Commitment Ceremonies

[Si'sAm]

My DW and I have looked all over the wedding boards and have seen nothing about commitment ceremonies. We are really interested to hear about couples ceremonies. We are not planning on doing this for a few years, but when you are on a budget it takes some planning.

We would love to see pictures and get some advice!

Current Ideas:
Sea Breeze Point
Reception/Dinner UK terrace or Jikos
10-15 guests
me: black pants, black shirt, vest
her: 40s swing dress

thanks for any help

 

[hiwaygal]

Hi!

I tend to hang out on the wedding board but your thread title caught my eye!

The biggest reason you haven't heard anything is probably because Disney hasn't been doing them very long. I'm not even sure it's been a year yet. Another reason is very likely that if someone has had a commitment ceremony at Disney, they just haven't found these boards. I figure Disney does over 2000 ceremonies a year, and my best guess is that only about 10% (if that) of the people involved make it to these boards.

Anyway, I was married at Sea Breeze Point so I have to say I'm partial to that location! Your plans sound wonderful so far!

Have you looked at the Disney Wedding Website? It sounds like you are considering the "Escape" package...

You can look at some pictures of the ceremony locations here: Tazfoto

And you might find some information at Mouse Weddings too.

Feel free to post on the weddings board, you will be welcome there as well!

And I believe RickinNYC is planning something in the future too.

Congratulations!!

 

[Si'sAm]

Thank your for the information. Yeah we have looked at the Disney site, but so far have found it very confusing, the minimums and such.

We will definetly use the wedding boards as we come closer to the day. We are hoping for late Sept-Oct in 2010 or 2011, a long way off, but a few more things need to be lined up before.


RickinNYC you will have to keep us up to date on your plans and any pictures!

 

[rpmdfw]

Hey there! My partner Scott and I are doing our commitment ceremony (aka "Our Big Fat Gay Disney Wedding") on September 28th. I lurk on the wedding forum, but haven't felt the need to discuss every detail of our plans with complete strangers, if you know what I mean. We've got definite ideas of what we want, so I don't feel the need to ask their advice either.

I CAN tell you that everyone with Disney Fairy Tale Weddings has been FANTASTIC so far. This has been a wonderful experience so far, and we're just at the point where we've gotten the signed contract back along with the complimentary annual passes, so we're looking forward to the actual planning meetings etc and of course the magical day itself.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Complimentary annual passes? Well then! My DP and I may just joing the festivities and plan our own ceremony! LOL.

I think it's wonderful that all of you are taking the opportunity to have your ceremonies at WDW. I've been to a Disney wedding and it was beyond fabulous. The Bride and Groom really went out of their way to be sure their guests had as nice a time as they did.

Disney can do anything you want, it seems! (For a price of course).

Enjoy the planning! It's as much fun as the doing!

 

[rpmdfw]

Complimentary annual passes? Well then! My DP and I may just joing the festivities and plan our own ceremony! LOL.

Trust me it's MUCH cheaper to buy the annual passes than have a wedding for 100 guests.

Plus, we've been Premium Annual Passholders for several years now, so we'll have to pay to upgrade these passes anyway. Still, it's a nice touch.

 

[OrlandoMike]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1410805&referrerid=&highlight=commitment+ceremonies

This is the post that started when the announcment was made. Not sure if there is any valuable info for you, but you may want to skim through it.

Good Luck!

and Congratulations!

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

YEAH!

​

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!

 

[Si'sAm]

Thanks! Yeah we are super excited! We had no idea you get a free annual pass, I guess that means that we will be giving WDW a bit more of our money when we (obviously) have to plan another trip that year.

orlandomike we actually had joked about getting married on the platform of Magnum. We actually had some friends who were married on Raptors platform. She said she wanted something more magical...and whatever she wants she gets.

 

[lillielil]

Just want to add my congratulations!!

We started planning a WDW wedding, but quickly realized that it was a no-go due to the policy at the time. I can't remember it it was changed by our wedding date (December 2006), but either way we'd planned the thing in DC by then... that's not to say we haven't already started planning some sort of 5-year aniversary gala at WDW

Have fun, and keep us posted!

 

[hiwaygal]

Thank your for the information. Yeah we have looked at the Disney site, but so far have found it very confusing, the minimums and such.

If anyone doesn't feel comfortable posting on the Weddings board (yet), feel free to PM me with questions! I'll try to help as best I can, or maybe find someone who can answer your questions!

The complimentary (I hate to use "free" 'cause we all know Disney ain't givin' away nothin' for free! ) Annual Passes are a new thing. I think there are some limitations on them though (don't include water parks, Disney Quest, and maybe a few other things, I think).

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Yes, I am an AP holder and they come at a much lower price than a WDW ceremony! LOL.

The ceremonies are (or can be) breathtakingly expensive, but I really think that those sorts of life events are costly no matter where you go. (Well, maybe with the exception of the local American Legion or VFW hall).

There are levels of APs. I have a regular AP that does not include water parks (I have a pool) nor Disney Quest (so not into games). There is a Premium AP that does include water parks and Disney Quest. There is even a seasonal AP that blacks out 180 or so days of the year... all depends upon what works best for you.

 

[rpmdfw]

Yes, I am an AP holder and they come at a much lower price than a WDW ceremony! LOL.

The ceremonies are (or can be) breathtakingly expensive, but I really think that those sorts of life events are costly no matter where you go. (Well, maybe with the exception of the local American Legion or VFW hall).

There are levels of APs. I have a regular AP that does not include water parks (I have a pool) nor Disney Quest (so not into games). There is a Premium AP that does include water parks and Disney Quest. There is even a seasonal AP that blacks out 180 or so days of the year... all depends upon what works best for you.

You're right in saying that a commitment ceremony of any kind can be pricey. We didn't even look at doing one anywere else, though. We met at WDW during Gay Days 2003. It's "our place" as it were, so if we're going to do it, we're doing it at Disney. Plus we opted for a ceremony location that's a bit off the norm for Disney Weddings, so we're definitely paying for "custom touches". Totally worth it in our opinion.

The pass we got from DFTW is the Annual Pass. We'll upgrade it to Premium Annual Pass because we're at Pleasure Island 2 to 3 nights a week, and occasionally enjoy a water park visit (or my partner does on days when I'm working and it's just too nice outside ) and the occasional slow-season visit to Disney Quest.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

HEY! I just noticed your location! LOL! I'm just west of you!

I think I'd like to try a water park sometime, I just never seem to want to make the effort.

The Disney wedding I attended was absolutely beautiful. Worth every cent that was spent on it.

I have another friend who is getting married in the chapel and having the reception in the rotunda of the US pavilion in the WS. (After EPCOT closes of course). I think that will be wicked cool too!

I've seen any number of wedding ceremonies being performed here and there around the grounds of WDW and the Swan and Dolphin. I know I will be really happy to see a same gender ceremony!

 

[rpmdfw]

HEY! I just noticed your location! LOL! I'm just west of you!

I think I'd like to try a water park sometime, I just never seem to want to make the effort.

The Disney wedding I attended was absolutely beautiful. Worth every cent that was spent on it.

I have another friend who is getting married in the chapel and having the reception in the rotunda of the US pavilion in the WS. (After EPCOT closes of course). I think that will be wicked cool too!

I've seen any number of wedding ceremonies being performed here and there around the grounds of WDW and the Swan and Dolphin. I know I will be really happy to see a same gender ceremony!

So that puts you in Winter Garden? We've been spending a bit of time exploring the new shopping center there lately . . .

The American Adventure Rotunda does look like a very cool location, but we decided it just wasn't very "us". We're doing the ceremony in a location that no one has ever asked for before, and we're keeping the location hush hush for the moment. We're doing the reception at the Atlantic Dance Hall. We think it's gorgeous, and a fantastic place for dinner and dancing at a reception.

It's shaping up to be a GREAT PARTY! LOL

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

That is SOME shopping center. Haven't spent much time there. Yet.

Ooooh! Sounds wonderful! I like the uniqueness of your ceremony location. Nothing like doing something a bit off the beaten, even at WDW.

The Atlantic Dance is a great place for a reception. :yes: It's going to be lovely!

You'll take loads of photos and share them, right?

 

[rpmdfw]

You'll take loads of photos and share them, right?

Try and stop me. I'm going to have to have SOME outlet for sharing them, because something tells me that our friends are going to be SICK of hearing about everything long before we get to September 28, 2008.

 

[sungela]

I don't post often, although as we get closer to the date (6/22/08), I'm sure I'll be on here more frequently. My partner and I are having our ceremony at the Wedding Pavilion, and for right now, the reception at Citricos. Disney is pretty expensive, but I can't imagine a better wedding place for us. We're also excited about being one of the first official lesbian couples to get hitched in the park, even if it doens't legally mean anything in Florida. (We're from Jersey, so we can have a civil union up here). Let me know if you have any questions about planning!

 

[Si'sAm]

Thanks a bunch we have been planning and then changing our minds and then planning some more, I think she is on the Disney Wedding's site at least 3 times a week. Sungela you will have to post pictures of your ceremony! I am so excited for you! I know what you mean about expensive though, we have already started saving our pennies.