Reception Thoughts

[huskies90]

Hello Everyone – We have a bit of a dilemma and just wanted to get some opinions. We are having a June 2015 Wishes Wedding. Contracts are signed, locations set etc. Based on certain special criteria, we were able to book a special and unique reception location where Disney has yet to have a wedding.

Now for the dilemma: My fiancee’s mother is also recently engaged and now she is planning a DFTW as well for November 2015. IMO, that in itself is a little weird that she too is planning a Disney wedding at the same time we are. However, when her mom heard about our reception location (she would not even had known it was an option if we hadn’t told her), she requested to have her reception there as well since she too meets the same special criteria as us. We are going back and forth about whether we care about this or if it should bother us. On one hand it takes away from the uniqueness of the location since she is inviting basically the same guests as we are but on the other, we feel we should just focus on our own wedding and not worry about what she does. My fiancée called her mom to tell her that it does bother us that she is doing it in the exact same spot 5 months after our wedding and her mom said she doesn't understand why it bothers us.

So, we are thinking about calling our sales guy and exploring new locations. An Epcot area location would work out better for our transportation anyway. Or we are thinking about just plowing ahead in with our plans. Our planning session is set for the second week of November so we need to decide pretty quick what we are doing. Just curious if you put yourself in the same situation, what would you do? Would you care?

 

[andeesings]

Well, besides me basically DYING to know where you're having your wedding (and I'm not even having any wedding anytime soon I'm just a lurker) my outside perspective is this: you're first. She just looks like a not creative copycat!!

If this location IS really special and exactly what you want, keep it!!! She's the one who is going to look silly. I'd say keep other details away from her, but she'll probably have her planning session after your wedding anyway. :-( Is there anything else that you might be able to add to your wedding to make yours a bit different than hers? A dessert party, perhaps?

 

[Deannacooper93]

I wouldnt mind my MIL to get married in the same year as me but the at disney with the same location?!?! No way. I would be livid. To me its like she'd be taking away YOUR special day. I would really hate for you to lose your special venue because she is stepping on your toes. The fact that she doesnt see what is wrong about it makes me think she is a tad bit jealous??? idk.....

 

[piccolopat]

I would be upset if her wedding was BEFORE yours but since it is afterwards, I would be flattered that she liked my idea so much that she wanted to do the same. Your wedding will be special to you, regardless of what she does. Try not to agonize over this and just enjoy the planning for your "happily ever after".

 

[justlook3]

I would stick with your original plans. Knowing Disney, you had to work hard to get what you wanted, this is your day. It's about you. Like the others say, it is your fiancee's mother who is going to look silly (and who is to say she won't suddenly decide to pick your new location too?). Maybe if you all sit down and talk about it (and maybe wave some of the other possibilities under her nose she might bite on one of them?).
Good luck and congratulations!

 

[TiffinyKaye]

I personally think it's weird that she wants to have her wedding and reception in the same place, and in the same year, too. On some level...it is "stealing your thunder" a bit--but I think one of the things we live with as Disney brides (and brides in general) is that there are very few unique things left for us to do...and the second we do them, someone else sweeps in and "steals" the idea. Imitation is the best form of flattery, I guess.

I do have to say...I probably would be upset...but I think from a rational viewpoint, I would recognize that those feelings are also illogical. It's ultimately juvenile to say, "I am doing this! No one else should, let alone Person X!" (We all have a "Person X" in our lives...) Truth is...I don't have exclusive rights over anything. That said--it does NOT mean that you feelings are invalid. Rational or not--I have to agree that *I* would be pissed, upset, and felt like she was "copying" too. At least you get it first, right?

And please don't read the phrase "it's juvenile" and think that I'm saying something awful about you. I'm not. I say it's juvenile because anyone's desire to be "unique" over everyone else (myself included in this statement) is really something borne out of a place where we need to feel "better" (or at least different) from everyone. It's selfish to want to distinguish ourselves--but not in the negative connotation. That's why your feelings are completely justified--because it's not WRONG of you to feel a bit backhanded by your future MIL (I personally think her decision is insensitive to have it at the same place and in the same year). That said, if it wasn't her--it'd be someone else down the line. It's just too bad that it had to be her. Again though--at least she's copying YOU. Very few people get to say they started a trend.

Here's an example of me feeling backhanded. I STILL seethe inside anytime I see "my dress" (Belle, Alfred Angelo 206) on a Disney bride (or any bride, for that matter). How freaking ridiculous and childish is that? There's a reason that dress has been around for like...5 + years and they haven't retired the design. It's freaking popular, and it'd be silly of me to think that I won't see other people (okay, a lot of people) wearing the same thing. If I had to do it all over again...I'd go have a dress custom-made (same style though) so that it doesn't "look like everyone else's." Oh well, I guess.

So...I think the next question is...when do we get to find out where your wedding and reception will be at that NO ONE has ever had it before? (Lucky duck! YOU truly will be an original!) Do we not get to know until after the wedding and we see the pictures? I'd love to hear the special criteria you have to meet too.

Tiffiny

 

[huskies90]

Thank you all for the replies. Disney has asked us not to share for now so I am not sure when we will - perhaps after our planning session in November. From what we were told we are the second wedding at the location. The first one is planned for Feb 2015.

The location is actually one of our favorite places at WDW and fits our theme well but in all honesty, there are dozens of equally great places on property for a reception. The most compelling aspect of the location (at least for me) is the uniqueness and by that I mean more for our guests than the novelty of being a guinea pig at a new location. It is also not convenient for transportation for us since we are having our ceremony and dessert party in a diff area (Boardwalk/EPCOT) and would prefer not to have to bus guests back and forth.

My future MIL and her fiancée are also big Disney people so while it is weird they too are doing it at Disney, it is not a surprise. We also know that this spot is not one of their favorites and they do not care about the uniqueness at all. When she heard we were doing it there, she picked it only because it is very convenient for what they were planning for ceremony and welcome party the night before. I don’t think she is doing it to be spiteful or out of jealousy or anything like that. It is just a cool spot that works out well for them.

So with uniqueness, gone, we are still stuck with a dilemma to switch it or not. We are bummed our guests will know they are coming back to the same spot 5 months later and that I am sure my fiancee’s mom will copy a lot of what we are doing. For now we are leaning towards sticking with our plans because it is really what we originally wanted but we also feel like our reception would not be any less awesome if we moved it to a location closer to our other events and where our guests are staying.

We welcome more thoughts/feedback/input.

 

[TiffinyKaye]

Thank you all for the replies. Disney has asked us not to share for now so I am not sure when we will - perhaps after our planning session in November. From what we were told we are the second wedding at the location. The first one is planned for Feb 2015. The location is actually one of our favorite places at WDW and fits our theme well but in all honesty, there are dozens of equally great places on property for a reception. The most compelling aspect of the location (at least for me) is the uniqueness and by that I mean more for our guests than the novelty of being a guinea pig at a new location. It is also not convenient for transportation for us since we are having our ceremony and dessert party in a diff area (Boardwalk/EPCOT) and would prefer not to have to bus guests back and forth. My future MIL and her fiancée are also big Disney people so while it is weird they too are doing it at Disney, it is not a surprise. We also know that this spot is not one of their favorites and they do not care about the uniqueness at all. When she heard we were doing it there, she picked it only because it is very convenient for what they were planning for ceremoney and welcome party the night before. I don’t think she is doing it to be spiteful or out of jealousy or anything like that. It is just a cool spot that works out well for them. So with uniqueness, gone, we are still stuck with a dilemma to switch it or not. We are bummed our guests will know they are coming back to the same spot 5 months later and that I am sure my fiancee’s mom will copy a lot of what we are doing. For now we are leaning towards sticking with our plans because it is really what we originally wanted but we also feel like our reception would not be any less awesome if we moved it to a location closer to our other events and where our guests are staying. We welcome more thoughts/feedback/input.

You 100% should continue with your plans as you planned them. If guests go back to the same place, and she does a lot of the same things--the guests that attended both events will know that it's ripped off. When they talk about attending the two weddings, they will mention yours as the original. Don't feel bad--they will remember yours first as the best.

I cannot WAIT to hear where it is in November (and maybe we'll see pictures after the scheduled February one from someone else, and be able to guess).

I swear to god, if you're getting married at "Be our Guest," I will scream.

I want to get married in that ballroom!

Tiffiny

 

[CinderellasBFF]

Thank you all for the replies. Disney has asked us not to share for now so I am not sure when we will - perhaps after our planning session in November. From what we were told we are the second wedding at the location. The first one is planned for Feb 2015. The location is actually one of our favorite places at WDW and fits our theme well but in all honesty, there are dozens of equally great places on property for a reception. The most compelling aspect of the location (at least for me) is the uniqueness and by that I mean more for our guests than the novelty of being a guinea pig at a new location. It is also not convenient for transportation for us since we are having our ceremony and dessert party in a diff area (Boardwalk/EPCOT) and would prefer not to have to bus guests back and forth. My future MIL and her fiancée are also big Disney people so while it is weird they too are doing it at Disney, it is not a surprise. We also know that this spot is not one of their favorites and they do not care about the uniqueness at all. When she heard we were doing it there, she picked it only because it is very convenient for what they were planning for ceremoney and welcome party the night before. I don’t think she is doing it to be spiteful or out of jealousy or anything like that. It is just a cool spot that works out well for them. So with uniqueness, gone, we are still stuck with a dilemma to switch it or not. We are bummed our guests will know they are coming back to the same spot 5 months later and that I am sure my fiancee’s mom will copy a lot of what we are doing. For now we are leaning towards sticking with our plans because it is really what we originally wanted but we also feel like our reception would not be any less awesome if we moved it to a location closer to our other events and where our guests are staying. We welcome more thoughts/feedback/input.

I wonder if it's my location! Disney didn't ask us not to share, but it was believed that we would be the first reception at our location and our wedding is in Feb 2015. We've since changed it, so if it was us, you would now be the first!

 

[TiffinyKaye]

I wonder if it's my location! Disney didn't ask us not to share, but it was believed that we would be the first reception at our location and our wedding is in Feb 2015. We've since changed it, so if it was us, you would now be the first!

PM me the location, CinderellasBFF? I won't tell!

I just want to be upset that I didn't think of it first! LOL!

 

[Mommy2TwoMickeys]

PM me the location, CinderellasBFF? I won't tell!

I just want to be upset that I didn't think of it first! LOL!

Me Too!!!

 

[huskies90]

I wonder if it's my location! Disney didn't ask us not to share, but it was believed that we would be the first reception at our location and our wedding is in Feb 2015. We've since changed it, so if it was us, you would now be the first!

No, through some clever quering, we found the other couple through one of the facebook groups. It is not you. Weren't you having your reception at Pixar Place? Has that changed?

 

[Lindsay22]

My sister got married at Boardwalk in 2008. I got engaged 3 weeks after her wedding and we got married at WP in 2009. Her reception was at Living Seas, mine was in American Adventure. So 14 months apart our family had 2 DFTW both in Epcot. Was it weird to some people? Probably. Did I ask my sister what she thought? Maybe (I dint remember)
I tried very hard to make my wedding different from hers because her wedding wasn't the wedding I wanted. I also wanted our guests to have a different experience. Honestly, I'm surprised that SHE doesn't mind people thinking that she copied you. I had a slight (maybe not do slight) freak out two days before my wedding when they said that if I didn't have 3 extra people they were going to move me to the same reception site my sister had.
I think that since your wedding is first I would be upset.

 

[TiffinyKaye]

No, through some clever quering, we found the other couple through one of the facebook groups. It is not you. Weren't you having your reception at Pixar Place? Has that changed?

Well, Huskies--make sure you post pictures. I'm ecstatic to see this new, unique venue!

Tiffiny

 

[andeesings]

Well, Huskies--make sure you post pictures. I'm ecstatic to see this new, unique venue! Tiffiny

Me too!!! So interesting! Cinderella's BFF where was your wedding and where did you change it to?

 

[Sweet Melissa]

I have a guess about the special criteria you mention and how that would allow access to a unique location. If I'm right, I say definitely keep your plans. The photos and guest experience will be spectacular. The only thing that might give me pause is the convenience that would come with keeping everything in the Epcot/Crescent Lake area. We loved having all of our wedding events within walking distance of each other, and our guests liked it too.

 

[alyaki]

Hey, I think I know where you're having your reception, huskies! Such an awesome place. The only reason I'm pretty sure I know it is because I'm betting Anne's may be the first one there (in February). If it is that location, I'm envious. It's such a cool spot (would have loved it for our brunch reception...but we don't meet one of the reqs for it right now).

I definitely wouldn't change that location - it's one that not many people will be able to use, so it's definitely something special!

 

[allanahx]

I am really confused now to this location :/

 

[mb187143]

No, through some clever quering, we found the other couple through one of the facebook groups. It is not you. Weren't you having your reception at Pixar Place? Has that changed?

Is your reception at a location in AK? I know of a couple having a first of it's kind reception there in February. Curious if it's the same.

 

[TiffinyKaye]

It doesn't make me angry to know that you could try to talk Disney into using a new location....but at the same time, it does make me frustrated. DF and I would have loved to get married in front of Spaceship Earth in Epcot. Now, I wonder if that would have even been an option if we'd asked. I want to say that I asked my consultant before I ever signed a contract, and she said no...but I don't quite remember.

DF would have loved a Spaceship Earth wedding (it's "the spot" that represents Epcot for everyone, and he LOVES the ball). Technically, I guess we're at a point where we could still change it...but I think making that kind of change now would be so hard. It'd require so much additional planning and changes (i.e. more money) to our floral budget. One of the big reasons we picked Japan is because it doesn't need as much "dressing up" to look nice--whereas because the area around Spaceship Earth is so futuristic...we'd probably need a lot of things to make it meet my vision of what my wedding should look like. Additionally, I can see issues with the time, because we'd need to have our ceremony WAY before the park opened. The beauty of Japan is that there's a lot of time to get your ceremony out of the way with a 9 AM start time, since World Showcase isn't open until 11 AM.

I'm still holding out hope that this special location is the ballroom at the "Be Our Guest" restaurant. I think I would DIE to have my wedding there. Imagine getting married in that ballroom? It'd be like getting married in the movie!!!

Tiffiny