Confused: Do I NEED a reception for a Wishes Wedding?

[TheBearrs]

You just need to decide what is important to you and what is not. Flowers and decor were not important to me and I think most people don't remember what you had afterwards either.

So if you were having a 10am ceremony and then nothing till the DP what would you and your guests do inbetween?

I'm not sure about the $100 min per person for lunch as I had an escape wedding.

That's the problem with skipping the reception-- what to do inbetween.. UGH.

Oohh okay. Sorry I was confused!

And yeah, you do have to spend $100 pp for a lunch... but your ceremony is at 10am, so you could do a brunch and that's $75 pp. (Or, I assume, you could just cut it out and do the dessert party--- but don't you still have to meet food minimums if you're a Wishes bride no matter what? Or am I just confused too?)

I could drop down to brunch for sure, good idea! Or, I could skip it entirely depending. Now you're confused too-sorry!! That's what I'm trying to figure out- do I need to meet food minimums or just my general minimum?

Also, not to switch tracks entirely, but since there are some Escape girls on here: I saw a few budgets for Escape that say there is a fee for extra guests.. ($500), does this mean I can have more than 20 people if I'm willing to pay the extra guest fee?!? If so, how many more people can I have?

 

[girli565]

Sorry double post.

 

[DoomBuggy0922]

Cake is included in the pp and so are drinks, and it's for the whole day--- so you could have, say, a 50 pp brunch and a 25 pp dessert party and it all goes towards the minimum.

And no, you can no longer pay the $500 fee for 5 extra people. They did away with that awhile ago--- and it was party of the reason we upgraded to a Wishes!

HTH

 

[girli565]

It totally possible to have a ceremony, reception and dessert party for $10k. You just have to be willing to maybe cut from other areas to meet that goal.

Like other have said, if you use outside photography and videography you can save a ton of money over Disney prices. If you cut floral down to the basiscs or just use te gel cylinder you like that would also save a lot.

And for a 10am ceremony you could have a brunch that includes several lunch items and only have to spend $75pp. But also remember that the $75,$100, $125 minimums per guest are only applied towards adults (10 years old and up) and is calculated from all events on the wedding day. For example, if you got ribbon wands for your staged exit at $2.50pp those count towards the per person minimum, if you had a brunch that was $50pp that counts, then you had a DP for $30pp that counts too. So in just those examples alone you've reached more than the required $75pp with 3 separate elements. If you added Disney floral provided plae adds, menus, or favors those also count towards the per guest minimum.

We had a DP welcome party the night before, our ceremony at the WP, prereception and full lunch reception with DJ, for close to $13k including taxes. Really the only thing that put us over our $10k budget was taxes and the MK photo shoot. And it was well worth the extra money.

You'd have to spend over $10k anyway for a wishes wedding because of services charges and taxes so be prepared for that.

 

[Chilly]

Yeah they got rind of the $500 , 5 guest add on to escapes, I guess a lot of people went for that instead of Wishes so they dropped it.

 

[TheBearrs]

Yeah they got rind of the $500 , 5 guest add on to escapes, I guess a lot of people went for that instead of Wishes so they dropped it.

Bummer.

Again, thanks so much for all the responses! I have so much to think about!

EDIT: I just asked my mom if they'd be willing to go over the $10,000 they've alloted and she said by 2,000. So, now I'm looking at $12,000 for everything. I'm crossing my fingers that this is do-able!

 

[girli565]

Bummer.

Again, thanks so much for all the responses! I have so much to think about!

EDIT: I just asked my mom if they'd be willing to go over the $10,000 they've alloted and she said by 2,000. So, now I'm looking at $12,000 for everything. I'm crossing my fingers that this is do-able!

It's totally doable! Be very clear with your planner that this is all you have. Mine was very open and would suggest what we could do that could save money.

 

[TheBearrs]

It's totally doable! Be very clear with your planner that this is all you have. Mine was very open and would suggest what we could do that could save money.

Good to know!! Thank you!! My DFi is just happy we're doing our wedding at Disney. He doesn't care what we do at all as long as we're getting married and it's happening at Disney. We both want to keep it affordable as possible and I don't mind cutting things out to an extent!

Again, thanks to everyone for all your responses!

 

[Chilly]

Have you mentioned to your Mum the idea of not having a reception as she is paying for most of the wedding? As a generalisation i'm sure most parents would think not having a reception to be very strange.

 

[TheBearrs]

Have you mentioned to your Mum the idea of not having a reception as she is paying for most of the wedding? As a generalisation i'm sure most parents would think not having a reception to be very strange.

I have. She isn't happy with the idea of not having a reception which is why I think she is now upping her gift by $2,000. I'd rather have a reception but again, I was trying to keep it as close to 10k as possible for my mom's sake.

 

[DoomBuggy0922]

You can do it! That's just about my budget from my dad too, but I am paying for some things myself. (Like I hired Randy for photography)--- I could afford his fees! I'd suggest just don't do a lot of floral, and spend your money on other things. Good luck!

 

[TheBearrs]

You can do it! That's just about my budget from my dad too, but I am paying for some things myself. (Like I hired Randy for photography)--- I could afford his fees! I'd suggest just don't do a lot of floral, and spend your money on other things. Good luck!

I'm glad to know that it can be done!! I hear that Randyis affordable and fantastic- I'm going to have to look into him for the day!

 

[Gareth& Hayley]

If you dont have a reception - where will you do your cake cutting?

 

[TheBearrs]

If you dont have a reception - where will you do your cake cutting?

I thought maybe the DP? I guess that would be a lot of dessert though!

At this point, I think we are probably going to shoot for a reception with a 12k budget. Crossing our fingers that it's do-able!

 

[chryscrazy]

I think it's very doable. I usually say it's your day and do whatever you want, but as a guest I'd be miffed if I traveled to FL for a wedding and the couple had a very elaborate, expensive ceremony, and then they didn't feed me lunch! Even with the dessert party.

I'm glad your mom was able to give you another $2,000, that will really help a lot. Have you looked at the budget board that was posted? Have a look at the brunch menus people have posted too. Some have included their cost and I think you will be impressed.

 

[Chilly]

I'm glad to know that it can be done!! I hear that Randyis affordable and fantastic- I'm going to have to look into him for the day!

Randy is brilliant, that's who I had.

I think you split you budget like this, $10K to Disney for the minimum, plus about another $1K on tax and service charge, and that leaves you another $1K for anything extra like Randy who is very good value for money.

 

[TheBearrs]

I think it's very doable. I usually say it's your day and do whatever you want, but as a guest I'd be miffed if I traveled to FL for a wedding and the couple had a very elaborate, expensive ceremony, and then they didn't feed me lunch! Even with the dessert party.

I'm glad your mom was able to give you another $2,000, that will really help a lot. Have you looked at the budget board that was posted? Have a look at the brunch menus people have posted too. Some have included their cost and I think you will be impressed.

You're right-- I can't NOT have a reception. I was happy with the budget board!! I think it will be possible to do for 12k as long as I am willing to cut somethings out.

Randy is brilliant, that's who I had.

I think you split you budget like this, $10K to Disney for the minimum, plus about another $1K on tax and service charge, and that leaves you another $1K for anything extra like Randy who is very good value for money.

I'm so glad to know that my budget could break down like that!! I Randy's work!!

Thanks, Claire!

 

[DoomBuggy0922]

You're right-- I can't NOT have a reception. I was happy with the budget board!! I think it will be possible to do for 12k as long as I am willing to cut somethings out.


I'm so glad to know that my budget could break down like that!! I Randy's work!!

Thanks, Claire!

We'll be budget buddies!

 

[TheBearrs]

We'll be budget buddies!

Sounds perfect!!

Is it bad I'm jealous of some of the girls who have like, 20k budgets? I know I'll have a wonderful wedding but still..

 

[DoomBuggy0922]

Sounds perfect!!

Is it bad I'm jealous of some of the girls who have like, 20k budgets? I know I'll have a wonderful wedding but still..

Nah, I'm a littttle jealous some times, but not really! I've always wanted a small wedding--- that way it's more about me and DF and not about entertaining a ton of people. I think the main thing I'm jealous of is the coach!! I'm still going to have characters though. Belle HAS to come to my wedding.