shades of green wedding

[smoof]

Something that ended up working very well for us in regard to room reservations is we had more people eligible for SOG than you would initially think. We did get some extra rooms just because it was our wedding, but remember any friends or family members that are active duty, retired, or DOD employees. A couple of friends are active and retired military, that gave us more rooms. Also sponsorship goes by ID, so dependants can sponsor rooms too. DH's dad and friend are both DOD employees. That gave us more rooms. Everyone who wanted to stay at SOG did. I have to say it was a lot of fun having everyone staying there. The lobby became a second home to us.

Definately do as Kim did, with taking pix at the Poly if you want the park shots. Mom was adament about DH not seeing me in my dress. I really wanted those pix. Of course a monsoon hit, so we didn't get ANY outside pix. Someday, I will have the honeymoon type pix to make up for it. As I said, we had Mickey and Minnie. They told Kim, she couldn't. I wasn't part of that at all. It was a surprise...boy was it a surprise. However, it seemed as if it was no problem (at least at the time), so if that is something you want, I would try to push the issue. Same with the park pictures. My banquet manager isn't working there anymore, and the marketing person we worked with is now working in HR. If your marketing or banquet manager has questions about the characters, maybe he/she could talk to Linda. Linda will kill me, but thats okay.

 

[DLR2WDW]

FYI - you might not always be able to take photos at the Poly since it is a Disney Resort. If there is a couple having a DFTW in the area they might ask you to leave since they don't want one couple within view of another.

 

[ItGirl753]

Thanks girls. So with cheaper prices, my guests will benefit too! We have a list of about 75 or so, but that is including a lot of kids. I do know 3-4 who would qualify for rooms, but that's it. We're planning for August, which is a low time for them too so that may help getting enough rooms. It looks like we'd only need about 20-22 rooms. That's not very many!

I wanted the exclusive MK photo shoot, but I guess I can live without it. Like I said, I could do the Honeymoon shoot for a lot cheaper, and get more locations, just not in wedding attire. I think they're pretty good about getting good shots without other guests in them.

I don't know about the pics at the Poly. I don't care too much for that. Would prefer the Boardwalk. I will look at Kim's pictures. They might be really nice. I didn't really care about Mickey/Minnie coming either.

Thanks again. I have to say, I am a little bummed that he may win and get the SOG wedding instead of the DFTW, but you girls are helping me out. It is so beautiful there, but then I will not be an official Disney Bride. I guess it's just stupid. We'll compare our list of pros and cons and the price.

 

[Maggimus]

It is too late for this answer to benefit me- but can someone give me a ballpark $ for a wedding at SOG??

 

[ItGirl753]

Hmmmm. I think the only one on the list who is still military is DBF. That will not be good for sponsoring rooms! I thought some of his friends were still in the military.

 

[Kim10110]

maggimus,

I had about 40 people and here is how it broke down pretty much
Big Brunch(we customized the menu) --$25 a person
Gazebo-$250
Ballroom--$250
Officent-$200
Violinist--$100 i think
DJ--3 hours--$375
Hair and makeup--150
Photo--$695
Video--$700
Cake--$125

We also had dinner with our parents the night before at Magnolias kinda like a rehersal but only with parents which was very inexpensive

Also just to remind you there is no taxes for what you spend at SOG.

best wishes

Kim

 

[ItGirl753]

Kim,
Thank you so much! Now I can't wait to get to SOG and scope it out! I was just there last year, but didn't pay THAT kind of attention to it! Also, I think we only ate breakfast at Magnolia's. We didn't eat any other kinds of food.

It sounds like Jason was right -- SOG might be the way to go!!! I am concerned that I will not be able to get rooms at SOG for everyone. I wish we could, and maybe we will be able to. I am not absolutely sure who is military/dod who will be invited. IF we do go with SOG, I might still have an Illuminations dessert party for my "welcome" and I'll have to have the MK honeymoon shoot at least!

Kim, where are you now? Are you still in Turkey?

 

[AnnieBelle]

I know some people do not mean to be offensive but it kind of hurts my feelings that someone would think a SOG wedding is not a Disney wedding. I do not feel like I am not a Disney Bride because I am getting married at Shades of Green. My guests consider it a Disney wedding because it is at a Disney affiliated resort. The atmosphere is way nicer than if they were to stay at a plain Orlando hotel. The resort used to be Disney owned, so it has that special quality so I would not say it is a souped up TLF. It is also very close to a major park, just like the other resorts. No I will not have the taxes like a custom wedding, no I will not have to pay as much, but I get to stay in a deluxe ranked resort for about the same price as a Value resort with tax. It is on Disney property with transportation to the parks and a Disney Honeymoon at my backdoor, in my opinion that makes me a Disney bride!

 

[smoof]

Just a clarification, each military ID, sponsor or dependant, is eligible for 3 room reservations, in addition to any extras they let you reserve. I don't think I put that in the last message. They do add up. The SOG rooms are large. My cousin initially wanted the junior suite for her family (2 adults, 2 girls and a boy), but when she saw the size of the room she was happy with the regular room.

 

[Sirron]

My fiancee's dad is in the military. They set aside 25 rooms for us and they'll hold them til September without an additional deposit!

 

[smoof]

Okay, my last comment for the evening...I am so excited for the new SOG weddings. We had such a wonderful wedding there, and just a great experience and time. Everything is personal. You and your wedding are special to them. Good night from me...more from me at another time.

 

[ItGirl753]

AnnieBelle,
I am sorry that I offended you. I certainly never meant to. I think SOG is great. We're staying there on this trip and were there last year. My DBF is the one who wanted the wedding there and you girls on this thread have been very helpful giving me some insight, more than what SOG has so far. I would not want to hurt any of you. I certainly know what a fantastic resort SOG is and what a great, great value it is too. We'll check it out more closely when we go this time, but it looks like we are leaning towards SOG. I am the one who had an issue with it not being a DFTW for MY OWN wedding because the MK pictures were very important to me, but like I said, I will just go with the Honeymoon shoot in non-wedding attire. That is why I was talking to the girls on here, to get some other perspectives.

We're planning for August. Is that a slower time for SOG -- like would they be willing to allow us extra rooms? I think it is a slower time for them.

Sirron -- So no one else is in the military to reserve those rooms? Right now it looks like my groom might be the only one who can sponsor rooms, since it won't be a huge party (we're planning an at-home reception for the extended family). There may be 1-2 more, but I am really not sure. If it is only him, then we couldn't get all the rooms we'd need. 25 would be enough to cover our list.

Smoof -- Thanks for your last comment and for all of your info!

Kim -- Thanks for listing your budget. Your info has been so helpful! I just hope the room situation will work out for us. I think that is a major part.

 

[Sirron]

Yeah, Annie's Dad is how we booked it. He's a Colonel. Nobody else in the military that we used to get the rooms.

 

[ItGirl753]

Sirron,
DBF is not a colonel! LOL! Thinking about who can help get rooms who is being invited!....

 

[Sirron]

I'm not sure if rank matters. I'd have to ask Annie. I know rank matters with room cost not sure about the other!

 

[AnnieBelle]

Do not worry about rank, no one knows my dad's rank yet! We just said we needed twenty five rooms and they said they would keep them for us until September 6. Rich is really awesome. Do not think I was mad at you, I am sooo sorry I gave that impression. I actually got sad and cried, how can we be mad planning Disney weddings? This is not Bridezilla SOG style! I was just being silly because I want that whole Disney bride excitement but I can see what you mean about the park photos since I am BIG into photos myself! Let us know how the visit goes, Ron and I cannot see it until January and I am SO impatient!

 

[Kim10110]

Annie and Ron it really seems like everything is coming together, I cant beleive you have the rooms on hold already thats awesome I didnt have that done until a few monthes before the wedding. Annie, I know what you mean by people not accepting us as a disney bride but you are going to be a full disney bride. You will get the full feeling when you have everyone stoping looking at you and people on their balcony watching your wedding (DH thought that was so weird but once the wedding started he didnt even notice) Dont listen to anyone that says you arent a disney bride. I also wanted to offer a suggestion to you Annie, They have retreat everyday at 5pm at MK we were lucky enough to be picked im guessing bc of DH haircut, but in case you wanted you can sign your dad up when you get there to be the veteran of the day, if you have any other questions about vet of the day shoot me a pm.

ItGirl--I actually moved back from Turkey a few days before the wedding and after the wedding we moved to northern Cali. Where are you from in NY--I grew up in Putnam County.

 

[ItGirl753]

Annie -- Jason tells me all the time "There's no crying in Disney!!! No Crying!!" Really let me know if there is anything you want to see a pic of and I will try to take it! I know how hard it is to be wondering and not able to see right away, but at least you are going in January. And the SOG website pictures aren't that great. This November trip is last minute. We just had to go to Disney!

And I KNOW when I was there in November I kept looking at the guys and girls in the ears wondering, did they all really get married at Disney or are they honeymooning? I didn't even know you could get married there. There was couple at SOG with the ears last year when we were there. How much I've learned in a year!

My issue is that I really had my heart set on some sites and my theming (fish, lighthouses, Ariel --- YC Gazebo or SeaBreeze Point where you can see the lighthouse, and the Living Seas with Lighthouse centerpieces). Now I'm not sure how/if that will work for me, I might change the theme, but I am willing to go where he wants, and I think he's willing to go where I want! But I am so excited to go check it out together.

Kim -- I live in Buffalo. AAAAAUUUUUGGGHHHH! Yes we had a terrible storm. Don't let me get started. Two feet of snow.....Dropped a tree on my house....no power, no heat for days....no internet for weeks....now homeowner's insurance...claim handler coming on Friday. And I am a teacher. We missed 6 days of school. More than in our blizzards! But now we do not yet know how we will make up that time.

 

[ItGirl753]

Kim,
I loved your photos. Thank you for sharing them. So, you went to the Poly at sunrise. He would love those poses on the beach. That's at the Poly? What time was your wedding? My plan has been sunrise photoshoot, early wedding (9 or so) especially since we're tlaking about August, then a lunch reception since we'll have a lot of kids. But I wanted a hot lunch, not appetizers or sandwiches.

I have an email from Lynn Arce in response to our inquiry last year. It actually took her a month to reply to us. Then we didn't pursue it. Now I am wondering if I should answer her few questions and tell her we'll be there in November.

 

[Kim10110]

Itgirl im so happy you liked the pics, we met randy at 630 am at the poly, it was early but so worth it. He was even getting excited about the pictures and the lighting from the sunrise. We had our wedding in Aug and everyone was dreading the weather but it wasnt that bad. We had the wedding at 9am and brunch at 10, we didnt want the whole breakfast thing so we added stuff like chicken marsalla, ham, salad. I wish I got to wear the dress all day but it was just so tiring the whole process from leaving turkey till after the wedding, so i landed up going straight to sleep after the wedding im sure not what most people do but . I love the idea of a dessert party, i dont know why we didnt. We were thinking about the honeymoon photo but just ended up getting pics a all of the photo pass places and getting the cd. I hate to say it but I would not go through Lynn at all, she was completly unhelpful and partly rude. All i know was finally after 2 monthes i started getting emails from Rich. He is so great. I cant say enough about rich other than he is the man . I didnt see Lynn my whole 10 days there, not that i wanted to see her or was looking but im glad i didnt. She caused alot, alot of stress for both me and dh. I will PM you rich's info. let me know if you have any questions.

Kim