Determining the guest list..and a dessert party ?'s

[DisneyBride2B]

I am trying to get this part of the planning done as it is the one thing that I really want for my guests at the wedding. Does anyone know which Dessert party locations allow table set ups? I think that I read somewhere that some of the locations do not allow any tables to be arranged, or for a set-up fee will they do it? Janet2K you seem to have the most beautiful parties...any good suggestions? Ha, my sister is really into chocolate lately, per her request... is there a chocolate fountain option anywhere?

Also, how has everyone gone about asking guests to the wedding? My fiance and I are having trouble setting our budget because we aren't sure if it is proper to ask ahead of time to get a head count. The other option is just keeping it immediate family with no aunts, first cousins (seeing that we have a combined total of 65 just in that arena) or friends. I know it is supposed to be our day, but determining who to invite is mind boggling to me! HELP!!!

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

I am trying to get this part of the planning done as it is the one thing that I really want for my guests at the wedding. Does anyone know which Dessert party locations allow table set ups? I think that I read somewhere that some of the locations do not allow any tables to be arranged, or for a set-up fee will they do it? Janet2K you seem to have the most beautiful parties...any good suggestions? Ha, my sister is really into chocolate lately, per her request... is there a chocolate fountain option anywhere?

Also, how has everyone gone about asking guests to the wedding? My fiance and I are having trouble setting our budget because we aren't sure if it is proper to ask ahead of time to get a head count. The other option is just keeping it immediate family with no aunts, first cousins (seeing that we have a combined total of 65 just in that arena) or friends. I know it is supposed to be our day, but determining who to invite is mind boggling to me! HELP!!!

Hey-
We had scheduled a Wishes Dessert party- and are now looking into other alternatives 2 weeks before we have to sign and return the BEO and pay in full. We were able to have tables. For a party of just under 40, we had 7 cocktails rounds that sat 5 and 3 highboys. We were not charged a set-up fee of any kind associated with that event. We were actually planning on the Carrie Flagler Dessert station which is white and dark chocolate fondue! It's not a chocolate fountain, but it's close! Maybe she'll compromise? We were also planning on serving his groom cake at that point.

As for guests- we found that our STDs through Disney really helped us pin down the approximate number we were looking at. We had a lot reply to the STD thinking it was the invitation itself. We sent out invitations to 165. Our wedding is 70 people. Granted, we are at high travel and high cost time between the holidays, but many are unable to make the journey simply because of the associated costs (no matter what time of year). We really didn't approach guests in any way about whether or not they were coming. We didn't feel it was appropriate. We waited patiently to get the RSVPs back and have tracked those down who didn't respond.

We also did a first and second tier of invitations. Our obligatory invites ran at 100- our budget size- and we couldn't run the risk of going over that. As we got the RSVPs and were better able to guage who was/wasn't coming, we bagan sending out secondary invitations. We sent invitaitons on August 29th with an RSVP date of October 29th to give us time. Just remember that by not sending an invitation, you could be worse off and hurting feelings, etc. For us, we'd rather take the budget risk than have someone hurt or offended. I think they tell you to expect a 20%-30% rejection rate for traditional weddings if that helps at all.

Good luck! Guest lists are hard-- lots of politics, unfortunately!
xoxo

 

[twojo21]

most of the dessert party locations allow tables to be set up for a fee of $75. we are having an illuminations dessert party at the uk with tables set up after our reception. disney does offer a chocolate fountain.

as for your guest list determine the scale you want your wedding, some ceremony, reception & dp venues have guest limitations. send save the dates to determine interest (disney does provide these at 8 months out for custom brides) but we sent our own at 11 months out. destination weddings do have a lower turn out normally due to travel & costs, but my em said to estimate 85% is the norm with disney. we have 64 guests coming out of 70 invited, were having close family & a few close friends only.

 

[WeddingMaid]

the lower france pavillion at Epcot allows for tables... and it's awesome!!!!!!

 

[melmel]

I say do your own Save the dates, head's up letters, with a general questionare of yes i'm interested, no we wont be going, or we may come we may not, not sure yet, kind of options. I don't see anything wrong with asking people for a general heads up, as long as you tell them it's not a deffinate commitment just a general idea. Just make sure you don't send to anyone who won't be invited if you have to cut numbers.

Good luck.

Melissa

 

[pixie08]

I say do your own Save the dates, head's up letters, with a general questionare of yes i'm interested, no we wont be going, or we may come we may not, not sure yet, kind of options. I don't see anything wrong with asking people for a general heads up, as long as you tell them it's not a deffinate commitment just a general idea. Just make sure you don't send to anyone who won't be invited if you have to cut numbers.

Good luck.

Melissa

Yes I agree w/ Melissa...we are doing something similar. Our date is hopefully June 16, 2007 (maybe the 9th or the 23rd). Our engagement party is in like 2 weeks so at the end we are handing the guests ( 45 of the 65 we are inviting to wdw will be there the rest we will mail) these scrolls that talk about the fact that we are having a wdw wedding and briefly talks about it. This gives them a hint a year and half in advance. In Feb 2006 we will send out another newsletter w/ info on wdw and the hotels we want in our block along with a questionarre type thing (short). This will say nothing is final since we can not book our wedding until June 2006 but have questions like Do you think you can make it? What resort would you stay at? and for how many nights? How do you think you will be getting there fly,drive,train? Then say we are asking these questions so we can get the guests the best discount possible on air and hotel! That's just an idea of what we are doing ....then in July or so the std's from disney will go out and the guests will already know about it so we should then be able to get a good idea of who is exactly coming!