Help from the UK - Memories Wedding

[SugarPlumFairyUK]

Hi everyone
Really hope someone can help!
We are planning our wedding at WDW. We are going to 'elope' just the two of us and surprise family when we get home so we are looking at a Memories ceremony.
I have read somewhere on-line (but not Disney as I can't find this anywhere) that booking can only be done six months in advance - can someone possibly confirm this?
Also, how does a non US resident apply for a wedding licence - and how far in advance of the wedding date does this need to be done?
I'm also confused as to who conducts the ceremony? I thought that this was included in the package but this isn't clear. I know in the US the person is called an 'officiant' (it's different in the UK) but I've no idea what I need to do for this. I've seen mention of a 'Disney officiant' on the Internet, but I can't find any actual firm information regarding this on the Disney wedding website?
Can anyone help please? I would really appreciate any advice and information. I thought the Polynesian Luau Beach looked the nicest choice, can anyone advise? We were also looking at the 'room option' instead of the limo car, and also wondered how long the room is available for?
Many thanks in advance.

 

[lurkyloo]

Welcome!

Hi everyone

I have read somewhere on-line (but not Disney as I can't find this anywhere) that booking can only be done six months in advance - can someone possibly confirm this?

That is correct. You can only book 6 months out. I know this can be agony, especially when you're planning a trip all the way over from the UK, but there's not a lot of competition for dates and times with Memories, so don't stress too much. If you're like the many UK residents who plan trips of 2 weeks or more, you'll have even more possibilities for getting a ceremony date and time.

Also, how does a non US resident apply for a wedding licence - and how far in advance of the wedding date does this need to be done?

The same way a US resident does: You can either go to one of the nearby courthouses (each is about 30 minutes away) and apply using your passport as ID, or you can send away for a license from Brevard County: http://199.241.8.125/_files/forms/MarriageLicenseInternetInformation.pdf We've had a few UK brides recently who almost didn't get theirs in time, though, due to holdups with international mail, so you may prefer to apply in person.

If you apply by mail, they will send you the license within 60 days of the wedding date. If you apply in person you can go in the days before the wedding—there's no waiting period for non-Florida residents.

I'm also confused as to who conducts the ceremony? I thought that this was included in the package but this isn't clear. I know in the US the person is called an 'officiant' (it's different in the UK) but I've no idea what I need to do for this. I've seen mention of a 'Disney officiant' on the Internet, but I can't find any actual firm information regarding this on the Disney wedding website?

The package does not include an officiant, but Disney will give you a list of recommended officiants to start from. You can also search this board for recommendations. Fees are generally around $250, but some officiants charge more or less.

I thought the Polynesian Luau Beach looked the nicest choice, can anyone advise?

You can find photos of the three sites here:

Luau Beach: http://disneytravelbabble.com/disney-weddings/wdw-venue-photos/luau-beach/

Sunrise Terrace: http://disneytravelbabble.com/disney-weddings/wdw-venue-photos/sunrise-terrace/

Conch Key Marina: http://disneytravelbabble.com/disney-weddings/wdw-venue-photos/conch-key-marina/

Disney has apparently also offered Sago Cay Pointe as an alternative to Conch Key, since Conch Key is basically just a smoking area. You can see Sago Cay here: http://disneytravelbabble.com/disney-weddings/wdw-venue-photos/sago-cay-pointe/

We were also looking at the 'room option' instead of the limo car, and also wondered how long the room is available for?
Many thanks in advance.

The In-Room Celebration is a gift basket that is delivered to whichever Disney resort you are staying at, not an actual room, I'm afraid. But it sounds pretty cool: bathrobes, flower petals, flameless candles... stuff like that.

You might want to read about the experience of this recent UK Memories bride: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3026258 or this UK-based couple: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2885149

 

[halloween12]

Hello SPF-UK,
We just did our own memories wedding this October and planned it all from West Yorkshire  if I can do it then I have every confidence in you.
We eloped as such – Family did know but couldn’t come so it was just me, Hubby and my 2 daughters.

As Carrie Said, 6mths is correct – we booked the holiday and flights first and then felt like we were in wedding limbo until that 6mths mark. We had a preferred date for the wedding so we booked our 2 week stay with that day bang in the middle.
Disney fairytale weddings had told us not to worry and that we would definitely be accommodated for our wedding during our stay and they were right… I called 6 months out and got my day… even though it was a Wednesday (Halloween) and they don’t usually do memories weddings on Wednesdays – they seemed very flexible and relaxed so try not to worry too much about that.
It does seem weird though doesn’t it! Over here you have to book weddings ASAP, sometimes years before, and 6 mths would be considered extremely short notice!


As for the license, we did it the expensive ($253.50) but easy way and that worked great for us, we used http://www.licensetomarry.com/ as recommended by Disney, applied for this on line (we did nothing by post) it was all sorted through them and the only other thing to do was to meet their notary who met us at our resort on Disney at a time and date that we set, to simply sign the paper work and for him to check our passports, it took no more than 5 mins and he then dropped the paper work off later at the resort so we collected it on our way back to the villa after a day out at the theme park – easy peasy.

Yes you need an officiant - and exactly what Carrie said, Disney gave us a list and we looked on a few of the officiants websites and chose from there. Ours was $200 half paid as a deposit and the other half to pay on the day of the ceremony.

Your venue will come down to personal preference (and Disney availability for the day that you want) it seemed like if venue was important to you then try and be flexible about the day, if a date is important to you then try and be flexible about venue.

The options are Limo or in room celebration (a romantic package for your bedroom when you return from your wedding) – just as an aside one of the conditions of the memories wedding is that you stay on site for at least 2 nights – one of them needs to be your wedding day.
We opted for the limo as we were staying at old key west (just near down town Disney) and we were getting married at the Grand Floridian (just near magic kingdom) if you look on a map they are quite a distance from each other – you get the limo for 3 hours – which was ace for us we got a limo to the wedding venue, then after the ceremony and photos we got the limo back to the villa to ready ourselves to go back out and then the limo over to magic kingdom… we did have a car over there but who wants to drive in their wedding dress? And I certainly needed a cocktail at the pool side bar after the photos lol

The only other thing that I would mention is that although Disney include photography as part of the package (and don’t refund you if you opt not to use it), I wanted a CD of all the images and the copyright release so that I could print them off back home… they were going to charge me an extra $500 for this… I also wanted to know which photographer we were going to get and they couldn’t tell me!
So I shopped around and I got a fabulous deal on an amazing photographer, all images on CD (and he got them back to us the day before we flew home) in colour and black and white – and also his friend as a videographer and 3 dvds of our ceremony for $500… so I went with that.

You get to choose your flowers and they will send you the options once you have paid your deposit x Do let me know if I can be of any further help, I might not be able to answer all questions – but I did survive the process hahahaha

 

[SugarPlumFairyUK]

Thanks Lurkyloo and H12 (your wedding explains your name!) for all of your advice, it really has been so helpful! I was actually beginning to feel a bit lost as I couldn't seem to find these answers anywhere!

I am very familiar with Orlando - and Florida generally as been going for many many years - couldn't think of anywhere I'd rather be, so seemed a no brainer to get wed there!

If you don't mind helping out I will probably have more Q's the nearer I get and I'm bound to keep thinking of things. And yes, you are so right; in the UK it's usual to be booking 2 years in advance for wedding dates so waiting for 6m before is pretty weird!

We are flying July 10th, have 2 weeks at Saratoga (stayed at the Yacht Club earlier this year which was nice but thought we'd try somewhere else). So ho pefully we should be able to get a date. I was thinking perhaps three or four days into our holiday so this would make it the weekend. We then have a week in SW Florida and then last 4 nights at Universal. Its a long one and definitley wont want to come back!! (never do).

H12 how did you select your officiant? I expect it can make all the difference to the day as to the person you have performing the ceremony.

And thank you Lurklyloo for all the links and advice I will be scouring through these eagerly! The Disney wedding site does make it sound like you have a room (I thought this may be for a couple of hours or something) so it has been helpful to learn that this is not so. The limo option will probably be best for us then, for the same reasons as H12!

Really grateful for all your help and advice both, bless you! - thanks again x

 

[SugarPlumFairyUK]

,,,, I have just read your wedding day report and checked out your album. Fabulous! I love what you did with your dress!

You all look like you had a fantastic time. A real holiday to remember and a totally unique wedding! Thanks again.

 

[lurkyloo]

Glad to be able to help! Just let me know if you have any more questions!

 

[halloween12]

You are welcome
here is the list of officiants that disney sent to me (but you can use an officiant of your own choice if you like)
Officiants
The following officiants have performed weddings at the Walt Disney World® Resort and are familiar with our locations and facilities. Please contact them directly to determine if one fits your particular needs.

Reverend Kevin Knox
Theresa Knox (Notary Wedding Specialist)
407-521-8697 (phone)
revkev@abeautifulceremony.net
www.abeautifulceremony.net

Reverend Tim Herring
407-876-6433 (phone)
407-876-6007 (fax)
Revtim6288@gmail.com
www.disneyweddingminister.com

Ronald Rosenzweig
Notary Wedding Specialist
407-330-9195 (phone)
407-294-7983 (fax)
ron@wedinorlando.com
www.wedinorlando.com

Reverend Arnold Porter
407-506-3585 (phone)
arnoldp86@aol.com

Minister Michael Fernandez
407-492-3192 (phone)
nicheceremonies@gmail.com
www.nicheceremonies.com
Bilingual: Spanish

Rabbi Robert Lefkowitz
407-855-0772 (phone)
rlefkowi@bellsouth.net
www.weddingrabbi.com

Alba Nelly Aguedelo
Notary Wedding Specialist
407-920-6931(phone)
littleangelsweddings@hotmail.com
Bilingual: Spanish

Reverend Siegfried Jaeger
561-642-9795 (phone)
561-313-1307 (cell)
PastorSig@aol.com
www.WeddingstoRemember.net

Pastor Kirk Bane
321-946-1788 (cell)
407-855-3141 x120 (church)
kirkbane@discoverychurch.org
www.orlandochaplain.com
www.discoverychurch.org

Dr. Tino Ballesteros, Jr.
Presbyterian Minister
407-443-1144 (phone)
321-939-0367 (fax)
tino.ballesteros@celebration.fl.us

We chose Tim Herring as we had a 2 daughters with us and we really liked the sound of his family ceremony.
We are not religious so it was civil ceremony and then after we had exchanged rings, he said that it was not just the joining of husbnad and wife but also the union of a family - we then presented the kids with charm braclets with Thomas Sabo disney charms - then the kids said a few vows about making this the best family in the whole world - it was so lovely

But I'm guessing that your focus will be different to ours so just go with who ever you feel comfortable with x

 

[SugarPlumFairyUK]

I read another report by a UK couple who also used Rev Tim and also the same photographer - I have to say the shots he has taken for both of you are just lovely and I really like the black and white shots too as they have 'atmosphere' somehow! They look great.

Thanks so much for the list - really helpful. I don't expect that Disney send this stuff out until you've booked and paid deposits so it's good to get a heads up on this kind of thing.

You are both very kind and I really appreciate your help. x

 

[halloween12]

I can strongly recommend Randy Chapman, he gave us all of our photos in colour and black and white so you have both
He was so reasonably priced, it cost us $250 for his photography and the discs of images with copyright release as part of a deal with a videographer, I'm not sure how much he charges for just him but I can't imagine it'd be too much more?
I think we paid him half as a deposit and the other half on the day
He is also super nice and he works really hard, In fact we had trouble getting rid of him lol as I was walking him towards his car he was still snapping pictures of me haha
I popped a few extra pics on my other post if you want another look?