Some random Wishes questions

[jen54321]

Hi everyone,

While I anxiously await my contract and WP, I have a few random questions...

1) I am booking SBP and was wondering if I would require a sound system or not for the vows. Disney recommends one in some of the documents I received but I hadn't heard of it mentioned here.

2) I was told that France upper and lower are available - any thoughts for which is better? (I had asked for Italy Isola but it is booked).

3) Do I need to use a Disney photographer and florist or can I use outside vendors? (I can't believe I am asking that question being as frugal as I am!!)

4) Lastly, if I rent DVC points to stay at Boardwalk, will that go towards my room minimums?

Sorry if I am repeating questions from the past, I can't get the search to work (anyone else have trouble with the search?)

Thanks everyone and Cheers!
Jen

ps. Once it is official, I will begin my PJ!

 

[Tabetha]

Hi! Oh boy, the contract can never come soon enough, can it?

I can't answer your first question, cause we're using the Pavilion, but...

As far as France goes, I think it's a personal preference. I wouldn't say one is "Better" than the other. We picked Upper, because I really like the fact that there will be flowers there in the planters so it's already kind of decorated. And we have a smaller group that might feel lost in the bigger open area. Or maybe not. Again, I like the flowers.

If I'm not mistaken, you can use an outside florist for the "outside the park" elements of your wedding. You can also use an outside photographer for both elements (wedding ceremony and Dessert Party) as long as your contract is signed before Oct. 1, 2008. If you sign AFTER that, you'll need to use a DPS photographer for the Dessert Party. This is a recent kerfuffle that you can search for on the boards for full, gory details.

And yes, DVC rooms count toward your minimum! Hooray!

Have fun, and good luck!

 

[jen54321]

Thanks Tabetha! Helps put my mind at ease about what I am worrying about. Waiting is painful!

I am hoping for an Oct 8/08 wedding so I will be signed way before the deadline! YAY!

Do you mind if I ask if you are having your ceremony, full reception and/or dessert party in Epcot France?

We are hoping to have a buffet-type reception in one of the France locations with the fireworks as the grand send off (forgot to mention that in my original post). Not sure what the food options would be though.

 

[alissa2008]

I wondered myself about the sound system question -- I'm an escape, and trying to save some money, but I'm worried about catching vocals on camera

 

[jen54321]

Wow alissa2008, you must have ESP! I am reading your entire PJ right now. It is awesome!

We aren't using a videographer but I was wondering if the guests would be able to hear us or not. Hopefully, someone will be able to tell us.

 

[lurkyloo]

Sea Breeze Point is intimate enough that your guests should be able to hear you without microphones. If your were going to have a videographer, he or she would fit the groom and the officiant with mikes that feed into their system so the vows are captured on tape.

Disney is also re-working things now so that you can't use outside florists (or entertainment) at outdoor venues anywhere on property. However, they don't have a set deadline when this policy takes effect the way they do with the outside phtographer/videographer, so you would have to ask your Event Planner.

To get your DVC rooms to count toward the minimums, you have to have them manually add your reservation to your room block.

Hope this helps!

 

[jen54321]

Thanks lurkyloo! I got the idea to rent DVC points from your PJ so I was hoping it would count.

Great news about not needing a sound system, more $$ saved!

I will find out for certain about the florist when I finally get to speak to a WP and will post the results. The disney documents are a little vague in letting you know you have options. Hmmm, I wonder why.

 

[disprincessatheart]

Thanks Tabetha! Helps put my mind at ease about what I am worrying about. Waiting is painful!

I am hoping for an Oct 8/08 wedding so I will be signed way before the deadline! YAY!

Do you mind if I ask if you are having your ceremony, full reception and/or dessert party in Epcot France?

We are hoping to have a buffet-type reception in one of the France locations with the fireworks as the grand send off (forgot to mention that in my original post). Not sure what the food options would be though.

I originally had a wishes wedding planned with a WP ceremony and a French Island buffet reception so I can probably help if you have questions. We had it 100% planned and paid for and ended up having to postpone, so I know a lot about it. As far as food goes, they'll send you an EPCOT catering menu, but they can do just about anything you want - the exceptions that I know of are: no mousses in your cake, no icecream or frozen cocktails, no served meals. There isn't a kitchen too close by that location, so they'll only serve things that can be easily kept at the right temperature. We did a tasting in the Epcot kitchen and everything was great. I will say our favorite thing was the caesar salad with deep fried cheese ravioli croutons - AMAZING! Oh, on the menus they'll send, there will be "packages". Feel free to tear those apart and piece together the parts you want, they'll reprice it for you. The menus are really a guideline and you can customize all you like. Are you planning to stay there after the park closes? You can be there for a total of 4 or 5 hours I think without extra charges. We were planning to stay later to have the park to ourselves after Illuminations and we were going to do extra desserts after dinner - Just a thought.

 

[jen54321]

Thanks so much for the info disprincessatheart!! I hope you don't mind if I ask you a few more questions...

Is the France location a good one? We were originally going for Italy Isola but it was booked. The UK was going to be our next choice but when he offered France I thought it might be nice too. I cannot picture where it is exactly. We always stop for a crepe and glass of wine in France so we do love the area.

We are planning to stay a little longer after illuminations, until 10:00PM I think. Were you planning to stay later than that? Also, would it be way too much to ask you to send me the Epcot menus (if you have them electronically). I can PM you with my email address. I am so anxious to get planning!

Thanks for the tip on the caesar salad! We won't be able to make the tasting so it helps to know what is good and what is only ok. Oops, looks like I wrote a book....

Thanks again for sharing your info - you're awesome!