Escape wedding/reception..few questions..

[Sarah84]

We are planning an Escapre wedding with ceremony at Sea Breeze point and originally were thinking 5pm ceremoney with evening reception in the Napa room at California Grill (it's important to me, to see Wishes on my wedding day) due to cost what with coming from the UK we are now re-thinking and have in mind at 12pm ceremony with buffet lunch reception in Napa room till 4pm, this costing $1000 right? then later that night hiring the Grand 1 yacht to watch Wishes.

With the photographer thats included in the package how many hours do we get? is he/she only there for the ceremony or do would we get some time at the reception?
due to time I was thinking of having the ceremony and heading straight to reception so that we would have at least a good 3 hours and then have photos done after but im guessing this wouldn't be allowed? how long does it normally take after the ceremoney to take shots with the included Disney photographer?

Has anybody had the buffet lunch in Napa room who could kindly share pics of how the set up looks?
In regards to setting up in the room, do we have to do it? and how early can we get in there to do it?

Instead of cutting the cake and eating it after the ceremony are we maybe able to bring it onto the Grand 1 and hand it out there? does anyone know costs of having drinks on there?

And lastly (sorry for all the questions ) because obviously with the Escape package, lunch in Napa room and Grand 1 yacht hire wouldn't total to $7,500 or whatever the new minimum is who have to reach now if adding on other events we would be able to book the Napa room and Grand 1 ourselves directly yes?

Thanks if anyone can offer any help

 

[lurkyloo]

We are planning an Escapre wedding with ceremony at Sea Breeze point and originally were thinking 5pm ceremoney with evening reception in the Napa room at California Grill (it's important to me, to see Wishes on my wedding day) due to cost what with coming from the UK we are now re-thinking and have in mind at 12pm ceremony with buffet lunch reception in Napa room till 4pm, this costing $1000 right?

Right!

With the photographer thats included in the package how many hours do we get? is he/she only there for the ceremony or do would we get some time at the reception?

2 hours, starting a little before the ceremony and ending after the cake cutting/first dance. You can pay for additional hours at $175/hour.

due to time I was thinking of having the ceremony and heading straight to reception so that we would have at least a good 3 hours and then have photos done after but im guessing this wouldn't be allowed? how long does it normally take after the ceremoney to take shots with the included Disney photographer?

I don't think they care if you skip the cake and Champagne reception and go straight to your meal, but it really only lasts 15 minutes or so.

In regards to setting up in the room, do we have to do it? and how early can we get in there to do it?

No. You are paying $$$ for a private function at a Disney venue, so they set it up for you. However, if you ask them to put out a ton of stuff, they may charge you $25/hour to do it. I wouldn't think it would take more than an hour even then...

Instead of cutting the cake and eating it after the ceremony are we maybe able to bring it onto the Grand 1 and hand it out there? does anyone know costs of having drinks on there?

Disney won't deliver the cake for you, but they will box it up. If you don't mind it being kinda collapsed, you could bring the box with you to the cruise.

Food and beverage prices for the Grand 1 are available here:

http://allears.net/menu/menu_gy1.htm

And lastly (sorry for all the questions ) because obviously with the Escape package, lunch in Napa room and Grand 1 yacht hire wouldn't total to $7,500 or whatever the new minimum is who have to reach now if adding on other events we would be able to book the Napa room and Grand 1 ourselves directly yes?

No. Well, you have to book the Grand 1 yourself regardless, but you can't book a wedding event at the Napa Room without going through Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings. Also, from what I've heard the Grand 1 doesn't count toward the minimum because it's booked through a different department, but this may have changed. And don't forget the price of the Escape package counts toward the $7,500, so that leaves just about $2,500 you have to spend - the reception and any additional photography will count toward that. If you wanted a Bridal Portrait Session inside the Magic Kingdom, you'd hit the limit easily.

 

[Sarah84]

Thank you

So theres no way of booking the Napa room without doing it through the wedding planner?
ahh that really messes my idea up, the whole reason we changed plans from Napa room after 6pm till before 4pm was to save the $2000 and now theres no way to do it im beginng to think im just not meant to have a Disney wedding, we need to keep the costs down for it as the trip from the UK and having to pay for some family is going to cost enough already

 

[lurkyloo]

Oh no! What a drag! But I think I read that you've hit on a new idea in this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2408722

 

[tinkerbell1988]

oh no sarah stop thinking that way!! you ARE meant to have a Disney wedding!!! the only suggestion i can think of is to have your meal at CG not privately.. so you won't have the F&B minimums and you can then just eat off the regular menu, saving $$$!! this is what we are doing at Il Mulino, and i don't care that we'll be eating within the public.. means more attantion for us! if your group will be relatively small you won't look out of place in the resteraunt either, and i have read that you can watch the Wishes fireworks from the roof anyway to get a better view.. couldn't you do this? DON'T give up on your dream!!! you'll regret it forever if you do xxx

 

[Sarah84]

oh no sarah stop thinking that way!! you ARE meant to have a Disney wedding!!! the only suggestion i can think of is to have your meal at CG not privately.. so you won't have the F&B minimums and you can then just eat off the regular menu, saving $$$!! this is what we are doing at Il Mulino, and i don't care that we'll be eating within the public.. means more attantion for us! if your group will be relatively small you won't look out of place in the resteraunt either, and i have read that you can watch the Wishes fireworks from the roof anyway to get a better view.. couldn't you do this? DON'T give up on your dream!!! you'll regret it forever if you do xxx

Thanks Trudy I have come up with some other ideas now and we will still have the Disney wedding If we can save the money to have it how i originally want then that will be great but I wanted a backup option in mind incase we can't

 

[tinkerbell1988]

Thanks Trudy I have come up with some other ideas now and we will still have the Disney wedding If we can save the money to have it how i originally want then that will be great but I wanted a backup option in mind incase we can't

ooh yay that's good news!!!! i had another thought for how you could save money.. as you are so kindly paying for peoples flights, perhaps you could ask for them to make a small contribution (instead of a wedding present maybe?) and put some money towards the meal?.. i don't think it would be rude to suggest, after all you're paying for them to get there!

 

[Sarah84]

ooh yay that's good news!!!! i had another thought for how you could save money.. as you are so kindly paying for peoples flights, perhaps you could ask for them to make a small contribution (instead of a wedding present maybe?) and put some money towards the meal?.. i don't think it would be rude to suggest, after all you're paying for them to get there!

I doubt we will get a wedding present from them (its DFi's family) they didn't even get us a congratulations card when we got engaged, i don't know how a mum can not think her sons wedding is important enough to at least try and save some money for not only are we paying for the villa, their flights, it looks like we will also have to pay for their Disney tickets and meals while we are there

 

[tinkerbell1988]

I doubt we will get a wedding present from them (its DFi's family) they didn't even get us a congratulations card when we got engaged, i don't know how a mum can not think her sons wedding is important enough to at least try and save some money for not only our we paying for the villa, their flights, it looks like we will also have to pay for their Disney tickets and meals while we are there

oh my goodness!!!! thats really sad, and a LOT of money!! you and your DF must want them there an awful lot!! we have some really close family members who we would love to be there, but most likely can't afford the trip, so for them we are having a party in the UK so they can see us have a first dance, cut the cake, speeches etc, we will wear our wedding attire aswell, so hopefully they won't feel like they have missed out on too much - could you do something similar instead? i just think thats an awful lot of money for them to expect you to pay.. especially as you are already paying for the wedding yourselves! x

 

[Sarah84]

I know its going to probably cost about as much as the wedding for us all and to be honest NO im not fussed if they are there or not but its DF's mum, younger brother & sister and he wants them there which I completely undertand as I couldnt imagine getting married without my mum there. And as he agreed for the wedding to be at Disney like i've wishes for years (he isnt even a Disney fan) then theres now way i will turn around and say well tough they don't pay they don't come

 

[tinkerbell1988]

I know its going to probably cost about as much as the wedding for us all and to be honest NO im not fussed if they are there or not but its DF's mum, younger brother & sister and he wants them there which I completely undertand as I couldnt imagine getting married without my mum there. And as he agreed for the wedding to be at Disney like i've wishes for years (he isnt even a Disney fan) then theres now way i will turn around and say well tough they don't pay they don't come

aww yeah thats a bit of a situation!! well as long as they appreciate all the money you are going to spend on them! i know i wouldn't turn down a free all inclusive trip to disney lol.. it will all be worth it once you get out there! :

 

[Chilly]

No. Well, you have to book the Grand 1 yourself regardless, but you can't book a wedding event at the Napa Room without going through Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings. Also, from what I've heard the Grand 1 doesn't count toward the minimum because it's booked through a different department, but this may have changed.

I read on another thread that they will now book the Grand 1 for you.