Nervous bride here!!! Patty and Alex PJ coming soon!

[Puffpatty]

Ok, I've read a hundred threads, and I finally decided to post...

I got officially engaged on 3/31/08, and I'll tell more details of that later. We had already discussed have a DFTW, so I already had the DVD and put the call in; I've gotten my date reserved, but I haven't signed my contract.

I'm wondering how much should i be freaking out about this? My date is set for a Jan. 31, 2009 wedding, yet I see people here planning 2+ yrs in advance...the consultant said that my timeframe is ok, and I love my date and have told family, but since its not sealed in stone (with the signed contract; though she said its being worked up), I'm nervous I might lose it...

Have an AM cermony in the WP; followed by reception at Citricos and a dessert party at Italy Isola. I have a large family in Tampa, so they are all planning vacations around this, as is our family and friends up here in the NJ/NYC area.

I just got a budget proposal and am hoping to be able to cut some corners. I had told them to be generous in the proposal and I would trim down later...
I've been working on my invitation list and so far estimate that we'll be inviting approx. 200 people, but we are honestly only expecting a little more than half to fly down and attend. (I have a large family with cousins, aunts, etc.) Its one of those things where I think it would be more offensive to not send the invitation to the family even though I think they would decline.

Just wondering if my nervousness is normal, warranted, or necessary. I thought that 10 months was a bit tight, but survivable with a wedding of this size, and I'm hoping for any advice on how to cut costs so my dad doesn't have a coronary when I show him the final budget...he's just seen the estimated and said "we'll work on it", lol.

I'll give more details on the PJ that I'll start later this week. I love all the great advice I've seen on this board...its helped me tremendously and I hope it continues to guide me for the rest of this journey.

Just feel like the clock is ticking... and I'm not prepared or moving fast enough

 

[hiwaygal]

Hello! And to the Weddings Board!

Congratulations on your engagement and upcoming wedding!

Of course you are nervous, that is to be expected. I could tell you not to worry, don't be nervous, but you're still going to feel that way!

Your timeframe is fine. Yes, many brides start here early and get ideas and inspiration but the official word from Disney is you cannot really book anything until 12 months out (and in some cases 8 months).

The other thing to realize is that Disney plans thousands of weddings each year...they've got it down to a science. They can coordinate with folks in other departments (but in the same organization) to make things happen quickly and efficiently.

My wedding (although only an Intimate/Escape) was planned in just about 5 months. I think Disney can do the smaller weddings in as little as 90 days.

I wouldn't worry about getting your date and time...January is a slower time of year.

I don't have any advice on the budget issues, but I know other brides here can help you so much with that.

Now...take a deep breath and have fun!!!

 

[Angela0917]

CONGRATS ON YOUR ENGAGEMENT! I'm also planning a 2009 wedding, but mine is in April... and YES I'm freaking out about losing my date!!!!! I don't think you'll have any problems at all planning in that time. I've only been talking to my coordinator for a little over a week, and I pretty much have an idea of what I want and how much it's going to cost. It sounds like you already know what you want too, so I'm sure you will be fine!!

 

[Lindsay22]

Hi Patty!
Welcome! I'm a 2009 bride too (April) I'm also from Tampa by way of NJ. You have plenty of time. My sister (Caryndisneydiva) got engaged in July/August and was married in Disney in Jan. She planned a beautiful wedding in just 5 months!!!

 

[Puffpatty]

Aw...i'm so glad I posted the thread...

I'll be starting an official planning journal soon....and my friend pointed out that I goofed on my official engagement date..OOPs
He officially proposed 3/21/08, not 3/31...hehe...

I'm calming down...

Wondering if any Wishes brides know exactly what we have to do through Disney and what can be done outside of them (i.e., photography, flowers, dj)

I figured those expenses might be less if found outside the premises and brought in. My consultant is out of town for the rest of the week, and they aren't always forthcoming on how to save a person money...they obviously want people to use everything in house.

Any pointers would be great!

 

[lurkyloo]

Welcome!

I also planned a Wishes wedding in just 5 months. They do so much for you that if you have ideas about what you want, it's very easy.

The only things you're really required to do through Disney are the food and cake, although most people use Disney for transportation. You can use an outside vendor for floral (except for in-park events), photography, videography, favors, DJ or band (although Disney charges you a service fee if you bring in outside DJs and bands).

The biggest way to save money using an outside vendor is on photography and videography - you'll pay less and get more. You can search these boards for recommendations on photographers/videographers or read people's trip reports to see who they used (the link to mine is in my signature). There is no longer an escort fee for using outside videographers and photographers.

Floral could be a wash, pricewise, but it may allow you to get more bang for your buck.

 

[hiwaygal]

Wondering if any Wishes brides know exactly what we have to do through Disney and what can be done outside of them (i.e., photography, flowers, dj)

I figured those expenses might be less if found outside the premises and brought in. My consultant is out of town for the rest of the week, and they aren't always forthcoming on how to save a person money...they obviously want people to use everything in house.

Any pointers would be great!

For the Wishes weddings, you have the $10,000 minimum...so depending on your expenditures for meals and the desert party you may be able to use outside vendors for different things.

I know that all food items must come from Disney (health regulations).

I know there are some restrictions for outside vendors at in park events (your dessert party). I know any floral decorations must come from Disney, but the rest is a little more flexible.

I'm sure other brides will have other input as well!

 

[Angela0917]

I think pretty much anything can be brought in from outside vendors, but if you get EVERYTHING from outside vendors (which I'm sure would be tons cheaper) you still need to meet the required minimum which is at least $10,000. We're going with everything from Disney, except Photography. We're using Randy Chapman, who I never would have found without this site! Alot of people on here have used him, and the pictures all look great, so I'm excited to be using him too! As of right now, we just have the basic package booked, which I think is like $600 for 3 hours, and you get the rights to all your pictures, but I think we'll probably extend that a little bit so we have more time with him for the reception. I know Disney's prices are much more than that, and to get the rights to your photos it's even more. My coordinator has been pretty good to work with... I basically told her everything i wanted, and what we were planning on spending, and she pretty much said no way that's going to happen... hahaha. At least she was up front about it though, she doesn't seem to be hiding anything from me.

 

[Puffpatty]

Ok...I'm loving this advice...

I was pretty sure that the food was going to have to go through Disney...not a problem. With an expected 100+ guests, I have no doubts of meeting my DFTW minimum (esp. when you factor in site rentals).

Lurkyloo : I hadn't thought too much about disney transportation until I saw what I believe were your pictures (I've gone through these posts so much, I lose track); and I saw the program with the scheduled bus pickups. I really like that convenience and the presentation, so we are definitely holding that as an option. (it's in our budget proposal) And we saw your pics and my DF LOVED them...he loved your ceremony site as well but we have too many guests for that one, I believe...which is why we are sticking to the WP.


I'm hearing conflicting accounts on floral, so that's up in the air, but we are thinking of Randy for photos and plan on contacting him today to see if he's available. We purposely picked a slow time of the year because the value season rates kick in and it would be more affordable for family and friends to go...and a chilly day in Fl beats a chilly day in NYC in the wintertime any day.

Angela: My coordinator has been good about it too, and she gave us an estimate based on 150 guests (still over what we were hoping for; and she said it wasn't going to be possible too, ha!).

I was conflicted for a week or two about whether to have a children's themed party at the same time as a "day care" to parents, but found that only 50% of parents I asked approved of leaving their kids (even though we would be providing it for free to guests)...so I scrapped the idea and am hoping for cancellations...(aren't I a stinker?) With over 200 invitations, its a potential of 30 children under 8. That is a LOT of kids at a wedding....but 3 cancellations could wipe out 10 kids alone....

But I knew it was Disney so I wanted to make that gesture to people as a thank you for them flying down.
And we also want to do a farewell brunch at Chef Mickey's the next morning for the tots so they can see the characters.


The budget would have ballooned even more had I kept the kiddie party, so I'm glad the idea faded away....

Does anyone know if they provide the tables and chairs at Isola? Even the lawn chairs, as I don't really need anything fancy....

 

[pink_tink8i8]

Congratulations and welcome!!!!

I'm also a 2009 bride !!! YAY!

Like you, I am also extremely nervous about the date because I want to get married in August and can't book anything until this august so I'm afraid to loose my date BUT there have been several brides on here who have done all the planning in a couple of months. I know Lurkyloo did and if I remember correctly caryndisneydiva did hers in a couple of months too so it can be done.

A couple of things that brides have done in the past to cut corners are to make their own invitations. They are sometimes even nicer than what you can purchase and they will save you big if you have to send out a ton. Make your own favors. SHOP EBAY for as much as you can. I can't stress that enough. Don't do welcome bags. Limit the number of bridesmaids, groomsmen etc. Don't have a rehearsal dinner. Try having a larger pre-reception and limit the number of courses if you intend to do a sit down. Have your reception before 2pm. Try not to use flowers for centerpieces or only use a small arrangement. Get your bridesmaids flower wands instead of bouquets. Keep your bouquet simple. Try not to get married in the WP as it is more expensive

 

[Puffpatty]

Don't do welcome bags...Try not to use flowers for centerpieces or only use a small arrangement.

I hadn't given welcome bags a thought to be honest...(does that make me a bad bride?) With so many potential guests (and so far DF and I have gotten such enthusiastic responses to our DFTW plans, we don't expect anyone but distant family to decline), we thought that the expenses with the reception and dessert party alone were enough.

The consultant said we didn't have to go big with flowers since it was at the restaurant and there wouldn't be that much room at the tables. (Thank God for small favors)

The only thing I had thought of for wedding favors so far is the custom M&Ms. DF thinks they are cute, and I like them...so we have that on our list of ideas.

I'll start my planning journal tonight, since I've gotten so many responses already...this stuff should be in there! oops!

 

[mla1977]

I just went to a wedding that was roughly the size of what you're having (not a Disney though). We're Italian, so the favors were simple Italian cookies in bags tied in ribbon. No Jordan almonds!