Help..surprise vow renewal!

[MrRomance]

Hi all,

I'm new to DIS and really need some info and advice.

Long story short, I'm surprising my wife with a vow renewal service. We already had a 2 week stay at WDW and paid for. Our actual wedding was a very quick court house type event for reasons beyond our control and after what has been a really stressful and difficult year, I wanted to give her the day she deserved 5 years ago!

So, I've booked the "Memories" collection because there will only be 3 of us (possibly 4) but my plan is to really make a day of it. It'll be at 3pm at the Luau Beach (Polynesian Resort).

I'd like to hear your views and experience with a couple of things....

First anyone who has had a memories collection wedding...how was it? Do you wish you'd gone for one of other collections? How easy was it to arrange enhancements?

Has anyone booked a character appearance for the reception/photos? If so, how much does it cost?

Finally, I am planning to charter a pontoon boat to do the Wishes or Illumination cruise with maybe private dining on board. We have the dining plan which makes it hard to decide what to do to keep the costs down.

Any ideas, suggestions, experiences would be great, after all, I'm a guy trying to plan a wedding without the benefit of a woman's perspective!

Thanks all

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

hello!!

the memories collection is a pretty basic collection with not much room for additions. any additions would have to be on your own. you can add the rose petals, a bout for you, and extra photography.... but i think that's about it.

there's no reception... we're going to the grand floridian cafe after, where i have having a cake sent from the GF bakery. being that yours is at 3pm... you should be done by 3:30... so you can choose to have lunch---or kind of mosey around until dinner time--where maybe you can go to a character meal (personally--I'd choose Citricos for dinner).

you can not add characters unfortunately

we booked an outside photographer because it works out better for us.

i hope this gets you started with your questions!!

 

[MrRomance]

Thanks for that!

I knew it was a really basic package but I'm trying to piece together other stuff myself.

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Congrats - what an awesome surprise! We had a Memories Vow Renewal last year. We had a 1 p.m. ceremony at Conch Key Marina then tea at the GF afterwards. I ordered a mini wedding cake to be delivered to our tea.

I was really happy with the package. It was just the two of us and the Escape package was bigger than what we wanted so I thought we wouldn't get a Disney VR until Memories was announced. It was perfect for what we wanted! No regrets at all (except I wish I'd done a park photo shoot too but we booked on such short notice that we didn't think of it).

 

[MrRomance]

Brilliant, thank you!

The escape was too much for us. It will only be my wife, my daughter and myself (possibly my wife's best friend) so I just wanted something basic and build up extras for myself.

I'll definitely look at the photo shoot enhancement. I've noticed a few people hired an outside photographer in addition to the Disney one that is included in the package.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Hi and congratulations on your forthcoming VR!! What a lovely surprise for your wife!!
The reason a lot of people book an outside photographer for the 'Memories' collection is that the package included is very limited and you get, I think, only a few photos. Also, the quality of the DPS photographers has been known to be inconsistent (sometimes excellent, sometimes not so much!!). If you are looking for an amazing, reasonably priced photographer, look into Randy Chapman (link below). He does a special 'Memories' collection package.

http://chapmanphotography.com/dismain.html

If you wanted different or enhanced floral, you can use an outside florist for personal floral (eg your wife's bouquet), but not for any ceremony decor.

Speaking as a woman, can I ask, since it is a surprise, what you have planned for your wife to wear? I am sure it will be very important to her!!. I am sure you have it covered as you seem so thorough and thoughtful.

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Just wanted to point out that while the Memories package only includes a few photos in the price, you are able to add on a print package, albums, the CD, etc. - at a cost of course. Didn't want the OP to think you can't get more photos if you want.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Thanks sweetie - Sorry I didn't make that clear in my post!!

 

[MrRomance]

Hi and thank you...

Well, it's all a bit of a long story with the whole dress thing... but I have got it covered! ;o)

Long story short, my wife is from the US and I'm from the UK. When we got married, we had a limited amount of time (Visa Restrictions) to get married. So, our plan was have a quick court house wedding, no dress nothing, just to satisfy the time limit and then to have our "real wedding" later in the year when we could prepare and plan it perfectly. Well, 2 months after we had the quick wedding, there was a family situation and my cousin's two special needs children needed a home. They were going to be split and put into long term foster care for the rest of their lives because they were "unadoptable" due to their age and their difficulties. My wife and I didn't want that to happen to them so we stepped up and adopted both of them, but unfortunately the wedding never happened.

My wife had chosen a dress for the wedding that we never got to have, so I have bought her a dress that is very very similar to that one. I've bought the dress and bridesmaid dresses, I've arranged hair and make up and spa treatments and all that stuff.

I've secretly saved for 5 years for this so I want to get it right!

 

[MsTinkerChele]

awwwww. This is amazing.

 

[2dogmom]

Aww, you really sounds like you have thought things through. Sorry, I don't know too much about a disney wedding, but I would definitely follow the wonderful advice you have received here.

When is it?

 

[MrRomance]

Aww, you really sounds like you have thought things through. Sorry, I don't know too much about a disney wedding, but I would definitely follow the wonderful advice you have received here.

When is it?

It is February 18th - Luau Beach. I'm so nervous! I know it sounds silly but I wasn't nervous for our wedding because I knew my wife was the person for me and it was just a very quick, I do, I do too, sign, done! This time, I want it to be perfect because my wife missed out on the day she should have had. I know she doesn't care, she loves our kids and wouldn't change it for the world, but I feel like she was robbed of her day.

Our kids have very serious difficulties and they require 24 hour care and supervision. We both work really hard for them and my wife really deserves the best day ever!

 

[lorimay]

Your wife will be so happy!
What a wonderful thing you have planned for her.

God Bless you both!
You are both amazing, giving people.

Don't forget to post pictures for us when you get back.

 

[MrRomance]

Your wife will be so happy!
What a wonderful thing you have planned for her.

God Bless you both!
You are both amazing, giving people.

Don't forget to post pictures for us when you get back.

Thank you, you are too kind! I'm just hoping and praying that I get everything right!

 

[norm&linda]

Our wedding was at Luau Beach, April 2, 2011.

It was a fantastic day - we followed it up with tea at the Grand Floridian.

There were only five of us, my husband, myself and our three kids.

it sounds like you have a fantastic day planned.

Bring sunglasses!! I never thought of it and the sun reflecting off the beach is uncomfortably bright.

Best wishes!

 

[wiserabbit]

You are one wonderfully sweet husband - I think your plans so far are sounding perfect...

My hubby and I had our VR at Luau Beach recently and it was magical - there was plenty of time for photos around the Poly and we got some in at the Grand Floridian as well. We did add a photo shoot at DHS for the next morning - the park shoot is a lot of fun and you feel to special to be in before it opens!

We also did a Wishes fireworks cruise on the Grand-1 yacht - if your budget would allow the upgrade - I can highly recommend it - you can arrange for on board dining - or maybe you could just do desert and after-dinner drinks - the captain(s) even took us to the "back stage" area where all the large watercraft go at night, had an up close view of the water parade and music was piped in for Wishes.....

It sounds like both of you deserve a wonderful trip - and I think what you've planned won't disappoint! Good luck and congratulations -

 

[MrRomance]

Thanks for that tip, my wife is really sensitive to bright sunlight and I definitely wouldn't have thought of that!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Aww bless you for your love and devotion to those special children. I have a son who has Down's and autism and so I know only too well how challenging raising one child like this is, let alone two. I know you get back so much from them, but it is still hard work!!
You both certainly deserve your special day!! You are an amazing husband to have arranged all the little extras that are so important to us women!!! It sounds as if she is going to love the dress!!
God bless you both, and be sure to keep in touch and keep us up to date with your wonderful plans
Much love sweetie!!

 

[MrRomance]

It is incredibly hard, particularly the last 12 months. We've had to make some very hard decisions for our eldest daughter because puberty has had a profound impact on her and she has become a danger to herself and her sister. We didn't realize how hard it would be (we actually didn't want children because we were both teachers and had enough of kids at work!) but even in the hardest of times, we don't regret our decision to adopt our precious girls. However, for just one day...my wife will have her time!

 

[TabZ]

What a beautiful story, your wife is an extremely lucky lady and what an amazing couple to adopt your daughters.

Would it be possible to have a photographer present when you tell her your plans? When are you planning to break the news to her?

Her head is going to be swimming, the day is going to be a huge whirl - make sure you have a photographer and videographer following her around so she can relive such an amazing experience over and over again!