Low budget and stressing!

[DisneyBamaBride]

So I've been engaged for about 5 months now, and I am just now started to get this wedding planning thing rolling. Lol. I originally wanted a Disney wedding but then re thought it due to the fact that I would have a small number of my family and friends there. But after further consideration, I must have a Disney wedding. I have dreamed about it for forever, and you only get married once right?! Lol. We are looking into a escape package. Since it is the cheapest and are probably going to have around 18 guests. I would like to do a magic kingdom photoshoot, and have a dessert party since it doesn't include a reception. Could I do that for the 7,500 minimum cost?! Even that will be a push for me. I plan on trying to do a lot of do it yourself crafts. And also after the wedding everyone eating together at chef mickeys?! I saw where one bride did that andit looked so casual and fun. But would it be proper ettiquite for me to pay for everyone's food too? And then the dessert party would be that night. Ach. So confused. Appreciate yall's help in advance!

 

[MrsDrewsky]

Hi and welcome.

I think you could definitely do something right above the 7500 mark if you're careful. But don't forget all the other things that add up, such as an officiant, hair and make-up, a meal for your guests, and your hotel stay that will be an additional cost that will not count towards the minimum. I know we ruled out the desert party, due to the minimum, and we're probably going to spend about $8000 when everything is said and done.

How large is your group going to be and where are you planning your ceremony?

 

[princesswendy720]

If you do the smallest escape package (not the WP or Canada), the cheapest DP menu (around $25 per person), and the MK shoot, you may just hit $7,500. For Wishes weddings, taxes and fees don't count towards the $7,500 expenditure, so you may want to factor in a few extra hundred dollars.

I don't think you have to pay for everyone's meal at Chef Mickey's as long as you make it optional and let them know up front that it is a non-hosted meal.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Hi sweetie
You would get way, way more 'bang for your buck' with a Swan/Dolphin wedding!!! You would have to do without a MK photoshoot (which are expensive and, unfortunately, frequently disappointing), but that is just about the only thing you can't have with a S/D wedding as opposed to a DFTW one.
Just a thought!!!

 

[Disneychix]

I would factor in the cost of everyone eating at Chef Mickey's. We did and we were pleasantly surprised when Dh's aunt picked up the bar tab (we were at Ohana) and my dad picked up the restaurant bill. But we did plan on paying for everything in our original budget.
Congratulations!!

 

[2dogmom]

I agree that you could definitely get more with a Swan wedding. I'm planning on have an Ohana reception after and I am planning on picking up the tab. I wouldn't think otherwise. Now if someone wants to contribute, maybe I will let them, but I prefer to think worst case scenario $$$ wise.

 

[DisneyBamaBride]

Hi and welcome.

I think you could definitely do something right above the 7500 mark if you're careful. But don't forget all the other things that add up, such as an officiant, hair and make-up, a meal for your guests, and your hotel stay that will be an additional cost that will not count towards the minimum. I know we ruled out the desert party, due to the minimum, and we're probably going to spend about $8000 when everything is said and done.

How large is your group going to be and where are you planning your ceremony?

Probably about 17 people:
My mom
My dad
My sister
My brother in law
dH mom
DH brother
My maid of honor
His best man
My three best friends
My cousin
My grandmaw
My aunt
My cousin and his gf.

I was wanting to have it at sea breeze point. I'm from an island and a beachy weddin was my original plan, I would love to have it at the Polynesian but the 8 guest max just isn't doable. I'm also wondering if I could upgrade to a wishes wedding, with the minimum being 12 grand and I could maybe take out a loan to pay for the rest? Idk. I told my sister that she was retarded for putting herself in debt with a wedding and now I'm going to be doing the same. My father can only contribute at most 6 grand. What to do, what to do..

 

[DisneyBamaBride]

Thanks everyone for the great advice! Me and my fiance took a surprise three day trip to Disney this past weekend and it really sparked my wedding ideas. Lol. And then I stumbled upon this website and thread which has been so helpful. I've been stalking and reading brides pj's and oh man, there are some very creative brides!

 

[MrsDrewsky]

I think Jennifer and Charlie's SBP escape wedding was absolutely beautiful, and they were able to add so many elements. I think she went over 7500, but I wouldn't say you have to jump from an escape to a wishes wedding just yet.

As for wanting a "beach" wedding, have you looked into the swan/dolphin weddings? They have a great beach option and will allow more then 8 people. The pictures I have seen of the beach set up for the swan/dolphin weddings are lovely.

Swan/Dolphin will also allow DIY decorations to save money. Disney will not allow you to use an outside florist or DIY flower decor for outdoor locations.

 

[Jilian]

Hi sweetie
You would get way, way more 'bang for your buck' with a Swan/Dolphin wedding!!! You would have to do without a MK photoshoot (which are expensive and, unfortunately, frequently disappointing), but that is just about the only thing you can't have with a S/D wedding as opposed to a DFTW one.
Just a thought!!!

Agreed. I am doing a S/D vow renewal with 40 guests and we're right at the $7,000 mark including the dinner reception after at Il Mulino. My budget is in my PJ linked in my sig if you want to see what the whole cost is. You couldn't do the MK shoot with a S/D ceremony but you can do a shoot at any of the other 3 parks and you can still have characters show up at your wedding.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

I agree that you could definitely get more with a Swan wedding. I'm planning on have an Ohana reception after and I am planning on picking up the tab. I wouldn't think otherwise. Now if someone wants to contribute, maybe I will let them, but I prefer to think worst case scenario $$$ wise.

I think Jennifer and Charlie's SBP escape wedding was absolutely beautiful, and they were able to add so many elements. I think she went over 7500, but I wouldn't say you have to jump from an escape to a wishes wedding just yet.

As for wanting a "beach" wedding, have you looked into the swan/dolphin weddings? They have a great beach option and will allow more then 8 people. The pictures I have seen of the beach set up for the swan/dolphin weddings are lovely.

Swan/Dolphin will also allow DIY decorations to save money. Disney will not allow you to use an outside florist or DIY flower decor for outdoor locations.

Agreed. I am doing a S/D vow renewal with 40 guests and we're right at the $7,000 mark including the dinner reception after at Il Mulino. My budget is in my PJ linked in my sig if you want to see what the whole cost is. You couldn't do the MK shoot with a S/D ceremony but you can do a shoot at any of the other 3 parks and you can still have characters show up at your wedding.

Aha you see, it's not just me who thinks looking at S/D weddings is a good idea. In fact, beach weddings at S/D are far more 'beachy' than those at SBP!!

 

[MrsDuck]

Another recommendation for a Swan and Dolphin wedding! The only thing two things you cannot do with an S/D wedding is: use Cinderella's coach and have an MK photoshoot.

I'm having a 60 person wedding with a reception, an awesome photographer, floral, videographer, etc for a little under $10k and that's one of the more "pricey" S/D weddings I've seen.

 

[giffy231]

We are also doing our ceremony off property. For us it is more about the fact that there are only 2 of us so we wanted to be able to get more bang for our buck as far as the package elements that are important to us. The Disney package we were looking at (Memories) did not include officiant, cake, champage, and only got you 20 photos. I feel like going off property you have a lot more choice at picking the pieces that are important to you. For us , the most important parts are the location, officiant, and photos. For just the two of us we don't really need or want the rest. We might get a cake at dinner and we will have champage.

We are looking at the Hyatt Grand Cypress because I love their Gazebo, Paradise Cove looked nice online but I was not blown away in person, Swan and Dolphin, and Royal Plaza. We are leaning towards the Grand Cypress because their package includes everything.

We are going to stay at the Boardwalk, renting DVC points and do some photos there. We are also having a low stress dinner for jut the two of us, not sure where yet but somewhere on Disney property. Our ceremony will be in the morning, so we will be out of our wedding attire for the dinner celebration.

 

[giffy231]

Swan and Dolphin brides, who is making your cake and what are you using for music?

 

[lt90]

Just a thought but im getting married at Star island on the beach they have there. The pics are stunning and the wedding team are so friendly and lovely. I can DIY or bring my own vendors in and the price is amazing!!
Like the others said you can still incorporate disney with the park photoshoots!Heres the website anyway -
http://www.star-island.com/intimate-wedding-package.htm

If you like the look you can PM me with any questions!!
Good luck deciding

 

[2dogmom]

Swan and Dolphin brides, who is making your cake and what are you using for music?

I'm using It's Tasty Too. There have been so many raving reviews about them. Musicians is still TBD.

 

[Icecoldpenguin]

So I agree with everyone else! Have a S/D wedding. Now I know Jillian is going to be around $7,000 with her VR and I know faith is right around $10,000 with hers (she got a great deal on food for garden grove). I am probably going to be the most expensive S/D bride yet. However, I could not get all the things that I am getting if I had gone with a wishes wedding. There are definitely some things that I could cut out for instance I could cut out my $2,000 videography, I could cut out my dessert party which is going to cost us about $2,500 most likely. The thing about it is that I don't really want to. I am 27 he is 29 and this is our WEDDING you don't get to re-do this.

So with that I could easily pay less money but here is the deal. I had to think about budget too. If I had not moved to S/D I would not be able to have a Ceremony, Plated Lunch Reception, Dessert Party, photo, video, floral and decor of my choosing, a dj at my reception, hair and makeup and my coordinator for the whole day. It just would not happen.

If you want more bang for your buck go S/D.

 

[giffy231]

Ty for the recommendation just checked out Its Tasty Too and they look awesome! Did you do a tasting? I am planning from out of state.

 

[Jilian]

Swan and Dolphin brides, who is making your cake and what are you using for music?

I'm not doing a cake but if I were I'd go with "Its tasy too" based on their rave reviews here.

For music we've booked it on our own to save money. We booked a violinist and guitarist through Jennie Rudberg http://www.jenniemusic.com/index.html It was $350 for one hour with both. She is one of the preferred vendors that the S/D work with and her music on her website sounds beautiful.

 

[mebbradley]

Ty for the recommendation just checked out Its Tasty Too and they look awesome! Did you do a tasting? I am planning from out of state.

I did a tasting! AMAZING super super yummmyy

And this from a girl who grew up on wedding cake scraps and cakes all the time [great-aunt made/makes wedding cakes all the time]....