Category Archives: Fairy Tale Focus

A Fairy Tale Focus: Tara & Chris

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Disneymooner, Tara and her fiance Chris, will be having a Wishes wedding at Disney’s Wedding Pavilion at the Grand Floridian on September 1st 2012. They will be holding their reception at the American Adventure Rotunda at Epcot.

Disneymooners: Can you tell our new members a little about the both of you?

Tara: Chris and I not your average couple and things have not always been so great. I currently work for Limited Brands and Chris is a sergeant for a local police department. I met Chris while working at Kohl’s and he was doing special duty there. He always talked to me and said hi while at work, but I never thought anything of because so did all the other police officers. One day I had mentioned that I was finally moving out on my own, which was close to where he lived, he gave me his number incase I needed anything and things just blossomed from there. Chris is a huge Steelers fan so I go along with him since I didn’t really watch NFL before I met him. We are both huge Disney fans and hope to move to Florida in the next couple of years.

Disneymooners: When did you first decide you wanted to have a Disney Fairy Tale Wedding and why?

Tara: I had been to Disney World many times as a child, but had not gone as an adult until I met Chris. I fell in love with Disney World even if it was during July 4th! I had always joked about wanting a Disney Fairy Tale Wedding after we went, but did not think it was going to happen. I looked at their website and told Chris that I really think we could make it work with their minimums. We looked at some places locally and I felt the prices were going to be comparable. After doing some research, we decided it was going to be a Disney Fairy Tale Wedding.

Disneymooners: Did you have any concerns about having a destination wedding? If so, what were they and how did you work them out?

Tara: Our main concern with a destination wedding is having to planning a wedding so far away. However, we have met with DFTW 3 times in the past year and will meet with our planner again in a couple weeks so it makes things a lot easier. I really do not know what we would have done if we didn’t have some many opportunities to go to Florida and meet face to face.

Disneymooners: How has the reaction of your guests been to a Disney wedding?

Tara: Most people seem to react with a little shock and most of them make the comment that it must be expensive since it is Disney, but we set them straight. Some are excited though because they have never been.

Disneymooners: Any special reason why you chose these locations?

Tara: We were limited to our locations based on our estimate of 100 people, we changed venues a couple times, but glad we settled with this

Disneymooners: Many brides pick a Top 3. These are components that are a non-negotiable. Chiavari chairs, lots of floral, lobster, etc. Tell us about your Top 3!

Tara:

1. Illuminations
2. Chair covers
3. Quick ceremony (hopefully this holds true)

Disneymooners: Do you have any extra magical touches planned? Such as a dessert party or characters?

Tara: Our cocktail hour is going to be at Italy Isola during Illuminations and we are definitely having Mickey and Minnie there.

Disneymooners: How has your planning experience with Disney Fairy Tale Weddings been thus far?

Tara: My planning experience has had its ups and downs so far. I have had a couple planners so far which can sometimes be frustrating when getting shifted around. Also, MK bridal portraits aren’t available anytime around our wedding so it is also frustrating in that aspect when things do not go as plan… However, my current planner is doing a great job and making things go a lot smoother.

Disneymooners: What would you say has been your biggest challenge?

Tara: Our biggest challenge has been making decisions. Chris and I are both easy going, laid back people so trying to make decisions isn’t always the easiest. Decisions are also a challenge because we are just estimating our 100 head count even though we are inviting over 300 guests. Granted I would love for everyone to come, but it will also send our budget sky high.

Disneymooners: Budgets are very important to all of us. Do you have a favorite budget tip that you’ve used and can you tell how it’s helped you?

Tara: Shop around and be patient. We can’t really cut much through DFTW so we had to look at the other things we having. For example, I waited about 5 months from buying my gown and returned to the bridal salon to look for a rehearsal dinner dress and ended up finding the dress I fell in love with 5 months prior on the discontinued rack and it saved us big bucks.

Disneymooners: Have you found it to be easy to plan a Disney Fairy Tale Wedding on your planned budget?

Tara: Yes and no. Honestly I didn’t really come in with a budget, I knew what my parents would pay and anything else Chris and I had to pay for. Chris and I have kept it to the minimum and do not have very many extras so we are comfortable with what we are spending. I also had the passporter’s book which helped give me an idea of what things were going to cost before Disney sent out the BEO.

Disneymooners: Do you have any fun splurges planned for you trip that you’re excited about?

Tara: We are staying in the concierge rooms for 4 our of the 8 days we will be there. Not only that, my bridesmaids will be staying with me in the concierge room for one night and I think it will have them spoiled.

Disneymooners: You have a Planning Journal in progress here, have you found that to be helpful in your journey?

Tara: I love having a planning journal, not only does it allow me to share my ideas and experiences, but it also gives me a place to vent (only sometimes) when DFTW causes stress knowing my fellow disneymooners are there to listen. I also enjoy having a planning journal because I tend to look at the other planning journals and it gives me ideas.

Disneymooners: What are you most looking forward to on the big day?

Tara: I am looking forward to seeing everything put together and the reaction on our guests’ faces.

Disneymooners: Do you have anything else you’d like to share with our new members?

Tara: These boards are full of a lot of information so take your time and look through everything. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions on here or to your planner.

Tara, the Disneymooners would like to thank you for sharing your experience with us. We are so happy to have you as a part of our community! We look forward to sending you off on your big day. And we can’t wait to hear all about it when you return! All the best~ the Disneymooners

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A Fairy Tale Focus: Kadie & Jerrick

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Disneymooners: Can you tell our new members a little about the both of you?

Kadie: I am an ICU nurse and I’m also a flight nurse in the Air National Guard. Jerrick is a special education paraprofessional in a high school and a football and track coach. We met shortly after my return from a deployment in 2010. We were introduced through a mutual friend who thought we would get along well because we have a similar sense of humor. On our first date Jerrick and I realized we had something unusual in common. Being a football coach, he high fived me. I’ve never been high fived on a date. So I guess you can say it was love at first high five. 


Disneymooners: When did you first decide you wanted to have a Disney Fairy Tale Wedding and why?

Kadie: After Jerrick proposed we opened up a bottle of champagne that I had bought in France shortly before I met him. I had been waiting for a special occasion and now I had one! After we toasted and we were sipping our champagne he said with a smile, “Disney wedding?” I started to laugh and I confessed to him that I had been looking up information on DFTWs on my laptop but I would always clear my search history so when he was on it he wouldn’t see it. We had been talking about getting married in Florida and having a honeymoon at Disney but it just seemed so perfect for us to have our wedding and honeymoon at the same magical place. 



Disneymooners: Did you have any concerns about having a destination wedding? If so, what were they and how did you work them out?

Kadie: When we were calling our families to tell them we were engaged, one of my sisters and his sister both said, “will there be a Disney wedding?” It seemed like it was meant to be but we weren’t certain if the rest of our family would be able to afford a vacation plus all the expenses that go along with a wedding (attire, gifts, etc). We promptly made our guest list which comprised of immediate family only and talked about it with everyone we wanted to invite. They were all excited about it and particularly appreciated having a year to plan and save. 



Disneymooners: Any special reason why you chose your locations?

Kadie: We will have 18 people at our ceremony, including us, and we love the intimate feel of Sea Breeze Point. We also like the style of the Boardwalk and the view is incredible too. 



Disneymooners: Many brides pick a Top 3. These are components that are a non-negotiable. Chiavari chairs, lots of floral, lobster, etc. Tell us about your Top 3.

Kadie: 1. I would like a 45 minute cake/champagne reception instead of the usual 20-30 minutes for the Escape package

2. A non-Disney photography service for the ceremony

3. A dessert party in UK Lower or Morocco as a second choice



Disneymooners: Do you have any extra magical touches planned? Such as a dessert party or characters?

Kadie: We do have some surprises planned! We are having Mickey & Minnie attend our reception and we would like to have a dessert party at Epcot to end our fairy tale day. 



Disneymooners: How has your planning experience with Disney Fairy Tale Weddings been thus far?

Kadie: Since I’m an Escape bride I cannot officially book until 8 months prior but what contact I have had with DFTW has been very positive. 



Disneymooners: What would you say has been your biggest challenge?

Kadie: I love the simplicity of the Escape package but the planner and creative person in me wants to have fun with enhancements. After I received the initial Escape package paperwork from DFTW, it was challenging to find out more information and details about the enhancements and other options. Until, of course, I joined Disneymooners! When it’s time to book my wedding I will be fully prepared thanks to the Mooners. 



Disneymooners Budgets are very important to all of us. Do you have a favorite budget tip that you’ve used and can you tell how it’s helped you?

Kadie: I purchased Carrie Hayward’s e-book, PassPorter’s Disney Weddings & Honeymoons. The book has quite a bit of helpful information and it has a budget worksheet included. I had an idea of how much we would be spending on our fairy tale wedding but actually writing it down really has helped us focus on where we wanted our money to be spent. 



Disneymooners: Have you found it to be easy to plan a Disney Fairy Tale Wedding on your planned budget?

Kadie: The Escape package is certainly affordable especially when you compare it to what a more traditional wedding costs. However, we didn’t start with an exact budget in mind. We started with the Escape package because we knew we could afford that and then discussed if we could afford to add on a couple of enhancements. 



Disneymooners: Do you have any fun splurges planned for you trip that you’re excited about?

Kadie: We’re really excited about our character visit and dessert party on our wedding day. We are looking forward to seeing our guest’s faces when they see Mickey & Minnie arrive at our reception. And we know that none of our guests have seen Illuminations and that is such an incredible show. 



Disneymooners: You have a Planning Journal in progress on the forums; have you found that to be helpful in your journey?

Kadie: I have a planning organizer primarily to help me keep contracts and information about our wedding and hometown reception. It has been very helpful, however, to keep a planning journal online because my thoughts and ideas are all in one place and I have received great feedback and ideas from the other Disneymooners.

Disneymooners: What are you most looking forward to on the big day?

Kadie: First and foremost, I am looking forward to marrying my great love. I am also looking forward our families being together at the most magical place on earth! 



Disneymooners: Do you have anything else you’d like to share with our new members?

Kadie: Being a member of Disneymooners has been such a rewarding experience. I appreciate everyone’s advice and tips on creating a magical DFTW. I also enjoy the camaraderie that is among all the members.

Kadie, on behalf on all of us here, thank you for sharing your experiences. We are thrilled to have you as a part of our community and we wish you a beautiful wedding followed by a fairy tale life together! All the best ~ the Disneymooners