CARYN & MARK's Trip Report****6/8 added more pics, dried bouquet and wedding album***

[scarlett873]

Welcome home!! Congrats again!!!

Can't wait for the pictures!!!!

 

[caryndisneydiva]

Congratulations!!​

Wow, a lot happens in the one night I'm away from my computer. You gotta hurry up with the TR so I can read it all up before we leave on Friday. I'm glad you're back on the board, but soooo sad that you're not in the World. Come back, come back!

thanks wendy! how'd the hair trial go? do we have pics?

CONGRATULATIONS!!

YAY, I'm so glad to be reading your TR! It's great so far and I can't wait to read more and see lots of amazing pics. What Mark said is so incredibly sweet. I wish you both the best!

Nikki

he is a doll! thanks!

Welcome home!! Congrats again!!!

Can't wait for the pictures!!!!

i wonder when randy's pics will be up...i can't wait to see them!

 

[caryndisneydiva]

Day 4- Thursday January 24, 2008 Wedding day! The 21 hour day begins...

Part one-why can’t we sleep?

The 21 hour day began officially at around 4:30am when I woke up, but I didn’t sleep at all that night. Maybe I slept for 2 hours or so…I had a nightmare that Mark was going to die going to pick his parents and the Rabbi up at the ASM and couldn’t get back to sleep without making alternate plans for them to arrive at BW that morning. I was seriously freaked out. Someone had a dream a few days before the wedding that I was pregnant at the wedding with a boy. I always heard that when you dream about pregnancy it means someone is going to die and I was a WRECK when I woke up. I made an alternate plan for my dad to bring everyone to the BW and Mark was going to hang in the Innkeepers Club until the wedding. I actually felt a lot better after I made that plan (I was slightly maniac before that, attempting to get on the internet and google the meaning of said dream…). I STILL couldn’t get to sleep so I lay in bed for the next three hours. At one point, Mark woke up and said he couldn’t wait for the wedding to be over so we could stop this ridiculous stress. I couldn’t agree more. I’m so glad that we decided to stay together that night. It wasn’t ever really an option not to, since we’ve lived together forever, I just would have been more of a wreck had he not been there.

Part 2: getting ready

FINALLY at 4:30 I decided to get up and take a nice hot shower. By the time I got out and into my “getting ready” outfit, my Mom and Dad arrived and my sisters were 2 steps behind, with Ana and Lily from Beaute Speciale behind them. If I have ever made a good decision in my life, it was using Ana. I can’t say enough good things about her.

Since I hadn’t slept, hadn’t really eaten all week (seriously) the anxiety was palpable. I look at pictures now and think that I was emaciated on that morning. It was really horrible. I couldn’t pull myself out of my nervousness and that feeling got worse and worse until Mark and I walked back down the aisle. I was trying to equate the whole experience to performing when I was a ballet dancer-didn’t work. Ana and Lily are true professionals and know exactly what needed to happen. Ana even helped me get into my dress! Ok, back to getting ready…

Here I am, nervously organizing my jewelry…

Dad left and quickly returned with Dunkin Donuts and coffee and then he left that seriously estrogen filled environment for the quiet of his room at the ASM. I sent him off with instructions to call Mark’s parents and tell them of the new transportation plans (Mark wasn’t going to pick them up because I had a vision that he was going to get into a wreck and die). I think my Mom’s hair was first since it’s so short.

Then they did one of my sisters make-up, megan I think, it looked great.

Marion called at around 6:30 to make sure I would stay hidden in the GS until it was time for me to appear in the lobby. I was in the bathroom when she called and I think my mom talked to her. I had Mark shower at this point and start to get ready, then lily did his hair. I had planned on them doing his faux hawk since I knew I wouldn’t be able to do it that morning.

We got him dressed and sent him and Lindsay to the Innkeepers Club.

We had the grand plan that I was going to eat that morning-didn’t happen.

After Mark left, the anxiety became terrifying. The room was a mess, I still had some stuff to pack and we needed to have the luggage transferred to the Poly. I was barking orders at Megan and my mother and begging for my mom to call my dad to come to me. I knew he’d be able to make everything right. Lindsay was still with Mark at the concierge lounge. When she reappeared with 2 croissants for me, I just looked at her and said, “yeah that’s not going to happen, there is no way I can eat right now.” I asked her where Mark was and she told me that he went to check us into the Poly. I almost had a heart attack based on the panic attack I’d had a few hours before. There was no time to focus on that though as I kept getting up in the middle of my hair and make up and Ana and Lily would kindly remind me to sit down so they could finish and I looked beautiful and not to stress etc. Right when I sat down for hair, or make-up, don’t remember which one, Randy stopped by and started clicking. I think I was in a super snappy mood and I apologized to him in advance for my bridezillaness. He didn’t really say anything, which threw me for a minute. He said that my flowers were right behind him. Oh yay! I was wondering when they would get there. The bouquet was HUGE and it was PERFECT. The yellow touches were lovely. I was worried that it would look like a big sun, but the colors were amazing. I had planned putting my bouquet jewels in the flowers and they were laying out on the coffee table but the moment I saw my bouquet I looked at my mom and said, “I’m not touching it.” It was stunning. Laura Kidd outdid herself. She really did. Every time I think back to my day, I envision my bouquet. It was STUNNING. Anyone who has any doubts about Disney floral, my money was well well spent. I loved them!!!

Randy took a ton of shots of my dress and then he escaped the estrogen filled GS to go find Mark in the lobby for his pictures.

We finally got my hair/make up done, it took forever since I kept getting up. She put the cage on to test it when Randy was there and he was enthralled with it. He had never had a bride wear a cage before and he loved it! I also had the cathedral, which I loved, I was originally worried that it would take away from the cage, but it didn’t. I think it was a nice touch. Ana put both of them on and helped me get into my dress, which was a bit of an issue. She had suggested (bless her) that I put the hoop and crinoline on the floor and the dress over it, so that I could step into the dress since it couldn’t go over my head. This was the first time I looked at my dress and realized just how big it was…it took three people to get me in it and I felt so bad that my butt was in Ana’s face…but finally it was on and we were (almost) ready to rock and roll!

 

[Goldeelox9]

i can't wait to read YOUR tr! a dcl wedding! i'm super excited for you! maybe we'll book and lurk at your wedding...!

You don't have to lurk, I will help you book and you can have a seat with the other guests right on the beach!

 

[MistressOfAllEvil]

Oh Caryn! I'm sooo sorry about the nightmare and the stress and everything. I think we're very similar with the stress. I've already stopped sleeping. This started Sunday night. And then again last night. I can't get to sleep/stay asleep!

 

[BaBeeCee14]

Caryn - you deserve an award for fastest TR! I can't wait to see you in your dress!!! More please...

 

[Desnik]

I am so lovin reading all about your adventure!! I can't wait to read more and see pics of you in your dress!! Again, thank you so much for posting so soon after your wedding! You are awesome!!!

 

[caryndisneydiva]

You don't have to lurk, I will help you book and you can have a seat with the other guests right on the beach!

mark and i will be discussing this plan as soon as he awakes...

Oh Caryn! I'm sooo sorry about the nightmare and the stress and everything. I think we're very similar with the stress. I've already stopped sleeping. This started Sunday night. And then again last night. I can't get to sleep/stay asleep!

just wait. the day after your wedding, all of the stress is gone and you feel like a new person!

Caryn - you deserve an award for fastest TR! I can't wait to see you in your dress!!! More please...

I am so lovin reading all about your adventure!! I can't wait to read more and see pics of you in your dress!! Again, thank you so much for posting so soon after your wedding! You are awesome!!!

thanks girls! i figure if i didn't do it now, it'll never get done!

 

[Keira1387]

I need MORE!!! I want to see the dress pics!!! I'm waiting with suspense

 

[caryndisneydiva]

I need MORE!!! I want to see the dress pics!!! I'm waiting with suspense

here you go!!!

 

[caryndisneydiva]

Since I just got back from my trip, i have very limited pics. i wanted to get my tr started as soon as possible...i'll post more/better pics at the end of this thread as soon as i receive them.

Part 3: We’re finally ready! Can I go yet??????

My dad disappeared for a minute, I think he went to the car to drop something or whatever, I’m not sure where he went…but he came back pretty quickly and bell services came to take our luggage. How easy is that?

I now began the, what seemed to be, endless wait to leave the GS and go to the lobby for my pics. They were doing a ton of construction on the GS’s that were in between us and the lobby, I had just seen all the workers arrive for the day and was worried about how their equipment was going to be set up and if I would be able to get around it since the path was so narrow (narrow paths were a problem for me that day…). I was ALSO worried about how I was going to get out of my suite…we were in the honeymoon GS with the heart shaped shrubs in front and there were shrubs leading up the super tiny path to the room from the gate. I took all of the sheets off the beds and the extra blankets and had my sisters cover the shrubs so it didn’t shrub stain my dress. At one point, a lady from mousekeeping walked by and started to disassemble my dress stain saving device and I was none too pleased with her. Megan had to run out of the GS screaming, “nooooooooo!” until she stopped. Back to the construction workers…they were super aware that there was a bride waiting to move, so it shouldn’t have been a problem for them to set their paint up elsewhere, but they gave Randy a problem when he asked them to wait. There were some words exchanged (gooooo Randy!) so Lindsay went out and yelled at them. I thanked them profusely on my walk to the lobby. They looked annoyed. Oh well. I’m sure they’ll understand when their daughters get married one day…

While I was not so patiently waiting to get the heck out of there, I was practicing stairs and discovered the issue with my hoop skirt, so my mom had to cut the white part out. Randy did some shots of me in the room and on the stairs and we left-FINALLY!

Part 4: And we’re off (to the lobby, for pics…)

I swear, I felt like Britney spears cruising around LA. There were paparazzi EVERYWHERE! And not just the ones that I hired! Our first stop was the steps leading up to the lobby. I took lots of pics outside there. Then we headed inside to the lobby and took pics in front of the doors that lead down the stairs to the GS’s. Sage appeared at this point with a camera in hand and I introduced myself to her. She is a super cute little blond thing and so so so bubbly! We made our way into the lobby and out onto the BW verandah. I saw most of my guests at this point and I began to feel really overwhelmed. We were standing downstairs outside and they were all just gawking at me. Randy noticed my discomfort and ushered me under the stairs until they were all taken to SBP. We then headed back upstairs (stairs were REALLY fun in my huge dress) and took tons more pictures. There were people everywhere just staring at me…it was kind of odd. They wouldn’t even say anything, they’d just gawk. This is when my ballet training came into good use. I just ignored them all, smiled and waved at the little girls and focused on Randy. Marion and Keri-Ann from DFTW were waiting in the lobby. They were great, I was really glad that I had met Kerri-Ann a few days prior. At one point, Mark’s business partners and their girlfriends (herein referred to as the Barbie doll look a likes who refused to eat all day) were passing through the lobby on their way to SBP. Their snarky looks were obvious to many and Keri-Ann noticed and said, “are you here for the Craig/DeLange wedding? Please move away from the bride.” HILARIOUS. Marion soon told us that the Rolls had arrived and she escorted my sisters to SBP to await my arrival. My parents and I were waiting in the BW lobby near the big couch, where I actually got to sit for a precious moment. The dress was starting to hurt…

Part 5: And we’re off (in the Rolls to the altar…)

My mother was in paparazzi heaven. All she could keep saying was, “this is so coooool.” The Rolls picks Mom, Dad and I up in front of the BW lobby. There was a DFTW guy named Andrew there and bless his heart, they made that boy RUN in front of the car, all the way behind the BW, in front of ADH, down the boardwalk until we reached SBP. I felt so bad for him and remarked that it was a good thing it was January and not July…

So we’re in the Rolls, Mom is doing the celebutante waive to all the well wishers staring at me and I remarked to my father that this was the time where he is supposed to say, “now Caryn, if this isn’t the right decision for you, we can just take the Rolls and head to Miami.” He said, “uh no. I’m not telling you that.” We paused on the boardwalk in front of Spoodles, all the CM’s were outside watching, there were a bunch of people sitting outside the bakery and I got my first glimpse of Mark standing with his parents. I saw the Rabbi enter, then Mark and his parents.

Lindsay and Megan entered from opposite sides of the pavilion (I forgot to tell Randy about this important part, so I think pics got messed up. Either way, it caused some confusion…) and then we pulled up in front.

I told my mother on the drive that Mark was either going to pass out from nervousness or sit there and crack jokes until I arrived. Thankfully the latter was true…

Part 6: And I’m off (to marry mark..)

I don’t really remember much of this part, it’s very spotty…so I’ll rely on the spotty memories that I do have and other people’s recollections of the moments…

I fell out of the Rolls, that dress was huge mind you, the driver handed me my bouquet and I went around the front of the car to meet my parents. The first thing I noticed was that SBP was PACKED. Like, to the brim. My mother was happily jaunting along and my father and I kept tripping over one another. I have three of his footprints on my dress…I think I was like, “DAAAD, stop stepping on my dress!” the whole way down the aisle. I was seriously nervous. My uncle even told me that he was surprised at how nervous I looked.

We proceeded down the aisle to my super secret, walking down the aisle song, the theme from “star trek: TNG.” Feel free to laugh at me all you want. I LOVE that song. It took my forever to find sheet music for it. It’s one of our favorite shows and I wanted something that would make Mark smile!

I stopped before Mark, he shook my dad’s hand. I kissed my mom, then my dad and Mark took my hand and we finally were standing before Rabbi Jimmy. I handed my bouquet off to Lindsay and took my gloves off and gave them to her as well. I started to cry and sniffle (totally hypocritical, I know, I was going to banish the criers-oh well), Lindsay handed me a tissue, I dabbed my eyes (which wasn’t easy under the cage) and handed the tissue back to her.

I looked down and saw that Rabbi Jimmy was wearing black crocs and I thought it was so funny! It made me feel a bit more comfortable. The ceremony last all of 10 minutes (inspiration for said short ceremony was “I do, I do, We’re done.). We said our I do’s, then we said some sort of pre-written vow that had the word “beloved” in it and it was time to do the ring thing. Megan was so funny, when the Rabbi asked for the rings, she said, “I didn’t forget them!” that was a relief! I’d given Lindsay my engagement ring to wear, so Mark just had to slip that baby on my finger and then it was my turn…like a nervous, bumbling fool, I proceed to put Mark’s ring on his RIGHT hand and didn’t even notice until Randy pointed it out when we were taking pics about an hour later. See what uncontrollable nervousness does to you on your wedding day???

The rabbi told a story, something about a cup and a saucer and he said Mark could kiss me (he did) and we were DONE!!!

YIPPEEEE! I’ll assume that everyone cheered, but I don’t remember. Lin gave me back my engagement ring and we walked back down the aisle to The Verve’s, “Bittersweet Symphony” which was so very beautiful and clear in that moment. I remember standing on the street in front of the Rolls thinking, “oh, that’s Bittersweet Symphony, it sounds really good!” I think I’d forgotten that was the song I’d chosen.

We were supposed to get back into the Rolls, which was supposed to drive us 3 feet to the side entrance to SBP for our staged bubble exit. I really didn’t want to shove my big self into that car again, so we just walked to the entrance and through the bubble blowers! Lindsay later told me that Randy was so funny, he would yell things like, “left side, we need more bubbles!” When we got back to the altar site, we were congratulated by like, everyone, we took pics with the family and then they all left to go to the pre-reception at LSS. The violinist was fantastic, my dad later told me that he was taking requests at the cocktail hour! So cool! He re-played the Star Trek song because Mark hadn’t heard it. Mark asked him if that was the weirdest thing he’d ever been asked to play at a wedding and he said yes, but that lots of brides walk down the aisle to the “Death March” from Star Wars. See? I’m not that odd after all!

Here are two shots of my parents and I taking pics after the ceremony

 

[FIREFLY01]

THANK YOU THANK YOU
YOUR TR IS GREAT AND GETTING ME SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS WEEKEND, I AM USING ANA AND RANDY ALSO, I'M SO GLAD YOU LIKED THEM! MAKES ME FEEL BETTER (I NEVER DID HAIR TRIAL AND WAS KINDA WORRIED)

 

[keenercam]

Oh, Caryn, you poor thing! Oh, honey, I am so sorry that you were so stressed and had no food and no sleep. I just can't imagine how the cumulative effect of all of that must have been hitting you. I am sure that when we see the pix we'll be impressed with how you looked and how everything came together, but I really, really wish it had been so much more enjoyable for you.

Thank you for coming back and sharing so many details with us so quickly. I hate that you are re-living all the anxiety you felt, but I hope that as time goes on you'll just laugh off the stress of the day and think of it all very happily! And major, major kudos to Mark for expressing his contentment with married life.

ETA: okay, obviously, we were posting at almost the same time! sorry!

 

[Lisella]

Congratulations, Caryn!

I was so surprised to see you back so soon, but selfishly very excited to read the report as I've been looking forward to it . Of course, I am loving it so far and cannot wait to read more and also see your pictures. I also love the added reports from your sisters - very nice touch and fun, too!

 

[orangetiggs]

I LOVE your flowers and you looked stunning.

What did you ask for with those flowers they are so big! Also if you dont mnid me asking how much were they??

 

[scarlett873]

Absolutely stunning bride!!! Can't wait for more!!

 

[caryndisneydiva]

THANK YOU THANK YOU
YOUR TR IS GREAT AND GETTING ME SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS WEEKEND, I AM USING ANA AND RANDY ALSO, I'M SO GLAD YOU LIKED THEM! MAKES ME FEEL BETTER (I NEVER DID HAIR TRIAL AND WAS KINDA WORRIED)

i didn't do a trial either. she is fabulous. she truly is. i didn't like my hair the first time she did it, but she hadn't sprayed it, so she re-did it. every time they did anything they'd ask if i liked it, so there wasn't a problem changing. she is terrific. you're in good hands.

randy speaks for himself. he is so creative and innovative, i can't say enough good things about him. i can't wait for his pics to come. i bought 4 photo albums in disney in anticipation of his fabulousness!!!

Oh, Caryn, you poor thing! Oh, honey, I am so sorry that you were so stressed and had no food and no sleep. I just can't imagine how the cumulative effect of all of that must have been hitting you. I am sure that when we see the pix we'll be impressed with how you looked and how everything came together, but I really, really wish it had been so much more enjoyable for you.

Thank you for coming back and sharing so many details with us so quickly. I hate that you are re-living all the anxiety you felt, but I hope that as time goes on you'll just laugh off the stress of the day and think of it all very happily! And major, major kudos to Mark for expressing his contentment with married life. :cloud9

it actually ended up being very enjoyable and when i look back on the day, i am happy. leading up to it, and right after the reception were killer though. stress is bad. like. really bad. i had been sick for over 2 months and literally, 2 days after my wedding, all the symptoms were gone. amazing.

i was surprised by the change in mark. since we've lived together for such a long time, i wasn't anticipating feeling any different. since he is significantly older than me (doesn't look it, doesn't act it ) i was a bit worried with how marriage would affect him, but so far so good!

Congratulations, Caryn!

I was so surprised to see you back so soon, but selfishly very excited to read the report as I've been looking forward to it . Of course, I am loving it so far and cannot wait to read more and also see your pictures. I also love the added reports from your sisters - very nice touch and fun, too!

yes. we're back. unfortunately. i miss disney. i'm trying to go back next week though AND mark says we can go back in a month or 2! we still haven't planned a honeymoon, so i really need to get on that...

 

[BaBeeCee14]

Caryn! You look BEAUTIFUL!!! I love the cage veil! Its great to be able to see everything together with the dress, veils, and bouquet... I can't wait to see Randy's pictures!!

 

[caryndisneydiva]

I LOVE your flowers and you looked stunning.

What did you ask for with those flowers they are so big! Also if you dont mnid me asking how much were they??

my bouquet was $350. i told her that i wanted the biggest bouquet of roses that she had ever made. it weighed a ton, but i loved it.

Absolutely stunning bride!!! Can't wait for more!!

thanks!

 

[caryndisneydiva]

Caryn! You look BEAUTIFUL!!! I love the cage veil! Its great to be able to see everything together with the dress, veils, and bouquet... I can't wait to see Randy's pictures!!

thanks! i can't wait to see his pics either! he said 3 to 4 weeks! agh!