Intimate Wedding..

[meelee514]

Sorry, I feel like I'm posting too much, but if I don't do it now, I'll forget and then remember when I'm no where near a computer haha.

Here's my main concern at the moment:
We're doing a small intimate ceremony with just me and my fiance. If we had family come down, *certain* ones would stay the whole time we're there and want to meet up everyday (which normally wouldn't be a problem) however, since this is our honeymoon, we want "us" time so we decided that since we want a disney wedding and honeymoon, it'll just be us and then we'll have a reception when we get home.

My concern is if there is only me and DF, I won't have anyone to walk me down the aisle, and I would feel really silly walking down an aisle all slow and to music by myself. The other thing is, for the reception, again since it will be just us, is it possible to set up it so it would just be a nice dinner for 2, but to still get cake and champage?

I don't know if anyone else did anything like this, so I'm just looking for advice or suggestions for what anyone else did.

Thanks!!

 

[Holly81]

Hi there. I had a very small escape wedding (just 10 of us total) so maybe I can help you out with some of your questions...

I was also in a position where I was going to have to walk down the aisle by myself. My dad passed away several years ago and I don't have any brothers who could've taken his place. I thought about having my mom walking down the aisle, but she said she preferred to actually see me walk down the aisle rather than walking with me. Fair enough. I had the same concerns as you, looking silly, etc., but my coordinator came up with the perfect solution. I walked about halfway, and then my DH met me and we walked the rest of the way together. It worked out very nicely.

As far as an escape wedding is concerned, you'll have a small cake and champagne reception after the ceremony. You would have to book a dinner or lunch event on your own, through disney dining. If you'd rather have your cake and champagne with dinner, they will box up your cake and you can take it with you. That's what we did... cut the cake for pictures, but actually served it at our wedding luncheon at Portobello Yacht Club. Sometimes the restaurants will charge a small cake cutting fee, but it's usually only a few dollars per person. I think you should be able to take the champagne with you as well.

Good luck with your decisions. I can't think of any names off hand, but I know there are ladies on here who have done elopements and weddings with just one or two guests and it turned out just lovely!

 

[Janet2k]

My concern is if there is only me and DF, I won't have anyone to walk me down the aisle, and I would feel really silly walking down an aisle all slow and to music by myself.

Meelee514, my parents were in attendance at my FTW vow renewal and yet I chose to walk down the aisle alone:

The walk really wasn't that bad, and since it was over with in just a few seconds, it was fairly easy to bear.

The other thing is, for the reception, again since it will be just us, is it possible to set up it so it would just be a nice dinner for 2, but to still get cake and champage?

I don't see why not, but I'll let someone who had an intimate/escape event answer this question for you (I had a custom/wishes event). And don't forget that you can always ask the FTW folks your questions. They love to help.

Edited to Add: I see that Holly81 answered your question.

 

[meelee514]

Thanks you guys, it's definitly making my worries a little less worry-filled haha. I like the idea of walking halfway down the aisle, then meeting DF, that wouldn't be too bad. and if they take pictures during the ceremony, I think they would be cute.

As for the reception thing, that's good to know also. I definitly do want cake pictures and all the after pictures that they'll take, like the poses and stuff, I was just worried that we'd be held to some reception in some big place with just the 2 of us haha.

Thanks again!

 

[hiwaygal]

Hi meelee514!

It was just DH and me for our intimate wedding, too!

I did walk "down the aisle" myself (although at SBP it's a little less "formal") but I have heard of having your DH meet you halfway. If I had heard of that option before my wedding, that's what I would have done! But Janet2k is right...it's not as embarassing as you might think. Keep in mind that the only one who hasn't seen it before is maybe you and your DH. Nearly all of the folks involved in Disney Weddings have seen it before and the walking down the aisle part is your "right of passage". So OWN IT, girl!!!

Holly81's response to your question about the "reception" is right on. However, I will make a few suggestions. Definitely have them box up the cake for you. They can arrange to have it delivered to some restaurants for you (ask your coordinator). We just kept it in our room and had it as "dessert" when we got back later after our wedding dinner. We also ordered an extra bottle of champagne...we ended up saving it for our first anniversary, but you can open it later that night or something.

I know that most (if not all) of the deluxe resorts offer some kind of private dining options. You might want to ask about that and have something scheduled for right after your ceremony! That would be incredibly romantic! And you have the opportunity to pick a special menu as well.

Good luck with planning your day!

 

[dmslush]

There was just me, DH, and our daughter at our wedding in January. We were married at Sunset Point and I walked down the 'isle' by myself. I don't have my professional pictures back yet, but here a couple of 'screen shots' of the sneak peek video of me walking down alone. They are blurry since they are from the video. I hope there are better ones when I get the professional pictures back:

I didn't walk slowly or anything. The violinist was near me playing the whole time. I just walked as naturally as I could in a wedding dress with high winds gusting!

 

[DonnaBoo]

Hi
I am also doing a very intimate wedding...just the two of us. I'm subscribing to your post. I am very interested in the suggestions you get.
I didn't even think about the walk down the aisle.

 

[yearbook50]

I"m having 8 guests & am still walking myself down the aisle. It doesn't last that long so you should be fine

 

[Janet2k]

We were married at Sunset Point and I walked down the 'isle' by myself.

I loved your photos, Dmslush (and your play on words, too). Congratulations on your recent marriage!

It doesn't last that long so you should be fine

Agreed. I just checked the time-stamps from my photos and it looks like it took somewhere between 15- to 20-seconds for me to make my way from the back of the pavilion and up to the altar. That's blink-of-an-eye quick.

 

[meelee514]

There was just me, DH, and our daughter at our wedding in January. We were married at Sunset Point and I walked down the 'isle' by myself. I don't have my professional pictures back yet, but here a couple of 'screen shots' of the sneak peek video of me walking down alone. They are blurry since they are from the video. I hope there are better ones when I get the professional pictures back:

I didn't walk slowly or anything. The violinist was near me playing the whole time. I just walked as naturally as I could in a wedding dress with high winds gusting!

jeeez, how long is that "aisle" at sunset point?

 

[meelee514]

Hi
I am also doing a very intimate wedding...just the two of us. I'm subscribing to your post. I am very interested in the suggestions you get.
I didn't even think about the walk down the aisle.

haha, well I'm glad I could help. And I feel better knowing we're not the only ones who have just the 2 of us there. I see all these pictures with bridal parties and everything, but I'm happy with it just being the 2 of us.

 

[meelee514]

We also ordered an extra bottle of champagne...we ended up saving it for our first anniversary, but you can open it later that night or something.

I know that most (if not all) of the deluxe resorts offer some kind of private dining options. You might want to ask about that and have something scheduled for right after your ceremony! That would be incredibly romantic! And you have the opportunity to pick a special menu as well.

Good luck with planning your day!

aww that's a really cute idea for a first anniversary, I'm going to keep that in mind. Same with the private dinning at the resorts. This message board has helped so much and I haven't even started any serious planning yet, but when I do, I'll be ready and know exactly what I want haha.

 

[meelee514]

I will make a few suggestions. Definitely have them box up the cake for you. They can arrange to have it delivered to some restaurants for you (ask your coordinator).

I know that most (if not all) of the deluxe resorts offer some kind of private dining options. You might want to ask about that and have something scheduled for right after your ceremony! That would be incredibly romantic! And you have the opportunity to pick a special menu as well.

Would this work with like the living seas too? I know a lot of people have their reception there, and they showed it on the one cd I got from Disney, and I just love the aquarium-esque atmosphere.

I really want to call the Disney coordinators, but since I'm more than 18 months out, would I be able to do anything with them?

 

[hiwaygal]

Would this work with like the living seas too? I know a lot of people have their reception there, and they showed it on the one cd I got from Disney, and I just love the aquarium-esque atmosphere.

I really want to call the Disney coordinators, but since I'm more than 18 months out, would I be able to do anything with them?

To be honest, I'm not sure about the Living Seas. My guess would be that that option would be really expensive and may have a minimum expense requirement to book it for a private event. However, I have heard of many intimate/escape brides who have chosen to have their "special" meal at Coral Reef Restaurant. When you make the reservation (Disney did this for us as part of our package, I don't know if they still do) make sure they know it is for your wedding and ask if it is possible to have a table near the aquarium. I'm sure they will do everything they can to accommodate you.

When you first call Disney they really just take basic information and then assign someone to call you back. Sometimes that takes a few days. I'm not sure how much information they will be willing to give you because so many things can (and probably will) change before you are able to book your wedding. Disney is "famous" (or infamous) for tweaking the packages, particularly the Escape/Intimate package. They will often change policy on what can and can't be done or what is or isn't included. So...all that to say that you can certainly try calling them and see what information they can give you. It can't hurt!