Coming out of Lurkdom and have lots of questions!!

[tmli]

So I have been reading and lurking for some time gathering tons of invaluable information!! We just returned this weekend from an 8nts vacation at the world and did some site inspections.

A little back ground....we met several months ago through the disboards. We both live in Canada but a 3 hr flight away! We have been carrying on a LDR and racking up a lot of FF miles!! He has decided he loves me enough to give up his job of 11 years, leave his home and family to move in with me!! We are not yet engaged but do know we will be getting married and it will be at wdw. We have contacted DFTW and have been assigned a planner (Doreen).

We will be having an intimate with more than 10 guests so our location choices are limited to WP, SBP, or the gazebo at yacht club. This is my second marriage and his first...I have a great 10 yr old son!! I have decided to keep expenses as low as possible so that I can pay for my brother and his family to attend. They would never be able to afforde the trip and the rest of my family will be there.....its just more important to me than all the extras we could add to the wedding.

My first choice is the WP....it just seems so incredibly beautiful and i have been staring at it and imagining how perfect it would be since i first saw it! That being said I am not sure the extra expense is worth it. For practical reasons it is a great choice in case of bad weather and air conditioned for hot days. Questions about this location.....if being taken there from resort by limo...where does it let you off? is there a room there to get dressed in or do you arrive dressed?? is the cake/champagne done there or elsewhere?

After that we have the two gazebos. My concern with SBP is the walk....in full dress and heat....and also the privacy issue. Also what is the alternate location? The other day when we were there...a wedding was happening right at the Boardwalk hotel, outside. It was under the balcony that comes off the lobby....is this an alternate?

The yacht club seemed more private and would have less of a walk.....but i can see everyone's point about the guests being farther away than at SBP. I am not concerned about privacy here and I am also fine with the hotel being the back drop for pictures.

With either location....if the alternates are in the convention type rooms...are they decorated? has this happened to anyone and how did it feel?

SO changing topics.....how many days before the ceremony did you have? Is two days enough time to get tux delivered and sizes checked etc....to get gown steamed?

Thanks so much if you have gotten this far....I appreciate any help that you all can offer!

 

[dee slack]

My first choice is the WP....it just seems so incredibly beautiful and i have been staring at it and imagining how perfect it would be since i first saw it! That being said I am not sure the extra expense is worth it. For practical reasons it is a great choice in case of bad weather and air conditioned for hot days. Questions about this location.....if being taken there from resort by limo...where does it let you off? is there a room there to get dressed in or do you arrive dressed?? is the cake/champagne done there or elsewhere

Hello and congratulations!
I think I can help a little with the WP. I understand the limo takes you right to the gates of the WP, and you arrive dressed. The cake / champage 'reception' is then held at Commander's Terrace at the GF which is a private area (on the 2nd floor I think).

 

[hiwaygal]

After that we have the two gazebos. My concern with SBP is the walk....in full dress and heat....and also the privacy issue. Also what is the alternate location? The other day when we were there...a wedding was happening right at the Boardwalk hotel, outside. It was under the balcony that comes off the lobby....is this an alternate?

The yacht club seemed more private and would have less of a walk.....but i can see everyone's point about the guests being farther away than at SBP. I am not concerned about privacy here and I am also fine with the hotel being the back drop for pictures.

With either location....if the alternates are in the convention type rooms...are they decorated? has this happened to anyone and how did it feel?

SO changing topics.....how many days before the ceremony did you have? Is two days enough time to get tux delivered and sizes checked etc....to get gown steamed?

Thanks so much if you have gotten this far....I appreciate any help that you all can offer!

I think I can help some with SBP...I"m a little partial to that location!

I didn't think the walk was too bad. Our wedding day was VERY HOT and HUMID! And, I didn't have a full gown, just a nice white summer dress.

I also didn't have any "privacy" issues. In fact, IMO, the only location that is truly private is the WP, with a possible second being Sunrise Terrace at WL. At any other location other resort/park guests will be able to stop and watch your wedding. I felt like there was enough shrubbery/trees around SBP to keep it private enough for me. Also consider the time of day for your ceremony...many other guests will most likely be in the parks.

Not sure about the alternate for either, but I know one bride who was rained out at SBP was moved to the Attic at the Boardwalk (you can see pics here). Only your coordinator can tell you for sure what your alternate would be, and they would only know that a few hours before your wedding. It's all dependent on what is available.

Most likely, any alternate will not be decorated, unless you pay for decorations. None of the sites are decorated for an intimate. There will be chairs for your guests and a small cake/beverage table off to the side.

Hope that helps some!

 

[tmli]

Thank you both very much for your responses. I can't believe how difficult this decision is!!!! It will be August and very hot and humid for sure!

AT SBP did you and your groom walk together from the boardwalk? I am hoping to walk to him and think he will see me walking all around the lagoon to get to him!!

If we decide to stay at the beach club villas, is the walk about the same distance?

 

[hiwaygal]

I know it's a difficult decision! I went back and forth A LOT!!! We originally wanted Sunset Pointe at the Poly...but that didn't work out for us. Just know that all of the locations are beautiful and special...there isn't a "wrong" choice!

Our wedding was late September...so maybe not quite as hot as August, but we were sweating and not from nervousness!

All of us (me and DH, planner, officiant, photographer and violinist) walked together to SBP from the Boardwalk. We didn't have any guests and I wasn't concerned about him seeing me before the ceremony. I felt like we couldn't get there fast enough!

Our planner stopped me in one of the "wings" and took the officiant, groom, and violinist to the center part. I don't know where the photographer went! I think he was just getting in position to get pics. Then my planner came back and told me I could go...*sigh* it was SOOO magical!

If you don't want to see each other until "the moment" let your planner know, they will do everything they can to make sure it happens the way you want it too.

If you look at this: Boardwalk Map you will only be walking from about point "G" to almost point "S"...it looks a lot farther on this map than it really is.

If you stay at the Beach Club, I would think the walk is just a little bit longer...but it depends on where you are located in the hotel, you know? From the point you come outside, it's probably not that much of a difference.

 

[ItGirl753]

Just want to say hi, Tracey! I live in Buffalo, so if you're in Ontario (depending where), we're sort of neighbors! When are you planning for?

 

[tmli]

HEY!! I fly out of Buffalo....just got back Saturday as a matter of fact!

We are tentatively planning for Aug/07.

 

[ItGirl753]

HEY!! I fly out of Buffalo....just got back Saturday as a matter of fact!
We are tentatively planning for Aug/07.

Me too! Just tentative, well Aug or if not, then maybe July -- no exact date set yet <sigh>. I haven't even called Disney yet without a date in mind. He'd love to push it off to fall so it's during Food and Wine Fest in Epcot, but I'm a teacher and want it in the summer! He's waiting for some info and dates on military school stuff -- he works at the NF Air Force Base.

 

[tmli]

Any other experiences/advice to share girls??