No Dessert Party?

[CharacterFan]

Is it okay not to have a dessert party? DFi and I don't care for Illuminations at all (we've seen it once in 4 years) Wishes and Fantasmic are a bit pricey. We think we'd rather spend the time with our friends in the parks and scope out a spot on Main Street for Wishes. Maybe buy everyone a bucket of popcorn. Or after our reception ends around 3pm, just say good night to our guests. I've just heard of so many people doing dessert parties, Illuminations seems like the only budget fitting option for a dessert party.

Has anyone done a lunch reception and not a dessert party?

Thanks

 

[lurkyloo]

Lots of people have had Disney weddings that ended when their lunch receptions were over! No need to feel obligated to have a dessert party if it's not your thing - your guests certainly aren't expecting one.

I think a lot of us just really like the unique opportunity to work the fireworks into our weddings. But if you can save the money, great!

 

[Wish on a Star]

I wish I had the budget for a dessert party but it's just not there. I am having a late lunch reception (at 2) and I searched for something special to do the night of my wedding because I couldnt just act like it was any Thursday! My DFi finally suggested a romantic night just for the two of us. We are booking California Grill and hoping to watch wishes from up there.

I realized that a lot of people are making this trip into their vacation- I dont want to plan every minute of their stay- I am happy now knowing they have a little time to make the trip their own.


Additionally- I decided the night before our wedding I will be having a little party in our hotel room (we have a 2bedroom at Old Key West) I am going to a grocery store to pick up coffee, wine and some desserts for a little "Meet and Greet" (a little more my budget).

Hope this helps all you budget brides!!!

 

[JandJ]

Of course it's o.k.! DH really dislikes Illuminations and I'm not a big fan, plus it wasn't cheap, and my father wouldn't have been able to go to a dessert party. We did much like Wish_on_a_Star is doing, DH and I had a private meal in our room after the cake cutting and photos. It was romantic and exactly what we wanted to do. It's your wedding day - do something special that you want to do! The next day we hosted brunch for everyone at Whispering Canyon Cafe, and that was very nice. Many of our guests left for home after brunch so it was a perfect time for us to say thank you and good-bye.

 

[acwinsett]

Dessert parties look really nice, but there are other creative ways to share pixie dust with your guests.

Not exactly a "budget friendly" option, but we're going to try to time it to where we can have our nicest dinner at the California Grill on the night BEFORE our Escape Wedding, have a late morning / early afternoon wedding and cake cutting, and then buy tickets for our guests to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party for the night of our wedding. If we buy 20 tickets, it will run a little more than $1,000. (Our budget strategy is keeping the guest count low.)

We feel like that experience will be really fun for our guests for the whole evening, as opposed to an hour-long dessert party / 15 minute fireworks display. Also, it will give our guests who choose not to purchase theme park tickets an opportunity to go in and experience the Magic Kingdom, and ride a bunch of the rides with short wait times. I love the idea of scoping out a great fireworks viewing location for everyone and buying buckets of popcorn

Also, it's a unique opportunity for us - the first time that Brian and I walked into the Magic Kingdom together, it was a Christmas Party night!

I'm worried now that the park hours are not being posted until just a few months out . . . we're just crossing our fingers that the timing will work out right!

 

[CharacterFan]

Thank you for your replies. It makes me feel better. I'm also happy to see that DFi and I aren't the only ones who don't like Illuminations.