JUst got a phone call from DFTW....

[seaprincess]

Hi everyone, I just got a call from Karen at DFTW. She is the coordinator for Intimate Brides. She asked me to tell her what type of vow renewal we were looking for. I told her we wanted to have a Welcome Dinner at Ohana's, the ceremony at the Yacht Club Gazebo, dinner at the Yachtsman and Dessert Party at Epcot. She immediately told me I would be better with a custom vow renewal. I am not so sure. We only have 10-15 guests and for a weekend "custom" wedding we are looking at $15-20K. I honestly am not sure that we could meet the minimum, especially the hotel room nights. We really wanted to have the ceremony on Saturday, but with a Custom, we would spend 20K. Is this normally what you are told on the initial phone call? She told me as an intimate I would be doing a lot of leg work. It is not that I mind at all.

My husband and I priced a lot of things (food, Wedding package etc) out based on guests and needs, also factoring in a 4 night Disney Cruise afterwards and our stay at the Yacht Club Concierge for four days and came up with about $12,000. The one difference is that our vacation(Second Honeymoon) before and after is included in that price. With the Custom,the price does not include the Honeymoon.

Any opinions???

As always, thanks so much!!

 

[musiksmith]

If its an intimate you really want just let them know! They're probably just trying to upsell the customs.

 

[Marty Moose]

I don't know a lot about customs so maybe someone else can answer this...are welcome dinners and dessert parties included towards the minimum? Or just the ceremony and reception?

It really does sound like an intimate would be the way to go for you...but maybe I'm missing something? It's true there is a little more "work" involved if your planning an intimate. But since Karen should be able to help you with the dessert party really all you have to is call and make reservations for the two dinners.

I am having an intimate with dinner at the Yachtsman for 23 and they have been really great about working with me (customizing a group menu, etc.) and I'm sure Ohana's will be just a great. I know I really haven't had to do much more than a few phone calls and emails!

Consider all your options...but don't let them talk you into something you don't want!

Best wishes!

 

[hmgolden]

It sounds like an intimate will be better for you given what you want to spend, especially if you don't mind doing the leg work yourself.

 

[JonetteA]

Just the events the day of your wedding count toward a custom. I am glad that DFTW is starting to set expectations up front now. Basically that is what you would REALLY pay for a custom. My friend did a VR for 12 people and spent about 20k but she went way way out. For that small, you maybe could get away with 10k, but most people who have 45 guests or so think that they can do a Disney wedding for about 10k. Let me tell you it is really hard if not almost impossible to do. I like the fact that Disney is leveling with people up front that way so that they don't get sticker shock. I know I did the first time I saw the numbers. Also, with a custom remember that your prices are not guaranteed until 6 months out.

 

[Marty Moose]

Maybe I didn't read the original post right...but it sounded like they were trying to talk her into a custom when her "wish" list really seemed more taylored towards an intimate, not that they were trying to "level" with her regarding cost.

Really, the only things that would count towards the custom would be the ceremony, reception and the dessert party, right? The welcome party and resort reservations are separate, correct?

So, with the intimate the ceremony would be around $2600-3000 (depending on what "extras" she wants.) The group dining at the Yachtsman is $65/pp so with tax & tip for 15 it would be about $1300 (plus maybe a couple hundred for drinks, etc.). I don't have much experience with the Dessert Party, but based on the worksheet I was given I can't imagine a group of 15 being much than $2000.

So, right there that puts the budget at, like, $6500-$7500? Since she's already planning on staying onsite the 4 night minimum isn't a factor.

Maybe I'm wrong...but it just seems like pushing a custom is more sales oriented that trying to look out for the brides best interest??

Just my two cents...

 

[Codie]

Just the events the day of your wedding count toward a custom. I am glad that DFTW is starting to set expectations up front now. Basically that is what you would REALLY pay for a custom. My friend did a VR for 12 people and spent about 20k but she went way way out. For that small, you maybe could get away with 10k, but most people who have 45 guests or so think that they can do a Disney wedding for about 10k. Let me tell you it is really hard if not almost impossible to do. I like the fact that Disney is leveling with people up front that way so that they don't get sticker shock. I know I did the first time I saw the numbers. Also, with a custom remember that your prices are not guaranteed until 6 months out.

I felt Disney was incredibly straight forward with me when I first started calling for prices. I was very worried about being able to afford it. In the end I had 99 guests and total was under 20k. I think in the instant poster's case, it sounds like an intimate would be better if she wants a Saturday. I think you could do a fabulous event with the weekday minimum and probably spend similar to what you will with an intimate and paying for a dinner somewhere...but that's just my own 2 cents.

 

[ALittleDisneyFan]

If your heart is set on an intimate, then I'd go with that. My husband and I flip flopped back and fourth and ended up with an intimate. The only problems I had when planning my intimate is that they didn't want me to plan a dessert party, or a welcome party, etc as an intimate bride.

 

[seaprincess]

Hi Everyone,

I knew I could count on you all for some advice!! I think that Marty Moose hit the nail on the head. Maybe I was unclear because I was confused. Please don't get me wrong, I would love to have a Custom Renewal, however, a 15-20K minimum for the rehearsal dinner/wedding ceremony and dessert party seems quite a lot to spend for so few people. Since we want to incorporate a 4 day stay at the Yacht Club Concierge (our required minimum for an Intimate), and a 4 day Cruise on DCL, we thought an intimate seemed the way to go.

I enjoy planning things and do not mind the e-mails, etc. Because we are looking at the Yacht Club Gazebo, the Ceremony would be $2600, keeping the package elements to a minimum. The Welcome Dinner at O'Hanas, in a sense, is a price-fixed buffet ($26.99 per person plus drinks). The additions would be a Groom's cake and favors for guests. For the wedding dinner, the Yachtman Steakhouse is our choice and at $65pp plus tax and tip it seems reasonable to expect around $1500 (with alcohol). The Dessert Party is the one factor that I am not certain of the price point. I tried to call Epcot Catering today, but they directed me to my wedding coordinator. I did, however, see several e-mails about dessert parties/prices so I factored in about $1200. Marty Moose hit my budget right on the mark. The rest of the budget goes to our pre/post honeymoon, guest goodies, entertainment etc.

Karen was very candid with me and based on what I told her she thought it best to do a custom. I do realize that they are the experienced ones in their field. Jonette, I do agree, after even playing with the Wishbook that things add up fast!! I am willing to look at things from both perspectives, but I keep going back to the fact that I can keep myself in check budget-wise with an Initimate.

Someone from Custom weddings will be calling us next week. When I got off the phone with Karen, I felt like she already decided that we were better off the Custom route. I do not want to be disrespectful, espeically since she knows her job well. If I want to stick with the Intimate, I hope it will not affect her opinion of us!!

Thanks to everyone for their candid responses!!

 

[Laurafoster]

I think it really depends on what sort of extras you want. I originally did want an intimate (luckily the SM didnt mention a custom at that point) but when i started adding in the cost of a dinner and dessert party, then i wanted mickey and minnie and a video my costs rose really quickly and i realised a custom would be better for me!

The best thing to do is to sit down a write out a list of everything you really want for the wedding and then work it out based on that. If an intimate is the way you want to go then tell them they do lots of customs so they will be fine with it!

 

[janine]

Disney will try to talk you into a custom. Just make sure you stand your ground or before you know it they will tell you all kinds of things you dont really need.
You can definately do an intimate with a dessert party for less than $10,000.

 

[Tinkerbell8956]

For some reason I didnt think they allowed Intimate wedding or vow renewals on Saturdays? Maybe I was mistaken?

 

[starseed]

For some reason I didnt think they allowed Intimate wedding or vow renewals on Saturdays? Maybe I was mistaken?

I think there are day and timing restrictions for Intimates in the Wedding Pavillion. Our Intimate wedding at Sunset Pointe is taking place on a Saturday!