Calling all Escape Brides!

[mad4282]

Hi all! I am still a little on the fence about committing to an escape wedding. I had my heart set on a wishes wedding but it is completely out of my budget. I guess my concern is, do former escape brides believe it was worth it? I know I can do a ceremony elsewhere and have more people attend, but Im dont really want a traditional ballroom wedding and I feel disney is just so special! My real concern is not having everyone I love at my ceremony. I tentatively have the wedding pavillion held for my wedding but am afraid it will look too empty. How have other escape brides felt about this? Did you feel special on your day and not rushed? So much to consider! Thank you!

 

[geek+nerd]

I am an Escape bride, scheduled for June 21 of this year, and I have to tell you that I would not want to do our wedding any other way. Like you, I am not a ballroom type bride. DF and I are both older at 45 for him and 34 for me; this is a first marriage for both of us. We knew we wanted to do something intimate and special.

I was also concerned about the WP looking empty with so few guests, but honestly, the way it is designed, it will be fine. We got to visit last summer while on vacation, and as soon as I walked in, I knew we didn't need to visit any other locations.

If you get the chance, look through the planning journals and trip reports threads. You can see lots of pics there of past WP brides to give you an idea of what it will look like.

 

[Deb loves Disney]

I was an Escape bride just this past December. I also debated about having a Wishes wedding just so that we could invite more people. In the end I am really happy with the way things turned out. We were married in the Wedding Pavilion and it did not feel empty at all. I think the way the room is shaped has something to do with the intimate feeling but do not worry about it feeling empty at all! I know others have had only something like just the parents and still said the same thing about it not feeling empty.

Trust me when I say that you will feel special!!! One positive about having a few people was that I was able to mingle with all of the guests, most being close family members. It was very special and I wouldn't go back and change it. We added on a lunch reception at the California Grill and a dessert party at the end of the night. It was a wonderful day and I was riding the high from it for awhile.

Like geek+nerd said, we are also older, me 36 and DH 48 and a first wedding for both of us. We didn't want to do anything over the top but we also wanted to feel special and Disney provided that and then some!

Good luck on your decision! Let us know what you end up deciding.

ps, I have a link to my planning journal in my signature with a completed trip report in it if you want to see how the day went with tons of pictures.

 

[Chilly]

I'm a past WP Escape bride, I only had 6 guests and it was a wonderful, beautiful, magical wedding.

 

[mad4282]

I was an Escape bride just this past December. I also debated about having a Wishes wedding just so that we could invite more people. In the end I am really happy with the way things turned out. We were married in the Wedding Pavilion and it did not feel empty at all. I think the way the room is shaped has something to do with the intimate feeling but do not worry about it feeling empty at all! I know others have had only something like just the parents and still said the same thing about it not feeling empty.

Trust me when I say that you will feel special!!! One positive about having a few people was that I was able to mingle with all of the guests, most being close family members. It was very special and I wouldn't go back and change it. We added on a lunch reception at the California Grill and a dessert party at the end of the night. It was a wonderful day and I was riding the high from it for awhile.

Like geek+nerd said, we are also older, me 36 and DH 48 and a first wedding for both of us. We didn't want to do anything over the top but we also wanted to feel special and Disney provided that and then some!

Good luck on your decision! Let us know what you end up deciding.

ps, I have a link to my planning journal in my signature with a completed trip report in it if you want to see how the day went with tons of pictures.

Hi! I will definitely check it out, your wedding is EXACTLY what I was planning if we go through with escape. Originally we wanted the pavillion with a reception at ADH. We are both in our twenties but do not have a large amount of money, but Disney is very special to us both. We visited the WP and fell in love, me and my mom both cried when we walked in! I worry people will be offended as I have many close gf's but will not be able to invite them if we go this route, but I love the idea of an intimate wedding. I toyed with having another event after we get home for everyone, but im not sure it will fit in our budget. Would you mind me asking how much u spent after all was said and done? Thank you!

 

[mad4282]

I'm a past WP Escape bride, I only had 6 guests and it was a wonderful, beautiful, magical wedding.

Thank you, its wonderful to hear that you were happy with your decision and congrats to you on your wedding!

 

[Deb loves Disney]

Hi! I will definitely check it out, your wedding is EXACTLY what I was planning if we go through with escape. Originally we wanted the pavillion with a reception at ADH. We are both in our twenties but do not have a large amount of money, but Disney is very special to us both. We visited the WP and fell in love, me and my mom both cried when we walked in! I worry people will be offended as I have many close gf's but will not be able to invite them if we go this route, but I love the idea of an intimate wedding. I toyed with having another event after we get home for everyone, but im not sure it will fit in our budget. Would you mind me asking how much u spent after all was said and done? Thank you!

We paid for the wedding ourselves and did not want to be in over our heads with the cost.

I'm going to pull out my BEO and let you know what everything cost in sections so you can get an idea of what the extras were.

The Escape package with the WP:
$5749.90

The floral/decorations we added for the WP, Napa Room and Sago Cay:
$1151
(this included MOH bouquet, extra bouts, and corsages)

Napa Room:
$1088
(we added 2 vendor meals and this included taxes)
The minimum in the this room before taxes had to reach $1000 so we had to add an extra BOC beverage for the guests to reach the minimum.

Sago Cay Dessert Party
$1532
(included $495 extra for the soundtrack and we added BOC Mickey Bars)

Our total was $9805, this included a few set-up fees and other small things not mentioned above.

HTH

 

[mad4282]

We paid for the wedding ourselves and did not want to be in over our heads with the cost.

I'm going to pull out my BEO and let you know what everything cost in sections so you can get an idea of what the extras were.

The Escape package with the WP:
$5749.90

The floral/decorations we added for the WP, Napa Room and Sago Cay:
$1151
(this included MOH bouquet, extra bouts, and corsages)

Napa Room:
$1088
(we added 2 vendor meals and this included taxes)
The minimum in the this room before taxes had to reach $1000 so we had to add an extra BOC beverage for the guests to reach the minimum.

Sago Cay Dessert Party
$1532
(included $495 extra for the soundtrack and we added BOC Mickey Bars)

Our total was $9805, this included a few set-up fees and other small things not mentioned above.

HTH

Great! Did you use Disney photography as well or get your own? I also dont want to start my marriage in debt because of the wedding (student loan debt is quite enough!) by the way, looked through your planning journal and your wedding was gorgeous!!!

 

[Deb loves Disney]

We kept the photography that came with the Escape package. The Disney photographer took pics at the Wedding Pavilion. However, we also hired an outside photographer, Randy Chapman. He came to the resort for getting ready shots, he took pictures during the wedding, he came to the reception and also came back that night for the dessert party.

I don't remember what his costs were exactly but he is one of the more reasonably priced photographers out there and the price includes CD's filled with all of the pictures that he takes.

I hear you about student loans! That's one thing that I wish I had been more conservative about taking out when I was in college.

 

[princessdi81]

I was married 2 weeks ago at the Wedding Pavilion, as part of the Escape package. I was aggrevated because I felt that I didn't know what was going on with the wedding and freaked out about it. I think it was well worth the money, though. And, my one piece of advice to all Escape brides - don't sweat the small stuff - despite my concerns everything was perfect. Disney did a fabulous job in orchestrating everything and after all was said and done, I realized that I didn't need to worry about it at all! Enjoy being engaged, and live it up - and, most of all....DON'T WORRY! (Because Disney definitely knows what they're doing!!!)

 

[Tinker Bell Fan]

I'm not a first time bride - DH & I are renewing our vows for our 20th anniversary next month. We decided to go the Disney way and are planning an Escape "re-wedding". In the beginning we had 20 people (including us) and now we have 6 (that's including us) confirmed. None of DH's family are coming (and they missed our first wedding) and my parents have passed away.

I know WP will look empty - but the more I think about it the more I'm ok with it. Those that want to come are coming. Those that don't want to come (for whatever reason) that's their loss! DH & I are in this marriage together and we're doing what makes us happy!

We did the "big white wedding" mostly because of my parents (tradition). This time around it's what we want!

If having a Disney wedding is what you and your DF want then I say go for it! Maybe have the ceremony video taped and have it played at your reception at home for everyone who didn't make it to enjoy.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[mad4282]

I'm not a first time bride - DH & I are renewing our vows for our 20th anniversary next month. We decided to go the Disney way and are planning an Escape "re-wedding". In the beginning we had 20 people (including us) and now we have 6 (that's including us) confirmed. None of DH's family are coming (and they missed our first wedding) and my parents have passed away.

I know WP will look empty - but the more I think about it the more I'm ok with it. Those that want to come are coming. Those that don't want to come (for whatever reason) that's their loss! DH & I are in this marriage together and we're doing what makes us happy!

We did the "big white wedding" mostly because of my parents (tradition). This time around it's what we want!

If having a Disney wedding is what you and your DF want then I say go for it! Maybe have the ceremony video taped and have it played at your reception at home for everyone who didn't make it to enjoy.

Good luck with your decision.

Thanks for the advice and congrats to you!!!

 

[mad4282]

I was married 2 weeks ago at the Wedding Pavilion, as part of the Escape package. I was aggrevated because I felt that I didn't know what was going on with the wedding and freaked out about it. I think it was well worth the money, though. And, my one piece of advice to all Escape brides - don't sweat the small stuff - despite my concerns everything was perfect. Disney did a fabulous job in orchestrating everything and after all was said and done, I realized that I didn't need to worry about it at all! Enjoy being engaged, and live it up - and, most of all....DON'T WORRY! (Because Disney definitely knows what they're doing!!!)

Oh no! Im glad everything turned out well! Was your planner not accesible?

 

[Robyn&Scott102409]

We were married at the WP on 10/24/09.We wouldn't change a thing. Once our hearts were set on a Disney Wedding it didn't matter if it was Wishes or Escape, and nothing else felt right or made me feel giddy. The setting was extremely intimate and personal. Our planner Tanis was amazing. The WP didn't feel like empty space at all, and walking down the aisle I only saw my groom It wouldn't have mattered if it was standing room only

 

[mad4282]

We were married at the WP on 10/24/09.We wouldn't change a thing. Once our hearts were set on a Disney Wedding it didn't matter if it was Wishes or Escape, and nothing else felt right or made me feel giddy. The setting was extremely intimate and personal. Our planner Tanis was amazing. The WP didn't feel like empty space at all, and walking down the aisle I only saw my groom It wouldn't have mattered if it was standing room only

Aww so sweet!!!!!! Congrats to you! I do like the idea of the escape wedding, just worried about eliminating such a large group of people :/

 

[disneybride219]

We paid for the wedding ourselves and did not want to be in over our heads with the cost.

I'm going to pull out my BEO and let you know what everything cost in sections so you can get an idea of what the extras were.

The Escape package with the WP:
$5749.90

The floral/decorations we added for the WP, Napa Room and Sago Cay:
$1151
(this included MOH bouquet, extra bouts, and corsages)

Napa Room:
$1088
(we added 2 vendor meals and this included taxes)
The minimum in the this room before taxes had to reach $1000 so we had to add an extra BOC beverage for the guests to reach the minimum.

Sago Cay Dessert Party
$1532
(included $495 extra for the soundtrack and we added BOC Mickey Bars)

Our total was $9805, this included a few set-up fees and other small things not mentioned above.

HTH

just a little fyi. i picked an escape package at $4750 at Sea Breeze Point @Boardwalk. and since they were having some anniversary special if you chose to do it at 8am or 10am on a weekday then it would only cost $3500. much better!!! i chose this! and ya know it comes with all that stuff such as cake,photos, etc. so it seemed perfect!

 

[Deb loves Disney]

just a little fyi. i picked an escape package at $4750 at Sea Breeze Point @Boardwalk. and since they were having some anniversary special if you chose to do it at 8am or 10am on a weekday then it would only cost $3500. much better!!! i chose this! and ya know it comes with all that stuff such as cake,photos, etc. so it seemed perfect!

That's a great deal!!

I looked at SBP but when I saw the WP in person I just fell in love with it and we thought it was worth it to spend the little bit extra to have the wedding inside and with an MK castle view. Plus it was in December when weather is so unpredictable and it gave me peace of mind to know we wouldn't have to worry much about the elements while inside.

 

[disneybride219]

i dont blame you at all! better be safe than sorry. even though if it does rain they will move you in but who wants to deal with that?!?!?! i havent seen any one wedding spot in person i just kind of...picked! i bet the pavilion will be GORGEOUS!