The Proposal

How we got engaged

Ryan's version of this story was going to be a little exaggerated (It involved sailing through storms on the high seas and fighting sea creatures)
So I'm going to tell it. Ryan told me that we had plans for Sunday but wouldn't tell me what they were. He drove me all the way out to the Kemah boardwalk. (I had been asking questions earlier in the day but he wouldn't answer so I finally just gave up and stopped asking). We arrived and went to a little sailing shop where they asked us if we were excited. (I didn't say much because I wasn't quite sure what we were going to be doing). They walked us out to the docks and got us settled on their largest sailing boat. A 45 foot Hunter. We had one little captain man on board with us.
So they all kept asking us if it was a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary or something. Ryan told them that there was no special occasion at first and then said "Well, her birthday is coming up soon." So I thought that might be what this trip was for. We got to help sail a little bit and then once we turned the boat around to head back towards shore we asked to go sit on the front of the boat.
We walked towards the front and took lots of pictures and after a while Ryan said that he lied about it being a special occasion. He pulled out the ring in the box from his pocket and asked me to marry him. I said "wow!" about the ring before I said yes. Oops! Then I had him put it on my finger.
Immediately after this the boat keeled to the side and we had to hang on to stay on the boat. It was a little frightening.
It was a wonderful weekend and a beautiful proposal!

How We Met

I came across a website that I had made right after we got engaged and I realized that I had put all of the cute stories on that website instead. So I am copying them here. Here is the story of how we met:

Brittany and Ryan met on November 3rd, 2007. (Ryan remembers the date because his fraternity had been looking forward to it for a long time.)

Ryan and a few of his friends founded a new fraternity on the A&M campus. They were due to receive their charter and become an official campus organization on November 3rd. To celebrate this, they had planned a large dinner and a celebration party.
Brittany's best friend and roommate Erin has a brother named Brian was was attending Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. He had founded the same fraternity on the Texas State Campus a year or two earlier. Several of his fraternity brothers and he decided to drive to College Station for the weekend to show support for their brother fraternity and to celebrate with them during their chartering weekend. Brian asked Brittany and Erin to come to the party with him.
Brittany and Ryan were introduced in a large circle of people. Ryan came up to Brittany later and they clicked right away. They had lots to talk about and shared many of the same interests. When Brittany's friends were ready to leave though she just said "Bye! Nice to meet you!" and ran off to the car to leave. Luckily, Brittany's friend Erin gave Ryan her number or else that might have been the end of the story.
Ryan called Brittany the next day and asked her on a date. Their first date was at the carnival in College Station two days later.
Brittany actually told Ryan that she thought he was the one when they had been together for 5 months. Being the indecisive person that she is though, it took 3 years for her to make SURE that he was. It was proved to her over and over though that they were right!

Dessert Party Time Change

The time of the dessert party has changed.

The dessert party will now be from 9-10:30 pm. You will still meet a guide at the entrance to epcot but now you will meet at 8:15 pm.


The time change is due to the Epcot food and wine festival. The park is staying open later and therefore has pushed the fireworks back. In the long run this will probably be better because it will give you more time to play in the parks and will give you some time to digest after dinner so that you will have a large sweet tooth!

Bring your ID!

Bring your ID to all wedding events if you would like to have a drink! Disney cards EVERYONE. Even if you are 100 years old and even if you are at a private event. Bring your ID in the morning to the ceremony so that you will have it for mimosas at brunch and bring it again to the dessert party for beer and wine.

RSVP Card

Fun fact! When you open our wedding invitation, the right hand pocket contains an RSVP card. I guess we hid it a little too well....

Room Reservations

You have one more month from today to book your rooms to receive the wedding discount. The cutoff date is 9/22/11. Don't forget to book your Disney's Magical Express transportation to and from the airport as well, it is free and easy!

Scroll down to find the resort information post that has all of the phone numbers to get things booked.

Dessert Party

You will need to get yourself to the front entrance of Epcot for the dessert party. Disney provides transportation from your resorts to Epcot in the form of buses. This transportation is all free. I would allow an hour for travel time just in case. Ryan and I will already be waiting to meet you in France.

You will meet an event guide at the front entrance to Epcot at 7:15 pm. (More specific instructions to follow but the guide will most likely be dressed in black and have a light up cone flashlight. They will be off to one side). The guide will gather the group and scan any Disney park tickets or annual passes that have been used that day. (These are not required). The guide will then walk the entire group through the park to the dessert party site in France. This will be a bit of a walk so feel free to wear comfortable shoes. You can dress a bit more casual for this event. The dessert party will last from 7:30-9:30 and we will have a prime viewing spot to watch the Epcot fireworks. Bring your appetite for sweets and drinks!

Tickets For Day Of Wedding

You do not need to purchase Disney tickets to attend our ceremony, reception or dessert party. As long as you are with us, your entrance to these events is provided.

If you choose to visit Disney between the brunch reception and the dessert party then you will need to purchase a Disney park ticket to get into the parks.

If you do visit the parks during the day on Saturday then please bring your ticket or annual pass to the dessert party on Saturday night. Our event guide will scan your ticket and this cuts down on the number of viewing tickets that we provide.

Transportation

Transportation is provided from the Disney resorts to the ceremony, reception and back.

8:00 am- Charter bus picks up at main lobby of ALL STAR MOVIES

8:15 am- Charter bus picks up at main lobby of CARIBBEAN BEACH RESORT

All guests are transported through backstage Epcot to the ceremony site. (No long walking in your heels)

9:00 am- Ceremony

10:00 am- Charter bus takes guests to brunch reception at Grand Floridian Resort and Spa Summer House
Reception ends approximately at 3:00 pm

When you are ready to leave the reception, your mode of transportation will be the Disney Monorail. The monorail runs continuously and has a stop at the Grand Floridian. This stop is just a short walk from the Grand Floridian Summer House. You will take the short walk through the lobby to the monorail stop. The monorail will take you to the Ticket and Transportation Center (Also known as the TTC). The TTC is the Disney transportation Hub. This is a short ride from the reception site. From here you can hop on a bus or a monorail to anywhere. You can hop on a Disney bus back to your resort or continue on to the parks. From here you are free to change clothes and go enjoy Disney World!

Cocktail Attire

I have been getting some questions about attire for the wedding events.
All wedding day events are cocktail attire.
This includes the 9 am ceremony, the brunch reception as well as the dessert reception in the evening. The transportation we provide will pick you up from your resort and will return you to the same location after brunch so that you can change into more casual clothes for the break in the middle of the day.

Flight to Orlando

Ryan and I have booked our flight to Orlando!! Have you? We are flying on Southwest and will arrive Wednesday 10/19/11.

Wedding Events

The wedding will be Saturday morning 10/22/11 at 9:00 am. There will be a shuttle that will take everyone as a group to the wedding location.  We will let you know where it will pick you up but it will be at one (or both) of the Disney resorts where we have rooms blocked.

After the ceremony, the shuttle will take everyone to the Grand Floridian Summer House where there will be a brunch reception. 

After the reception you will have the rest of the day to do as you please (Go to Disney!) until we meet back at Epcot for a private dessert party and watch the fireworks together. 

Resort Reservations

Here is the number to call to book your Disney resort rooms as well as your discounted theme park tickets. (You cannot book online)

The number is (407)-827-6799

Let them know you are booking with the Martin/Mead Wedding.

The cut-off date for booking rooms is September 22, 2011

 After this you will most likely have to find a hotel off Disney property.

For your convenience, Walt Disney World offers a complimentary shuttle and luggage delivery service to and from the Orlando International Airport . You may use this service if you are staying at any Disney World Resort. You can book Disney ’s Magical Express Reservations by visiting www.disneyconventionears.com or call (407) 827-6777with flight information after your hotel reservation has been entered into the Disney system.

We have rooms blocked at three Disney resorts.

All Star Movies- $97.18/ night (tax included)

Caribbean Beach- $156.38/ night (tax included)

Grand Floridian Resort and Spa- $366.75/ night (tax included)

You may choose to stay at any Disney resort, even those not listed. We just ask that you call or email Ryan or myself to let us know your reservation number as these nights count towards our minimum required number. You are also welcome to stay off Disney property.

One night's worth deposit is due at the time of booking. The rest of the balance is not due until you check in. 

Let me know if you have any questions! I am happy to answer them!

You made it to our wedding site! We are so excited to see you all on 10-22-11! 

Check back for event information.