Hi all! I've just recently been shopping for engagement rings with my dbf and we know we want a small WDW wedding. Obviously we are very early in the planning stages but I did have a few questions. First off, how early can you book a wedding at WDW? This will be a small wedding, likely only 15-25 guests. If I only have 15 guests can I still do a wishes wedding? What is the real difference between wishes and escape weddings? Online everything I'd kinds vague and I want to have a basic budget in mind before choosing a date! Lastly, how far in advance can you book an escape or wishes wedding?
Thanks!!
Welcome!!
Here's what I can tell you - an esape wedding is for 18 or fewer guests. I'm not familiar with the cost structure and minimums since we're having a wishes event, but i know it can be done fairly inexpensively. There are also some upgrades brides can choose for the package, but there is far more structure to what you can choose for an escape wedding than a wishes wedding. These can be booked at the 8 month mark (and i want to say penciled in at 9 months out now, but someone else will have to confirm). Penciling in doesn't guarantee a date, just notes your interest. If another couple wants the same date/venue, they hold a lottery.
a wishes wedding requires a minimum guest count of 18 guests (incl. Bride and Groom), and for 2013 (i'm going to assume we're into 2013 now, unless you want to pull off a super lightning fast 2012 event!) the minimum expenditure you gurantee Disney is $12,000 for an event held on Monday through Thursday, $15,000 for Friday and Sunday, and $20,000 for Saturday. That's what you're guaranteeing you're going to spend through Disney, and doesn't include the cost of anything you're getting outside of Disney. These can be booked at 12 months out, and you can be penciled in at 18 months out - again, nothing guaranteed. Same deal with holding a lottery if more than 1 couple wants the same date and time.
At the beginning of the process, you'll work with a sales consultant, and then once your contract is signed, you'll work directly with a wedding planner for your event.
I know you're a ways off, but the link to the book Chilly posted is actually SUPER helpful. I bought that book 6 months before we got engaged. What that book has, that you won't get from Disney without a signed contract, is a better idea of timing, pricing, minimums, and will answer many of your questions. You can buy the e-book for $8 i think, and then get the updates each time Carrie (lurkyloo here on the dis) updates it. It may help you to make your decision either way, and it will give you much more information than Disney will up front.
Hope that helps!
