I'm really needing help making decisions...long

[sajetto]

Girls, I hate to be a bother, but I'm really having trouble deciding what to do for this wedding. I need to make some decisions ASAP b/c things are really going to get busy in the fall. My problem is trying to find the best ways to entertain our guests, while still accomodating their needs and our budget. Here's the background.....

Wedding Monday January 8th 2007 at the WP cake and champagne at the Commanders Terrace


Those included:

My parents
His parents
His step parents
My grandfather age 81
My aunt
My sister and her husband
2 children ages 4 and 1
1 cousin with special needs


This makes a total of 15 people including ourselves.

We are waking up at 4am, having the wedding at 10am, and are at a loss for what to do afterward.

1) The first plan was to go back to our rooms immediately after the wedding and meet again at EPCOT that night for an illuminations dessert party.......the problems are that we will have been up for so long, that my grandfather is at the age that he wouldn't be able to attend, it is too late for the 4 and 1 year old, and the cousin with special needs could possibly become overwhelmed

2) My second idea was to again split up from the wedding guests after the GF and meet around 6pm for a dinner at the CG in a private dining room. However, the cost is quite high for this one event alone

3) The third thing I've come up with is immediately after our wedding take all the guests downstairs in the GF and dine at 1900 park fare and then have a farewell breakfast the following morning at CRT (we would pay for the park tickets for all of our guests.) The possible problems I see with this is that I would have to get someone to detach my train before dining at the GF and since it wouldn't be in a private dining room we would look quite out of place in formal wedding attire. The cost of these two events even with park tickets for all guests is the same cost as a private dinner at the CG.


So far we are getting a little tight on the budget because we are paying for everyone's rooms, outside photography, videography, a 2 week honeymoon, cosmetologist, extra floral, Minnie and Mickey, and the MK photo shoot.


What would you do given the pros and cons of each? Do you have any alternate suggestions or ideas. Your help is GREATLY appreciated

 

[JonetteA]

Hey girl. To give you an idea. We had a 9am epcot wedding and the reception at CG was over around 2:30. Everyone went back and relaxed or went to the park and then met up for Illuminations. I had multiple people in their 60's and 70's. One special child, and 9 kids the oldest 2 being 9 and the youngest 2 being 3. One of the 3 yr olds did not make it, but the other one did once they had a rest. My grandmother is 87 and she made it through the reception and to illuminations. The rest period is what everyone needed from being up so early, esp me and the hubby. I think that that is an idea. The other option is to maybe rent the summerhouse at the GF, or how about mini-golf? Just a few ideas, but pretty much everyone wanted to rest and hang out at the pool. Sadly enough, some of the younger people didn't make it to Illuminations, not sure what that was about though.....I say use your best gut feeling. Either way you go it is alot of money. The other option is to do a wishes cruise. I don't know if this helps or not. Figure out what will make your day special and magical and who comes, comes...I know that is hard!

 

[sajetto]

It sure is hard! I've got this feeling that my sister's kids are going to give her such a time that they won't show for a DP. Missing 4 people out of a party of 15 is a pretty big gap. This is just driving me bananas, I want someone else to do this for me!

 

[sajetto]

Hey girl. The other option is to maybe rent the summerhouse at the GF, or how about mini-golf?

Where is the summerhouse? Also, do you happen to know how many the wishes cruise can accomodate?

 

[JonetteA]

The summer house is at the GF. The wishes cruise I am not sure about you would have to call 407-wdwplay i think to get the information. Make sure that they know you don't want the GrandOne. That is $400 - $500 I think for an hour. Someone else can confirm. Although, that may be in option in stead of Illuminations. It could be a bit cheaper and they do pipe in the music for Wishes. I have great pics of the boat.

 

[sajetto]

Ooooh I'd love to see pics! Someone moons ago sent me a link to a page about all the cruises and I'm kicking myself now that I didn't bookmark it.

 

[twojo21]

http://allearsnet.com/btp/illum.htm & http://allearsnet.com/btp/spcruise.htm there is a decent amount of info at those 2 links above about the illuminations & wishes cruises. the accomodation total varies from 12 with children or 10 adults. 407-939-7529. you could try booking 2 boats.

for a reception have you considered the garden view lounge at the grand floridian? its a very pretty room & has some nice fancy foods. it can even be rented out for private parties for like $500 during the morning hours & like $1000 in the evening. http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/gf12.jpg

i cant believe your big day is almost here. best of luck with your choices.

 

[sajetto]

I can't believe its so soon either!

Thanks so much for the links. I feel like I am so behind in this planning and I don't know as much about Disney as some so its hard for me to figure out what is the best and most cost effective way of doing things.