Overwhelmed....

[lunawolf]

So, I have started researching stuff for a Wishes wedding. I have been perusing this discussion board and many other things, but it is completely overwhelming. I am a little tired of reading discussion after discussion and only part of what I was hoping to get, so I finally caved and registered and figured this would be a good community to be a part of anyway.

As far as the Disney Wedding, we are probably going for a Wishes wedding. I think we are expecting roughly 60 people and are hoping to keep it around $20,000 but definitely do not want to spend more than $30,000.

My main question right now is, aside from the deposit, would there be any additional cost to actually PLANNING the wedding? They talk about all these fancy things to plan out the wedding...but that would hopefully be included in the price? I hate that when it comes to pricing it only states the minimum expenditure.... I understand that due to the ability to customize it's nearly impossible to quote, but surely different items would still have a base price?

We haven't announced our engagement but want to start planning the wedding because we have to pay probably solely on our own. We are aiming to get married in 2015 (so I can't even make a deposit until 2014 >_<) and literally are starting now because we really WANT to get married at Disney, but since we haven't announced our engagement and won't be moving out until ~December, we don't want any official wedding mail or anything like that to be coming to our houses. So I'm trying to gather as much information as humanly possible without having to contact Disney directly or receive anything at my home.

I have found a few budget related posts and pages, but most are quite a bit outdated. If anyone could link me to any recent (like, 1-2 years) that would be cool! Because currently, at the price increase I have found compared to previously, there has been about a 37% price increase in the weddings over the last about 5 years, and it's because I am unsure of the dates and the things being reported. I looked at some pjs but most are more blog-style than product breakdown (my fiance is an engineer and I am an accountant, you can only imagine how crazy we get when there are no numbers involved in what we are doing).

Also, can you pretty much choose any theme and a custom theme? We're huge nerds and want to include gaming into our wedding, specifically Kingdom Hearts if at all possible, but I don't even know if that would be possible since Square Enix I think owns most of the rights for the characters and such.

I'm sorry that was such a long post! I guess I am just freaking out a little haha.

 

[DisneyDudet]

I'm not having a Wishes wedding, but know many who are. Apart from the actual wedding itself, other expenses may come from your planning session at WDW, where you do tastings and discuss florals and decor. That's an extra trip down there. Also, I believe you will have to stay on property for a certain amount of time, but I'm not positive.

Depending on what you really want, your costs will add up quickly. And you get to do whatever your theme is, as much as you can! Totally customizable! I am an Escape bride, so I don't get as many options, but your options are endless!

 

[LittleKittyMarie]

Hi there! If you have not already I highly recommend checking out the Passporters Disney Weddings book (written by a Disney bride, lurkyloo here on the boards). My fiancé and I are having a Wishes wedding. Prior to contacting disney we bought the book, which has a lot of information and pricing on major elements for any wedding, and made a complete budget. And now over two years later my initial budget is still fairly on track. Obviously things like flowers, which depend on individual choices are not covered in specifics, but there are general prices. And the boards are a good place to ask other brides about those specifics. I highly recommend it, I could not have planned my wedding without it.

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

Yes, you can definitely theme your wedding any way you want. I am including a bunch of nerdy details, mainly Lord of the Rings, intermingled with our overall Casablanca movie theme. The sky is the limit. I would just mention, most of the aspects of our wedding that reflect our interests and theme come from my own DIY projects and clothing choices, which are independent of what Disney will be doing for me. So, I'd say if you want Kingdom Hearts definitely go for it! You could ask Disney if they can do anything for you, but probably the best way to accomplish that theme is through your own personal details that you would provide without DFTW's assistance, e.g. invites, table numbers, cake toppers to name a few.

Hope that helps!

 

[LittleKittyMarie]

Also, I'm not sure if I answered your question correctly... But the minimum is how much you have to spend, the minimum includes nothing it is merely the amount of money you guarantee to pay Disney to hold a wedding. You can choose whichever elements (for example: location rentals, reception food, Cinderellas coach, photography) you would like to make up that minimum. A wedding planner is included at no fee, to facilitate your choices and manage your wedding day.

 

[bigr3ddog]

I would second the Passporter recommendation. I found more information from that book about dftw than anywhere else. It also gives some more specific pricing information on many but not all items. As a result, we've been able to do a fair amount of planning that we otherwise would not have been able to do because Disney can't really have a meaningful conversation with us until August for our proposed December 2014 wedding.

Lurkyloo also has an unofficial dftw podcast called the Disney weddings podcast. It complements the Passporter very well. I've listened to almost all the episodes and read the book cover to cover. As a result, we have a good idea of what we want and are hoping we'll be pretty close to our $12k minimum.

Oh, there is a minimum room stay. You need to guarantee ten room nights. We'll have twenty-six guests, and we have enough out of town people to make the ten nights.

 

[purplegirl1818]

I third the purchase of the book. It's saved many hairs on my head from being ripped out.

 

[wiigirl]

I third the purchase of the book. It's saved many hairs on my head from being ripped out.

 

[mollygibson]

I am in the process of planning our Memories wedding as well! We are getting married at Luau Beach on January 11, 2014. Our "two" guests are our moms and the officiant is my fiances dad I have so far paid the deposit, and filled out the planning kit. As far as I know that is all we have to do! We are staying at Polynesian for the two nights, and WOW is that expensive. I wouldn't want to stay anywhere else, I have stayed at Disney numerous times, but have never opted for the Deluxe resorts. We are so excited! I would love to see everyone's pictures as their wedding days come and go

 

[jan120]

It is a good idea to start planning/saving as early as possible. I certainly think you can have around 60 people in your price range. My main costs are food/bar..I have also gone over budget for floral and things like chivari chairs and chargers were important to the look I want. I have used a few outside vendors as well..it has not saved me a lot of money but I feel I am getting more for the cost...as in floral centerpieces, photography and video. I found the facebook disbrides group and I have learned so much from that group..similar to this group but more active and private..you might want to join that group. Good Luck and enjoy!

 

[bigr3ddog]

My main question right now is, aside from the deposit, would there be any additional cost to actually PLANNING the wedding? They talk about all these fancy things to plan out the wedding...but that would hopefully be included in the price? I hate that when it comes to pricing it only states the minimum expenditure.... I understand that due to the ability to customize it's nearly impossible to quote, but surely different items would still have a base price?

I forgot about this part. There are no other expenditures other than the $2000 deposit, which would not be until you reserve your date no earlier than 12 months prior to your wedding date. You can be penciled in at 16 months, but Disney will not ask for money until you have reserved your date and signed the agreement.

Planning incurs no additional cost. You are expected to spend only the minimum expenditure. While you may incur additional cost to go to Disney for a planning session or a site visit, you do not need to have a site visit and you do not need to come to Disney for your planning session. The planning session can be done over the phone, and you can choose your venues without seeing them in person. If you do come to a planning session, you may request a tasting session, but there is no charge for the tasting session itself.

Your minimum expenditure is due 90 days prior to the event, and then balance is due I think thirty days before. Of your $2000 deposit, $1000 is applied toward this balance and $1000 is held in case of overages. Any money left after the event is refunded to you.

For sixty guests, I would think you should be able to manage quite comfortably with a $20k-$30k budget. We have just under thirty guests and expect to be close our $12k minimum.

Hope that helps.

 

[Chilly]

Here'sa link to all the podcasts:

http://disneytravelbabble.com/podcast/

Episode 5 is all about Wishes weddings.

 

[SOnotLayuh]

Also a big fan of the passporter book! In fact, you can join the passporter community online and then read the ebook for free. It's $4.95 a month.

Carrie really helped SO MUCH with my planning just by publishing that book. Seriously. I couldn't have fathomed making this work otherwise.