Some questions about photography and other facets of Memories Package

[Megara5115]

Hi everyone! We are going to book a Memory Package wedding for May 2015 and I have some questions about some components of what comes with it. We are just doing a short and very simple ceremony. Please bear with me and thank you so much in advance for the guidance!

1. I see that the package includes a photographer for one hour. Looking at some pictures that other people have, I see that they have used specific photographers (Randy Chapman is one I have seen several times). Is this because they wanted longer picture time? What is the quality of the photography that comes with the package in your opinion/experience? Are the pictures you get through Disney adequate?

2. I am leaning towards Luau Beach but Wilderness Lodge is also a contender... any experiences/preferences?

3. Regarding Luau beach... do you have to specify a castle view? I love those pictures with the castle in them during the ceremony.

4. Other than an officiant... what other costs am I missing? I priced my package options out at the website for Disney weddings and it quoted about $2700 which is fine but I just want to be prepared.

Thank you- I cannot wait for May!!!!

 

[Onlyilo]

Hi everyone! We are going to book a Memory Package wedding for May 2015 and I have some questions about some components of what comes with it. We are just doing a short and very simple ceremony. Please bear with me and thank you so much in advance for the guidance!

1. I see that the package includes a photographer for one hour. Looking at some pictures that other people have, I see that they have used specific photographers (Randy Chapman is one I have seen several times). Is this because they wanted longer picture time? What is the quality of the photography that comes with the package in your opinion/experience? Are the pictures you get through Disney adequate?

2. I am leaning towards Luau Beach but Wilderness Lodge is also a contender... any experiences/preferences?

3. Regarding Luau beach... do you have to specify a castle view? I love those pictures with the castle in them during the ceremony.

4. Other than an officiant... what other costs am I missing? I priced my package options out at the website for Disney weddings and it quoted about $2700 which is fine but I just want to be prepared.

Thank you- I cannot wait for May!!!!

CONGRATS!!!! This is super exciting My husband and I just got married early june and we had a memories wedding. I'll just list down my experience with your questions

1. You don't get to pick your photographer (at least that's what i've seen), but you can request one. I had Ty and he was amazing!!!! He's really fun using props and such, which i loved, I understand if it's not for everyone. I haven't received the proofs from the photos yet because you have to wait four weeks, But Ty did give me some that he had printed out and I loved them. The package comes with 1 hour (ceremony is about 15 minutes and the rest is photography) You can always tack on an extra hour for $200 and/or MK bridal photoshoot.

2/3. Originally I was looking at Luau beach and Conch Key. I went with Conch key and really glad I did (Polynesian was under construction while we were there *phew*). It has a cute view of the castle. I think either location isn't going to have a great view just because of distance, but conch key you were able to see the top of the castle and the monorail too.

4. Don't forget to budget in hair and makeup, I used Janet Mednick at onsite beauty and she did a wonderful job. She will even come to your room to do hair and makeup! I also got a little cake for our wedding night and some fun things on etsy ie just married shirts, here comes the bride sign, etc

I Hope this helps!!!!

 

[Megara5115]

Thank you- it does! Ugh Conch Key looks great too! Honestly it's really a toss up between any of the three locations It's a good point that it's going to be far from the castle either way so I have to be a little more realistic with my expectations

I'm happy to hear about the photographer too! We are just going to do what comes with the package so I'm glad to hear that the have great staff photographers.

Congratulations to you! I'm sure everything was gorgeous!

If anyone has any ideas/insight on any of these questions, not even necessarily all of them, it would still be very appreciated! Thank you!

 

[LNS1302]

Hi everyone! We are going to book a Memory Package wedding for May 2015 and I have some questions about some components of what comes with it. We are just doing a short and very simple ceremony. Please bear with me and thank you so much in advance for the guidance! 1. I see that the package includes a photographer for one hour. Looking at some pictures that other people have, I see that they have used specific photographers (Randy Chapman is one I have seen several times). Is this because they wanted longer picture time? What is the quality of the photography that comes with the package in your opinion/experience? Are the pictures you get through Disney adequate? 2. I am leaning towards Luau Beach but Wilderness Lodge is also a contender... any experiences/preferences? 3. Regarding Luau beach... do you have to specify a castle view? I love those pictures with the castle in them during the ceremony. 4. Other than an officiant... what other costs am I missing? I priced my package options out at the website for Disney weddings and it quoted about $2700 which is fine but I just want to be prepared. Thank you- I cannot wait for May!!!!

Hi! My husband and I had our memories wedding May 9th of this year!

We had requested a few different photographers from Disney and got one of our choices, Stephanie. Our pictures turned out amazing! I'm so pleased with her work! We added an extra hour and I'm so glad we did to get all of the shots we wanted around the Grand Floridan ($200/hour extra).

We got married at Conch Key and the castle was in the background of almost all of the ceremony pictures, and although it's in the distance you can tell that it's the castle and it really adds to the ceremony pictures being able to see it.

The only extra costs we had were hair/makeup, the officiant, and then we added a few extra flower options/ring bearer pillow, and a small cake.

Oh and congratulations! Keep us updated with the location you choose for the wedding!

 

[lcataldimay]

Hi everyone! We are going to book a Memory Package wedding for May 2015 and I have some questions about some components of what comes with it. We are just doing a short and very simple ceremony. Please bear with me and thank you so much in advance for the guidance!

1. I see that the package includes a photographer for one hour. Looking at some pictures that other people have, I see that they have used specific photographers (Randy Chapman is one I have seen several times). Is this because they wanted longer picture time? What is the quality of the photography that comes with the package in your opinion/experience? Are the pictures you get through Disney adequate?

2. I am leaning towards Luau Beach but Wilderness Lodge is also a contender... any experiences/preferences?

3. Regarding Luau beach... do you have to specify a castle view? I love those pictures with the castle in them during the ceremony.

4. Other than an officiant... what other costs am I missing? I priced my package options out at the website for Disney weddings and it quoted about $2700 which is fine but I just want to be prepared.

Thank you- I cannot wait for May!!!!

Congrats! I did a Memories vow renewal in March at Luau Beach and it was fantastic! They treat vow renewals the same as a wedding, so here is my take.

Add the extra hour of photos! You will not regret it. I too was worried about the photographers at Disney, but ours was fantastic! Her name is Brittany Miller. The photos were spectacular.

We loved Luau Beach and would recommend it highly. I could not hear any construction and no one was around when we were renewing our vows. It felt like a private beach wedding.

We were given the castle view and it was perfect. The cranes were positioned so that you could not even see them in the pictures - although our photographer said she would photo shop them out if necessary.
Here are some pictures:

Other costs would be hair and make up, a meal after, and dress steaming.

Here is my planning journal if you want some ideas about how things worked: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3218595

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[Chilly]

Don't forget your marriage license.

 

[emy31685]

I got married may 19th 2014 at the wilderness lodge we had 8 guests!

1. We had Chris Weirdo as our photographer. He was great, a lot of fun to be around! A lot of awesome shots. We didn't get to choose him but I'm glad we got him. (We tipped him extra)

2. We stayed at the lodge for 7 days (sat-sat), so getting married there was so easy. The balcony was gorgeous....overlooked the pool and the lake we had nothing but blue skies and sun. We are outdoorsy people so it fit us perfectly. After the ceremony we stepped inside to cut the cake & have champagne. We cut the cake but brought it with us to dinner later (230 ceremony).

3. Officiant, hair & makeup, marriage license (we used licensetomarry.com) ....

 

[lurkyloo]

If you live outside of Florida, you can apply for your license by mail for free by going through Brevard County: http://brevardclerk.us/_cache/files...4c0e5e1ec/Marriage License By Mail Merged.pdf

That way you pay only the cost of the license ($93.50)—there are no additional fees.

 

[Megara5115]

Thank you all for the input and for sharing your beautiful pictures... I guess at this point we have decided to go for Luau Beach. Now it can't come fast enough!