A question to all you escape brides....

[figment fan21]

I need help!!!

My question to you all is this... and be honest... do any of your regret your decision to elope in Disney?

DF and I are having a hard time with our decision on what we should do. As it stands now we have a deposit down for a wedding in october 2010 here at home. We are having alot of family issues and are worried our wedding will cause more stress than happiness. We both have been feeling uneasy about the wedding and have joked saying "we should just elope!".... Apparently after talking it out... neither one of us was really joking!

I'm just afraid that if we don't go through the stress of a home wedding and do an escape wedding that we might regret not having the traditional wedding here. Then again i'm afriad that if we do a home wedding it won't be what we wanted and will wish we had just gone away with the people who matter to disney. at this point we're both leaning more towards Disney.

Did any of you feel like that before you made you decision to do an escape wedding? How do you feel about it now? Any advice is appreciated!

 

[DISNEYMAGIC2005]

I felt exactly how you felt and then even considered having 2 weddings but in the end Disney was very important to me ( and DF sorta...) and that is what we ended up doing. We are having it web-casted so anyone who feels left out can go watch. Also I think one of my cousins is going to put it on a projection screen at his house so people can view it there.

I would just say do what you and DF want to do. It's your day so do what you want to do. The only thing that is kind of difficult is that now with the economy the way it is some people won't be able to afford to come down and some we may end up helping a bit. Happy planning!

 

[figment fan21]

I felt exactly how you felt and then even considered having 2 weddings but in the end Disney was very important to me ( and DF sorta...) and that is what we ended up doing. We are having it web-casted so anyone who feels left out can go watch. Also I think one of my cousins is going to put it on a projection screen at his house so people can view it there.

I would just say do what you and DF want to do. It's your day so do what you want to do. The only thing that is kind of difficult is that now with the economy the way it is some people won't be able to afford to come down and some we may end up helping a bit. Happy planning!

Thats an awesome idea! how are you going to web cast it? That might be an awesome alternative to people who wouldn't be able to go!

 

[Knelson85]

I need help!!!

My question to you all is this... and be honest... do any of your regret your decision to elope in Disney?

DF and I are having a hard time with our decision on what we should do. As it stands now we have a deposit down for a wedding in october 2010 here at home. We are having alot of family issues and are worried our wedding will cause more stress than happiness. We both have been feeling uneasy about the wedding and have joked saying "we should just elope!".... Apparently after talking it out... neither one of us was really joking!

I'm just afraid that if we don't go through the stress of a home wedding and do an escape wedding that we might regret not having the traditional wedding here. Then again i'm afriad that if we do a home wedding it won't be what we wanted and will wish we had just gone away with the people who matter to disney. at this point we're both leaning more towards Disney.

Did any of you feel like that before you made you decision to do an escape wedding? How do you feel about it now? Any advice is appreciated!

We were also unable to decide what to do. Our families both kind of wanted the traditional thing, but it is so not what we want. We had decided to do it at home, and just received our contract. However, everytime I pick up a wedding magazine and see something about Disney Fairytale weddings, I literally start to cry.

We have decided that to satisfy both people, we will do an escape is WDW and a reception at home. We are going to give a casual invite to some people, but we are hoping not many show up. We want a stress free ceremony, and since we are really personal about our relationship, we do not want many people there.

I cannot tell you how happy I am that we have decided this. It took about 2 months to really figure it out, but we both are 100% behind our decision. You really need to think about what will make you happy and just do it!!

 

[figment fan21]

We were also unable to decide what to do. Our families both kind of wanted the traditional thing, but it is so not what we want. We had decided to do it at home, and just received our contract. However, everytime I pick up a wedding magazine and see something about Disney Fairytale weddings, I literally start to cry.

We have decided that to satisfy both people, we will do an escape is WDW and a reception at home. We are going to give a casual invite to some people, but we are hoping not many show up. We want a stress free ceremony, and since we are really personal about our relationship, we do not want many people there.

I cannot tell you how happy I am that we have decided this. It took about 2 months to really figure it out, but we both are 100% behind our decision. You really need to think about what will make you happy and just do it!!

Karen you sound just like me! Everytime I come on the boards and see the pictures of disney brides and grooms I get all teary! I've been thinking about it looong and hard all weekend. I hesitated bringing it up on Easter to DF's parents and thought that we should wait until we are absolutly sure that this is what we want to do. I couldn't sleep last night because it was all i could think about and this morning while diriving into work i thought to myself.... This is the easiest answer in the world... where have i always wanted to get married? answer: disney! Are we the "traditional" wedding kind of couple? answer: NO! We are like you very personal... we don't like to be the center of attention when it comes to our relationship. So i called DF and asked him if maybe we should talk to his parents. He said he'd give his mother a call today and see how she feels. I think depending on how HIS family takes it will be the final decision maker.

 

[Lorelei528]

We're not "eloping" to Disney. Eveyone knows. We've already sent out our STD's for our at-home reception and they state right on them about the Disney wedding and how we'll be celebrating when we get home....and will be sending out the invites from WDW after the wedding down there.

I don't think my mom has gotten any negative feedback from anyone and one of my best friends just told me this weekend her and her husband wouldn't be able to afford to go to our Disney Wedding if we had done a big wedding down there instead with no home reception. But they can come to our at home reception no problem...

This way people will still get to celebrate our happy occasion with us by having a larger at home reception. (About 60-70 peeps)

We're having basically only immediate family down in WDW and we are at the 18 peeps maximum.

HTH!

 

[tiggerrifficheidi]

When we "eloped" to our Escape wedding, everyone knew we would be legally married before the BIG wedding. We were going to get married by proxy with me in Iraq. In the end, I came home early, and we decided to "elope" at Disney. At the time of our Escape, we had already decided to go ahead with our plans for a Wishes wedding celebration with our family and friends in January. But, our Escape wedding was so beautiful, so special and absolutely perfect. Many times during our planning for the Wishes wedding I wondered why I was doing it!! I felt very complete after our Escape. I LOVED that day!

Even now, after the Wishes wedding, I still look with VERY fond memories on the Escape wedding. If you're a private couple...I think you'd enjoy it even more. It was just so much fun! We did have my BFF and her DH and DD, but that was it. It was so cool!

Of course, I loved the celebration with my family and friends in January, but I think there's other ways to celebrate after you elope. I think the home reception is a great idea. You can make it as up-scale or low-key as you like!

 

[aduck126]

My DF and I were majorly stressing out about the at home wedding. We have to pay for it ourselves and with a 10K budget that doesnt really get you anything nice or memorable in Chicago. Plus my parents were set on inviting every single obscure relative that I have. I'm sorry but I dont want to pay for some person whose name I dont even know to come to my wedding. Then I stumbled upon the Disney wedding site and it all just kind of clicked. Alot of people (mainly my dad) have been complacent about it but I dont really care. It is my wedding and instead of having a mediocre ordeal back home I'm having a perfect day at disney.

When it comes down to it, its YOUR wedding. Do what you want.

 

[momplus3]

We are planning our Escape wedding for September 16, 2009 and for us, it is the absolutely perfect choice. This is a 2nd wedding for both of us and I believe that a second wedding should be a small, private affair. There will only be 6 people at the wedding - me, DFiance, DS 16, DS 10, DS 8 and DFiance's nephew 16. My parents are very supportive about our decision, even though they will be unable to attend (my mom has cancer and will be unable to travel de to treatments). We are going to video the wedding and send e-mail photos from WDW. I am also considering calling my mom before the ceremony and leaving the phone on so she and dad can be there.

Cost is also a consideration for us. As WDW is my FAVORITE place in the world, a DFTW is my dream come true!

 

[polynesianbride]

Thats an awesome idea! how are you going to web cast it? That might be an awesome alternative to people who wouldn't be able to go!

I didn't see that anyone answered this for you... sorry if it's a repeat. Stan with STVS video can do a live web-cast for you. I believe shortly after the wedding he also posts a "sneak peak" video online that people could watch! You can see his work at www.STVSweddings.com- the username is blu-ray and password is magic. Hope that helps!

 

[34Angels]

Df and I felt the same way about our wedding. Our guest list grew and grew which in turn made our budget grow and grow. Plus it was, so and so needs to be invited, well, who is so and so, oh, that's cousin Joe's best friend's sister's daughter. Yeah, they're so not invited! Then there were issues with how much things were going to cost and what did we want to cut out and what did we want to keep. And then, the whole planning, what colors do you like, what cake design do you want, have you thought about seating arrangements for the reception? Yeah, that is so not me! I finally had an almost breakdown and told my DF that I didn't think I could do this anymore and let's just run away to Vegas. My DF said no way to Vegas and asked how much for Disney.

We called our immediate family and they were all cool with it (not to mention my Dad told me from day one that I'd be happier if we elope so he was thrilled) and more importantly, they all are trying to make it down.

The minute we paid the deposit I felt like a huge weight was lifted and now I'm actually excited about my wedding!

 

[figment fan21]

Thank you girls so much! You all made me feel so much better!

I read all of your posts to DF last night and he agreed with all of you. I spoke to my two sisters and they are all for it, I spoke to my aunt (who is like my mother) and she was freaking out she was so happy. Apparently my father (who isn't even in my life that much) thinks i'm out of my mind and apparently told my sister that he wants to sit down and talk some sence into me but at this point i think i've made up my mind.

The only problem so far is DF's family. He called his mom and asked her what she thought and she gave him the old "i don't knoooooow, i mean florida?" wehn he told me how she reacted i was kind of bummed because who is she to say anything? She and her husband eloped without telling anyone and only had her BFF and her boyfriend at the wedding... noteven her parents! DF thinks it because shes never flown and isn't as much of a wdw fan like we are. He also thinks they're being alittle stingy with their money... when believe me... they aren't hurting.

So Df said "ya know what I want to do it, you want to do it, so we're going to do it. Lets not make any moves yet... lets try and figure out how much everything will be, and think about it alittle more so that hopefully we can get everyone on board with this." He's awesome.

If any of you escape brides have any advice on how we should go about things i'd love to hear from you! I'm sure this is going to be easier than planning the wedding here... but i never thought i'd do a wedding like this so i don't even really know where to begin! Are there any questions i should ask?, how do you pick a date?, how does the photography work?, How does the limo work? do you get two limos one for the bride and one for the groom? When can you start using the annual pass? can i use it for the honeymoon? How do you get the dress there!!??

I think i've given you all enough questions to answer for today!

Thanks again ladies you're all amazing!

 

[Lynn5700]

Hi! We do not regret having an escape wedding at all! It was the best decision we ever made.

The whole planning was stress free and just really nice. We had our BFs be our MOH and BM and our immediate family came and that was it. So nice.

Everything is included in the escape, limo, photography, cake, and the bride and groom floral. You can add in more floral you just will have to pay extra.

We used Randy Chapman as our photographer. The photography that was included in the package went towards a honeymoon shoot in the Magic Kingdom. We also added in an outside videographer.

The limo will take your DF to the ceremony first along with whoever wants to ride in the limo with him, then come for you and whoever is riding with you. So you do not need two limos.

 

[figment fan21]

Hi! We do not regret having an escape wedding at all! It was the best decision we ever made.

The whole planning was stress free and just really nice. We had our BFs be our MOH and BM and our immediate family came and that was it. So nice.

Everything is included in the escape, limo, photography, cake, and the bride and groom floral. You can add in more floral you just will have to pay extra.

We used Randy Chapman as our photographer. The photography that was included in the package went towards a honeymoon shoot in the Magic Kingdom. We also added in an outside videographer.

The limo will take your DF to the ceremony first along with whoever wants to ride in the limo with him, then come for you and whoever is riding with you. So you do not need two limos.

OMG!!! Lynn!!!!!

You are like DF and I's Escape wedding hero!

When we first started talking about stopping all this wedding stuff we searched the boards for escape weddings and yours popped up. We looked at your pictures and both read your story and when we finished DF said BOOK IT!

You pictures came out so beautiful! Was Randy expensive (if you don't mind me asking) I saw something on here that disney charges for an outside photographer... was that true for you? And who did you use for hair and make-up? they did a fabulouse job! Did you do a trail before hand or did you just have them do it that day?

Thanks again!

 

[figment fan21]

Girls,

I want to thank you all for your advice and helpful information! Df and I have called DFTW and spoke to Kristi about possibly doing our wedding in Disney. She gave us a TON of good info and we are going to present the idea, for real, to the families. Even if they have a problem with it DF and I are 90% sure that we're going to do it because after everything is said and done it's what will make us BOTH happy.

So thank you all so much for everything!

-Katie (escape bride in training)

 

[Lynn5700]

OMG!!! Lynn!!!!!

You are like DF and I's Escape wedding hero!

When we first started talking about stopping all this wedding stuff we searched the boards for escape weddings and yours popped up. We looked at your pictures and both read your story and when we finished DF said BOOK IT!

You pictures came out so beautiful! Was Randy expensive (if you don't mind me asking) I saw something on here that disney charges for an outside photographer... was that true for you? And who did you use for hair and make-up? they did a fabulouse job! Did you do a trail before hand or did you just have them do it that day?

Thanks again!

HAHA really lol! That is so funny lol.

Thank you. No Randy was not expensive at all. We spend like $600 for him I think. It could have been cheaper. He's awesome. No they did not charge us to use him.

Ana from beaute Speciale did my hair and makeup. I love that girl. She's awesome too. I did not have a trial but I did talk with her through emails. I sent her a picture of my hair, and the hair style I wanted. My hair is naturally curly so I wanted to know if she wanted me to straighen my hair the night before.

I told her how I'm picky with my eyelashes. When I would get it done people would make my eyelashes look like they are so thin. They aren't though. I have long thick eyelashes. She listened to me and my eyelashes were awesome lol! I told her I wanted natural looking makeup and she gave it to me.

Girls,

I want to thank you all for your advice and helpful information! Df and I have called DFTW and spoke to Kristi about possibly doing our wedding in Disney. She gave us a TON of good info and we are going to present the idea, for real, to the families. Even if they have a problem with it DF and I are 90% sure that we're going to do it because after everything is said and done it's what will make us BOTH happy.

So thank you all so much for everything!

-Katie (escape bride in training)

GOOD!!!! I'm so happy for you guys. Go with your heart and do what feels right girl.

 

[figment fan21]

Thanks for the info lynn!

I'm really getting excited now!