Vow Renewal questions

[fourmcds]

After a very rough few years, DH and I have decided to do a vow renewal at WDW for our 15th anniversary. Our dates are flexible, and it isn't going to be anything formal. I was wondering if anyone has done anything on their own, like a Wishes cruise with friends and done a small ceremony? Just trying to decide if we want to go formal through Disney or something completely random that would still be fun and special.
Any thoughts would be great!
TIA

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Hi
I am doing a VR in May 2011. Welcome!!
I believe it is completely 'frowned upon' to have any ceremony on property without going through DFTW. I suppose if you and DH were just going to repeat your vows to each other without the use of an officiant, with no flowers, cake, formal guests or long gowns, they couldn't stop you, but if you formalize it even so far as having an officiant, I don't think you would get away with it!!
I am having a small Escape VR. This is the cheapest way of doing an official 'wedding' and starts at $4750 (on a weekday) with no upgrades.
I don't know what rules apply to SWan and Dolphin ceremonies. Maybe worth checking them out
HTH. Good luck!!!

 

[fourmcds]

Thanks for the advice. If we did something other than DFTW, it would be completely random and not formal at all. Part of the problem is that I had tried for over 3 months to get info from DFTW and kept hitting dead ends or no return calls. I was at WDW this month and tried to catch up with them then, but they aren't on site at WDW like they are at DL.
How many guests are you having? And where are you having it, if you don't mind me asking. I finally got through to them yesterday and they are looking at availability for us and getting back to me at the beginning of the week. Hopefully I can finally get this planned!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

We are hoping to have a ceremony at Sea Breeze Point followed by a meal. It is still up in the air as to where this will be. I am looking at a private dining meal at either the American Adventure Parlour and Dining Room at Epcot or at one of the smaller ballroom/banqueting rooms like the St James Room or the Key West Room. It all depends on how many guests are willing to make the trip!!
We live in the UK so I have already sent out a Save the Date and a newsletter to guests revealing our plans and have asked at this stage that they let me know whether they are considering making the trip or not!! I have asked for initial replies by the end of April as I am a DVC member and have been saving my points so that all guests can have three nights at WDW on us. I need to book them at 11 months out which is the beginning of June. So far, we look to have a minimum of 11 including us and have yet to hear from some people so the final count will be somewhere between 11 and 23. When I know my nunbers, I can plan where our reception will be and whether it will be a lunch or dinner.
I know I am desperate to have an Illuminations dessert party in the evening, which looking at our numbers will probably be in Morocco
Of course, the main problem with Disney is that you cannot book anything until 8 months out for Escape packages and for us this isn't until September We will be in WDW for about 10 days in total so we are not panicking about dates as I am sure we will get something at SBP during that time. My first choice, however is 4th May which is a Wednesday. I have already booked and sent a deposit to Randy Chapman and he is willing to be very flexible with dates. I have seen his work here on the boards and was determined to have him as our photographer as photographs are very important to me as I was disappointed with our wedding photos 10 years ago. A Disney photographer is included in the Escape package but, by all accounts, they can vary from brilliant to medeocre and I needed to be sure of good photos.
Well, sorry to waffle on about my plans but it is all very exciting for me!!
I wish you luck with your plans, and if I can help in any way please ask
Joanne