Advice for a First-Time WDW Bridesmaid? Share your thoughts!

[PixiePowerGirl]

Hi ladies,

I am going to be a bridesmaid at a dear friend's wedding at WDW in 2 weeks. As you can imagine, she is tremendously excited. So am I, although I am also really wondering what it will be like because I have never been to a Disney wedding before (although I have been to WDW, and I have been a bridesmaid at a non-Disney wedding).

I have NO idea what to expect in Florida, or what to take advantage of / watch out for / issues / special extras / etc...and I am one of those people who hates being in the dark about what is upcoming, especially when I'm expected to play as big a part as a bridesmaid. So I would love to get your thoughts on what it is like to be part of a wedding at WDW! Thanks!

 

[cappygirl]

Hi!
I was never a bridesmaid at a WDW wedding but from the perspective of the bride (at least my personal perspective), I don't think a WDW wedding is much different than any other except for the actual location. The planners (the good ones anyway) are on top of everything so all you really have to focus on is keeping the bride calm.

 

[Keira1387]

Yep, it's no different from any other wedding, bsides the location.

 

[PixiePowerGirl]

Really?? I always thought that a Disney wedding was very different than a normal wedding...more "special" or themed or something like that...

Then can I ask a stupid question... why would she get married at Disney if it's the same thing as a regular wedding? I know I must be missing something, I just don't know what...

 

[PixiePowerGirl]

Oh, one more question that I totally forgot...the whole bridal party is going to go to the parks the day before the wedding. But the bride really wants to go to the water park. Will it actually be warm enough for the water park in January? That sounds really chilly to me, but I've never been there in January so I have no idea what to expect in terms of weather.

 

[lurkyloo]

I think there are lots of things that make a Disney wedding special, like the unusual locations and the characters and the Disney theming (if the couple has that kind of wedding - they can also have a totally non-Disney-themed Disney wedding if they're not into the characters and stuff).

One thing you may notice is the level of service your party will receive. I've been a bridesmaid a bunch, but never at a wedding that had a dedicated coordinator. Disney weddings have one main coordinator and a team of assistants who make everything run so smoothly that the bridal party barely has to lift a finger.

Depending on the location of your friend's wedding, you may also be transported around a lot more than at, say, a hotel wedding. Some weddings have buses or limos that take you to the ceremony, to the reception and then to a dessert party - the latter being something else you don't generally find at non-Disney weddings.

I have seen so many posts on this board of couples whose guests later told them their was the best/most fun wedding they'd ever been too - I think you'll definitely notice a difference!

Edited to add: The weather in January may be warm enough for a water park. It just depends. We had many water-park-worthy days on our February honeymoon, except the one day we picked to actually go to one, which was 60 degrees - yikes!

 

[PixiePowerGirl]

Thanks, lurkyloo! That helps me understand much better...I wasn't aware of the things you mentioned, like the staff of coordinators or the shuttles. Sounds like the real draw (in addition to characters or that sort of thing) is the overall simplicity and ease of how smoothly everything goes. I'm also relieved to hear how easy it will be to be a bridesmaid in this wedding...I've been in some where we spend the entire day running around trying to fix 100 last-minute crises. This one should be a breeze if there's a whole team to take care of that stuff.

Oh, and I have to say...I *LOVE* how you did your wedding, based solely on the little pictures you have in your signature. Planning it in Morocco under that arch...inspired! And I love your hair decoration, and necklace, and...oh just the whole shebang. You look so happy in every shot!

 

[dakcp2001]

Pixie, we would love to have your bridesmaid perspective when you get back! please come back and tell us about your overall impressions and experiences, so we can make it better on our bridal parties

 

[lurkyloo]

Oh, and I have to say...I *LOVE* how you did your wedding, based solely on the little pictures you have in your signature. Planning it in Morocco under that arch...inspired! And I love your hair decoration, and necklace, and...oh just the whole shebang. You look so happy in every shot!

Hey, thanks! It definitely was our happiest day at the Happiest Place on Earth ('nother Disney plug there for ya! )

Pixie, we would love to have your bridesmaid perspective when you get back! please come back and tell us about your overall impressions and experiences, so we can make it better on our bridal parties

I second this!

 

[twiu]

Just my quick 2 cents...

My 4 bridesmaids asked me before the wedding what they're job was - and I said "just hang out and help with my nerves".

There literally was nothing for them to do at my wedding except hang out with me and have fun. Oh wait, I lied, they did bustle my dress before the reception but my wedding planner was there too (I had a very complicated bustle). When my bustle broke later on, the wp was there too with safety pins ready.

Just enjoy. If your bride friend needs anything, she'll ask and I'm sure her wp and / or assistants will find a solution if you can't figure it out.

Have fun!

ps. I live in Orlando and it's beautiful outside right now (in the 70's) so you might luck out on some water parks (only Blizzard is open right now. Typhoon is closed for rehab)

 

[PixiePowerGirl]

Pixie, we would love to have your bridesmaid perspective when you get back! please come back and tell us about your overall impressions and experiences, so we can make it better on our bridal parties

Oh, I would be glad to do that! I hadn't even thought of it, but of course that would be helpful for brides-to-be to hear about the experience from a bridesmaid's perspective.

ps. I live in Orlando and it's beautiful outside right now (in the 70's) so you might luck out on some water parks (only Blizzard is open right now. Typhoon is closed for rehab)

Thanks, Twiu! I'll bring my swimsuit and cross my fingers.

 

[OceanGdss]

Just my quick 2 cents...

My 4 bridesmaids asked me before the wedding what they're job was - and I said "just hang out and help with my nerves".

There literally was nothing for them to do at my wedding except hang out with me and have fun. Oh wait, I lied, they did bustle my dress before the reception but my wedding planner was there too (I had a very complicated bustle). When my bustle broke later on, the wp was there too with safety pins ready.

Just enjoy. If your bride friend needs anything, she'll ask and I'm sure her wp and / or assistants will find a solution if you can't figure it out.

I completely agree. I told my BP the same thing...just enjoy and party!! Honestly, I don't remember spending much time at the reception with my BP because they were all partying so much! lol