Disney Cruise Brides!!! Part Deux!!

[Bellhop Brittany]

I love your proposal story, so sweet! I would suggest you check out the wedding options, on board vs castaway cay. I'm doing a 4 day Bohemian cruise and I personally think 4 days will be perfect amount of time to spend w/family & friends.

Thanks for responding so fast. We actually would prefer to do an onboard wedding. In a dream world we would be assigned the Nassau day for our onboard ceremony.

Are you doing a wedding cruise? If so, what are your plans so far?

 

[bats]

I have a question for you...if you are allergic to sand, then why do you want a Beach wedding? Also, you cant count on what someone onboard has told you. They don't make the decisions. And more to the fact, that person you spoke with may not be there the next time. I know they used to have ceremonies at the Head's Up bar, but discontinued them a few years ago when the construction for that water play area started. The beach ceremonies take place in the sand, at the end of the beach that faces the ship.

Err, thanks for your 'helpful' comments

Actually, the wedding co-ordinator onboard CAN make decisions as has been the experience of most brides on here. Although the landbased co-ordinator says no to certain things, once onboard, you find that the onboard co-ordinator is actually happy to go ahead with your request. It's happened many, many times for Dis brides already.

I am fully aware that the lady I spoke to may not be there when I get married, but I kinda guess that I can ask someone else .. it's not that scary to ask! We will be cruising before the wedding anyway, so I'll just ask. Easy.

Worst case is I get blotchy legs.

 

[bats]

Many congratulations on your engagement and the fanastic proposal .. always good to see something a little different!

Looking forward to hearing your plans.

 

[bats]

You can try looking up my pinterest (Jillian Berner) I have "Wedding-y Things" and "Wedding Photography" as well as "Craft-tastic" as boards that I put wedding ideas into. I think also "Beauty and Style" had a bunch of makeup ideas and "Hairstyles" were wedding related.

Can't find you
There's only one Jillian Berner and it doesn't look like you at all!!

 

[JBeanBunny]

Newly Engaged...ready to plan a Disney Cruise Line Wedding.
Hey All! I am so excited to see this thread. I am newly engaged and really interested in planning a DCL wedding but am a little lost.

My fiancé and I have only been engaged for a month but I am super psyched and want to get a move on. First if you want to know our engagement story, my fiancé really out did himself. We checked into The Wilderness Lodge and received a letter in our check-in package stating that we were randomly selected to be the Flag Family of the Day. As the Flag Family of the Day we had the privilege of raising the flags atop of the Wilderness Lodge. The "Ranger" of the Wilderness Lodge gave out the flags to my fiancé, best friend, and myself. We each raised a different flag. I was told that I would be raising the Disney Vacation Club flag. In fact the flag that I raised said "Brittany, will you marry me?" My fiancé and I met through working for the Disney Vacation Club it was only appropriate that he propose this way. I was so shocked I said "Oh my god" seventeen times in the video footage of the proposal. It was pretty hysterical.

Anyways, I am asking does anyone have any suggestions as to the first steps I should take towards planning a DCL wedding. My fiancé and I are thinking the Disney Dream, 4 nights.

We would like to get married aboard the ship and if possible have our guests eat in Palo together that night. Does anyone know, is it completely impossible to have a large group eat in Palo together?

Did anyone do something other than the Disney transfer from WDW to Port Canaveral?

Excited to hear back from everyone!

Yay, more Disney CM's like me Unfortunately with DCL weddings, there's no discounts except for the standard merchandise discount onboard the ship. But for a wedding, it's a very reasonably priced as it is. I think you get a lot of value for what you pay for (it really adds up quickly in normal weddings- ceremony venue, reception venue, chairs & tables, linens & table settings, floral & venue decoration, centerpieces, favors, band/dj, etc) And with DCL it's a package price. You can spend more or you can spend less, but that's up to you as a couple.

Now, I decided I wanted an onboard wedding over a Castaway Cay wedding. I already live in Florida and beaches are never far away and I was never really into beach weddings. They're a little too informal for what I wanted in my wedding. (I always envisioned some hairy dude walking by my wedding in a speedo since it's right between the family beach and the water slides.) Don't get me wrong, I've seen videos and photos of CC weddings that are LOVELY! But that just isn't what I was looking for. (I also worried about it being rained out or being unable to dock at CC! Then you run the risk of having an onboard wedding anyways and you've spent the extra $1000 for nothing!) I had a large party come with me, I expected about 20-25 guests and I had a party of 47: 45 guests total!!! So we were way too large for the Meridian patio by the Meridian bar on deck 12 (between Remy and Palo) and we were still too large for the Outlook! I was totally bummed when they told me that I was going to be in the D Lounge (because it's normally SO informal with it's acid green and neon orange couches with modular grey tables) BUT they transformed an area into something so special and unique (it was the FIRST time they'd set up a wedding in that formation!) and it was honestly, in my opinion for my wedding, better than the Outlook would have been for us! I already had high expectations, and DCL exceeded my expectations!!! That sometimes can be hard to do!
***These locations are available on Disney Dream & Disney Fantasy***
***The Disney Magic & Disney Wonder have different venues***

So you really have to decide onboard vs Castaway Cay first. Then you contact DFTW to see if they have wedding availability for the dates you want to sail. When they tell you "Yes, we have space" you immediately call or go online and book your stateroom on the cruise, then you immediately contact DFTW and you put a deposit on your wedding package. Now, I did all of this in 2011, so we spent about $800 total for the room deposit AND the wedding package deposit. We DID NOT KNOW about the wedding deposit because it was not spoken of anywhere on the website! Now, prices have changed and there's always a difference between Onboard and CC, but I'm just letting you know what we paid back then for our 2012 wedding. Anyways, within a week or so, you'll get contacted by the DCL DFTW coordinator (Who should still be Meredith if I'm not mistaken) and she's you go-to gal for official questions (Keep in mind that a lot of special requests get "no" answers, but it never hurts to ASK!) What the onboard wedding coordinator told me is that they are a little more flexible onboard than they are on land! I had Laura as my onboard coord. and she was great! Unfortunately they don't let you know who you have until you meet them on your legal ceremony day/embarkation day.

After you book and Meredith gets ahold of you, they will e-mail you 2 or 3 pdf files: your planning guide and elements & enhancements guide and I think something else... I don't remember exactly. You have tons of time to look over and decide everything for your planning guide as it's only due about 60 days prior to sailing! I was bad and sent mine in about 56 days out! Oops! During those several months is when you get your guests interested in the cruise, do save-the-dates and invitations, get them all of the DCL information, make newsletters, etc. I spent all of that time on Pinterest and Etsy finding tons of ideas for DIY craft projects for my wedding! I also went on a "research" cruise on the Dream (cast discounted) and it was an INVALUABLE experience! We learned so much and we even got to meet the onboard coordinator, Laura, who wound up being OUR coordinator for the wedding! Plus, we got to relax and enjoy our research cruise, whereas our wedding cruise was go-go-go the entire time!!!

Then closer to the wedding cruise (after all of the final payments have been made and your planning guide has been submitted) around 45 days prior to sailing, they send you the confirmation from DCL which goes over all of the items you have selected. That's when they give you your venue location and time. If you're onboard on a 3 or 4 night cruise, you're normally getting married while docked in Nassau if you're on the Dream in the Bahamian itineraries.

It's really an easy process, when it comes down to it. Once you've booked you have TONS of time where you feel like you SHOULD be doing something for your wedding planning, so that's where I found myself customizing MY wedding with all of my DIY crafts. (See my PJ/TR for more of what I did plus tons of pictures!) Some of the harder part of the planning process is handling all of your guests. Each party is going to be very different, so that's something you'd have to figure out later on. For my party, my mom got a grand villa and some studios at Old Key West for our family/friends to stay at the night before the cruise, then we rented a bus from ESCOT to drive us to and from the port. Others use Disney transportation, others rent cars (one way) and leave them at the port. It really depends on your party and their needs.

I feel like that was long-winded, but I hope it was helpful to you! Congrats on your recent engagement! I love your engagement story!

 

[JBeanBunny]

Actually, the wedding co-ordinator onboard CAN make decisions as has been the experience of most brides on here. Although the landbased co-ordinator says no to certain things, once onboard, you find that the onboard co-ordinator is actually happy to go ahead with your request. It's happened many, many times for Dis brides already.

I am fully aware that the lady I spoke to may not be there when I get married, but I kinda guess that I can ask someone else .. it's not that scary to ask! We will be cruising before the wedding anyway, so I'll just ask. Easy.

Worst case is I get blotchy legs.

VERY true! I found that the onboard coordinator had more freedom to make magic for the wedding couples! My onboard coordinator was extremely helpful, I met her on the Dream 8 months earlier on my 'research' cruise and she helped me out with tons of questions, then she wound up being MY coordinator for my wedding! (Completely by accident from what I hear- the coordinator I was supposed to have apparently got appendicitis so I got Laura like I had hoped for!) The onboard coordinator still had rules they have to follow, but they can be a bit more creative. Laura told me at our initial meeting "A lot of brides could get so much more... if they would just ASK!" They're very accommodating, and I suspect that when allergies are involved, they will do their best to help you out! Just because you're allergic to sand doesn't mean that you shouldn't have your dream wedding, right??? It can never hurt to ask!

Can't find you
There's only one Jillian Berner and it doesn't look like you at all!!

That's weird. Try this: www.pinterest.com/jbeanbunny if that doesn't work, then I don't know what will! I just updated my last name just a moment ago... When I was doing so, it gave me that link I just listed. It has one of my bridal portraits near the Dream's chandelier as my profile picture. Hope that helps!

 

[lescal79]

Jillian,

I want to personally thank you for taking the time to post the information that you do. I find it very helpful and it is much appreciated.

Lesley

 

[JBeanBunny]

Jillian,

I want to personally thank you for taking the time to post the information that you do. I find it very helpful and it is much appreciated.

Lesley

Aww, Thanks! I appreciate that a lot! I feel like I talk too much sometimes and that I linger around well after my wedding has past... but I know how I felt when I started the planning process, and that was LOST! And sure, you could look through the HUNDREDS of pages of the old DCL bride thread, then catch up on this one... but that's just too much information to go through! It can also be overwhelming to read through everybody's PJ's & TR's and sort through all of that info, too! So I try to be helpful... and thorough!

 

[tellemarie]

Aww, Thanks! I appreciate that a lot! I feel like I talk too much sometimes and that I linger around well after my wedding has past... but I know how I felt when I started the planning process, and that was LOST! And sure, you could look through the HUNDREDS of pages of the old DCL bride thread, then catch up on this one... but that's just too much information to go through! It can also be overwhelming to read through everybody's PJ's & TR's and sort through all of that info, too! So I try to be helpful... and thorough!

I definitely read through that whole old thread, it is time consuming! I can't believe I read the whoooooole thing

By the way JBean I sent you a PM

 

[Bellhop Brittany]

I feel like that was long-winded, but I hope it was helpful to you! Congrats on your recent engagement! I love your engagement story!

Not long-winded at all. Very helpful information. Thank you so much for all of your insight!

 

[drummergirl]

Yay, more Disney CM's like me Unfortunately with DCL weddings, there's no discounts except for the standard merchandise discount onboard the ship. But for a wedding, it's a very reasonably priced as it is. I think you get a lot of value for what you pay for (it really adds up quickly in normal weddings- ceremony venue, reception venue, chairs & tables, linens & table settings, floral & venue decoration, centerpieces, favors, band/dj, etc) And with DCL it's a package price. You can spend more or you can spend less, but that's up to you as a couple.

Now, I decided I wanted an onboard wedding over a Castaway Cay wedding. I already live in Florida and beaches are never far away and I was never really into beach weddings. They're a little too informal for what I wanted in my wedding. (I always envisioned some hairy dude walking by my wedding in a speedo since it's right between the family beach and the water slides.) Don't get me wrong, I've seen videos and photos of CC weddings that are LOVELY! But that just isn't what I was looking for. (I also worried about it being rained out or being unable to dock at CC! Then you run the risk of having an onboard wedding anyways and you've spent the extra $1000 for nothing!) I had a large party come with me, I expected about 20-25 guests and I had a party of 47: 45 guests total!!! So we were way too large for the Meridian patio by the Meridian bar on deck 12 (between Remy and Palo) and we were still too large for the Outlook! I was totally bummed when they told me that I was going to be in the D Lounge (because it's normally SO informal with it's acid green and neon orange couches with modular grey tables) BUT they transformed an area into something so special and unique (it was the FIRST time they'd set up a wedding in that formation!) and it was honestly, in my opinion for my wedding, better than the Outlook would have been for us! I already had high expectations, and DCL exceeded my expectations!!! That sometimes can be hard to do!
***These locations are available on Disney Dream & Disney Fantasy***
***The Disney Magic & Disney Wonder have different venues***

So you really have to decide onboard vs Castaway Cay first. Then you contact DFTW to see if they have wedding availability for the dates you want to sail. When they tell you "Yes, we have space" you immediately call or go online and book your stateroom on the cruise, then you immediately contact DFTW and you put a deposit on your wedding package. Now, I did all of this in 2011, so we spent about $800 total for the room deposit AND the wedding package deposit. We DID NOT KNOW about the wedding deposit because it was not spoken of anywhere on the website! Now, prices have changed and there's always a difference between Onboard and CC, but I'm just letting you know what we paid back then for our 2012 wedding. Anyways, within a week or so, you'll get contacted by the DCL DFTW coordinator (Who should still be Meredith if I'm not mistaken) and she's you go-to gal for official questions (Keep in mind that a lot of special requests get "no" answers, but it never hurts to ASK!) What the onboard wedding coordinator told me is that they are a little more flexible onboard than they are on land! I had Laura as my onboard coord. and she was great! Unfortunately they don't let you know who you have until you meet them on your legal ceremony day/embarkation day.

After you book and Meredith gets ahold of you, they will e-mail you 2 or 3 pdf files: your planning guide and elements & enhancements guide and I think something else... I don't remember exactly. You have tons of time to look over and decide everything for your planning guide as it's only due about 60 days prior to sailing! I was bad and sent mine in about 56 days out! Oops! During those several months is when you get your guests interested in the cruise, do save-the-dates and invitations, get them all of the DCL information, make newsletters, etc. I spent all of that time on Pinterest and Etsy finding tons of ideas for DIY craft projects for my wedding! I also went on a "research" cruise on the Dream (cast discounted) and it was an INVALUABLE experience! We learned so much and we even got to meet the onboard coordinator, Laura, who wound up being OUR coordinator for the wedding! Plus, we got to relax and enjoy our research cruise, whereas our wedding cruise was go-go-go the entire time!!!

Then closer to the wedding cruise (after all of the final payments have been made and your planning guide has been submitted) around 45 days prior to sailing, they send you the confirmation from DCL which goes over all of the items you have selected. That's when they give you your venue location and time. If you're onboard on a 3 or 4 night cruise, you're normally getting married while docked in Nassau if you're on the Dream in the Bahamian itineraries.

It's really an easy process, when it comes down to it. Once you've booked you have TONS of time where you feel like you SHOULD be doing something for your wedding planning, so that's where I found myself customizing MY wedding with all of my DIY crafts. (See my PJ/TR for more of what I did plus tons of pictures!) Some of the harder part of the planning process is handling all of your guests. Each party is going to be very different, so that's something you'd have to figure out later on. For my party, my mom got a grand villa and some studios at Old Key West for our family/friends to stay at the night before the cruise, then we rented a bus from ESCOT to drive us to and from the port. Others use Disney transportation, others rent cars (one way) and leave them at the port. It really depends on your party and their needs.

I feel like that was long-winded, but I hope it was helpful to you! Congrats on your recent engagement! I love your engagement story!

Jillian, yes you are VERY insightful on most things, however...some of the things you are saying are not totally correct. I have not only read the original DCL Weddings thread (the one that was turned off by the moderator, because past brides were giving old/incorrect information), but I have also read this new thread. For instance, your wedding was not the first wedding that has been performed in DLounge. It's awesome that you loved it! But you were not the first. Also, and I hope that other brides read this, but the onboard coordinator does NOT make any decisions on where and when things happen. They are just "executing the plan". Everything is set up before you sail. If there is an issue, the coordinator will contact their land based partner to see what alternatives can be offered. You are a very huge voice on here, and please be careful on what you put out there, because you are a CM. Brides are taking what you say as 100% the truth. Most of it is, but some of it is not. Like the bride that is allergic to sand. If it is not agreed upon before she even books the wedding, when she finally does, ceremonies are not held at Heads Up Bar. They are held on the beach. Of course if they build a gazebo first, which I doubt.

Also, the way you book a wedding. It looks like the way you booked was the old way. If you are calling direct, just call DCL and say you want to book a wedding. You will then be transferred to the team that is trained to add DFTW Ceremonies. Those cast members are trained to book not only the cruise, but the ceremony too! And...they will give you an 800 number for you to give family/friends to call and they can book as well. If the brides want to use a Travel Agent, then the TA does the same thing. When they call and say they want to book a ceremony, they too get transferred to a special team that handles TA calls. It's 1 stop shopping! SO much easier than before!

Jillian, please don't think I'm being mean or rude, because I am not at all. It's just I've seen so many brides say/pass on information that is not the total truth, and outdated information and it just causes more problems down the line.

 

[drummergirl]

Err, thanks for your 'helpful' comments

Actually, the wedding co-ordinator onboard CAN make decisions as has been the experience of most brides on here. Although the landbased co-ordinator says no to certain things, once onboard, you find that the onboard co-ordinator is actually happy to go ahead with your request. It's happened many, many times for Dis brides already.

I am fully aware that the lady I spoke to may not be there when I get married, but I kinda guess that I can ask someone else .. it's not that scary to ask! We will be cruising before the wedding anyway, so I'll just ask. Easy.

Worst case is I get blotchy legs.

The onboard Wedding Coordinator can not make the decision to change anything that was set up before you sail. They might be able to do something small, like put the chairs a different way. Might I suggest...if you book a Castaway Cay wedding, get it confirmed in writing that your ceremony will be NOT be held on the beach. I seriously doubt you will get that, but good luck trying!! I would hate for you to pay that extra money for a beach wedding, and get blotchy legs! I know for 2014 prices are remaining the same, but 2015 marks two years since the last price increase. So that may happen too.

 

[Evi]

Drummer girl do you work for DFTW?? I find your comments are powdered with an air of all knowing. The brides on these boards are here to share what they know based on their experiences and support each other through the DFTW Cruise wedding process. I'm not sure the purpose of your participation is in the spirit. Considering your posts are infrequent and you've only posted a handful of times and on each occasion when you do, you sound full of frustration. Unless you are a cruise bride former or present or your our coordinator. I think it would be best if you stopped trying to come off as knowing all the answers.

 

[JBeanBunny]

I'm giving information to the best of my knowledge as I've experienced it and as I've been told by my wedding coordinators and fellow DIS brides. As with ANY company or business, prices and policies are ALWAYS subject to change. Just because I am a cm doesn't mean that I am up to date on DFTW's current policies and procedures since I don't work at that location. I don't intend for people to take my advice as fact. My best advice is to always ASK for things, but not to expect them. My onboard coordinator made it seem to me that they have a little wiggle room for creativity, and if you have requests, ASK, and they may be able to accommodate you. And of course things change over time, but the general procedure is very similar. Also, I absolutely know that they have held weddings in the D Lounge before. I've spoken with brides who have before. What I said is that the WAY they arranged it was the first time they set it up like that. I was told by my coordinator that they tried a new arrangement for my event. That's all. And I never once guaranteed that they would definitely find a sand-free location on CC, but I know that Disney is very serious when it comes to allergies and to ASK to see if they can try something to accommodate that allergy.

 

[elyse57]

I just wanted to say Thank you to Jillian and all the past/future DCL brides!! The information y'all are posting has been extremely helpful.

Reading (Lurking) all of the updates and information is making me excited to plan my November 2013 wedding.

Jillian- please don't let a post like that discourage you. I know I am not the only one that enjoys reading your posts!

Thank you!!!

 

[drummergirl]

Drummer girl do you work for DFTW?? I find your comments are powdered with an air of all knowing. The brides on these boards are here to share what they know based on their experiences and support each other through the DFTW Cruise wedding process. I'm not sure the purpose of your participation is in the spirit. Considering your posts are infrequent and you've only posted a handful of times and on each occasion when you do, you sound full of frustration. Unless you are a cruise bride former or present or your our coordinator. I think it would be best if you stopped trying to come off as knowing all the answers.

Hi There,
No...I dont work for DFTW (lol). I do know people that work for Disney, who know people that work for DCL and I hear the stories. Stories regarding WDW as well as weddings on the ships. I don't mean to offend anyone on here at all. I am newly engaged and I too, like other future brides, are reading and learning from past brides. I mean no harm whatsoever. And my posts are "infrequent" because I am on a computer at work and don't really like getting on at home after I've been staring at the screen all day.

 

[drummergirl]

I'm giving information to the best of my knowledge as I've experienced it and as I've been told by my wedding coordinators and fellow DIS brides. As with ANY company or business, prices and policies are ALWAYS subject to change. Just because I am a cm doesn't mean that I am up to date on DFTW's current policies and procedures since I don't work at that location. I don't intend for people to take my advice as fact. My best advice is to always ASK for things, but not to expect them. My onboard coordinator made it seem to me that they have a little wiggle room for creativity, and if you have requests, ASK, and they may be able to accommodate you. And of course things change over time, but the general procedure is very similar. Also, I absolutely know that they have held weddings in the D Lounge before. I've spoken with brides who have before. What I said is that the WAY they arranged it was the first time they set it up like that. I was told by my coordinator that they tried a new arrangement for my event. That's all. And I never once guaranteed that they would definitely find a sand-free location on CC, but I know that Disney is very serious when it comes to allergies and to ASK to see if they can try something to accommodate that allergy.

Jillian, again I meant no disrespect or anything like that. And I am in no way trying to discourage you from posting. Like I said, from everything I have read, the ladies on here seem to "look up to you" for guidence. You are the one bride on here that has laid EVERYTHING out in great detail. I have totally enjoyed your experience, and your pictures were AMAZING! Especially those few of the flower girls, just precious! Keep sharing your information!

 

[bats]

Hi There,
No...I dont work for DFTW (lol). I do know people that work for Disney, who know people that work for DCL and I hear the stories. Stories regarding WDW as well as weddings on the ships. I don't mean to offend anyone on here at all. I am newly engaged and I too, like other future brides, are reading and learning from past brides. I mean no harm whatsoever. And my posts are "infrequent" because I am on a computer at work and don't really like getting on at home after I've been staring at the screen all day.

If your knowledge only comes from 3rd hand info, I think I'll stick with Jillian and the other brides who have already experienced the process first hand.

All the lovely helpful brides on here have made it clear that their experience is the one they're writing about, and they have all said to ask DCL before assuming anything.

The onboard co-ordinator that I spoke to was very clear and said as long as the 'venue' has electricity points and as long as I didn't expect it to be closed off to the public, then they could generally do it. I didn't get her to sign her name in blood as I'm fully aware (after a fair few cruises) that DCL will not promise anything.

If you worked for DFTW, I may take notice of your views more, but as your info is 3rd hand, it's not as reliable as others IMO.

Jilllian .. Have found you on Pinterest, thank you!
Your run down of how your process went is invaluable and I have copied it to my wedding file, thank you. After hearing your reasons for booking an onboard wedding, I'm second thinking about mine as we'll be sailing in October which I know is hurricane season (although in around 8 visits to Fl in Sept/Oct, we've not had one yet!). I'd be gutted if I paid that extra money and it rained

Maybe we'll save our money and put it towards staying in the Walt Suite!

 

[AllisonK315]

I haven't been on in a few days because we went on a mini-vaca to NJ. I've been so anxious to get back home and get on with the wedding planning. Not always easy to do from a phone. Anyhow, my fiance and I have been talking about having Minnie and Mickey appear at our wedding. I was wondering if anyone on here has ever done this? Also, what do they do or get involved in at the wedding and how much did it cost? I've ready in different places upwards of $900 at the WDW resort, but haven't found anything for the cruises. Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[dclwonderprincess]

I just checked my email from Meredith and she stated that it would be $850 for Mickey & Minnie.