Oh Holly, I am loving your story!! You were absolutely stunning on your wedding day.
Your photographer is wonderful! I love his pictures so far!
Thanks so much, Tammy! Jason really was amazing (and with such reasonable fees). His detail shots are one of the things that sold me on his work.
I definitely had regrets after the big day. I think it's hard not too. There's just too many things happening to get them all right.
I also feel your pain about the pictures. I probably would have been very upset about that later too. I hope time is lessening that pain though. You've already showed us so many wonderful pictures and details. You may not have as many candid shots as you'd like, but you've got so many amazing pictures to remember the day.
You make a great point in that there's too much going on, and no way to "control" all of it. Honestly, throughout the day I really did go off to la-la-land. I was floating along, calm as could be. It wasn't until over a week later when I got home and started processing things that I freaked out. Of course, it didn't help that when I returned home and looked at the pictures I noticed that after the shot my mom took of me walking out the door, the next one was of us showing up for dinner.
Kathy had taken maybe three or four pictures, and without other guests at the wedding, there were no other pictures for me to look at. I was completely in limbo (freaking out) and praying that Jason's were good. Of course, I shouldn't have doubted this. But I'd let loose control over the ONE thing that was most important to me... photographs.
Time is definitely lessening the pain... in fact, all these wonderful posts are really helping. It's nice to hear others' stories.
GAH! I'm late to the report! Let's see if I can remember what I was going to comment on.
Okay..you totally made me get all kinds of misty eyed. Seriously. I had flashbacks to my wedding and I could totally relate to everything that went on for you. It's the most wonderful day of your life and in turn, the most nerve-racking day of your life. I had performance anxiety right before I went over to start my ceremony. It's like when I use to dance, before I got ready to go on stage I would have a mental freakout thinking I didn't know my steps and blocking. It was so strange to get that feeling on my wedding day. I mean I didn't have to worry about forgetting my vows. Had that baby written down, placed in the ring box with my husband's band, and gave it to my maid of honor.
Back on topic...
The dress? Absolutely gorgeous
Hair and Makeup? Stunning. It's like you said, you didn't loose "you" under the makeup.
The Groom? Quite dapper, I must say.
It truly is so awesome of you to share such a personal day with us. I'm looking forward to the ceremony!
I couldn't imagine delivering my own vows. I don't think I would have had a problem actually writing them, but getting up there and getting through it without the prompts would've been so difficult. And stress-inducing.
Thanks for all your kind compliments, Erin. I thought the groom looked pretty smashing myself! And he wasn't a tomato! YAY.
You looked gorgeous! I love the natural looking makeup and the hair and the dress... OMG!!
There´s always something you wish you would´ve done but you didn´t, it happens to all of us (control freaks) and it´s ok to get upset, if we didn´t we wouldn´t be normal (again, control freaks)
Thanks, Sara! You couldn't be more right. For a control freak, having to relinquish that control is incredibly difficult.
Seriously, I can´t get over how radiant you looked. I´m not a big fan of weddings, I´ve never wanted to have one of my own, but yours makes me kinda jealous (in a good way though) I love the purple touches and the charms. My compliments to your mom for being so supportive and helpful. That´s something I know my mom would do for me also, and she´s good with that stuff also
I have to thank Brett for also sharing how his morning went by. Nice to hear you had some time to go to MK... Although shame on you for not wearing sunscreen!
hopefully Holly didn´t end up marrying a tomato.
I sure will be waiting for the rest of your fairytale wedding.
If it's weddings that bug you, not marriage, then I think there are ways to make it completely your own... who says it has to be traditional in any sense of the word? It can be whatever you want it to be. And I think alot can be said for elopement... I find that avenue to be completely romantic.
Yeah- my gown is also a corset back and my kids would likely tie me in with unsolvable knots...so, no gown tonight...and no beer, although Brett's bloody mary looked YUM
Funny you bring up the corset back vs. the buttons. I had a friend who had a button back gown where each little button had to fasten (and unfasten) with a special hook- she was miserable! I guess she should have gone for a zip back with a button overlay to create the same effect. My SIL went for something like that and it was a very clean look, but the lack of stress and minimal alterations that go with a corset back gown were priceless for me.
At first, I totally wanted one of those dresses with the individual buttons and a hook to secure them. I could just envision pictures of my mom with a crochet hook fastening my gown. So romantic! And I don't know why, but I liked the idea of it taking a while to get into the dress, which you also get with a corset. But the corset is an absolute LIFESAVER, especially when you don't have a seamstress that you trust implicitly. And let's be honest, there are probably a lot of seamstresses out there who aren't at the top of their game.
Good to know about the vow renewal. Of course our 10th wedding anniversary is in 2013, but our 15th dating anniversary is in 2012... plus much of my immediate fam is in FL, so WDW is definitely a consideration. Thanks for the suggestion!
LOVE the pic of you leaving the room! You looked stunning!!! Can't wait to read more!
I think the Memories collection only allows for 4 guests in addition to the bride and groom, but you could always do the ceremony part with just your girls (and a photog) and then have a big celebration dinner (and/or a dessert party) with everyone else. Food for thought!
And thank you for the sweet compliments.
Holly:
You look absolutely stunning. Your makeup and hair is just beautiful and your eyes certainly do pop!! And the dress...oh my...all of your shopping was so worth it when you see that gorgeous gown!!
Thanks, Pam! I was really hoping I hadn't built the anticipation for the dress up so much so that everyone was completely let down by it. :lol:
I hope in time you can remember your day without too many regrets...remember the happy feelings you shared instead of the photo ops missed. I can totally relate as I when I looked back at the photos of our wedding I realized that besides from photos from the actual ceremony and cake cutting, there were no photos of my husband and I alone. At the time I was so intent on including my two children in everything I neglected to have the photographer get a photo of just the two of us!! Wouldn't you think a good photographer would have suggested this? Oh well...I think she was just following my lead. But you know what is more important? The love that was shared that day that has only grown exponentially!! I'm sure it will be the same with you and Brett!! You have so many personal and touching mementos in your wedding and this is even before the ceremony began! I cannot wait to hear about your ceremony!!
Isn't it funny how we get tunnel vision with certain things? I can see why you were so concerned about keeping the twins involved in everything... and then, poof... what happened to the other little things you'd thought about leading up to the wedding. That's what was weird for me, the only regret I had was telling my mom to leave the camera behind, and yet for months (while dress shopping) we had discussed how she'd be the mother of the bride that's just snapping away.
You are totally right about what is really important in the day. And I really didn't lose sight of that at all, especially on the day of the wedding. I was so wrapped up in my love for Brett that nothing could've made my day any more perfect then it already was.
Just another question...when you had the photographer take your dress outside to photograph it, did you have any fear Brett might see it? That maybe he might be on the monorail and look down and see a wedding dress hanging from a tree? I love the outside dress photos, but knowing how much you wanted to keep the dress a secret, I wondered if that was a concern?
Can't wait to read the rest! Congratulations on being a married lady!! Wishing you and Brett a lifetime of happiness!!
Pam
You know, I really didn't. I would have if we'd stuck with our original room. This is one of the reasons we wanted to make sure the longhouses we were each getting ready in were on different sides of the property. We were all the way on the far edge near the TTC, and Brett was in his parents room, which looked out on the main pool at the Polynesian. however, I never even thought about him riding the monorail around.
I *think* he was back in the room before Jason arrived. :lol:
Oh my. Okay. So tonight's installment has me all but speechless. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of the journey with you & Brett. As everyone else has said, your hair, makeup, dress, everything all came together into the perfect example of a stunning bride.
I love that Brett filled us in on his experience of this special day. That was just too cool. Leave it to the two of you to not miss that detail in your story.
So the sadness over what you feel you missed. For once I can honestly say I don't really understand that part. Every morsel, every little detail, all of it...**sigh**...it was all so well-thought-out and meaningful. It was perfect in all the best ways. I just don't see how anything more could've made your fairytale anymore perfect. Maybe leaving some moments to the magic of memories is a blessing. I really wish I could identify more. I've kinda thought on that for the past hour or so. I even talked with Tracey a little about it before he went to sleep. Logically I can see the thought process behind the little things that bug you when you look back. It makes sense. But right about now my heart just says that your day was the thing of dreams and you two are just sooooo incredibly blessed.
Maybe I don't get it the way others do because I don't really think of myself as ever having had a "wedding". I got married because it was what I had to do to get where I wanted to be. There weren't options. Any bits of pieced together ceremony stuff associated with that day was more to satisfy other people's requirements for what the day should've been. Gosh, Holly, I'd give anything just to have had the support of my parents on that day. Seeing your mom & dad there with you and your mom and all the little details you all made so sweet and wonderful together...seriously...could there be anything more?
Thanks, Kelly! I was so afraid that the word "regret" was too strong. And I contemplated not even including this comment, because my memories of the day really are what you described... it was the wedding of our dreams and I felt so incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to live out my dream.
I don't, for a second, want anyone to think that I am ungrateful (not that that is what you're saying, because I totally know you aren't), but I'm afraid some people will see it that way. It's the OCD planner/control freak in me that says "if
only I could just change that one teensy, tiny decision."
As for the actual day, I have absolutely no regrets for the decisions we made. Choosing Disney, choosing Sunset Pointe, choosing our photographer, choosing Beaute Speciale, choosing Ohana, choosing our surprise event, etc. All of those things can fall into the category of "BEST DECISION EVER!"
The pictures from your photographer you've shown so far are amazing. If that's any indication of what's to come, it's all just wonderful beyond words. I can't wait to see and hear more.
I hope you don't feel the regrets forever. Hopefully puting it all to words will pour it out so you can leave it behind. The beauty in the written/typed word is editing. Oh yes. It's a beautiful thing.
Absolutely. I know you know where I'm coming from when I say that, how I write it, is how I will remember it. And I think I've done the day justice. I've already put my only negative thought out there (about wanting more candid shots).
And yes, there are some insanely awesome pictures to come from Jason!
I've been waiting since the day you left for this. (I love everything that has to deal with weddings..except the Royal Wedding way to over talked about for my liking but anways..) I was knee deep in a take home test before my last day of classes for college ever today and my mom said you posted your report up..I wanted to read it so bad, but alas I knew I wouldn't finish my work. So here I am at 12:15 am on Tuesday morning and just finished reading what you have posted so far on this wonderful report!
I want to say Congrats to you and Brett! Everything looked beautiful! I love the atmosphere of the Poly and hope to stay there one day
I've gotten pretty teary-eyed a few times already! Your dress is absolutely gorgeous! I especially love the picture of you on the balcony, the back of the dress is just simply beautiful! And I love what you had Jason do with the pictures of your dress in the trees and such.
There were many other things I wanted to say, but in all the excitement of your wedding day I have forgotten (I need to write these things down next time! haha)
Can't wait for the rest and your wedding will give me a lot of inspiration one day in the future when I plan my own Disney wedding
(And I've never introduced myself, I'm Jess :wave
And one more thing! Brett, loved your little bit in the Trip Report!
Hi, Jess! :wave: Nice to put a name with an avatar!
I'm glad to hear you've put the take-home test behind you. Those are NEVER fun.
You know, it's funny you mention the Royal Wedding, I could not have cared less about all the coverage leading up to it, and in fact got sick of it. And then when I saw images of it later I was fascinated. I mean, really, true live storybook princess material, right there! I kept thinking, under all of the pomp and circumstance, they are no different than the rest of us. It's just a girl walking down an aisle to marry a boy. I would've never withstood that kind of pressure, so kudos to Kate and Will.
The Poly, in my opinion, is the stuff dreams are made of, so I hope you get your chance to stay there one day. And thank you so much for the compliments and well wishes. I loved the back of my dress, too. As much as I didn't want a corset to begin with, the corset is what added just enough detail to the back of that dress.
I would recommend a Disney wedding 100%, and so would Brett. Best decision EVER.
OMG Holly you are simply breathtaking! Totally worth the wait for this report and seeing how lovely everything turned out. Your relationship with your Mom sounds very, very similar to mine. She's crafty, knows how to save a buck, comes up with very meaningful things and is the most wonderful woman on the face of the earth. I feel a Mom Convention coming on!! In all seriousness, you look incredible and I can't WAIT to read the rest!
Aww, Karen, thank you! A Mom Convention... I'm liking this idea. How cool would it be to plan a meet and greet trip such as that?!
OMG !!! Love his sense of humor !!! And Congratulations !:sohappy: Even though I'm new here I too have been waiting for your wedding report !!!
You look absolutely stunning !! I LOVE the balcony shots!!! Breathtaking !!
Thanks so much, Rose, and welcome to the boards. My dad is definitely witty. And I'm really glad we ended up having a balcony, mostly for the opportunity to take those pictures!
After a long 12 hour shift overnight, I am delirious, but had to stop by to see your updates...there's so much I want to comment on!
Your gown, your hair, the special hankie, the photography, your handsome groom....all so incredibly breathtaking. I found myself gasping with each picture. You truly had what most people would call a dream wedding.
Thank you again for sharing with all of us your special day. I'll be eagerly awaiting your update!
You're right, Diana, I couldn't have dreamed it to be any more spectacular. Brett and I are truly lucky to have had such a wonderful day.
I hope you're off in dream world now, getting some much needed rest!
I loved Brett's account...definitely added to the anticipation of the big day, and how lucky that he got to spend some time in the Magic Kingdom!
Holly--Your dress is gorgeous! I LOVE it. So elegant and so classy. I'm so glad you ended up finding everything you wanted in your dress and I love all of your mom's little touches
Everything about the wedding has been so tastefully done so far and you haven't even gotten to the ceremony part!
SO looking forward to reading the rest!
Thanks, Eleanor. It pleases me to read the words "tastefully done" and "classy" in your post. Those are two things that I'm hoping people see in the planning of our details. I don't want to look back and think "what was I thinking?!"
And really, it's so easy for boys, how many people get to spend the morning of their wedding at the Magic Kingdom?! Awesome.
First off you looked absolutely beautiful and I love your dress - a perfect fit for Sunset Pointe.
Reading this last post really brought back all the memories of my wedding day at the Poly...getting ready with my sisters (by the way I have a sister Holli) and mother in my room, feeling the same sense of being rushed even though you're not late, and the special last moments with my mom and dad...I completely understand everything you felt that morning. Sush a rush of emotions. Thank you for posting it.
Kevin Knox...your meeting with him that morning was the same experience I had with him. Interested to hear your final thoughts of him...
Can't wait for the rest!
Thanks, Alissa. And thanks for sharing Sunset Pointe with us.
Brett and I now like to refer to it as "our" hill. I think it's interesting to hear that you also felt rushed, even though you weren't late. I wonder why they do that? I know the planners have to make sure everything stays on schedule, but we started the ceremony on time and everything, so I don't think there was any reason to feel rushed.
Not once did we consider staying anywhere else, but I'm so glad we stayed at the Polynesian if only for the fact that we were enveloped in the theme all day long and we were already pretty much at the ceremony location.
Interesting to hear that your experience with Kevin Knox was the same. I remember looking at your pictures, but I forgot you had used him. The things I didn't like were so minor, yet so easily preventable.
And I'm cracking up all at the same time :lol:... I swear there was many an evening when I just sat and stared at Petunia with my hands poised over her keys NOT able to type a word. Promise! Honestly, I've had the pro photos since mid-April... couldn't even use that as an excuse. 
