Swan & Dolphin Weddings FAQ

[ShanaMouse]

Did any of you ladies have your reception breakfast, lunch, or dinner at Disney owned and operated restaurants at different resorts? If so, which one did you use and did you provide transportation or did you have your guests drive themselves?

Also, did any of you ladies go to a park afterwards with guests? i saw another wedding (forgive me but I do now know who it was) that had their ceremony at the Swan, lunch (or early dinner) at the Dolphin, and then took their guests to Epcot. I was thinking this may be a good way to catch the fireworks without a private catered event like a dessert party. This would be optional to attend, but I thought it may be a good idea as most of our guests will have park tickets anyway. Our ceremony is at 4pm. Thoughts anyone?

 

[MrsDuck]

Teresa had her's at Fulton's Crab House in DTD but it isn't owned by Disney {didn't make a difference though}. She used Mears, I believe, for guest transportation which worked out nicely. I was there!

A couple of girls took their guests to EPCOT but I think you're thinking of Michelle and Russell Harris. They had lunch at BlueZoo and then went to EPCOT. Our very own Shannon is doing the same- ceremony at 10, cake, then EPCOT. I can't wait!

I think encouraging your guests to attend a park with you is fun as long as you make sure they know it's optional. You'll also have to decide if you want everyone to stick together and HOW you'll do that {big groups are difficult}. Or, if you're okay with splitting up, maybe you could all meet at a certain place for the fireworks? Just thinking!!

 

[ShanaMouse]

Teresa had her's at Fulton's Crab House in DTD but it isn't owned by Disney {didn't make a difference though}. She used Mears, I believe, for guest transportation which worked out nicely. I was there!

A couple of girls took their guests to EPCOT but I think you're thinking of Michelle and Russell Harris. They had lunch at BlueZoo and then went to EPCOT. Our very own Shannon is doing the same- ceremony at 10, cake, then EPCOT. I can't wait!

I think encouraging your guests to attend a park with you is fun as long as you make sure they know it's optional. You'll also have to decide if you want everyone to stick together and HOW you'll do that {big groups are difficult}. Or, if you're okay with splitting up, maybe you could all meet at a certain place for the fireworks? Just thinking!!

Yes, the names sound familiar. I happened to see pics of the wedding on the photographers website that I was inquiring with and i just LOVED the idea! Our ceremony is planned for 4pm so I figured by the time we do an early dinner it will be 5-5:30ish and by the time we are done there and can head to a park it will be around 7:30 to 8 with fireworks starting at 9. I literally just started thinking of details over the last 4 days and a way to have a nice ending, such as a fireworks viewing, without possibly having to have it catered.

 

[MrsDuck]

Yes, the names sound familiar. I happened to see pics of the wedding on the photographers website that I was inquiring with and i just LOVED the idea! Our ceremony is planned for 4pm so I figured by the time we do an early dinner it will be 5-5:30ish and by the time we are done there and can head to a park it will be around 7:30 to 8 with fireworks starting at 9. I literally just started thinking of details over the last 4 days and a way to have a nice ending, such as a fireworks viewing, without possibly having to have it catered.

I think that's perfect!! What a good plan. Just be sure to get enough space/a good spot for those fireworks!!

 

[Jilian]

The only issue with going to a park after is that you cannot wear your dress in the park. BUT some people have luck with switching into a white sundress and light dresses are more park friendly for rides anyway.

We wanted to keep our welcome gathering inexpensive and since we were all staying at the caribbean beach resort we bought pastry and fruit platters from Publix and took over the picnic tables behind the cabana bar. We ordered drinks from the bar for our guests. There was live music and a movie and everyone had a lot of fun. The entire cost for 40ish people was around $400!

 

[ShanaMouse]

The only issue with going to a park after is that you cannot wear your dress in the park. BUT some people have luck with switching into a white sundress and light dresses are more park friendly for rides anyway.

We wanted to keep our welcome gathering inexpensive and since we were all staying at the caribbean beach resort we bought pastry and fruit platters from Publix and took over the picnic tables behind the cabana bar. We ordered drinks from the bar for our guests. There was live music and a movie and everyone had a lot of fun. The entire cost for 40ish people was around $400!

I figured I would just get some cute off-white sun dress and wear that instead of my wedding dress.

Oh my gosh that is a great idea! I am not sure which resort we want to stay at just yet, but I am certainly keeping this in mind. Thank you for sharing this!

 

[2dogmom]

I wanted to ask you ladies if you all had music at the ceremony or if you did not. I am contemplating what to do because I really do not want to pay several hundreds for a musician for a few minutes but at the same time I have a feeling like it may be weird without it. Jennifer, from JM, also said we can bring like an iPod dock, but I'm just not sure how I feel about that...
What did you all do/choose?

Thanks, ladies!

I was going to go the iPod route, but decided to go with a harp. I was happy with my decision.

 

[Sunflowerptl]

Thank you Faith for the referral of Regina Hyman...I have been in contact with her and have decided to have her as our photographer!!!

 

[Icecoldpenguin]

Ok I am waiting for lunch I just wanted to chime in. The iPod worked fabulously it was loud enough and it allowed me to play what I wanted. A girl from just marry ran it and she did great. Everyone seemed to like it. The system came with mics so we could be heard one was on Greg and the other on our officiant although Greg had a mic on for the videographer too.

I would caution against going to a park depending on your group. We did this the day after the wedding after breakfast and I had this diluted vision it would be wonderful! It was too many people and too many family members vying for your attention. It actually caused hubby and I to get in a tiff the first day we were married. Now it may work for you if no one is expecting to spend too much time with you and if people can understand that you won't be with them the whole time. So I would just think about that and try very hard to not let the stress get to you and your husband.

Oh also fulton's was fabulous and I would work with them again in a heartbeat as well as with disney's catered events!!!

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[Icecoldpenguin]

Also I would try to not pack too much in because everything runs over and you will be tired. It seems ok now but once you are in the heat of it you will have wanted some breathing room. So my best advice is to take it all in stride and if you plan a lot back to back just be calm and relaxed If things start running over and you are late getting to things

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[NeverlandClub23]

I would caution against going to a park depending on your group. We did this the day after the wedding after breakfast and I had this diluted vision it would be wonderful! It was too many people and too many family members vying for your attention. It actually caused hubby and I to get in a tiff the first day we were married. Now it may work for you if no one is expecting to spend too much time with you and if people can understand that you won't be with them the whole time. So I would just think about that and try very hard to not let the stress get to you and your husband.

I have this same diluted vision! We've opened up the week after our wedding to our guests to be able to spend time with us (optional and if they're interested in doing what we've already planned). I'm thinking about shutting the day after the wedding down and it just being us at least for a day. Otherwise, I see our entire honeymoon being separated by our families/friends and talking to them the entire time instead of each other.

I've run the gamut also about what to do the night of our wedding. As much as I would love to do a dessert party or rent the Grand 1, I think I'm just going to have a private dinner for us. I have to be up at 2-3 a.m. to get hair/makeup done and after a super full day, I'm not going to truly be able to enjoy that night.

ShanaMouse--Another thing to consider is if you're guests will be willing to "give up" an entire park day on their pass (or pay for an extra day) just to go to Epcot for an hour or two (assuming they don't go to a park that morning before your wedding or that they have park hoppers).

Teresa--Can't wait to read all about your wedding, BTW!!

 

[ShanaMouse]

Ok I am waiting for lunch I just wanted to chime in. The iPod worked fabulously it was loud enough and it allowed me to play what I wanted. A girl from just marry ran it and she did great. Everyone seemed to like it. The system came with mics so we could be heard one was on Greg and the other on our officiant although Greg had a mic on for the videographer too.

I would caution against going to a park depending on your group. We did this the day after the wedding after breakfast and I had this diluted vision it would be wonderful! It was too many people and too many family members vying for your attention. It actually caused hubby and I to get in a tiff the first day we were married. Now it may work for you if no one is expecting to spend too much time with you and if people can understand that you won't be with them the whole time. So I would just think about that and try very hard to not let the stress get to you and your husband.

Oh also fulton's was fabulous and I would work with them again in a heartbeat as well as with disney's catered events!!!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

After reading how other brides really did not have any cons about using the Ipod as music for the ceremony, i think I will use it as well. I just was not sure if it would be loud enough for an outside event.

Also, i totally understand what you mean about cautioning to go to a park afterwards with a large group. I was thinking to possibly do this at the end of the night for the fireworks, but I may still end up changing that.

Thank you for the info!

ShanaMouse--Another thing to consider is if you're guests will be willing to "give up" an entire park day on their pass (or pay for an extra day) just to go to Epcot for an hour or two (assuming they don't go to a park that morning before your wedding or that they have park hoppers).

Most people on our group stated that they will be getting multi-day tickets, so I just wanted to go to EPCOT at the end of the night to watch the fireworks; kind of like a nice ending to our wedding day.

 

[Icecoldpenguin]

Well we did not just set up an iPod we got a full av set up through just marry for about 450 or 500 I don't have the papers in front of me as I am waiting in the rain to meet woody and buzz. It had speakers so the iPod would be heard as well as mics for the groom and officiant so we could be heard as well and it went great and an assistant from just marry ran the system

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[MrsDuck]

Thank you Faith for the referral of Regina Hyman...I have been in contact with her and have decided to have her as our photographer!!!

Isn't she wonderful?! No problem!

 

[DisneyEverAfters]

Finally joined! Hey there everyone! Excited to meet new Swan & Dolphin Disney brides!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

A warm welcome sweetie!!!!!

 

[MrsDuck]

Finally joined! Hey there everyone! Excited to meet new Swan & Dolphin Disney brides!

Yay! Glad you're here Michelle!

 

[mlb436]

Hey Everyone! I've been reading this thread for a while but have not posted until now. My fiance proposed this past January in MK after Wishes (he actually posted on DISboards asking for ideas of where to pop the question - good thing I wasn't a member then because it would've ruined the surprise! ) and we are planning a Swan wedding in approxiimately 2 years. You all have been a wealth of information thus far which has made the planning go so much easier but I did have two questions.

1) Does anyone have any recommendations for videographers? I have checked out several of the photographers you have recommended and loved their work but haven't heard much talk about videographers here.

2) Does anyone know the turn-around time on a video of the wedding ceremony? Ideally, we'd like to get married one weekend in Florida and have our reception 2-3 weeks later at home and show a video of the ceremony at that time. Anyone know if this is at all feasible?

Thanks for any help you can offer!

 

[sarahb01]

Welcome!!

I can't really answer your questions, but I would like to say welcome to our little Swan family!

 

[ShanaMouse]

Hey Everyone! I've been reading this thread for a while but have not posted until now. My fiance proposed this past January in MK after Wishes (he actually posted on DISboards asking for ideas of where to pop the question - good thing I wasn't a member then because it would've ruined the surprise! ) and we are planning a Swan wedding in approxiimately 2 years. You all have been a wealth of information thus far which has made the planning go so much easier but I did have two questions.

1) Does anyone have any recommendations for videographers? I have checked out several of the photographers you have recommended and loved their work but haven't heard much talk about videographers here.

2) Does anyone know the turn-around time on a video of the wedding ceremony? Ideally, we'd like to get married one weekend in Florida and have our reception 2-3 weeks later at home and show a video of the ceremony at that time. Anyone know if this is at all feasible?

Thanks for any help you can offer!

Hi and Welcome!
I am currently planning my wedding and have actually just started to look at videographers. There are definitely very nice ones out there, but it is also a money question. Personally, I have contacted Stan at STVS video and he is extremely nice and has wonderful wedding videos (you can see them on their facebook page). Also, he works directly with Randy Chapman, a photographer, and they have very very reasonable packages and pricing for combined and individual services.
Another one I contacted was Simply Cinematic. Their videos are amazing, but they also cost a lot more. I contacted them and they have given me some options that are a little more fitting for my budget, but I am very tempted and leaning towards STVS, as I can combine it with a photographer, being that videography was initially not really on my list of "must haves". I think, generally, videography would run you about $2k or so, from what I have seen, especially if you want them around for the entire day, which is generally like 10 hours.

As far as turn around is concerend, I know Simply Cinematic, if memory serves me right, does same day edits, but its like $1750. I think it usually takes about a month or more, so I am not sure if you would be able to have an edited video back in time for the at-home reception.

I hope this helps! Happy planning