New Bride, just starting the planning process!

[FairyTaleWedding]

Hey everyone! I've been a member of the Disboards for a while now but am finally starting to plan my fairy tale wedding, however I feel so overwhelmed...What I really want to know is where did you begin with your planning process? I am waiting for a phone call from Stacey tomorrow to talk about dates and etc. We are hoping to get married at the WP on December 12, 2014. When do I put out save the dates or pre-rsvps? I will have anywhere from 40 to 70 guests depending on the maybes of our friends who will make the trek from Maryland to Florida. Any help will be greatly appreciated. I bought the passporter's book and have started to look that over but that seems overwhelming too lol again, any help would be appreciated. I feel so lost and confused and want this day to be as magical and perfect as I have always dreamed it would be since I was a little girl. Thanks everyone!

 

[Chilly]

I'd start with your budget, so for example your total budget might be $25K how will that be split up eg:

$5K on your honeymoon (flights, hotel, food, tickets etc)

$5K on non Disney wedding items (dress, tux, hair, make up, officiant etc)

$15K with Disney

then see if the $15K will get you what you want if all 70 guests came.

So if the WP is $4K plus the $8K you have to spend on enhancements on a Friday puts you at $12K, then do you want brunch, lunch or a dinner reception, assuming dinner @$175 x 70 guests = $12,250 + the $12K = $24,250 + tax and service charge, means you'd be way over a $15K budget.

Once you start crunching some numbers some questions will answer themselves such as only inviting 40 people instead of 70, or having a lunch reception instead of dinner, or picking a different day of the week to get married on to lower the enhancement package cost.

 

[lurkyloo]

I think if you read even just the first 15 or so pages of Chapter 3 in the PassPorter, things will begin to be more clear...

 

[TiffinyKaye]

I think if you read even just the first 15 or so pages of Chapter 3 in the PassPorter, things will begin to be more clear...

It's on my Christmas list, Carrie!

 

[FairyTaleWedding]

Thank you for your suggestions! I started looking into having a Disney wedding 2 years ago and the prices and this new "enhancement" fee is new and unexpected. I'm still waiting to talk to Stacey and wait for the paperwork to be emailed over. I've started to compile a guest list and hope to have some sort of pre-RSVP out by the beginning of January to get ballpark amount of guest to expect. I have a big family while my DF does not. The budget really doesn't bother me too much. We have about $30,000 to spend on the wedding so I'm really not too worried in that department. My biggest problem right now seems to be picking a date because now my DF wants to get married while the Food and wine festival is going on but also attend MVMCP and the dates are not out for 2014 yet for the CP. I'm hoping Stacey can help clear up a few things. If any of you could tell me where to find the files for the pricing of 2014 weddings I'd greatly appreciate it!! Thanks in advance!!!

 

[elphie101]

If it helps date wise, the Christmas party starts early November (I would say anywhere between the 5th-9th but that depends on how the calendar falls in 2014) and the Food & Wine festival usually runs through Veterans Day, so it's not unreasonable to try to catch both. See if the Wine & Dine half marathon dates are released for 2014, that tends to fall on the last week of the festival.

The last Halloween party is always November 1st.

 

[ironz]

I think if you read even just the first 15 or so pages of Chapter 3 in the PassPorter, things will begin to be more clear...

Carrie...I'm so glad you wrote that book/guide! I don't know if we'll have a Disney wedding, but I did just get engaged on Christmas night! I'm glad there is an e-reader edition of your book. I'm pretty sure you are THE expert, having read your wedding report a while back. It has stuck in my mind ever since!
Hope you are well!

oh, and not to hijack this thread, but we are going to WDW for the marathon coming up and want to take some casual (not professional...yet) engagement photos....any thoughts besides the obvious (castle views, some of the Epcot views like Italy and France)...would like something fun, but romantic!

Cheers!

 

[WDW_Diane]

Carrie...I'm so glad you wrote that book/guide! I don't know if we'll have a Disney wedding, but I did just get engaged on Christmas night! I'm glad there is an e-reader edition of your book. I'm pretty sure you are THE expert, having read your wedding report a while back. It has stuck in my mind ever since! Hope you are well! oh, and not to hijack this thread, but we are going to WDW for the marathon coming up and want to take some casual (not professional...yet) engagement photos....any thoughts besides the obvious (castle views, some of the Epcot views like Italy and France)...would like something fun, but romantic! Cheers!

How about by "Victoria Gardens" at Le Cellier? It's lovely there. The waterfall area in Canada might even afford some good ones.

 

[ironz]

How about by "Victoria Gardens" at Le Cellier? It's lovely there. The waterfall area in Canada might even afford some good ones.

Oh, yes...thanks!

 

[lurkyloo]

Carrie...I'm so glad you wrote that book/guide! I don't know if we'll have a Disney wedding, but I did just get engaged on Christmas night! I'm glad there is an e-reader edition of your book. I'm pretty sure you are THE expert, having read your wedding report a while back. It has stuck in my mind ever since!
Hope you are well!

oh, and not to hijack this thread, but we are going to WDW for the marathon coming up and want to take some casual (not professional...yet) engagement photos....any thoughts besides the obvious (castle views, some of the Epcot views like Italy and France)...would like something fun, but romantic!

Cheers!

Congratulations on your engagement! I second Diane's suggestion of Victoria Gardens. I also love the BoardWalk area.

 

[ironz]

Congratulations on your engagement! I second Diane's suggestion of Victoria Gardens. I also love the BoardWalk area.

Thank you!
I just looked at your wedding photos again, and I think we will take a few in the Japanese gardens, too.

Also...to the OP...congratulations to you, too! Sorry for the hijack! Good luck with your planning! I'm scared to death to start planning my wedding...the proposal was a complete surprise! Will start working on it after the marathon.