Custom Wedding Q's

[Florida Bride]

Hi All

Im new to this site. Im from Ireland and I am planning on marrying in Disneys Wedding Pavillion in April 2008. This will be a custom wedding with approx 60 guests and we are hoping to have our reception in The Grand Floridian resort.

I have so many questions and would really sincerely welcome any helpful information from anyone out there.

My main concern is the reception, in Ireland tradition is the reception runs after the ceremony until the early hours of the morning - is this a possibility in Disney...we are willing to pay the bar and dj for the extra hours???

Thanks!!!

 

[wendy46001]

Hi and welcome
happy planning...

I dont know for sure but your basic disney set up is with a four or five hour reception...I believe you can pay to keep everyone as longer... they originally offered us an extra hour or two (we went an extra hour)

but Sounds like your planning a great time

 

[balatonbabe]

Congratulations & Welcome!

You may also want to consider having your ceremony as late as possible, say 5:30 p.m., so that your reception would start 7:30/8:30ish.

 

[Florida Bride]

Hi Wendy46001 and thank you for your reply.

Your photos are fab!!! I am so stressed about this whole thing especially planning from Ireland. I'm travelling to Orlando this April so I'm hoping I can have all my questions answered in person then!

Any thoughts on The Grand Floridian as a reception venue?

 

[princessdisneybelle]

Just a thought. If you want it to go to late in the evening. Why not Epcot? That could be alot of fun! And I'm sure Disney will be very accomidating. Well for a price of course. Welcome and happy planning!

 

[Florida Bride]

Thanks to all for your comments.

I just feel I'm so far away and although the Disney website is brilliant theres just not enough info for me.

I hope when I visit in April that I can just plan it all and have it done and dusted incl menus reception etc because I can't travel over again from Ireland until the actual wedding!!!

 

[orangetiggs]

we are in the same boat, we are planning ours for oct 08 and can only go over this oct but we have been told by disney that we cannot have a plnning session till around 6 months out which is such a shame as we wont be able to go over till the wedding.

I must admit this site has been fantastic, everyone on here is so helpful and if you want to know something one of the brides on here will know

 

[Florida Bride]

Thanks for your reply orangetiggs. I'll freak if they don't help me in April it'll be a complete waste of flights etc....

This was such a good idea at the time but Im so stressed. I feel like I have no control.

Where are you planning your ceremony and reception?

 

[orangetiggs]

if i were you i would call them on the number on the website as I have been told that they will not discuss it with us when we are out there in oct as the contract etc will not have been signed so I would double check with them. we were told we could do location visits by ourselfs but we could not meet with anyone to discuss it as we would only be a year out

We are looking at the wedding pavillion and then a dessert party with illuminations but have not yet decided on a reception for dinner

 

[disprincessatheart]

I know you can go very late with the wedding. Our ceremony is at 5 and reception is from 6 to 11, but I've heard of ones going until at least 2am. I don't see why you couldn't do that at the GF - the ballrooms are separate from the guest rooms, so you wouldn't be disturbing anyone.

As far as planning goes - is there any chance you could postpone your trip until later in the year so that you can do just one trip and get your planning done at that time? I know it's a pain, but it might be better than a wasted trip. If you book in a theme park (dessert party or reception) then you can book at 12 months and sign your contract, and then you can do your planning session over the summer. Hope that helps.

 

[mushumadness]

we are in the same boat, we are planning ours for oct 08 and can only go over this oct but we have been told by disney that we cannot have a plnning session till around 6 months out which is such a shame as we wont be able to go over till the wedding.

I must admit this site has been fantastic, everyone on here is so helpful and if you want to know something one of the brides on here will know

I wonder why they told you this

we get married jan 2008 and we have a planning session in two weeks

 

[Janet2k]

I am planning on marrying in Disneys Wedding Pavillion in April 2008. This will be a custom wedding...and we are hoping to have our reception in The Grand Floridian resort... I have so many questions and would really sincerely welcome any helpful information from anyone out there... My main concern is the reception...the reception runs after the ceremony until the early hours of the morning - is this a possibility in Disney...

Florida Bride, welcome to the Dis!

Consider placing a phone call to the Fairy Tale Weddings folks. Ask them your questions. I'm sure they'll be more than happy to answer them. They'll also let you know what the standard time-frame is for an on-site planning session. I thought I would point out, though, that an on-site planning session is not required since the Fairy Tale Weddings folks can handle everything via telephone, FAX, international mail, and electronic mail. Hopefully that will take a little pressure off of you in case squeezing in a trip just to plan your event proves more difficult than you orginally thought.

I had a custom vow renewal two years ago. My party lasted until shortly after 2 AM. It was held inside the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park. The Fairy Tale Weddings folks made the planning of my event very easy. I have an (unfinished) trip report regarding it here on the Dis website: click here. And here is a link to where some of my photos reside: click here.

I adore the Grand Floridian. It's my favorite resort and I have held some private parties there (including one that was held there last summer). If you host your event there, I'm sure it will be lovely.

So, consider picking up the telephone and placing a call to the Fairy Tale Weddings folks. Have fun planning your event. It will be here before you know it.

 

[orangetiggs]

I wonder why they told you this

we get married jan 2008 and we have a planning session in two weeks

I was on the phone with them last week and I said we are going out the first week of oct and we want 2nd oct 08 and I said can we do all the planning while we are out there this year and I was told that we could not do that.

We wanted to go out for a week sign the contracts and plan everything so I wouldnt have to worry about things once back in the uk

 

[Florida Bride]

Wow! I am so suprised at all the very helpful information you have all so kindly given to me.

I'm so excited about the whole thing just a little apprehensive about being so far away, I feel I have no control. I have no doubt that this is what my H2B and I want but I just would like a little more control (doesn't every bride?)

I'm torn between the Yacht Club and the Floridian for my reception and I have endless questions and I've rung Disney (trust me I have) and they said until its 12mth away they can't really help me.....thats why we've booked (and paid for) flights to Orlando for the end of April this year to try and get the ball rolling......

After alot of phonecalls, emails and trawling the internet I've finally found a priest who'll perform a catholic ceremony and include communion (one thing my mother insisted on) and now I've another mountain to climb in trying to get it all organised.... if I was marrying here I'd have it all planned by now...but I suppose if I want the 'fairytale' I'll have to stick with it....

Thanks again to you all and please keep the information coming!!!

 

[LOUISEANDANDREW]

Hi i'm from the isle of man, so i know how it feels, doing all your planning (as much as u can!), via phone calls and emails!
We get married at wp on feb 12 08, reception at gf, then dessert party at uk,epcot, icant wait!
i was just like u when we got engaged, i just wanted everything booked & finalised, but u cant, so frustrating!
How r u going about organising flights, do you know virgin will give you a group discount? r u sending invites to your guests soon, to let them know your plans, we've been wondering how to go about this, let me know all ur plans!
1 thing i will say is ur lucky u can go check every where out, i wont b going till we get married!

 

[Pax]

Gods I hate to be the one to do this.

Please double, and then triple check with the priest.

I must regretfully say that to my knowledge, the Catholic church (or at least the local diocese) does not recognize Disney as a valid wedding location and priests cannot perform ceremonies there. I believe that according to cannon, it has to be in a church/on hallowed ground and the Orlando diocese forbids all else. It isn't an issue with other denominations as far as I know. If it isn't a problem with you and your DF...I've read of people who just have their marriages properly blessed and recognized by the church after the fact.

I truly hope I am incorrect. In this case I'd be glad to be wrong.

Best wishes on your upcoming wedding.

Pax

 

[Florida Bride]

Thanks LouiseandAndrew for your reply, its nice to know someone out there is feeling the same as me.

I know deep down it'll all work out (for you and me), but it just like you said its not having the control and having to put your trust in a complete stranger and only communicate over the phone or email.

In April, I intend on getting as much done as I can, If I cant meet a planner I'm just going to source all of the information make all of the decisions and then when Im assigned a planner I'll have it all clear in my head about what I want.

In relation to invitations, once I book the date and hopefully get the date I want, I'm going to get the invitations printed when I am over there and then I'll send them out as soon as I get back. It'll be a year in advance but with it being so far away from Ireland I want to give my guests plenty of notice. Suprisingly, I have roughly 50 definates so far...it'll be a nite to remember after the ceremony if they all stick to their words!

Listen, I totally understand how you are feeling and as you're not able to travel before your wedding, I wouldn't mind checking after things out for you when I am over there in April if you'd like? I could take some photos or get some info...let me know it won't be a problem...

Keep me updated on your wedding plans and feel free to share how your feeling....Im gonna have everyones head swimming with all my questions but you know what they say a problem shared is a problem halved!!!

On that note, I'd better log off and do some work.

Keep in touch!

 

[Florida Bride]

Hi Pax and thanks for your info. I found a priest through the catholic church of america. I believe what you are saying is correct it wont be recognised by the roman catholic church but I can still have the catholic ceremony including the communion. I just want to have the ceremony in catholic tradition whether or not it is recognised by the church doesn't bother me.

I feel that when two people love each other enough to make the huge commitment of marriage, they shouldn't be swayed by what the church dictates for example my local priest told me I am giving the church the finger by wanting to marry in a different country...how ridicolus is that? We want to spend the rest of our lives together and as the bible says not live in sin surely love should be the most important thing?

Thank you for your very kind information and I appriceate it but I think found a solution by finding someone who'll do the ceremony and hopefully it'll all work out!

Isn't there so much to think about!?