DP -- cold feet??

[TreasureYourDreams]

Okay I'm starting to have cold feet about my DP.

Right now we are booked at SCP to watch Wishes -- but my worry (we're getting married in January) is that it will be FREEZING and I'll end up having it in some conference room.

The whole reason we're having a DP is because of the fireworks -- and the reason we chose SCP instead of Epcot is because I have hired Misty Miotto for our photographer and I really want her to be able to take the pictures

So... I need your opinions!! I think I'm down to about 3 options...

#1-- stop whining and just continue with the DP as planned

#2 -- dinner at CG instead. This would be pushing it with our budget, but we are only have 25 people so I know we can stay at the $3000 min. and in figuring the cost of the DP at SCP (with Wishes piped in) and the cost of drinks/apps at one of the GF lounges beforehand, we would probably spend at little over $2K anyway.

#3 -- stick with the drinks/apps plan, cancel the DP and just go outside at 8:00 to watch Wishes and take pictures. My problem with this is I don't know if there is a good place to do that if you don't have a reserved area... and I REALLY want some good fireworks pictures Obviously... this would be by far the most budget-friendly option, and I know we would have just as much fun hanging out in one of the lounges as we would outside in the cold. In fact, if I knew for sure that we could get good pictures of the fireworks... this is probably the option I would go with.

So.... any advice anyone?? I'm soooo confused!!

 

[sambycat]

the way i see it, its the weather you are fighting. i would say, go with your origninal plans? most likely, fireworks will happen and all will go off as planned. it will be cool, but probably not miserably so! i totally et the quandry, but, if it truly truly worries you, scratch it and do the CG with the option of catching firewroks (and still having an awesome evening!) or just do something more informal and frolic about during wished.

good luck! and i hope it isn't freezing, DF wants to get a boat for the guys to watch the same fireworks as we are getting married the next morning!

 

[ChocoKat]

We are having a DP at Sago Cay in very early February.
This year it was oh soooo cold in Jan/Feb in FL I can understand your fears; but I have already warned my guests to bring their jackets, gloves and scarves and will be asking for hot cocoa, tea and coffee to be served during the DP just in case we have a freaky February again.

If it is cold we hopefully will be able to enjoy it anyway, if it rains, oh well, nothing to be done about it. I am not stressing myself with it, I am trusting my planners to think on their feet and lend us a hand.

Having a DP is in our "must have" list, and it is a very very short list, so we can live with it. Just see how important it is for you and if it is worth fretting over.

 

[PrincessShea]

I vote #1.

You can't control the weather and you have to know there is a good possibility it will be cold in January.

Even if you have to eat deserts inside; who cares? They'll let you go outside to watch the show, right?

Surely everyone in your party will be capable of standing outside in the cold for 10 minutes to watch the fireworks. Heck, hundreds of thousands of people stand outside in actual freezing cold to watch a glittery ball glide down a pole for 10 seconds in New York every year. I think your guests will survive 10 minutes in 40 degree Florida cold.

 

[Nikisha421]

We are having a DP in late February. We were in Orlando in February 09 it was cold, but we worked it out and went to parks and had fun. I have had this thought as well and even asked our photographers if they thought we were crazy. I say if it's not a budget issue and only a weather issue...go ahead and have fun...plus we are from NY and those ppl...well you know NYers???

 

[tinkandonaldfans]

i would stick to your original plan as this what you really wanted and you will regret not doing this.

could you get in some outdoor heaters to combat the cold? Also I would select hot desserts and hot chocolate. maybe wear some uggs underneath your dress and make sure you have a cute little jacket. get your df to wear something under his suit to keep him a little warmer and tell your guests to bring jackets gloves and scarfs!

 

[weedee]

I mean, we did basically option 3 and it worked out nicely. Plus it didn't cost me $1500. I guess I don't see the point in the DP if you can't actually be outside enjoying it during the fireworks. But you can't predict the weather so if cost isn't an issue and you don't think your guests will mind being outside in the cold, I guess I'd vote for option 1.

There's a lot of different locations around the GF that you can see the Wishes fireworks from. I doubt you'd need to have a reserved space in January. We were there in June and had no problems finding a place to watch the show with music among the other guests. It wasn't crowded in the least.

 

[Stephie77]

I know you are doing it at Sago Cay and want that location so you can have
Misty but I figured I would give you my opinion. I originally was suppose to have my DP at UK Lochside and my wedding was January 3, 2010. When I tell you it was cold, my guests and I are all from NY and we were freezing(high 48 on my wedding day, 25 at night). Luckily, I was able to change it to American Adventure Parlor (my backup location) and went outside to watch the Illumination fireworks from the Italy Pavillion for the 15 minutes(and for pictures) and then back into the parlor. I would think that they would be able to do something like that with SC? Talk to your planner about back-up locations(maybe the whitehall room)for dessert(as far as I know they have back up locations for all outdoor affairs in case of inclement weather) and then just go outside for the fireworks. They also have the outdoor heaters for rent. We thought about doing that but at $300 a pop we went with the backup location (which was actually really nice and warm) Not sure if this helps but figured I would give you a suggestion.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

I have gone back and forth many times on the DP thing. Most brides here seem to really enjoy it and say it is the one of the things they have no regrets about.
I thought I really wanted a DP and if money was no object I would probably still have one. I am having my VR at the Swan and refuse to take my dress off to go to a DP, so my only option would have been Wishes at SCP. That would have been fine as Wishes is my favourite fireworks show (followed by Fantasmic, so Illuminations is actually third for me), so that was fine.
Then I read Wendy's (WeeDee) TR and realised that, since my VR is running on similar lines to her wedding and we are having the reception at Citrico's, we could do what she did and go down to the Marina (I think that's where she went) and watch Wishes complete with music for nothing!! It became a no brainer with me to cut the DP, and now I am having a day with DH on our own at Discovery Cove the day after our VR as a mini 'honeymoon', for much less than I would have shelled out for a DP (without the piped in soundtrack as IMHO $500.00 is a ridiculous amount to pay for the music).
As I said, if money was absolutely no object I would have a DP, but since it is, I am happy with the decision I have made!!
Good luck with whatever you decide!!