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

[MonorailPilotMulan]

DF and I took a different approach to booking our Castaway Cay wedding. We were engaged in Sep 2010 and quickly determined that a spring 2012 DCL wedding is what we wanted. We first called DFTW and was told the same...to call back in May 2011. Also, at that time the 2012 Disney Dream sailing calendar was NOT yet released. (our assumption: no sailing calendar = no weddings booked)

Since we wanted all our staterooms clustered together (20+) on the same deck, we didn't want to wait until May to start the cruise booking process. As soon as the 2012 sailing calendar was released (end of Oct) we immediately started our group booking through DCL. By first week of Nov, we had about 15 staterooms reserved.

With a group reservation number and our stateroom confirmation available, I called DFTW again in Nov and simply asked for a Castaway Cay wedding to be added to our reservation. It was an easy process. Phone rep took all our info including the group reservation and stateroom confirmation. Within a few days, Shanda called me back. She held the Castaway Cay beach wedding date on our sailing but could not officially confirm as the 2012 wedding booking window was not yet open. In Feb 2011 when the booking window opened, she was able to officially confirm the Castaway Cay beach wedding for us (sailing May 17-20, 2012 w/ Castaway Cay beach wedding on May 19).

I think this all came together for us because we started the cruise booking process early & worked quickly AND the 2012 wedding booking window was not yet open. So that's a recap of our cruise & wedding booking experiences. Good luck reserving your date!

Jen

Thank you so much for that information! My fiancee and I have been twiddling our thumbs for the past month worrying about our wedding and whether or not we would get the date we wanted. We have a very small window of time to work with (the three weeks between my DFs grauation from college and the date the future mother in law is considered deployable for the Air Force.) I called on Friday and the rep sent our information to Shanda and have been sent the Info Kit (not planning kit) and I'm already obsessing over it. We've been booked on our ideal cruise for a few weeks already, should I tell them this and have them do the same for me as I already paid the deposit? Instead of making a room block/group reservation, we want to have guests make their own reservations and have DCL link them to the event, will that be ok? We aren't worried about having everyone on the same dining rotation or being near each other.

Thank you for putting up with my questions, my DF and I really appreciate the information and the sense of community on this board. Yay for DISBrides!

 

[MonorailPilotMulan]

I agree, as Jen did I booked my room and then my travel agent was able to get in touch with Shanda and get a hold put on my wedding date as I started planning about 18/19 months out...at the year mark it became "official" but at least I knew at 18 months out that I had my CC wedding on November 1, 2011 so I could immediately send my invites out to give everyone a heads up about planning to attend, etc.

I'm so glad for you! I hope I can get the same thing done, we have been booked on our Dream sailing for a few weeks and never knew that I could request to have the date held for me since I already have a deposit down. Its rather frustrating to sit around and wait. I feel like I shouldn't be procrastinating and getting things done now, at 14 months out. Thanks again for all the information. I think that the Boards may have just saved my wedding

 

[PixieDust1969]

Thank you so much for that information! My fiancee and I have been twiddling our thumbs for the past month worrying about our wedding and whether or not we would get the date we wanted. We have a very small window of time to work with (the three weeks between my DFs grauation from college and the date the future mother in law is considered deployable for the Air Force.) I called on Friday and the rep sent our information to Shanda and have been sent the Info Kit (not planning kit) and I'm already obsessing over it. We've been booked on our ideal cruise for a few weeks already, should I tell them this and have them do the same for me as I already paid the deposit? Instead of making a room block/group reservation, we want to have guests make their own reservations and have DCL link them to the event, will that be ok? We aren't worried about having everyone on the same dining rotation or being near each other.

Thank you for putting up with my questions, my DF and I really appreciate the information and the sense of community on this board. Yay for DISBrides!

I called and got "penciled in" as she called it about 16 months out. When I called I said I wanted to "book" a wedding on DCL. I had called the week before to "inquire" about a Disney wedding (not specific at all) and they said someone would call me back. No one called me back in the next couple of days so definitely say you want to book. They put me through to Shanda and she needed my confirmation number to put me down for the cruise. I gave it to her and within about 30 minutes I got an email with the planning guide and a confirmation that it was booked. She did say since it was so far out that prices for things may change but they didn't. I think pricing is one of the reasons they don't want to book too far out.

Good luck and let us know when you are booked!!

I don't have a room block. I wanted people to be able to book on their own. When I talked to Shanda I asked her about linking them all together. She does that when you turn in your planning guide with the list of all of the guests. You can also fill out seating charts for dinner, if you want, but the new ones for the Dream are not out yet. They have been using ones from the Wonder and Magic and tweeking them to work in the Dream restaurants. I have 55 people going so I am really just wanting the same rotation...not too worried about who sits where.

 

[MonorailPilotMulan]

I called and got "penciled in" as she called it about 16 months out. When I called I said I wanted to "book" a wedding on DCL. I had called the week before to "inquire" about a Disney wedding (not specific at all) and they said someone would call me back. No one called me back in the next couple of days so definitely say you want to book. They put me through to Shanda and she needed my confirmation number to put me down for the cruise. I gave it to her and within about 30 minutes I got an email with the planning guide and a confirmation that it was booked. She did say since it was so far out that prices for things may change but they didn't. I think pricing is one of the reasons they don't want to book too far out.

Good luck and let us know when you are booked!!

I don't have a room block. I wanted people to be able to book on their own. When I talked to Shanda I asked her about linking them all together. She does that when you turn in your planning guide with the list of all of the guests. You can also fill out seating charts for dinner, if you want, but the new ones for the Dream are not out yet. They have been using ones from the Wonder and Magic and tweeking them to work in the Dream restaurants. I have 55 people going so I am really just wanting the same rotation...not too worried about who sits where.

Thank you so much for your response! It's great to know that something can be done more than 12 months out. I will let everyone know once I know I'm "penciled" in. I can't imagine how I'd feel if I took their word for it and waited for May before I called again to book to find my date has been taken. Thank you all!!

 

[PrincessTinker11]

Thank you so much for your response! It's great to know that something can be done more than 12 months out. I will let everyone know once I know I'm "penciled" in. I can't imagine how I'd feel if I took their word for it and waited for May before I called again to book to find my date has been taken. Thank you all!!

Yes call and get penciled in! Good luck!

 

[sja03a]

Hello everyone!

We are just back in Florida today from our wedding cruise! It was amazing. We had Panos and he is just the sweetest guy and so accommodating. We loved him!!! Our photographer was Vishal and he was great as well. He did lots of pictures and they turned out wonderful. The problem with DCL weddings and vow renewals is definitely shoreside. Everything was perfect. I also had my hair done onboard the ship and Florin did an excellent job. Rubenia did my manicure and she was also wonderful!! I will upload some pics later on today.

 

[Goofy4Ever]

Hello everyone!

We are just back in Florida today from our wedding cruise! It was amazing. We had Panos and he is just the sweetest guy and so accommodating. We loved him!!! Our photographer was Vishal and he was great as well. He did lots of pictures and they turned out wonderful. The problem with DCL weddings and vow renewals is definitely shoreside. Everything was perfect. I also had my hair done onboard the ship and Florin did an excellent job. Rubenia did my manicure and she was also wonderful!! I will upload some pics later on today.

Congrats and welcome back!! I look forward to seeing your pictures

 

[PixieDust1969]

Hello everyone!

We are just back in Florida today from our wedding cruise! It was amazing. We had Panos and he is just the sweetest guy and so accommodating. We loved him!!! Our photographer was Vishal and he was great as well. He did lots of pictures and they turned out wonderful. The problem with DCL weddings and vow renewals is definitely shoreside. Everything was perfect. I also had my hair done onboard the ship and Florin did an excellent job. Rubenia did my manicure and she was also wonderful!! I will upload some pics later on today.

Congratulations!! Can't wait to hear more about the wedding and see some pictures!

 

[princessheather]

Girl, we think alike! LOL

Another person posted that the torches were like 500, not terrible but yet again it is not something I can take home and enjoy so I am kinda on the fence leaning to a "NO"...

I am doing silk flowers! I am meeting with the florist next month and will be having one made for my sister, two boutonnieres made, one from my DF's friend and my father...and will have corsages made for both mothers out of silk. I am also getting a wedding bouquet made for me with pink roses and possibly some splash of white for my Magic Kingdom shots. I felt that the silk can be given to everyone respectively and they would have something to take from the cruise as well. All of it is costing me 300, will post pics when I recieve them...I live in NJ and she does beauitful work, she did a friends wedding here in NJ a few months ago and they look so real!

I am getting nervous too about the costs but I am sure we will do just fine! I am at 10K as well with the cruise, taking my own photographer (paying her way in exchange for services), MK shoot and doing a week in Disney. However, I traded my timeshare (still have NO confirmation, fingers crossed it goes through) to get into DVC for a week after the cruise. IF not add another 1K to the mix for accommodations...

My parents were kind enough to throw a HUGE party at a local country club, gave us 2K wedding gift and helped with the wedding dress etc. so I am basically on my own for the wedding. It will all work out, even if I have to grab some part time work I will make this happen!

Im from jersey too! if you dont mind sharing who are you going to for your silk flowers?

 

[princessheather]

Hello everyone!

We are just back in Florida today from our wedding cruise! It was amazing. We had Panos and he is just the sweetest guy and so accommodating. We loved him!!! Our photographer was Vishal and he was great as well. He did lots of pictures and they turned out wonderful. The problem with DCL weddings and vow renewals is definitely shoreside. Everything was perfect. I also had my hair done onboard the ship and Florin did an excellent job. Rubenia did my manicure and she was also wonderful!! I will upload some pics later on today.

Congrats! glad everything was magical for you cant wait to see the pictures!

 

[29apr00]

if you dont mind sharing who are you going to for your silk flowers?

I used The Perfect Gift for my dd's rose wand. Sherri came HIGHLY recommended on the DCL board and she was amazing to work with. I got a beautiful rose wand for DD ($15), and 2 centerpieces of Roses and Calla Lily's for the table in Palo for our "reception"/dinner (i think $45 each).

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

yep...Sherri did my bridesmaids bouquets and the extra floral for my centerpieces...I love Perfect Gift

 

[PrincessTinker11]

Im from jersey too! if you dont mind sharing who are you going to for your silk flowers?

Sure thing,

Connie Reimer at 1Bigdog3@optonline.net or cell 973-445-0036....her office is in West Orange, NJ that is about an hour from me, however, they looked so real and definitely what I am looking for so I am going to take the drive! She even said she will have them packaged and ready to travel as I told her I will have to bring them to a Disney wedding!

 

[stl_figment]

Hello everyone!

We are just back in Florida today from our wedding cruise! It was amazing. We had Panos and he is just the sweetest guy and so accommodating. We loved him!!! Our photographer was Vishal and he was great as well. He did lots of pictures and they turned out wonderful. The problem with DCL weddings and vow renewals is definitely shoreside. Everything was perfect. I also had my hair done onboard the ship and Florin did an excellent job. Rubenia did my manicure and she was also wonderful!! I will upload some pics later on today.

Congrats! Can't wait to see some pictures

 

[Linden Lady]

Hello everyone!

We are just back in Florida today from our wedding cruise! It was amazing. We had Panos and he is just the sweetest guy and so accommodating. We loved him!!! Our photographer was Vishal and he was great as well. He did lots of pictures and they turned out wonderful. The problem with DCL weddings and vow renewals is definitely shoreside. Everything was perfect. I also had my hair done onboard the ship and Florin did an excellent job. Rubenia did my manicure and she was also wonderful!! I will upload some pics later on today.

Congrats! How was it??? Can't wait to see pics!!

 

[MonorailPilotMulan]

Hello everyone!

We are just back in Florida today from our wedding cruise! It was amazing. We had Panos and he is just the sweetest guy and so accommodating. We loved him!!! Our photographer was Vishal and he was great as well. He did lots of pictures and they turned out wonderful. The problem with DCL weddings and vow renewals is definitely shoreside. Everything was perfect. I also had my hair done onboard the ship and Florin did an excellent job. Rubenia did my manicure and she was also wonderful!! I will upload some pics later on today.

Congrats!!!! Like everyone else, we can't wait to see pictures

 

[Goofy4Ever]

yep...Sherri did my bridesmaids bouquets and the extra floral for my centerpieces...I love Perfect Gift

Did you have silk or real flowers? I am thinking about using Shirley too because the thought of making them just scares me!!

 

[29apr00]

Sherri used real flowers for the Rose wand and my centerpieces.

 

[MonorailPilotMulan]

Good news! Got my call from Shanda and she has sent in a request to DCL to book my Castaway Cay wedding!

I'm so excited and giddy, I think I scared Shanda

 

[sja03a]

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hopefully this works
the first pic is stretched on the computer for some wierd reason
more to come soon....