WDWbride2007
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2005
- Messages
- 328
So I just had my sticker shock moment 
...and I am only an intimate. The thing is that we want to have our wedding at the WP and add on a vintage car and the MK photo session. That's about 5K with taxes. Then we want outside photography, a nice dinner (maybe the Napa room at the Cali Grill), and an Illuminations rehearsal party. Basically, that leaves me with the costs of a weekday custom for 20 guests. (Although I must admit, it does include tax, tip, and the outside vendor.) It is still a bit much for poor grad students, and I am not sure how much my parents will contribute (his parents can't help). We are going to have the "budget" talk with my family when we had down to Miami for the holidays, but our family is not exactly wealthy.
Thus, before I get too attached to Disney, I have decided to start looking into alternatives. As I reviewed my wedding priorities (again), I realized that I would really like a private dinner. On my wedding day, I don't want kids running around screaming and other guests moving about us. We want to have an intimate meal with the few people that really touch our lives. I thought of the Cali Grill and V&A's, but they would run us about $3800 with taxes and tip. After hearing about Janine's troubles to secure private dining after her intimate ceremony, I began to get nervous about my chances. I also thought of Palio's at the Swan. I contacted the private dining manager, and I am waiting to hear from him. I figure they won't give me any hassle, since their weddings don't work through FTW. My other option...and the reason for this thread...is to have the ceremony elsewhere (for example, Leu Gardens) and then have a Disney reception. Janine mentioned that the Yacht Club said she could have her beach party as a reception if she was married off-property. So I called the general convention services people today and they said I still have to work through FTW for just a reception. When I called FTW, they agreed that I would work through them. When I asked if the weekday minimum would still apply if I am only having a reception, they said that I would probably still have to meet the minimum, but it was too early to tell for 2007. That was quite a frustrating answer!
Anyways...I started this thread to find out if anyone had ever just planned a reception at Disney. Or if anyone has suggestions for private dining that won't be so expensive (maybe $2000) or recommendations for working my event through some other department. What makes me sad is that I would have happily met the $7500 minimum they used to have for customs. It seems that my DF and I waited too long to plan our wedding. Disney, why do you hurt me so.....?
OK...enough self-pity...back to dress shopping!!! 
Thanks in advance for advice and tips!
...and I am only an intimate. The thing is that we want to have our wedding at the WP and add on a vintage car and the MK photo session. That's about 5K with taxes. Then we want outside photography, a nice dinner (maybe the Napa room at the Cali Grill), and an Illuminations rehearsal party. Basically, that leaves me with the costs of a weekday custom for 20 guests. (Although I must admit, it does include tax, tip, and the outside vendor.) It is still a bit much for poor grad students, and I am not sure how much my parents will contribute (his parents can't help). We are going to have the "budget" talk with my family when we had down to Miami for the holidays, but our family is not exactly wealthy.Thus, before I get too attached to Disney, I have decided to start looking into alternatives. As I reviewed my wedding priorities (again), I realized that I would really like a private dinner. On my wedding day, I don't want kids running around screaming and other guests moving about us. We want to have an intimate meal with the few people that really touch our lives. I thought of the Cali Grill and V&A's, but they would run us about $3800 with taxes and tip. After hearing about Janine's troubles to secure private dining after her intimate ceremony, I began to get nervous about my chances. I also thought of Palio's at the Swan. I contacted the private dining manager, and I am waiting to hear from him. I figure they won't give me any hassle, since their weddings don't work through FTW. My other option...and the reason for this thread...is to have the ceremony elsewhere (for example, Leu Gardens) and then have a Disney reception. Janine mentioned that the Yacht Club said she could have her beach party as a reception if she was married off-property. So I called the general convention services people today and they said I still have to work through FTW for just a reception. When I called FTW, they agreed that I would work through them. When I asked if the weekday minimum would still apply if I am only having a reception, they said that I would probably still have to meet the minimum, but it was too early to tell for 2007. That was quite a frustrating answer!
Anyways...I started this thread to find out if anyone had ever just planned a reception at Disney. Or if anyone has suggestions for private dining that won't be so expensive (maybe $2000) or recommendations for working my event through some other department. What makes me sad is that I would have happily met the $7500 minimum they used to have for customs. It seems that my DF and I waited too long to plan our wedding. Disney, why do you hurt me so.....?
OK...enough self-pity...back to dress shopping!!! Thanks in advance for advice and tips!
