Category Archives: Wedding

Disney, Wedding

The Proposal – Luke’s Version

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I don’t recall the exact moment I realized I was going to marry Fallon. But I’ve known for a long long time.

Since I can’t recall any specific instance – let’s post a photo of her here holding a Macho Nacho Helmet from Rexall Place.

See? Wouldn’t you marry the shit out of this woman?

All that said, I knew where we were going to get engaged since January of 2016. Walt Disney World. Shocker, right?

But how? There’s plenty of grand gesture opportunities. But none of them really seemed very us. While getting a rose and champagne with the ring at it at Be Our Guest does seem nifty, I can see how that would go.

Me: Nice night huh. How about that Grey Stuff? Delicious, right?

Fallon: Why are you so jittery and physically attractive tonight?

Me: You know. That’s how I do. You Know How I Do was a Taking Back Sunday song I think. Let’s get champagne!

Fallon: We never drink champagne. What’s going on.

Me: Explodes into a puddle of pure sweat on the floor

Fin

 

So on the Sunday of WDW Marathon Weekend, January of 2016, it all came together.

I’d just finished the 10k race 2 days prior. And we happened to head to Epcot on Marathon race day Sunday. I’ve been a runner on and off since 2012 and did a half marathon in 2013. But I’d never been THAT close to an actual finish line. The 10k had been far and away the best race I’ve ever run. Everything was so seamless and organized and exactly as you’d expect from that Disney brand of service. I shouldn’t have been surprised the full marathon seemed the same. The way the runners who were 42km deep by the time they hit Spaceship Earth were snaking through the open park. The way we as park goers moved through with minimal interruption was so cool. And the way when we were stopped we got to see how gruelling the run had been on the runners. How inspiring it was to see thousands upon thousands of people accomplishing a goal that they’d set out to achieve. How much I’d admired their ability to do all this while dressed like Chewbacca or Ursula the Sea Witch etc. It was all so amazing I was moved to tears. I can recall like 3 other times that happened to me as an adult. Once was a U2 show at Commonwealth Stadium when they went from one to With or Without You (this was an odd one since U2 are firmly in the like but not love column for me) in 2011, another was just a few weeks back when Frank Turner played The Way I Tend To Be and another time when I had a pretty good sandwich.

I knew 3 things that day. 1) I wanted to run this marathon. 2) I needed to run this marathon 3) I want and need to propose to Fallon HERE.

I think Fallon was feeling inspiration joy overdose with me that day. When I explained how I thought I could do it, but it’d take 2 years she was all in. Of course she was. She’s amazing. I should marry her. *ding* thing 3.

Truth be told I’d been certain I needed to propose to her for some time. But we’d just moved into our house that year and planning a wedding wasn’t practical. Ah, love. Such a practical thing, no?

It was such a great day. And we’d had such a great time in Florida, I knew this was the place to get engaged when the time was right.

So… where to start?

Buttons.  That’s where.

Fallon had got one of those Happy Birthday buttons on this trip and wore it like 4 or 5 days. She made me get one too because I have a January birthday as well (Yup, loaded with greatness this guy is) and it wasn’t my thing. But she revelled in that extra pixie dust that accompanies wearing such a bauble. So why not those Just Engaged buttons? Other than they’re more or less discontinued 😐

I found that out via Reddit. They’re not in circulation anymore hey? Well to hell with that. This is 2016. I have eBay and a major credit card. I’mma gonna get me some of these.

So I ordered Just Engaged buttons off the internet and had them shipped to my work. Where they were hid in my desk drawer between some sauce packets and butterfly clips. Now – on to stage 2 of Operation Propose to Fallon the Hottie.

What was phase 2?

I dunno.

I dunno was the plan from March 2016-November 2016 or so.

I wasn’t completely void of an idea. I figured it’s best to get it done in front of a PhotoPass photographer. I mean – there’s literally people with DSLRs all over the place ready to capture moments galore. But… where?

Not the castle. That’s for damned sure. That’s as cliched as the stupid husband trope of tv shows and commercials that’s funny af you guys.

If not the castle… where?

Splash Mountain?  But that’s for Hulkamania poses.

Spaceship Earth? But that’s for Hulkamania poses.

Get help from a face character? Anna would be game. But Elsa would be all “See sis! These 2 have known each other for YEARS! That’s how you get engaged!” and then I’d feel awkward cause I’m way more Team Anna. #finisheachotherssandwiches

Then it came to me. Why not Animal Kingdom? It’s her favourite park. Work up the courage with a Dole Whip + coconut rum or three then we’re all set.

I knew the spot.

The ring was easy. Or was it?

Fallon has this diamond ring she’d gotten from her grandmother. She’d said many times before that this is what she wanted to wear because it means so much to her. I’m pretty sure she’d often thought I wasn’t listening despite the not-so-subtle hints. But through all the phone-looking-at I had retained that knowledge.

Fortunately she’d taken it off around Halloween when we were gutting some pumpkins. Yes – they were Disney themed.

I was concerned she’d remember she took it off and put it back on before we headed back to the World. I’d had a Plan B where I took a photo – sent it to Lisa and had her obtain some fugazi costume jewellery version of it. Plus a Plan where I bought a ring from somewhere on property. As well as a Plan D where we used the Fuel Rod (these mammajammas are a frickin’ lifesaver and a half).

She didn’t put it back on from Halloween through New year’s Day though. On the morning we left for Florida this past January I hurried where the ring was hidden downstairs, attached it to a Winnipeg Jets lanyard (for easy transport and handy backpack access) and stowed it in my carry on. Along with the Just Engaged Buttons.  And the Just Married ones because the eBay guy sold those together.

The initial plan was to propose on our first Animal Kingdom day. AK was a zoo. I mean… it is a zoo too. But that day. Woof. The busiest park day of the entire trip. The PhotoPass photographers in front of the tree of life were swamped. That’s fine. That wasn’t the spot anyhow.

We’d planned for 2 days at AK. With FP+ on day 1 for Everest, Dinosaur, and Festival of the Lion King. Plus a 10:45 at Tusker House. Tusker House BTW – best character meal hands down. The point of this paragraph is there wasn’t a plan to head to the Kilimanjaro Safaris and the spot was between Asia and Africa.

No matter what I tried to do that day we didn’t make our way to the spot. “Let’s go see the naked mole rats” “Wanna see the Gorillas?” “Hey, how about we go to this specific out of the way PhotoPass spot that gets the backside of the Tree of Life in the background for no apparent immediate reason?”

Ugh.

It just didn’t happen. I considered saying Eff it! and proposing at the photographer with Everest in the background. But it didn’t feel right. And there were so. many. people.

It wasn’t right. I wanted it to be and we had a great day. Fallon got to FaceTime her grandmother with Mickey Mouse at Tusker House, we had awesome seats for Festival of the Lion King, we got a better perspective on how it’s tough to be a bug. Solid day on the whole. But Tuesday.  Tuesday I was gonna get it done. Three cheers to procrastination!!!

So Tuesday was kind of a blur. We entered the park through the Rainforest cafe because we know WTF is up. Then headed to the safaris because we were a little later arriving and had a fastpass. I remember being nervous, checking my pocket for the Jets lanyard several times. I remember being relieved to see a PhotoPass photographer approaching the spot just as we were getting there. He seemed grumpy but c’est la vie. So we get some shots all normal like and I reach into the pouch of my hoodie for the Just Engaged button. Time to piss or get off the porta-potty.  I said something along the line of “How about we get some photos with these? I showed it to Fallon and could tell she was processing what was happening slower than she should have. She had no idea somehow. I say this because while my fiancee is a wonderful woman, she’s not much of an actress. She was shocked.

It’s funny how some of the most important moments of your life go by almost in fast-forward. I truly can’t remember what I said. I’m the emotional one in this duo who’s prone to babbling. But Fallon – waterworks. Like Igu…Igudal…The Falls from Soarin’. I just remember getting down on one knee and never being so sure of anything in my life.

We had some time before heading over to the safari. So we started sending the appropriate texts, making phone calls and changing the ol’ relationship status. Engagement Day is like winning the Facebook lottery. Holy cow. Who knew so many people were paying attention? FYI – once you have more than 200 likes – you can trade them for a medium pizza.

And that’s the story as I remember it right now. I’m the luckiest man I know.

Oh this is Luke by the way. Fallon’s blog. Featuring me right here right now. I love her. She’s the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be. And now she’s an enemy of Bret the Hitman Hart. But she’s engaged too. To me. Muahahahahahaha!!!

Disney, Travel, Wedding

Flights

First of all – there are a number of airports in the Orlando area, but if you wish to use Disney’s Magical Express (the free transportation bus to your Disney hotel), you must fly into Orlando International Airport (MCO). This shouldn’t be an issue, as it is the largest and usually the cheapest option.

From the time you land in MCO until you reach your hotel, you can expect it to take at least an hour by the time you get to the Magical Express, wait for the bus to load and then the 30 minute drive to Disney. This might affect the flight time you choose.

When the Magical Express picks up you at the end of your trip, they will give you a time that is 3 hours prior to your flight if your first flight is Domestic, or 4 hours prior to your flight if your flight is international (on our last trip, we flew from MCO-Minneapolis-Edmonton, so that was considered domestic – it only looks at the first leg of your trip).

Security lines at MCO can be crazy sometimes. It all depends on what time your flight is leaving.

From Edmonton (YEG)

  • If traveling on Saturdays, WestJet does offer a direct flight to MCO. Obviously, the cost is a bit higher than a flight with layovers
  • The past two years that we’ve gone in January, the cost has been around $600/person round trip, and our flight times have been decent. I’d use that as a price point in finding a good flight.
  • WestJet is obviously our favourite airline, but Delta is our favourite American brand. You can also check United and American (and Air Canada if you like to punish yourself) for flights from YEG-MCO
  • WestJet flights typically have layovers in Toronto or Calgary. The new US terminal in Calgary is really nice!
  • Delta’s flights will usually take you to Minneapolis. We also had a 2nd layover in Detroit one year (which is a really nice airport!)
  • I used United Airlines to fly to Miami once, my layover was in Chicago (but I have no idea what the flight to MCO would be)

From Winnipeg

  • It looks like there are lots of options for non-stop flights with WestJet – Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays
  • All connecting flights with WestJet appear to go through Toronto.
  • Flight prices seem to be really decent – I did a quick search on Google Flights and there were options for under $500 return

From Toronto

  • Lucky bastards. There’s direct flights multiple times every day, and you can easily find one for under $400 return.

From Halifax

  • From a quick look, I think the flights will be in the $500 range.
  • WestJet appears to offer a direct flight on Sundays, but any other day of the week will require a transfer through Toronto.
  • It looks like a few of the US Airlines operate out of there as well, you have layovers in either Boston or New York. (United, American, etc)

From Fredericton/Moncton

  • All flights transfer through Toronto. From what I can tell, the only airline options are WestJet and Air Canada.
  • You should be able to find a return flight for under $600.
Disney, Travel, Wedding

Itinerary

Since we are still early in the planning stages, this is of course subject to change! If you don’t want to participate in any of these things, that’s your choice – I’m not going to force you to do anything.

December 30 – Luke and I arrive in Orlando. Check in to Pop Century. Head to MK to catch midnight fireworks. Late supper reservation at Tony’s at 9:20pm.

December 31 -Brunch at Narcoossee’s (11am),  Volunteer at Give Kids the World (3-6:30). Supper at Homecomin’ 8:50pm.

January 1 – Volunteer at Give Kids the World (11am-2:30pm). Check in to the Grand Floridian. Supper at 1900 Park Fare at 6:30pm. Desserts/drinks at California Grill 8:50pm.

January 2 – Check in to Old Key West for the remainder of the trip :), Park day Animal Kingdom. Breakfast at Boma, lunch at Tiffins, supper at Saana.

January 3 – Breakfast at Trail’s End, Race Expo, Epcot – snacks in World Showcase (Karamel Kuche, France ice cream, etc). Supper at Crew’s Cup Lounge.

January 4 – 5k race (Luke and I), Capt’ Cooks breakfast (Polynesian), Magic Kingdom morning, afternoon nap, evening at Hollywood Studios. Supper at Mama Melrose’s.

January 5 – Trattoria Al Forno breakfast. Hollywood Studios morning, Magic Kingdom afternoon, Liberty Tree Tavern 4:15pm, Happily Ever After dessert party.

January 6 – Hollywood Studios (Luke and I), lunch at 50’s Prime Time, back to Old Key West to greet family arriving this day, supper at Olivia’s or Disney Springs (staggered, as people arrive). Early bedtime for Luke.

January 7 – Marathon day (Luke). Early morning Fastpasses at Epcot, then watch Luke finish the race (probably around 1pm?) The marathon finishes just past Epcot, so he will enter through the park around mile 25. Disney Springs to Earl of Sandwich? Free afternoon – hotel swimming, park hop to Animal Kingdom (or other), shopping in Disney Springs, etc. Late supper reservation at ‘Ohana (9:45pm) -a Hawaiian-themed all you can eat meal. They bring unlimited chicken wings, pot stickers, salad, noodles, veggies, pineapple-coconut bread, skewers of meat (chicken, shrimp and steak) and bread pudding for dessert. It’s a lot of food, but it’s all really delicious! Cost for that is ~$45USD. Maybe a stop at Trader Sam’s (a super fun tiki bar) after ‘Ohana?

January 8 – Perhaps an Animal Kingdom park open until noon or so? Then Epcot day for everyone! I’d like for everyone to join us for this. I’m thinking get to the park around noon. Head to Le Cellier for 12:35 reservation (they have a prix fixe lunch menu that costs $49USD, but is for a 3 course meal; you can also order off the regular menu – their poutine with truffles was amazing and only costs $10USD). Spend the afternoon/early evening checking out the World Showcase and trying some different drinks from around the world – I’d like this to be like the bachelor/bachelorette party. Use  3 Fastpasses at some point (maybe use these at AK in the morning?). Supper at Garden Grill at 7:05pm (a character meal that is all you can eat, brought directly to your table). The food has been fantastic both times we’ve ate there, and the character interaction is a lot of fun. Cost: $45USD. After this, head out of the park and over to Jellyrolls – a dueling piano bar on the Boardwalk (walking distance from Epcot), or just go back to Old Key West and relax/go to bed.

January 9 – Magic Kingdom day! I know a few people are only planning on purchasing 2-day park tickets, but you can’t go to Disney and NOT go to Magic Kingdom. It’s the quintessential Disney park. We won’t need to tour the park all together this day, but it would be nice to meet up for lunch and supper. Pre-park open breakfast at Crystal Palace at 8:15am. Lunch at Be Our Guest at 1pm, a Beauty and the Beast themed restaurant located inside the Beast’s castle. Cost would be ~$25USD for an entree, drink and dessert (supper prices are significantly higher).  For supper – on your own, since there’s no shortage of things to eat, and no shortage of quick serve food options – yum Peco’s Bills! If you’d like, they offer a Happily Ever After dessert party for a reserved view of the fireworks ($59)

January 10 – Wedding Day! Ceremony at Sea Breeze Point at noon. Immediately following the ceremony would be a cake and champagne ceremony, followed by family pictures. From there, we would head over to the reception at Homecomin’ in Disney Springs. Start time for the reception is 3:30. Following the reception, we will head back to Epcot and go to a dessert party (you will NOT require a park ticket for this, Luke and I will be covering it). There will be a selection of sweets, and a private viewing area for the nighttime show – Illuminations (this is why we skipped watching this on January 8th). After Illuminations (it’ll be about 9:30pm), head out of the park and back to OKW to go to bed. I know this seems early, but it’ll be a long day.

January 11 – Anyone wishing to check out Universal Studios, this would be the best day for it. If you are interested in the Harry Potter World there, you will need a park-to-park ticket which costs $165USD. Anyone not going to Universal – our plan is to head to Animal Kingdom (my favourite park!) For those heading to Animal Kingdom, we will be doing brunch at Tusker House at 10:45am – one of our favourite restaurants on Disney property. Cost is $45USD, but it is a character buffet, and the food is delicious! We always leave stuffed, and barely eat anything else the rest of the day.

January 12 – Other option for a Universal Studios Day (depending on which Disney Park you want to go to – AK or DHS). Hollywood Studios day for those still around! Leave the park and head to Beaches and Cream for lunch at 1:15pm (most amazing ice cream sundaes ever, and possibly the best grilled cheese I’ve ever ate), and then Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party that evening (so worth the money – I think Luke and I had 12 alcoholic drinks between us, plus the food was all great, and the VIP reserved viewing area for the fireworks was incredible).

January 13 – Go home day 🙁

 

Wedding

The Wedding Party!

Maid of Honor – Ashley

Image may contain: 2 people, people standing, outdoor and nature

I met Ashley the first summer I spent in Fort McMurray, back in 2007. We were both working as summer students at Suncor, and we immediately bonded over our mutual love of 90’s boy bands. We were 19, dumb and made so many memories that summer that we decided to do it all over again the next summer! We even went and got matching Industrial piercings in our ears that second summer… Eventually, I made the permanent move to Alberta in April 2010, and we were both living back in Fort McMurray again when we decided to move to Edmonton together that summer – where we’ve both been ever since. I had the privilege of standing up as Ashley’s maid of honor at her wedding in 2015, so now it’s her turn to do the same for me!

Bridesmaid – Steph

Image may contain: one or more people, night and closeup

I met Steph in our first year of university, back in 2006. We were living in the same residence – and would have had a bunch of classes together if I had actually went to class… I like to think I’m her “bad influence” friend – Steph held my hand while I got three out of four of my tattoos, and I held her hand when she got her second set of holes in her ears and her belly button pierced.  We lived together (along with five guys) for eight months in 2008-2009 – and without her I would have never survived that experience…

Bridesmaid: Lauren

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I first met Lauren in my second year of university, in 2007 – except I refused to believe her name was actually Lauren, and kept insisting it was Julia. We quickly became friends, and went on our fair share of adventures (all of which have photographic evidence, and are quite enjoyable to look through). I’m never bored when she’s around – Lauren can always come up with the best party themes! It’s just too bad our days as a songwriting duo never panned out…

And, just because I can, here’s more pictures 🙂

Image may contain: 3 people Halifax, 2014

Image may contain: one or more people and people standingEdmonton,  2012

No automatic alt text available. Edmonton, 2011

Image may contain: one or more people and people standing Sackville, 2009

No automatic alt text available. Fort McMurray, 2008

Image may contain: one or more people, people standing, sky, beard and outdoor Prince Edward Island, 2008

Disney, Travel, Wedding

Disney Lingo

I use some of these abbreviations a lot, so this should help you understand what I’m actually saying:

  • 7DMT – Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, a ride in Magic Kingdom
  • ADR – Advance Dining Reservation, can be made 180 days out
  • AK (or sometimes DAK) – Animal Kingdom theme park
  • AP – Annual Pass
  • BOG – Be Our Guest, a Beauty and the Beast themed restuarant located in Magic Kingdom
  • CM – Cast member, an employee at Disney
  • DLR – Disneyland Resort, located in Anaheim California
  • DME – Disney’s Magical Express, the bus that takes you to/from the airport
  • DVC – Disney Vacation Club, the timeshares we rent
  • ECV – Electric Convience Vehicle, a motorized wheelchair or scooter
  • FoTLK – Festival of the Lion King, a stage show at Animal Kingdom Park
  • FP+ – Fastpass +, allows you to enter a shorter line for rides
  • HS (or sometimes DHS) – Hollywood Studios theme park
  • MDE – My Disney Experience, an app that will become your best friend
  • MK – Magic Kingdom theme park
  • OKW – Old Key West resort
  • QS – quick service meal, a take-out counter or cafeteria-style usually
  • ToT – Tower of Terror, a ride at Hollywood Studios
  • TS – Table Service Meal, an actual sit-down restaurant
  • WDW – Walt Disney World Resort, located in Orlando Florida