Vow Renewal - How early do we start planning/booking?

[JenLoy]

DH and I are planning a Dis VR for our 10th anniversary. The anniversary would be 10/26/2012.

How far in advance should we start making plans?

Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm been a frequent WDW visitor for many years but know very little about this process.

Jen

 

[princesswendy720]

Will you be doing a Wishes or an Escape event? For a Wishes event, you can contact DFTW and have a site visit up to 24 months before the event. They can "pencil you in" at that point, but it really is just a calendar that lists all of the people and their preferred times/locations. For Wishes, you can confirm non-convention center locations at 16 months (meaning no one else can come along and take your location/time). Convention center locations are confirmed at 12 months, and you can sign a contract and send in a deposit at 12 months for all locations. For an escape event, you can tentatively hold space at 12 months and sign a contract at 8 months.

 

[wiserabbit]

My hubby and I are doing our VR August 1, 2011 - we didn't start planning until about 7 months out - and we're doing the Escape package....

If you haven't looked at the DFTW website yet - it will give lots of info and an idea of how much $$$$. For us, 7 months was plenty of time....

 

[hmdelf]

great question. We are doing a VR in Oct of 2013 at WDW

 

[JenLoy]

This is all great advice. For some reason, I thought we couldn't do anything until we were a year out. I'm so glad I asked.

What does the "bride" wear for a VR? Do you purchase a new dress, wear your original (if it still fits)?

 

[Jilian]

We're doing a VR and I started researching options at about 18 mos out but the real planning didn't start until closer to the 1 yr mark. From what I've read etiquette says not to wear a wedding dress unless you are wearing your original dress but I said screw etiquette and bought myself a beautiful dress in ivory. I didn't get to wear a dress the first time so I was determined to wear a pretty dress this time. So wear whatever you want! It is your day and should reflect you.

 

[norm&linda]

we just did a memories wedding on Saturday - possibly similar to a vow renewal depending on what your plans are. It was really perfect. We booked it at Christmas 2010 for the April 2nd date and there was no problem securing our choice of date and time, although for a larger event I am sure more lead time would needed. It was just the five us, DH, me and our three kids.

 

[wiserabbit]

Once you decide what location you'll have the ceremony at, I think the decison on what to wear will come naturally - and it's totally okay to wear a wedding dress! I've bought a new one for the occasion - nothing too puffy or lacey - it's perfect for an outdoor venue with simple clean lines and best of all pockets!

 

[norm&linda]

pockets are good!


I ended up wearing a long skirt I purchased 10 years ago and didn't have an occasion for.

if it feels good, do it!

 

[lorimay]

We're doing a VR and I started researching options at about 18 mos out but the real planning didn't start until closer to the 1 yr mark. From what I've read etiquette says not to wear a wedding dress unless you are wearing your original dress but I said screw etiquette and bought myself a beautiful dress in ivory. I didn't get to wear a dress the first time so I was determined to wear a pretty dress this time. So wear whatever you want! It is your day and should reflect you.

We are having our vow renewal for our 25th on DCL in January, I am wearing a white Alfred Angelo wedding dress, I LOVE it! Its tea length and all lace with a small lace train.
Its your day wear whatever you want.

 

[tinkerbell 766]

We're doing a VR and I started researching options at about 18 mos out but the real planning didn't start until closer to the 1 yr mark. From what I've read etiquette says not to wear a wedding dress unless you are wearing your original dress but I said screw etiquette and bought myself a beautiful dress in ivory. I didn't get to wear a dress the first time so I was determined to wear a pretty dress this time. So wear whatever you want! It is your day and should reflect you.

I started reserching at about two years out, but being from the UK, there was a lot to plan what with flying 15 of us over to Florida!!! I actually started the booking process last summer at about 8 - 10 months out

Jillian sweetie I am with you!!!! I didn't have my dream dress when I first married DH either, and was determined to have it this time, so I have an ivory dress too (well, it's officially called 'alabaster'). I say ya boo sucks to etiquette on this one!!!

 

[JenLoy]

This is great advice. We're heading to Dis next week for a short 3 day stay and I'm planning on checking out some potential sites. Very exciting!