The ongoing affordability question-help!!

[perla75]

I feel like we are never going to get there!!

Due to some financial hardships, we have changed our plans yet again. i swear by the time we tie the knot, I'm going to be a senior citizen!

We were originally saving up for an Escape package at SBP with a lunch at GV Tea Room. The other day we sat down and had the dreaded "Let's be realistic about money" talk. We realized that by the time we save up the amount we need, the price of a WDW wedding is going to be way out of our price range...especially after factoring in recent price increases

We came to an agreement to revisit the Swan/Dolphin idea. At first I was devastated-no MK Photo Shoot! , but beggars can't be choosers & I am determined to make our day as magical as possible.

So, now we are looking at either early 12/10 or early 12/11 (week after Thanksgiving which will still be Value season). We've been trying to research, bt some some reason there doesn't seem to be too much info online about the S/D weddings.....should I be concerned about that? The little reviews and info I have seen all look positive.

Anyways, if someone ould help me with this cost list, that would be great!!

1) It looks like the base cost of the S/D ceremony is:
$1600
I'm not sure exactly what that includes, but it looks like: ceremony site, wedding coordinator, & chairs. **Does it include anything else?
I wish they had some sort of Escape type package but I can't seem to find one

2) We'll need an officiant. I'd like to find a rabbi that will do interfaith or non-religious ceremonies. I think average cost of him/her would be:
$200?

3) Flowers: All we'd need is a bouquet for me & a bout for DF. I think I can get these through the S/D for around $300 total. Does this sound right? Would it be cheaper to get these off site?

4) Photography: Ok, if I can't get the MK Photo shoot, I WANT RANDY!!
According to his website, I could get 3 hours for:
$575
So, I figured we could easily divide that time between the ceremony & the Boardwalk

We are up to a grand total of:
$2675

What else would we need?

-I'd love to squeeze in a cake-how much extra do you think it would be? Simple & enough for maybe 15 people? Also, if we can afford the cake, would the S/D allow us to put a Mickey & Minnie cake topper on it?
-I'd love to have a harpist but it's way too much money. I'm hoping they will settle for a CD player??
-Marriage license
-Lunch after the wedding-we are looking into Fresh restaurant at the Dolphin. I know my mom will pay for that.
-Hotel, airfare, park tix, dress (mom will pay for dress) I am not factoring into this budget-we are budgeting that separately.

So, what do you think? Does $2675 seem like a realistic & valid budget for what I have listed??

Thanks guys!

 

[*Valdez*]

We just got our contract from Just Marry! and for the ceremony site, wedding coordinator, and officiant nothing else was $2400 give or take a couple of $. The whole pkg. with flowers, cake, and champagne was $2900 so I think we may revisit the DFTW idea because this still does not include photography.

 

[perla75]

We just got our contract from Just Marry! and for the ceremony site, wedding coordinator, and officiant nothing else was $2400 give or take a couple of $. The whole pkg. with flowers, cake, and champagne was $2900 so I think we may revisit the DFTW idea because this still does not include photography.

$2400?? Oh No!! I just read a Swan/Dolphin pdf file dated 2/08 that quoted $1500 for the site and wedding coordinator:

http://www.swandolphinmeetings.com/menus/weddingmenus/wedding_packages.pdf

(scroll to bottom of the page). Did the price increase almost $1000 since February? Or is it just more expensive to go through Justmarry.com?

 

[DisBride2007]

I can't help you out on the various costs of a S/D wedding - although I will say your estimates for officiant and floral seem reasonable - but I would suggest coming up with some more concrete numbers for hotel and transportation. With the figures you have written above, this could easily be an additional 50% on top of that. Since it is such a significant part of the budget, I just think it would be a good idea to consider those costs as well, and not just consider them "other."

GL!

 

[*Valdez*]

$2400?? Oh No!! I just read a Swan/Dolphin pdf file dated 2/08 that quoted $1500 for the site and wedding coordinator:

http://www.swandolphinmeetings.com/menus/weddingmenus/wedding_packages.pdf

(scroll to bottom of the page). Did the price increase almost $1000 since February? Or is it just more expensive to go through Justmarry.com?

I was off it is $2287, but this is straight off from my contract. I called Swan and all they do is have Just Marry! call you back.

Your package will include the following:
Ceremony site including white resin folding chairs
Officiant to perform the ceremony
Ceremony musician to accompany the ceremony, up to 2 hours
Just Marry! wedding coordinator to assist with your wedding needs

Package Price: The price for this wedding package is $2287.00 inclusive of taxes. A non-refundable deposit of $1143.50 is due with the signing of this contract. Final payment is due 45 days prior to the wedding ceremony. The final payment is refundable if you cancel in writing 30 days or more prior to the wedding. If you cancel less than 30 days prior to the wedding for any reason, the package becomes completely non-refundable

 

[*Valdez*]

I didn't mean to cause you stress or bum you out, but I don't want you to go through the same disappointment that we did. We had also seen the $1500 on the Swan website. I am not sure why it is that much. I haven't heard back from Just Marry!. Everything bolded seriously came straight from my contract. If you want PM me your email and I can send you things that Just Marry! sent me. Sorry.

 

[perla75]

I was off it is $2287, but this is straight off from my contract. I called Swan and all they do is have Just Marry! call you back.

Your package will include the following:
Ceremony site including white resin folding chairs
Officiant to perform the ceremony
Ceremony musician to accompany the ceremony, up to 2 hours
Just Marry! wedding coordinator to assist with your wedding needs

Package Price: The price for this wedding package is $2287.00 inclusive of taxes. A non-refundable deposit of $1143.50 is due with the signing of this contract. Final payment is due 45 days prior to the wedding ceremony. The final payment is refundable if you cancel in writing 30 days or more prior to the wedding. If you cancel less than 30 days prior to the wedding for any reason, the package becomes completely non-refundable

Oh, I figured out what the price difference is! It's the ceremony musician On the 2/08 S/D pdf file I found, it lists ceremony musicians for around $600 for 2 hours. Deducting that brings it much closer to the prices I found.

Now, I wonder if we could omit the musician and save that extra $$? I'd LOVE to have a harpist, but for $600 to use towards hotel & stuff, we'd be fine with a CD player!

No worries about the pricing-I'm stressed out already!!

You have been super helpful so far, so thank you!!

 

[Mermaid_Ariel]

I think if you omit a lot of the "extras" from a DFTW like the MK photo shoot, etc, I think you'll find that it's very affordable and includes all the necessities that I feel that the Swan & Dolphin does not include.

When we first considered the idea of a DFTW, I was immediately sucked into all the magic ideas of a MK photo shoot, having Mickey and Minnie at the wedding, Cinderella's Coach, etc - and then I realized, it's not a good financial decision for us. Unfortunately, some Disney magic costs money.

We're having really fun wedding events and our budget still continues to stay on track.

 

[Mermaid_Ariel]

Also wanted to add, about the "little things" that can add up - I can't speak for the Swan & Dolphin weddings, but I know Disney takes care of a lot of the little things you might not think of until later. Like I just found out recently that if you don't buy your own cake server $50+ and toasting flutes $50+ (saw some at Swarvoski for $400-yikes!) that Disney will provide them for you to use. Also, chairs are provided for your guests to sit.. I dunno, I always wonder when something sounds too good to be true and then you wind up finding a lot of basics aren't included. It might not be the case for Swan & Dolphin (I don't know), but I just feel very confident that for the price I'm paying, just about everything is taken care of.

 

[Disneyaddict1973]

BUT before you book a swan wedding, carefully consider it. I just had my wedding there last week. My TR will be up soon and you may not like what I will have to say. PM me if you woul like to hear more. Not so much about the Swan as Just Marry. Just can't stand to see anyone go through what I just went through.