Taking Favors, Decor, Candles, etc. Down to Disney?

[mermaidbride1108]

Hello, another question for you all...

I'm planning now for my wedding to be next year in September and we are doing the whole shobang in Disney (it just seems cost effective due to the Metro area we live in and so far we are getting a good response that people will make the effort to attend) so my question is how much will Disney let you use your own items for Ceremony/Reception?

I'm a very creative person and I would like to make things myself and also do this to save money. I would like to start buying tiems now (I just bought my garter belt and Guest book for .98 cents on ebay will only $5 shipping! and they fit my theme perfectly with starfish on them) to get the best sales when available and not have to buy all at once. I would however like to buy some stuff for reception decor like a plastic anchor, a fishing nets, small treasure chest,small sand castle, and one of those 3 candle holders with a fork, spoon, and knife in it like Ariel had in her grotto (I doubt my guests will get that...hehe) I have also seen some great seashell party dishes I thought I could buy and ask Disney to use them for food at reception.

I've read in previous post that Disney will set things up for you for a small charge, but how much will they let me bring on my own?

Keep in mind that I have no relatives in Florida and would like to have my Ceremony in Epcot and my reception in the living seas or Ariel's if its still open then (heard rumors it was closing to become a restaurant)

Also can I ship all this to my planner a few days prior to the wedding? Can anyone share experiences they had with shipping items to Disney?

Thanks Girls!!!!

 

[KT27]

I shipped all of my centerpieces to my florist and all of the favors (candle holders) to my wedding planner. Just be careful of candles in the heat. I shipped them about a month prior.

I handcarried my garter, tiara, veil, dress, shoes, cake cutting knife (in a checked bag), all the welcome bag items, bridesmaid/groomsmen gifts. We took about 8 bags down LOL!

 

[KT27]

Just to add I had my florist set up the centerpieces for a 1/2 hr labor. My wedding planner had the favors set out. Disney had no problem with me using my own things.

 

[orangetiggs]

Mermaidbride- I dont know if you know this but looking at your signiture you are looking at ariels, we spoke to our sm last week as we are planning a sept 08 wedding and we could not pencil in ariels as theya re only letting them book it on a month by month basis at the moment as it might be taken off the weddings website, thats what they told us

 

[mermaidbride1108]

Mermaidbride- I dont know if you know this but looking at your signiture you are looking at ariels, we spoke to our sm last week as we are planning a sept 08 wedding and we could not pencil in ariels as theya re only letting them book it on a month by month basis at the moment as it might be taken off the weddings website, thats what they told us

Yea I've read that from the other boards that they might turn Ariel's into a restaurant for the public. I've hear different things that it may or not happen so Living Seas would be my second choice.

If your having a Sept. 08 wedding, how did you book your wedding more than a year out?

 

[orangetiggs]

our wedding is not booked it just penciled in, we wont know till 48 hours after the date that we have our requested date, we spoke to heidi last week and she took all our details down and we are in email contact with her regarding different things, once the 48 hours are up she will call to confirm we have our date and send our contract out. It saves us calling on the 1st of the month as we are in the uk so the time difference is a bit harder to deal with everything from over hear.

So ours is not booked but they have all our details and the times we want etc

Hope this helps

 

[JonetteA]

I believe Disney sets up 3 things at your reception for free and then they charge a labor charge for the rest of the items. If it is a Centerpiece set up they charge differently.

 

[StephSFL]

We gave our items to our EM three days before the wedding. She asked that every box/rubbermaid container be labled with what was in it and if it was for the ceremony, reception, etc. We weren't done with our favors until the day of the wedding, so our EM came and got them from our bridal prep-room the day of the wedding.

At the end of the event, they made sure all the leftover items (table signs, unity candles, baskets, etc.) were packed carefully into the boxes and sent to our hotel.

Hope this helps!