Our PB&J happy 5

Just when we thought life couldn't get any more magical....
Today's post is a special anniversary throwback to what has to be a Disney life goals moment come true: Our PB&J happy 5 anniversary celebration inside Disneyland!


An Annual Tradition
After our happily ever after began with our Disney wedding in 2010, we kept up an annual tradition on our anniversary each year. Peter and I would re-wear our wedding attire for an anniversary photo together. So each year, we'd don the dress, the ears and the suit all over again. It was always so much fun to put back on my wedding dress and to see PB in his wedding suit.

A Joke Turned Into a Dream Reality!
On year 4 of our tradition, I joked with PB that all of our anniversary tradition photos were taken in either our dining room or living room. I half jokingly said "we should go back to Disneyland and do a proper 5 year anniversary photo!". PB just laughed and I figured he didn't take me seriously, but little did I know that we was actually listening and what I said would set into motion one incredibly epic surprise night!

Surprise!
The months leading up to our 5 year wedding anniversary, PB was acting super weird. I mean, he's weird on a daily basis, but suspiciously weirder than normal, lol. He would ask me random questions about formal wear, like what I'd want to wear if I ever got a chance to do a wedding photoshoot again. I also had a sneaking feeling he was up to something when during one of our Disneyland trips, he said he needed to do a "con call" and left for a few hours, only to return with a "Disney Weddings and Honeymoons" tote. He played it off saying that he ran into one of our "fairy godmothers" aka our former wedding planners turned friends and they lent him the bag. Smooth PB...smooth.

Our anniversary approached and we headed to Disneyland to celebrate 5 years of our happily ever after. I had my guesses as to what he was up to, most likely some fancy dinner and maybe a surprise photo shoot. What I didn't expect though was one of the most magical nights of my life!

The surprises kicked off with family and friends showing up at the resort. We happened to be in a room and when I opened the adjoining door, I found my parents and sister inside! I thought that was my big surprise, PB flying my loved ones down to celebrate with us. Boy, how I underestimated what he had up his sleeve!

Later that evening, he told all of us to meet at the Brisa Courtyard at a certain time. The Brisa was where we held our wedding ceremony, I it flashed in my mind that his next surprise could be some sort of vow re-enactment. Once all of our guests arrived, a Disneyland CM arrived and said we were all being escorted into Disney California Adventure Park for a VIP showing of World of Color! Most of our guests had flown in from out of town to celebrate our anniversary with us, so it was so amazing to be able to catching a viewing of the show with them all.

At the Stoke of Midnight Your Dreams Will Come True!
Just when I thought the surprises were over, I was told that the night was actually just beginning! After World of Color, our guests were all told to "get ready and return at midnight". I was confused, but the night had already been such a blur that I just went with it. As I was just processing how the evening had gone, the magical team at Disney Weddings showed up and escorted us into a ballroom where hair/make-up and a whole Cinderella transformation awaited!

Peter had been working with my loved ones to dream up the perfect anniversary style for me to wear. He had hinted at doing a "photoshoot" months earlier and to pin my favorite types of looks I liked, so he went off of the photos I would add to the boards. In addition to finding the perfect surprise dress, he also went above and beyond to recreate my Minnie ears wedding fascinator that we created together for our wedding in 2010. This time around thought, he crafted up the ears himself to match my anniversary dress!
All the anniversary surprise details conjured up by PB!
When the Anniversary transformation was complete and midnight fast approaching, we headed back into the Brisa where our family and friends were waiting in their finest most "dapper" Disney bounds, per PB's request! It was amazing to see everyone's creativity on their looks.

After Hours Magic
Once we all gathered, the Disney Weddings team appeared again with some Disneyland CM's and told us it was go time. I had no clue what was about to happen and neither did our guests! PB had kept this part of the evening a complete secret from everyone. When we approached the main gates of the park, we all had a collective "WHAT?!?" reaction to being walked into Disneyland for our celebration!

Once in the park, we got to take photos around the famous Mickey Pumpkin head that was out for the Halloween festivities going on in the park.

Next, we were escorted to the Disneyland Railroad to take us to our next surprise destination, but first, photos with our #PBJHappy5 crew!
As our guests boarded the train, our Disney Weddings team pulled us aside and told us they had a bit of "pixie dust" for us, a special ride in the Lilly Belle!

The Happiest PB&J Cruise to Sail the World!
Our private train ride stopped in Fantasyland where it clicked that we were so close to my favorite ride! I have been in love with It's a Small World ever since I could remember, so I figured PB had something special planned in front of the iconic ride. When we arrived, we were told that we were all going on a special cruise! PB and I even got out own boat!

Once our cruise ended and we exited the ride PB's next surprise was waiting for us, the Main Street Fire engine and the Omnibus! Once again, we were all blown away. I still had no clue as to what rhyme or reason this night was going in, but I didn't care, I was having too much fun... and a little dazed by all the magic that was happening!

A Literal Disney Dream Come True!
Just when I thought the night couldn't get any better, PB and the Disney Weddings team had one more surprise to take our breaths away....

In a moment that I still have to pinch myself over, as our fire engine ride rounded the corner near the castle, my heart literally stopped at this sight! Our very own private anniversary party set up in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle! I burst into tears, I just couldn't believe my eyes, the night already felt like a dream, but this? THIS?! This is something I could have never imagined and it was real and it was set up for us.

To this day, the memory of this moment has to be my #1 Disney life moment, ever. I'm so forever grateful to the Disney Weddings team and most of all, PB for making this moment a reality! PB was even shocked at how amazing it turned out and he was the one who helped plan the night. We both were in so many happy tears.

The Tradition Continues
What started as a joke about having one "nice" photo for our anniversary photo turned into the ultimate dream come true evening, all a surprise planned out by PB. But he wanted to make sure the evening came full circle by stealthy having my family bring down our wedding attire for our tradition to continue in the most epic way possible! After finding out wedding outfits waiting for us in the Royal Hall, we came out to one more surprise... Mickey and Minnie!



Our most magical anniversary photo yet!

Mickey and Minnie stuck around to take photos with our guests while we changed back into our anniversary party attire. We then had Dole Whip cake and tons of our favorite park foods like pretzel bites with cheese (PB's fav) and churros, sweets and root beer floats (for me)
Dole Whip Cake!


Magical Memories to Last a Lifetime
This night, phew, words can't even describe how thankful I am for this magical evening and for PB. It was literally the most beautiful night of my life, right next to our wedding celebration. Each time I think of this night, I still get chills because it doesn't seem real. I'm forever thankful for the Disney Weddings team for creating another memorable event for us, for every CM and person who helped behind the scenes, for my fairy godmother of makeup/hair for that evening and for the gorgeous images captured by the most magical photographer on earth, Jenna from White Rabbit Photo Boutique.


Thank you for taking this stroll down #PBJhappy5 lane with me and for reading along! Here's to a lifetime more happy memories and magic ahead!

Vendors:
Venue and Event planning: Disney Fairy Tale Weddings




1 comment

  1. I always enjoy seeing your posts on Instagram! <3 Beautiful photos.

    Sheena
    Sheena Loves Sunsets

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