Average Spend

[Gemshaw]

Hello This is my first thread but have been lurking around for a while. Me and DF have decided that an disney wedding is definately for us in 2010 and have been trying to decide between sea breeze escape wedding and swan and dolphin hotel wedding, and what is really swaying us is the price. So without sounding a tad cheeky what was the average spend on your whole wedding? We are coming over from the uk so need to budget for everything.

Thank you so much everyone.
Gems

 

[hiwaygal]

Hello This is my first thread but have been lurking around for a while. Me and DF have decided that an disney wedding is definately for us in 2010 and have been trying to decide between sea breeze escape wedding and swan and dolphin hotel wedding, and what is really swaying us is the price. So without sounding a tad cheeky what was the average spend on your whole wedding? We are coming over from the uk so need to budget for everything.

Thank you so much everyone.
Gems

to the DIS!!! And congratulations on your upcoming wedding!!!

Well, my wedding was three years ago (and a lot has changed since then) and we are also American so that's different too...but I know that with a Disney you can manage to have a wonderfully magical wedding and stick very close to the minimums.

For an Escape the minimums are about $4500 (they might be lower right now, but I believe they are going up for 2009) and will include pretty much the basics (as do the Swan/Dolphin weddings).

If you elect not to do any extras (or are very conscientious about the extras you choose) you should be able to stay very close to that number.

When I got married, the package was about $5,000 but that included the accommodations (four nights at the Boardwalk Inn). I spent about $7000 for everything including my dress, favors, announcements, air fare, kenneling my dogs, etc.

The price of the weddings now does not include the hotel accommodations. You only need 4 nights in any Disney owned and operated resort...so keep an eye out for good deals there. And be sure to work that into your budget.

You might also want to look at some of the planning journals CLICK HERE to see what others have done to keep things within their budget.

I hope that helps some!! I'm sure some of the other UK brides will be along to tell you what has worked for them!

 

[maryrego]

I had a custom wedding and we spent about $15000.00 With another $3000-4000 for travel and Honeymoon

 

[secretpantssam]

I've always wanted a disney wedding too.

hiwaygal, from what you're saying, it actually seems affordable. I know people who just had their wedding at a hall and paid more than $7000. Maybe that's a dream that can come true!

 

[Gemshaw]

hiwaygal - Thank you so much for replying - i thought no one would Im willing to average $10000 on my upcoming wedding (not including the 4 night stay) and hearing your figure has made me happy because if i can get my figure down to around yours i'll be estatic, there are 10/11 of us going including myself and DF so it has made me really think that i can achieve this. The planning journals and TR are such a great read on here and get some many ideas! (too many probably lol) but thanks so much, youve been a great help in replying

 

[Gemshaw]

maryrego - Did you have lots of extra's for the whole price? Did you customise the wedding yourself? Do you have a TR - i'd love to hear about your wedding

 

[TeenaS]

I had a custom wedding and we spent about $15000.00 With another $3000-4000 for travel and Honeymoon

Was that the wedding itself plus a reception and how many at the reception? We can't decide between a Disney wedding and a wedding at Sanibel Harbor Resort.

 

[hiwaygal]

I've always wanted a disney wedding too.

hiwaygal, from what you're saying, it actually seems affordable. I know people who just had their wedding at a hall and paid more than $7000. Maybe that's a dream that can come true!

In my opinion, Disney weddings can be VERY affordable. Sometimes it depends on the average costs of weddings in your area (i.e in NY/NJ it's REALLY expensive, and Disney can be cheaper). It will, of course, also depend on the number of guests and time of year, time of day (afternoon weddings/brunch receptions can be cheaper), even day of the week. If it's what you've always wanted, take a look at the Disney wedding website and use the Wishbook as a guide. It will probably over estimate the cost, but you'll get an idea.

hiwaygal - Thank you so much for replying - i thought no one would Im willing to average $10000 on my upcoming wedding (not including the 4 night stay) and hearing your figure has made me happy because if i can get my figure down to around yours i'll be estatic, there are 10/11 of us going including myself and DF so it has made me really think that i can achieve this. The planning journals and TR are such a great read on here and get some many ideas! (too many probably lol) but thanks so much, youve been a great help in replying

Glad I could help! Can't wait to hear about your plans!

 

[disprincessatheart]

I know I posted this somewhere before, but I cant find it now so I'll do my best to recreate it. We had an escape wedding with 19 people (2kids) plus dinner at Narcoossee's and a Wishes Cruise on the grand 1 and including absolutel everything wedding related (except for travel and hotel which to me I considered more honeymoon expenses than wedding) we were under 10k. A lot of this you'd have no matter where you had a wedding, and obviously the attire and wedding bands will depend on what you get.

Bride and groom attire in total $1000
DH'swedding band (mine was a set that was ering and band together so I had mine) - $250
Hair and Makeup $400 (bride, mom, sister and flower girl)
Invites and thankyou cards done at home - $30
DIsney package at WP- $5000
Extra Floral (mom, dad, fil, bil, flower girl, ring bearer, unity candle) - $225
Upgraded cake - $225
Dinner at Narcoossee's for 17 adults and 2kids including tip and alcohol - $1550
WIshes Cruise - $450
Additional pictures purchased after wedding - $475

 

[MistressOfAllEvil]

Like everyone else has already said here, it's really all about what you add on. I had an Escape wedding at Seebreeze point and here's how my numbers worked out...

Escape package which includes the location, 4hrs of limo service, violinist, 2-teir cake & 1 bottle of champagne, the brides bouquet and grooms boutonniere, and disney photography.

I subbed out the photography for the honeymoon shoot b/c I went with outside photography.

I added two more bottles of champagne and bottled water and soda for the cake and champagne reception.

I also added 2 double corsages, 1 single corsage, 2 7-rose bouquets, 3 more boutonnieres, scattered petals for the aisle and a silk bag with additional petals for my flower girl to carry.

My total cost to Disney for the wedding was: $4,531.87. That was with a starting price for the package of $4,000. So if it goes up in the next couple of years, you can see by how much.

On top of that I had a dinner reception that I did plan through my wedding planner at Jiko in a private room. There were less expensive menus, but I went with the $125 pp menu, plus I had a BOC (bill on consumption) bar so they estimated the bill to pay ahead of time. My total for the dinner portion was $3867.03.

So in total we paid Disney $8398.90. We also ended up getting a refund of close to $700 as I ended up dropping my numbers from 19 adults and one child to only 16 adults and 1 child. AND, people didn't drink as much as I expected, but my step-father ordered several bottles of wine for the party, so I think that stemmed some of the mixed drink ordering.

All in all, I think it was VERY affordable to have my wedding. It was everything I wanted. Small and very upscale. You obviously have a lot of flexibility with the meal. There have been a lot of brides on here who have gone to Ohana, 1900 Park Fare (or is it Faire?) or even Chef Mickey's because they are all you care to eat menus for a relatively low set price.


Beyond our costs with Disney we did pay the wedding license, the officiant, outside photography (Randy Champan for $636 TOTAL), wedding attire, rings, make-up for me and my two girls the day of, dress steaming, wedding favors, attendant gifts, welcome bags and one night of accomadations for two of our three attendants. I didn't include travel costs, but obviously you can. We lucked out because my DH's work paid for his plane ticket because he ended up working for 3 days the week of our wedding in the Orlando area (they had a conference.)

If you have ANY questions, check out my PJ and TR (which I'm trying to update daily now) OR just ask!

 

[Beep]

Hi Gems, I'm from Birmingham but spend a lot of time around Merthyr for my work. Beautiful part of the world!

I've posted this in another thread so have copied and pasted for you:

This is from our expenditure spreadsheet all our extras and honeymoon costs to the basic $4500 package below. There will be 11 of us in total, and 12 for lunch as Randy is joining us as a guest.

Randy Chapman photography (6 hrs)
Officiant Kevin Knox
Marriage license
Stretch Hummer (5 hrs)
Corsage and button-hole for parents
1 extra bottle of bubbly
Grand Floridian Café
Yachtsmans Steakhouse/Le Cellier

Hair and make-up
Dress, petticoat, headpiece, alterations, storage
Veil
Jewellery
Shoes
Handbag
Suit hire
Steaming

Honeymoon
Parking (21 nights) and hotel overnight
Flights
Wk1 - 2 nights off property
WK2 - 5 nights Boardwalk, + 2 nights for Mom and Dad
Wk3 - 7 nights Caribbean Beach
Wk4 - 7 nights Port Orleans

Car Hire
Durango 21 nights with Alamo

All that lot comes to $16,000. If I take out the honeymoon costs it is just over $10,000 which includes $500+ for the stretch Hummer but not the cost of the Boardwalk. If I take out our wedding attire costs (hair and make up, dress, suit hire etc) the cost is around $7,000. I spent a lot of money on my dress!

The Durango is costing around $1,000 for the 3 weeks and is our treat to ourselves, but if we went for a smaller car the cost would be a lot less.

Hope that helps. I'm happy to go through individual prices/vendors/best deals I found etc if you want to PM me

 

[Gemshaw]

Hi Gems, I'm from Birmingham but spend a lot of time around Merthyr for my work. Beautiful part of the world!

I've posted this in another thread so have copied and pasted for you:

This is from our expenditure spreadsheet all our extras and honeymoon costs to the basic $4500 package below. There will be 11 of us in total, and 12 for lunch as Randy is joining us as a guest.

Randy Chapman photography (6 hrs)
Officiant Kevin Knox
Marriage license
Stretch Hummer (5 hrs)
Corsage and button-hole for parents
1 extra bottle of bubbly
Grand Floridian Café
Yachtsmans Steakhouse/Le Cellier

Hair and make-up
Dress, petticoat, headpiece, alterations, storage
Veil
Jewellery
Shoes
Handbag
Suit hire
Steaming

Honeymoon
Parking (21 nights) and hotel overnight
Flights
Wk1 - 2 nights off property
WK2 - 5 nights Boardwalk, + 2 nights for Mom and Dad
Wk3 - 7 nights Caribbean Beach
Wk4 - 7 nights Port Orleans

Car Hire
Durango 21 nights with Alamo

All that lot comes to $16,000. If I take out the honeymoon costs it is just over $10,000 which includes $500+ for the stretch Hummer but not the cost of the Boardwalk. If I take out our wedding attire costs (hair and make up, dress, suit hire etc) the cost is around $7,000. I spent a lot of money on my dress!

The Durango is costing around $1,000 for the 3 weeks and is our treat to ourselves, but if we went for a smaller car the cost would be a lot less.

Hope that helps. I'm happy to go through individual prices/vendors/best deals I found etc if you want to PM me

Hey Alex Thanks for replying - i had already read your report a few weeks ago, and when i had read your reply on here i clicked straight away for your report and realised that i was hooked on your report before! - your dress is absolutely stunning, love that it looks like a princess dress, although i could never wear a style like that im only 5ft and would just smother me hehe. Ive seen Randy Chapman photographs on here and he looks fantastic, and it is something we are looking for with his style. We have chosen a few things already, he wants to wear a kilt along with the rest of the men coming (5 minus DF!) we want to upgrade the cake to a mad hatter style one and ive chosen the style flowers (an idea that i seen on here! hehe) but that is it - well ive also seen the style wedding dress i like but nothing is ever put in stone until i try it on hehe - oh and the horse and carriage (but not the glass one) otherwise everything is up in the air about whats happening, to be honest I dont even know where to start with everything and all seems abit daunting, did you find that too? Thanks so much for replying

Gems x

 

[Beep]

Hey Alex Thanks for replying - i had already read your report a few weeks ago, and when i had read your reply on here i clicked straight away for your report and realised that i was hooked on your report before! - your dress is absolutely stunning, love that it looks like a princess dress, although i could never wear a style like that im only 5ft and would just smother me hehe. Ive seen Randy Chapman photographs on here and he looks fantastic, and it is something we are looking for with his style. We have chosen a few things already, he wants to wear a kilt along with the rest of the men coming (5 minus DF!) we want to upgrade the cake to a mad hatter style one and ive chosen the style flowers (an idea that i seen on here! hehe) but that is it - well ive also seen the style wedding dress i like but nothing is ever put in stone until i try it on hehe - oh and the horse and carriage (but not the glass one) otherwise everything is up in the air about whats happening, to be honest I dont even know where to start with everything and all seems abit daunting, did you find that too? Thanks so much for replying

Gems x

Awww, thank you that's really sweet. I'm 5' 6" so can wear a dress that big ok, i just wanted to make sure I didn't look like one of those crocheted toilet roll doll cover thingys! My Nan had one on the top of her toilet and all I remember as a kid was it watching over my shoulder whilst I had a pee!

It sounds like you've got quite a few things sorted already. I did find it a bit daunting at first and thought 'Where the hell do you start?' but these boards really helped and also getting a spreadsheet with items, costs, dates, times etc to keep it organised. I'm a compulsive planner and organiser (wonderful OCD) so doing this lot is right up my alley...

We were originally going to get married in Las Vegas with him as Elvis and me as Marilyn - I just wanted to see him in the rhinestone suit with the quiff - but it was Disney all the way for us. I can call Disney any time for info now as it is well pas our 18 months and I'm glad I've got a good idea of things to ask or confirm from the wonderful folks on here.

What sort of style dress are you looking at?

xx

 

[Gemshaw]

Awww, thank you that's really sweet. I'm 5' 6" so can wear a dress that big ok, i just wanted to make sure I didn't look like one of those crocheted toilet roll doll cover thingys! My Nan had one on the top of her toilet and all I remember as a kid was it watching over my shoulder whilst I had a pee!

It sounds like you've got quite a few things sorted already. I did find it a bit daunting at first and thought 'Where the hell do you start?' but these boards really helped and also getting a spreadsheet with items, costs, dates, times etc to keep it organised. I'm a compulsive planner and organiser (wonderful OCD) so doing this lot is right up my alley...

We were originally going to get married in Las Vegas with him as Elvis and me as Marilyn - I just wanted to see him in the rhinestone suit with the quiff - but it was Disney all the way for us. I can call Disney any time for info now as it is well pas our 18 months and I'm glad I've got a good idea of things to ask or confirm from the wonderful folks on here.

What sort of style dress are you looking at?

xx

Well yes thats why i certainly cant wear a big dress ill be the toilet holder! haha! Well alex, i am gutted, the dress i wanted was one that monsoon does in their bridal collection and being the sale i dragged DF down to swansea (in hope of a selection as they dont normally hold them) and i went there last after looking around, i found the dress, in my size from £200 down to £60! my heart went nuts, i picked it up and as i looked closer all the beading was falling of the dress, DF (even though he wasnt supposed to see it but he come to have a peak hehe) noticed scags in the dress, even the same dress in all the different sizes were the same, i even tried to pick other ones that i liked online and every one had something falling off it or a mark/scagg, so thats it out the window out how god knows how many designs i looked at it was perfect for me, really simple, strapless and elegant but oh well, back to square one! i felt ill just at the thought of it being in such a terrible state it was beyond repairable. DF is a planner too, well an engineering one! hah but he says this is all me, all he wants is the kilt! ive looked around the boardsand some were saying that they paid $1000 for a mad hatter cake! so we are going to keep it in mind but also look for something else (more money-saving!)

xxx

 

[Beep]

Well yes thats why i certainly cant wear a big dress ill be the toilet holder! haha! Well alex, i am gutted, the dress i wanted was one that monsoon does in their bridal collection and being the sale i dragged DF down to swansea (in hope of a selection as they dont normally hold them) and i went there last after looking around, i found the dress, in my size from £200 down to £60! my heart went nuts, i picked it up and as i looked closer all the beading was falling of the dress, DF (even though he wasnt supposed to see it but he come to have a peak hehe) noticed scags in the dress, even the same dress in all the different sizes were the same, i even tried to pick other ones that i liked online and every one had something falling off it or a mark/scagg, so thats it out the window out how god knows how many designs i looked at it was perfect for me, really simple, strapless and elegant but oh well, back to square one! i felt ill just at the thought of it being in such a terrible state it was beyond repairable. DF is a planner too, well an engineering one! hah but he says this is all me, all he wants is the kilt! ive looked around the boardsand some were saying that they paid $1000 for a mad hatter cake! so we are going to keep it in mind but also look for something else (more money-saving!)

xxx

Hey, don't worry about it. It happened for a reason and you will find something that suits you much better.

I had a similar problem with a dress from Monsoon. I found the perfect dress to wear for the meal on the night (it's at Epcot so ne wedding dress) but they didn't have my size. I looked in Bicester, Henley-on-Thames, Cardiff, Birmingham etc and no luck. But then I foudn something else that I preferred and was glad I didn't buy the first one.

Keep looking honey, you wil get something even mofre perfect

 

[parisgirl]

Hi gemshaw,

Just a quick one, i also did a small disney wedding from the uk, i dont know how much you have looked into but a little tip, if you go into a travel agents and get any wedding brochure they tell you the exact basic wedding package you get, then you can plan with your planner any extras that you want. If you are daunted by the thought of doing it all "yourself" you could always book through an agent, you can usually get a good deal with the accom when booking a wedding (well in my shop we give good discount anyway) and the extras you could just add on. Hope this helps and if you need any other help give me a shout i will be more than happy to help, i am the designated disney wedding planner in our shop, *** i have been there and done it.

Toni x

 

[orangetiggs]

we are in the uk and our wedding is next month, we are having a wishes wedding for $12997