no idea where to start ????

[stitchaholic]

wow, I am extremely overwhelmed, just when I thought I knew alot about Disney,I have a whole new topic to learn about....

My DB and I were planning on eloping in Jamaica, I have never really wanted a big fancy wedding, I am not into big dazzling dresses and tiara's, so a beach wedding sounded perfect to me.
But then we started talking about Disney, because he has learned that I am a mousejunkie, and I wanted him to create a profile on here and start searching the boards.... heeheehee, that always leads to a trip for me ( I was hoping it would have the same effect on him)
So as a single mom, I was feeling a little guilty about taking a trip without the kids, so I had suggested that we find a cheap getaway for march break so that they could have a vacation with us too, then he said, why don't we get married at disney, that way the kids could come and maybe some immidiate family , wow, what a great idea!!
But now I am completely overwhelmed.... is there such thing as a non fancy wedding at Disney ? can we get something that won't cost 10,000 ? I saw sunset point, I think at the poly, that could be my beach wedding withen my favorite place on earth, but where do I start, how do you plan a non fancy wedding at Disney ?

 

[Chilly]

Start by downloading Carrie's book:

http://www.passporter.com/weddings.asp

And reading the Disney Wedding Website:

http://disneyweddings.disney.go.com/

When you've looked through them you can come back here and ask any questions you have.

You can def do a Disney wedding for less than 10K.

 

[2nd Time Bride]

You may have just convinced me to do a PJ (Planning Journal). As my name indicates, I have been married before and did not want an over the top wedding. In fact, I tried to convince my DF to go to Vegas, rent a sweet car and do a drive thru wedding!

There are very few people on this board planning a Sunset Point wedding, I think because of the size of the location. You cannot have more than a handful of people and I think most people just need more room, once the invites go out. But it is a beautiful, private location on a beach, sounds like it would be exactly what you are looking for.

Are you looking to stay under $10k for the whole trip, room included, or just the wedding? If that is your budget for the wedding only, I think you can do it. If that is your budget for the wedding and the entire trip...well...I personally think it will be tight.

I think there are some budgets on this board and the gals here are really good at budgeting and finding the best ways to have a beautiful wedding at the best price. My advice is to poke around the board for budgets and talk to a Wedding Coordinator as soon as possible. Also, use a good tool like theknot.com budgeter to really get an idea of where you can and want to spend your money.

 

[Yunchman]

Have you thought about a Disney Cruise Line Wedding? A wedding on DCL is the cheapest route for a Disney wedding. Also you can get married on the beach at Disney's private island Castaway Cay during the cruise or on board the ship.

Sounds like you too want a beach wedding, and so do I, so my DF and I are indeed getting married on DCL and doing the CC ceremony! We are only having about ten people going but since our families are on opposite sides of the country this works fine for us. We are getting married on the cruise and then hacing at home receptions in both family locations.

I am very much looking forward to it because we get the best of both worlds, a wedding on the beach WITH some Disney magic and a GREAT vacation! Just something to think about

Stacy

 

[stitchaholic]

thanks Claire, I ordered the guide ! I am hoping that my parents will be happy that I am finally legalizing a union and want to help out

Ultimatly I would like to get it all in for 10,000, considering it will not be a huge fancy affair with all the extra's, the base sounds just fine to me, except for maybe getting my hair done with orchids like I saw in another wedding trip report.

the cruise is another option, but I feel like that would be a bit harder to organize to get all the immidiate family to come, some are coming from montreal, some from chicago, I just don't want to tie everyone down to be on the boat, if they are free to come and go as they please, it will be easier, my parents usually spend time in fla for the winter, so this would be just a day trip for them.

so,so many things to consider....

 

[stitchaholic]

does anybody know if you can marry on the beach at the swan ? we may have more than 8 people coming and that is the max for sunset point...
I also couldn/t help noticing that the swan weddings were cheaper, but I guess that would mean no annual passes withen the package

 

[lurkyloo]

Yes, one of the ceremony locations at the Swan is the beach.

 

[stitchaholic]

now I am pricing things out, I really want a DFTW, and escape at sunset point, but I really think we may be 12 people (3 being children) do you think they would make an exception to the 10 max(2 being bridal party) seing as the extra people are kids?
either that, or we splurge for the WP, i love the beach there for photo's....
now, there is a 4 night minimum resort stay, would this include if we stayed on DVC points ?

 

[lurkyloo]

now I am pricing things out, I really want a DFTW, and escape at sunset point, but I really think we may be 12 people (3 being children) do you think they would make an exception to the 10 max(2 being bridal party) seing as the extra people are kids?
either that, or we splurge for the WP, i love the beach there for photo's....
now, there is a 4 night minimum resort stay, would this include if we stayed on DVC points ?

Unfortunately they are very strict about the guest count and include kids. However, if you paid for the Wedding Pavilion, you could get married on the WP beach if you wanted.

Your DVC stay counts toward the 4-night minimum.

 

[Wish on a Star]

Unfortunately they are very strict about the guest count and include kids. However, if you paid for the Wedding Pavilion, you could get married on the WP beach if you wanted.

Your DVC stay counts toward the 4-night minimum.

YEP!
The WP beach is very pretty, you have to pay the Wedding Pavillion price (which is just a little higher than your average Escape wedding) but then you also have a back up location for rain. You could also do Sea Breeze Point which is on the water at Boardwalk and has a beachy feel to it (and it's cheaper) and you can take pictures in the sand at Yacht and Beach Club.

 

[stitchaholic]

I am not so sure that being on the boards constantly is helping, all I am getting are ideas on how to spend more $$$
seriously, it is helping and I am starting to get a good idea of what I would like, but still have some questions.....

how much should I expect to pay for hair and make up disney style for my daughter and I ?

how much for a Disney approved officiant ?

are the petals thrown at the end included ?

do those of you who got the MK photoshoot feel it was worth it ?

in the escape package, does the photographer take photo's of the other people attending the wedding, or just the bridal couple ?

thank you all so much for being there to answer some of these questions, we are working on kind of short notice, we are looking to be married in january-hopefully....

 

[Chilly]

how much should I expect to pay for hair and make up disney style for my daughter and I ? I think I paid $110 for my hair and make up

how much for a Disney approved officiant ? I think I paid $200

are the petals thrown at the end included ? NO

in the escape package, does the photographer take photo's of the other people attending the wedding, or just the bridal couple ? Everyone

 

[tinkerbell 766]

I am not so sure that being on the boards constantly is helping, all I am getting are ideas on how to spend more $$$
seriously, it is helping and I am starting to get a good idea of what I would like, but still have some questions.....

how much should I expect to pay for hair and make up disney style for my daughter and I ?

how much for a Disney approved officiant ?

are the petals thrown at the end included ?

do those of you who got the MK photoshoot feel it was worth it ?

in the escape package, does the photographer take photo's of the other people attending the wedding, or just the bridal couple ?

thank you all so much for being there to answer some of these questions, we are working on kind of short notice, we are looking to be married in january-hopefully....

Hi
I will try to answer your questions within the (limited) scope of my knowledge!!!

I have booked Patricia LeJeune for my VR. She is very highly recommended on the boards and she is coming to my hotel on the morning. She is costing $170.00 just for my hair and make-up (including travelling fee). I am unsure yet whether I will be adding my daughter to the appointment or whether she will do her own hair and make-up (she is 23!!). If I added her it would be an additional $120.00.

A Disney-approved officiant is around $200.00. I am having Rev Tim Herring and he is costing $200.00

Petals thrown at the end are extra

I am not having a MK shoot. My VR is at the Swan so I wouldn't be entitled to it, but as it is not something I wanted particularly to do it's no biggie. It is expensive but as to whether it is worth it I don't know. I am sure somebody else can help you with this one!!

I am sure thar the DPS photographer will take pictures of whoever or whatever you want!! We are using Randy Chapman.

Can I just say, don't rule out looking into the Swan. You can be married on the beach and I have built my own package (picked my own florist, cake, officiant, musician, photographer and officiant) and got it all SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than it would have been with DFTW. I agree that the APs are an issue if you could get the use, but since we are in the UK and it is highly unlikely we could afford to be in WDW again within a year, it was no issue!!
I own DVC too and have banked and borrowed points for a couple of years to pay for 5 nights on property for all my guests so another trip next year is probably out of the question!!