Vow renewal info/advice

[UGAFan0829]

The DH and I will be celebrating our 10th anniversary next September on DCL. I would love to renew our vows, but I think that I've waited too long to decide to do it. Not to mention that I would really love to do it in Disney instead of on the cruise. (We've had the cruise booked for a while, and I don't want to change it since this is what we'd been planning on doing for several years now.) So, even if we did decide to do it, we'd have to do it on a day other than our actual anniversary. Is it normal for people to do the renewal on their anniversary, or does it really matter that much? As I said before, I would rather do it that day, but we'll be on the cruise ship then. So it would mean either waiting another few years to do it, or do it on a day other than our anniversary.
To be honest, I've never known anyone who has renewed their vows, much less been to a vow renewal ceremony, so I have no clue what a renewal consists of.
If and when we do decide to renew them (which will be eventually), I am sure that it will be just the DH and I, as my family couldn't afford the trip.
So, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions/advice/info for me...like what all goes into planning a vow renewal, etc. Besides buying a dress what else would I need (of course I know that all depends on how extravagant I would want to be, but I don't know what my options are either).
Hope this all makes sense! TIA!

 

[WithDisneySpirit]

My tenth is July 7 and we just celebrated it with a VR at WDW on May 27. Good planning on my part as I now have two anniversaries each year

The cost for a VR on the cruise may be the cheaper option since it will be just the two of you. If you do it at WDW, you will want to check into the Escape Bridal options since it might just be the two of you. Good luck and happy planning

 

[hiwaygal]

I think the date on which you have your vow renewal can be just as personal a decision as the date you had your wedding!! I know some people have decided to have it on the exact day and others have had it whenever it was convenient. We were married by a JOP here at home on a Friday, and our Disney wedding was the following Tuesday...so technically it was a vow renewal just four days later. Now we celebrate the first date, the second date and all the days inbetween!

So, if you really want to do it next year and are only going to "miss" your actual date by a few days, I say GO FOR IT!!

As far as what goes into it, like you said, that depends. As far as Disney is concerned a vow renewal is the same as a wedding (except for the license part). If you choose the Escape package the basic stuff is included but you can do some upgrades and special touches. If you choose the Wishes package, there is a minimum spend (currently about $10,000). For either one, you do need to book a minimum four nights at any Disney owned and operated resort/hotel.

Some people choose to wear a fancy gown and others choose something more casual...it's all about what you want!

Hope that helps some!

 

[BayouPrincess]

Hi UGAfan,

For us, the decision was easy. Our 20th wedding anniversary was actually May 28, 2008. Our DFTVR is November 24th, 2008. We are doing the Wishes option. The kids are out of school the week of Thanksgiving and it's our most favorite time of year to be in the World.

I chose to suprise DH for our anniversary with an adults only trip to WDW for our actual anniversary. We managed to get our planning session booked for that trip, so it was dual purpose. It was the first time we were at Disney without the kids (what a guilty pleasure ).

I think you and DH need to decide how important having the renewal on THAT date is for you and go from there. Good luck planning!

 

[29apr00]

We are doing our 10th VR on DCL in Dec 2009!! Our actually anniversary is April 2010. Our reason for going in Dec was for 2 reasons. 1) it's about $3000 cheaper. And 2) Xmas decorations.

Go with whatever works for you and your family!! Think if you'll have to take kids out of school, stuff like that.

 

[roozlilone]

We are doing our 15th year anniversary VR on our actual wedding date, July 17! However, we originally planned to do it in June, so I really think it's a personal decision, whatever date works best for you! There are so many options, an Escape VR starts at $4000, but does not include the officiant or the required 4 night stay on Disney Property. It really can be whatever you want it to be, something very simple and initimate or very extravagent! Hope this helps! Happy Planning!

 

[padisneyfour]

Just wanted to say welcome to another VRer. we are planning pur VR for 20th anniversary july 2010, hopefully getting our anniversary date just because its during the week( so cheaper). good luck with all your planning...

 

[Lisacope]

Hi UGAfan,

For us, the decision was easy. Our 20th wedding anniversary was actually May 28, 2008. Our DFTVR is November 24th, 2008. We are doing the Wishes option. The kids are out of school the week of Thanksgiving and it's our most favorite time of year to be in the World.

I chose to suprise DH for our anniversary with an adults only trip to WDW for our actual anniversary. We managed to get our planning session booked for that trip, so it was dual purpose. It was the first time we were at Disney without the kids (what a guilty pleasure ).

I think you and DH need to decide how important having the renewal on THAT date is for you and go from there. Good luck planning!

Hey Bayou Princess - That is our 20th anniversary date too!!!

 

[alissa2008]

My tenth is July 7 and we just celebrated it with a VR at WDW on May 27. Good planning on my part as I now have two anniversaries each year

Our reason for going in Dec was for 2 reasons. 1) it's about $3000 cheaper. And 2) Xmas decorations.

 

[mskayjay]

I all but begged for help from WDW, did everything I thought I could between emails and phone calls to get info on doing a VR for our 25th and have to say I got no where. I finally forwarded all my emails from Disney Weddings (they also handle VRs ) to a very nice CM and she was very unhappy with the responses I got. She called over to someone she knew in Disney Weddings and still was unhappy with the results I got and all but recommended I do my VR somewhere else and do a nice dinner at WDW if my heart was set on it. I love the mouse but I am so seriously disappointed. This was my dream since I never had a "real" wedding and no matter what I did, they were of no help whatsoever.....

 

[hiwaygal]

I all but begged for help from WDW, did everything I thought I could between emails and phone calls to get info on doing a VR for our 25th and have to say I got no where. I finally forwarded all my emails from Disney Weddings (they also handle VRs ) to a very nice CM and she was very unhappy with the responses I got. She called over to someone she knew in Disney Weddings and still was unhappy with the results I got and all but recommended I do my VR somewhere else and do a nice dinner at WDW if my heart was set on it. I love the mouse but I am so seriously disappointed. This was my dream since I never had a "real" wedding and no matter what I did, they were of no help whatsoever.....

I'm sorry you had a disappointing experience. When did you contact them?

Most of the information about weddings and vow renewals is available on their website:

http://www.disneyweddings.go.com/site/gate/index.jsp

I've heard of them being a bit slow to return some phone calls, but nothing like what you experienced.

 

[BayouPrincess]

Hey Bayou Princess - That is our 20th anniversary date too!!!

and we're both Lisa's and we had very similar original wedding dresses!

and I'm jealous because your VR is sooner than mine!

 

[WithDisneySpirit]

and we're both Lisa's and we had very similar original wedding dresses!

and I'm jealous because your VR is sooner than mine!

Hey, I'm a Lisa too but I just had my VR and that is nothing to be jealous of. Just enjoy the planning fully

 

[BayouPrincess]

Hey, I'm a Lisa too but I just had my VR and that is nothing to be jealous of. Just enjoy the planning fully

Hey Lisa! There are several of us here. I know Goldilox is a Lisa also. It doesn't suprise me, I graduated from High School with 5 other Lisa's.

I am loving the planning.


So UGA, have you thought anymore about the date thing? I'm curious to know what you have decided.

 

[WithDisneySpirit]

I am 47 now and one of the oldest Lisa's I have ever know. When I was in grade school, there were about 12 other Lisa's younger than me and I stopped answering to the name for those couple of years Sorry to go off-topic

 

[keenercam]

OP -- I agree that your VR can be whatever date you choose. Our 24th anniversary is 12/22/08 and we are doing our VR at Disney 3 weeks later because that is a date that is convenient for us.

You should look at some of the VR trip reports and the thread on here about cruise weddings & VRs to get an idea of the options available to you so that you can decide whether you want to do it on the ship or at WDW. Either way, I don't think it is too late at all. At WDW the earliest you can contract it is a year in advance, I think, and for some locations, you put your name in one year in advance, but can't contract until 8 months out. I am not sure of the time constraints on DCL, but since you are 14+ months out, I'd bet that it isn't too late to get it on the books.

Please don't give up your hopes of doing it, and be sure to come back and update us on what you find out!

 

[UGAFan0829]

So UGA, have you thought anymore about the date thing? I'm curious to know what you have decided.

The DH and I talked about it last night, and he definitely wants to do it. We just don't know when. The more I thought about it, the more I want my family there. The DH and I don't have kids, but we are very close to our families, and I can't imgaine not giving them the opportunity to be there. So with that said, it definitely eliminates the option of doing it on the cruise. And since we are doing both the cruise AND Disney World next year for our 10th, I don't think it's going to happen then (as in, not in the budget). So, I think I've decided that I want to definitely do it on or as close as possible to our actual anniversary date. I know that if possible, I would like to do it at Sunset Pointe, but I know that we would probably have more than 10 people, and that seems to be an issue. We've decided that we're definitely going to do it...now it's just a matter of deciding on when (which year). I don't want to wait until or 15th, but yet the years in between the 10th and 15th years just don't seem to be celebrated as much traditionally.

 

[padisneyfour]

I really think the date is what works best for you and what you want.... We are hoping to get our original wedding date for our VR but if we can't we still want around the same date because that is when we usually go to WDW..... good luck

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

I all but begged for help from WDW, did everything I thought I could between emails and phone calls to get info on doing a VR for our 25th and have to say I got no where. I finally forwarded all my emails from Disney Weddings (they also handle VRs ) to a very nice CM and she was very unhappy with the responses I got. She called over to someone she knew in Disney Weddings and still was unhappy with the results I got and all but recommended I do my VR somewhere else and do a nice dinner at WDW if my heart was set on it. I love the mouse but I am so seriously disappointed. This was my dream since I never had a "real" wedding and no matter what I did, they were of no help whatsoever.....

i don't understand...why couldn't they do the VR?

I have my VR booked for July 25th on DCL..I have been in touch with Disney Weddings and everything. We didn't have a real wedding, so we have several friends going on the B2B Wonder..I am wearing the full gown, bridesmaids, flowers, etc...we are even having a reception in the Palo Room

 

[Lisacope]

and we're both Lisa's and we had very similar original wedding dresses!

and I'm jealous because your VR is sooner than mine!

Very cool!! Do you have any pix of your wedding dress???

Oh - and sorry to hijack!!