Advice from former DFTW Brides?!

[khenderson11]

Ok, I'm a long time lurker, but first time poster. Short (hopefully short, I tend to get pretty verbose!) backstory: My boyfriend and I (both 22) are Disney people all the way. We've both been during our childhood, then two times together during high school/college. I did the college program from January to July, and he and his family visited me in March. THEN we had a pretty big tragedy, his mother passed away on July 19th from metastatic melanoma. VERY fast, we didn't even know she was sick until mid-May. Now we're trying to sort of go on with life and we are definitely ready to get engaged and have a wedding, something happy in our lives. We went on our first date in 7th grade, so this has been a long time coming. We (or me, he's laid back, I'm the nut job) are just having SUCH a hard time deciding on a wedding location. And that's where I need advice from y'all!

All our families are spread out over Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, so getting to Disney for a wedding wouldn't be easy for anyone. I've always pictured having a big huge wedding with everyone there, but worry that I might be disappointed if reality doesn't live up to my vision. However, Disney would be smaller, but almost certainly be perfect, magical, yada yada. My dad is VERY against a destination wedding, he is slightly anti-Disney. He says it's too much to ask of people to travel, unfair to cut the guest list, etc. etc. Have any of y'all dealt with these issues with your family? If we don't do Disney we will get married somewhere in downtown Dallas, very city chic, high rise, sophisticated evening wedding. So that is my alternative. I just don't know enough about cost comparison, or room blocking, or discount tickets, to really make an educated decision as of yet. So if anyone made it through that novel and has any advice or info for me I would REALLY appreciate it! And I'm certain the boyfriend would too, as I'm driving him up the wall worrying.

Another thing, engagement photos with Disney Fine Art Photography. We were hoping to go to Disney in January and get engaged (we've been together so long surprise isn't really a huge deal, as long as it's unexpected, shall we say), but it really isn't financially wise, so I thought maybe we could just go there to do e-pics. But if you do the hour session (~$300?), is MK a photo option? I have googled excessively but haven't seen anything. I know some people have done Epcot and resorts but that castle is my home...hahaha. Ok, sorry if I seem crazy I just worry All. The. Time!

 

[princesswendy720]

Hi there! The fact that your family is spread out seems to be a good reason to have a destination wedding IMO. Kind of "neutral ground"...someone is going to have to travel across state lines, so why not make everyone do it? Cost can really vary for DFTW...an escape can run you $5,000 to $7,500 and Wishes start at $12,000 in 2012. Many people can stick to the minimum (but you should tack on some extra for taxes and service charges as well as expenses outside of Disney).

You can only get your e-pics done in the MK if you have a signed contract with DFTW (from what I've read). You can have them done at any of the other 3 parks though.

 

[MrRomance]

Ok, I'm a long time lurker, but first time poster. Short (hopefully short, I tend to get pretty verbose!) backstory: My boyfriend and I (both 22) are Disney people all the way. We've both been during our childhood, then two times together during high school/college. I did the college program from January to July, and he and his family visited me in March. THEN we had a pretty big tragedy, his mother passed away on July 19th from metastatic melanoma. VERY fast, we didn't even know she was sick until mid-May. Now we're trying to sort of go on with life and we are definitely ready to get engaged and have a wedding, something happy in our lives. We went on our first date in 7th grade, so this has been a long time coming. We (or me, he's laid back, I'm the nut job) are just having SUCH a hard time deciding on a wedding location. And that's where I need advice from y'all!

All our families are spread out over Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, so getting to Disney for a wedding wouldn't be easy for anyone. I've always pictured having a big huge wedding with everyone there, but worry that I might be disappointed if reality doesn't live up to my vision. However, Disney would be smaller, but almost certainly be perfect, magical, yada yada. My dad is VERY against a destination wedding, he is slightly anti-Disney. He says it's too much to ask of people to travel, unfair to cut the guest list, etc. etc. Have any of y'all dealt with these issues with your family? If we don't do Disney we will get married somewhere in downtown Dallas, very city chic, high rise, sophisticated evening wedding. So that is my alternative. I just don't know enough about cost comparison, or room blocking, or discount tickets, to really make an educated decision as of yet. So if anyone made it through that novel and has any advice or info for me I would REALLY appreciate it! And I'm certain the boyfriend would too, as I'm driving him up the wall worrying.

Another thing, engagement photos with Disney Fine Art Photography. We were hoping to go to Disney in January and get engaged (we've been together so long surprise isn't really a huge deal, as long as it's unexpected, shall we say), but it really isn't financially wise, so I thought maybe we could just go there to do e-pics. But if you do the hour session (~$300?), is MK a photo option? I have googled excessively but haven't seen anything. I know some people have done Epcot and resorts but that castle is my home...hahaha. Ok, sorry if I seem crazy I just worry All. The. Time!

Hi and welcome out of the shadows!

My sister and I both had the "destination wedding issues" in different ways. My sister and I are from the UK, my sister and her DH wanted to get married in Vegas. The problem for them was that my BIL's parents won't fly. So basically, they decided to go and get married anyway and not invite anyone but their close friends. His parents decided they would fly after all and everyone who wanted to go was then invited. They later pulled out but all of our side of the family were there and so was my BIL brother. My sister's argument was it is everyone elses choice whether to go or not, and it was their wedding!

For my DW and I, it was different. My wife is from Michigan and we live in the UK so my DW parents couldn't be there. There were arguments about it both ways, but again, my DW and I decided it would be our way and if people didn't like it, tough! We have got around this 5 years on by having a DTFW vow renewal in Feb which only DW's family can attend.

My advice would be, it is your day, no one elses. If people really want to be there, they'll be there. Do what makes you and your partner happy.
There are discounted rooms and discounted tickets for Disney Weddings which reduce the cost. Also, it saves the cost of the honeymoon! Depending on the time of year, flights for guests can be quite reasonable too.