Need help with floral

[minpinpriss]

Hi there
Can you guys share with me your experiences about who you used for floral whether it was Disney or an outside vendor? Im trying to decide and would like some suggestions

 

[hiwaygal]

Disney floral did my bouquet and I was thrilled with the result! I was able to just talk with Rosie and tell her what I wanted...and she was able to create it perfectly!! I've heard a lot of good things about her.

I think some of your decision may depend on whether you are having an Escape or Wishes wedding.

With an Escape, it's usually too costly to go with an outside vendor for floral. Even though some brides have said that Disney is expensive, with the Escape package they do provide the basics (bride bouquet and groom boutonniere).

With a Wishes wedding it could be that you need to use Disney floral to meet your minimums, or because you are having your ceremony or reception in a park (Disney does not allow outside floral at in-park events).

There are some brides who have used outside vendors for floral and they would be the best to give you suggestions on that.

Hope that helps.

 

[minpinpriss]

thanks so much. I actually am having a wishes wedding and having no problem hitting the min of 25k being Im having about 80 people so between food and liquor Im just about there. Then the carriage and the cost of the locations etc. So im going outside disney for the band and the pictures. I am now thinking of doing the floral outside as well to get a better price. Thanks for the info I really appreciate it

 

[Skylarr29]

I just wanted to let you know that if you use an outside band I believe you will be charged a large fee by Disney. I remember reading about it in my contract - I think it is like $1,500.00 so it might not be cheaper to use an outside band.

 

[caryndisneydiva]

there is no fee for using an outside vendor, though i do not believe you are allowed to use an outside vendor for in park ceremonies. there IS a fee if you are having a reception in a park and they need to put more than 3 things on a table for you. that fee is $35 per hour i believe. i just rechecked all of my contracts with dftw and i couldn't find anything about a fee for outside vendors, other than the $35 placement fee. hth.

 

[minpinpriss]

Thanks so much for the heads up... the funny thing is that even with the 1500 extra its still cheaper. They mark up the bands so much. I was on the internet and found some of the bands they use for like 4 when they charge 7
Mine is 5 so even with the 1500 we are less then 7 and I LOVE the band! (-:

 

[minpinpriss]

Im doing the yacht club for the ceremony and the boardwalk for the reception so I dont think that counts in the "in park" rule?
Hopefully? (-:

 

[caryndisneydiva]

you can use an outside florist for those locations. i've never heard of anyone using an outside band. how did you arrange that? did you audition them? i bet it's a lot cheaper to go outside for that...the only thing i think they could charge for the band would be the sound system thing. i originally wanted my videographer to patch into the disney system, but it was a lot of money so she just put mics on mark and our officiant...

 

[minpinpriss]

it was really important to us to have the type of band we wanted. I really really didnt want a "wedding" band. I really wanted a michael buble, sinatra, Harry Conick Jr type sound and I listend to all 20+ bands from disney and was not impressed. they were kinda cheesy. Some were really good but again not the sound we were looking for. So I went online and searched. In the search I ended up finding some of the bands that disney uses and they were cheaper then what disney was offering so I started thinking...
I found this band the buzzcatz and they were EXACTLY what we had in mind. So I emailed him and found out (long story short...) he had worked for disney for like 15 years since he was a kid in the parks doing the shows... and he was one of the bands disney was using until he wouldnt work for 3-4k anymore. I guess he was busy enough that he didnt have to. So I can hire him (8 piece band) for 5k still pay the disney fee and its still cheaper.

Now Im starting to think of the other things like floral and photo - I am sure it will be the same thing. Im happy to pay disney for what I get but I want to make sure Im not spending money for no reason. I do want things like the coach (been a dream since I was 8 and saw it at disney) and my minimum to spend is 25k which just with the food and beverage Im at about 17k so the coach and the table stuff (other then flowers) and the site charges Im at 25
If I can get the other stuff and get it for a better price then I think its a good idea. Make sense?

 

[caryndisneydiva]

it totally makes sense. a lot of us go outside for photography and videography since it's significantly cheaper and the perks are better!

 

[tink8jr]

I used Disney's Florist and I loved it I just didn't want the hassle since I am not from the area I wouldn't know who to choose and I know Disney can do it very pretty, and it was