Please vote! I really need input on location!

[pixie921]

Hi everyone!

We've come up against a hitch in our plans and we really need input because we're so confused. Due to a lot of factors, we really feel we need to cut back on our VR and keep as close to the $10K minimum as humanly possible. We have two options, and would love to hear which you would choose (or if you have an alternative suggestion!).

#1 - Ceremony in Epcot (Italy), brunch at Ariel's, Mickey Mouse. No MK photo session.

#2 - Ceremony at Sea Breeze Point, brunch at Ariel's, Mickey and Minnie; MK and Epcot photo sessions.


Not having an in-park ceremony would save us money on the required transportation and required Disney photography, but we *really* love Italy. SBP is really lovely but it feel so "public", and not quite as "fairytale-ish". And why have a Disney VR if not to have it in a park?

If we had the ceremony in Italy, we could get a lot of really beautiful shots and it's very castle-ish but we would lose the MK photo session, which was the thing that made us decide on a WDW VR in the first place. Of course, even that isn't what it used to be, since you can't get photos in the castle anymore with the late start and there are already guests in the park walking all around the castle.

So, what do you think? TIA so much for any and all opinions!

 

[sambycat]

if you hadn't said that the MK portraits are what made you consider the VR in the first place, i would have totally said the first choice in italy because it sounds like a wonderful, contained event with TONS of magic!

but even though there are people in the MK when you go, we still got great pics and if that is what brought you there to even start planning this.....

 

[PartofDisney'sWorld]

I would pick the first one because you still have a year to come back and do the MK session after your VR.

 

[pixie921]

Thanks for the input so far!

I should add that we wouldn't be able to come back within a year for the MK shoot only because we are using all our DVC points for this year and next to provide accommodations for our family and friends for the VR. So it's a one-time-only opportunity that we'd be giving up.

OTOH, while if we did SBP we could still do the MK and Epcot shoots, I wonder if they'd feel less "meaningful" than if we had them taken where our actual ceremony takes place. I don't know if that makes any sense?

 

[KristiLyn]

I'd choose the second one, especially since the MK shoot was what made you decide on this in the first place

 

[pezaddict231]

I'd also choose the second. You seem to be getting more out of it. I would also like being able to use whatever photographer I want for the wedding day, which is why we didn't do any in park events. But mainly because you said that the MK shoot is what made you decide to have a Disney VR to begin with, it would be a shame not to do it.

 

[PartofDisney'sWorld]

Thanks for the input so far!

I should add that we wouldn't be able to come back within a year for the MK shoot only because we are using all our DVC points for this year and next to provide accommodations for our family and friends for the VR. So it's a one-time-only opportunity that we'd be giving up.

OTOH, while if we did SBP we could still do the MK and Epcot shoots, I wonder if they'd feel less "meaningful" than if we had them taken where our actual ceremony takes place. I don't know if that makes any sense?

Well in that case I change my mind to the second choice. I think you get more bang for your buck with that, and I would rather have the MK shoot and compromise on location. We actually had to do this, not because of the MK shoot but because our first choice location would have meant DOUBLING the cost, so we changed our reception to our second choice and we really feel like we can have everything we want for a lot less money.

Also, I agree with others, if the MK shoot was the main reason you wanted the VR at Disney, then you should definitely do it. And I know you think it would be more magical to do it in-park, but you're still at Disney and I think it's going to be really magical wherever you are!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Amy - Sorry to hear you have some tough decisions to make!!
I think, from reading your post, that your heart is set on Italy and IMHO you should go with that.
As somebody else said, you can always do the MK portraits next year. I may be a bit biased though as I am not a great fan of the MK portraits in general.
Good luck with your decision sweetie!!!

 

[pixie921]

I'd choose the second one, especially since the MK shoot was what made you decide on this in the first place

I'd also choose the second. You seem to be getting more out of it. I would also like being able to use whatever photographer I want for the wedding day, which is why we didn't do any in park events. But mainly because you said that the MK shoot is what made you decide to have a Disney VR to begin with, it would be a shame not to do it.

Well in that case I change my mind to the second choice. I think you get more bang for your buck with that, and I would rather have the MK shoot and compromise on location. We actually had to do this, not because of the MK shoot but because our first choice location would have meant DOUBLING the cost, so we changed our reception to our second choice and we really feel like we can have everything we want for a lot less money.

Also, I agree with others, if the MK shoot was the main reason you wanted the VR at Disney, then you should definitely do it. And I know you think it would be more magical to do it in-park, but you're still at Disney and I think it's going to be really magical wherever you are!

Amy - Sorry to hear you have some tough decisions to make!!
I think, from reading your post, that your heart is set on Italy and IMHO you should go with that.
As somebody else said, you can always do the MK portraits next year. I may be a bit biased though as I am not a great fan of the MK portraits in general.
Good luck with your decision sweetie!!!

You all have helped more than you know. It's so helpful to get outside perspective.

I was discussing things with my mom today and she brought up the possibility of rain. If it were to rain the day of our VR, we would be moved inside the American Adventure pavilion, which while lovely, isn't the look we want for our VR at all. How upset would we be if we gave up our MK shoot for Italy, and then got rained out? And that would definitely be our luck.

So right now, we're actually leaning towards the Wedding Pavilion of all things! SBP could also be cancelled due to rain, whereas in the WP it's not an issue. Plus, it's very private, and we can use our own flowers, which we can't at Italy or SBP, and that would also be a cost savings. And not having to get covered chairs, etc. would even out the cost between the WP and the other locations.

And best of all, it would let us keep the MK photo session.

 

[Tiggr88]

I'm not sure how many people you have. Could you swap something out for an Epcot dessert party? Your ceremony wouldn't be in Epcot, but you'd have the nice Illuminations dessert party instead.

 

[chryscrazy]

I think the WP sounds like a better option for you. I was going to vote #1 cause it sounded like you really wanted the privacy, but then I read that the reason you wanted a Disney wedding was for the MK shoot, so I voted #2....I think that's right, it was earlier today and I didn't re-read the options.

The biggest reason I wanted a Disney wedding was to get the fireworks pictures in my dress, and with the timing of my ceremony, I'm not sure that's going to happen for me. I think a Disney wedding will still be nice, but I'll feel extremely let down if I don't get this. I should have moved things around to make it happen, but I didn't realize how hard it would be and it's too late now. So I really think you should find a way now to make that MK shoot happen.

 

[April Elizabeth]

Amy,

I voted for the second, but now that you've put the WP in, I vote for that!
#1 you won't have to worry about back up in case of rain. #2 you can have your outside floral #3 you can have your MK photo shoot and Epcot too. #4 you won't have to use Disney Photography.

It sounds like your Mom helped you figure it out!

 

[pixie921]

I'm not sure how many people you have. Could you swap something out for an Epcot dessert party? Your ceremony wouldn't be in Epcot, but you'd have the nice Illuminations dessert party instead.

We'd originally wanted to do one, but with trying to stay as close to our minimum as possible, a dessert party is unfortunately not an option.

I think the WP sounds like a better option for you. I was going to vote #1 cause it sounded like you really wanted the privacy, but then I read that the reason you wanted a Disney wedding was for the MK shoot, so I voted #2....I think that's right, it was earlier today and I didn't re-read the options.

The biggest reason I wanted a Disney wedding was to get the fireworks pictures in my dress, and with the timing of my ceremony, I'm not sure that's going to happen for me. I think a Disney wedding will still be nice, but I'll feel extremely let down if I don't get this. I should have moved things around to make it happen, but I didn't realize how hard it would be and it's too late now. So I really think you should find a way now to make that MK shoot happen.

I appreciate the advice. And I really hope you get your fireworks pictures!

Amy,

I voted for the second, but now that you've put the WP in, I vote for that!
#1 you won't have to worry about back up in case of rain. #2 you can have your outside floral #3 you can have your MK photo shoot and Epcot too. #4 you won't have to use Disney Photography.

It sounds like your Mom helped you figure it out!

I think she did, actually!