eeeek HELP!! A little over two months away and I still have decisons to make!!

[Nolegrl]

Hi guys!

problem 1
I need help again......my wedding is Dec 2004 and I still have decisions to make. I have not decided on video yet. I talked with Stan of STVS and he was wonderful and his work is great but our video for 7hr is going to cost 2,300.00. I wondered if anyone has ever used disney for video, they are 1,800.00 for 8 hrs?? Any other ideas?

problem 2
Also has anyone ever contracted out for chair covers? I have a company that charges 3.00 per chair less than Disney. I also talked with Jonathan of Raining Roses and he was great so I think I may use him instead of Disney floral, they want 5,000!!!! For floral and chair covers and I didn't even get elaborate floral!!! We are 15,000 over budget as of now.

problem 3
We are planning on having the slipper dessert. Has anyone had the dessert but then only had a small cake? We are inviting 200 and my cake will serve 50. I figure since we are having dessert most people won't want cake? Anyone have experience with this? I was going to cut the 50 slices up and the people that want cake can go get some.

problem 4
One last question, has anyone ever had a rehearsal for approx. 100 people and were at a place you could view the fireworks? I don't want the whitehall room at the GF because we are having our cocktail hour there. Any ideas would be great. My mother-in-law to be has invited most of their side of guests to the rehearsal.
Thanks everyone

 

[JoD]

We were married this May in WDW and we used Disney videography and photography and are so happy with disney quality ( I LOVE IT) they did such a GREAT job.

I used Disney for the chair rental also and yes it was a little more money but it was much easier for me to just go with them for everything.

We had the slipper dessert and a cake for 100 guests. every one of our guests ate both the dessert and the cake and LOVED both of them. Our guests even ate our top layer by the pool at 1 am in the morning because they loved the cake so much. We had 4 layers and every layer was different.

Our rehearsal dinner was only for 35 people but we did the seafood buffet at Cape May in the beach club. Fabulous dinner but I don't think they would be able to accomodate 100 guests. There is an outside gazebo at the GF that is beautiful and it's both inside and outside and yes you can see the fireworks from there. I hope this helps, Good Luck

 

[ahutton]

I don't know if this is an option you are considering, but if you are looking to reduce the budget in areas, would you consider either not doing the slipper and increasing the cake, or just doing a cake for pictures and not serving it to guests? At the per person cost x your guests it would be a huge savings to pick one or the other.

For the rehersal, have you considered 'Ohana? Because of their menu style they can handle a large group eating at one time, and they may be able to do a section just for you. The other thing would be to see what Disney can put together for an Illuminations dinner party for a group that size, it may not be much more expensive than a restaurant, but I believe they can do groups that size at a couple locations.

 

[Fantasia Sam]

problem 1
I need help again......my wedding is Dec 2004 and I still have decisions to make. I have not decided on video yet. I talked with Stan of STVS and he was wonderful and his work is great but our video for 7hr is going to cost 2,300.00. I wondered if anyone has ever used disney for video, they are 1,800.00 for 8 hrs?? Any other ideas?


Remember that it is only $1,800 for VHS copies and not DVD copies ($2,050) also Disney charge a lot more for any additional copies your friends and family may wish to purchase. Finally I have only seen on piece of Disney's video work and whilst it fit the bill it didn't have any of the extra touches that Stan's have. I believe in his 7 hour package he'll also include weding book opening and "slow-mo's" etc and at least you'll know who exactly is shooting the video for you. If you don't care who is shooting the video then great go with Disney but I think you'll find there is still cheaper vendors out there of good quality. If you do like Stan speak to him and ask him if you can cut some extras out so that you can get him for less money - he may be amiable to this.


problem 2
Also has anyone ever contracted out for chair covers? I have a company that charges 3.00 per chair less than Disney. I also talked with Jonathan of Raining Roses and he was great so I think I may use him instead of Disney floral, they want 5,000!!!! For floral and chair covers and I didn't even get elaborate floral!!! We are 15,000 over budget as of now.

Exclusive Linens are the cheapest I know and they do lots of weddings on Disney - Jonathan's work is wonderful another to try would be Emily at Charming Events

problem 3
We are planning on having the slipper dessert. Has anyone had the dessert but then only had a small cake? We are inviting 200 and my cake will serve 50. I figure since we are having dessert most people won't want cake? Anyone have experience with this? I was going to cut the 50 slices up and the people that want cake can go get some.

You may find that your guests will still want to have cake even if it's to take it away with them - I personally wouldn't feel comfortable serving cake to just 50 of my guests, I wouldn't want to take the risk. I decided not to do the slipper and just served my cake as dessert and everyone was happy enough as the cake is so scrummy

problem 4
One last question, has anyone ever had a rehearsal for approx. 100 people and were at a place you could view the fireworks? I don't want the whitehall room at the GF because we are having our cocktail hour there. Any ideas would be great. My mother-in-law to be has invited most of their side of guests to the rehearsal.

Are you doing an Illuminations Dessert Party on your big day - if not you could always do this for the Rehearsal party and that way you'd get an awesome view of Epcot fireworks. 'Ohanas could be an option but not everyone is in full view of the fireworks you'll probably find that you'd have to be in the restaurant for 5:15 and you may have all left before the fireworks because of MVMCP is on in December sometimes they don't do the fireworks until Midnight. Finally I would be uncomfortable doing a rehearsal dinner for that many people in 'Ohanas as I would lose control but that's just me. If you're not to bothered about the fireworks how about having an outdoor party at Sea Breeze Point at The Boardwalk - you'd get to see some of Illuminations from the bridge.

 

[twojo21]

FOR THE REHEARSAL DINNER YOU MIGHT WANT TO TRY..
A. A DESSERT PARTY AT EPCOT ILLUMINATIONS OR MGM FANTASMIC UPWARDS OF $20 PLUS GUEST TICKET OR $13FEE PER PERSON. ASK YOUR EM OR GO ONLINE TO YOURFAIRYTALE.COM FOR SPECIAL EVENTS/PARTY IDEAS.
B. YOU COULD ALSO TRY ONE OF THE WDW HOTEL RESTAURANTS MOST OF THEM WILL WORK WITH YOU TO SELECT A MENU FOR YOU & GUESTS AT A SET PRICE. TRY THE YACHTCLUB OR BOMA AT THE AKLODGE. CALL THE RESORT FOR INFO. OR BOOK A PM FOR YOUR FAVORITE PARK RESTAURANT FOR A LARGE GROUP, WE DID THIS FOR A FAMILY REUNION FOR 40 AT CINDERELLA CASTLE-ROYAL TABLE.
C. DO A DINNER BUFFET AT THE WDW PARK OR RESORT HOTEL FOR ABOUT $20. LOOK AT WDW.COM FOR DINING OPTIONS TO GIVE YOU A BETTER IDEA OF LOCALE & THEME.
D. A DINNER SHOW, FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT IN ONE, HOWEVER THIS CAN COST $40-50 A PERSON. FT.WILDERNESS HOOPDEEDOOREVUE OR POLYNESIAN'S LUAU.
E. ASK YOUR EM FOR SUGGESTIONS.

AS FOR FLORAL OPTIONS WHAT ABOUT A CHRISTMAS THEME FOR DECEMBER. USE POINSETTA'S AND HOLY FOR THE CEREMONY FAKE OR REAL LOOK NICE. ANOTHER FLORAL SAVER IS SILK FLOWERS AND THEY DON'T DIE. FOR THE RECEPTION USE PRE LIT 1 OR 2FT TREE'S AND ADD ORNAMENTS (WHICH CAN ALSO BE USED AS GUEST FAVORS AT THE RECEPTION. TRY YOUR LOCAL $DOLLARSTORE OR CRAFT STORE FOR CUTE INEXPENSIVE DECOR.

KEEP THE MUST HAVE'S AND MAYBE CUT SOME OF THE EXTRA'S. HOPE THE ABOVE HELPS. I'M SURE WHATEVER YOU DECIDE YOUR WEDDING WILL BE BEAUTIFUL.

 

[ahutton]

Our rehersal dinner was smaller than it sounds like yours will be, but we had a great time at Boatwrights at POR. Dinner ran about $25 per person. We just offered up the regular menu. They sat us in an area that was away from the rest of the people, it was up a couple steps and had a very pretty fireplace.

 

[ohanafamily]

Hi, I will echo what most have said, I do have an alternate videographer...

K&K Productions. They were highly recomended by the Engagements department.
Jim Parker is the contact, and his phone number is
(407) 622-5700, Mention the Dis and the (now defunct) Engagement department.

The Slipper is awsome, and very painful to cut...Yes it is a quandry...

Ohana's is great, but with the size of your party it may not work out well for fireworks viewing. I think the illuminations dessert area works better. I MGM also had a back lot tour with a buffet that we did at a wedding... it may be very $$$$ though, and I think that they ripped the street out where we went...

one other thing you might want to do is talk to Jane at www.giftsofalifetime.com Her company arranges Suprizes... she might have some insight into outsourcing vendors...