It doesn't make sense!

[dznystar]

Well, I've had this terrible decision to make about our wedding. Finances are very tight, so I made the choice to have an Intimate wedding. This created a problem because just with my close family (parents, brothers and their families) we're maxed out. So then, I upset my brother and told him that it was only going to be adults, except for my son (he'll be in the wedding) at the ceremony and the cake/champagne reception. Then that night I wanted to have a larger reception at the Illuminations Dessert Party. I was so excited. I thought I'd found a way around the financial problem and still get almost everything I wanted. So I emailed Pam to ask questions. Now I'm devastated. Talk about bursting your bubble. So apparently you can't book the Illuminations Dessert Cruise with more people than you have for the Intimate Wedding. Which doesn't make any sense to me. People do things like this all the time. They have a small family wedding and then a big party after. Pam said the only way to do this would be to go to a Custom Wedding. What about group sales? Could you book something like that through them? Has anyone else done this? Help please.

 

[happylalagirl]

I've heard several brides say if you go through Group Sales for something like that and they find out you are having an Intimate wedding that day, they will cancel your cruise. What if you had the party the next night?

 

[SRUAlmn]

What about an actual Illuminations Dessert PARTY instead of a CRUISE? Can you do that???

 

[gail228]

I am not sure that you are getting the correct information. Talk to your planner and express your concerns.
We had an intimate wedding with 18 guests and followed that night with an IllumiNations dessert party, planned through weddings, for 35 guests.

When I planned our event, I told my planner (Juliana) that I had heard about cancellations by DFTW for events planned "on the side" and she said it was false. She also convinced me that planning through weddings would be the same as planning through Epcot Events. Everything worked out perfect...

All of our guests had park admission- so I cancelled the expensive transportation and $12 viewing fee per person. I paid just for the location and dessert package.

 

[SRUAlmn]

I am not sure that you are getting the correct information. Talk to your planner and express your concerns.
We had an intimate wedding with 18 guests and followed that night with an IllumiNations dessert party, planned through weddings, for 35 guests.

When I planned our event, I told my planner (Juliana) that I had heard about cancellations by DFTW for events planned "on the side" and she said it was false. She also convinced me that planning through weddings would be the same as planning through Epcot Events. Everything worked out perfect...

All of our guests had park admission- so I cancelled the expensive transportation and $12 viewing fee per person. I paid just for the location and dessert package.

That's what I was trying to point out to the OP. I think you CAN do a dessert party on land. I think the OP was talking about an Illuminations cruise on the boats in Epcot.

 

[dznystar]

Ahh... sorry about the mistake. I never meant to type the Illuminations Dessert Cruise. (See, too many thoughts in my head.) We were trying to do the Illuminations Dessert Party at the French Island, but we were told that it had to be the same number as in the Intimate Wedding. Thats what didn't make sense to me. Shouldn't you be able to have a large Dessert Reception after all of the other Intimate things were finished.
I want it on the same night because I want to stay in my gown for as long as possible.

 

[SRUAlmn]

I believe if you're an intimate bride you cannot wear your gown to the dessert party.

 

[gail228]

I did not wear my gown to the Dessert Party in Epcot, by choice. I did, however, wear a simple white summery dress that night.

The option to wear wedding attire is available to intimate brides. The catch is that you have to have an escort for the party and the guests and bride/groom must use Disney transportation into the event. They will bring you in on a bus (for about $700 tacked on to the party price) in the backstage area. From there, you are escorted to your event location and also escorted out to the bus. You may not leave the event area and roam anywhere in the park.

 

[Skylarr29]

You can wear your dress if you are in intimate bride you just have to have Disney transportation (ie. limo, charter bus, town car) transport you to the back stage area because you can not walk through the park in your gown.

You have been misinformed because you can have a dessert party with more guests than your wedding.. be persistent or speak to someone else.

 

[dznystar]

Thanks Disers for your help. I knew the info just didn't seem right. The info I received was from Pam Pierce, and I thought that maybe she didn't understand my question in my email. BUt then I had DF call and speak with her, and she confirmed with him that I would only be allowed to have 20 guests at the Illuminations Dessert Party- the same number as my Intimate Wedding. She said that if I wanted to have any more at the Dessert Party, then I would have to change my wedding to a Custom.

 

[luvsmickey]

Thanks Disers for your help. I knew the info just didn't seem right. The info I received was from Pam Pierce, and I thought that maybe she didn't understand my question in my email. BUt then I had DF call and speak with her, and she confirmed with him that I would only be allowed to have 20 guests at the Illuminations Dessert Party- the same number as my Intimate Wedding. She said that if I wanted to have any more at the Dessert Party, then I would have to change my wedding to a Custom.

Pam is right. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news. It used to be that you could have a larger Illuminiations party, but about a month ago it was changed. Unless your party was already booked before the change, you can no longer have a larger desert party. I know because I was one of the last to get my booking in before the cut-off. I had booked the day the decision went into effect!!!

You can wear your gown into the Illuminiations party, she was right though, you have to use Disney Transportation. And the Bus is aprox $436 for 5 hours. Or you can use the Limo if you haven't used up all of your time and shuttle everyone to it, but you would need extra time to be added to the end so that you can be escorted out. (I'm the same way, I want to wear my gown for as long as I can!!! Besides you only get to wear it once!)

 

[Tinkerbellz]

I have heard both sides of this story several times. I am having the same situations dznystar. I will be at my limit on guests but I have several children who would love to be at the dessert party. I haven't booked anything yet. I have to wait a few more weeks, then I can book.

I hope that things work out for you!

 

[princessdisneybelle]

I think alot of us are having this issue. I can't believe I just missed the cut off. Grr.

 

[Tinkerbellz]

Pam is right. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news. It used to be that you could have a larger Illuminiations party, but about a month ago it was changed. Unless your party was already booked before the change, you can no longer have a larger desert party. I know because I was one of the last to get my booking in before the cut-off. I had booked the day the decision went into effect!!!

You can wear your gown into the Illuminiations party, she was right though, you have to use Disney Transportation. And the Bus is aprox $436 for 5 hours. Or you can use the Limo if you haven't used up all of your time and shuttle everyone to it, but you would need extra time to be added to the end so that you can be escorted out. (I'm the same way, I want to wear my gown for as long as I can!!! Besides you only get to wear it once!)

MAN! You posted while I was typing! That stinks. So I have to exclude kids from everything. Now that's hardly fair! I guess I have to hope that less people come so the kids can come to the Dessert party!

 

[luvsmickey]

MAN! You posted while I was typing! That stinks. So I have to exclude kids from everything. Now that's hardly fair! I guess I have to hope that less people come so the kids can come to the Dessert party!

I'm sooooo sorry! I hate being the bearer of bad news! Hopefully, everthing will work out for you!

 

[Laurafoster]

That really does suck!! i hope you find something!

 

[starseed]

This is a bit of a separate thought, but I THINK that it is possible for Intimates to book one of the smaller rooms at the California Grill directly with the restaurant. Since it is between you and CaliGrill, you can have as many people as you want, have an unofficial "reception" and then go out to watch Wishes. You can also be in your wedding dress the whole time.

I'm sorry to hear about your frustrations. I, too, thought that it's possible to have a DP with more people than those attending the Intimate ceremony. It's too bad that DFTW keep making changing to their policies. It's impossible to keep up.

 

[Moonpie]

Wow! Disney is tough! ...and so specific about what you can do, or not do for dessert parties! I'm sorry you are going through all of this.

 

[JandJ]

I've been reading this thread and I'm sorry but that is just ridiculous! You'd think they would try to do everything to make your wedding day as special as can be. I am so sorry that this is not working out for you! It's like they're dangling a carrot and keeping you from having what you want until you come up with a ton more money for a Custom. If you like your EM and can talk to her, let her do a little work for you and come up with other options - options that do not include you having to pay for a Custom wedding. Best of Luck!!

 

[dznystar]

Well that really stinks. I wish that I had thought of this a lot sooner. We might try the California Grill. Maybe that will work, but I heard the rooms are smaller and probably only seat 40-50. Does anyone know? And we wanted to have dancing. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.