rehearsal dinner and reception location help

[stitchfan18]

my mom is insisting that our wedding reception be in a park, but I really want to have it at the boardwalk. Her reasoning for wanting it in a park is that we could have a reception in a hotel's ballroom anywhere in the country, so why not have our reception somewhere unique to disney? I get that, I still think the boardwalk is pretty unique, but since i'm not paying i'm trying to come up with a compromise... I'll compromise and have the wedding reception in a park somewhere if we at least do the rehearsal dinner somewhere at the boardwalk. So now that i've almost changed my plans completely I have no idea where on the boardwalk we could have the rehearsal dinner that would accommodate a large group or where in a park we should consider having our reception. I've thought about the American Pavilion a little in the past, but never really found pictures that sold me on that location. Does anyone have good pictures of that location set up for a reception? Also, does anyone have picures of Ariel's grotto? I've heard a lot about that location, and I would love to have a reception in MK if I could. Any input on other park locations would be helpful too!
Edited: Living seas salon looks cool, any pictures/ input on that location?

 

[princessdisneybelle]

if you go to mouseweddings.com they have some great pics. StephSFL had her reception at American pavilion and it was gorgeous. So did Tammy32 maybe you can do a search for their Trip Reports

 

[Cinderella22]

I'm sorry to tell you this, but my WC told me that they no longer allow any wedding stuff in Ariel's Grotto, City Hall, etc. In fact, the only way you can have just your ceremony there is by spending nearly $25 000 (don't quote me, it may be more), and it MUST be done at 8 am, prior to the park opening. Also, they have a package and a ton of rules for it. AND that is JUST the ceremony. In my opinion, it is way too over priced. The other locations you named off in Epcot are beautiful though--as well as the ballrooms.
Im sure which ever you choose will be magical--oh, and rememeber, no matter how good your mom's intentions are, it is your wedding and need to do what makes you happy.
Maggie

 

[stitchfan18]

if you go to mouseweddings.com they have some great pics. StephSFL had her reception at American pavilion and it was gorgeous. So did Tammy32 maybe you can do a search for their Trip Reports

Thanks for the website, I'll definitely check it out!

I'm sorry to tell you this, but my WC told me that they no longer allow any wedding stuff in Ariel's Grotto, City Hall, etc. In fact, the only way you can have just your ceremony there is by spending nearly $25 000 (don't quote me, it may be more), and it MUST be done at 8 am, prior to the park opening. Also, they have a package and a ton of rules for it. AND that is JUST the ceremony. In my opinion, it is way too over priced. The other locations you named off in Epcot are beautiful though--as well as the ballrooms.
Im sure which ever you choose will be magical--oh, and rememeber, no matter how good your mom's intentions are, it is your wedding and need to do what makes you happy.
Maggie

Oh wow, I thought it was weird that there wasn't any info about those locations on their website, but I guess that's why. It's a shame they don't have locations in MK that people can have receptions at. The castle is basically the ultimate princess icon and it's almost like they are charging disney brides to be anywhere near it... I guess i'll have to look into a photo shoot if I really want those pictures with the castle.
Thanks for your help!

 

[stitchfan18]

I think i've narrowed the reception locations down to either the Living Seas Salon or Bistro de Paris in France. My only concern for the Bistro de Paris is whether you can decorate tables/ have everything set up like you would at a location that wasn't a restaurant, meaning, will I have different linens and flower arrangements/ centerpieces on the tables or is it going to look like a restaurant? Also, is the $12.50 fee charged for receptions in the park or is that just for the Illuminations dessert parties?

 

[pooh98378]

I think i've narrowed the reception locations down to either the Living Seas Salon or Bistro de Paris in France. My only concern for the Bistro de Paris is whether you can decorate tables/ have everything set up like you would at a location that wasn't a restaurant, meaning, will I have different linens and flower arrangements/ centerpieces on the tables or is it going to look like a restaurant? Also, is the $12.50 fee charged for receptions in the park or is that just for the Illuminations dessert parties?

I think the $12.50 fee is only for the Illuminations dessert parties -- it is a "viewing fee."

 

[KellyJo18]

I have a bunch of photos of the Living Seas posted in my planning journal. If you want to check them out they are at http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=17828395&postcount=32. We are having our reception there next month and the room is absolutely stunning in person (IMO). There is something about the way the water sparkles on the floor that just can't be captured in pictures. If you get the chance I'd really recommend doing a site inspection tour. I wasn't a fan of Living Seas until seeing it in person and ended up changing our date so we could use it. Good luck!!

Oh, also, I am 99.9% sure the $12.50/person fee you are referring to is the viewing fee for IllumiNations which is only charged to dessert parties.

 

[figmentfan814]

I second KellyJo18 I would never have thought that I would have ended up at Living Seas, but after checking out a lot of other places it was a great fit. Our second choice would have been Ariel's, but the decision was easy since it was booked! We decided that Living Seas is something that is a unique Disney experience since many of our guests have never been to WDW before. Also, we had looked at the banquet rooms at Boardwalk, but decided they were beautiful, but not that much different from what we would have here at home.

One thing to keep in mind even though you don't have a viewing fee or anything like that for your guests you have to charter a bus to transport them to the reception.