Did you make anything yourself/use outside vendors to save $?

[LuluLovesDisney]

Just a few questions here- If I attempt to do a Custom wedding on a budget (still meeting the 20,000 minimum) will using outside vendors save me money?

Which locations do not allow you to bring in things you've made yourself (favors, centerpieces, etc.)?

How did you get your handmade items to the reception and who set them up?

My brother makes wedding cakes for a living- there's no way WDW would let him bring his own cake in, right? (Not that I know how that could happen since we live in NJ, but still.)

Can I use Disney Floral for my own bouquet but either use an outside fresh floral vendor or have a friend help me make silk bouquets for the bridesmaids?

Any other advice for a (hopefully) bride to be who wants to do a Custom on a budget?

Has anyone done anything like this?

Thanks!

 

[wendy46001]

We stuck to making little things (I'm not good at crafts)...but we did table names (silver frames with pictures), place cards, menus, and rose cones...it was actually kind of fun doing it ourselves...oh and my mother made the ring pillows...its amazing how much the little items total up to

 

[Laurafoster]

You can use an outside vendor for floral. Just bear in mind they cannot provide floral for park events, ceremony or reception in a park!

WDW will not let you bring your own cake in, this is down to health and safety reasons i believe.

Other bits and pieces you can make no problem, table numbers, place cards favours etc. I Think disney will set these up for you, but if you have more than 3per place setting there is a fee for this but i dont know how much.

The same will apply for centrepieces i think, Disney will probably set them up but i would guess there would be a charge.

It depends on your situation but my wedding planner and floral planner have been great at helping me stick to a budget! I told them what i wanted to stick to and they have been really great at working out alternative cheaper idea's!!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Thanks. What about the Wedding Pavilion? Can you bring in outside floral there?

You can use an outside vendor for floral. Just bear in mind they cannot provide floral for park events, ceremony or reception in a park!

WDW will not let you bring your own cake in, this is down to health and safety reasons i believe.

Other bits and pieces you can make no problem, table numbers, place cards favours etc. I Think disney will set these up for you, but if you have more than 3per place setting there is a fee for this but i dont know how much.

The same will apply for centrepieces i think, Disney will probably set them up but i would guess there would be a charge.

It depends on your situation but my wedding planner and floral planner have been great at helping me stick to a budget! I told them what i wanted to stick to and they have been really great at working out alternative cheaper idea's!!

 

[Laurafoster]

Yes thats ok! Its just things like Epcot locations etc!

 

[druidia]

We made our aisle runner and brought our own petals for it; Disney Floral put the petals down for us, but not the runner. My brother did that for us.

We brought topiaries for the altar area and Disney Floral placed them for us and moved them to the reception for us for a small fee.

We made our own programs, favors, placecards, menus, table markers and centerpieces. They put all of these out for us. We brought our own cake platter but they didn't use it, and lost it in the process. But they reimbursed us for it.

We delivered all of our stuff to either the Disney Floral office 2 days before, or we gave it to our EM and CM at the rehearsal the day before and they took care of everything.

 

[sarah_n_brian2006]

If you can fit everything into your minimum, then you will not have to worry about any other out of pocket expenses. My honest advice, would be to fill up the minimum with everything you can get, then go out of pocket. Going out can bring an extra 5k on. Just remember also, attire and honeymoon is an extra cost. And that can rack in 5-7k.

 

[dsnyfan6/18]

Also, remember that since you live in NJ you will have to either pay $$$ to ship the stuff you bring or bring it on the plane. I'm from NY - so I refused to ship stuff down, and brought everything down with me, I traveled with 6 other people, and it was really a pain to drag everything through the airports, etc... and i really didn't do too many things myself!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Also, remember that since you live in NJ you will have to either pay $$$ to ship the stuff you bring or bring it on the plane. I'm from NY - so I refused to ship stuff down, and brought everything down with me, I traveled with 6 other people, and it was really a pain to drag everything through the airports, etc... and i really didn't do too many things myself!

lol

I think we'd have to drive it all down- I'm too much of a control freak. I'd be petrified I'd lose my luggage.

Plus since I have family in Delaware and one of my very best friends in North Carolina and the other in DC I thought it would be fun to make some stops along the way and have a big caravan to FL.

and I wouldn't be dragging too many things myself, either, lol.

Thanks for all the help. Before I went to work today, I spent the whole morning on Wish List. It is so much fun. Now, to save up the rest of the money.

 

[twojo21]

we made & did alot on our own for the wedding. we made our own save the dates & newsletters, welcome bags for our guests, our own centerpieces for our reception, our own programs, menus, placecards & favors.

we also used some outside vendors. for photo & video (randy chapman & stvs), booked towncars (mears) for our rehearsal dinner, prewedding events & our parents transportation the day of our wedding and had our welcome dinner at the dtd rainforest cafe.

the one thing disney does not allow is outside food at their receptions. another thing to keep in mind is your custom wedding minimum when it comes to outside vendors. best of luck with your plans!

 

[adnama]

i used several outside vendors and saved $$$. i used southern cross photography who was a dream come true. i HIGHLY recommend chris for photography. i used a local florist to put together bouquets of silk flowers. saved a ton of money and also kept my bouquet and altar arrangement. i used mark and the z street band...who disney will suggest you use if you want a live band. i booked them on my own and saved $. i did my own favors. if anyone wants pics pm me and i will email you some.

 

[XFINALLYX]

I was actually thinking of having my 10,000 minimum (reception, ceremony and probably limo) and then using all outside vendors for the rest. that way I can actually afford this wedding, otherwise i'll be having my wedding in NY

 

[mmickey5]

DD did the same for her wedding. Kept close to her budget for ceremony,brunch, dessert reception, floral and carriage.
Went outside for photography (excellent-Randy Chapman), Officiant (Rev Tim- great job), Video (A Magic Moment - still waiting for this but they were wonderful to work with)
We did alot of the extras ourselves but had quite a few: programs, table names and placesettings;ceremony organza bags with bubblewands and personalized tissue packs;personalized waterbottles (great for an outdoor post-ceremony touch; personalized runner and alter runner;
we made beautiful cinderella carriage table centerpiecs (check ebay) and a carriage sand ceremony display.We even did beaded MM napkin rings.
She had all the extras and stayed within a reasonable budget. It just took alot of pre-planning and a great glue-gun!
There are many ways to embellish the plan and stay within reason.
good luck.
I'd be happy to email pictures if you'd like