for a venue review of the Napa Room Next!

Here’s what Disneymooners are saying about California Grill on our forums:

To us the view said everything we wanted it to and more. Everyone kept asking us ‘Why Disney?’ before the wedding, and once they got to California Grill, they all said ‘Now we get it’. It was magical and perfect!’

– Heather (used main dining room)

Be sure to join our private forums to find out more detail on this venue including more pictures and wedding recaps.

Wedding Planning: Printable Worksheets

Posted in Wedding Planning by

I am an organization junkie. A trip to Staples is almost as fun as a trip to Disney. So naturally, when I was planning my Disney wedding, I was no different. I had my big pink binder that I filled with picture inspiration, all my DFTW information, notes and worksheets. I found planning a Disney wedding to be a different type of wedding beast. I felt there could be better worksheets designed specifically for Disney weddings. So, I created my own. And today, I’m going to share some of them with you to print for yourself.

So, get your printer and hole punch ready!

First off is the DFTW Contact Sheet. This will be your one stop go-to for anyone you are using through Disney.

click to download

You may also need an Outside Vendor contact sheet. This is a sheet you can use to keep track of other vendors such as cosmetology, outside floral, officiant, photography, etc.

click to download

Organize and keep track of all those lucky guests invited to share in your big day with this worksheet. Here you’ll have their addresses and you can RSVP them for different events you’ll be hosting.

click to download

Get ready for, and keep track of any phone conferences you have with this simple Q&A worksheet. It’ll be easier to keep them organized afterwards than trying to search through note after note.

click to download

Due dates… a DFTW has lots of them! Keep them close at hand with this template.

click to download

General to do list for everything else you’ll need to take care of between now and then.

click to download

And last, but not least, for today. The Wedding Day Survival worksheet. Keep this handy on your wedding day. You’ll be full of 1,000 different emotions that morning, keep important information written down so you won’t be trying to remember everything you need, and what time everything is.

click to download

So, get yourself a 3″ binder, some divider tabs, sheet protectors, and inspiration! Keep yourself organized. It’s a long process with Disney and it can be stressful planning a wedding from so far away. We’ll be bringing you some more printables in the future to help you along.

Keepsake Floral: A Disney Bride’s Review

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I’m admitting right here, I wasn’t a bride that was that into floral.

I know that sounds like blasphemy, but I wanted to spend money on other areas. So naturally, I never thought I’d want to save my bridal bouquet and spend money on having it professionally preserved.  I made no plans prior to the big day and was completely content with letting the bouquet sit in the hotel room after the festivities and wilt away.

The morning of my wedding, Disney Floral delivered my bouquet to my room.   I opened the box, let out a giant sigh and fell instantly in love.

I looked up and said: “I need to have this preserved.”  It was a spur of the moment decision and one I still don’t regret.  So the day after the wedding my parents dropped off the bouquet at the Grand Floridian concierge desk and contacted Keepsake Floral.  Keepsake Floral works with Disney brides and will come and pick up your bouquet at your resort. Typically brides arrange this service prior to their wedding and the bouquet is taken away after the reception.

After the wedding, I worked with them to customize my shadow box and Keepsake got to work on my display.  Brides can keep their preserved floral simple with just their bouquet or add in many items from their wedding day. I added in my husband’s boutonniere and a favorite wedding image. While their services are not cheap, I felt that having my actually bouquet was worth every penny spent.  I was really pleased with the final results.

My shadow box is hung in our dining room and not a day goes by that I don’t glance at the flowers. This bride is very happy she made the last minute decision to create a keepsake I can cherish forever.

Many other Disneymooner brides have used Keepsake Floral and have shared their own reviews and photos.

Disneymooner Julie’s Keepsake Display

Disneymooner Carrie’s Keepsake Floral Display

Totally happy with the finished product. They were great to work with and you can have as many phone consults as you think you need.  And Disney did the hard part – getting the flowers to them after the reception.

– Carrie

Be sure to check out the forums to find out more about the experience and pricing.

Visit Keepsake Floral for details on their service.

Have you used this vendor?  Have you used another floral preservation vendor?  Share your experiences with us.