Chad and I visited the world on Nov 8th-12th for a busy 4 days of engagement shoot, our Planning Session, Food and Wine, Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party and Theme Park Connection!! But this isn't a trip report, it's a wedding update!!
As some of you may know, I'm having the hardest time knowing what I want for a wedding dress. I hate my legs, but love the Tea Length dress from Dolly Couture, the Beverly Wood. But at the same time, I also seem to like the traditional dresses, the simple ones at least such as the Olegg Casseni with pockets (the very first one I ever tried on.) But I hate my arms so maybe I can wear a cardigan IDK!! So that's def a work in progress.
Enough of dress venting though and onto the Planning Session!!
After drowning myself in my most favorite ever Cheese and Grits, Mickey Waffles and Sweet Poe Pancakes from The Wave, we jumped on the Monorail and got off at the Grand Floridan Stop. On the way out, I spotted this awesome Peter Pan floor! that leads outside to the path that leads to the Wedding Pav. Chad and I don't care for the GF, so we've never really explored it to it's fullest. This, along with the mural of the Hot Air Balloons and the Huge Ferris Wheel are my favorite parts of this fancy resort.
As we made our way to Franks, we stopped for a picture. =)
While inside, we were about to check in while we notice Jessica Rawlings come out and shake our hands and directed us to the room we were going to be for the next few hours. She sat us down and no more then seconds later, our planner Val Reko and Elizabeth Sutton showed up and greeted us as well. Their assistant (forgot her name,) asked if we wanted any water or sodas.
She sat us down and told us what the day was going to look like which included setting every single little detail up, cake tasting and ending it with a food tasting over at The Contemporary.
All I can say is that it went very smoothly for two people that decided to wing it. And when I mean wing it, we had only our pintrest board to show her the over all theme we were looking for our big day. Which was a rustic/laid back type feeling.
So with that said, everything I envisioned, she said she could do. While there I also found out that we're going through Disney Catered Events with help from Disney Fairy Tale Weddings. So the process is going to be a little different since Disney's Back Yard BBQ isn't really a real place to hold receptions so it's under the category of catered events.
We talked about tables, lines, what is to go where, I added some Mexican wedding cookies on the guest book table area. I was able to get my Mickey Balloons for our sweet heart table. We found out that any tables we get from catered events that can be put at that location, ARE FREE!! So instead of using the Half Moon tables to fit 55 which was going to cost us by the way 1,800 we're getting long rectangle tables to go under the barn type location. We're adding White and Red Lanterns, adding the canopy tulle with sparkly lights on each of the three polls surrounding the dance floor. What else!!? Oh my goodness, so much stuff we talked about!
Oh yeah, for our long tables, it will be white linens with a burlap runner going down the middle. And for the centerpieces, Wood Disk with a mason jar filled with Red and White Anemonies, Daisys, Carnations and Babys Breath.
We skipped adding videography, photography, didn't get a bouquet. lol And here I thought they were going to be rude and give me faces for providing my own vendors and bouquet, but not a single smirk!! I'm sure they were thinking it, but thank goodness they kept it to themselves. =)
We're going to get information back on the car we wanted to use on the boardwalk and i I can use a pinata. For safety issues, smacking a pinata at Disney is a concern =/ BOO!! LOL But they'll be asking for sure for me.
Can't use fruity pebbles so I'm so happy that Teresa got to use them and I got to live vicariously through her fruity pebble tossing but I'll be using Kazoos (which they thought was the most funny thing ever and cutest,) and bubbles.
Since we're saving money on the Tables, Chad said we can get Disneys actual Photobooth!!! I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS!! I love him so much! I love the concept of Photo Mingle, but I wanted actual photo strips! Can't wait to order props!
Chip and Dale only had the option of being Naked or with get this COWBOY ATTIRE! Hell yes, you know which one we chose. =)
I'll be doing a bunting banner for our sweet heart table and they added a centerpiece on there too which I might remove later on and add something much more simple.
THEN IT WAS TIME TO TASTE CAKE!!!!
Awww a Congrats!!
Drum Roll Please!! The following flavors we chose are TAN TAN TAN:
For our layer (we're having cupcakes but need a small round on top,) will be a chocolate cake with peanut butter cup mousse. OMFG AMAZING!!
Cupcake flavors are Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Mousse with fresh strawberries (sort of like the BOG strawberries and cream cupcake minus the fresh strawberries.)
And Almond Cake with Amaretto Crunch! OMG AMAZING TOO!
After that Chad mentioned we were from Chestertown, MD and that's where Elizabeth Suttons family settled back in the beginning lol and so she remembered attending tons of family reunions there. When she heard Chad say that she said "SO YOU'RE THE CHESTERTOWN COUPLE!!
It's def a small world. And Jessica's from a little town in MD! So Chad started to pull up street view on Googlemaps and both Elizabeth and Jessica were laughing and going down memory lane. Seriously, it was such a laid back session. And it literally went BAM! Since we knew what we wanted. They told us that it def took a huge weight off their shoulders.
They stated they were happy with us because most of the time they have to flip through tons of pictures on the computer to have couples chose what they want and that the grooms are also very unresponsive majority of the time. Chad and I were both participating in our big day!
We finished at around noon and our tasting was at 2:15!! So we had a full two hours to kill so we ended up going to the Magic Kingdom just on Main Street to look around.
So after MK, it was time to jump on the monorail and head to The Contemporary. This is where the cool part comes in!! As soon as we bumped into Jessica, the first words out of her mouth were "There's been a mix up." I'm like "OH NO NOW WHAT!!?" I thought she meant we weren't going to taste food or something similar but no she continued by saying "Remember how I told you we were going to use a Ball Room to have your menu tasting?" Well, they're all booked and we rarely do this, we're putting you in the kitchen!!!"
My heart just leaped and said OMGoodness COOL! So she explained we were meeting up with Ben, who is in charge or one of the people in charge with Disney Catered Events. His wife is Pam?? from DFTW! Pam Pierce maybe? Any other Pams? Anyhow, if it's Pam Pierce, she was our coordinator in the beginning.
So went went back stage in the Convention Center and walked in to this!
AND THIS!
It was stinking amazing! My heart was beating, I was so happy, and as dork as this may sound, I teared. It was def overwhelming to have this awesome treatment. So Jessica, Chad and I sat on one side while Ben, the main chef and the sous chef for Contemporary Convention sat down on the other side. I forgot their names!! As we sat down, they offered us Evian or Pelliginorio Water. I chose Evian. And they also had a fruit punch that we fell in love with and our going to use it for our toast instead of sparkling apple cider!!
This was the set up in front of us.
Here's a picture of the Head Chef (the bald buff dude, not Chad lol)
When we got our water, Ben thanked us for using Disney Catered Events and DFTW for our big day and went over what was going to be going on during the tasting. How they were going to be taking notes, getting our reactions etc. We talked about transportation here as well, how the kitchen works, the love that goes into our day and how important it is too them. Then the Chef and sous chef talked to us as well!
On to the food!! FULL PORTIONS BY THE WAY! So it def depends on location!
First up we tried the pre-reception food. Which we wanted to try their version of "Moink Balls." Meat Balls wrapped in Bacon with BBQ sauce and Coconut Shrimp with a Chile Lime, Sweet and Sour Dipping Sauce. BOTH WERE AMAZING! Def Keepers! The Moink Balls are huge for Bachelor Parties and usually they do them dry and have dipping sauces there instead. We decided on keeping the BBQ sauce.
Next up was the Fried Chicken recipe from 50's Prime Time (supposedly the best chicken on property.)
Don't get me wrong, it was def very juicy, succulent, crispy but the flavor was def not the flavor we were wanting. You know, basic and simple fried chicken flavor. It's hard to explain. Sort of like from Acme or Churches or Popeye Fried Chicken Flavor. The recipe for the chicken had the chicken soaked in Buttermilk for two days, had paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper. So it might have been the buttermilk that we were tasting who knows. So we're def still keeping the fried chicken, but we have to find another recipe to give them.
The chicken also came out with the two sides of Amish Style Poe Salad and the Mac and Chee from The Yachtsman Steak House. OMFG! I almost ate the whole bowls they put down in front of us. They got the flavors right for both.
Next came the Chorizo with Eggs. I loved the Crispy Tortilla Shells on top, but other then that, sadly they only carry Spanish Chorizo and not Mexican Chorizo. Not the same flavor that I grew up with. IT WAS GOOD, but just wasn't the same. =( So we're going with the Omelet Station!
And two desserts that were dead on delicious!!! And have now been added to our reception next to our cupcakes and vanilla Ice Cream.
Mini Tiramisu Cups. Everything Tiramisu was inside this edible chocolate flower! TO DIE FOR and Mini Boston Cream Pie cups!!
While there we also discussed out Dessert Party which Epcot's doing if not we would have added these to there instead. But it worked out in the end!
So our reception menu is as follows:
Pre-Reception:
Cheese Platter with crackers (nom dill havarti cheese! my fav!)
and fruit skewers that will be going to be displayed with this cool little display.
Moink Balls!!
Breakfast:
Mickey Waffles
Sweet Poe Pancakes with Honey Pecan Butter from The Wave
Omelet Station
Lunch Items:
Fried Chicken
The Kahlua Pulled Pork Sliders from Food and Wine Festival with Pineapple Chutney.
Coconut Shrimp with Chili Lime Sweet and Sour Dipping Sauce
Side Items:
Corn Fritters or Corn on the Cob (not 100 percent sure yet)
Baked Beans with Bacon
Amish Style Potato Salad
The Yachtmans Steak House Mac and Cheese which is- Orecchiette Pasta and Reypenaer Cheese (TRUST US, IT'S GOOD.)
It's going to be Green Bean Cassarole or just Green Beans (not sure yet if we're even adding this.)
Our Dessert Menu:
Zebra Domes
Strawberry, Vanilla and Chocolate Sundae Bar with Various Toppings
Funnel Cake Bread Pudding
Peanut Butter Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats
Well that's it! I prob forgot some details but it's all good.
While at Cast Connections with Debra, guess what we found also?
$25 to a whopping $7.99!! =D Happy Dance!
Nothing was wrong with it! I'm thinking that those are the old versions?? Can't beat the price.
