Confused about reception pricing (& S/D reception question)

[aristocatz]

We are thinking about doing our reception at either the BCR or the BWI.

I looked at the menus and really like either:

1) The "Cape Cod brunch" served between 12:30-2
-$58.00 per guest based on 1 ½ hours or less of service

OR

2) The Cape May Lighthouse Breakfast Buffet
-$31.00 per guest based on 1 ½ hours or less of service

I'm confused about pricing. We are roughly having 50 guests so it would be $2900 for Option 1, $1550 for Option 2.

Now I am looking at venue prices. Most I am looking at are $75 per person to host before 2pm (which is what we are looking at). So, that's $3750 PLUS the cost of the food that I noted above????

Ok, no way can we afford a reception that is 4x the cost of the Wedding ceremony!! Any ideas for cheaper options or a I missing something in the pricing???

I can't seem to find reception/brunch prices for Swan/Dolpin receptions-do you think it would be cheaper and where can I find these prices??

Many thanks!

 

[ElleBren]

Essentially you need to spend $75 per person. Now all of your food and beverage goes toward that number. Like your meal and drinks and cake(if you have it) all go toward your min of 75.

For example I got married at GF and it was 100 or 125 a person, I forgot.

Our meal was $85 pp. the cocktail hour was 14 pp and the cake was like 10-12 pp. so before drinks we were looking at 112 pp.

So If you get it right at $75 a person you are looking at $3750. You don't have to pay anything else additional but there is the service & gratuity you have to remember.

 

[aristocatz]

Essentially you need to spend $75 per person. Now all of your food and beverage goes toward that number. Like your meal and drinks and cake(if you have it) all go toward your min of 75.

For example I got married at GF and it was 100 or 125 a person, I forgot.

Our meal was $85 pp. the cocktail hour was 14 pp and the cake was like 10-12 pp. so before drinks we were looking at 112 pp.

So If you get it right at $75 a person you are looking at $3750. You don't have to pay anything else additional but there is the service & gratuity you have to remember.

Thank you for clarifying that!!! That is MUCH more doable! We are at $58/pp right now, but I have not considered cake and drinks. We are not interested in cocktail hour but we are interested in serving mimosa's and wine at the brunch.

 

[ElleBren]

I'm sure you will easily get to the $75 pp and meet the minimum. Especially if you are going with the one that is $58 a person. Good luck!

 

[lurkyloo]

Aristocatz - I think on another thread you mentioned that you are having a Swan & Dolphin ceremony. If this is the case, you will most likely be told that you cannot do a catered reception through Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings because they require you to do the ceremony through them as well. There is a chance you will be allowed to do the reception through Disney Catering & Convention Services, but they may tell you that you can't do anything "wedding"-like" such as have dancing (not a problem for you!), a wedding cake, etc. People have received mixed messages about this.

If you are able to do the reception through Catering & Convention Services, the $75/person minimum will not apply. You will just have to meet a venue-specific food and beverage minimum, like $2,500 for the Attic or $1,000 for Ariel's.

 

[aristocatz]

Aristocatz - I think on another thread you mentioned that you are having a Swan & Dolphin ceremony. If this is the case, you will most likely be told that you cannot do a catered reception through Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings because they require you to do the ceremony through them as well. There is a chance you will be allowed to do the reception through Disney Catering & Convention Services, but they may tell you that you can't do anything "wedding"-like" such as have dancing (not a problem for you!), a wedding cake, etc. People have received mixed messages about this.

If you are able to do the reception through Catering & Convention Services, the $75/person minimum will not apply. You will just have to meet a venue-specific food and beverage minimum, like $2,500 for the Attic or $1,000 for Ariel's.

Thanks Carrie! We were planning to do the cake & toast right after our S/D ceremony (as included in the ceremony I think-we are still in the early stages!)

I did now know that about not being able to do the WDW reception with a S/D wedding Oh well.

All we really want is brunch in a pretty room with some small wedding favors on the tables-do you think that would be allowed? Also, would they allow us to set up an IPOD for background music OR do they provide pre-recorded music? & would they allow for a toast?

ALL THAT SAID, do you know of a link were I can look up into, menus, etc for catering and convention services?

Thank you!!

 

[mermaidbride1108]

I can't help much but www.magicalkingdoms.com has lots of WDW catering menus to browse

 

[lurkyloo]

You can poke around the Disney Catered Events website - this page has a link to some out-of-date menus - but they don't give you a lot of specifics.

I think your best bet is to call them and see what your options are. If it's a go, you will be able to work with them on the favors, iPod, etc.

The phone number is (321) 939-7278.

 

[aristocatz]

You can poke around the Disney Catered Events website - this page has a link to some out-of-date menus - but they don't give you a lot of specifics.

I think your best bet is to call them and see what your options are. If it's a go, you will be able to work with them on the favors, iPod, etc.

The phone number is (321) 939-7278.

Thanks Carrie!! Do you think this will be the cheapest way to go? I emailed the guy from the S/D catering & still waiting to hear back on prices. I'm assuming the S/D might be cheaper but you never know!