Staying at Wishes minimums w/ DFAP

[kl3w]

I'm just curious if it can be done. Has anyone stayed at the Wishes (or mini-Wishes) minimums without using outside vendors for photography? I have a huge family and have thought about the mini-Wishes so they can all be invited, but I'm super frugal and want to know if it's possible to get everything I'd want without going over the enhancement minimum.

Things I'd want:
Musician for ceremony
Photography
Personal floral
Very little decor (most DFTW venues I'm partial to are so beautiful they don't need much, but I'd like something to designate a focal point at the ceremony and maybe some petals scattered on the aisle)
Transportation

I don't mind DIYing for some things, and I know that hair/makeup, dress, all that will be outside of this, but for things that go toward the minimum, is it possible to do all this within the minimum? Anyone out there succeeded at this seemingly impossible feat?

 

[lurkyloo]

It really depends on several crucial factors...

• What is your enhancement minimum?
• Where is your ceremony and where is your reception?
• How many guests will you have?

 

[kl3w]

I'd do the mini-Wishes, so the $3000 enhancement minimum. Epcot or SBP ceremony, attic reception. Not sure about guest count, but would that affect enhancements beyond favors/chair upgrades?

 

[lurkyloo]

Guest count also affects the type (and therefore price) of transportation. So if you chose Epcot for the ceremony, which requires transportation, and had 50 guests, Disney would require you to hire a charter motorcoach for a minimum of 5 hours at about $100/hour. That leaves you $2,500 of the enhancement minimum to meet. If you got Disney Fine Art Photography's cheapest package, made just for Wishes Catered Events, you'd pay $1,995. That leaves you $505 for your bouquet (these start at $250), a boutonniere ($12-$15), aisle petals and ceremony decor (don't forget toss petals and chair covers or replacement chairs if you don't like Epcot's black plastic lawn chairs). A violinist is included in the venue fee for Wishes ceremonies.

For reference on the ceremony decor and aisle petals, I asked for $50 worth of petals in Morocco and got this:

My altar arrangements were just banana leaves in vases on columns and cost $40 each.

 

[dp911]

I'd do the mini-Wishes, so the $3000 enhancement minimum. Epcot or SBP ceremony, attic reception. Not sure about guest count, but would that affect enhancements beyond favors/chair upgrades?

What is the mini wishes? I am still thinking escape but do want a reception

 

[lurkyloo]

DFTW offers a discount on Wishes Collection events that take place Tues-Thursday and have either a brunch reception or a dessert party (but not a full dinner). They call it the Catered Event Experience, but brides refer to it as "mini Wishes." If you have the PassPorter, complete details are in Chapter 3, or you can listen to this episode of the Disney Wedding Podcast: http://disneyweddingpodcast.com/2015/07/22/how-to-have-a-wishes-wedding-for-the-minimum-expenditure/

 

[dp911]

DFTW offers a discount on Wishes Collection events that take place Tues-Thursday and have either a brunch reception or a dessert party (but not a full dinner). They call it the Catered Event Experience, but brides refer to it as "mini Wishes." If you have the PassPorter, complete details are in Chapter 3, or you can listen to this episode of the Disney Wedding Podcast: http://disneyweddingpodcast.com/2015/07/22/how-to-have-a-wishes-wedding-for-the-minimum-expenditure/

I want to get your passporter! I have so many questions.

With this new mini wishes option I priced it out last night in my head and I am still trying to decide if cheaper to do escape and have a dinner or lunch after, or do mini wishes. I think with my minimums met with mini i was at like $11000 with the service charge and tax. Escape starts at $5k but includes, cake, photography, wine, bridal bouquet and boutonniere, where wishes everything is ala carte. ahhhh if i do not decide soon we will be married 50 years!
I know the guest count plays into a huge factor if i can do escape but i think i can keep it under 18 people but maybe not depending on who would travel down here and how already is in FL with us. AND THIS IS WHY WE GOT MARRIED EASY THE FIRST TIME LMAO! courthouse and done

 

[kl3w]

With this new mini wishes option I priced it out last night in my head and I am still trying to decide if cheaper to do escape and have a dinner or lunch after, or do mini wishes. I think with my minimums met with mini i was at like $11000 with the service charge and tax. Escape starts at $5k but includes, cake, photography, wine, bridal bouquet and boutonniere, where wishes everything is ala carte. ahhhh if i do not decide soon we will be married 50 years!
I know the guest count plays into a huge factor if i can do escape but i think i can keep it under 18 people but maybe not depending on who would travel down here and how already is in FL with us. AND THIS IS WHY WE GOT MARRIED EASY THE FIRST TIME LMAO! courthouse and done

That's exactly where I am, dp911! Trying to decide if I want to keep my numbers low for an Escape package, or have the ability to invite more people but have to do it myself with the Wishes.

 

[lurkyloo]

One thing to consider is that you pay no tax and service charge on the Escape package & all it includes. Just on anything you add, like a catered event. So that's $5,000, fee-free. With Wishes, there is tax on almost everything and service charge on food, beverage and some AV services.

On the other hand, Wishes gives you greater flexibility in almost every aspect, from venues to bouquet and cake styles. That's ultimately why we chose Wishes.

 

[dp911]

One thing to consider is that you pay no tax and service charge on the Escape package & all it includes. Just on anything you add, like a catered event. So that's $5,000, fee-free. With Wishes, there is tax on almost everything and service charge on food, beverage and some AV services.

On the other hand, Wishes gives you greater flexibility in almost every aspect, from venues to bouquet and cake styles. That's ultimately why we chose Wishes.

are you serious?!! ahhh that make it so much better! I have been adding the 23% and 6.5 % to the whole total which is like $1500 to 2000 extra