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

[Vegas]

I would just like to say that I've spent a few hours reading through all of your VR and wedding stories and you all are so wonderful and so beautiful!

I am not engaged but in the "dreaming" stage of a DCL wedding

You all have given me so many wonderful ideas and things to think about. I just wanted to say thank you! I love keeping up to date with all of your stories. I finally made an account today so I could actually post.

I have a few questions...

For those of you who had a CC wedding how did you feel about having the resort in the background with people swimming and such?

If you have the CC ceremony and have more than 14 guests where do you have the cake reception?

Can I have my pastor do the ceremony on CC?

Thank you all, you're so wonderful!

 

[Goldeelox9]

Hey Vegas! I had a wedding on Castaway Cay and we were at a good distance from the people. The area was roped off. But I am an attention lover and I was THE BRIDE on the cruise. I wanted everyone to see me. We had 30 people and the reception was in Palo and it was perfect!!! You can have anyone you want do the ceromony on Castaway Cay since you are legally married in port before you leave Florida!

 

[Vegas]

Hey Vegas! I had a wedding on Castaway Cay and we were at a good distance from the people. The area was roped off. But I am an attention lover and I was THE BRIDE on the cruise. I wanted everyone to see me. We had 30 people and the reception was in Palo and it was perfect!!! You can have anyone you want do the ceromony on Castaway Cay since you are legally married in port before you leave Florida!

Thank you soooo much. Your wedding totally inspired me and made me totally fall in love with CC. Your photos are beyondddd beautiful. Thank you so much for posting and sharing your story!

 

[Nichol]

Jenn, your pictures are lovely!! Your DD looks just like you. And I know your hair is not exactly how you pictured it, but I think it looked great. Your photographer did a fantastic job!!!!

I'm sad about Brianna... I didn't have any issues with her. She was patient with me, and always very courteous. I do think there are far too many DCL weddings for one person to adequately handle. Sadly, I think DFTW is not going to hire an adequate number of planners. My refund for flowers is still not on my current credit card statement, so now I guess I need to pursue that with whomever is the NEW planner, yes?! Can someone pm me her email? I know it was submitted back at the beginning of December, once the ship sent the photos of the wilted headpieces and the orange bouquet!!I have gotten lots of compliments of on the pictures of my floral, though...even though it's not what I wanted, it still looked nice in the end.

Overall- new brides- we had a wonderful experience! I would recommend it again, as long as you know it is a simple process, few choices... but it was gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! And the onboard staff was stellar on the Magic.

Christine

My colors are orange (actually more of a tangerine) and ivory! I would love to see pics of you orange bouquet Christine! Were you not happy with the flowers?

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

Christine....who was your coordinator?

che

My onboard coordinator was Vanesa. She was amazing and wonderful!!!

Christine

 

[SI-Jen]

I have been looking for a place to find information on the castaway wedding by Disney. Finally, their is a place, Brianna was my wedding coordinator also concerned a bit because we have ben working together, I have no email regarding her departure. Also I have been reading and am afraid because someone posed how it would be a big mistake getting married at ports, if ship does not dock argghh. I have 15 rooms booked on this cruise with almost 55 guest, so this can not go wrong. I am really excited seeing some of the photos, everyone looks so beautiful, and yes it is great not to have to make to many decision, I am really an indecisive person. My only complaint is I wanted a 3 tier cake and fill a little bit limited, but I can always have on made for my anniversary. If anyone can suggest what photo package is the best that would really be helpful. Also is a flower upgrade worth the price? also did anyone who already get married feel that the ceremony went way to fast...and what did you do after the cake cutting and dance?

 

[Goldeelox9]

I Paid to upgrade my flowers. I think it was $50 and my bouquet was larger then the standard ones. Also the timing was perfect for us since we headed to the Beach afterwards. We had over an hour in Palo for the cake and dancing.

 

[pinkcow]

We had a lovely Castaway Cay ceremony. Personally, I would take the risk of rain/missed port, because the location was really terriffic. The backup location is the Cadillac Lounge on the Wonder, and I would guess Sessions? on the Magic. You are going to have a great time regardless, no need to worry!

We actually didn't do any dancing, but had the cake cutting, toasts, and then handed out a photo scavenger hunt. We gave our guests until the time they had to be back on the ship to complete the hunt. Overall our guests really enjoyed Castaway Cay.

I think the really great part of the cruise was that it felt like we had 4 receptions, every night at dinner. It was really a lot of fun!

Congratulations!

 

[Goldeelox9]

Shannon I felt the same way...our party just kept going. After our reception I let my guest all head for the beach. We finished out pictures and changed and met them all there for lunch at Cookies. It was great.

I would have thrown a fit if I was moved into the Cadillac Lounge though. It wouldn't have been pretty (my fit not the wedding...LOL). But I figured that even if it was windy and overcast I would suck it up and head to the beach.

In the end it was perfect weather ( a bit hot ) so we didn't need to worry at all!

 

[pinkcow]

Ok, ok, you are right, I probably would have thrown a fit too!

You had kept telling me that everything was going to be great, and honestly had my doubts, but it was wonderful! Thank you! We live so far away from our families, that we never see anyone, but this was really priceless to have everyone together in one place for four days having fun! (Why can't all family functions be like that! ) I think I've decided a family reunion on a cruise in a few years is an order!

 

[SI-Jen]

well thanks for the info girls, I also wanted to know the picture package does it involve photos at the legal part of the wedding. I am so concerned about all the little things, did anyone place gift baskets in their guest rooms? I want to place a beach bag and slippers and towel in all my guest rooms not sure if this will be possible. Also did anyone take the shuttle from the airport?

 

[chepic]

well thanks for the info girls, I also wanted to know the picture package does it involve photos at the legal part of the wedding. I am so concerned about all the little things, did anyone place gift baskets in their guest rooms? I want to place a beach bag and slippers and towel in all my guest rooms not sure if this will be possible. Also did anyone take the shuttle from the airport?

Ours was a VR, however the photographer was there during the ceremony and took lots of pictures. Each of our guests received an invite the morning of the ceremony, so I would imagine that you can have it arranged to have the baskets sent. (you would do that with your coordinator on board). We took the shuttle from the resort, however some of our guests came right from the airport, and they had absolutely no problems. We took the shuttle back to the airport and although I just wanted to cry with sadness, the ride went fine.

Hope that helps

cheryl

 

[29apr00]

well thanks for the info girls, I also wanted to know the picture package does it involve photos at the legal part of the wedding. I am so concerned about all the little things, did anyone place gift baskets in their guest rooms? I want to place a beach bag and slippers and towel in all my guest rooms not sure if this will be possible. Also did anyone take the shuttle from the airport?

I was able to have concierge deliver a seperate invitation that i made to my guests, but i only had 5 cabins. I was told that any kind of welcome bag/basket would not be delivered by staff, you would have to do it yourself.

 

[cameron991]

well thanks for the info girls, I also wanted to know the picture package does it involve photos at the legal part of the wedding. I am so concerned about all the little things, did anyone place gift baskets in their guest rooms? I want to place a beach bag and slippers and towel in all my guest rooms not sure if this will be possible. Also did anyone take the shuttle from the airport?

Hello! We did not have the option to have a photographer present at the legal ceremony that took place before we left port. Our coordinator did collect all the cameras and took several group shots for us.

We did gift bags for the guests but we hand delivered them to the rooms prior to the legal ceremony. It was our Welcome Aboard greeting. Some people weren't in their room so we brought them to the legal ceremony.

We did a towncar since we had most everyone come in the day before.

Hope that helps!
Suzanne

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

I didn't make gift baskets- we had only 2 other cabins. I did cover their doors in magnets as a "welcome aboard" surprise! I used the DCL invitations that the ship sent to my guests separately.

I too worried a bit about not making Castaway- it was VERY windy- but after a couple tries the Captain finally docked. We were about an hour late getting started, though, because of that. My VR was in November as well, and it was almost hot at ceremony time! Too chilly for me in the water, but not for my kids and FIL! All in all the Castaway location was very, very important to me. I would not have wanted a Sessions or Deck 7 ceremony at all. For us, we really wanted to be barefoot in the sand, at our favorite beach! I probably would have been a very unhappy camper had we not docked.

Even though I wore a short dress, I still had lots and lots of people stop us that evening, and even at disembarkation... and comment on how they watched our ceremony, and how it was soooooo beautiful, what a wonderful place to do it, etc.

Good luck! It's exciting!!

 

[Goldeelox9]

well thanks for the info girls, I also wanted to know the picture package does it involve photos at the legal part of the wedding. I am so concerned about all the little things, did anyone place gift baskets in their guest rooms? I want to place a beach bag and slippers and towel in all my guest rooms not sure if this will be possible. Also did anyone take the shuttle from the airport?

We did not have the photographer at the legal part, but we also didn't have any guest thee beside the maid of honor (my sister) and the Best Man (DH's bff). We wanted the ceremony on the island to be "our Wedding" not the fast blah blah blah's in our jeans. My sister took some pictures (they made it into Carrie's Passporter Wedding Book..so I am famous...LOL).

We had a few people take a shuttle since they came in the day of the wedding. But the majority of our guest came in the day before since we had a welcome dinner at Ohana the night before. I arranged big 15 passenger vans through Sir Randolph'shttp://www.sirrandolphsclassictransportation.com/ to pick us al up. They were on time and were great to work with.

I was told (this was over a year ao so it could have changed) that you can have Gift bags delivered, but there was a fee of like $5 a cabin I think.

 

[CinderelliT]

We didn't have any guests come with us, but everyone on the ship was really accommodating. They wen't out of their way to help us with everything. I'm sure they would have delivered things to cabins if asked. We had fun delivering the FE gifts ourselves b/c we got to visit with the other families. Maybe it could be special if you hand it out yourselves.

I have to give a warning about the short dresses though - be careful with these. I wore a short sundress on the morning of our VR, and it was super windy. This made for several Marilyn Monroe moments that were way less than glamorous!

 

[*Nessa*]

well thanks for the info girls, I also wanted to know the picture package does it involve photos at the legal part of the wedding. I am so concerned about all the little things, did anyone place gift baskets in their guest rooms? I want to place a beach bag and slippers and towel in all my guest rooms not sure if this will be possible. Also did anyone take the shuttle from the airport?

We placed gift bags in the guests room (we had 6 rooms in total) and we also had concierge drop around invitations to all the guests rooms. We had been told prior to the trip it (from our WC) that could be done, then it couldn’t, then it could again but it would cost $10 per cabin. So we had no idea what would happen and expected to have to do it ourselves. But when we got to the ship, we had no problems and concierge delivered them for us at no cost

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to drop in with a little wedding recap & some photos.
Overall our wedding was amazing, as some of you know we had lots of problems with DFTW during our planning & unfortunately it didn’t get any better just prior to & after the cruise. But from the minute we stepped onboard till we got off the ship (2 weeks later) everything & everyone (Disney) were amazing.

Our onboard coordinator was fantastic, stellar, absolutely amazing ! nothing was ever too much trouble and she ironed out & fixed all the stuff ups that the DFTW had made in the lead up to the wedding. We loved the staff & the ship so much that when I said I didn’t want to leave ! They said we could stay on another week and then helped organise & rearrange all our plans so we could stay onboard.

In the whole two weeks we had only one complaint and I will say what happened as I think it’s important for future brides to be on top of this and that was photography.

I did not realise that the onboard photographers are not Disney (they are outsourced) & our photo’s weren’t very professional, the photographer didn’t have any idea about locations where we should take photos on the ship (so we missed out on the cool shot in the funnel), the camera lenses that he used were dirty & all the photo’s had a blob on, for our ceremony photo’s he had everyone looking into the sunlight & everyone is squinting & making weird faces, added to this we were overcharged several hundred $$ for our photos. Then we were given the photos during dinner one night, we opened them & our head dining room server came & sat with us. When he saw the smudge from the dirty lenes on all the pictures, he could not apologies enough & he took them straight down to shutters to insist on them being corrected. We didn’t even have to ask him, he too couldn’t believe they would give them to us looking like that.

While no one onboard the ship could really help with the photo people, many of the staff tried, but it was something we had to work when we got off the ship.

I really wish we had organised our own photos on the ship but we have our MK shoot, plus the photo’s taken by our guests so we can live with it. Apart from our experience with the photography people our wedding was perfect. I’ll post a few pics but please be kind as my hair was shocking (I have no idea how they convinced to wear it this way)

 

[29apr00]

Beautiful pictures Nessa! I'm sorry the photographer was so horrible.....it seems that Shutters is as hit and miss as the photopass photographers.

Can't wait to see more pictures!

 

[chepic]

Nessa....I think the shots are beautiful. We totally must have lucked out with our photographer because we had beautiful pictures, creative poses, and no issues. I really want a Disney photo....we are going in March, we may have to look into this.

cheryl.