The maximum of 8 guests for an intimate wedding has been the standard for some time now (however, as other posts have mentioned, If you ask specifically about the intimate add-on option it may be available for an extra 5 guests for an additional $500). As for the pricing. You can reserve your wedding date up to a year in advanc, this just pencils you in for a particular site to make sure that no one else takes the same spot, but you don't actually pay anything at this time. However, if you book during 2004 and the prices change for 2005, most likely you will pay costs on the 2005 pricing as your final bill will be calculated in 2005 about 30 days from your wedding date (unless your billing date is within the 2004 pricing dates). We had our wedding in June 2003, shortly after that they raised some of the prices - we were billed before the change and therefore didn't have to pay for the increased rates on some of our options.
Hope this answers your question.
Marne
06-16-2003
WP/LS