Keeping actual location a surprise - Wording Invitation

[lpizzuro123]

I am starting to think about the wording for invitations. I received some samples from Impressions yesterday. They sent some invitations, menu cards, mickey fans, programs, RSVP, note cards, etc.

I want to give my guest enough information so they know they are attending the wedding at WDW, but I want to keep the exact locations a surprise. I am hoping for a morning wedding in Epcot in italy, then a pre reception and reception at either Atlantic Dance Hall or Ariels followed by an IllumiNations Desert Party that night. In the program samples it states everything that will be going on during the day (which is great) but I want to keep the exact locations a surprise. A bus will be picking the guests up in the morning anyway and bring them to Epcot so it is not like they have to get there themselves and then bringing them to the reception.

Does anyone have any suggestions on wording the invitation so as not to let on the exact locations?

Thanks in advance,
Linda

 

[wendy46001]

You can just say WDW on the formal invite
The bride
&
Groom
request the honor of your presence
at their fairy tale wedding
date
year
time to meet the first bus
Walt Disney World
Lake Buena Vista, Florida

and give the explanation of bus schedules in an informal letter

 

[myprincessgirlisa]

Maybe use some words in there like:

Magical setting

in a land far far away

a fairy tale is about to begin, all you need to do is be____@ ____am and the carriage/coach will escort you

enchanted land

come join us for the "happiest day of our lives"

come take a journey with us to a magical place of enchantment and magical happenings


you know...use accent words to give them hints

Good luck & have fun...sounds really neat...would love to know what you come up with

 

[JonetteA]

We did not let everyone know the location either. We just indicated it was the Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FL.

B/c we had an in park wedding and had buses it was easier for us to keep it a secret. If you want to PM me, I can show you how I worded our newsletters and contact information in case people missed the bus.

 

[TinkBride]

You standard invite and then add:

Allow us to share some pixie dust and whisk you away to our fairy tale location.

please be prepared to board our magical coach at _______ a.m./p.m.

At this time you can join us in discovering a whole new world.

 

[Maggimus]

You standard invite and then add:

Allow us to share some pixie dust and whisk you away to our fairy tale location.

please be prepared to board our magical coach at _______ a.m./p.m.

At this time you can join us in discovering a whole new world.

I love that TinkBride-- gives me chill bumps!!

 

[Janet2k]

Just thought I’d give a contrary opinion. As a guest, I always prefer to know exactly where I’m heading, especially if it’s to an out-of-town event.

For example, what if someone in my family came down with a minor issue (smushed fingers in the closet door) just moments before we headed out the door to the bus pick-up location? We would miss the bus as we addressed the issue (ice pack, band-aids, etc.), but in all likelihood we would have the emergency covered in time to get ourselves to the ceremony before it began. But if we didn’t know where the ceremony was being held, we would be SOL. Not a good thing.

Just thought I’d give you something to think about since last-minute issues always crop up during any sort of event. As a guest, I prefer to know exactly what is expected of me at all times.

Have fun planning your event. I wish you every happiness in the world with your upcoming marriage.

 

[lpizzuro123]

Thanks everyone - I had not thought of the "missing the bus" factor. This does not have to be done for a while so we will put thought into exactly what we do.
Linda

 

[smoof]

Just thought I’d give a contrary opinion. As a guest, I always prefer to know exactly where I’m heading, especially if it’s to an out-of-town event.

For example, what if someone in my family came down with a minor issue (smushed fingers in the closet door) just moments before we headed out the door to the bus pick-up location? We would miss the bus as we addressed the issue (ice pack, band-aids, etc.), but in all likelihood we would have the emergency covered in time to get ourselves to the ceremony before it began. But if we didn’t know where the ceremony was being held, we would be SOL. Not a good thing.

Just thought I’d give you something to think about since last-minute issues always crop up during any sort of event. As a guest, I prefer to know exactly what is expected of me at all times.

Have fun planning your event. I wish you every happiness in the world with your upcoming marriage.

I absolutely understand what you are saying, but that is what cell phones and wedding coordinators are for.

 

[Janet2k]

...that is what cell phones and wedding coordinators are for.

No one in my family carried a cell phone during my vow renewal vacation, not even on the days of my vow renewal events. And I never gave out the phone number of my Event Manager (it was his number to give out, not mine). On the night of my Welcome Party, my guests were given a sheet of paper that my Event Manager had drawn up for them. On that sheet of paper was a list of the next day's events and the pick-up times & locations. That way all my guests knew what was expected of them and could plan accordingly. If any last-minute issues arose (and a few did), messages were left for me in my resort room, or since my guests knew where I would be, they found a way to get a message to me. It worked out well and that was because everyone knew what the game plan was.

It wouldn't have been prudent of me not to have given lpizzuro123 the flip side of the coin. I want her to understand that some folks don't like to be surprised, especially in an out-of-town location. It is her wedding, however, and she will make the decision that best suits her needs.

The Dis website is a place to share information so that folks can be better informed. I hope I helped a few folks see things from a slightly different angle.

 

[Janet2k]

Thanks everyone - I had not thought of the "missing the bus" factor. This does not have to be done for a while so we will put thought into exactly what we do.

lpizzuro123, you'll make the decision that is right for you. Again, I wish you every happiness in the world with your upcoming nuptials.

 

[lpizzuro123]

Not sure what we will do yet but thanks to everyone for their ideas and suggestions. Might be best to let people know some things and keep some things as a surprise - but not the important stuff as far as getting around and where they need to be.

Linda

 

[chipscinderelly]

Our guests knew our reception was at MGM, however, they did not have any idea where at MGM it was held (ceremony YCG). We made it very clear that they needed to either make the bus or get to the Yacht Club for the ceremony and that after that point our transportation was required and they would not be able to join us without making that transport. We didn't have any problems with anyone missing anything and it was great to see their reactions as we moved locations.

 

[lurkyloo]

Not to hijack this thread, but did you post a trip report of your wedding, chipscinderelly? The new search feature won't let me find it... If you do, I'd love to read about it!

 

[WonderWomanDC]

I kept my reception a surprise, but not the ceremony.
I let everyone know in my invitation that the wedding pavilion was the ceremony site...but indicated that a surprise reception would follow, at an undisclosed location.
My guests started cheering when the bus drove into MGM!
We surprised them with the Tower of Terror and everyone really enjoyed not knowing.
So perhaps you could reveal the ceremony, but not the reception?

 

[Rustyflwr3]

We sort of had a suprise reception as well (MGM). We didn't mention it on our invitations and no one complained! We sent out a newsletter that said they had to make the bus to go to the reception or they would not make it. However, we had one family member that lived in the area and had a banquet to attend that night as well! My planner told us that if they didn't make the bus, they would be able to drive to the parking lot of the resort, call someone at the reception and have them escorted by event staff from the front entrance!! So, it is possible to have people miss the bus and still show up!! HTH!