ok so this will be the very first time I really posted much about my actual planning. Some of my ideas have probably been 'borrowed' from the rest of you here on the boards. Thanks so much and I hope you all don't mind!
When we first decided to have a Disney Wedding
We had just gotten engaged two days before at Cinderella's Royal table and we were at the Star Tours attraction store (I think it's called Star Traders) and we recieved a Magical Moment. The cashier said that she was so excited for us and booked us ressie's for that night at the Hollywood Brown Derby in their private room (really awesome!) She suggested we should get married at Disney World and we were like "year, right!" we would never be able to afford that, but still we both said we would keep it in the back of our heads and look into it.
When we got home we started to look into locations around Philly. We never really found one we were 'in love' with and they were just so expensive! I never realized how much it cost to get married. Plus, most of the menus were just so overpriced for the little you recieved. (NJ & Philly are just expensive areas to have a wedding I heard) So went back to looking at a Disney Wedding. We really liked the idea of having a destination wedding and the more we looked at locations around Philly and all the work to be done, the more we said let's just go for it! We went back and forth with an Escape or Wishes, but I didn't want my guests to come to Disney for just the ceremony and no reception. When I added the costs of a dinner and escape wedding and all the extras I wanted, we said we might as well do the wishes wedding and invite a lot more people.
Little Mermaid theme
I started to go back and forth with a theme, I'm definitely the type of person that likes everything to match or coordinate so I definitely wanted a theme.
First I started a Cinderella them since I got enaged in the castle and the glass slipper and stuff. But I'm not a big fan of Cinderella wanted something more me. I always wanted the 'Fairytale' Wedding though. I didn't want my wedding to be extremely formal, but then didn't want it to be like an everyday type party either, so something in the middle. I am a HUGE fan of the Little Mermaid since I was little, I was Ariel twice for Halloween! I wanted to do a beach theme, but thought it might be too, too laid back. So I'm doing a seaside castle/Little Mermaid theme. I'm still coming up with ideas to incorporate it but I'm planning to use seashells and castle motifs throughout to have a beachy but fairytale feel.
Timing: This will depend on our locations - Epcot weddings have to be in the morning I've read and we are thinking of a daytime reception to keep costs down.
Dinner Style: All the weddings I've been to have been Buffet. I've never been to a sit-down dinner and I think I would really like for my wedding to be a sit down. It makes things a little more formal I guess. But then I really like some of the action stations especially the Potato Martini one.
Honeymoon: Definitely are doing the
Disney Cruise, hopefully the Disney Wonder. This is something DF has been pushing for. He wanted to get married on the cruise but I felt that guests would have to spend even more money for a cruise and then they couldn't just come for the wedding but would be forced to take a cruise.
Wedding Day: Mid week, probably Tuesday because the Disney Wonder seems like it leaves on Thursdays and then we have the Wednesday to spend in Disney. We can come down to Disney over the weekend (or earlier since at my new job I get three weeks of Vacay now!) but nothing yet set in stone.
Guest Count: We are hoping for a group of 50 but who knows until invites go out. We have a guest list of about 80 and could trim some more, but don't expect alot to travel. So 50 is the number I've been working with. So far everyone has given us a positive reaction and seems really excited about a Disney Wedding. But I'm sure I'll hear a grumble or too later.
Initial Planning choices
I've done some research online and looked at many pics and these are my choices so far. I go for a site visit 9/6/08-9/13/08 so I'll decide for sure then.
Quick question - does anyone know if at your site visit you can sign the contract there? Would you also recieve your AP passes then too?
Ceremony
Epcot Germony - I love the look of this area because it looks very fairytale and it looks a little like the town that Ariel and Eric tour before the Kiss the Girl scene. But I did here that it smells like saurkraut in the morning so we will see
Beach Area? - I read posts that brides had their ceremony on the beach but can't find anymore details about it though.
I'm hoping when I go for a site visit I can get more ideas. I definitely want something that it uniquely Disney because my guests are traveling from Philly and want them to feel it was worth the trip.
Reception
Living Seas - so far this seems number one. If fits with the mermaid theme and DF really likes it too. It also works with our guest count
Ariels - I love this location but it doesn't host seated dinner and when I was active in the boards before I've read they are having wedding there in 2009.
GF Summerhouse - I really want a truly Disney location (read theme park when i write that
) But I do like it so I'm keeping it as an option.
Ok I'll be writing more very soon but for right now can anyone answer this question?
does anyone know if at your site visit you can sign the contract there? Would you also recieve your AP passes then too?
This is me reading all your planning journals all day!