Intimate wedding "reception"

[Pax]

I was wondering what people were doing with their guests after their intimate ceremonies.

It turns out yours truly and his long suffering girlfriend will be getting married in October at Sea Breeze Point. Disney now owns my credit card "until further notice"...whatever that means.

Anyway, once word got out that I was going to be swearing some pretty big swears, other people I knew started deciding they were going to be there as well(She who plans to tolerate my antics permanently lives 4000 miles away so she has less tag-alongs). I'm adjusting to the larger than anticipated guest list, but I need something to do with them (and us) after the ceremony. That something should have at least two of the following components:
#1. Food
#2. Beer (I would've put "alcohol" but wanted to seperate us from "wine people"...only mom fits there)
#3. Distraction (Usually through ritual and annoying DJs at normal receptions, and a valuable thing)

If you had a medium sized party, how did you arrange it? One big priority seating (sounds...imprecise)? Rent a section of something? Can we score a dessert party or some such like the custom (wishes) folks?

We're in the awkward stage between signing the contract and talking to the actually planner, so I'd appreciate any sort of thoughts, tips or advice at all.

I should also add that I've been skulking around this site..well...forever and even though I've just recently been lurking here I've found you all immensely helpful and I dig getting to read about your stories.

Pax

 

[tesseract]

Well, as you'll start to read more about this you should get some ideas but the main question is whether your bride wants to wear her dress for the "reception".

If she does then that truly limits your options to a private reception. If she does not then the parks are yours

Figure out your attire first, then read some more posts about where to hold the festivities ...

 

[Pax]

We'l be staying just across the pond at the Beach Club (closest to Epcot), and I don't expect either her dress, or my tie will make it to a late dinner.

In a perfect world the something to do would also be (or at least begin) in the Epcot resorts area. That in addition to being darned convenient for us, saves on everyone else needing a ticket. A few of the rabble attending will be locals and may not be there long enough to justify the expense.

We're shooting for very casual...simple dress...me in pajamas and bunny slippers...etc (so far...I am aware that this is a wedding plan and either of us may go crazy without warning). I think just dinner would be fine but it's getting 10 -15 people tables in relative proximity that concerns me.

From what I've read of the private receptions, they may all have minimum costs that are unreachable (several thousand, no? Lot for ten people). That partly due to our desire for a simple wedding (just at a very special place), and partly due to our selfish belief that since we are paying for most of this, we should spend the lion's share on our Disneymoon.

As for park time, I think we'll spend part of the day before at Epcot with the family. We'll get a ticket for some that are travelling a ways.

Pax

 

[Eeyore3838]

We are having our intimate at 5pm next month. We are having the champagne over at Commander's Terrace, and then going back to our hotel (WL) to get out of wedding attire. We will then make our way to the Poly to the Tambu Lounge and wait it our for our ADR at Ohana at 9:30. I booked a table for 20, as they could guarantee we could sit together at first or last seating (and as first seating we will still be at the WP, it didn't work out for us.) I hope it turns out like we plan!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

We are having our intimate at 5pm next month. We are having the champagne over at Commander's Terrace, and then going back to our hotel (WL) to get out of wedding attire. We will then make our way to the Poly to the Tambu Lounge and wait it our for our ADR at Ohana at 9:30. I booked a table for 20, as they could guarantee we could sit together at first or last seating (and as first seating we will still be at the WP, it didn't work out for us.) I hope it turns out like we plan!

That's good to know as that's one of my choices for my "reception" dinner.

OP, thanks for asking as we're planning on doing this as well and didn't know if you could just make one big ADR or had to go through Disney and if it would be possible to do anything cheaply. I'm pretty sure you can still do the dessert party even if you don't have a custom wedding but I think that's a couple of thousand as well (depending on what you have available).

 

[D&R love Disney]

We had dinner for 11 at the Yachtsman Steakhouse. We were put in a corner of the restaurant and really didn't notice any other guests until it was time to leave. They customized our menu's by removing all the prices and we had fantastic servers. It was a really nice dinner.

 

[Sparkles9306]

As an intimate, you can do a dessert party at Epcot. We're doing one instead of the traditional rehersal dinner. Also, for anyone who doesn't have park tickets that day, you can pay a viewing fee of $12.50 (I think). Good Luck planning!

 

[orangetiggs]

sparkles- Can you wear your dress at the dessert party if you have an intimate?

We are planning ours at the moment and may be able to have an intimate but I really wanted the dessert party

 

[Boo0105]

You can wear your dress to the dessert party as long as you hire Disney Transportation to take you backstage at EPCOT. We were only given the option of using the motorcoach which I believe cost $475.

 

[Pax]

I knew I'd find some answers and ideas here. (Also figures that I lurk forever, finally post, and they close the board. )

We will then make our way to the Poly to the Tambu Lounge and wait it our for our ADR at Ohana at 9:30. I booked a table for 20, as they could guarantee we could sit together at first or last seating

I hope it does too Eeyore...sounds like you'll have a great time. Ohana's is currently up at the top of the option list. Thanks for the reply and I hope all goes amazing next month!

OP, thanks for asking as we're planning on doing this as well and didn't know if you could just make one big ADR or had to go through Disney and if it would be possible to do anything cheaply. I'm pretty sure you can still do the dessert party even if you don't have a custom wedding but I think that's a couple of thousand as well.

For me, the expense thing is relative and has alot to do with perceived value. I had read something about a three thousand minimum for some receptions, and for me that'd probably be $250 a head. $250 a head to be on an uncomfortable (to me) level of display and give my comrades another notch on their "receptions attended" belts.

A dessert party at Epcot is another matter entirely. I know I think it has extreme personal appeal for me, and love alternates between goofy and misty for fireworks (Our Oct trip this year was the first time she'd ever seen a display period). I'm also sure my knuckle dragging acquaintances would be talking about it for years as well. ("It was shinyyyy! They made us wear shoes!")

D&R love Disney ~ ~ See the above comment concerning footwear. Too bad though. The food there looks fantastic. I'm glad you enjoyed it. The signature pictures look great.

As an intimate, you can do a dessert party at Epcot. We're doing one instead of the traditional rehersal dinner. Also, for anyone who doesn't have park tickets that day, you can pay a viewing fee of $12.50 (I think). Good Luck planning!

Thanks! This is probably the news of the day, especially if that viewing fee part is accurate. How did you find out about/reserve it? How much did it cost? We just got our worksheets (Yay! ...gods I'm a dork. Can we agree none of this ever gets to the boys at work??), and there's no mention of such an option.

Thanks again to everybody who posted. This place makes me breathe easier.

Pax