Fairytale Wedding Information Thread

[FutureAshleyDukes]

Hi there!
I was thinking maybe we could all help out some of our newest members with a general information thread on what some of us know about Disney's Fairytale Weddings.

This could include information on locations, outside vendors, Swan/Dolphin weddings, room blocks, intimate/custom packages, and some of the other questions that some of the newer brides-to-be might have.

Anyone want to contribute? I'm willing to put it all together as nicely as I can!

Just an idea!
Ashley

 

[DisneyBride2B]

Ashley,
I think that that is a terrific idea, and then as months pass each Disney Bride can add what the have learned or gone through as their personal experience. Not to mention the changes that we all know will be happening as FTW changes their minimums, locations, custom vs. intimate....etc.

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

I was thinking about this earlier! I thought it might be easier to list the attachments we have, etc., here (if we're allowed) to answer questions. I know I have sent out the bar informaiton, GF dessert party information, and the California Grill menus more than once. I have Yacht club menus, music, etc., as well.

If you need help, please let me know. I will do what I can up until December and than am very willing to make a more stable commitment! The wedding is creeping closer and closer for me and there's still lots to do!

How does one go about getting a Sticky Thread?

Two great minds think alike
xoxo

 

[DisneyBride2B]

I know that an intimate wedding can include up to and only 18 people, 20 including the B&G, all children are included in the count (regardless of their age). Intimate packages include the basics...a small wedding cake, the Mickey and Minnie cake topper, a champagne toast, the brides bouquet, the grooms bout., a limo for a 4 hour window, a violinist for 3-4 hours to play at the ceremony and the cake cutting, a wedding album with 12 photos (plus proofs, if I am correct), and the actual ceremony location.

There is not a minimum expenditure with an intimate wedding, however there is what they consider and "add on" option which is where you add certain things to increase the amounts of each area (i.e. photography, videography, flowers, cake...) The price does not include your hotel room or park tickets as it has in past years. There are Event Managers (EM) dedicated to either intimate or custom brides, so each review of a specific EM may only deal with a certain type of wedding.


You can talk to EM's before your wedding, but nothing specific can be booked until a "year out mark", meaning that nothing is set in stone and you may be put in a lottery depending on how many other couples request a specific location and date/time of ceremony. Once your date is set, the actual planning can begin.

there's a start...please correct me if I am wrong!
Happy Planning!
Carrie

 

[FutureAshleyDukes]

I was thinking about this earlier! I thought it might be easier to list the attachments we have, etc., here (if we're allowed) to answer questions. I know I have sent out the bar informaiton, GF dessert party information, and the California Grill menus more than once. I have Yacht club menus, music, etc., as well.

If you need help, please let me know. I will do what I can up until December and than am very willing to make a more stable commitment! The wedding is creeping closer and closer for me and there's still lots to do!

How does one go about getting a Sticky Thread?

Two great minds think alike
xoxo

I think once we compile all the information our moderator (Sam) would be able to decide to make it a sticky thread. I will add more information onto my first post when I am able to collect it together.

 

[Janet2k]

Private theme park events must be held either before park hours or after park hours. Events cannot be held during park hours.

For example, I have held two private events inside the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park. Neither one of my events could begin until the theme park had been closed for 90-minutes. Disney needed that time to clean the venues and to set them up for my events.

Disney has specific rules regarding what can and cannot be done during a private theme park event. The rules were put in place to protect their guests, their Cast Members, their venues, and their trademarks. The rules must be adhered to otherwise the event will not be held. Luckily, the rules are straightforward and easy to follow.

For example, I wanted Mickey Mouse to appear at my Great Movie Ride dinner party. I was told that Disney characters were only allowed inside the Black Box Room of the attraction (that is the room at the end of the attraction where various movie clips are played). Disney would not waiver from this rule. I understood completely the reason for the rule and arranged for Mickey Mouse to appear in the Black Box Room in order to lead my guests outside for the outdoor dance party beneath the Sorcerer’s Hat Icon.

When planning a private theme park event, Disney will explain any of their special rules. Please remember that these rules were put in place for a reason, and they are straightforward and easy to follow. At least in my humble opinion they are.

 

[FutureAshleyDukes]

Wow thank you for all the replies so far. If everyone wants to continue to contribute I will begin making links to all the different information to my first post to make it easier to navigate through.

Thanks again!
ashley

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

Dessert parties are growing in popularity rapidly within the Disney Wedding planning circles. Most brides have been choosing for the event to take-place as a rehearsal dinner, after the formal meal of the rehearsal dinner, or after the traditional wedding reception.

One of the dessert party options is for the event to be held at the marina of the Grand Floridian. This is a wonderful spot to view the Wishes fireworks! There are two locations (that I know of, please correct me if I am wrong) at the Grand Floridian marina to set-up your dessert party. The first is on the steps of the marina itself. The second is in a patio area to the left of the marina steps. This area is quieter, but accomodates smaller groups. Also available is a set-up on the Grand Floridian's beach.

The Grand Floridian has several dessert menus from which to choose. Please PM me with your email address if you would like the complete listing. The dessert stations are manned by catering staff. They will wear black pants, a white shirt, and a gold vest. For those of you planning a rehearsal dessert party and wish to have a groom's cake, arrangements can be made through your EM. Plase note that your cake may be much larger than your guest count due to minimum sizes available on certain cakes.

There is a fee to have the musical score from Wishes piped into your event. Most recently, the fee has been in the neighborhood of $300. If you would like for background music throughout your event, arrangements can be made. Your EM would have the pricing available.

Be sure to review your inclement weather plan for any outdoors event well in advance. It should be a line item on your BEO. Discuss back-up options with your EM well in advance to be sure you have a plan in place that meets your needs and expectations.

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

The California Grill, atop the Contemporary Resort, offers unparalled views of Disney. Within the restraunt are two private function rooms that can serve well for rehearsal locations, reception locations, or a large family gathering. There are maximum party sizes for the rooms. I am unsure of the exact figure but welcome anyone to post if they do know.

The first of the rooms available is the Sonoma Room. The Sonoma Room has views of Forst Wilderness and Orlando landmarks. The Sonoma Room sits towards the back of the restaurant, so you do not have views of Bay Lake or the Seven Seas Lagoon. The Sonoma Room has a minimum expenditure of $2,500. There is an applicable 20% gratuity and 6.5% sales tax. To the best of my knowledge, there is a bar in the Sonoma Room. I ate there as a regular restraunt patron and am almost positive I remember seeing one. If someone can conform, please do so!

The second room available is the Napa Room. The Napa Room has a view of the Magic Kingdom. The view is incredible! Consider planning your event to take place to include a viewing of Wishes. The music is piped in, the steps within the room, and the windows provide for an unbelievable opportunity. The Napa Room has a minimum expenditure of $3,000. The above mentioned gratuity and taxes apply. There is a bar in the Napa Room.

The bar options and fees are the same as one's options for their reception. If you would like the information, please PM me.

The menus for the California Grill are packaged menus. For example, if one chooses the "Tiberon" menu, they would receive the appetizer, salad, main course, and dessert as stated in the menu. Modifications are permitted as long as they do not change the integrity of the menu. You can have a groom's cake substitued for the menu dessert. All meals are served California style- a fancy way to say family style, really! As my EM said, "They won't change that for you or anyone else." I have the menus available and am happy to share.

Centerpieces are provided. At this point, my BEO reads, "Use vegetable displays as centerpieces." When I know, you'll know ! I really haven't got a clue what that means until next month. I am sure Disney floral would be willing to work with you if you wanted something different or had something else in mind! For right now, I'll take my chances

An added perk to having a rehearsal dinner at the California Grill is the option of having your rehearsal in the convention center. If you're unable to obtain your exact location for your rehearsal, the Contemporary Convention Center may be a good alternative. Equally convenient is the private California Grill elevator all restraunt patrons must use now. It departs from the second floor only. It's a sure-fire way to get all your dinner guests where they need to be at the same time!

 

[Janet2k]

FutureAshleyDukes, how do you want us to handle links? For example, I have trip reports, posts, and on-line photo albums that describe some of the private events that my family has held at Walt Disney World. I also have videos that I am just starting to put on the web that highlight a few things. How should we handle this in the thread?

 

[Fantasia Sam]

I think that we could all give links and stuff to our own events but then I think that would get out of hand and we may be in danger of information overload if we all start posting our links to trip reports and photos on this information thread so I would suggest that we keep it to factual information about locations, DFTW's, menu's, cakes and outside vendors. Maybe "short" paragraphs about what we thought of say our photographers, floral, DJ's, Officiants etc

Janet I would suggest if you haven't done so already then you could put your trip report links and photo links in the sticky's at the top of this forum by replying to those threads. Then FutureAshleyDukes can mention to all new brides to be that they can go to those threads to view photograph albums and read reports to get more of a feel of locations etc that they are interested in.

What I will then do is make it easier for everyone to find the information by edit the sticky posts for piccys and trip reports so that we have links all in the top post and it will link like this:

Janet - VR at Disney MGM Studios
Fantasia Sam - YCG, Ariels and UK Lower

and so on.

FutureAshleyDukes - a wonderful idea and thanks for taking it on, any help you need please do not hesitate to contact me. I will of course sticky the thread when ready or as your work in progress, just let me know. I also think that if we make it just the one thread to sticky otherwise it can get a bit busy with loads of sticky threads at the top.

Also I think it would be fun if we started up a collation on Honeymooning at Disney too after all this forum isn't just for those that have their wedding at Disney but also the honeymooners too

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

Bumping in hopes someone will contribute some more information! This could be a great resource, let's not just lose the thread!

xoxo

 

[FutureAshleyDukes]

I was hoping someone would summarize the whole room-block situation with custom weddings. I know this is a commonly asked question, and not being a custom bride I honestly don't know much about it. On Saturday (this is my finals weeks) I will start making links at the top of the thread.

 

[Mary626]

Some random information that I can think of....

Dessert parties; You can choose to have transportation pick up your guests and take them to the event. You can choose to have this be a one way or a roundtrip thing. Or you can have everyone meet at the entrance to the park the dessert party will be on. If your guests have park admission tickets for that day, they are not charged a "viewing fee". For dessert parties, there is usually a minimum food requirement ($750 usually), a setup fee around $200 usually, and you'll need park host/hostesses for every 50 guests (somewhere around $90.00 per host).

In park ceremony (Custom weddings): For this you'll most likely be required to use disney transportation (a chartered bus for example) to get your guests into the park, as access is restricted while the park is closed (Obviously). Disney provides basic plastic dark chairs. If you want white chairs, they cost extra (and are quite pricey in my opinion). The flowers you use during your ceremony will be moved and used at your reception as well. If you're having an epcot wedding, there is an unadvertised option of transporting your guests via the "Friendship" ferry boats (around $250 or so each way). Obviously this is only a good idea if your reception is at the Yacht & beach club, boardwalk area, or swan and dolphin area etc.

That's all I can really think of right now to add!