Finally officially planning my DFTW!!

[Gaminniefan]

Hi Everyone!

My name is Brigette and I'm a long, long time lurker on here and I'm so excited to finally be planning my own wedding in Disney World!

My DF (Leonard) and I live in the Atlanta area with my five kids from my previous marriage and we are HUGE disney addicts (well, at least I am). He loves Disney, he's just not quite so addicted. We have annual passes and have been 6 times in the past year alone.

Anyway, he finally proposed on Christmas and we're planning our Wishes wedding for august 31, 2014!! I feel completely overwhelmed with everything that needs to get done in the next seven months. And to top it off, I'm starting a new business AND i just started homeschooling one of my daughters!

I've read a lot here and I have the Passporter's wedding book, but I still have a few questions.

First, is it normal for it to take (what seems to me like) forever to get responses from the wedding coordinators at DFTW? I've been in contact with them a few times and actually spoke with Pam (my coordinator?) and set up a site visit for when we'll be there in march. I really don't need the visit because we know where we want everything, but we'll be there anyway. And I've emailed with her about penciling us in for 8/31 for Morocco for the ceremony and ADH for the reception. Unfortunately, ADH is already booked (which will be another question). But it seems like every time I email her, it takes a few days to hear back? even just for a simple question. Is that just normal?

Another question I have is where can I have my reception now that ADH is already booked?! LOL We are estimating we will have 20-30 people at the wedding. We're inviting over 200, but we know already that most won't come. I want something unique and I want to have either a lunch or dinner reception (even though the ceremony is at 9am). I also want to be able to have a DJ and dancing and characters. I think that leaves out every place in Epcot.

My second choice would be Tamu Tamu Courtyard, but do you think it will be too late at night to start since it has to be after they close AK and it's open til 7pm that day? We're going with the whole Morocco theme for everything, so today DF asked if we could have the reception IN Morocco. Does anyone know if that's possible? Do they do wedding receptions at Restaurant Marrakesh?

I'd love to hear any thoughts you guys have. I'm going a little crazy not knowing where it'll be and if we have our dates penciled in! I'd like to send out Save the Dates as soon as possible. LOL

 

[elphie101]

Congrats!! Hooray for Epcot brides (we're in Italy )

If you're less than a year out, you shouldn't have to be penciled in (unless of course you're waiting till your site visit before you sign a LOA). I've seen great pictures of dance-y, character receptions at Ariels at the Beach Club (brunch receptions too!), and I adore the look of LSS myself, though I don't know how either of those fit in with your theme. I don't know if you could use Marrakesh since it's open for lunch, but it doesn't hurt to ask. (Also check out Nicole aka LittleKittyMarie's planning journal on the DIS for inspiration if you haven't - she had a Casablanca theme and it was gorgeous!)

One of my favorite sites for wedding planning is http://magicaldayweddings.com/ (run by former Disney bride Carly Morgan). Especially we're you're still sort of venue hunting, it could help you select a reception venue since they have so many photos of Disney weddings and events.

Good to see you!

 

[lurkyloo]

Welcome, and congratulations!

First, is it normal for it to take (what seems to me like) forever to get responses from the wedding coordinators at DFTW?... But it seems like every time I email her, it takes a few days to hear back? even just for a simple question. Is that just normal?

Yes. Each planner is working on dozens of other weddings, so you don't usually start to get a lot of attention til after the six month mark/your planning session.

Another question I have is where can I have my reception now that ADH is already booked?! LOL We are estimating we will have 20-30 people at the wedding. We're inviting over 200, but we know already that most won't come. I want something unique and I want to have either a lunch or dinner reception (even though the ceremony is at 9am). I also want to be able to have a DJ and dancing and characters. I think that leaves out every place in Epcot.

You can have a DJ, dancing and characters in American Adventure Parlor, Monsieur Paul, and Norway Loft—it just reduces the capacity. But with only 20-30 people, that shouldn't be a problem.

You can also have a DJ, dancing and characters in Living Seas Salon, Wonders Lounge and The Odyssey.

My second choice would be Tamu Tamu Courtyard, but do you think it will be too late at night to start since it has to be after they close AK and it's open til 7pm that day?

That's a tough call—your guests will have had a nice break all day, but getting up in time to catch a bus for a 9am Epcot ceremony and staying up for a reception that starts around 9pm does seem kinda tricky...

We're going with the whole Morocco theme for everything, so today DF asked if we could have the reception IN Morocco. Does anyone know if that's possible? Do they do wedding receptions at Restaurant Marrakesh?

Definitely ask, just know that things work a little differently there cuz it's the only pavilion actually sponsored by its country's government, rather than a corporation. Also, if they ever do let you use a restaurant during regular park hours, you are required to buy it out for the night at great cost.

 

[andeesings]

Lurkyloo-- do they really NOT push the Odyssey at all? I'm just curious because it seems like a pretty great space, but I NEVER see brides here use it. Is it really outdated and ugly inside? Or too expensive to put in nice decor? are the minimums high? What are the guest requirements (min, max)?

I just wonder if they discourage brides from using it.

 

[lurkyloo]

I don't think they actively discourage brides, they just don't even mention it as a possibility because so few people would be interested. It's a 1980s melange of brown carpet and beige walls inside, with a funky split-level layout, and it would take a LOT of decor to make it look like the kind of space most brides want for their reception. I mean, unless you're going full-on retro '80s, but even then, it's not distinctive decor. Very "corporate bland"...

 

[Gaminniefan]

Thank you Elphie101! We're thinking of having our welcome party in Italy. Morocco and Italy are my two favorite places in Epcot. I just spent a couple hours reading all through Nicole's trip report and it was amazing!! Thanks for recommending it.

Thank you Lurkyloo! I kind of figured that was the way it normally worked. I heard back from Pam today and she's going to be calling me tomorrow afternoon to figure it all out.

I had no idea a few of those places existed for receptions! I'm starting to think lunch may work out better even though I really prefer dinner. having the ceremony in Morocco is more important to me anyway. After seeing Nicole's report from her wedding and the pictures from your blog, I'm kind of leaning toward Monsieur Paul's.

 

[alyaki]

Just one thing to remember about Monsieur Paul's - I believe you have to use things off of their menu, and you don't normally get a tasting session (if you were interested in that). It's a spot I would have gone with, but Raist really wants to be able to have a tasting session before hand so we get an idea of what the food will be like/what we'd want...well, that, and the Monsieur Paul menu seems to have a lot of mushrooms/cheese.

If you go with that, though, it is absolutely stunning! Think of all those windows.

Carrie (or anybody), feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Gaminniefan]

I think you're right. I had a long talk with Pam yesterday and we figured everything out.

We do have to plan the meal from the main menu at Monsieur Paul and it's plated, not buffet. After seeing the menu, I don't have a problem with either of those. So we are penciled in for Morocco ceremony and Monsieur Paul's for a lunch reception. Yay!!

Pam will be emailing me the room block information and a list of what she needs from me to write up the LOA. I'm so excited!

Thanks again!