New Disney Bride here!

[hope1826]

I am from NJ, my parents are in NYC. Booking everything was no problem. The Disney wedding staff is wonderful, extremely helpful. And this website is invaluable and even more helpful than Disney (look at how many answers you've gotten already!!).

Our $10,000 includes (I'm stealing OceanGdss list format- I love it! ):
- 46 guests
- Bridal Dressing Room at Boardwalk Conv. Center
- Ceremony at SBP
- Violinist (during Ceremony & Cocktail Reception)
- CD player Setup (Dinner Music)
- Motorcoach from Boardwalk to Epcot and back to Boardwalk
- Cocktail Hour (wine + cheese and bread)
- Two hour buffet dinner reception (no dessert)
- Open Bar (3 hours)
- Wedding Cake
- 1.5 hour Epcot Fireworks Dessert Party with chocolate fondue station
- Floral (all bridal party flowers, aisle petals, tossing petals, petals and votives as centerpieces, Mickey Chocolate Favors)

Things on our own:
- Photographer (Misty Miotto)
- Video (Uncle)
- Officiant
- Invites/Programs
- Welcome Bags
- Rehearsal Brunch
- Makeup/ Hair (Patricia LeJeune)

Disney charges a service fee for all food and beverage (20%) and then sales tax on top of that.

My Disney Total (including their service fees and taxes) = $11,260

My Total (including my gown and accessories) = $17,000


If you are at all worried about saving your guests money, you should reconsider a summer disney wedding. You will get the best hotel rates during Disney's Value Season, the next best is the regular season... from what I've seen airline tickets from Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark are also more affordable during Disney's Value and Regular Seasons. Holidays are the most expensive.

Value Season: January 1 - February 13, August 3 - October 1, November 30 - December 18
Regular Season: March 30 - May 21, October 2 - November 29
Summer Season: May 22 - August 2
Peak Season: February 14 - March 29
Holiday Season: December 19 - December 31

 

[hope1826]

Were not having it in the theme park... we have alot of guest from the area and were told they will need to buy a pass to enter the wedding....

Wow, you guys have asnwered so many of my questions that have been haunting me for months!

I have never heard that wedding guests would have to buy passes. I don't think that is right. To have the Dessert Party at Epcot we have to pay an Illuminations viewing fee of $13 for guests who do not already have passes for that day. But $13 is a lot less than the full ticket price. Our dessert party is costing us $2400 total including that viewing fee for 43 of our 46 guests.

Also there is a bride (lurkyloo) who had her ceremony at Morocco in Epcot last week and she didn't have to pay for her guests to enter. I think there are others (caryndisneydiva had her reception at the Living Seas in Epcot) I don't think her guests had to pay to get in.

 

[PrincessBride010103]

This is true. Your guests do not need theme park admission to attend your events.

 

[Desnik]

I have so many questions, you may end up regretting asking!!!

We are hoping for june 25 or july 8 not sure yet though...
we want a week day to keep cost down for guests...

When did you book? And how hard was it to book? Like, did it end up being more of a hassle? I am in ny and am concerned.... not that i mind heading to florida lol.... but i am just worried!

I wanted to keep the costs down too so am doing it on a weekday. With that said the minimum for that is $10,000 and I have past that already!!LOL With my guesstimates from getting prices on this board as well as doing the wish book on disneyweddings.com I am looking at around $15,000. That is without my dress, invites, favors, accommodations, extra decorations, video, photography and the dessert party and transportation and hair/makeup costs. That $15,000 is for the WP, Cindy's coach, the reception(50 guests), music, and 2 bouquets and 2 boutonnieres.

I haven't booked yet because you have to wait until you are a year out from your date. You can go for a site visit before you book. Then you book when you know what places you want. You then can do a planning session between 4-6 months before your wedding. You can do tastings then and pick out everything. You get a planner that will send you info via email and you can talk to on the phone. Many people plan from far away with no problems. I am in NY too but I do plan on a site visit in May/June, then I will do a planning session around Jan 2009.

 

[keenercam]

Congratulations and welcome! I am sorry I can't help on the price estimates, but you have gotten so many great responses here. I have been so thrilled to find this forum. Disney brides are the absolute best -- no pettiness or competitiveness. Everyone is so helpful and is very generous in sharing information and ideas. Enjoy the planning!

 

[hope1826]

You should look at this website in addition to the disney wedding website... http://www.mouseweddings.com/wdwfairytalewedding.html

It gives all of the info Desnik just gave you and more and pictures of almost all of the ceremony, reception and dessert party venues you can choose from, it also gives money saving tips. I think you should call Disney too, it would make you feel better.

Desnik... can you be penciled in earlier than a year out? I thought i had read somewhere that they allow you to be penciled in early on, but you aren't allowed to book the venues until a year prior. I never asked my planner/coordinator, since I only had 7 months between DF's proposal and the date we wanted.

 

[OceanGdss]

Our $10,000 includes (I'm stealing OceanGdss list format- I love it! ):

lol...steal away! I forgot to include hair/makeup on my "On Our Own" list...*going back to edit now!*

 

[Desnik]

You should look at this website in addition to the disney wedding website... http://www.mouseweddings.com/wdwfairytalewedding.html

It gives all of the info Desnik just gave you and more and pictures of almost all of the ceremony, reception and dessert party venues you can choose from, it also gives money saving tips. I think you should call Disney too, it would make you feel better.

Desnik... can you be penciled in earlier than a year out? I thought i had read somewhere that they allow you to be penciled in early on, but you aren't allowed to book the venues until a year prior. I never asked my planner/coordinator, since I only had 7 months between DF's proposal and the date we wanted.

I called and am trying to be penciled in and am being told NO!! Could you tell that makes me angry!LOL I was told someone would contact me a year before and that it was too soon to speak to anyone. While others on this board who are having their wedding after me already have a coordinator! I guess it's all in who you talk to when you call? I do plan on calling back soon and insisting on having someone call me because I want to schedule a site visit. The person I spoke to did take my info down with the date and venues I wanted after I nagged her!

 

[hope1826]

I called and am trying to be penciled in and am being told NO!! Could you tell that makes me angry!LOL I was told someone would contact me a year before and that it was too soon to speak to anyone. While others on this board who are having their wedding after me already have a coordinator! I guess it's all in who you talk to when you call? I do plan on calling back soon and insisting on having someone call me because I want to schedule a site visit. The person I spoke to did take my info down with the date and venues I wanted after I nagged her!

Yikes!! I'm sorry. I HATE their inconsistencies! It's driving me crazy.

 

[OceanGdss]

I called and am trying to be penciled in and am being told NO!! Could you tell that makes me angry!LOL I was told someone would contact me a year before and that it was too soon to speak to anyone. While others on this board who are having their wedding after me already have a coordinator! I guess it's all in who you talk to when you call? I do plan on calling back soon and insisting on having someone call me because I want to schedule a site visit. The person I spoke to did take my info down with the date and venues I wanted after I nagged her!

call them back!! They should have definately pencilled you in as long as you're within 18 months!! Boo on DFTW They should assign you a coordinator and help you schedule a site visit.

 

[Mrsdisneyb2b]

Welcome and Congrats!!

We have a total of 46 guests (36 adults, 6 children (3-9) and 4 babies (2 and under- they are free)).
We are having our ceremony at Sea Breeze Point (at the Boardwalk Inn Resort), the dinner reception at The Attic (also at the BWI Resort right next to the Atlantic Dance Hall) and then an Illuminations Dessert Party at Epcot Upper UK Terrace.

We are trying to stay as close to the $10,000 minimum as possible, without going too far over. So far so good. We do have an outside photographer that is not included in the $10,000.

Feel free to ask lots of questions. Everyone is really helpful here. Have you spoken to anyone at Disney yet?

Here are some pics...

Sea Breeze Point:

The Attic:

Upper UK at Epcot:

Wow, you are getting all that for around 10,000?
When we went on disneyweddings.com it said our minimum total would be around 25....

Does disney work with you on prices? Do they really offer you the best price etc?

 

[Mrsdisneyb2b]

I am from NJ, my parents are in NYC. Booking everything was no problem. The Disney wedding staff is wonderful, extremely helpful. And this website is invaluable and even more helpful than Disney (look at how many answers you've gotten already!!).

Our $10,000 includes (I'm stealing OceanGdss list format- I love it! ):
- 46 guests
- Bridal Dressing Room at Boardwalk Conv. Center
- Ceremony at SBP
- Violinist (during Ceremony & Cocktail Reception)
- CD player Setup (Dinner Music)
- Motorcoach from Boardwalk to Epcot and back to Boardwalk
- Cocktail Hour (wine + cheese and bread)
- Two hour buffet dinner reception (no dessert)
- Open Bar (3 hours)
- Wedding Cake
- 1.5 hour Epcot Fireworks Dessert Party with chocolate fondue station
- Floral (all bridal party flowers, aisle petals, tossing petals, petals and votives as centerpieces, Mickey Chocolate Favors)

Things on our own:
- Photographer (Misty Miotto)
- Video (Uncle)
- Officiant
- Invites/Programs
- Welcome Bags
- Rehearsal Brunch
- Makeup/ Hair (Patricia LeJeune)

Disney charges a service fee for all food and beverage (20%) and then sales tax on top of that.

My Disney Total (including their service fees and taxes) = $11,260

My Total (including my gown and accessories) = $17,000


If you are at all worried about saving your guests money, you should reconsider a summer disney wedding. You will get the best hotel rates during Disney's Value Season, the next best is the regular season... from what I've seen airline tickets from Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark are also more affordable during Disney's Value and Regular Seasons. Holidays are the most expensive.

Value Season: January 1 - February 13, August 3 - October 1, November 30 - December 18
Regular Season: March 30 - May 21, October 2 - November 29
Summer Season: May 22 - August 2
Peak Season: February 14 - March 29
Holiday Season: December 19 - December 31

OH my goodness that is exactly what I was looking for...but got so nervous when the disney site said around 25!!!!

Are you doing your own table settings etc?

and ps what is sbp?

 

[Mrsdisneyb2b]

Please do not hate me! LOL. I called yesterday and they confused me....

We are heading out there for the exact week (one year before in June) we want the wedding. Do we have to call and schedule a meeting with them to book the venues etc? Like, are we supposed to call to make an appoitment to meet with them to see what we want to book on that day?

 

[hope1826]

Please do not hate me! LOL. I called yesterday and they confused me....

We are heading out there for the exact week (one year before in June) we want the wedding. Do we have to call and schedule a meeting with them to book the venues etc? Like, are we supposed to call to make an appoitment to meet with them to see what we want to book on that day?

We won't hate you!! It's completely ok to ask questions here!

SBP = Sea Breeze Point
We chose the standard place settings for The Attic.

We were only able to get that much for $10,000 because of the choices we are having our wedding on a Monday and because of the locations we chose. Sea Breeze Point is only $1500, I think the Wedding pavillion is $2500. Almost all of the reception locations have food minimums you must reach. The Attic had a low food minimum of $2500. If we had chosen the wedding pavillion and a different reception venue would could have easily been spending $15,000 at Disney.

There are different overall minimums for different dates and days.

You can read about them this website... http://www.mouseweddings.com/wdwcustombasics.html#basics

If you asked for a Saturday in June or July, your minimum will be $25,000....

* Premium Season - October, November, May, June
* Saturday = $25,000
* Sunday = $20,000
* Friday = $20,000
* Monday - Thursday = $10,000 (except holidays)

* Regular Season - March, April, July, December
* Saturday = $20,000
* Sunday = $15,000
* Friday = $15,000
* Monday - Thursday = $10,000 (except holidays)

* Low Season - January, February, August, September
* Saturday = $15,000
* Sunday = $15,000
* Friday = $15,000
* Monday - Thursday = $10,000 (except holidays)

To be honest, this forum and www.mouseweddings.com and a few other sites are much easier to understand than disney's wedding website and the disney staff. As you get closer to your wedding and you can start having planning sessions, then the Disney staff is most helpful and really goes into every detail. Until then, their answers are usually vague.

 

[hope1826]

Wow, you are getting all that for around 10,000?
When we went on disneyweddings.com it said our minimum total would be around 25....

Does disney work with you on prices? Do they really offer you the best price etc?

In my dealings with Disney, they have NOT offered me the best prices. Maybe others on this board have had a different experience though. I had to find the best deals from the advice on the disboards (YAY!! DISBOARDS ROCKS ) and www. mouseweddings.com and a few other sites disboard members have suggested. I would NOT have been able to stay so close to my budget without disboards.com.

 

[FIREFLY01]

I Just Had My Wedding On A Sunday Night At Wedding Pavillion 730pm And The Reception Was At Epcot Italy Isola W/ Illuminations, My Guests Did Not Have To Pay Park Admission. I Had 50 Guests, I Used:
Disney Video
Disney Dj
Disney Wedding Cake 3 Tier
Disney Floral, With Min. Decor We Did Candles At Wp And Italy
For Food We Did Open Bar, And A Cocktail Like Food Buffett All Appetizers Since It Was Late
2 Limo, 1 Town Car 1 Motorcoach
All For $16,000

On Our Own:
Photo- Randy Chapman (the Best And Reasonable)
Hair Makeup- Ana Beaute Special $115 For Bride
Minister- Luther Kistler $150
Made Own Invites, Programs (disney Does Ur Save The Dates)
I May Be Missing Stuff, My Planning Journal Is On Here, And I Just Started My Trip Report,(bobbie & David) These Boards Are Great Everyone On Here Will Help U, Ask Anything!!!
I Did My Whole Wedding In 5 Monthes W/disney It Is So Easy!!!
Best Wishes And Welcome To The Boards!!!

 

[LuvLeLe10]

Welcome and Congrats!!

We have a total of 46 guests (36 adults, 6 children (3-9) and 4 babies (2 and under- they are free)).
We are having our ceremony at Sea Breeze Point (at the Boardwalk Inn Resort), the dinner reception at The Attic (also at the BWI Resort right next to the Atlantic Dance Hall) and then an Illuminations Dessert Party at Epcot Upper UK Terrace.

We are trying to stay as close to the $10,000 minimum as possible, without going too far over. So far so good. We do have an outside photographer that is not included in the $10,000.

This sounds exactly what we are wanting to do! I would love for you to share your knowledge!

 

[M&M126]

Just wanted to say Welcome!

 

[dakcp2001]

bump