Custom vs. Intimate

[Belle Amy]

New to the board, need lots of help!!

I've been lurking around the boards for a long time because they are have the most informative questions and answers. I am starting a pre-planning session and I have so many questions, I hope someone can help me!!

My fiancee and I have both agreed that we want to get married at the Most Magical Place on Earth, but up until this weekend, had decided on an Intimate Ceremony. We are now looking into a Custom, because there seem to be so many perks. We will still only have under 10 guests, but the annual passes, and the ability to wear my dress in the park during my Illuminations Dessert Party makes it much more appealing. Can anyone give me more information as to what additional "benifits" come with the Custom package?

Also, my fiancee and I have annual passes already and wondered if we received any discounts for this, athough I have not read of any.

And, because my fiancee and I are funding this wedding ourselves, does anyone know if it is possible to prepay in payments, as we aren't planning to be married until 2007 or 2008? I know that you can't book your date until a year or 8 months before, but can you begin making payments with them?

I appreciate any feedback, it's such a daunting task at hand, and I would like to have every bit of information possible before booking our wedding.

 

[ead79]

Welcome to the board!

Let’s see if I can help with some of your questions.

First, basically what you get (in exchange for the significantly higher price tag) with a custom wedding is flexibility and options. You are not limited when it comes to floral selections, locations (for the most part, but some do have guest count minimums), etc. other than by your own budget. Essentially, an Intimate Wedding is a package type of event, where the bride selects items from a pre-set list. Certain items are included for a set cost. With a Custom Wedding, you buy things a la carte, so you can customize your event. Also, with a custom wedding you have a full reception; with an intimate you have a cake cutting and champagne reception following your ceremony (this does not include dinner or a DJ or anything like that). If you think that you can swing the custom minimum expenditures, then you get many more options. However, there is a significant price increase.

As far as the annual passes go, they are not an “official” perk of having a custom wedding. While many brides (including myself) did receive a complimentary pair of annual passes, it is not a guarantee for the future. Since it’s not actually part of the contract, you would not be able to get a discount for not receiving them. However, they are just vouchers, not activated annual passes. Therefore, you could possibly save the vouchers and use them when your current AP’s have expired. I would check with Disney though, because I’m not sure how long vouchers are good for before they have to be activated.

I don’t believe you are allowed to make payments until you have signed and mailed in your letter of agreement with your initial $1,000 deposit (for custom weddings). After that, I’m not sure of the payment schedule, but they could probably work with you to split up the payments.

 

[pixie08]

I think Elisabeth covered about everything...

except I assumed that in order to have a custo wedding you had to have over 20 people? i am not sure but what I do know is you have some min between $10,000-$20,000 to hit and w/ 10 guests that might be difficult???

Good luck in your decision...my advice to you about the payements is to use an ing account. This is what my fiance and I are doing. We are having an automatic amount deducted from our direct deposit into the account. This way it is hard to get money (not as convineint as an atm or something) and you make a little intrest!

 

[hjc1277]

My suggestion regarding payments would be to open up a savings or money market account. This way you can take your total budget (let's say $24000) and divide it by the months you have to go (let's say 24) and then put away so much each month (in this case $1000) -- this will make it more manageable in the long run. Plus, you will make the interest (not Disney) -- the more money you have in the account, the better interest rate you will get.
You can always stop by your local bank and see what they have to offer you. Also bankrate.com has lots of good advice and rates.

Hope this helps!!

 

[Belle Amy]

I appriciate all the responces that I've gotten. This is such a large task and it's so nice to have experiences and advise from those going through it!!!!

 

[VSL]

I assumed that in order to have a custo wedding you had to have over 20 people? i am not sure but what I do know is you have some min between $10,000-$20,000 to hit and w/ 10 guests that might be difficult???

Me too