Tentatively Setting a Date!

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Aaron and I are tentatively setting a date for not this summer but next summer. We have been waiting for him to get a full time teaching job to make things official, but with the state of the school districts in our area, that may be awhile. (Many districts are talking about reducing their work force.)

We have said that if we do not have a date by September 1, we will set one then. I am starting to price options so when he gets a job or September 1 rolls around, we can get the ball rolling. We are looking at early June, the week after schools let out in our area. I am going to be pricing not only Florida options, but also local options so that way we can look at our budget in September and look at what looks to be the most financially sound.

I have seen a lot of different planners at B&N and was wondering if anybody had one in particular that they found to be helpful? This may be a weird question, but are there any other planning sites that you found helpful? We may not do a Disney wedding (it's probably 50/50 at this point) so I know I wouldn't be able to plan on here. I took a look at the Knot and wasn't thrilled with what I saw in the forums.

Any other tips for the very beginning of the process would be great!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I've started looking at some venue pricing.

Has anybody had their ceremony somewhere else and just done the reception at Disney? I have very close ties to Holy Family Catholic Church in Orland (it's where I went through the process of conversion and I also used to sing there quite a bit) and I talked to them today. It sounds like a good option. It's less than half of the cost of a Disney venue, and Iwouldn't have to worry about decorating/floral etc. Plus, the priest would be the one who confirmed me and the music director is the one that I used to sing under.

I'm curious if the DFTW website pricing for venues would be accurate for somebody who is just doing their reception there. If you did that, do you still get to talk to a consultant for all of the planning stuff that goes into the reception?

 

[MsEsty]

For a "regular" wedding, theknot.com's planner is really helpful (forums, not so much). For a Disney wedding, Lurkyloo's book is the best. You really don't need to go and spend $$$ for wedding planners. I'm using a regular ol' staples binder and some folders for scraps of papers, receipts, random things I find. Magazines for ideas are also helpful, especially local Bridal magazines as they will have local vendors. But even then to save money, go to a B&N, find a comfy chair and bring a pen and paper and write down ideas/websites etc.

As for a reception, I may be incorrect but I do not believe you can have a full blown reception without having the ceremony. You can reserve a room for dinner but not for the hours for the DJ/Dancing/Cake Cutting etc. Disney even has limitations on those of us having the Escape weddings and how long our receptions can be.

Probably not the answer you wanted, sorry

 

[girli565]

There was a DIS bride on here who had her wedding at a local catholic church (I think it was the same church you mentioned) and then had her reception at WDW. I hope someone will point you in her direction or to her PJ. But it is possible!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Thanks! And don't worry if the information you have is "not the answer I want." I won't shoot the messenger! Hopefully they will have something in place for people who are facing these restrictions (and maybe willing to make a little magic for a former CM!)