My Intro & Question about a wedding with TONS of people?

[sodashopsunshine]

Greetings-

There's no realistic way for us to get married for at least 2 years, I am still in school, so saving money is sort of hard seeing as though I can only work part time!

About me: I've been going to Disney World since in the womb! My parents always made sure that Disney was to be part of our life (we'd get annual passes and go twice a year...), even if we didn't have the money. I'm so greatful to have Disney as a second home...it's the one place that seems to make my VERY large family all happy at once! We just recently started to go to Disney for Christmas. Anyway...

My brother, sisters, mom and dad and I are already a big party in itself...there are 8 of us!

and my dear boyfriend's family is 8 as well...

honestly if I were to just invite my close family alone it would be 70 people not even counting friends (have 8 aunts and uncles and believe me they wouuld all come, we all fit into my grandparent's small country home for holidays!) and 20 from his side...
_______________

My QUESTION for you Disney Brides or those of you who are planning...

90 people is stressing me out! this is a TON of people do you think there is anywhere that would host this many without breaking the bank?

Has anyone had a small wedding (we are thinking maybe a crusie ship wedding) and then had a "magical gath
ering" as a reception with everyone?

has anyone had a "magical gathering"?

Honestly my dream wedding would be a wedding before the chip 'n dale campfire at the campgrounds, but everyone I talked to at disney last time I was there said that wasn't an option. Then Ohana for dinner....could it even fit 90 people? Well a girl can dream, can't she?

anyone have any pointers?

I have such a fun time looking at your pictures and planning journals, thanks for keeping me entertained!

 

[tiggersam00]

Big Family: Check
Big Wedding: Check
Crazy Family Members: Check

I have them all too lol! I am having a 175 person disney wedding next Feb (I have over 50 1st cousins) and I was super stressed about it too. I am having it at the Atlantic Dance Hall on the Boardwalk, with a ceremony at the Wedding Pavillion. What I have learned is to read these boards and find tips to save money by doing things yourself. I learned alot from Tracy's (twiu) wedding because she also had a large guest count. The closer it gets the more excited I am about having all my friends and family there on the big day. I am shocked so many people wanted to come too!

The 3 biggest $$ saving tips for large weddings I have learned here are...

1) Buffett dinners! Lots of food for lots of family and a slightly smaller cost (when you have a lot of people a lot of "slightly" smaller costs adds up to a BIG savings)

2) Look for a place that is already decorated so you don't have to spend a lot of money on it... that is why I chose ADH, I do not have to do anything to it!

3) DO IT YOURSELF, there is no need to spend a ton of $$ on invites, placecards, favors etc etc when you could stop by a craft store and put in a few man hours.

HTH, PM me if you have any other questions

 

[sodashopsunshine]

Big Family: Check
Big Wedding: Check
Crazy Family Members: Check

I have them all too lol! I am having a 175 person disney wedding next Feb (I have over 50 1st cousins) and I was super stressed about it too. I am having it at the Atlantic Dance Hall on the Boardwalk, with a ceremony at the Wedding Pavillion. What I have learned is to read these boards and find tips to save money by doing things yourself. I learned alot from Tracy's (twiu) wedding because she also had a large guest count. The closer it gets the more excited I am about having all my friends and family there on the big day. I am shocked so many people wanted to come too!

The 3 biggest $$ saving tips for large weddings I have learned here are...

1) Buffett dinners! Lots of food for lots of family and a slightly smaller cost (when you have a lot of people a lot of "slightly" smaller costs adds up to a BIG savings)

2) Look for a place that is already decorated so you don't have to spend a lot of money on it... that is why I chose ADH, I do not have to do anything to it!

3) DO IT YOURSELF, there is no need to spend a ton of $$ on invites, placecards, favors etc etc when you could stop by a craft store and put in a few man hours.

HTH, PM me if you have any other questions

whew! you've given me hope! honestly...There's no way I could invite 1 cousin and not the other, they're just as close as my brother and sisters!

I ruled out the Wedding Pavillion at first because I didn't want it to be "typical" but now after reading everyone's reports and seeing pictures I realize that there is NOTHING typical about it! I'm going to look at it next time I go...it seems like the best place for me!

thanks SO MUCH! can't wait to read about your wedding.

 

[Lindsay22]

I also have a large family and I'm having a big wedding. We invited nearly 200 people (my planner nearly had a heart attack when I told her that I was inviting 200 and asked her to do the budget for 100).
In this economy you will be surprised at how many people don't come to a destination wedding. Of the 200 we invited we have responses back from just over half (I DON'T understand why people don't rsvp). Right now we have 83 people coming. I will be SHOCKED if we go over 100. So I wouldn't stress out too much about the guest list.

Also, the location for the ceremony. My sister had 65 people at SBP and it was packed in there! ADH is beautiful and you really don't have to decorate. AAR (I feel) is the same way.

Good luck

 

[Wish on a Star]

ToniDMB is having a really big group as well she's inviting over 200. You should talk to her!

 

[Wish on a Star]

ToniDMB is having a really big group as well she's inviting over 200. You should talk to her!

 

[tiggersam00]

whew! you've given me hope! honestly...There's no way I could invite 1 cousin and not the other, they're just as close as my brother and sisters!

I ruled out the Wedding Pavillion at first because I didn't want it to be "typical" but now after reading everyone's reports and seeing pictures I realize that there is NOTHING typical about it! I'm going to look at it next time I go...it seems like the best place for me!

thanks SO MUCH! can't wait to read about your wedding.

No problem, I actually just sent out my rsvp STD's to get an idea of who is in and who is out. Disney's official stats say that about 70% will RSVP yes... I will let you know how mine turns out... I love the WP, it is very pretty and the view is awesome! I am going in 30 days (yippee) and I'll make sure to post pics when I get back.

I also have a large family and I'm having a big wedding. We invited nearly 200 people (my planner nearly had a heart attack when I told her that I was inviting 200 and asked her to do the budget for 100).
In this economy you will be surprised at how many people don't come to a destination wedding. Of the 200 we invited we have responses back from just over half (I DON'T understand why people don't rsvp). Right now we have 83 people coming. I will be SHOCKED if we go over 100. So I wouldn't stress out too much about the guest list.

Also, the location for the ceremony. My sister had 65 people at SBP and it was packed in there! ADH is beautiful and you really don't have to decorate. AAR (I feel) is the same way.

Good luck

Your totally right about AAR as well. Those were the 2 places my planner suggested I look at for a "fully decorated" feel. I would have LOVED AAR, but there were too many regulations that went with it... Also, I really wanted Misty to do the pics and she would not have been able to in AAR.