Please, Please Help! I need advise!!

[6loversofdisney]

I hope this doesn't get moved to weddings/honeymoons because there are crickets chirping there lol - not a lot of traffic if you know what I mean.

I want as much help as I can get.

I am planning a trip to Disney next December. This trip will be special for a few reasons. #1 - It is our 20th wedding anniversary is next year. #2 - I have never seen the holiday lights and this has been a dream of mine for a long time now. #3 - Even though it is our anniversary trip, we will take our four kids because I want them to experience it all with us.

Here's my question - I would like to do something for my husband special (a surprise) while we are there, maybe even incorporate the kids in it. I am considering a vow renewal but don't know anything at all about that. Would I try to find a priest while we are down there? Do I have to pay Disney to do this? Do I have to "tell" Disney I am doing this or can we just do it in front of the castle? I have so many questions. Please give any advise you can offer. I don't even know if we can do the vow renewal being of Catholic faith - I am thinking that it does not matter. Thanks all as I know you are always there to help out

 

[ses1230]

I hope this doesn't get moved to weddings/honeymoons because there are crickets chirping there lol - not a lot of traffic if you know what I mean.

I want as much help as I can get.

I am planning a trip to Disney next December. This trip will be special for a few reasons. #1 - It is our 20th wedding anniversary is next year. #2 - I have never seen the holiday lights and this has been a dream of mine for a long time now. #3 - Even though it is our anniversary trip, we will take our four kids because I want them to experience it all with us.

Here's my question - I would like to do something for my husband special (a surprise) while we are there, maybe even incorporate the kids in it. I am considering a vow renewal but don't know anything at all about that. Would I try to find a priest while we are down there? Do I have to pay Disney to do this? Do I have to "tell" Disney I am doing this or can we just do it in front of the castle? I have so many questions. Please give any advise you can offer. I don't even know if we can do the vow renewal being of Catholic faith - I am thinking that it does not matter. Thanks all as I know you are always there to help out

Officially, I don't think you can have a wedding or vow renewal on property without using Disney's wedding services.

 

[skunkvette]

I recommend "Gifts of a Lifetime". Google will get their site.

I used them for our 25th "renewal" on the Beach at Beach Club and again for my DW's 50th.

They can not do in park renewals, but our event took part mostly in the park.

For the 25th vow renewal they incorporated the whole family into the event.

No inexpensive, but flexible, personal and the memories last!

 

[catra121]

My parents did the vow renewal through Disney and it was a wonderful experience. They were super helpful in getting everything set up and made the process very easy for my parents.

We went for a week and it was my parents, me and my boyfriend, my brother, and my grandma. We were able to get a photo session in the MK as part of the package as well as photos the day of before, during, and after the ceremony. The pictures were wonderful and are so special to me. When I was going through some health issues a couple years ago, stuck in a wheelchair, not able to walk/stand at all, and in a lot of pain...those pictures were with me always and helped keep me motivated to keep fighting. Priceless...I wouldn't trade them and the experience for anything.

I don't think you can officially have a wedding or vow renewal at the parks if it's not done through Disney. I would never want to take the risk of being asked to leave...it would ruin the whole experience for me. All those little Disney extras that come with doing it through Disney really make it a magical and special experience.

 

[disnut8]

For what it seems you want, you will have to go through Disney for your ceremony.

That being said, my husband and I "renewed" our vows on our 20th anniversary while at Disney World but we had a very small thing, no officials were involved but our entire family just gathered in one place, my brother-in-law read our original vows, then we all went off together for dinner. I did sweat out the Disney police but we were off the beaten path and the entire thing was over in less than 5 minutes.

However, I think you want a lot more than that so Disney would be the way to go.

 

[ses1230]

If you decide you want to go all out, check out Swan/Dolphin, too. Their prices are a little lower than Disney.

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

I hope this doesn't get moved to weddings/honeymoons because there are crickets chirping there lol - not a lot of traffic if you know what I mean.

I want as much help as I can get.

I am planning a trip to Disney next December. This trip will be special for a few reasons. #1 - It is our 20th wedding anniversary is next year. #2 - I have never seen the holiday lights and this has been a dream of mine for a long time now. #3 - Even though it is our anniversary trip, we will take our four kids because I want them to experience it all with us.

Here's my question - I would like to do something for my husband special (a surprise) while we are there, maybe even incorporate the kids in it. I am considering a vow renewal but don't know anything at all about that. Would I try to find a priest while we are down there? Do I have to pay Disney to do this? Do I have to "tell" Disney I am doing this or can we just do it in front of the castle? I have so many questions. Please give any advise you can offer. I don't even know if we can do the vow renewal being of Catholic faith - I am thinking that it does not matter. Thanks all as I know you are always there to help out

We just celebrated our 25th at WDW in July, with the kids!

Happy Anniversary (early)!

The holiday lights will make your trip even more special!

I'll touch on the Catholic question.....
A Catholic priest can renew your vows anywhere. It happens all the time.

That being said, a priest does not have to be the one to renew your vows, anyone can. Even your kids! You are already married in the Catholic faith and you will not be "getting married"again. A vow renewal is a special moment between you and your DH. Nothing is being re-done. If you did want something low-key in a quiet, special place (we stayed at the WL) you could plan something quiet and special between you and your kids and surprise your DH. Or, perhaps, renew your vows in your family's parish and celebrate like the dickins in WDW!

Interesting to note, a Catholic priest can only perform a marriage INSIDE a Catholic church. No outdoor weddings (nor wedding in a building that is not a Catholic Church) allowed.

(p.s. I work for the Church)

 

[ArwenMarie]

I would talk to your priest about the vow renewal part just to be sure. Personally, I think it would be something best done at your parish at home, maybe even during Mass which would be lovely. And then have the celebration at WDW

 

[6loversofdisney]

Wow!! Some great tips!! And what a great point about not needing a priest. I could almost ask my kids to somehow help with this and put it together. If money were not an issue, I would love to do it "through Disney" but I just don't know about the finances part.

I love the idea of going off the beaten path and just going into "ceremony" mode all while he will have no idea. I could have some things in a backpack that one of my kids could carry that would have things to have the "ceremony" and just go for it.

A bonus would be if my parents come along this time (they have in the past) and they could be my camera crew/videographer.

Keep your ideas coming and thank you all!!!

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

Wow!! Some great tips!! And what a great point about not needing a priest. I could almost ask my kids to somehow help with this and put it together. If money were not an issue, I would love to do it "through Disney" but I just don't know about the finances part.

I love the idea of going off the beaten path and just going into "ceremony" mode all while he will have no idea. I could have some things in a backpack that one of my kids could carry that would have things to have the "ceremony" and just go for it.

A bonus would be if my parents come along this time (they have in the past) and they could be my camera crew/videographer.

Keep your ideas coming and thank you all!!!

 

[cocoachip]

We celebrated our 25th December wedding anniversary in Florida. Since we had a car, we booked a vow renewal on Cocoa Beach - about an hour from wdw - and celebrated in the parks afterward. Very inexpensive with a wide variety of ceremony options. My teenagers were the photographers and we even ended up with several great family shots on the beach taken by the officiant. Wonderful experience!

 

[ShayBells]

This is just an idea I don't know how religious or legal you want it, but if you want it in front of the castle you could have an impromptu renewal. Just your family. you and your husband can do the vows and everything. You don't need a priest or anything just a nice way to remind each other of your love in front of your kids. Like I said just an idea. :shrugs: and congrats on your anniversary and planning your trip. My dream as well is to see disney at Xmas time hopefully ill get there some day as well either way just a little piece of advice.. Have fun no matter what you decide no stressing!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I think that the local Diocese has prohibited any Priest from performing a marriage ceremony at the Wedding Pavilion. I don't know if this applies to a renewal of vows.

 

[lynetteSC]

I second getting in touch with jane at gifts of a lifetime! We are working with her now for a VR! We have used her for many events and never been disappointed! Congratulations on the 20 year mark. We celebrate our 20th next year as well!

 

[disnut8]

I love the idea of going off the beaten path and just going into "ceremony" mode all while he will have no idea. I could have some things in a backpack that one of my kids could carry that would have things to have the "ceremony" and just go for it.

We just picked a special place for us that worked out perfectly since it was not being used at 4:00 PM on our exact 20th anniversary. If you want to PM me, I'll be happy to share the details of what we did.

 

[bumbershoot]

That being said, a priest does not have to be the one to renew your vows, anyone can. Even your kids! You are already married in the Catholic faith and you will not be "getting married"again. A vow renewal is a special moment between you and your DH. Nothing is being re-done. ....


Interesting to note, a Catholic priest can only perform a marriage INSIDE a Catholic church. No outdoor weddings (nor wedding in a building that is not a Catholic Church) allowed.

(p.s. I work for the Church)

Yep, no need for any official officiant. Could just be the two of you! DH and I had a "hand-fasting" that was important for us 1 year and 1 day before our actual wedding, and we did this in front of my mom's memorial plaque at "big cat island" at the National Zoo. Only my stepdad knew what we were doing, but that didn't matter because it, and the same with a vow renewal, only mattered to us.


The outdoor thing...unless things have totally and completely changed since 2001-2003, it might be true in theory but not in practice. At the time I was planning my wedding, and sharing that time with many other women (and a few men) online, I read of the journeys a very few couples had to have a Catholic wedding out of doors. As with a lot of wedding-related stuff in the church, while one dioceses says "that's impossible for a Catholic", another might say "do this, this,and that, and we'll talk about it".

As another example, I had two friends going through the annulment process during that time as well, and the "rules" were lightyears away from each other. One had everything planned down to the hour from the moment they started the process; the other couldn't plan ANYTHING until it was finalized. With the latter, they paid nothing to the church. The former had made quite a large contribution at the beginning of the process. And in the case of the latter, the former said HER priest wouldn't have required the annulment, as the future husband isn't Catholic with no plans to be, and hadn't married in any church in the first place. But the latter's priest insisted on it.


Totally unimportant to the OP, of course, but I found it to be fascinating during that time, to watch my friends' experiences and see how each priest was so vehemently insistent that HIS way was the true Catholic way, when they were quite opposite experiences!



OP, back to you, obviously you have been married to the fellow long enough to know that it's OK, but....*have you* given any thought as to whether he might want to be involved in the process? Even down to thinking about what he might say...he might want some time so he doesn't get tongue-tied, if you're doing a more homegrown version of a renewal, like something really casual just standing there during the the fireworks.

 

[6loversofdisney]

OP, back to you, obviously you have been married to the fellow long enough to know that it's OK, but....*have you* given any thought as to whether he might want to be involved in the process? Even down to thinking about what he might say...he might want some time so he doesn't get tongue-tied, if you're doing a more homegrown version of a renewal, like something really casual just standing there during the the fireworks.

Yeah, I have given it some thought. He loves the romantic things that I do and has always said that he wishes he could come up with things too. I like your point a lot. After reading everything and getting input (which I love and appreciate), I am thinking more along the lines of writing something up from our kids' point of view and having my oldest (the not-so-emotional one) read it to us. Like write it out fancy and scroll it up with a ribbon. It could say something about "our love" for each other and not necessarily all about me and the way I feel about him. I think that if we do something for our 25th, it will be more of a thing where it is a bigger event and we would each write vows and both be involved. This is just something I've been milling about since we decided to celebrate in the Happiest Place On Earth Thank you all for your tips and avice