a few questions from a guest

[n2dzny]

Ok, I am going to try to be brief:

I am attending the wedding of an old, dear freind @ Disney in a couple of months. I will be bringing a friend, one of my best friends (we live in AL), just because I don't want to go by myself and my friend & I would love to have a girls trip (without her kids or husband). I am looking at this as a favor from my friend, so I am paying for everything-the room, her airline, food (she may pick up her own tab a time or two, but I intend to pay for it all), rental car, incidentals, etc. I have told her that I am not sure about her actually going to the wedding, as I know it is expensive enough without people that you don't know showing up. In the invitation, it does say me and a guest, but I take that to mean a date and right not I am not currently seeing someone. I have a few questions:

1. I want Brandi (my friend from home) and I to get a manicure/pedicure there, how to I book it?
2. What should I schedule Brandi to do while I am at the wedding? I thought about sending her to a spa or a show (la nuba)? I don't want her to just be sitting in the room while we are having a good time at the wedding.
3. Do you thing it will be in appropriate to bring Brandi to the welcome party, but not the wedding.

I will be flying in from VA and she will be flying in from AL, (I will be there for work) I don't want Brandi to feel left out....I want this to be like a mini-vacation for her, except I will be leaving for a few hours on Sat. to go to a wedding.

I know that I am may be worrying for nothing right now, but I don't want Brandi to regret going with me. By the way, I'm not sure how long we will get to be there because I am about to start a new job and I'm not sure how much time I will get off. I am going to try to fly down Wed. night and stay until Sun. Of course Wed will just be checking in and eating. Thru & Fri will be the only days we can go to the parks because the wedding is Sat. and we will be going home Sun. It will be a busy trip but I know that she will just enjoy getting away....she has only had one vacation away from her family in 8 years, so I say it's time. Anyway, how can I make this fun for her too?

 

[laura forbes]

In the invitation, it does say me and a guest, but I take that to mean a date and right not I am not currently seeing someone. I have a few questions:

1. I want Brandi (my friend from home) and I to get a manicure/pedicure there, how to I book it?
2. What should I schedule Brandi to do while I am at the wedding? I thought about sending her to a spa or a show (la nuba)? I don't want her to just be sitting in the room while we are having a good time at the wedding.
3. Do you thing it will be in appropriate to bring Brandi to the welcome party, but not the wedding.

Hi

I dont think it is inappropriate that your guest is not a date, For my wedding I will have at least one guest who will not be bringing a date but I would not mind if it was a friend she brought instead, the way I see it they will have figured the cost of an extra person whether its a date or not and who's to say they would know your date any better than a friend - maybe you should just check with the bride and groom but I really dont think that they would mind.

Otherwise for the mani/pedis it depends where you want to go, I have only ever had a french manicure at grand floridian but it was wonderful, but on the wdw hotels website it should give you tel. nos for you to call to make reservations.

and if your friend cannot go to wedding I would recommend la nouba I loved it and would not at all mind going to see it alone.

And dont worry she will love disney!!!

 

[aprincess72]

I think being sent to the spa would be fabulous for anyone!!!

If you go to Disneyworld.com there are links to the spas on the Grand Floridian page and Saratoga Springs. Both are wonderful!!!

 

[soontobebride]

how wonderful. Trust me there will be plenty for your friend to do, whether it be sitting round the pool sipping cocktails or as you say having treatments. The Grand Floridian has its own Spa and they offer a wide variety of treatments, that can last for an hour to a day.

The only trouble is she might find that a day is not enough, she could even go the park on her own, they even make provision for single riders. (which means you are not waiting in line as long) Don't worry about your friend she will have a fantasmic time

 

[myprincessgirlisa]

I agree that it should be ok for you to bring a "guest" to the wedding, unless you already rsvp for 1...
Guest is not limited to a "date" only. You could always run it by the bride to be safe.
I think its great your asking your friend, how fun will you have!!!

Your a really great friend to offer to pay for everything

The spa is a great idea if she ends up not going.

Good luck & have a great trip

 

[JandJ]

I've been to plenty of weddings and other invitation-only events where people have brought a guest who was not a date/significant other. If the invite said "and guest" then that's whoever you want to bring as your guest. For my brother's wedding his BM was not seeing anyone at the time so he brought his aunt. At my BFF's (first) wedding she invited a friend but her hubby stayed home with their kids, so her guest was a girlfriend of hers and they made a weekend out of it kind of like you're doing.

If you still don't feel comfortable though, like other posters have said, there are TONS of things for your friend to do while you're at the wedding. What a nice friend you are to pay for her trip!!

 

[mermaidbride1108]

First that's very generous of you to pay for your friend's vacation costs! You guys must be really good friends!

Second, I think guest can be a little expandable past date. IMO I see it if someone is traveling to a wedding and they are a little older, not a part of the family and not part of a certain 'clique' of the brides or groom, I see it as they can bring a guest.

I'm planning (may change) to allow older guests a date, whether its husband, fiance, or just a friend to accompany them. All of my twenty something friends will mosly know eachother or can very easily migle will all the other twenty something singles there. I think an old friend I used to work with should deserve a guest to feel comfortable at the wedding. Again, just my opinion!

You may want to check with the wedding couple to see if its ok to bring a guest to the wedding, she may not have a problem with it.

Just my two cents!

 

[TXTurtle]

I want to be your friend!! I'm with the others in saying that "guest" just means that - someone you'd like to go with, so long as they're human. Looking back I don't think I've ever taken an actual date to a wedding - I've taken my best friend, my brother, and even my boyfriend's roommate (long story) but never a date. Hm. On the other hand, if I only had three or four days in WDW I really can't say I'd want to spend them at the wedding of someone I don't know. If it were me I'd just spend the time in the parks enjoying the quiet and being able to do whatever I want, whether it's shop, ride SM 20 times in a row or just sit and enjoy. If your friend's more of a people-person then a spa day or tour could be great. Again, I can't imagine her not having fun without reeeeeally trying to be miserable, so you really can't go wrong.

And congrats on the new job!

 

[bridegirl]

I know I'm in the minority here, but I wouldn't bring a girlfriend to the wedding. The wedding is supposed to be about celebrating the start of a new life for your very good friends - not introducing someone new to all of their friends.

Is it a huge wedding? If it's 300 people, then by all means, bring your friend, hardly anyone will notice. But if it's a small intimate event, a new person who doesn't know the couple at all really changes the dynamic.

Either way, you are obviously trying to be really considerate by even raising the question so I'm sure you will make the right decision. Have a great trip!

Pixie dust,

Susy

 

[n2dzny]

you guys are so sweet!! I love all the responses. I think I will talk to the bride and see what she says. I agree with the one poster that said it is not the time to introduce friends...but my bride friend is super outgoing and I think she will be fine with it. I just don't want my friend from home to feel like she is being left to have her own vacation (which she might actually enjoy, now that I think about it).

You all are right, Brandi is a dear friend. She has let me live in her home with her family for the last 4 months. It is kind of a long story, but I had to leave my mom's house on short notice and I called her and without hestiation she let me move it. It has worked out great for me and hopefuly for her too. I guess this is my way of showing her appreciation for allowing me to live with her...although, I plan to do more than a Disney trip in the future!!