Disney Cruise Brides - Let's Chat about our Weddings/VR's!

[T__y]

Hi,

I'm starting to get a little overwhelmed. I had no clue there's so much to do, even for a cruise wedding. So I'd planned about $10K for a budget for the cruise for our 2 kids and CC wedding. I don't feel like that's realistic anymore w/ all the extras (like invites, guest bags, save the dates, hotel rooms, dress, etc.) What's a realistic budget I should set?

 

[PrincessTinker11]

Hi Everyone!!
My name is Ginger, and I'm a long time follower of this board. My fiancé and I recently got engaged, and have decided to plan a DCL wedding! Yay!!! Very excited!! =)

To give you just a bit of background on myself, I'm originally from Alabama, but currently living in Perth, Western Australia (attending veterinary school here). My fiancé is Australian, and we met about 6.5 years ago. We're hoping to move to the US after I graduate this year, and are planning a wedding at CC (Disney Dream, October 28-November 1, 2012). We are still in the very early stages of sorting everything out, but I was so excited about confirming my date that I thought I'd post to say hello and introduce myself. Looking forward to seeing photos of the upcoming weddings, and sharing ideas =)

Welcome to the boards I look forward to see all that you are planning!

 

[PrincessTinker11]

Hi,

I'm starting to get a little overwhelmed. I had no clue there's so much to do, even for a cruise wedding. So I'd planned about $10K for a budget for the cruise for our 2 kids and CC wedding. I don't feel like that's realistic anymore w/ all the extras (like invites, guest bags, save the dates, hotel rooms, dress, etc.) What's a realistic budget I should set?

My budget was 10K as well and we stuck pretty much to it

You can check out my PJ and see all that I have done with that budget. I am hoping to get to the point where I can write out my budget as well. Have you utilized a travel agent that specializes in Disney? There is a former dis cruise bride on here and she is helping me plan my wedding all by phone I definitely would suggest her for help and guidance. Her services don't cost you and your guests anything and she can help make your event great!

http://www.facebook.com/PixieandPirate.Lisa

That is facebook page!

Good luck!
Lisa

 

[Goofy4Ever]

Hi,

I'm starting to get a little overwhelmed. I had no clue there's so much to do, even for a cruise wedding. So I'd planned about $10K for a budget for the cruise for our 2 kids and CC wedding. I don't feel like that's realistic anymore w/ all the extras (like invites, guest bags, save the dates, hotel rooms, dress, etc.) What's a realistic budget I should set?

I thought it would be cheaper doing a cruise wedding, but between the wedding and our reception back home it will be closer to $15K and that is with some help from my parents

Most of our cost went towards the cruise itself as that $4800 for our staterooms and the wedding cost.

I am not doing welcome bags, but a gift to each family that I made myself. I also had the wedding party flowers made to save money.

It can be done for under $10k....if you stick to the basis. Your guests won't know the difference.

 

[Evi]

I do think a disney cruise wedding and honeymoon can be done on a budget. It all depends on how much of a diy bride you are. If your willing to take time and really shop around for your dress you can get an amazing dress for well under $500. I think using vista prints for some print projects is a great idea. They also have been having deals o group buying sites. I also think the more hands on your willing to get your savings will add up. I've had my heart set on some screen printed items tshirts,bags etc. so I priced it out and it was in the $600 range. I have the time and I'm crafty so I bought a yudu. The cost of my projects including materials are less then $300 and I have another bride who wants to buy my yudu for $99. In the end they will cost me $200 for a total savings of $400. I also had to have custom letterpress invitations. After pricing it out for over $1200 I decided to give it a go on my own. I purchased an m letterpress kit and designed my own plates online. Cost of invitations for me doing them myself will be $300 but that is also covering the cost of many other items im making with the letterpress for my wedding.
I purchased my dress for before sail ceremony on rue lala for $100. I'm still making projects like boutaniers, door hangers etc. But since my wedding is still 1 year + out I'm taking my time and researching what I want.
If you have the time try some diy projects. They will be unique and make your wedding even more special.

 

[stl_figment]

Oh man...I just had my first dress alterations done and they wanted $400 for a hem, bustle, a little taken in at the top and a press. That is the price of another dress!!!! I almost had a heart attack! I ended up going to a local lady, and she is going to do it for $270. Still a shock, but at least cheaper. I just hope she does good work.

I got lucky with alterations. Didn't need the bustle/taken in, but had them cut the train off, hem it and press it. Cost me 105 (and I just got it back ~ I'm so close now)

Hi,

I'm starting to get a little overwhelmed. I had no clue there's so much to do, even for a cruise wedding. So I'd planned about $10K for a budget for the cruise for our 2 kids and CC wedding. I don't feel like that's realistic anymore w/ all the extras (like invites, guest bags, save the dates, hotel rooms, dress, etc.) What's a realistic budget I should set?

I think 10k is enough. I haven't added everything up but we are really close to that with the airfare, hotel, cruise, wedding, photography, etc.

I guess its a matter of taste, we didn't care about having a "fancy" at home reception, so its more casual. Our invitations, save the dates, etc. were DIY. We didn't make guest bags or favors for those on the cruise so we cut costs there. We decided against the MK photoshoot (which I at first really wanted) to help stay on budget. When we are back, I'm going to write up a TR and it will summarize our whole budget (I've been keeping notes).

 

[PrincessTinker11]

I got lucky with alterations. Didn't need the bustle/taken in, but had them cut the train off, hem it and press it. Cost me 105 (and I just got it back ~ I'm so close now)



I think 10k is enough. I haven't added everything up but we are really close to that with the airfare, hotel, cruise, wedding, photography, etc.

I guess its a matter of taste, we didn't care about having a "fancy" at home reception, so its more casual. Our invitations, save the dates, etc. were DIY. We didn't make guest bags or favors for those on the cruise so we cut costs there. We decided against the MK photoshoot (which I at first really wanted) to help stay on budget. When we are back, I'm going to write up a TR and it will summarize our whole budget (I've been keeping notes).

I totally agree on what is important vs. what you can DIY. I think that anyone can make a Disney Cruise wedding affordable!

I am getting my bustle done in two weeks with cups put in the dress from a seamstress down the street, I am wondering how much that is going to put me back!

 

[dolphingirl47]

I also think that it is possible to do a DCL wedding on a budget. When I still was planning to do our vow renewal on the Disney Wonder, I had budgeted around $3000. Now that I am doing it at a different venue after the cruise, I am coming in just below $1500 and that includes the venue and things like floral, cake, the venue and dinner after the event, which would have been either included or in the case of dinner significantly cheaper if I had gone down the DCL route.

I also have to admit that I ended up including some extras that I would not have done, if we had done some vow renewal on the ship like a Trash the Dress photo shoot. We are going to give this a ghost bride theme so I ended up getting a different dress and some accessories for this.

In manage to get a real bargain with the dress. I ordered this from China and it only cost me $102. Everybody who has seen this, cannot believe how cheap it was as it is truly stunning. In fact, I saw a dress that was virtually identical at a local bridal boutique and there they wanted $1316.00. I could bet anything that the dress was made in China, too. In fact a lot of things came from Ebay and Etsy and this saved me a lot of money, but at the same time, I got things that are slightly quirky and personal. I also made things like the ribbon veil myself. I used Vistaprint for my print jobs. I also was lucky enough to have custom jewellery made at a heavy discount as they jewellery artist needed examples for a wedding feature that she is doing. So I got truly spectacular jewellery and essentially just paid for the materials.

Corinna

 

[PrincessTinker11]

I also think that it is possible to do a DCL wedding on a budget. When I still was planning to do our vow renewal on the Disney Wonder, I had budgeted around $3000. Now that I am doing it at a different venue after the cruise, I am coming in just below $1500 and that includes the venue and things like floral, cake, the venue and dinner after the event, which would have been either included or in the case of dinner significantly cheaper if I had gone down the DCL route.

I also have to admit that I ended up including some extras that I would not have done, if we had done some vow renewal on the ship like a Trash the Dress photo shoot. We are going to give this a ghost bride theme so I ended up getting a different dress and some accessories for this.

In manage to get a real bargain with the dress. I ordered this from China and it only cost me $102. Everybody who has seen this, cannot believe how cheap it was as it is truly stunning. In fact, I saw a dress that was virtually identical at a local bridal boutique and there they wanted $1316.00. I could bet anything that the dress was made in China, too. In fact a lot of things came from Ebay and Etsy and this saved me a lot of money, but at the same time, I got things that are slightly quirky and personal. I also made things like the ribbon veil myself. I used Vistaprint for my print jobs. I also was lucky enough to have custom jewellery made at a heavy discount as they jewellery artist needed examples for a wedding feature that she is doing. So I got truly spectacular jewellery and essentially just paid for the materials.

Corinna

Etsy was a great resource for me as well!

 

[Shannon1984]

We are getting married next week on the Dream with our 4 kids. We are also doing a honeymoon after and flying the kids home with the grandparents. When we get back we are having a reception with about 150 people. We were able to keep all of this under $10k even with a $1000 photo pkg.

We did all the printing and invitations ourselves. I put together gift bags with nice things from five below and got 40 engraved wine glasses really cheap online. One of my friends homeschools her kids and is making the decor for the reception for her art class. Also got my dress during the $99 sale at David's bridal, and It's gorgeous. So I'd say you can definatly do it under $10k. There are many wonderful DCL brides to help you out on here as well!

Happy planning everyone!

 

[Goofy4Ever]

We are getting married next week on the Dream with our 4 kids. We are also doing a honeymoon after and flying the kids home with the grandparents. When we get back we are having a reception with about 150 people. We were able to keep all of this under $10k even with a $1000 photo pkg.

We did all the printing and invitations ourselves. I put together gift bags with nice things from five below and got 40 engraved wine glasses really cheap online. One of my friends homeschools her kids and is making the decor for the reception for her art class. Also got my dress during the $99 sale at David's bridal, and It's gorgeous. So I'd say you can definatly do it under $10k. There are many wonderful DCL brides to help you out on here as well!

Happy planning everyone!

Good luck and can't wait to see pictures!!!

 

[princessheather]

Still on our wonderful amazing honeymoon but i wanted to let you know the wedding was perfect!!! i will update with pictures and a details based on the wedding once i get back home!

 

[PixieDust1969]

Still on our wonderful amazing honeymoon but i wanted to let you know the wedding was perfect!!! i will update with pictures and a details based on the wedding once i get back home!

Congratulations!! Can't wait to see and hear all about it! Enjoy your honeymoon!!!

 

[Goofy4Ever]

Still on our wonderful amazing honeymoon but i wanted to let you know the wedding was perfect!!! i will update with pictures and a details based on the wedding once i get back home!

Yay!!!!!! Enjoy your honeymoon

 

[PrincessTinker11]

Still on our wonderful amazing honeymoon but i wanted to let you know the wedding was perfect!!! i will update with pictures and a details based on the wedding once i get back home!

Awww....I am so happy for you Enjoy your honeymoon and cannot wait to see the pics!!!!

 

[Freckledginger]

Thank you so much for the warm welcome, everyone!

I'm working on our Save the Dates at the moment, and decided to make up a wedding website that guests could use as a resource. Did anyone do this for their wedding? Do you have any suggestions for layout and content?? I'd so appreciate any help that is provided.

Congratulations to Princessheather! Looking forward to seeing your beautiful wedding photos! Enjoy your honeymoon =)

 

[ccbride412]

Hi all! I'm still really new to all this, but I have a few questions for any to-be or past Castaway Cay brides. (It's hard to get ahold of Shanda when the questions start popping into my head!)

I'm bringing my own photographer and I've read that they take you around after the wedding for photos on the island before the reception, but do they only do that if you use their photographer or will they do it if you have your own? Any suggestions of places for photos would be welcome since me and my fiance have never been to CC. Thank you!! (more questions to come I'm sure!)

 

[PrincessTinker11]

Hi all! I'm still really new to all this, but I have a few questions for any to-be or past Castaway Cay brides. (It's hard to get ahold of Shanda when the questions start popping into my head!)

I'm bringing my own photographer and I've read that they take you around after the wedding for photos on the island before the reception, but do they only do that if you use their photographer or will they do it if you have your own? Any suggestions of places for photos would be welcome since me and my fiance have never been to CC. Thank you!! (more questions to come I'm sure!)

Go back a page, I answered your question there...

 

[JC32801]

This is ours:

KarenandJohn2012.com

Thank you so much for the warm welcome, everyone!

I'm working on our Save the Dates at the moment, and decided to make up a wedding website that guests could use as a resource. Did anyone do this for their wedding? Do you have any suggestions for layout and content?? I'd so appreciate any help that is provided.

Congratulations to Princessheather! Looking forward to seeing your beautiful wedding photos! Enjoy your honeymoon =)

 

[bdps2011]

still on our wonderful amazing honeymoon but i wanted to let you know the wedding was perfect!!! I will update with pictures and a details based on the wedding once i get back home!

congrats!!!