Beach Wedding??

[sandk]

Hi Everyone! I just had my first conversation with a consultant today! I'm really excited about all of her ideas and suggestions. I told her I want a really informal, beachy wedding...but wasn't sure if you could actually have the ceremony and/or reception on a beach. She sent me pics of the WP beach and shipbreak beach and i love both! Has any one had their ceremony and/or reception on one of these beaches before? Or know someone who has?? Did you like it? I really want a tiki/hawaiian theme reception!

Thanks!

 

[Janet2k]

I want a really informal, beachy wedding... She sent me pics of the WP beach and shipbreak beach and i love both! Has any one had their ceremony and/or reception on one of these beaches before? Or know someone who has??

Sandk, welcome to the Dis and congratulations on the planning of your FTW.

I have seen photos of someone who held a wedding on the beach of the Grand Floridian. It looked lovely.

I have been to a beach party at the YC/BC. It was held in the evening. There was a scrumptious buffet (steak, roast beef, lobster, shrimp, etc.) set up on the beach, as well as a bar (juices, water, soft drinks, wine, and liquor). Round tables that seated 10 people each that were set up in the sand near the buffet and bar stations. A balloon artist entertained the guests with some of the most incredible balloon work that I have ever seen. An excellent steel drum band filled the air with lovely music. Games were set up on the far area of the beach for both the kids and the adults (relay races, etc.). These games were run by Cast Members and they were a hoot (my kids had a ball). Plus, there were tables set up for arts & crafts types of projects (also run by Cast Members). I think the adults had just as much fun with this as the kids did (my best friend had a ball making necklaces & bracelets for my daughter). Lastly, Minnie & Mickey Mouse were at the party. A photo area was set up next to the shipwreck. Everyone got a chance to have their photos taken with the characters (Disney photography handled this), plus, these photos were printed on the spot and were given to the guests within minutes of them having been taken. It was pretty snazzy and a wonderful way to remember the party by.

I have held a small, intimate dinner party at the Grand Floridian’s Summerhouse patio & beach area. The resort’s Convention Services folks planned it for me and it was wonderful. I wrote about it in an old trip report, plus I have photos of it in an on-line photo album: click here. (My captions appear to be messed up in that photo album -- sorry about that; it happened when Yahoo changed their website a few months ago.) I have also seen wedding receptions held in this location. It is a lovely venue.

I hope this helped.

Edited To Add: I just fixed the captions in that photo album. They should be okay now. By the way, the professional photos were taken by a Disney photographer who I had hired to photograph the event. He did a lovely job.

 

[myprincessgirlisa]

sandk welcome aboard.
I think your idea sounds great/fun
not sure about all this, but it sounds like janet2k has been to one, so it does sound possible!!
I hope you are able to create your dream it sounds fabulous!!!

Good luck & keep us posted

 

[DisBride2007]

A beach wedding at WDW? What an awesome idea! Congrats and welcome!

 

[sandk]

Thanks so much for the wonderful comments! I'm really excited about it...I'm sure I'll have a lot more questions! haha

 

[Belle1981]

What a great idea! We were thinking of something unique too! I can't wait to hear more!

 

[DisneyFairy19]

Have you checked out Yacht/Beach Club.. or Boardwalk.. If you are going for a Beachy Wedding... I would have one of those be your venue... But if you are going more with a Tiki feel do the Poly...

 

[hmgolden]

Personally, I would use the beach at the WP for a ceremony. I believe if you use that location, your back up is the WP, were as I would imagine that the back up location for the beach at the YC/BC would be a ballroom. Plus, the beach at the WP would be more private.

 

[sandk]

Can the poly only be used for intimate weddings, though?

 

[Janet2k]

Can the poly only be used for intimate weddings, though?

Here's what the official FTW website has to say about Sunset Pointe at the Polynesian Resort (click here):

- - - - - - -
Disney's Polynesian Resort / Sunset Pointe

Cinderella Castle provides the backdrop for this romantic, palm-fringed hillside location overlooking the spectacular Seven Seas Lagoon.

Escape Weddings at Disney's Polynesian Resort / Sunset Pointe start at $2950* including the magical amenities package. For additional guests (up to 18** maximum) additional elements are at an additional cost.

(Subject to availability. Ceremonies are available October - March, Monday - Friday only at 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, 2:30 pm, or 5:00 pm. Maximum guest count for a Disney's Sunset Pointe ceremony is 8 guests. If inclement weather should occur on the day of the wedding an indoor back-up location will be provided.)

*This package price does not include resort accommodations. Disney's Escape Weddings require a 4 night stay at an owned and operated Walt Disney World® Resort.

**Some ceremony locations have a maximum occupancy of 10 guests total.

All prices and other terms are subject to change without notice. Ceremony and reception locations subject to availability and scheduled Monday - Saturday only. Advance reservations required. Amenities are subject to availability
- - - - - - -

 

[Janet2k]

I just had my first conversation with a consultant today! I'm really excited about all of her ideas and suggestions. I told her I want a really informal, beachy wedding...but wasn't sure if you could actually have the ceremony and/or reception on a beach. She sent me pics of the WP beach and shipbreak beach and i love both! I really want a tiki/hawaiian theme reception!

Okay, if you want a beach wedding, I found a website this evening that has gorgeous photos of such a thing (it's a Hawaiian website): click here.

The photos on that website are stunning. I now am trying to decide if I want a beach ceremony for my next vow renewal. Since my husband is pushing for Hawaii, and I am pushing for Florida, a beach ceremony at the Grand Floridian just might be a way of appeasing both of us.

 

[Janet2k]

I really want a tiki/hawaiian theme reception!

Make sure to click here. As you scroll down that webpage, you'll see how tiki torches can be used during a beach ceremony. And turn up your speakers so you can hear the sound of the surf lapping on the beach, ~sigh.~

 

[Angel16]

Janet2K, Now you have captured my interest. My DH and I are celebrating a milestone anniversary later this year. We have always talked about a vow renewal ceremony. Your sites grabbed my attention.

We have talked about Hawaii. We LOVE it there, but it is too expensive to bring our children and grandchildren over. We have considered Napa Valley. Our one daughter came up with the idea of the two of us flying to them in North Carolina and having our ceremony on the Outer Banks, either on the beach or near a light house, looking out to the ocean. Your site is perfect for seating guests in an elegant comfortable way.

My DH and I have decided that we would not be going to WDW this year. We have gone the past four years. This year we are going to try different places. However, I am now thinking a week at WDW following a vow renewal just might be a nice second honeymoon.

SandK, I am so very happy for you. What fun you will have planning your wedding. You will be working with wonderful people at Disney who will do the very best they can to make every dream you have come true. What is your wedding date?
Happy planning.

 

[honey2741]

Hi Everyone! I just had my first conversation with a consultant today! I'm really excited about all of her ideas and suggestions. I told her I want a really informal, beachy wedding...but wasn't sure if you could actually have the ceremony and/or reception on a beach. She sent me pics of the WP beach and shipbreak beach and i love both! Has any one had their ceremony and/or reception on one of these beaches before? Or know someone who has?? Did you like it? I really want a tiki/hawaiian theme reception!

Thanks!

What ideas and suggestions did she give you? Do you have pics to share? Thanks.

 

[polynesianbride]

We are planning this style of wedding at Disney but I am an Escape bride so ours will be on a much smaller scale than what you're planning. We are having Sunset Pointe and then having dinner at OHana. We are planning to have a lei exchange incorporated into our ceremony and giving leis to all our guests as well. I hope to have them flown in from Hawaii- it's actually quite reasonably priced IMO. I have found several good sites on this and will post when I dig them up. If you want a Tiki theme Poly is the way to go... the only problem is I don't think there is currently a space at the Poly to host something like this at. Several years ago you used to be able to hold events at a place there called Tangaroa Terrace but I called and asked at the Poly and they said they don't do events there anymore. Ask your planner and see if she can give you more info... then let me know and maybe I can talk DF into upgrading. We had talked about doing a Wishes but he's soooo hung up on the whole casual tropical theme and is insistent on the Poly! Good luck

 

[honey2741]

We are planning to have a lei exchange incorporated into our ceremony and giving leis to all our guests as well. I hope to have them flown in from Hawaii- it's actually quite reasonably priced IMO. I have found several good sites on this and will post when I dig them up.

Congrats on your wedding and theme. Yes, if you don't mind sharing the links for the leis that would be awesome! Love your creative spirit.

 

[Luvmyfam3]

We have also been discussing a beach wedding at Disney. My understanding was that only Sunset Pointe was available and limited to about 10 people. Would the beach at YC or WP hold more people? Does anyone have pictures?

Thanks!

Kim

 

[polynesianbride]

Congrats on your wedding and theme. Yes, if you don't mind sharing the links for the leis that would be awesome! Love your creative spirit.

Okay here's a few links and ideas for you that I've been looking at... I'm still working at getting all these ideas in my PJ!
If you just search Leis you will get tons of links but this is my favorite so far...
http://www.hawaiiflowerlei.com/section.aspx?pid=wedding
They have a deal for wedding parties where you get 10 leis (5 orchid and 5 Ti leaf) for $89... you can get the purple or white orchids (I will probably do white so it goes with whatever people wear- we don't have a wedding party so these will be for our parents, brothers, and grandmothers)

Then I will probably get something like this for DF

and I am undecided on what I want for me yet since I don't have my dress but maybe something like this

or

Then this site has some ideas for a lei exchange ceremony... I need to do some more work on this yet...
http://www.alohafriendsluau.com/lei_exchange_ceremony.html

I love this presentation for the rings... since we won't have a ring bearer we will probably have our moms or our brothers carry these and place them on the table with our sand ceremony stuff...

This is a link to alternate invites... they are actually painted real coconuts...
http://www.coconutgreetings.com/index.html

Hope this helps someone! There are tons of other great ideas out there if you just start searching google for things like Luau wedding, Hawaiian Wedding, etc.

We have also been discussing a beach wedding at Disney. My understanding was that only Sunset Pointe was available and limited to about 10 people. Would the beach at YC or WP hold more people? Does anyone have pictures?

Thanks!

Kim

Yes- Sunset Pointe is only available for 10 people... we LOVE this idea so have made MAJOR guest list cuts to accomodate this... then we are going to have a Luau theme pig roast as our reception back in Michigan with all our family and friends.

If you are having a Wishes wedding one of the reasons for chosing a Wishes wedding is that you can customize it so I think they should be able to accomodate you but the details of what they can do I would love to hear... and know how much it would cost !

 

[honey2741]

We have also been discussing a beach wedding at Disney. My understanding was that only Sunset Pointe was available and limited to about 10 people. Would the beach at YC or WP hold more people?

For a Wishes wedding you can use Shipwreck beach at the Beach Club and the Grand Floridian beach by the Wedding Pavilion. The site fee for Shipwreck is $2000 and the site fee for the Grand Floridian is $3000. The reason the Grand Floridian beach is higher is because the Wedding Pavilion is the back up location. I'm pretty sure you could have a higher number of guests if you chose to. I hope that helps.

Okay here's a few links and ideas for you that I've been looking at... I'm still working at getting all these ideas in my PJ!

Thank you so much. I didn't realize there were so many options! I'll be doing a lot of research today!

 

[honey2741]

Thinking of saving $1000 and going with Shipwreck Beach. What boat could we use in our exit off this beach? Where would it go? I forget if the Boardwalk is enclosed or connects to a waterway. If it connects to a waterway, what is it? Thanks!