Brand new intro & so many questions!

[theantibride]

Hey everyone. I've been lurking for a little while now and just have to say y'all seem so nice and helpful that I finally decided to join so I can ask all my questions.

I got engaged on Halloween at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party on Cinderella's Carousel (was a complete and total surprise -- who gets engaged on Halloween? Especially when in pirate costumes ). I would LOVE a Disney wedding. Right now we're leaning towards a Saturday in October 2008 because that would be our 9th anniversary and how awesome would it be to get married on the anniversary of when we started dating?!

Anyway we have to start saving for the wedding and trying to figure out a budget (we'r elooking at about 80 people I think). Fiance and I are passholders (have been for many years -- been to WDW closing in on 600 times) so I'm super-familiar with all the locations and everything but I am not super-familiar with their weddings. I never played bride as a little girl and it wasn't until recently decided that I do indeed want to get married. I've played with the wishbook and stuff but still have so many questions. Here's my first bunch of them (please keep in mind I'm loking at a custom wedding):

How many of you did not get your first choice for time and location for your wedding?
Is it harder to get some locations than others?
What exactly is the lottery I've heard mentioned and how does it work?
Have any of you had the Cinderella Carriage and was it as awesome as it looks? Is it even worth it at the wedding pavillion cause aren't your guests inside when you get there so they don't get to see you pull up in it?
How willing is Disney to work with you on menus (we have a lot of folks with food issues -- diebetes, celiac disease, numerous food allergies and I want to make sure we've got something for everybody)?
How many of you did not serve alcohol at your wedding and how did it go over with your guests? I just don't want to pay through the nose for my firends (well, more so their husbands) to get sloshed on my dime.
How hard is it to reach the minimum?
How far over the minimum do weddings typically go?
How does the room minimum work? I'm assuming if one family stays on property for 3 nights that counts as 3 rooms and not as 1 or is it just 1?
Ok, I think that's all my questions for now although I'm sure I'll have many more as I really start to figure things out. Thanks in advance for all your help!

 

[KellyJo18]

What a great engagement story! First of all, welcome!!!! I'm glad you decided to join in on the conversation

How many of you did not get your first choice for time and location for your wedding?
- We did not get our first choice because the Living Seas was already booked and we decided to move our date up a week in order to get the venue we wanted. We didn't have our date set in stone yet though so it was not a huge deal for us. Plus we booked around the 7 month mark so if we would have decided on a Disney wedding sooner we probably wouldn't have had that problem. Your date is still far enough off that I wouldn't think you'd have much of a problem.

Is it harder to get some locations than others?
- Not sure Hopefully someone else will come along and help you out with this question.

What exactly is the lottery I've heard mentioned and how does it work?
-Hmm... again, not sure.

Have any of you had the Cinderella Carriage and was it as awesome as it looks? Is it even worth it at the wedding pavillion cause aren't your guests inside when you get there so they don't get to see you pull up in it?
-We're not having it but I know that at the WP they do a staged exit which is where your guests line the walkway as you leave and they would see you getting in the carriage then.

How willing is Disney to work with you on menus (we have a lot of folks with food issues -- diebetes, celiac disease, numerous food allergies and I want to make sure we've got something for everybody)?
-We also have guests that need special menus and they have been nothing but helpful! I can't say enough about how great the Epcot Catering staff has been to work with. We mixed and matched items off of the menus they gave us for our meal and have requested a couple plates to be made special for guests with special diets. No problems at all!

How many of you did not serve alcohol at your wedding and how did it go over with your guests? I just don't want to pay through the nose for my firends (well, more so their husbands) to get sloshed on my dime.
-They have many different bar options and I know a lot of brides choose the soda and water package. I'm sure one of them will come along and let you know how it went over

How hard is it to reach the minimum?
-We should be receiving our budget early next week but I'm sure it wasn't an issue (for us at least). I am more worried about being way over the minimum

How far over the minimum do weddings typically go?

How does the room minimum work? I'm assuming if one family stays on property for 3 nights that counts as 3 rooms and not as 1 or is it just 1?
- You are correct. If you and your DF stay for 5 nights that counts as 5 of the rooms in your minimum. Our wedding planner says it is very rare not to be able to meet the minimum. Every once in awhile brides on here will post their information for anyone that will be in Disney during their wedding to book under their name - that way you meet your minimum and they can use your room discount.

Good luck planning!! Not sure how helpful I was but at least it gives you a bump for more people to come and help you out

 

[lurkyloo]

Hi, and welcome!

Harder to get locations:
It sounds like a weekend evening ceremony at the Wedding Pavillion is hardest to get. There was a recent thread that said something like 2:30 and 5pm are the most popular times at all locations.

Lottery: If more than one person wants a location at a certain date and time, their names are put into a random drawing to see who gets it. I read something today that makes it sound like Custom/Wishes weddings get priority over Intimate/Escape weddings, so maybe the lottery is only if more than one Wishes wedding is competing for the same slot.

Hope this helps!

 

[theantibride]

Thank you both. This information is already helping!

 

[dee slack]

Lottery: If more than one person wants a location at a certain date and time, their names are put into a random drawing to see who gets it. I read something today that makes it sound like Custom/Wishes weddings get priority over Intimate/Escape weddings, so maybe the lottery is only if more than one Wishes wedding is competing for the same slot.

Again, Welcome to the boards and congratulations on your engagement!

'The Lottery' I think Lurkyloo might have read my post about Wishes weddings getting priority over Intimates as I was told this on Wednesday when I tried to get my date (exactly 8 months out as I was told by Disney). I mentioned the lottery and she also said something about not putting me in the lottery as there were still other times available on my 1st choice date. I have to phone again today in exactly 1 hour to see if I get my 2nd choice of date/time (it's the pavilion, at 2:30 that I wanted, and even in Dec it seems it's fairly popular).
Good luck with your choices, and I would suggest getting at least one back-up date and/or time so you won't be too disappointed.

 

[myprincessgirlisa]

welcome to the boards & congrats on the engagement...i love halloween, how fun!!

Im not much help on the questions. I had an intimate.

looking forward to hearing your planning journal

 

[M&M126]

Hi and Welcome! I'm pretty new to the board too and everyone is so nice. Lots of good ideas and tips on here. It looks like most of your questions are answered for now.... so good luck with the planning and I hope you get a date you want!