New Sales + Specials Page on The Disney Wedding Blog

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I added a new page to the blog to serve as a catch-all for some of the deals, discounts, and specials that you might be looking for. I had been including some deals in the weekly update, but I noticed that people had a hard time finding the deals if the update wasn't on the front page. Since "discount" and "sale" are two of the most commonly searched terms on this website, I figure a lot of you might be looking for ways to save money.

The new page can be found at the top of the blog in the menu up there where the Disney Wedding Classifieds page used to be. I still have a classifieds section, but I stuck it to the end of the new Sales + Specials page, since it wasn't being used or looked at that often. I still think the idea of having wedding classifieds on the site is a good one, but until more people use it there's no reason for it to have a spot of its own.

Anyway, the new page is going to feature deals offered by vendors and discounts available on wedding products or things you might need. I'll do my best to keep it as up to date as possible, but if you know of a great deal that I don't have up there, I'd love it if you'd drop me a FB message or email to alert me, because sometimes I just miss stuff.

For really quick deals, I'll probably just post them on Facebook, rather than putting them up on the page, to make sure that people don't miss them. Wondering what a quick deal is? Well, here's two right now:

  • 10% Cash Back at the Disney Store - Ebates is doing 10% cash back on purchased made at disneystore.com, but the deal is for today only. Tomorrow it goes back to their normal 5% cash back. I don't know if they do these "daily double" deals often, since I've only been using Ebates myself for about a month, but since 10% is a fair amount off (almost $20 if you're buying a Dooney) I thought I'd share.
  • Totsy has a sale going on right now for luggage from a company called Heys. I've never heard of them, but they have pretty cool stuff, including some Disney themed items. I've wanted matching luggage forever since our luggage is hodgepodge and very well-worn, so I'm kind of tempted. Since Totsy sales only last for a few days, this sale expires in just a little under 3 days, so if you're also looking to update your luggage, you might want to check it out.




Is it Snowy in There?

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It's snowy in here, too.

I'm feeling very tired of winter and even though it's a beautiful day here in Utah, it's a very beautiful day for skiing, but not a beautiful day for grabbing ice cream and walking around the neighborhood. Oh, what I wouldn't give to be in So Cal right now. I guess these pictures will just have to do until summer...

Location: California Adventure
Photography: Chaz Cruz Photography


Nerissa: Venues

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When we first started considering the Disneyland Resort for our wedding we called to make an appointment to look at our options.  We met a wedding specialist at the Disney Fairy Tale Wedding offices which is in what I've heard Disneyland Cast Members call the "Big Orange Building."  It is next to the Disneyland Hotel by the parking lot.  After meeting to discuss what we want for our wedding, she showed us our options for the venue.  We were thinking of having 40-50 guests so she showed us some of the spots for a ceremony and reception that size.  

Here are some of the places we looked at.

Rose Court Garden

Grand Californian

Parkview Terrace, Grand Californian

Finding Your Photographer - Tips from Katie Keller

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Today's guest post comes to us from Katie Keller of Katie Keller Photography:

When you’re planning your wedding, things can quickly feel so overwhelming. From trying to find the perfect dress to choosing each of your vendors, just about every bride feels as if she is drowning in
details. One of the most important aspects of your wedding day is your photographer. And, this is one part of your planning that should not be stressful.

So, how do you find the right photographer for you? I’ll cut to the good stuff to help you keep your checklist short and let you focus on what’s most important.

#1: Personality


Before you even think about pricing, the most important aspects of your photographer are their personality and the product they deliver.

You could have a fantastic photographer, but they have a terrible “bedside manner”. What’s ultimately going to give you the best photographs on the day of the wedding? You being comfortable with your photographer. Your photographer will literally spend the entire day with you. He or she will be there for your most grandeur and intimate moments. If you don’t have a comfortable relationship with your photographer, you’ll end up with stiff smiles and uncomfortable stances.

#2: Don’t get stuck in the details

As photographers, we take every scenario into consideration before the wedding so that you don’t have to. We make sure your files are safe, we have extra gear, and even secure a backup photographer in the event of an absolute worst case scenario. Do feel free to ask important questions, but don’t let small (and often times negotiable) details be deal breakers. If you have found a good photographer, you’ll be able to work out an agreement you are both comfortable with.

#3: Ask to see samples

You may not know the difference between megapixels, DPI, and mounting boards, but you will know good quality when you see it. I only bring a couple of samples to a client meeting, since so much information is being given at once. If that isn’t enough for you, set up an additional meeting time to go over canvases, print quality, and to chat some more. Your photographer will be pleased to meet with you again and get to share more extensively the product they provide.

#4: Take their advice in planning your day

If you have a 6 hour block of time for the ceremony and reception, don’t book your photographer for 6 hours! Take into account the time to get your hair and makeup done, if you plan on having a “first look”, extra time at the reception, and extra time for formal photos. I have a feeling we’ve been to a lot more weddings than you have – and – we can anticipate the flow of the day and how much time is really needed to get all the shots you want.

#5: Book an engagement session!


All of my couples receive an engagement session as my wedding gift to them with an 11x16 print to display at the reception. This time together helps me to know my client and makes the wedding day photography go much more smoothly. Even if your photographer doesn’t offer this as part of a package or as a complementary session, consider adding it on. It can also be a great way to take a photographer for a “test drive” if you’re still on the fence.

And one last tip… even if you’re not booking them, it’s such a courtesy to say a simple “thanks but no thanks”. That kind of good karma goes a long way!

Wedding Spotlight: Sara + Ryan

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Location: Grand Floridian, Wedding Pavilion
Photography: Root Photography


Meet Disney Bride Larisa!

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Hello everyone! I am so excited to be joining the Disney Wedding Blog! I’m Larisa (23) and my Fiancé is Eric (27). I think Eric summed us our relationship really well when he said “We’re weird and crazy, but that’s what works for us and makes me love you, and you love me.” We met in 2007 while working at Cheeseburger in Paradise. I was working my way through school as a server when he started working as a bus boy as a second job. We started out as “dudes.” We bonded over a love of the movie Fight Club and the TV show Scrubs. The rest is history! 

The true test of our relationship came seven months after we began dating when I left home to participate in the Disney College Program. I was so scared when I left that we wouldn’t make it those few months. Boy was I wrong! Eric came to visit me in Disney April of 2008 and I showed him how magical Disney can be! We have visited twice together since then and couldn’t be more excited about our Disney Wedding!



Where and when are you getting married?

Our wedding will be June 6, 2011! The ceremony will be at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Celebration, FL. The reception will be at Ariel’s at the Beach Club resort. We are also having a dessert party that night in EPCOT and a welcome party the night before at Shipwreck Beach.



What was the proposal like?

Eric is awful at keeping secrets. So when we were in line for Peter Pan during our Christmas 2009 trip with my family you can imagine how hard my jaw hit the ground when he said “Good thing I didn’t bring the ring. I wouldn’t have had the time or space to do that here. It’s been shoulder to shoulder the whole time!” Needless to say we didn’t get engaged in Disney and after that I was kind of expecting it, lol. 

The actual proposal was very low key and very “us”.  We went out to dinner at our favorite restaurant and went back to my house to relax. We were lounging on the couch and I was just about falling asleep on the couch. Eric turned to me and said “Hey Barbie (his nickname for me) ya know how you always say you can’t wait till we have out own house and we can just stay together and no one has to drive home at the end of the night.” I responded, with my eyes closed still half asleep: “Yea” and he said “Well that’s cause we have to be married first. So let’s get married!” That’s about when I opened my eyes and saw the ring box in his hand. I looked at him, smiled and gave him a kiss. 

The conversation that followed went like this:
 “You didn’t answer my question.” 
“You didn’t ask me a question.”
“Oh. Will you marry me?”
“ Of course!”


What is your vision for your Disney wedding?

The vision for our Disney Wedding is a classy, vintage-y sea/travel inspired event. Think ‘Ariel-holds-a-WWII-era- soirée.’ I think that sums I up pretty well.



When you aren’t planning your Disney wedding, what do you like to do?

When I’m not wedding planning I am a restaurant manager and I love my job! I see it as my calling to ensure that your leisure time is spent well. When we move to Florida, I might once again find myself working for the mouse! Eric is currently in school working towards a hospitality degree as well. He is looking more towards working in hotels. Our favorite hobby to do together is rollerskating. Eric worked in a roller rink for several years and it was a prominent part of my childhood as well. When Eric and I first started dating he took me skating and we have been going every Wednesday night since then. 

Meet Disney Bride Nerissa!

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My name is Nerissa and I’m engaged to Jared. We live in Anaheim, California not far from Disneyland.  We met while we were both students at the University of Southern California.  I worked at a customer service center during the year and he worked there one summer while I was in Texas. I came back a week early before fall classes and it was that week that we met!  I’m very glad I returned early that year!



Where and when are you getting married?

We are getting married at the Disneyland Resort.  Our ceremony will be at the Rose Court Garden and our reception at the Sleeping Beauty Pavilion in October 2011.



What was the proposal like?

Jared led me to believe that we were going to Paradise Pier hotel for the weekend.  On our way to catch the bus Jared surpised me by heading to the train station instead and we hopped on a train to San Diego.  I thought the suprises were over but I got another surprise when I found out we were staying at the Hotel Del Coronado (Some Like it Hot was filmed there and the Grand Floridian is modeled after it!).  My greatest surprise was when he proposed on the beach later that day!



What is your vision for your Disney wedding?

I never really thought about getting married growing up so wedding planning is all very new to me!  Jared and I both love Disney movies so our wedding will probably incorporate some things from our favorites.  We are still at the start of our planning so our vision is still forming!



When you aren’t planning your Disney wedding, what do you like to do?

When I’m not planning our Disney wedding, I love to go to Disneyland and go there often!  I like to write about Disney and am usually working on my website, So Disney, in my spare time.  I enjoy playing online checkers with my sister, watching tv, and reading on our balcony.

Meet Disney Bride Amber!

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My name is Amber and my fiance's name is Thomas. We're both 26 and we're currently in the city of Charleston, South Carolina. We originally met in high school while living in Myrtle Beach, SC. The initial meeting was to get each others screen names to play games over the summer. As time progressed we became closer friends though marching band as well as sharing the same classes and groups of friends. We started dating during our Freshman year of college and have been together ever since.



Where and when are you getting married?

We are getting married in Litchfield Beach, SC (about 10 minutes outside of Myrtle Beach) at a Country Club on November 11, 2011. We have had a long infatuation with the time 11:11- where you make a wish...



What was the proposal like?

The proposal was a long time coming (we will be dating 7 years in March), but I was still pleasantly surprised. After he missed several of what I thought to be perfect proposal opportunities (haha), he chose a random summer Wednesday in June, shortly before my annual family vacation. We ha been in a long distance relationship for two years, seeing each other only on the weekends, with me teaching in Myrtle Beach and him in Charleston. He prepared the entire proposal at my house by buying flower arrangements, tons of candles, and cooking a fully organic meal (his first kitchen experience since he had never cooked a day in his life). I was shocked to see him when I got home that evening, and needless to say, I said YES! :) The evening was truly magical, and I couldn't have asked for a more special moment.



What is your vision for your Disney wedding?

My vision for my Disney wedding is unique, fun, memorable, and magical. To show everyone that dreams really do come true, wishes are answered upon a star, that every little girl is a princess, and can have their prince whisk them away in their happily ever after, and that Disney is truly for any age.



When you aren’t planning your Disney wedding, what do you like to do?

Haha, when am I not in planning mode? :) Thomas and I actually complement each other very well- and even though it is said that opposites tend to attract we are actually both very similar in regards to what we like to do. We both enjoy playing video/computer games, watching movies & TV shows (Netflix is our obsession), going out to eat, and trying new places. We both love the outdoors, music, traveling, and spending time with our family and friends. We also both share a love of Disney!

Meet Disney Bride Amy!

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My name is Amy and my fiancé is Shawn. We are both 23 years old and live in Buffalo, NY (and yes it is very cold and snowy here!). Shawn and I met when I was a freshman in high school and he transferred to my school. We instantly became friends and spent a lot of time together. After a few months of being friends, one day we kissed, and we have been dating ever since. We just celebrated our 8 year anniversary on February 12th. I am in my last semester for my undergraduate degree majoring in early childhood/childhood education with a concentration in social studies, and Shawn works for a company who installs granite counter tops and is also attending school part time as a communications and media arts major.



Where and when are you getting married?

We are getting married on June 6th, 2011 (I can't believe how close it is getting!) at the Wedding Pavilion. Our ceremony time is 5:00pm. Our reception will be at Atlantic Dance Hall.



What was the proposal like?

The proposal was amazing! I had some idea it was coming as Shawn took me to look at rings, but had no idea when, and I actually was not expecting it when it happened, as he proposed on December 10th, and with Christmas, my birthday, and new years right around the corner, I figured I would have to wait another few weeks. We live about 30 minutes from Niagara Falls, and decided to spend the weekend there to see the winter festival of lights. We got there around 3:00 on the 10th, enjoyed some champagne and chocolate covered strawberries in our room with a view of the falls, and then headed to dinner at the Skylon tower. It is high above the falls and actually revolves as you eat so everyone can have the great view. I have wanted to eat here for years and it was amazing! After this we checked out the lights, and there are a bunch of Disney displays! Each Friday they have fireworks over the falls, and this is when Shawn got down on one knee, told me he loved me, and asked me to marry him!



What is your vision for your Disney wedding?

I am beyond excited to be a Disney bride. I can't believe it's actually happening, I have been talking about getting married in Disney for years! My vision for the wedding is an elegant semi-traditional wedding with Cinderella and subtle Disney touches added in. We love to dance so Atlantic Dance Hall was the obvious choice for our reception. We imagine a night filled with lots of love and laughter!



When you aren’t planning your Disney wedding, what do you like to do?

When I'm not planning my Disney wedding (which I am doing with any spare time I have!), I am usually working on grading papers or writing lesson plans for my teaching career. I also enjoy playing and watching sports, especially baseball, hockey, and football, and spending time with my family who I am very close with.

A Dreamy Shades of Green Wedding

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I was going to announce the new bloggers today, but I forgot that it was a holiday and some people are on vacation, sooo...I'll announce them tomorrow when we're all back to work!

In the meantime, here's a little beauty:

Location: Shades of Green
Photography: Castaldo Studio


Weekly Update 2/18/11 - Deals, Events, and Our New Blogger!

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News:
  • The new contributors have been chosen and you'll meet them on Monday! We have a Disneyland bride, an at-home Disney wedding, and two Walt Disney World brides who happen to share a wedding date. More details to come...
  • Anthropologie has launched a bridal line and it's been all over design blogs for the last week. It's gorgeous and romantic and even if you aren't in the market for a wedding dress, there are quite a few accessories, bridesmaid dresses, and shoes and such.

    Upcoming Events:
    • Running of the Brides at Filene's Basement (Feb 18th @ NYC, March 11th @ Boston, March 18th @ Atlanta, April 8th @ Chicago, April 29th @ D.C.) - The Running of the Brides is a high-energy ultra-competitve shopping spree in which dresses that usually retail for thousands of dollars sell for a tiny fraction of their regular price. It's not for the faint of heart, but if you have the right spirit (and at least a couple of friends), you can score big at these events. I got my wedding dress for $250 at the Running of the Brides and you can read about that experience here
    • Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings Bridal Showcase (March 18th - 20th, Walt Disney World) - This event offers Q + A sessions, site tours, and a peek at the Alfred Angelo dresses. You can also opt in to do a lunch with David Tutera and Carley Roney or a dessert party at Epcot. You must register for the event here if you're planning on attending.
    • Festival of Brides (April 3, Disneyland Hotel) - This is an upscale bridal show for general wedding planning (not Disney focused). There will be door prizes, live music, and fashion shows. I won't be there because of the baby, but if you're planning on attending and you want to hook up with other brides planning Disney weddings, let me know and I'll announce a meet-up spot. You can get more info about the Festival of Brides here.

    Deals:
    • Ebates is doing 5% cash back on the Disney store right now and this weekend you can get free shipping on any purchase from the Disney store with the code "FREESHIP" so it's a good time to pick up any Disney stuff you've had your eye on. Note: I've waited too long repeatedly on items I really wanted, only to watch them sell out (I missed all the holiday stuff this year), so if there's something you know you want, you should pick it up today before the rest of the weekend shoppers log on.
    • Misty Miotto is offering a 15% discount for brides booking and paying in full right now, so if you know that you want to be a Misty bride, you should grab this deal NOW before it disappears. (I don't know when it will be gone, but she's planning on taking the deal off of her blog whenever that is.)

    Twenty Things to Put in Your Wedding Welcome Bags

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    1. Welcome note
    2.  Contact numbers for bridal party
    3.  Disney snack
    4.  Stamped postcard
    5.  Sunscreen
    6.  Itinerary for the wedding day
    7.  Disposable camera
    8.  Aspirin
    9.  Weather forecast
    10.  Tide pen
    11.  Mints
    12.  Guide book
    13.  Bug spray
    14.  Maps
    15.  Mini-alcohol for the adults
    16.  Games for the kids
    17.  Dining guide
    18.  Numbers for local pizza delivery
    19. Lanyard and trading pins
    20. Bubble bath

    Love

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     In the arithmetic of love, one plus one equals everything, and two minus one equals nothing.
          ~ Mignon McLaughlin 



    A Wedding at the Walt Disney Concert Hall

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    I've never posted a Walt Disney Concert Hall wedding before because I've been on the fence about whether or not this is really a Disney location. The Walt Disney Concert Hall is an incredibly beautiful building in Los Angeles that houses the Los Angeles Philharmonic and all sorts of cool, urban events. Although the Disney name is on it, the Disney company actually has very little to do with the building, which was created after Lillian Disney made a contribution in Walt's name in 1987. So, this is more of a Disney family project than a Disney company project, which sets it apart from the other locations featured on this site.

    There are two reasons that pushed me to finally include it. One is that it's a very popular wedding and engagement location in L.A. and the resulting photos are usually stunning (who doesn't like that?). The second reason is that this location offers something that no other Disney location can. I love to tell people that they can have any kind of wedding they'd like to dream up if they want a Disney wedding, because of the wide variety in venues. Beach wedding = Castaway Cay, Vero Beach, or Beach Club. Exotic wedding = Aladdin's Oasis at Disneyland, the Polynesian Resort, or any of the locations at Epcot. Classic, romantic wedding = Grand Floridian, BoardWalk, etc...you get the picture.

    However, what you can't really get at any of the Disney parks or resort properties is a true urban wedding. The closest you can come is the Contemporary, where you can find some more modern settings, but that falls pretty short if your vision is full-on wedding-in-the-city, Manhattan style. So, since you can get exactly that look at The Walt Disney Concert Hall, I've decided to start including these sessions with the other, more official Disney locations, starting with this stunner:

    Location: The Walt Disney Concert Hall
    Photography: Carla Gates Photography


    Happy Valentine's Day from TouringPlans.com!

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    Love is in the air at TouringPlans.com. We are offering a 30% discount on our
    subscriptions to readers of the Disney Wedding Blog as well as group pricing if you'd like to purchase subscriptions for members of your wedding party. Use the discount code DWBWDW211 (for a Walt Disney World Resort in Florida) or DWBDL211 (Disneyland Resort in California) at http://touringplans.com/join or mail groups@touringplans.com for more information on volume pricing of our subscriptions. This discount code will expire February 28, 2011.

    TouringPlans.com is the official web site of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and Disneyland. We offer users premium trip planning tools, including the Crowd Calendar, premium touring plans, and Lines - our mobile wait time application, to help you save time and money on your Disney vacation. Visit http://www.touringplans.com to see how we can help you plan your special trip.

    Wedding Spotlight: Sheena + Chris

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    Locations: Rose Court Garden - Disneyland Hotel, Brisa Courtyard - Grand Californian Hotel
    Photography: Jack Randall
    Hair/Makeup: Tara Fontana, Fairytale Hair and Makeup
    Coordinators: Michelle Stein, Sue Romano


    Weekly Update 2/11/11 - Deals, Events, and Coming Soon!

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    News:
    • Disney Fine Art Photography and Video has launched a new spotlight blog to feature engagement and wedding sessions from Walt Disney World. I'm really excited about it because it's a great way to get to know some of the Disney photographers and become familiar with their work! If you book Disney photography, you can request a specific photographer. Like any other photographer, they can't guarantee 100% that the photographer you'd like will be available (since they may be previously booked or they might get sick on your wedding day), but if they're available you have pretty good odds of getting who you want. So, if you're planning on using Disney Fine Art Photography and Video, it's a good idea to get to know the photographers so you can try to get one that you're comfortable with and excited about!
    • I got a TON of responses to my call for contributors and I was excited to take a peek at a few wedding plans that I hadn't seen before. I have narrowed it down and will be contacting the new contributors over the weekend. Note to all: I got so many that the competition was pretty fierce, so please don't take it personally if you weren't chosen. It was a really hard decision! I'm also going to be keeping an eye of many of the people who applied, to see if they can be added to the blog down the road when they have more wedding plans, writing, and photos under their belt. Anyway, hopefully you'll all meet the new contributors very soon!

    Upcoming Events:
    • Running of the Brides at Filene's Basement (Feb 18th @ NYC, March 11th @ Boston, March 18th @ Atlanta, April 8th @ Chicago, April 29th @ D.C.) - The Running of the Brides is a high-energy ultra-competitve shopping spree in which dresses that usually retail for thousands of dollars sell for a tiny fraction of their regular price. It's not for the faint of heart, but if you have the right spirit (and at least a couple of friends), you can score big at these events. I got my wedding dress for $250 at the Running of the Brides and you can read about that experience here
    • Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings Bridal Showcase (March 18th - 20th, Walt Disney World) - This event offers Q + A sessions, site tours, and a peek at the Alfred Angelo dresses. You can also opt in to do a lunch with David Tutera and Carley Roney or a dessert party at Epcot. You must register for the event here if you're planning on attending.
    • Festival of Brides (April 3, Disneyland Hotel) - This is an upscale bridal show for general wedding planning (not Disney focused). There will be door prizes, live music, and fashion shows. I won't be there because of the baby, but if you're planning on attending and you want to hook up with other brides planning Disney weddings, let me know and I'll announce a meet-up spot. You can get more info about the Festival of Brides here.

    Deals:
    • Totsy has JJ Cole diaper bags on sale right now. We use a JJ Cole diaper bag as a park bag because it has convenient pockets and it's quite waterproof. I just ordered the messenger bag from Totsy yesterday so that we have a slightly bigger park bag now that there will be three of us. I can't recommend this line of bags highly enough!
    • Ebates is doing double cash back on a lot of online stores that sell gifts for Valentine's Day including FTD (20%), Snapfish (11.5%), Drugstore.com (12%), and Sephora (8%). Note: if you buy anything through Sephora, be sure to use the coupon code BUXOMLOVE to get a free Buxom lipstick with any purchase.
    • Disney Movie Rewards members might have the opportunity to get 50 points just for filling out a quick survey. Log into your account and look up under the "Earn More Points" column to see if you have the Baby Einstein Rewards survey. It only takes a couple of minutes and the points are applied to your account immediately. Here are a couple more codes to get free points: C2FH88UF5X (5 points) fbk100 (5 points)
    • If you're a Crocs person, they're on sale right now on their website for quite a bit off. Even if you aren't a Crocs person and you cringe when you see them on other people, you might want to take a look. A lot of the newer Crocs don't look much different from regular shoes and the flip-flops are very comfortable for long vacation days. Honestly, style aside, Crocs in general are great park shoes because they're easy on the feet, they can get wet and are easily dried off, and it's not much trouble to rinse them off after a day at the parks if they've gotten nasty. If you do buy anything off of the website, get free shipping and an extra 20% off by using the coupon code ALLYOU20.

    Haunted Mansion Invitation Inspiration

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    Stephanie + Christopher are opting to have an at-home Disney wedding so that they can have all of the fun, creative details they want to see on their wedding day. Judging from this Save the Date, I think we'll be in for a pretty great wedding!


    Fantastic Disneyland Wedding Interview

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    I love this video...it really hits on lots of the highlights of having a Disney wedding!


    Wedding Spotlight: Samantha + Michael

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    Locations: Japan Pavilion, Epcot
    Photography: Amy Alexander and her assistant, Ali, for Disney Fine Art Photography and Video
    Floral: Laura Kidd, Disney Floral
    Hair/Makeup: Patricia LeJeune
    Dress: David's Bridal
    Tux: Chaz Ma Tazz
    Coordinator: Carol Mickles
    Officiants: the moms of the bride and groom


    Wedding Planning: Seating the Singles

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    When you're figuring out who's going to sit where at your reception, you're bound to end up with a handful of people who don't seem to fit anywhere. This might be because this particular friend is single or doesn't know anyone else at the wedding, but more likely you'll just have an awkward number of people per social group and you'll have a few leftovers. (For example: a family of nine when your reception tables only seat eight.)

    Here are some tips for approaching the leftovers without automatically banishing them all to the "singles table":
    • The first thing you need to do is figure out exactly how many people will be seated at each table. To do this, you'll need to contact your wedding coordinator so you can find out what the usual seating arrangements are. It does depend on your location and how you want the room set up (whether you'll have a dance floor, etc.) so you'll need to know all of this before you call your coordinator. By the way, this isn't one of those things you should try to tackle before all of your wedding details are officially hammered out with Disney. Although you might want to get an early jump on your wedding planning, it's unrealistic to expect your wedding coordinator to go over the possible seating arrangements at ten different venues just because you haven't chosen a location yet. At most, be prepared to ask for two different options.

    Weekly Update 2/4/11 - Deals, Events, and a Call For Bloggers!

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    News:

    Upcoming Events:
    • Running of the Brides at Filene's Basement (Feb 18th @ NYC, March 11th @ Boston, March 18th @ Atlanta, April 8th @ Chicago, April 29th @ D.C.) - The Running of the Brides is a high-energy ultra-competitve shopping spree in which dresses that usually retail for thousands of dollars sell for a tiny fraction of their regular price. It's not for the faint of heart, but if you have the right spirit (and at least a couple of friends), you can score big at these events. I got my wedding dress for $250 at the Running of the Brides and you can read about that experience here
    • Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings Bridal Showcase (March 18th - 20th, Walt Disney World) - This event offers Q + A sessions, site tours, and a peek at the Alfred Angelo dresses. You can also opt in to do a lunch with David Tutera and Carley Roney or a dessert party at Epcot. You must register for the event here if you're planning on attending.
    • Festival of Brides (April 3, Disneyland Hotel) - This is an upscale bridal show for general wedding planning (not Disney focused). There will be door prizes, live music, and fashion shows. I won't be there because of the baby, but if you're planning on attending and you want to hook up with other brides planning Disney weddings, let me know and I'll announce a meet-up spot. You can get more info about the Festival of Brides here.

      Deals:
      • Groupon has a deal with Barnes and Noble right now where you get a $20 gift certificate for $10. You may have to go through the Chicago link if your city doesn't show it, but you can use it at any regular B&N store or online. (This might be a good opportunity to pick up Carrie's Disney weddings book, now in print!)
      • Ebates is doing double cash back on a lot of online stores that sell gifts for Valentine's Day including FTD (20%), Snapfish (11.5%), Drugstore.com (12%), and Sephora (8%). Note: if you buy anything through Sephora, be sure to use the coupon code BUXOMLOVE to get a free Buxom lipstick with any purchase.
      • Disney Movie Rewards members get an extra 50 points if they enter a new movie code before Feb. 15th, so if you have any DVDs lying around that you haven't gotten to, this would be a good time to log them in. Just be sure to log in and enter this code FIRST: M1D17PYH9MXZ. Then enter your movie code and you should get the 50 points. (There's also a coupon on the site for the Alice in Wonderland combo DVD if you don't have it yet.)
      • If you're reading wedding magazines these days and you're kind of a computer person (or you have an iPad and you know how to use it), you might want to think about switching to digital subscriptions through Zinio. They look and download just like the real deal, but you don't have to worry about having bridal magazines all over your house, filling up your endtables. Plus, you can get back issues of specific magazines instantly for only about $6 a piece.

      Call For Bloggers:

      I mentioned in a recent feedback post that I was going to be looking for 2-5 bloggers to join me on this site so that we can all watch as they plan their Disney weddings. I've already been overwhelmed by the response, so I thought I'd lay out exactly what I'm looking for. Here's the plan:
      • I'm looking for people who are actively planning Disney weddings and who have a blog or planning journal with a good amount of wedding planning content in it. I will be pulling from the writing you've already done in addition to the writing you're planning on doing.
      • If you want to possibly join the blog as a contributor, but you don't have a blog or a planning journal established, I encourage you to start one now. I won't be taking on any contributors until they have a good base of content established, but since people will be getting married and finishing their wedding stories, I anticipate that this call for contributors will be ongoing. So, get writing/blogging and maybe you can join us in the future!
      • If you have a blog or planning journal and you're thinking about joining this site, be sure that you're comfortable with me taking your photos and your writing to share with everyone. I will be doing some light editing, so if you want your writing to remain untouched, that's something to think about. I won't be re-publishing your entire blog or planning journal, since this will be more of an occasional highlights feature, so I'll use my discretion to just post the best bits for everyone to see.
      • I'm not looking for contributors who have already had their Disney wedding, because I want the readers to be able to actively participate and interact with the bride (or groom) during the planning process. If you've already gotten married and you'd like to share your wedding, consider filling out the Spotlight Application or send me an email with a possible guest post (such as "10 Things I Learned While Planning My Wedding" or "What I Really Loved About Our Disney Wedding").
      • I am looking for a diverse group. It would be really nice to have different brides planning different types of weddings (Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise, and off-property). 
      • If you're interested in being considered for a position as a contributor, drop me an email or Facebook message and tell me a little bit about your wedding planning. Be sure to leave me a link to your blog or planning journal so I can take a look at your writing!

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