Are you expected to plan things other than the ceremony/reception?

[Eyesparkle]

Are you technically supposed to make an itinerary of things to do leading up to your wedding? I know you don't have to... but is it customary or expected?

Our guests are coming in at different times/days leading to the wedding and I don't have anything planned except for maybe dinner the night before the wedding. Almost all are able to drive there, so some may not even stay overnight. But for those that are staying, is it a mistake to play it by ear? Or should I be scheduling things to do?

Should I be making welcome bags or doing more for my guests?

 

[hiwaygal]

I think it would depend on your guests...but to be honest, I wouldn't plan too much for their activity. If they are using this time as personal/family vacation time then maybe just helping them plan (a little) their trip is enough. Maybe let them know they need to make ADR's if they want to eat at a specific place, tell them about some of the "out of the ordinary" things they can do. Point them in the right direction for information but let them make some plans and decisions by themselves.

And I know my opinion isn't necessarily popular, but I would definitely not do welcome bags. I've heard a few brides here stress and stress over welcome bags only to have them not be appreciated or something. While it's a nice gesture, I just think that it makes things too overwhelming. I don't think Disney needs extra touches, you know?

It sounds like the dinner you have planned is a great opportunity to spend even more time with your guests.

 

[keenercam]

We are planning, a few days before, to go to Pleasure Island for the evening, and we will let our guests know that, so that they can join us if they want. Our dessert party is the night before our vow renewal, so that will be enough of an imposition on our guests' weekend. (Only our minister and his wife and our bridal party will be at our rehearsal dinner). On the day of the VR, all events are over by 4pm and we haven't planned to do anything after that. I am thinking this is just the right mix of independent time for our guests and together time for our greedy selves to have our guests to ourselves.

We are definitely doing welcome bags because we want to, not because we feel like we have to. For us, it's a place to provide information and some small gifts to show our appreciation to everyone who has travelled to celebrate with us. I am sure no one will think you rude if you don't do welcome bags. You know your family and friends best and it may be more meaningful to be available to answer their questions and help them make plans ahead of time, rather than preparing welcome bags. Enjoy the process!

 

[alissa2008]

Hiya! I put together an activity book of all the things you could possibly do in orlando (or near to) and I'm letting people make their own decisions. I'm also setting aside 4 days Fri-Mon where I will let everyone know which park will we be at and inviting them to come along.

Because my family and I are very close, I know they will want to eat together (we do a family vacation every summer, so it was pretty similar planning wise). So, I've made dinner reservations for everyone for the nights they will be joining us. Most are only staying 3-5 days, so it wasn't too bad. I set up a fantasmic dinner package for our dinner at MGM too, for the people who wanted to join. I also have a welcome dinner planned for Chef Mickeys.

I specifically told people that if, after reading the booklet, there are other things they want to do, to have at it! (I just made a schedule for those too lazy to plan ).

I've already done 2 planning sessions with guests (my aunt and DFs bffs family) to explain the booklet and give them park maps and help them make educated decisions about how to spend their time. So far, everything is going great.

If anyone wants the planning guide booklet, let me know in PM and I'll email it. It took me near 2 weeks to complete, but since I love you guys so much, I'll share!

I think it depends on the guests-- if you're close, plan that everyone will want to join you anyway -- if not, let them find their own way... I think it's pretty subjective...hard to answer.

 

[DecemberBride]

I'm planning a welcome dinner the night before the wedding....

I was overplanning things and my mom had to step in and be like, let them do what they want... it's their vacation too... I understood completely, so I let it go.

I did make ADR's for the family and close friends, so who wants to join us can, but no one is obligated.

 

[inkedupmomma]

alissa.. can i have a copy of that..pleasee.. i think you have my email already... right?

 

[camara381]

alissa.. can i have a copy of that..pleasee.. i think you have my email already... right?

Can I have a copy of the booklet too? Pretty please...camara381@gmail.com

 

[Eyesparkle]

Thanks for the responses, they are wonderful! I'm still not sure what to do though.

And to think I chose an escape wedding so I wouldn't have to plan anything

 

[Sleeping_Princess]

I would love a copy too:

ChristineandJeremiah@gmail.com

 

[alissa2008]

I don't want to hijack, so PM if you want it, please.

 

[IndyBride]

We are doing a dessert party the night before after the rehearsal and the wedding. That's it. I dont want people to be sick of me!!!! But, you know your guests better so you can always feel around. Ask them if they'd be interested in doing things with you. I think telling people you will be at X at Y time and they can join if they want is a good idea too.

 

[disprincessatheart]

Thanks for the responses, they are wonderful! I'm still not sure what to do though.

And to think I chose an escape wedding so I wouldn't have to plan anything

I did the bare minimum and no one cared. We did a RD the night before with just parents and siblings, then 2 days after the wedding I made a reservation for all 20 ppl at LeCellier. This was mainly because DF and I wanted to eat there, so of course he wanted to include his family, then my family said they really wanted to try it, so when you're making a reservation for 12, you might as well go for 20! We didn't pay for anyone, just told them all when it was, what it was and if they wanted to come they could. They all did and loved it. I was originally thinking of welcome bags, but it just didn't make sense to do 4 or 5 bags for 4 different hotels and spend a bunch of time driving around. We used that money to upgrade the cake and bring a bunch of LARGE containers so they all got to take extra back to their rooms - they all seemed pleased with that!

 

[WithDisneySpirit]

Great idea to upgrade the cake! We did similar to disprincessatheart in that we made a loose itinerary and told everyone where a few ADR's were planned for. We made 24 reservations at Tusker House character b'fast, Biergarten, Kona Cafe and Chef Mickey's. Each time we had at least 24 or more show up but mostly family members. We definitely did not try to guide them in park touring though.

 

[alissa2008]

We definitely did not try to guide them in park touring though.

Yeah, that might be a bit much.

 

[Tabetha]

Once we have our planning session, I think I'll probably start looking into making ADRs and planning a couple of other get-togethers.

Because I've been away from home so much, I think people will want to hang out with us a fair bit, and the feeling is mutual!

 

[WithDisneySpirit]

Yeah, that might be a bit much.

It was a bit much just trying to follow the WDW newbie family around from our group

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

We're doing a rehearsal dinner and a brunch either the day after or 2 days after.

We will do welcome bags, but will probably keep them simple.

 

[PRPrincess1081]

Hiya! I put together an activity book of all the things you could possibly do in orlando (or near to) and I'm letting people make their own decisions. I'm also setting aside 4 days Fri-Mon where I will let everyone know which park will we be at and inviting them to come along.

Because my family and I are very close, I know they will want to eat together (we do a family vacation every summer, so it was pretty similar planning wise). So, I've made dinner reservations for everyone for the nights they will be joining us. Most are only staying 3-5 days, so it wasn't too bad. I set up a fantasmic dinner package for our dinner at MGM too, for the people who wanted to join. I also have a welcome dinner planned for Chef Mickeys.

I specifically told people that if, after reading the booklet, there are other things they want to do, to have at it! (I just made a schedule for those too lazy to plan ).

I've already done 2 planning sessions with guests (my aunt and DFs bffs family) to explain the booklet and give them park maps and help them make educated decisions about how to spend their time. So far, everything is going great.

If anyone wants the planning guide booklet, let me know in PM and I'll email it. It took me near 2 weeks to complete, but since I love you guys so much, I'll share!

I think it depends on the guests-- if you're close, plan that everyone will want to join you anyway -- if not, let them find their own way... I think it's pretty subjective...hard to answer.

Can you please PM that info I think it will be very helpful to my family as we have not been to disney in almost 20 yrs. Let me know what you need from me

 

[Sleeping_Princess]

We orginally thought of doing a Welcomre Party --- but it just wasn't in the budget..

So we are doing a Rehearsal Dinner for the Wedding Party and if others want to join they can pay their own way...

I am also going to talk about a brunch the morning after where again --- if people would like to join us for breakfast they can, but pay own way!!!..

We figure our guests are in Disney and on vacation, we don't want to take up all their time with Wedding stuff!!!