One of the biggest (in a way) challenges to come to a decision over in regards to the reception is the toasts. It can be a beautiful and touching point in the reception where people profess how much the couple is meant to be together and where public well-wishes are given by the closest of kin. It is a wonderful thing, but!

Ever been to a wedding where it felt like the toasts just kept going and going and going and going…?

…And then your glass either becomes empty and you’re just sitting there or you start feeling like this:

It’s a sticky situation and a concern I’ve had for our wedding. Do you only allow so many to toast and ask them in advanced, meaning only those people can give a toast? Do you leave it open and just let person after person make their proclamations and share their stories?

I want to hear whatever anyone and everyone has to share, but I don’t want people becoming bored from too many speeches or deal with the empty glass dilemma. At least I think it was a dilemma. I was very sad when my glass was empty after the twelfth toast and I couldn’t do much else other than listen to the toasters.

What did/would you do? Do you think it rude not to open the floor to people whom want to give toasts?

I’m not sure yet what this post is going to be about. But referencing last week’s post, yes, the happy, overly enthusiastic gal that caught the bouquet is me. And THAT’S how you do it.

That is why it really bugs me when I see gals trudge up to the dance floor begrudgingly. In the end, this is all supposed to be in good fun. But people take it all way too seriously. Or don’t know how to take it lightly.

I have two bouquets in my possession. Hee hee hee. Of four of my aunts and uncles weddings, I caught the bouquets at two of them. I think of the other two weddings, I was either too young or they didn’t do a bouquet toss.

I love the bouquet toss! If it weren’t my own wedding, I’d participate in mine. XD

Remember ladies, it’s supposed to be fun!

No fun Disney gifs for this one…at least I couldn’t think of one, and I think that’s a good thing.

(by the way, I totally hope all our single guys out there get as worked up as these gents did. If anything, they look like they’re having a great time! If I have to sit having the public watch someone put their head up my dress, the guys catching what’s been removed can at least look like they’re having fun)

This tradition certainly has its appeal more on the part of getting the garter than the actual tossing of the garter for guests. But oh the actual history behind this tradition is priceless, a bit frightening, but also humorous in a twisted way. Look it up for yourself. Let’s say it brings about a whole new meaning to “behind closed doors”.

I know there are a lot of modern-day brides that whine and groan about this and the bouquet toss tradition, which I find super silly. It’s another way to engage your guests and I’ve always found them fun and amusing. But I’m also guilty of being a bouquet diver, so I’m not one to talk. ^^; But we’ll talk about that next time. With photographic evidence. XD

What have you found to be your favorite garter toss ritual you’ve been witness to?

If at all. I know some people completely disagree with this one, but I’m always happy to hear why.

Disneyland, as always, was AWESOME. It’s super hard for me not to have a good time, and when I’m not having one, it actually has nothing to do with the Magic Kingdom its self. And I have to admit I wasn’t the greatest travel companion this time around. I was super grouchy because I was running on pretty much zero from the work week and was a bit snappy with everyone we were traveling with. >.<;;; “Rawr rawr rawr,” I’m sure I sounded like. Erick caught a perfect shot when I was being crabby…

Anywhos! It was a blast. For the first time in going to Disneyland since I’ve been aware, we parked in the parking structure. With our annual passes, we got free parking! It was awesome. And that’s where the perks began…

Now the sole and main purpose of this trip was to activate our annual passes that we had recently purchased online. Now the catch for annual passes is that you can’t cash in on any of the perks unless you activate your pass. So this was our first stop – to head to the Disneyland gates and activate them. And here we are being proud Disneyland annual passport holders! XD

We spent a good portion of the day going between both parks. Honestly? We didn’t stop. We took a little twenty-minute break at one point to eat lunch and then a little later in the evening to have a snack in Downtown Disney. But those were our only breaks. We were constantly moving. And having a lot of fun at the same time, of course!

Speaking of our snackage in Downtown Disney, it is now official that Erick and I cannot go to Disneyland without ordering some beignets. They are very heavenly treats. One of my favorites in the Disneyland resort. And what are beignets? Watch Princess and the Frog and that powdered doughnut they’re always eating and referencing to is what a beignet is.

This trip was also my first time actually experiencing night time in Disneyland. I want to do it again and take a ton more pictures! It’s a TOTALLY different experience from the parks during the day. Every thing was all lit up like a carnival, it was astounding! And I was like… “More magic~!” So we took a picture. And stayed until the park closed.

Our next trip to Disneyland will be at the beginning of June. I don’t know if I can wait until then!

I know it’s supposed to be a wedding post today and I missed Montessori Monday on Monday, but I just haven’t been feeling like posting anything this week, really. I’ve been really busy with completing two manuals for one of my classes and preoccupied thinking about the tragic events in Boston.

I’m also preparing for a day trip to Disneyland on Saturday, so my brain is a bit all over the place. We’ll see how it goes, but hopefully I’ll be back to regular posting next week. If not…then soon enough. But I really hope sooner, because I cannot wait to share about our trip! XD

Yes, it was two Mondays ago and it’s not a Monday, but I still wanted to talk about it. And with the conclusion of my Mathematics course, it seemed appropriate to retouch on it and reinitiate my Montessori days.

How many of you wish you could have physically AND visibly learned your arithmetic? Can you even imagine being able to touch your math problem in order to understand it?

This is the beauty of Montessori’s mathematics. It doesn’t focus on learning the numbers and being able to name them. Yes, that is a part of it. But the main focus is UNDERSTANDING what the numbers are. Your first work from the mathematics shelf is a job called the number rods. The child is not introduced to the written number (1, 2, 3, et cetera). Instead, the number rods are a set of rods in alternating colors of red and blue or red and tan.

The first rod is just of a red section. The second rod has one red and one blue/tan section. The rod after that continues in the pattern of red, blue, red and so on and so forth until you end with a rod with ten sections alternating red and blue. This is how numbers are introduced. No visible written numbers. Just an object. And the children are introduced to the concept of counting and amounts (how many one represents) through this. The one number rod shows the amount of one and the child is given the language of “one”. The two number rod shows that there are two sections and you count them individually (“one, two”) but it is one whole piece to show it is a group of two ones.

AMAZING!

And they’re all like this. All the math materials. What do you think?

What is my favorite thing about weddings? You know? There are som many things, but I know what I loved seeing in my mother’s pictures are the ones of the rice toss.

Although I never was one to “dream since I was a little girl about my wedding day”, I always knew I wanted rice thrown. Lots and lots of rice. Like, people just wanting to throw as much of it as they can cause it’s there and people like throwing things and it’d make awesome photos.

But sadly, did you hear? Nearly no one is allowed to throw rice anymore. It’s one tradition that makes me sad that it’s been almost completely kicked out the door. Something about birds exploding, which isn’t really true, but whatever.

Today, people have found lost of other alternatives. I’ve seen pom poms, sparklers, confetti, bird seed, ribbon wands, bubbles, rose petals…it’s pretty amazing and creative what people come up with. But me? I still want the rice. I can’t have it, but I’m searching for similar and/or alternative rice-look-a-likes!

I will not be deterred! I will have my rice-look-a-like-thingy!

One of the biggest concern I’ve had in regards to planning is orchestrating guests for taking family photos! @_@

I don’t even know where to begin!

How do you let people know? I mean, you don’t need all your guests to linger about after the wedding ceremony while just some of them are taking photos. Yes, we could have all of our guests take a picture, but with an estimated guest list of three hundred, that’s a lot of photos….

I’ve thought about making note of it in a letter that would be put in the welcome bags or on the website, but would it be en masse or strictly to those that need to be present for the family photos?

The many mysteries of a wedding…

I’m using a combination of The Bridal Guide Countdown and The Knot Wedding Planner Calendar

12+ Months to Go!

Announce your engagement – √

We called the proper lines before posting on the social networks.

Choose a wedding theme and style – √

Yes and no? We’ve got a sense of the style, just didn’t go with a specific theme for feeling too restrained.

Work out a basic wedding budget – √

Research reception venues – √

Disneyland!

Determine number of guests – √

We’re estimating 300 guests IF everyone invited comes and they bring a guest.

Look through bridal magazines for attire ideas – √

Not too much. I pretty much knew what I wanted for myself and my ladies from the beginning.

Meet potential wedding consultants – √

Disneyland!

Research wedding pros (photographers, videographers, DJs, Ceremony musicians). Set up appointments and review portfolios. – √

Switzerfilm! Our photographer and videographers were really the only vendors we had to look for. Disney provides EVERYTHING else.

Pick a wedding date and time. – √

March 29th, 2014! Squee! The main reason for this post. The exact time, however, is still being approved.

Ask friends and relatives to be in the wedding party – √

Totally. Asked the best people in the world.

Have an engagement party. – X

Too late. Oh well. XD

Can I just say HOW exciting it is to receive a giant box from the Disneystore?  They really put the magic in the box.

And the actual wrapping and dress bag of the gown was just as enchanting.

I know not the most flattering costume I’ve ever owned, at least, it certainly wasn’t design for buxom hourglass ladies such as myself, but I think I can make it work. We just need to take some photos outside of our tiny apartment. >.<;; And some getting used to the character. I might have some photos to share over the weekend. We’re going to see the movie tomorrow (although now technically tonight…) and I’m dressing up and wearing this to the show.

See you in Oz!