Vow Renewal - Doing it yourself?

[Disney8704]

A friend of mine just got back from Disney and her and her husband did their own little vow renewal ceremony on their anniversary day. They just picked a nice spot in Epcot where there wasnt many people, and they bascially just said some words together, said we pronounce ourselves as husband and wife and they kissed and had someone take a couple pictures afterwards. I thought that was so romantic! And it didnt cost them a dime. They didnt have to get anyone really involved, because it was just the 2 of them. So that got me thinking, DH and I are going this August for our 4th anniversary. Maybe do our own vow renewal type thing as well? It would be just the 2 of us. Maybe have it in the same spot, where he proposed to me in Epcot. Where he proposed is down by the lagoon, so during the day there isnt really anyone down there. I've always wanted to get married in Disney, but its just way to expensive. Sure it wont be official on paper, but it would be official to us. Has anyone ever done their own vow renewal thing by themselves?

 

[shadowryter]

Hi there...My name is Linda and this is my very first post. I've been reading through all the threads and posts that have to do with birthday's, anniversaries and cakes. My DH and I are planning a three day park, four day cruise for Dec 09. What a perfect time to renew our vows for our 20th. I must admit that the cost kind of floored me, so imagine my surprise when my husband suggested we renew our vows on our own. So that's where my plans are heading. Maybe on property, or in our room at the Polynesian, possibly on the ship or Castaway Cay. We are planning to write our own vows and my DD who will be 18 will do a small reading from our wedding. I can order a cake and bring my own decorations. Disney Florists have a real nice basket consisting of your favorite wine or champagne, Disney toasting flutes, and chocolates, and you can add the cute Mickey groom top hat and Minnie sparkle ears and veil. There's so much you can do on your own, so why not? Whatever you decide I hope you and your husband have a magical day that you'll hold forever in your hearts!

 

[Disney8704]

Hi Linda and to the DISboards. Thanks for your post. I havent talked to DH about it yet, but I might today when he gets home from work or when he comes home for lunch. I will have to look into that basket you were talking about. Funny, I visit the disney florists website a few times before and never saw it there before. Maybe its new? Or maybe Im just blind Anywho, hope you have a great trip and vow renewal. You'll have to post back here when you get back from your trip.

Hi there...My name is Linda and this is my very first post. I've been reading through all the threads and posts that have to do with birthday's, anniversaries and cakes. My DH and I are planning a three day park, four day cruise for Dec 09. What a perfect time to renew our vows for our 20th. I must admit that the cost kind of floored me, so imagine my surprise when my husband suggested we renew our vows on our own. So that's where my plans are heading. Maybe on property, or in our room at the Polynesian, possibly on the ship or Castaway Cay. We are planning to write our own vows and my DD who will be 18 will do a small reading from our wedding. I can order a cake and bring my own decorations. Disney Florists have a real nice basket consisting of your favorite wine or champagne, Disney toasting flutes, and chocolates, and you can add the cute Mickey groom top hat and Minnie sparkle ears and veil. There's so much you can do on your own, so why not? Whatever you decide I hope you and your husband have a magical day that you'll hold forever in your hearts!

 

[hiwaygal]

Just a word of warning...

Disney is very protective of weddings/vow renewals on property. If you are discovered you will be asked to leave.

In the OP, I can understand how that might be pulled off but if you want an officiant, flowers, cake, decorations, photography it will start to get much more difficult to hide.

Many vendors in the area know Disney's rules and will not want to jeopardize their good standing with Disney Fairy Tale Weddings.

I understand that costs can be prohibitive. You might consider something at the Swan/Dolphin, some of the hotels in Downtown Disney, or you can google "Orlando Weddings" and there are several options in the area that are probably much more cost effective.

 

[Starr W.]

Just a word of warning...

Disney is very protective of weddings/vow renewals on property. If you are discovered you will be asked to leave.

In the OP, I can understand how that might be pulled off but if you want an officiant, flowers, cake, decorations, photography it will start to get much more difficult to hide.

Many vendors in the area know Disney's rules and will not want to jeopardize their good standing with Disney Fairy Tale Weddings.

I understand that costs can be prohibitive. You might consider something at the Swan/Dolphin, some of the hotels in Downtown Disney, or you can google "Orlando Weddings" and there are several options in the area that are probably much more cost effective.

I think I read someone here got secretly married in a villa at OKW or was planning it. I think they just had an officiant, family and themselves.

 

[Swmhc]

They may have lucked out and not gotten caught, but not worth it to me. How terrible to be "thrown out" of your wedding or vr if you get caught. If it is just the two of you reciting vows to one another, then no problem, but an organized gathering.... Personally, I would want photos, cake, etc....I am a photo nut, so I would want to make the investment. Or should I say, we DID make the investment. Well worth the $$$

 

[Disney8704]

No we wouldnt have all that. We would just pick a nice spot somewhere, who knows maybe even on our balcony at AKL, just to do our own little vow reneweal. There would be no officent, flowers, pics, etc. As for cake, im planning on getting a cake for room delivery for our anniversary. Outside that, it would just be me and DH saying some words and thats all.

 

[shadowryter]

I do understand how Disney would be protective, but a lot of these vow renewal ceremonies are for people with a guest list. What if it's just the two of you or maybe in my case three? If it's just a quick, "Do You? I do." Quiet words spoken to one another in a corner of the World would be romantic and no one needs to know. If you can order a cake and have it sent to your room you should be able to have a small ceremony. You don't need an officiant, you're already married. Anyone can do that for you such as my DD. As far as photographs go, I'll bring my tri-pod. Regardless, my plans won't take place until Dec of next year, which still gives me time to save and get more information of a possible intimate Disney Cruise vow renewal(something I have always wanted to do). I just want a plan B, that's all.

 

[hiwaygal]

I do understand how Disney would be protective, but a lot of these vow renewal ceremonies are for people with a guest list. What if it's just the two of you or maybe in my case three? If it's just a quick, "Do You? I do." Quiet words spoken to one another in a corner of the World would be romantic and no one needs to know. If you can order a cake and have it sent to your room you should be able to have a small ceremony. You don't need an officiant, you're already married. Anyone can do that for you such as my DD. As far as photographs go, I'll bring my tri-pod. Regardless, my plans won't take place until Dec of next year, which still gives me time to save and get more information of a possible intimate Disney Cruise vow renewal(something I have always wanted to do). I just want a plan B, that's all.

No one is telling you what you can or can't do. That is your choice.

My ceremony was technically a vow renewal (since we did the "legal" part before leaving home). We had no guests, it was just my DH and me. And I still went through Disney.

It's not just the brides here who are offering a warning, you can check out the FAQ for Disney weddings on mouseweddings.com:

http://www.mouseweddings.com/weddingfaq.html

The first question is "Can I have a wedding at a Disney theme park or resort without going through Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings program". The site owner there doesn't recommend it either.

The bottom line is, it's just a warning. If Disney were to discover what you are doing they have the right to ask you to leave the premises. That's just not how I would want to remember my vow renewal, YMMV.

 

[PrincessBride010103]

Hiwaygal is right. Plus the DFTW people read these boards.....just a word of caution.

 

[Chedstro]

That would be me that had our wedding in a Villa at OKW. We had pictures (taken by friends) and a cake and officient (another friend who is a Notary Public) Oh and flowers from WDW Florist.

Our take on it was that we were having a private party for friends and family in a room that we paid for (3 nights) and we weren't bothering anyone at Disney.

We had originally planned on a very small (4 people) casual stroll down to Sunset Point after dinner at the Poly; but the numbers grew and we soon realized that it would no longer be "stealth."

We all had a great time and will remember it always.

I do think for vowel renewals in a quiet place with just family, there would not be much to notice and it would be very sweet.

Best of luck and congratulations

 

[belle09]

OP, just my two cents. I think your idea would be fine -- to me, it sounds closer to a "re-engagement" than a full-on vow renewal and Disney has no regulations regarding engagements. You and your DH are taking a few minutes to remember something that started at Disney. To me, it doesn't really seem all that different from watching the fireworks with your arms around each other and saying "I love you" to each other. If you asked someone to take pictures of you while you were going over your vows, that might start to cross a line, but asking for a picture afterwards seems fine. And, I think clothing would have a lot to do with how this was perceived. It seems like it would go over better if you were in "normal" clothing rather than dressed up. That way, the "VR" is really just a planned moment of shared memory and affection.

Linda, to me, your idea seems different because you're incorporating elements of a formal VR ceremony -- readings, photography, etc. It seems like you could get away with this in your hotel room, but that doing so in a park would be difficult to pull off.

Again, just my two cents and I'm no expert at all.

 

[shadowryter]

I do agree that trying to have some kind of VR ceremony in the park would be difficult, which is why I would rather hold it in the privacy of my hotel room. Nothing grand really. A little home video and pictures, a cake and some champagne. (No different than any other mildstone anniversary) The only difference is words exchanged between a couple who have loved each other unconditionally for 20 years. Please know that I appreciate and respect all of your opinions and anything else you would like to add would only be helpful. After all, we all have something in common here. We love our spouses and we love Disney.