Site visit - What to expect?

[SarahInMN]

We are leaving for our site visit in approximately 3 weeks. We are having a welcome dinner the night before at the California Grill, and everything else will be at the Grand Floridian (which is where most everyone is staying).

We have two separate appointments set up: one with Bill to look at sites and one with Celeste to hammer out the details.

We are pretty set on our location but have a few places to pick from at the Grand Floridian. We have some food options we want to taste test and a few questions (ie childcare options for our guests and steaming companies for my dress) but overall I think we are set. We want minimal decor and floral, we don't want a wedding cake, and we don't need entertainment. We just want good food, good drinks, and a fun time.

What else will we be talking about? What questions should we be ready to ask?

Thanks!

 

[lurkyloo]

Mostly, you should just be prepared to answer a lot of questions! They will walk you through that Word doc form they sent that details every aspect of the day ("Let the Planning Begin!"), from transportation to the ceremony site to attendants' names to the songs you want played to your getaway vehicle.

It's OK if you don't have all the answers, but the more info you give them, the more accurate your BEO will be.

HTH!

 

[Mrsdisneyb2b]

where can we get a hold of that document before the planning session?

 

[DisneyNyBride]

Your planner should send it to you. It includes a question about food and my planner said to write in what we wanted to try. The whole document covers your wedding day from start to finish.

 

[Mrsdisneyb2b]

we havnt booked yet...darn it

 

[SarahInMN]

Yah, I got that multiple page document shortly after being assigned our coordinator. I emailed it back ASAP and what we want really has not changed.

So, is most of the site visit based off of that or are there other things we should be thinking about?

Thanks!

 

[DisneyBrideToni]

Good post with good info. I am planning on going down for my session in June.

 

[monana]

I totally appericate everyones input on this thread, we are heading down there the last week of may for our planning sessiong, menu tasting, and site visit.


Oh I was wondering. Is it possible to change reception locations? Or see different reception locations during our site visit? Right now we have the Atlantic Dance Hall. But now I am thinking LSS might be the place for us. I just want to know if we can see both and compare them. Or if we could get price quotes for both and see which one will work out best for us.

At the menu tasting, do you have to decide right there, if that's the food you want for your wedding? or is there time to decide, and if so, when does our menu have to be finalized.

Thanks again for all of your help.

 

[lurkyloo]

You can ask to see other reception locations, and if there's time, they'll show you. Also, I don't think you have to pick the food right then, but it helps them price your BEO if you do. We had an hour break between the tasting and our planning session in which to "digest" our menu choices and decide...

 

[DisneyBrideToni]

You can ask to see other reception locations, and if there's time, they'll show you. Also, I don't think you have to pick the food right then, but it helps them price your BEO if you do. We had an hour break between the tasting and our planning session in which to "digest" our menu choices and decide...

Carrie I love your witty humor...lol. Digest. Classic.

 

[Mrsdisneyb2b]

did you do the tasting for the brunch? or did you do it for other food?

 

[lurkyloo]

did you do the tasting for the brunch? or did you do it for other food?

We did tasting for the most expensive food we could find on the BoardWalk menus (steak, crab, Cinderella Slipper dessert) because, heck, we already knew what brunch tastes like... Why pass up an opportunity for a free swanky meal?

SarahInMN, your site visit is easy: You go to the site, look around, ask some questions about where people will stand or sit or wait, and you're done.

The Planning Session is the part where they pepper you with questions. It's based on the Let the Planning Begin questions but so much more (it seemed to us). It basically follows the order of your day: Where is the bride getting ready? Where is the groom getting ready? Are you seeing each other before? How do you plan to get to the ceremony site? How are your parents getting there? How are the attendants getting there? What are their names? etc. etc.

And if you don't know all the answers, you can ask for suggestions or think about them and get back to your planner.

 

[SarahInMN]

Thanks everyone for the replies!!

Is it possible to change reception locations?

Yes, it is possible: I believe they just amend your contract if the other site is available.

It's based on the Let the Planning Begin questions but so much more

Hmm...I'll print out a copy of that document and we can go over it on the plane ride down to Florida. I keep thinking that there is something huge I am forgetting or overlooking. Eep!

Where is the bride getting ready? Where is the groom getting ready? Are you seeing each other before? How do you plan to get to the ceremony site? How are your parents getting there? How are the attendants getting there? What are their names? etc. etc.

Yeah, those are the questions that I think will disappoint the planning people: we are boring minimalists. We are getting ready in the same place, we are walking to the ceremony and so are our parents (we are all staying at the GF which is where is everything will be held), and I only have 1 attendant (Rob doesn't have any). They're going to think we are so weird.

 

[DecemberBride]

"Yeah, those are the questions that I think will disappoint the planning people: we are boring minimalists. We are getting ready in the same place, we are walking to the ceremony and so are our parents (we are all staying at the GF which is where is everything will be held), and I only have 1 attendant (Rob doesn't have any). They're going to think we are so weird. "


You're not weird... unless i am too which is entirely possible! We're doing the same thing. We're staying at the Beach Club and walking to our wedding at Sea Breeze Point, so is everyone else. We both each have one attendant... I just hope it's easier with a small group of people! : Good luck at your visit! Have fun!

 

[Mrsdisneyb2b]

We werethinking of staying at the boardwalk as well but were not sure if everyone is going to want to stay there... most likely they will be staying at... wow I just drew a blank...carribean beach sorry. We love it there too but we wanted our honey moon somewhere nicer... we'll see

 

[SarahInMN]

You're not weird... unless i am too which is entirely possible! We're doing the same thing.

Whew...it is so good to know that there are other minimalists out there. I am just so pragmatic and Rob doesn't care about details beyond the food and the wine.

We werethinking of staying at the boardwalk as well but were not sure if everyone is going to want to stay there

The Boardwalk is a pretty nice place. If you are going to WDW before the site visit or signing the contract, you could "tour" the other resorts to see which strikes your fancy.