Swan & Dolphin Weddings FAQ

[steph0188]

What's the earliest you can book & secure a date at the S&D?
This is something I worry about, having to let all my guests know & save up to fly over and make a holiday of it, I'd like to let them know as soon as I can, but without messing them about (if a date isn't secured)

 

[sarahb01]

What's the earliest you can book & secure a date at the S&D?
This is something I worry about, having to let all my guests know & save up to fly over and make a holiday of it, I'd like to let them know as soon as I can, but without messing them about (if a date isn't secured)

I sent in my request for September 2013 and Erin just got back to me and the Swan said it was too early. We are going to try again in September. I am pretty bummed right now. She told me 9-12 months out.

 

[steph0188]

I sent in my request for September 2013 and Erin just got back to me and the Swan said it was too early. We are going to try again in September. I am pretty bummed right now. She told me 9-12 months out.

Yeah, that's the thing, I have seen a few brides to be saying Sept 13 (it's my very rough date too) so it would be nice to get it sorted and have a date confirmed, if nothing else
I hope it's all sorted September for you then, I hate the waiting to hear back bit! x

 

[sarahb01]

Yeah, that's the thing, I have seen a few brides to be saying Sept 13 (it's my very rough date too) so it would be nice to get it sorted and have a date confirmed, if nothing else
I hope it's all sorted September for you then, I hate the waiting to hear back bit! x

I hate waiting too! I have been checking my email like crazy when Erin said she sent in the request, and now I have to wait..again.

I know that it seems a little "crazy" to be wanting a date over a year out, but at the same time you want to be able to let people know so they can save. For my family this is going to be a big to-do, most of them have never been to Disney before, and they are all very excited

 

[Jilian]

Welcome to our group! I just had my Swan VR and I was able to book around the 1 year mark, but that was last year and it sounds like things have changed. I know the time of year is a factor. Just keep on trying, it is so worth it!

 

[Jilian]

For everyone who is not in the FB Swalphins group...

They added some new potted plants to crescent terrace!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Oh sweet girls, I feel your pain!!! It is terribly frustrating being so excited and wanting to get on with your planning, and being told you have to wait to get your date!!! It is annoying that conventions take the priority, but they are the big money spinners for the hotels (which are, after all, a business). Many a DFTW bride has been bumped off her date by a convention, so we are not alone!!!
Steph sweetie - I know it is particularly frustrating with planning from the UK. What I did was to tell my guests that our VR would be sometime during their holiday and confirmed the date for them when it was all settled. I presume you and your guests are flying to Florida for about 2 weeks, so maybe thats what you could do. That way, you can get flights and accommodation all sorted and just leave the final details until you get your date. Most vendors are very sympathetic to problems with dates, and draw up contracts to allow for this - I know Randy and Rev Tim do - so you could start to look into outside vendors too, if you wish!!!
Where in Wiltshire are you? I used to live in Salisbury and I absolutely loved it there!!!!

 

[steph0188]

Steph sweetie - I know it is particularly frustrating with planning from the UK. What I did was to tell my guests that our VR would be sometime during their holiday and confirmed the date for them when it was all settled. I presume you and your guests are flying to Florida for about 2 weeks, so maybe thats what you could do. That way, you can get flights and accommodation all sorted and just leave the final details until you get your date. Most vendors are very sympathetic to problems with dates, and draw up contracts to allow for this - I know Randy and Rev Tim do - so you could start to look into outside vendors too, if you wish!!!
Where in Wiltshire are you? I used to live in Salisbury and I absolutely loved it there!!!!

For me everything is a little up in the air anyway, so a year out would probably be the time I book- however, it's still nice to have a date in your mind isn't it
Yeah, I think that's what we would do. I would think most guest would come out for around 2weeks, so that's a good idea to think if it like that. I just feel people would be waiting for a date, and feel a bit uneasy until they got one, however when I KNOW I'll be having a S&D for sure I can then let them know the rough dates- even if it's for them to start saving up
Randy is on my list, so that's good to know

Thank you for your help & kind words
I live in Wootton Bassett, so the other side of Wiltshire really, but it is lovely here x

 

[steph0188]

I read somewhere about confetti not being allowed, is this true? Are you allowed to order fresh petals to throw instead? Thanks

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Hi sweetie!!
If you settle on a S/D wedding you will be fine!! Karen said that we could more or less chuck whatever we wanted!!!! She did say, however, that the more 'environmentally friendly', the better.
We ended up with a mixture of rose petals and these little paper hearts I purchased from Etsy

My hearts were cut from my two favourite childhood books 'Peter Pan' and 'Alice in Wonderland', which are, of course, also beloved Disney Classics. My ladies tea party, on the day before the VR, had also been themed after the classic illustrations from 'Alice in Wonderland', so it all seemed to fit perfectly!! I ordered freeze dried rose petals here in the UK, and took them to Florida with me in the box they came in.

I was thrilled with the way it all worked as the paper hearts fluttered to the ground much slower than the rose petals and so it made for good photos!!!

I put a mixture of the hearts and the rose petals in little satin bags and added a Mickey head rhinestone charm to each.

They were laid out, for our guests, on the ceremony chairs, along with our paddle fans and order of service programmes.

I think DFTW have some very strict rules about confetti, but the S/D are more easy going on this issue!!!!

 

[steph0188]

Oh this is so good to know Thank you so much!
I have been thinking about little boxes or little bags (similar to yours) that I can stamp something on & have the confetti in there.
The hearts are gorgeous, and such a lovely idea. I was thinking about fake petals, but probably not the best for the environment x

 

[Icecoldpenguin]

I got the ok to throw fruity pebbles cereal.

Teresa

 

[steph0188]

I got the ok to throw fruity pebbles cereal.

Teresa

Did they say that you were allowed anything else?
x

 

[MrsDuck]

I was told you can throw anything!

 

[steph0188]

I was told you can throw anything!

Thank you Good to know! xxx

 

[steph0188]

Hello again
Another question from me....
Does S&D offer discount for the wedding guests and bride/groom?
It seems to be a little vague from what I've read/heard

tia x

 

[Meg91]

Hey ladies! I've been lurking on this board for a few days now and I figured i'd join in on the fun. My fiance and I have decided to toss the DFTW plans out the window and we're jumping on the S&D wedding boat. I don't know, I guess you could say i'm a bit overwhelmed with all the information and decisions i've come across in the past few days. We already have a date set, we want to do an early evening wedding with a cake and champagne celebration afterwards.

My main questions are, afterwards would we be able to go over to the BoardWalk Resort and Down Town Disney in our formal attire for pictures? Second, it's been a tradition every year to attend MNSSHP and if our wedding would happen to fall on a party night, we wanted to attend. Would we be able to wear our formal wear in as our 'costumes?'

 

[Icecoldpenguin]

Did they say that you were allowed anything else?
x

You can throw anything but they prefer stuff that is not harmful to the environment

Hello again
Another question from me....
Does S&D offer discount for the wedding guests and bride/groom?
It seems to be a little vague from what I've read/heard

tia x

You can get a room block or a discount but I am not sure how that works

Hey ladies! I've been lurking on this board for a few days now and I figured i'd join in on the fun. My fiance and I have decided to toss the DFTW plans out the window and we're jumping on the S&D wedding boat. I don't know, I guess you could say i'm a bit overwhelmed with all the information and decisions i've come across in the past few days. We already have a date set, we want to do an early evening wedding with a cake and champagne celebration afterwards.

My main questions are, afterwards would we be able to go over to the BoardWalk Resort and Down Town Disney in our formal attire for pictures? Second, it's been a tradition every year to attend MNSSHP and if our wedding would happen to fall on a party night, we wanted to attend. Would we be able to wear our formal wear in as our 'costumes?'

You can go to any of the resorts and you can go to down town disney We will be going to downtown disney since our reception is there. And I doubt they will let you in wearing your formal attire even if it is MNSSHP

Teresa

 

[MrsDuck]

Hello again
Another question from me....
Does S&D offer discount for the wedding guests and bride/groom?
It seems to be a little vague from what I've read/heard

tia x

I haven't heard anything about that.. I'd ask your planner but I'm guessing it's a no.

Hey ladies! I've been lurking on this board for a few days now and I figured i'd join in on the fun. My fiance and I have decided to toss the DFTW plans out the window and we're jumping on the S&D wedding boat. I don't know, I guess you could say i'm a bit overwhelmed with all the information and decisions i've come across in the past few days. We already have a date set, we want to do an early evening wedding with a cake and champagne celebration afterwards.

My main questions are, afterwards would we be able to go over to the BoardWalk Resort and Down Town Disney in our formal attire for pictures? Second, it's been a tradition every year to attend MNSSHP and if our wedding would happen to fall on a party night, we wanted to attend. Would we be able to wear our formal wear in as our 'costumes?'

Welcome Meg!! S/D is absolutely, positively the BEST way to get married at WDW! I could write a novel about it! Seriously though, you're making a great choice and we're so glad that you're now one of our Swalphin Sisters!

Teresa already answered your questions but I'll chime in as well: you can definitely go to all and any hotels, DTD, or the Boardwalk in your wedding attire!

The great thing about S/D is that it's so close to the Boardwalk and you can get some awesome pictures there!

I'm really not sure about the wedding attire as "costumes"-- honestly, you probably could get away with it especially if you were willing to Halloween your outfits up a bit. OR, it's more likely you could get away with it if it was just you and your fiance wearing the attire and you had your guests put on normal clothes or a costume.

Normally, it's not allowed.

 

[Jilian]

I think I have heard of people dressing up as brides at MNSSHP but usually their policy is no wedding attire. Personally, I wouldn't do it. You'll make a lot of people really mad. We've had a few posts of people sneaking into MK in wedding attire here and many of the DFTW brides get really upset about it because it seems like cheating. If Disney catches on to what you are doing they have the right to ask you to leave the park and not return and that would be a not-so-fun way to end your wedding day. Plus, you'll likely really ruin your dress if it is a long dress.