Thinking of Wishes Wedding

[honey2741]

We've been thinking of switching to a Wishes wedding from an Escape one. However, we are apprehensive on a few issues.

Room block - Did you encounter any issues with family and friends using the room block or not? Did you ever have to pay for additional nights because you didn't reach your minimum?

Outside photographer and videographer - For 2009, no outside photographers or videographers are allowed inside the parks, correct?

Everything counts towards the minimum expenditure?

Can you still have a Wishes wedding with the ceremony location of SBP?

Thanks.

 

[babystar]

Depending on the day of your wedding the room nights can be flexible so if you explain to the planner that you may not be able to do 25nights they may bring this down slightly - but they normally take away your complementary night if you cant hit the 25 night min.

Everything on your wedding day for your wedding will count towards the min.(so bridal breakfasts and spa treatments will not count) The only element that will also go towards the min that doesnt have to be held on the wedding day is Park bridal shoot.

The photographer rule is correct.

Not sure about the max numbers for SBP but im sure somebody will be along soon to help you out.

Hope this helped

 

[PrincessShea]

I would talk with a Wishes planner and get an estimate. I also considered switching to a Wishes from Escape. However, once I got the estimate, I saw how much extra stuff I didn't want at all had to be added in order to hit the $10,000 minimum. Also, keep in mind the different minimums depending on the day of the week and season.

 

[honey2741]

The photographer rule is correct.

Thanks for confirming. The fact DFTW doesn't allow outside photographers into the park for a wedding, is reason enough for me to stick with having an Escape wedding. I can't chance spending thousands of dollars for someone to mess up the only thing I can look back for memories...photos and video.

 

[DisneyBrideToni]

With a wishes wedding you can have your wedding practically anywhere. I am having a wishes wedding and getting married at SBP. I hope that helps.

 

[pooh98378]

Thanks for confirming. The fact DFTW doesn't allow outside photographers into the park for a wedding, is reason enough for me to stick with having an Escape wedding. I can't chance spending thousands of dollars for someone to mess up the only thing I can look back for memories...photos and video.

You might want to double check on this. When we had our wedding (Jan 08), outside photographers were allowed in for the wedding day festivities themselves. For example, we had Randy and Stan and they were able to come into Epcot for our reception at the Living Seas, as well as for the dessert party at UK. However, outside photographer are NOT allowed in for things such as the MK Photo Shoot - you have to go thru Disney for that.

 

[DisneyBrideToni]

You might want to double check on this. When we had our wedding (Jan 08), outside photographers were allowed in for the wedding day festivities themselves. For example, we had Randy and Stan and they were able to come into Epcot for our reception at the Living Seas, as well as for the dessert party at UK. However, outside photographer are NOT allowed in for things such as the MK Photo Shoot - you have to go thru Disney for that.

Unfortunately they are no longer allowing this as of October 1, 2008. Anyone who signs their contract after that date is not allowed to have outside photographers for in park functions.

You can still use them for events outside of the parks such as at the resorts, wedding pavilion, SBP, etc.

 

[pooh98378]

Room block - Did you encounter any issues with family and friends using the room block or not? Did you ever have to pay for additional nights because you didn't reach your minimum?

The room block was the biggest pain of planning a wishes wedding. In the end, it worked out fine - we had enough rooms and no problems. It was just trying to plan the room block -- we went to all of our family members/guests and had to ask them if they were thinking of coming, were they a for sure/no/or maybe, if they were coming, what price range of hotel would they like to stay at, etc. That was a little difficult to plan one year in advance. In the end, it was fine though. I have seen some brides occasionally post a message here on the boards to get their room block filled. Also, if a guest chooses to stay at a disney hotel that is not in your room block, then their stay still counts towards your minimum - just make sure you tell DFTW.

Everything counts towards the minimum expenditure?

Yup! Everything that goes through Disney that you do on the day of your wedding, with the exception of the MK Photo Shoot that the other poster mentioned.

 

[pooh98378]

Unfortunately they are no longer allowing this as of October 1, 2008. Anyone who signs their contract after that date is not allowed to have outside photographers for in park functions.

You can still use them for events outside of the parks such as at the resorts, wedding pavilion, SBP, etc.

WOW! I'm glad we had our wedding when we did! I would be SO upset! I bet that will hurt Randy and Stan's business

 

[lurkyloo]

Room block - Did you encounter any issues with family and friends using the room block or not? Did you ever have to pay for additional nights because you didn't reach your minimum?

I have been on these boards (and others) for several years and have never ever heard of anyone actually having to pay for additional nights.