Need Advice

[Crickety]

Ok I'm popping out of hiding to ask for some advice. FH and I have been going back and forth on if we should have an Escape wedding or one at the S&D.

The reason we are unsure about the Escape package is honestly we don't really see the need for a limo or violinist and would prefer to use outside photography. I know it sounds trivial, but I hate wasting money. However, that being said we are still drawn to the Disney package because we prefer the venue, would love to do a MK shoot, and I think we would like to have a DP if possible.

We will only have about 9-14 people in total so a Wishes wedding isn't an option. I don't think we would ever meet the minimum, and I do NOT want to have an extended reception.

So, I guess I'm wondering:

1. Is there really that big of a price difference between the 2 venues? Based on my VERY crude math it seems about on par for the basic Escape package and the S&D with the same added. Without the things I'm not interested in, it would still seem to be a difference of less than $1500. (I used this website to get a guess of the prices getmarriedinflorida.com/disney-weddings-florida-prices.html

2. Are add-ons such as candles and rose petals down the aisle, possibly some bows on chairs really going to vary that much?

3. Are we being silly even considering cheating on our beloved Disney?

 

[TabZ]

There are pros and cons for both - the Swalphin brides out there love it, the DTFW brides out there love it too, so it's totally personal preference.

Swalphin brides say they get a lot more flexibility while still getting a wedding at WDW, I'm personally an Escape bride so I can only give you advice on what I have researched.

With regard to wasting money on the limo and violinist - I see what you mean don't worry! With the limo I have heard of you being able to trade that for an in room celebration, so thats something to enquire about. If you didn't have the violinist you would need to pay for an ipod set up - so maybe just having the included voilinist would be the cheapest way forward?

You can still use your outside photography, and if you end up having a DP you can trade the included wedding photography for dessert party photography, so it wouldn't be wasted and you get photography of your dessert party and fireworks shots as well!

Disney are going to be more expensive for extras, but you can still use external suppliers, depending on your location.

Lots to think about!! xx

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Hi sweetie
Of course, I am in the S/D camp, so I will try to give a balanced perspective!! The basic package price at the S/D has recently taken a bit of a hike (probably due to the seemingly huge rise in the popularity of the place to host Disney brides' big days), but IMHO it still represents excellent value!!
To answer some of your basic queries:-

You may be right - once you remove the things you are interested in from the equation, there may be quite a 'small' price difference (although IMHO $1500.00 is a nice chunk toward a reception or honeymoon)

I think you may well find that add ons for (eg) bows on chairs may vary significantly, as DFTW charges big for these sorts of things!! At outdoor locations (eg SBP, you would not be allowed to use an outside florist for site decoration)

YOU ARE NOT CHEATING ON YOUR BELOVED DISNEY!!!! A S/D WEDDING IS STILL RIGHT THERE IN WDW!!!

Some things you may wish to consider which you haven't mentioned.

If you add a DP to your Escape package, your minimum spend automatically goes up to $7500.00.

The planners at S/D seem to have the edge over the DFTW planners when it comes to communication, and keeping you in the picture over what is happening (I don't know if that is important to you or not).

As Taz mentioned, there is way more flexibility over things like floral and cake with the S/D packages than there are with the smaller DFTW packages. If you have definate ideas about how you want your floral or cake to look, you may well end up paying for upgrades with the Escape package.

Everyone will probably tell you that you must go with what is right for you, and I would say the same!!! Things like floral, photography and musician were very important to me and so going with S/D made far more sense!! I never wanted a MK shoot (I wanted a TTD), so that wasn't a factor for me. If you have your heart set on a MK shoot, you must be a DFTW bride as this is the only way that you will get this.

Short answer is there are pros and cons to both and you must pick through and decide what is important to you and what is not.

By the way, I am not sure if swapping out the limo for the in-room celebration is an option for Escape brides. I thought that it was just Memories brides who were given this option, but I may be wrong (and frequently am!!!)

Good luck and happy planning whatever you decide!!!

 

[lurkyloo]

1. Is there really that big of a price difference between the 2 venues? Based on my VERY crude math it seems about on par for the basic Escape package and the S&D with the same added. Without the things I'm not interested in, it would still seem to be a difference of less than $1500. (I used this website to get a guess of the prices getmarriedinflorida.com/disney-weddings-florida-prices.html

The Swan is now promoting three low-priced package weddings, all of which cost less than the cheapest Escape wedding, which is $4,750.

Sweetheart Package: $2,595

• Outdoor ceremony site
• Officiant
• Bride’s Bouquet and Groom’s Boutonniere (done in roses or similarly priced floral of your choice)
• One hour of pro photography, including a high resolution CD of images (no prints)

Intimate Package: $3,295

• Everything in the Sweetheart Package
• Ceremony arch decorated with 3 floral sprays
• Violinist or flutist

Celebration Package: $3,895

• Everything in the Intimate Package
• On-site hair and makeup for bride
• One hour of pro videography + DVD of footage set to music

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Wow Carrie, thanks for this wonderful new information!!! These seem like very good value packages!!! I assume you can extras to them if you so wish. Is this info on the website yet, because I can't find it there

 

[lurkyloo]

It doesn't seem to be, but they have a nice new PDF they send out with all the details.

 

[Crickety]

Sorry for taking so long to get back. I've been working all weekend.

After thinking about everything and discussing it with FH and family, we have decided that a DFTW is what we truly want. I think we always knew in our hearts it was our dream, but the logical (and at times cheap) side of me mixed with FHs tendency to overly worry about rainy day scenarios was getting in the way.

In the end we could save money by going an alternate root, but we would miss out on experiences we really wanted.

To make up for spending the extra money we have both decided to put in some extra hours at work, and I will also be cancelling one of my trips over to see him. We aren't looking forward to the time apart, but I think all of the wedding planning will keep us both plenty occupied during that time.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Good luck with everything!!!

 

[Crickety]

Thanks! I'm super excited to start planning everything.

We are looking at sometime between June 16-30!!!

I'm terrified we won't be able to get everything done in that time frame, but we are trying to plan it so both families can be there.


BTW: We initially planned to get married over in the UK, where FH lives, and looked into the Lake District. It's such a lovely serene area. I'll admit I'm a twinge jealous you get to live there.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Aww yes I am very lucky!! I live in a cottage that is over three hundred years old and has beams and open fires. We are 3 miles from Lake Ullswater and within walking distance of an old fashioned pub which serves excellent food. The downside (if there is one) is that nothing is within walking distance, except the pub, and the buses run once every three hours, so you need the car to get anywhere, but I can live with that!!
What part of the Uk is your fiance from? Have you ever been here?

Looking forward to following along with your plans!!!

 

[Crickety]

FH lives in Newcastle, and we will be moving there after the wedding. Last September when I was visiting, FH finally took me down to the lake district, and I fell in love. I had seen pictures of the area prior and had wanted to go for some time, but we always had other plans. Now that I'm moving over that way I'm sure we will have many more trips down there.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Lovely!! Give me a shout and we will meet up for coffee!!!
I was in Newcastle yesterday picking DMIL up from the airport!!!