Help! I don't know where to start!

[Laura Polley]

I got engaged at Disney in 2014 and we've finally decided to get married at the end of Sept in 2017. I want to do the Escape collection but it seems I can't do anything until 9 months in advance! I can't really start planning anything until I have a firm date as that is when I know people will be able to come but that doesn't seem like alot of time!

I suppose I could get my dress ready but what else should I do!?

Also any ideas for what we should do after the ceremony? It would only be a small group of us, so there won't be any party but what did you all do as an alternative? Would love to hear your ideas Thanks

 

[KellyWellyWoo]

Hey! I'm a fellow Escape bride to be (hopefully) planning for 2019 (I want a lot of enhancements haha). I got a copy of the passporters guide which is invaluable- it really helped me plan.

We're going for the wedding pavillion, followed by a 2 hour catered reception and then a dessert party on the Grand 1 yacht (hopefully)! There'll be between 6-11 of us at the moment depending on who is able to afford to come. Currently, I'm doing bridesmaids invites, looking at dresses, planning invites, researching photographers, planning centrepieces etc. and it's filling my (long) wait nicely until I can make contact with DFTW.

 

[lurkyloo]

You've come to the right place! The DIS and the various Disney wedding-focused Facebook groups are great ways to start gathering information before you can begin working with Disney. The Escape package is pretty basic, so most of the info you need is on Disney's site, but for details like the cost of adding characters and what you can swap in the package (answer: Almost nothing), these groups will be a good resource.

If you are flexible with your location and time, you should have no problem getting your date, so you can start planning even if you don't have it locked in. Now if you said you wanted the Wedding Pavilion at 5pm on a Saturday in October, that might be a little trickier a combination to secure.

 

[Laura Polley]

Thank you! I'm looking at Sea Breeze point and it could be any day of the week at the end of September. I am planning to have a very basic wedding as I think there will only be a handful of guests

The dessert party on the Grand yacht sounds good and yes I already have the pass porters guide! I know the package comes with photography but as everyone else seems to be looking at outside ones as well, I'm guessing they are not with you for long enough? Actually I suppose I would want one the whole day! Something else to think about! Also, I'm not religious at all. Is it hard to get a non religious officiate?

 

[Disney_Alli]

Most of the Disney suggested officiants have standard non-religious ceremonies or will customize them for you.

Most of us who went with outside photography did so because there's no way to verify who you'll have for your photographer if you go through Disney - they'll let you give your top choices but they make no guarantees. Plus you can get a lot more time and a lot more photos from an outside photographer for less money. You can swap out the included photography for dessert party photos (but not if you'll still have your outside photographer) or for a resort shoot - we had an awesome shoot at the poly on the last day of our honeymoon. I did a dessert party for Fantasmic! and added a Tower of Terror mix-in which was amazing and very us. There's lots of different options that can fit who you guys are as a couple. I chose Sea Breeze Point too - it's so gorgeous!