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Wow that year went so fast! We are now officially married as of January 4, 2010. It was absolutely fantastic to have our Disney Style wedding in Florida, although we had the coldest weather in over a decade. But that didn't phase us or our family and friends who came for the wedding... at least there wasn't any snow right? We had a beautiful outdoor ceremony at the Regal Sun Resort across from Downtown Disney followed by a Fireworks Dessert Reception at the Grand Floridian with delicious treats and hot drinks for our guests. Our Evening reception was originally suppose to be outside but was moved inside due to the temperature, which was not communicated to us until we arrived. This can be the tricky part of a Destination Wedding, as we did not have the phone number where we could be reached for the hosts to let us know the status of the party. You really have to roll with some situations because I am sure our guests were not expecting those temperatures for their January Florida Vacation but all in all had a great time. The nicest day we had all week was the day of the wedding, so there is no reason for us to complain.
Also, when planning for hair and make-up most resorts in the Caribbean offer this as part of the package, where as it was not included with ours in Florida. It was a little difficult to not meet the ladies or have a trial run before the big day but it is important to look for recommendations and companies that are willing to work within your budget. Also, find out if they are willing to come to your hotel room to save time and also to avoid the chance of the groom seeing you out and about.
Dave and Angel (aka Mom and Dad) hosted a wonderful Rehearsal Dinner at our Disney Resort, Old Key West, at the Barbeque Pits by the pool area, with hot dogs, hamburgs, drinks and more. The pool area was all very quiet... not sure why ;)
As Canadians, the first few nights we were there we felt it was our duty to enjoy some pool time, the lifeguard thought we were crazy, but the pools were heated so the water was actually warmer than the air :)
Upon our return from our Disney Cruise Line Honeymoon, arriving home on January 16 at 2:30pm (The day of our reception) worked out very well. It is nice to show up and all the work for the party be already done. But I would not recommend this as we could have been delayed due to weather and then missed our party. But luckily, it went off without a hitch and we enjoyed visiting with our family and friends and sharing our Destination Wedding Stories.
We have wonderful memories to enjoy for the rest of our lives! I wouldn't have done it any other way. Please email me at lnewland@travelonly.com if you are considering a Destination Wedding, I am sure we will have so much to talk about and I would be happy to help you make it as wonderful as you picture it to be!
So it's 339 Days til the Big Day as of January 29, 2009! We hope you will enjoy following our Year of Planning. We will keep you up-to-date with vendors we book and where we are in our preparations for our Magical Day in Florida. I can't wait for my Fairytale Wedding!
First thing we did was pick our destination to actually hold the wedding. And after the most magical proposal in Disney World we couldn't wait to go back to exchange our vows with friends and family. It also didn't hurt that we wanted to get married in January... Ontario snow or Florida sun. It became very clear what the best idea was. (White muckluks didn't match my dress)
So far, we have ordered and received awesome Save-the-Date Magnets from Vistaprint. They are really great and includes all the right information.
When wording your save-the-date cards (or magnets) make sure to include the date of the ceremony, the location, and that a formal invitation will follow. This great piece of information for your guests will give them lots of time to plan with your travel agent.
We've decided that all of our guests are not going to be able to come with us to Florida and we want everyone to share this special day so we've decided to host a grand reception back home. Keep this option in mind if you would like to celebrate with your guests who cannot travel to the destination with you.
We've been to lots of bridal shows to get ideas for photographers, DJs, and halls back home. But research is even more important for vendors that you can't talk to face to face. Make sure you read contracts thoroughly, look for reviews and ask your travel agent to help with contacting many vendors so you can get the most beautiful location at a great price too.
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