Are Min's Possible for a Wishes Wedding?

[gibsi53]

Hi Brides!

Has anyone actually gotten married for the min or near it with more than an Escape/Intimate set-up?

Is it possible? I'm feeling a little down about how quickly the costs add up.

The cheapest Disney Video(3300) and Photo (2800)alone adds up to 6100. (Clearly 61% of a 10,000 Budget)

Do people not hire video/photographers?

Then there's the 27.5% grautity and tax... also aiding to the qucik build-up.
Which when adding up the food and services looks ok until that near 30% jacks it up.

What can be skimped?

Alcohol for the group- not this group

Dinner and dessert-a must have

Transportation-possible to cut back, maybe close enough to hoof it

Hair/Make-up- (whiney voice) But I'm the Bride

Gifts for our people- they've come so far and love us

Travel- gotta get there- stupid gas prices

Attire-Has anyone ever bought the $99 dollar dress. I only have heard stories about this phantom dress... something like the Yetti... I don't know..

Floral-Probably cut back here

Ceremony Location and music- Can I bring an iPod or something or is that cheesey?

Rehersal Dinner-invite only participants??

Farewell Brunch-This might be the best part of weddings- where everyone (all banged up) gets to laugh at one another and re-live the stories that will last forever.... all while wearing sweat pants...

As a teacher and a policeman, I starting to question whether this will be possible....


Help.

 

[IndyBride]

Search through the PJ's to look for ways to save money. Carrie (lurkyloo) is famous for being less than a few hundred dollars over budget but that did not include things not purchased through Disney such as photography and her dress.

Alcohol- you can cut the bar off after a certain time period or dollar amount to control costs a little.
Dinner/Dessert: have you thought about a day wedding? Lunch minimums are less than dinner minimums. And the cake CAN be the dessert which counts towards your pp food minimum.

transportation: I can't help you with that. Carrie is very versed in it though.

Hair/Makeup: there are great girls that don't charge a TON of money to do yoru hair and makeup. And, you are the bride. I say that's not an area to give in unless you have to!!!

Attire: Not only does David's Bridal almost always have their $99 sale going on but e-bay is a great place to look for designer dresses at great prices. Many brides have purchased their dresses through ebay.

I suggest you buy Bridal Bargains, it's a purple book with lots of tips on how to save money on weddings. Also, how to avoid scams and what to ask. Don't give up yet!!!

 

[adisneygal]

Hi, I know what you mean. I am trying my best to just meet the minimum.

We are skipping alcohol & a dj though so that gets rid of a huge chunk. We can have that at the at home party for alot cheaper. Well I could just skip the alcohol all together but not sure how that will go over at home.

We are having the reception at the Attic which doesn't need alot of floral. I am skimping on it in general cause our locations are so great. Oh and if you have it before 2pm that saves you.

My problem that I am running into is that I want Cindy's coach which is pricey. I would also like a caricature artist. So not sure how that is gonna play out. Might skip them or just try to get as close to 10K with them.

Goodluck!!!

 

[camara381]

you may want to look at lurkyloo's pj if I am not mistaken she was right at the min.

 

[Racey]

Hair/Make-up ... ive decided to practice and do my make-up myself, but I will get someone to do my hair (saves a couple of quid, but it all add's up!)

 

[ElleBren]

I hate to sound like a downer. However you have to be realistic with the minimums. There is no way you will be able to have 100 people & keep it at 10K. Well you might but no photo, no video, mostly no frills.

However there are many ways to trim down a budget to get it into a reasonable amount. Here are the questions you need to ask yourself.

How many people are really coming? For example I live in NJ & I invited roughly 155 people, I have 80 people coming. Granted some of my family lives in FL but all of his lived in NJ. THey aren't coming, but hes ok with that. However had we had the 155 I would not be having the same wedding I will in Sept.

What is the location? In park or out-it can mean a lot budget wise, soon or maybe the date has already passed you won't be able to use an outside photographer in the parks. There are some outside photographers that are much more affordable that Disney & you get more- Same with Video.

What time do you want your reception?? If you want a late night party then at the GF figure at least $125 per person which is their dinner minimum. Brunches are probable cheapest, then lunch then dinner.

Location matters-If you can go anywhere other than the GF you will have a lower minimum right away. usually by $25 dollars at least. Same with the Wedding pavilion, if you have it at another place you can save 1,000 dollars.

Check out the other girls beo, I'm sure you will find some really helpful answers.

 

[caryndisneydiva]

i think the minimums are possible, but not with 100 people. after my refunds, i was exactly at my minimum for my wedding. i had 62 people at my wedding. we had a buffet brunch at the living seas, minimal floral and a ceremony at sbp. i hired an outside photographer and videographer, which didn't count toward the minimum, but it was well worth it. lurkyloo did this too.

what are your locations? depending on where they are, you might be able to ditch transportation. remember that depending on what drink package you do, if it's not all used in the end, you'll get a refund. the BOC is generally the best priced if you don't have a ton of big drinkers. i think my buffet was $68/person, which is cheap and it's a ton of food. my CH food was less than $20/pp, so still less than $100/person including alcohol.

there are a lot of ways to things "cheaper" at disney, read carrie's pj, she was brilliant at working with dftw.

 

[gibsi53]

Thats guys for the honest approach.. I appreciate it and need to accept some reality...

We planning on NO MORE than 45-50. If I had my way, we'd have no more than 25 and cater to the partys needs (lots of fun stuff)

BUT- We're going to a PS in Nov and I want to be as prepared as possible...
I'm thinking SBP? Music hired in... (Does a small party in the Wedding chapel look silly? or is it cool?)

I really like the Dessert Party idea as a welcome (or rehersal) thing...

I'm hopefull (and optimistic) but that little (ok giant man) voice in the recliner next to me keeps churping too expensive....

 

[lurkyloo]

You've already got a TON of great advice in this thread! Here's my take on your list:

Has anyone actually gotten married for the min or near it with more than an Escape/Intimate set-up?

We were only about $70 over the minimum. And yes, that will be on my tombstone. However, we only had 35 people, and we cut out a LOT of the traditional wedding-reception stuff. Also, figure on anywhere from $1,000-$2,000 on top of the minimum for taxes and service charges - it depends on which elements you pick. Plus, the minimum is just your expenses with Disney - outside photo, video, travel, attire, honeymoon are all extra (but we can all share great tips for saving and earning money to put toward the wedding too!)

The cheapest Disney Video(3300) and Photo (2800)alone adds up to 6100. (Clearly 61% of a 10,000 Budget)

Do people not hire video/photographers?

No, they hire outside video/photographers! Disney is making it harder to do this, but it's still allowed as long as you're not having an event inside one of the parks. Just about ANY Orlando photographer you go with will be cheaper than Disney and/or will give you more bang for your buck. There are also cheapper videographers, though you're still looking at $1,000 or more for anything beyond a basic straight-play DVD.

Then there's the 27.5% grautity and tax... also aiding to the qucik build-up.

The gratuity is 21% most places, 18% at a very few places (like CA Grill, I believe). Tax is 6.5%. These are not charged on every element of the wedding though. This thread lists what gets what, along with who gets tipped.

Alcohol : Skip it and you'll save a BUNDLE. If you want an excuse, have a morning wedding and a brunch. That'll save you $ too.

Dinner and dessert: These don't have to add up to the per-person minimum (i.e. $75 or $100) if you're also having a dessert party and cake. ALL food on the wedding day counts toward that per-person minimum. Use rehearsal-dinner menus or cut items you don't want to save $.

Transportation: If you have to have it, make sure your guests are all staying in just one or two hotels to save time and money.

Hair/Make-up: This can be $150 or less for just you.

Gifts for our people: Meh... Isn't the fabulous party you're throwing them enough? And how many bottle stoppers/jordan almonds/doo-dads does one really need?

Travel: www.yapta.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.hotwire.com, www.priceline.com, www.mousesavers.com

Attire: Listen to IndyBride - buy Bridal Bargains! I saved $800 on my dress and avoided a scam!

Floral: This is how we saved a bunch of dough - no centerpieces. Shocking idea, I know, but who remembers them anyway?

Ceremony Location and music: iPods are definitely not cheesey. If you can get a friend or family member to run it, you'll save even more. These run $250-$500 if you run it, $700+ if you hire a Disney tech to run it. Still cheaper than a DJ, and nobody has to do the Chicken Dance....

Rehersal Dinner: Skip it or do it on the cheap - meet in a room or hotel suite, by the pool, at Ft. Wilderness.... bring your own food from a nearby market, or hold it at a time when no one expects food! Check out this thread.

Farewell Brunch: Skip it. People will probably want more time to play in the parks or to get a jump on their travel home.

 

[Starr W.]

You've already got a TON of great advice in this thread! Here's my take on your list:



We were only about $70 over the minimum. And yes, that will be on my tombstone. However, we only had 35 people, and we cut out a LOT of the traditional wedding-reception stuff. Also, figure on anywhere from $1,000-$2,000 on top of the minimum for taxes and service charges - it depends on which elements you pick. Plus, the minimum is just your expenses with Disney - outside photo, video, travel, attire, honeymoon are all extra (but we can all share great tips for saving and earning money to put toward the wedding too!)



No, they hire outside video/photographers! Disney is making it harder to do this, but it's still allowed as long as you're not having an event inside one of the parks. Just about ANY Orlando photographer you go with will be cheaper than Disney and/or will give you more bang for your buck. There are also cheapper videographers, though you're still looking at $1,000 or more for anything beyond a basic straight-play DVD.



The gratuity is 21% most places, 18% at a very few places (like CA Grill, I believe). Tax is 6.5%. These are not charged on every element of the wedding though. This thread lists what gets what, along with who gets tipped.

Alcohol : Skip it and you'll save a BUNDLE. If you want an excuse, have a morning wedding and a brunch. That'll save you $ too.

Dinner and dessert: These don't have to add up to the per-person minimum (i.e. $75 or $100) if you're also having a dessert party and cake. ALL food on the wedding day counts toward that per-person minimum. Use rehearsal-dinner menus or cut items you don't want to save $.

Transportation: If you have to have it, make sure your guests are all staying in just one or two hotels to save time and money.

Hair/Make-up: This can be $150 or less for just you.

Gifts for our people: Meh... Isn't the fabulous party you're throwing them enough? And how many bottle stoppers/jordan almonds/doo-dads does one really need?

Travel: www.yapta.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.hotwire.com, www.priceline.com, www.mousesavers.com

Attire: Listen to IndyBride - buy Bridal Bargains! I saved $800 on my dress and avoided a scam!

Floral: This is how we saved a bunch of dough - no centerpieces. Shocking idea, I know, but who remembers them anyway?

Ceremony Location and music: iPods are definitely not cheesey. If you can get a friend or family member to run it, you'll save even more. These run $250-$500 if you run it, $700+ if you hire a Disney tech to run it. Still cheaper than a DJ, and nobody has to do the Chicken Dance....

Rehersal Dinner: Skip it or do it on the cheap - meet in a room or hotel suite, by the pool, at Ft. Wilderness.... bring your own food from a nearby market, or hold it at a time when no one expects food! Check out this thread.

Farewell Brunch: Skip it. People will probably want more time to play in the parks or to get a jump on their travel home.

Listen to Carrie, she's the master . Now what is this about outside photographers at theme park locations?

 

[Ember]

I managed to stick to the minimums, excluding photography. We only had 21 guests, so that helped, but we also had some splurges such as a string quartet and a mimosa toast. It's doable, just go into it knowing you aren't spending more than the minimum and stick to it.

 

[mindy5648]

We have 40 people coming to our wedding. We are having at the pavilion on January 5th (slow season) at noon (cheaper time) We have made all of our own bouquets with flowers that I was able to purchase wholesale. So there isnt any cost for florial accept for the boutinEARS. We are also taking our own rental cars to the pavilion and riding with our guests in the bis to the contemporary where we are having lunch served with a cash bar.*if we had an open bar we would have to take out a second loan just for that* With photography and everything we are at about $10,029.00 We are not having a reception until we get home so that cuts out the DJ and lighting and all of that stuff. And...if you have flowers for the ceremony *the buckets with the roses in them* you can use them as center pieces on your tables for your meal. If you want to look at my wish book just pm me and I will give you my log in...maybe it'll drum up some ideas

 

[lov2b@disney]

We took were very close to the minimums, we had 35 people and dropped most of the traditional stuff, used an outside photographer--

 

[SarahInMN]

We are planning for about 50 people for a 6pm ceremony on a Monday. Our minimum is 10,000. Our total is probably going to be around 15,000. We decided what was important (food and wine and an evening ceremony) and what wasn't (decor). It is manageable BUT I think you have to be pretty rigid about what isn't important and cut accordingly.

Here are our "cuts:"

We are having no video, an outside photographer with a minimal package (Misty Miotto for about 500), very minimal decor (very small centerpieces + a chuppah) for around 700, no floral for anyone except for me + MOH (both very small bouquets), bus from the Port Orleans Riverside to the Grand Floridian for the guests, no music (except for an ipod), and no transport for us (we're at the GF for the whole time anyways). As for hair/makeup, it never even occurred to me to have someone do those for me.

Our splurge items:

Mickey mouse winestoppers for the guests
Premium bar package
Plated dinner with a very nice hors d'oeuvre + cheese course pre-meal
2 bottles of special wine (Angeli Cuvee over which my DF proprosed) at each table

As someone else said, look at Lurkyloo's PJ.