Date confirmed, but still need help

[audisight]

I got my date confirmed last Tuesday while I was on vacation at WDW We are set for August 27, 2008. I'm so happy, but I'm still unsure about my locations..
We are having the ceremony at the UK garden, but Kristi (my planner) said that they just had wedding there with about 80 people and the seating layout was "very awkward", we are planning on 75 guest. Kristi said she thought the court yard in Italy would be better, but I'm afraid that we'll go over budget trying to decorate it because it's such an empty space. We are also set to have the reception at Ariel's, but now I think it might be better to have it at the Living Sea's.
I'm so confused I'm going crazy! If anyone has any advice on any of these locations please let me know. I would appreciate anything

 

[lurkyloo]

Re: Italy... I say, what's to decorate? I mean, I know it's just a big open patio, but you have the lagoon and all the lovely buildings - I bet you could get away wtih just an altar arrangement - or less!

Can you go for a site visit and see for yourself whether or not the seating arrangement in UK is weird?

 

[hmgolden]

JonetteA had her ceremony in the UK garden. I'm not sure how many guests she had. If she doesn't pop into this thread, you should PM her and ask her about the seating. She would be able to give you a good perspective on that.

As for Italy, I dont think you would actually need to do much more decorating then say, the WP. There was another bride who had her ceremony out there, but her username escapes me at the moment. If I remember correctly, she had very minimal decorations and it looked beautiful.

Why do you think you would be better off at the Living Seas? Both Ariel's and the Living Seas are great venues. Personally, I think the Living Seas has a lot of character, but the interior has a much darker feel than Ariel's. The tanks at the Living Seas do make an awesome back drop to a reception though.

 

[audisight]

Re: Italy... I say, what's to decorate? I mean, I know it's just a big open patio, but you have the lagoon and all the lovely buildings - I bet you could get away wtih just an altar arrangement - or less!

Can you go for a site visit and see for yourself whether or not the seating arrangement in UK is weird?

Thanks for the advice, that makes me feel better about the decor for Italy. DF and I were at WDW a week ago and looked at the UK. I can see how it could be a little strange, but it's so pretty.

Why do you think you would be better off at the Living Seas? Both Ariel's and the Living Seas are great venues. Personally, I think the Living Seas has a lot of character, but the interior has a much darker feel than Ariel's. The tanks at the Living Seas do make an awesome back drop to a reception though.

I really want something our guest will remember and the Living Seas has a liltte more egde. You're right, the tanks are awsome. I'm now 97% sure we'll be going with that.
I feel like such a nut changing our locations so many times. I didn't think it would be this hard! Thanks for the help

 

[JonetteA]

yep, here I am. We had about 48 guests, but there was room for more. you should have no problem putting the amount of people in there. In the garden, where are you planning on the ceremony being? That would depend alot on the layout. As you get closer, I can definately help you though the in's and out's of an Epcot wedding. Just remember one important thing. There is no getting ready room in Epcot for you. There is no holding area. Make sure you work that out in advance. They would not let people be in the shops when I did it b/c of the fear of shoplifting and they can not be with everyone at once. Also, I will have to tell you that I observed the "security detail". They were great about not letting anyone back in our area that was not allowed there. I think that that was something that I was worried about as people could be in and out of the area b/c of the entrance to Epcot, Internation Gateway. Just let me know what questions you might have and I can totally help you out!

On the biased side...I really LOVED our location. It was fabulous and just gorgeous. We took pics in Italy after the wedding, and around the world showcase beforehand and that was fantabulous! Our Italy pics came out wonderfully, but you are right about what you would have to do to decorate it, unless you wanted to have it out on the Island. Make sure whatever you do that you have the seats set up in theatre style where everyone can see it.

 

[audisight]

yep, here I am. We had about 48 guests, but there was room for more. you should have no problem putting the amount of people in there. In the garden, where are you planning on the ceremony being? That would depend alot on the layout. As you get closer, I can definately help you though the in's and out's of an Epcot wedding. Just remember one important thing. There is no getting ready room in Epcot for you. There is no holding area. Make sure you work that out in advance. They would not let people be in the shops when I did it b/c of the fear of shoplifting and they can not be with everyone at once. Also, I will have to tell you that I observed the "security detail". They were great about not letting anyone back in our area that was not allowed there. I think that that was something that I was worried about as people could be in and out of the area b/c of the entrance to Epcot, Internation Gateway. Just let me know what questions you might have and I can totally help you out!

On the biased side...I really LOVED our location. It was fabulous and just gorgeous. We took pics in Italy after the wedding, and around the world showcase beforehand and that was fantabulous! Our Italy pics came out wonderfully, but you are right about what you would have to do to decorate it, unless you wanted to have it out on the Island. Make sure whatever you do that you have the seats set up in theatre style where everyone can see it.

Thanks so much! I was hoping to have the ceremony in front of the gazebo, but it just hit me that the stuff from the beatle mania show is always there. Do they move it for weddings?
It's great to know that the security is good, that was another concern of mine. I had never even thought about where I would be waitng before the ceremony so thanks for the heads up.
I looked at some pictures of your wedding about two months ago and they were so pretty. They were part of the reason I picked the UK in the first place (and Randy).

 

[dannirose]

While it sounds like you will be ok in the UK - I thought I might put your mind at ease about Italy. I am getting married in the Italy courtyard in Nov - and I have kept my decor extremely minimal.

The pavilion itself has hanging floral arrangements and my feeling was the statues provide plenty of decor themselves so the only thing I did was order a few arrangements in large urns to be set at the bottom of the steps of the round stage and two arrangements for the round stage itself.

Good luck - I'm sure whatever you decide will be magnificant!

 

[JonetteA]

I am not sure if they are moving the items from the gazebo anymore. I know it was a quick change over from our wedding to their first set. You would need to check with your WP and they will check with Epcot Event Services. If you can not get in the gazebo, there are a host of other options around there. I will tell you that the path to the gazebo is tight, we had to do a waterfall seating where family was up front. Feel free to PM me and we can definately discuss it further. I have to tell you the location was the best, and at that time of the year the morning wedding was a welcome respite in case it was really hot.

 

[audisight]

While it sounds like you will be ok in the UK - I thought I might put your mind at ease about Italy. I am getting married in the Italy courtyard in Nov - and I have kept my decor extremely minimal.

The pavilion itself has hanging floral arrangements and my feeling was the statues provide plenty of decor themselves so the only thing I did was order a few arrangements in large urns to be set at the bottom of the steps of the round stage and two arrangements for the round stage itself.

Good luck - I'm sure whatever you decide will be magnificant!

Thanks for the info. Any advice I can get is always greatly appreciated.

I am not sure if they are moving the items from the gazebo anymore. I know it was a quick change over from our wedding to their first set. You would need to check with your WP and they will check with Epcot Event Services. If you can not get in the gazebo, there are a host of other options around there. I will tell you that the path to the gazebo is tight, we had to do a waterfall seating where family was up front. Feel free to PM me and we can definately discuss it further. I have to tell you the location was the best, and at that time of the year the morning wedding was a welcome respite in case it was really hot.

I'm going to try to get all my questions together so I can PM you later on in the week. Thank you so much for all your help!

Hopefully I can get my PM stated soon!