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

[ljhayes]

This was from someone named Karen who is apparently a wedding coordinator. I have no idea who she is, but she used the email WDW.DCL.Ceremony@disney.com. I followed up asking if she was saying a paying customer couldn't photograph in public spaces on the ship. This was the response:

Of course guests can take photos on the ship. However, a professional photographer taking photos of your group outside of your event area will be noticed by the staff. We want you and the photographer to be aware of this so any issues can be avoided and not disrupt your happy event.

I followed up again asking what the specific rule or restriction about this was, who constituted a professional photographer and what rules they had around professional photographers who are paying guests and whether they are allowed to take pictures around the ship. No response yet.

 

[PixieDust1969]

This was from someone named Karen who is apparently a wedding coordinator. I have no idea who she is, but she used the email WDW.DCL.Ceremony@disney.com. I followed up asking if she was saying a paying customer couldn't photograph in public spaces on the ship. This was the response:



I followed up again asking what the specific rule or restriction about this was, who constituted a professional photographer and what rules they had around professional photographers who are paying guests and whether they are allowed to take pictures around the ship. No response yet.

That is a great question! If you have a cousin or friend that is a professional and is not "hired" to take pictures would that still be ok? There are also so many people now that have nice cameras that are not professionals! Some of my guests took some great pictures that I could have easily said my photographer took. I really hope no future brides have issues!

 

[JBeanBunny]

This really concerns me... I'm bringing a couple photographers aboard because I want to take photos all over the ship without a time restriction! If it's never been a problem before, why is it all of a sudden a problem now? Although, I know Disney will make all sorts of rules without warning, so long as it benefit$ them... I better have an understanding wedding planner or I'm going to be furious!

 

[ljhayes]

This really concerns me... I'm bringing a couple photographers aboard because I want to take photos all over the ship without a time restriction! If it's never been a problem before, why is it all of a sudden a problem now? Although, I know Disney will make all sorts of rules without warning, so long as it benefit$ them... I better have an understanding wedding planner or I'm going to be furious!

I wouldn't worry. I have never heard of it being an issue before. My guess is that there isn't actually anything legit to back up everything she's saying, but we'll see I guess!

 

[lexis]

This really concerns me... I'm bringing a couple photographers aboard because I want to take photos all over the ship without a time restriction! If it's never been a problem before, why is it all of a sudden a problem now? Although, I know Disney will make all sorts of rules without warning, so long as it benefit$ them... I better have an understanding wedding planner or I'm going to be furious!

I woukdnt worry. Shanda has known from day 1 that we had an outside photographer and has never said anything like this.

 

[ljhayes]

The latest response:

A professional photographer is someone you’ve booked and/or paid to take photos at your event. Therefore, Disney Cruise Line only permits them to take professional photos at the event location. They can’t document anything outside of the actual event.

I'm giving up now since she's not really answering my questions. If anyone's interested, this is all according to Karen Serrette, and I'm still not sure who she is.

 

[PixieDust1969]

I would interpret that exactly how it is written. If you are "friends" with the photographer and they are taking pictures of you as a favor for you, I would just go with that. So many people now have professional cameras, I am sure if you are not obnoxious or cutting lines and stuff, you would be fine.

 

[lorimay]

Hi Ladies

Quick question. When you arrive at the port, what did you do with your wedding/renewal dresses?

Did you give them to the men taking your suit cases or hold on to it?

I am a little nervous to turn it over to anyone.


Thank you, Lori

Wishing you all a beautiful holiday.

 

[stl_figment]

I held on to it and carried, but it was rolled and in an airplane sized carry-on (see TR).

No way would I hand it over.

As soon as we got on board, I handed it over at guest services for pressing. If we had been there earlier enough that there was a wait to board, they did give us boarding group 1. It was an easy process overall.

 

[lorimay]

I held on to it and carried, but it was rolled and in an airplane sized carry-on (see TR).

No way would I hand it over.

As soon as we got on board, I handed it over at guest services for pressing. If we had been there earlier enough that there was a wait to board, they did give us boarding group 1. It was an easy process overall.

Yes, I saw that you put it in a carry-on for the plane ride.

We are driving up to Cocoa Beach on Friday and are being shuttled from the hotel on Saturday, so I will have to be sure to get to the port early for the 1st group boarding pass.

Thank you, Lori

 

[PixieDust1969]

Hi Ladies

Quick question. When you arrive at the port, what did you do with your wedding/renewal dresses?

Did you give them to the men taking your suit cases or hold on to it?

I am a little nervous to turn it over to anyone.


Thank you, Lori

Wishing you all a beautiful holiday.

The gentleman who helped with our luggage told us we better keep that with us. I took that as a hint not to leave it at the curb. I had it laid down on one of the seats in the terminal until we were allowed to board. We were boarding pass #1! Geoff carried it most of the time since I am so short!

I walked right on the ship, walked over to guest services (right to the right as you walk on the Dream, Deck 3) and they took it and I told them I would come back to get it when I could go to my room and they said they would deliver it...It was in the room at 1:30. They did a perfect job! I even let Andy, my coordinator go in my room and take it to be steamed. They took it at 5 and when we came back to our room both of our wedding clothes were steamed and returned. My dress was kept in the bag the entire time so Geoff could not see it. Andy made sure he told everyone to keep it in the bag. I didn't worry about it at all!

 

[JBeanBunny]

I wouldn't worry. I have never heard of it being an issue before. My guess is that there isn't actually anything legit to back up everything she's saying, but we'll see I guess!

I hope you're right... My photographer(s) are about my age, so it wouldn't be a stretch that they could be my friends... But it's true that I'm trading their cruise fare for a CD of our wedding images, so they're NOT selling me anything! I just don't want them suspicious when I ask that they don't be seated with my wedding party!!! But I've also invited my mom's regular hairdresser along on the cruise for my hair & makeup, and she and her husband asked to not be seated with my wedding group since she only knows my DM, DB, and myself!

 

[stl_figment]

I hope you're right... My photographer(s) are about my age, so it wouldn't be a stretch that they could be my friends... But it's true that I'm trading their cruise fare for a CD of our wedding images, so they're NOT selling me anything! I just don't want them suspicious when I ask that they don't be seated with my wedding party!!! But I've also invited my mom's regular hairdresser along on the cruise for my hair & makeup, and she and her husband asked to not be seated with my wedding group since she only knows my DM, DB, and myself!

If you mean seated with your wedding group in terms of dinner and such, we asked for certain guests to be seated separately as they were different sides of a divorced family (we all ended up at the same dinner table anyways but that's not relevant here). And during the ceremony/reception, everyone was taking photos. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[ljhayes]

Has anyone ever tried to bring their own wedding cake decorations? I know they say no color or ribbons or anything other than a topper, but I'm bound and determined to customize this cake somehow. Do you think if I brought my own decorations (I'm thinking rhinestone cake pins or sprays or something) they would at least let me put them on myself?

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Has anyone ever tried to bring their own wedding cake decorations? I know they say no color or ribbons or anything other than a topper, but I'm bound and determined to customize this cake somehow. Do you think if I brought my own decorations (I'm thinking rhinestone cake pins or sprays or something) they would at least let me put them on myself?

That probably is possible..MAYBE..and this is a BIG maybe, they would allow you to be escorted into the kitchen and do it.
I know someone here took the galley tour and saw their wedding cake being made that day..so if you put the request in the day you board (with the dining manager or onboard coordinator) maybe they would..or at least take the items and try to put it on

 

[ljhayes]

I would be fine doing it after the cake had been brought out and set up even. It's just the two of us so it's not like we'd be throwing off the flow of things or have to worry about guests watching or anything.

 

[wynnestar]

Hi,
I am new here but I wanted to say "hi" to everyone. My husband and I have decided on a VR in Jan 2013 on the Fantasy! We are both very excited!

Sharon

 

[wynnestar]

Hi,
I am new here but I wanted to say "hi" to everyone. My husband and I have decided on a VR in Jan 2013 on the Fantasy! We are both very excited!

Sharon

 

[lorimay]

Hi,
I am new here but I wanted to say "hi" to everyone. My husband and I have decided on a VR in Jan 2013 on the Fantasy! We are both very excited!

Sharon

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

How many years will you be celebrating?

 

[wynnestar]

Hi

My husband, Brian will have been together 11 years and married 9 when we do our VR. We have a son who will be 6 and a daughter who will be 4. It has been an amazing and difficult journey (at times) for us. My parents are not in the best of health and I had a major health scare last spring so we decided that now was the time for to start planning a VR!

We both LOVE Disney. My husband Brian proposed at the Magic Kingdom. We got married at Disney World a year later (Wedding Pavilion, Living Seas, Epcot desert party).

We are doing our VR on the Jan 19th 2013 cruise on the Fantasy. My parents and sister have already booked their cruise.

I got a call from someone at DFTW who told me that they had received our information from the cruise line and that as soon as they had finished the planning packet for the 2013 weddings they would send it to so we can begin planning ! DFTW thought the packet would go out sometime in Jan.

Sharon