Help from EPCOT brides re: timing

[MainStMandy]

So we are trying to figure out where to have our ceremony and reception. I love the idea of an EPCOT ceremony but how does the rest of the day pan out? I feel like we are going to be done by noon...then what???

 

[lpizzuro123]

Our ceremony was in Epcot (Italy) this past November. Here is how our day looked.

9:00 9:30 Ceremony
9:30 - 10:00 Our guests were transported over to ADH where our reception was
10:00 - 11:00 Prereception for our guests - we took photos and arrived at ADH around 10:45 where we were able to get something to eat and drink and got my dress put up.
11:00 - 3:00 Reception - brunch and dancing
3:00 - 7:00 Break for our guests - most of them went back to their resort - we had a bus for them that picked them up before the ceremony and then brought them to the reception - most of them got changed - hung out at the pool and just rested
7:00 - 8:00 Our guests made their way back to Epcot for our Dessert Party. We did not have a bus for them. They took Disney transportation to Epcot.
8:30 - 9:30 IllumiNations Dessert Party

Let me know if you would like any additional information.

Linda

 

[MainStMandy]

Thank you!! That was very helpful!!

 

[lpizzuro123]

No problem.

As far as our getting ready time went. My DH and I stayed together the night before. Ana and Lily (hair and makeup) came to our room at 5:00am and I believe my photographer (Misty and her husband) came to my room around 6:00. My DH saw me starting to get ready but did not see me with my full hair and make up and did not see me in my dress.

I think the limo picked me and my girls up around 7:45 and we went over to
Epocot for pre ceremony photos. My DH and his guys went over about 30 minutes before us and had photos of them done with Misty's husband.

Linda

 

[MainStMandy]

Oh that's not too bad...I kinda of thought I might have to get ready earlier than that.

Do you have pics I can see?? Or a PJ?

 

[lurkyloo]

So we are trying to figure out where to have our ceremony and reception. I love the idea of an EPCOT ceremony but how does the rest of the day pan out? I feel like we are going to be done by noon...then what???

Linda has given you a great breakdown, and our Epcot wedding worked mostly the same, except that we cut the reception by an hour, so we were done at 2pm. Oh, also, we traveled to the reception with our guests on a Friendship boat because we'd taken out pix together in Epcot for 2 hours before the ceremony. And we had a bus to bring our guests back to the DP cuz all but a few had never been to WDW before, and we didn't trust them to find their way to the party alone!

I loved having the afternoon to relax, nap, and compare notes with DH over the wedding and the reception. Our guests went to the parks, went swimming, toured Celebration or napped between the reception and the dessert party.

 

[MainStMandy]

Thanks Carrie! I was really worried there would be a lot of wasted time but it doesn't seem to be. I love the idea of seeing df before the ceremony but I can't sell him on the idea!

 

[lurkyloo]

It's funny - it always seems to be the groom who objects to seeing each other beforehand!

Does he know about the concept of a staged first look and the way it gives you a special moment alone together without having to wait through the ceremony? Does he know how happy your guests will be not to have to wait around for you guys after the ceremony so they can start lunch?