Epcot Ceremony Times - Only @ 10 AM?

[AntePrincess]

I'm pretty sure I've seen this stated before, but I wasn't absolutely certain: are ceremonies at Epcot sites only at 10 am with no later options?

I love a morning ceremony, but I wasn't planning on a breakfast or brunch, besides which I wanted to have our reception in one of the World Showcase restaurants, which I imagine wouldn't be open yet. If the ceremony time is definitely fixed, what do we all do with ourselves directly after besides an Epcot photoshoot? Is it long before the park opens (we're aiming for a November date)?

So many questions! Thanks in advance.

 

[CharacterFan]

I think they can be at 9am or 10am. You might be able to see if they'd be willing to do it at night, but it would have to start 2 hours after park close so at 11pm.

Also, Epcot Ceremonies are now Wishes only. I think (I think my consultant mentioned this to me) but I switched from Escape to Wishes in March and the 2010 locations hadn't been annouced. Acutally the Epcot locations aren't listed under the Escape page of Disney's site.

So if the resturant you'd want to use is only open for dinner they might be able to use it for brunch.

Welcome, and I hope this helps some.

 

[lurkyloo]

Ceremonies in Epcot's World Showcase are only offered at 9am. 10am would not leave enough time to clean up before park guests enter the WS at 11am.

Escape Collection ceremonies (the ones where you have to arrange your own meal afterward) are not offered inside the park and, to my knowledge, never have been. Wishes Collection ceremonies require a private reception, and the only Epcot restaurant that holds those is Bistro de Paris.

Hope this helps!

 

[AntePrincess]

That puts things into perspective, I had no idea you couldn't do a restaurant reception with a Wishes wedding or upgrade to an Epcot location with an Escape wedding. Well, I still have my heart set on an Epcot ceremony location, but I'll have to see if 9 am is earlier than my fiance wants to get up.

So I suppose my options for an Epcot ceremony and restaurant dinner are to have a breakfast/brunch directly following with a more casual restaurant dinner that night or a restaurant dinner that night followed by a dessert reception to cover the reception requirements.

Not that I want to go the cash intensive route, but I suppose I can't wriggle out of a private reception if I meet my Wishes wedding minimums on the ceremony, floral, and photography alone?

Thank you for all your help!

 

[CharacterFan]

That puts things into perspective, I had no idea you couldn't do a restaurant reception with a Wishes wedding or upgrade to an Epcot location with an Escape wedding. Well, I still have my heart set on an Epcot ceremony location, but I'll have to see if 9 am is earlier than my fiance wants to get up.

So I suppose my options for an Epcot ceremony and restaurant dinner are to have a breakfast/brunch directly following with a more casual restaurant dinner that night or a restaurant dinner that night followed by a dessert reception to cover the reception requirements.

Not that I want to go the cash intensive route, but I suppose I can't wriggle out of a private reception if I meet my Wishes wedding minimums on the ceremony, floral, and photography alone?

Thank you for all your help!

There is a food and beverage min that I think also has to be met $75 per person for breakfast/brunch. I I think it would be really hard to spend $12,000 on just a ceremony.

DFi and I are not morning people, but we wanted to get married in Epcot. So, we're going to get up early. It's only one day right.

We're having a brunch reception. I'm not sure what we're doing for dinner that night. Maybe a family meal at The Plaza.

 

[lurkyloo]

That puts things into perspective, I had no idea you couldn't do a restaurant reception with a Wishes wedding

Well, if simply being in a restaurant is all that matters, you can hold Wishes receptions in lots of restaurants outside Epcot, like Narcoossee's, Ariel's, California Grill...

Well, I still have my heart set on an Epcot ceremony location, but I'll have to see if 9 am is earlier than my fiance wants to get up.

Our philosophy was, surely we could get up early on one measly day in our entire lives in order to be married in Epcot.

... or a restaurant dinner that night followed by a dessert reception to cover the reception requirements.

Yes, but you will have to spend $75/person at your reception in order to meet the minimum requirement for a Disney wedding (unless they charge you the dinner price even though your ceremony takes place before noon, in which case it would be $125/person).

Not that I want to go the cash intensive route, but I suppose I can't wriggle out of a private reception if I meet my Wishes wedding minimums on the ceremony, floral, and photography alone?

Unfortunately, in order to have a Wishes wedding at all, you have to meet that $75/$100/$125 per person minimum food and beverage expenditure.

 

[AntePrincess]

There is a food and beverage min that I think also has to be met $75 per person for breakfast/brunch. I I think it would be really hard to spend $12,000 on just a ceremony.

CharacterFan, good point, I suppose I'm just musing "aloud" right now. Actually, the idea of a brunch is growing on me as I think about it.

Well, if simply being in a restaurant is all that matters, you can hold Wishes receptions in lots of restaurants outside Epcot, like Narcoossee's, Ariel's, California Grill...

LurkyLoo, Oh, it's definitely the Epcot restaurants for us, if we can. I suppose the question now is whether the Epcot ceremony or the Epcot restaurant is more important.

Unfortunately, in order to have a Wishes wedding at all, you have to meet that $75/$100/$125 per person minimum food and beverage expenditure.

I don't mind the minimums, I was just hoping to meet them with a fabulous restaurant dinner. Was a dessert reception an option for meeting the private reception/minimums requirement? I could see us having a restaurant dinner than strolling out for a dessert reception, if things were timed right. Trouble is I really prefer the desserts at the receptions to what I've seen on their menus for the fireworks and dessert reception.

Once again, thank you both for showing me the ropes!

 

[CharacterFan]

Sometimes thinking outloud is the best way to figure things out.

You could serve some of your favorite Epcot foods at your reception. If you like Coral Reef. The Living Seas Salon is a good option. It also has tanks and is located in the Seas pavlion. As Lurkyloo mentioned Bistro de Paris.

I'm not sure about the dessert party stuff. I haven't looked into that too much.

 

[lpizzuro123]

Our Epcot ceremony was at 9:00am in Italy. Our prereception was from 10:00 to 11:00 and our reception was between 11:00 and 3:00 at ADH. We used the Tinkerbell brunch which has breakfast food plus chicken, salad and pasta. We had a break from 3:00 to 7:30 and most people went back to their resort to change, use the pool, relax and get something to eat. Everyone met back at Epcot at 7:45 for our dessert party in the UK. It was a wonderful day and everyone loved taking a break and getting back together for more fun and food.

Linda

 

[lurkyloo]

Now I'm curious! Is it the Epcot restaurant atmosphere you want, or the food? Because, as CharacterFan said, Disney can make food from any of the restaurants in WDW for your reception, no matter where it is held. For example, people have had the cheese soup and filet from Le Cellier at their ballroom receptions.

Was a dessert reception an option for meeting the private reception/minimums requirement?

You can sure try! Disney would probably consider it a regular reception, with the attendant venue-specific food and beverage minimums (on top of the per-person minimums), but then you could ask for only dessert-y food on your menu. Oh, and you wouldn't be able to wear your wedding dress in the Epcot restaurant (if that's a big deal to you).

But you're gonna have to add a whole lotta booze to those desserts if you want to get to the minimums!

 

[Pirate's Princess]

I am following in the footsteps of Linda and planning on having our ceremony in japan with our reception at the living seas salon probably around 11, ending around 2-ish. Then we want to have a dessert party that night. It was always Living Seas Salon for us and we were definitely having out ceremony in Epcot. I know I'm in the few here but I am not a fan of the wp so there weren't that many options for us.

I think you can also have a dessert party but serve dinner food. But it is a long time to wait after your ceremony

 

[AntePrincess]

You could serve some of your favorite Epcot foods at your reception. If you like Coral Reef. The Living Seas Salon is a good option. It also has tanks and is located in the Seas pavlion. As Lurkyloo mentioned Bistro de Paris.

CharacterFan, I had no idea I could get Epcot restaurant foods anywhere in WDW for a reception. That gives me some ideas. We really love the atmosphere and memories we have associated with the Epcot restaurants, but I guess there's nothing to stop us from doing that for a rehearsal dinner.

Now I'm curious! Is it the Epcot restaurant atmosphere you want, or the food? Because, as CharacterFan said, Disney can make food from any of the restaurants in WDW for your reception, no matter where it is held. For example, people have had the cheese soup and filet from Le Cellier at their ballroom receptions.

Lurkyloo, it's definitely half the atmosphere and half the food, if you count raw sentimentality under atmosphere. I am really encouraged to learn that, wherever we have our reception, we can get some of the foods that go along with those memories.

Oh, and you wouldn't be able to wear your wedding dress in the Epcot restaurant (if that's a big deal to you).

Aw, really? Even if it's a low-key J Crew wedding dress? That just might be the point that pushes me over to a Wishes wedding, but I suppose that would still mean I'm out of luck on having a reception and/or wedding dress at the restaurant.

I am following in the footsteps of Linda and planning on having our ceremony in japan with our reception at the living seas salon probably around 11, ending around 2-ish. Then we want to have a dessert party that night

Pirate's Princess, I have to admit, I found the accounts I've read here of a Japan Pavilion wedding very inspiring. Nor am I that big a fan of the WP, particularly not for the smaller crowd I expect to bring. But you can have a reception at the Living Seas Salon? That's because it has a private room, I guess?

Thanks again!

 

[CharacterFan]

CharacterFan, I had no idea I could get Epcot restaurant foods anywhere in WDW for a reception. That gives me some ideas. We really love the atmosphere and memories we have associated with the Epcot restaurants, but I guess there's nothing to stop us from doing that for a rehearsal dinner.

I understand the memories thing. There are several locations I had thought of because they hold big childhood memories for me and/or DFi. Most aren't options for receptions or don't fit the look we're going for.

really? Even if it's a low-key J Crew wedding dress? That just might be the point that pushes me over to a Wishes wedding, but I suppose that would still mean I'm out of luck on having a reception and/or wedding dress at the restaurant.

Yeah, if it looks like a wedding dress then they won't let you in. I'm going to MK the night of my wedding. I'm getting a knee length white dress that doesn't have any embellishment and DFi will wear a button up shirt and jeans

Pirate's Princess, I have to admit, I found the accounts I've read here of a Japan Pavilion wedding very inspiring. Nor am I that big a fan of the WP, particularly not for the smaller crowd I expect to bring. But you can have a reception at the Living Seas Salon? That's because it has a private room, I guess?

Thanks again!

I've been loving Pirate Princess's ideas too. It helped DFi and I decide on Japan-Archway (although, I still hold out for Morroco, a little) Yes the Living Seas Salon is a private location.(I look at it in 1 week :excited) It can be used for brunch/lunch/dinner receptions. We also didn't like WP and in the even fewer that doesn't care for SBP. Which pretty much left us with Epcot. Which suite DFi and I very well.

 

[AntePrincess]

Yeah, if it looks like a wedding dress then they won't let you in. I'm going to MK the night of my wedding. I'm getting a knee length white dress that doesn't have any embellishment and DFi will wear a button up shirt and jeans

Oh, does that mean you can't come to a proper private location reception inside a park while wearing a wedding dress? I'm beginning to think the clothes we wear will take more planning than I'd intended.

I've been loving Pirate Princess's ideas too. It helped DFi and I decide on Japan-Archway (although, I still hold out for Morroco, a little) Yes the Living Seas Salon is a private location.(I look at it in 1 week :excited) It can be used for brunch/lunch/dinner receptions. We also didn't like WP and in the even fewer that doesn't care for SBP. Which pretty much left us with Epcot. Which suite DFi and I very well.

I might have to give the Living Seas a look myself. I know any number of people who would be thrilled by the location and its almost what we were going for with a restaurant and all. Thank you for the pointers.

 

[CharacterFan]

Oh, does that mean you can't come to a proper private location reception inside a park while wearing a wedding dress? I'm beginning to think the clothes we wear will take more planning than I'd intended.

You can wear your dress if your private reception is booked threw Disney Weddings. As in a reception with a Wishes wedding. This also includes the dessert parties. You won't be able to go on any rides thought, or walk around the park.

I might have to give the Living Seas a look myself. I know any number of people who would be thrilled by the location and its almost what we were going for with a restaurant and all. Thank you for the pointers.

I'll be sure post to pictures.

 

[AntePrincess]

You can wear your dress if your private reception is booked threw Disney Weddings. As in a reception with a Wishes wedding. This also includes the dessert parties. You won't be able to go on any rides thought, or walk around the park.

I see, it's pretty air tight then. I think I need to review my out-of-park options, in case one of the Boardwalk reception locations would suit us nicely. It's not like I'm out of choices yet. I haven't even asked our wedding coordinator if its possible to upgrade the ceremony site location on an Escape wedding.

You've given me some ideas with your description of your choice of clothes. I'd really like to choose a dress that I can wear again someday, so perhaps keeping in mind what it would take to "pass" the no wedding dresses rule will help me fulfill that goal. I've seen some very well dressed women in Epcot on their way to reservations, so I can use them as a guide. Would you mind sharing any pictures of your dress? I'd even consider colors since I've seen some beautiful tinted gowns here and elsewhere. (Would "passing" wedding dresses be a good separate thread?)

Anyway, I'm starting to get excited about this despite how complex it seems! Good thing I have some time to plan.

 

[CharacterFan]

This is my park party dress. Although I haven't bought it yet. It's price is a bit more then I'm comfortable with but under $300 and I'm going to look at a couple of stores around homecoming/prom time. My only thing is I want my evening park dress to be white. I'm pretty flexable on style.

My wedding dress is from David's Bridal but has been discontinued and I don't have the picutres on this computer, but it's a full wedding gown.

 

[AntePrincess]

This is my park party dress.

Your park party dress is lovely! Will they be all right with you walking around the park in that? Or is it only for during a private event in the park? (BTW, I started a thread for discussing dresses or other clothes that'll pass admissions inspection.)

PS LOL, they wouldn't let me repost the picture of your dress because I'm still one under the post minimum for posting images or links! Oh well. It's still a gorgeous dress!

 

[CharacterFan]

Your park party dress is lovely! Will they be all right with you walking around the park in that? Or is it only for during a private event in the park? (BTW, I started a thread for discussing dresses or other clothes that'll pass admissions inspection.)

PS LOL, they wouldn't let me repost the picture of your dress because I'm still one under the post minimum for posting images or links! Oh well. It's still a gorgeous dress!

It'll be for walking round the park no private event, if we do a dessert party I'll wear my wedding dress. We thinking about doing Cali Grill or Artist Point for dinner. Then MK after. We really want to see Wishes.

I'm not sure about wearing a sash. I may use the one from my wedding dress, and a Mickey broach I saw online. I've also found several white dress I liked at White House, Black Market. I'm also going to wear casual flats. I wear skirts and dresses into the park all the time. (I hate shorts, and it's too hot in the summer for jeans everyday) I've seen people dressed more done up then I plan to be in the parks without a problem.

 

[AntePrincess]

It'll be for walking round the park no private event, if we do a dessert party I'll wear my wedding dress. We thinking about doing Cali Grill or Artist Point for dinner. Then MK after. We really want to see Wishes.

That's pretty much what we would like to do: see the fireworks, enjoy the park atmosphere, and catch a nice group dinner on the day of our wedding. We're also pretty casual people usually.

I've also found several white dress I liked at White House, Black Market. I'm also going to wear casual flats. I wear skirts and dresses into the park all the time. (I hate shorts, and it's too hot in the summer for jeans everyday)

Agreed about how hot it gets! That's exactly what I was thinking, maybe dressing it up a bit during the ceremony.

I've seen people dressed more done up then I plan to be in the parks without a problem.

Well that's reassuring. I could go for a small Escape ceremony either at the Wilderness Lodge or SBP, if I can't find a way to upgrade/finagle an Epcot ceremony, then do the Epcot photo shoot, and enjoy the parks during the day meeting up for a dinner reservation that night in one of the restaurants. I think our group is small enough it won't be a problem to get reservations, maybe some negotiation to get a cake and some rose petals on the table or something similar. Or a Wishes wedding in the park with a big, fat brunch... followed by wandering the park all day and a nice dinner at a restaurant that evening. Either way I can live with that.

Thanks for all your help, CharacterFan!