WDW wedding date-when would be easier for guest?

[aristocatz]

We are planning our WDW wedding and inviting around 50 guests. We really want to plan it during a time when the Christmas holiday decorations will be up.

We would like as many of our guests to be able to make it as possible.
None of our guests will have school-aged children. 1/3 of our guests are retired. The rest are working individuals (DF's best man is a school teacher in AL in a private school). More than half of our guests are from New England area. Some are from Florida (a few hours from WDW), a few from the West Coast.

Considering prices to fly and stay at WDW, and ease of getting off of work, when would you set the date for?

-Early or Mid November (late November would not work due to the chaos of Thanksgiving)
-Early or Mid December (late December would not work due to the expense and chaos of Christmas and NYE)
-Early January-?? Not sure when the Christmas decorations go down, but I would prefer to do it before Christmas when the decorations are up and running.

Also, we are planning to marry at the Swan/Dolphin. I was just told that they do not do weekend ceremonies. I'm guessing a Monday would be the most convenient for traveling guests, so they could spend the weekend at WDW?
We are planning a morning ceremony with breakfast or brunch afterwards.

SO, given all that info, when would you (as pretend guests) find the most convenient time to go if you fit the above criteria of guests??

 

[java]

Based on your thoughts for a Morning wedding then I vote Monday. (Ideally it would be a Friday night so I could go to the wedding and then hang however I wanted) I have not heard of a Monday wedding before but it's YOUR wedding do it when you want!

Also timing is tough. Early November would help keep the focus on the wedding. IMHO(But I don't know when the decorations go up?) So I guess that would be my vote.

Congratulations. And since I voted do I get to come???

 

[Kimberly]

Early November. Before the start of all the holidays, and the best chance that people will spend more money on your gifts, being that they haven't started holiday shopping yet.

 

[aristocatz]

Based on your thoughts for a Morning wedding then I vote Monday. (Ideally it would be a Friday night so I could go to the wedding and then hang however I wanted) I have not heard of a Monday wedding before but it's YOUR wedding do it when you want!

Also timing is tough. Early November would help keep the focus on the wedding. IMHO(But I don't know when the decorations go up?) So I guess that would be my vote.

Congratulations. And since I voted do I get to come???

I am pretty sure the decorations go up right after Halloween-?

I'm already grumbling about the 50 guests (we initially wanted 20 including DF and me until my mom stepped into the planning) But I promise to post lots of pics!!

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

Hm. I think who you're inviting also plays a factor. Are you inviting children or teens in high school? The best time to go would be early November. (Where I'm from, the kids get the first Thursday and Friday off in November, so this would be a longer weekend for them, but they'd only miss 2 days of school, max.)

You sound like you don't want to do a January wedding, but there are also, so I've heard, minimal crowds. Something minor to consider.

Early December doesn't sound too bad, either. (If you're not inviting that many people that are still in school.)

 

[Handbag Lady]

I would say mid-November.

All of the decorations are up by then and it starts to be cool enough to feel like Winter without it being too cold.

Plus, isn't that more off-season to help with the costs? (I'm not sure but I think that December is more expensive for flights).

And: I had a Monday wedding! They are the BEST! Only the people you like show up, they are fantastic!

 

[aristocatz]

Those of you who chose mid-November: Do you think it is hard to get off of work during that time? We never do, but I'm wondering if many people take work off for Thanksgiving as well?

 

[aristocatz]

Hm. I think who you're inviting also plays a factor. Are you inviting children or teens in high school? The best time to go would be early November. (Where I'm from, the kids get the first Thursday and Friday off in November, so this would be a longer weekend for them, but they'd only miss 2 days of school, max.)

You sound like you don't want to do a January wedding, but there are also, so I've heard, minimal crowds. Something minor to consider.

Early December doesn't sound too bad, either. (If you're not inviting that many people that are still in school.)

No school aged children, but the best man is a teacher in a private school in the south.

 

[aristocatz]

I would say mid-November.

All of the decorations are up by then and it starts to be cool enough to feel like Winter without it being too cold.

Plus, isn't that more off-season to help with the costs? (I'm not sure but I think that December is more expensive for flights).

And: I had a Monday wedding! They are the BEST! Only the people you like show up, they are fantastic!

I didn't think about flight costs & I know nothing about that-thank you for bringing that up!

WDW resort costs are reasonable during November through mid December. I figured Monday would be easiest because it's easier to take a 3 day weekend than to fly down mid week.

Did you do a morning, afternoon, or night ceremony for your Monday wedding? & did you have many people travel to it?

 

[Mrs.Toad]

I voted early November, but think that mid November would be just as easy. Early to mid December is already hectic with Christmas and everything going on. Early January would be very difficult if any of your guests work in accounting, with year-end.

 

[java]

I would ask the BEST MAN- the one that is the teacher what would be easiest for him and then jump off that point. He might say "I can't do November as there is state run testing that week(IN NJ it's the first week I don't know where he lives)

 

[Lisa_M]

I would ask the BEST MAN- the one that is the teacher what would be easiest for him and then jump off that point. He might say "I can't do November as there is state run testing that week(IN NJ it's the first week I don't know where he lives)

I agree. I work in a school and we have VERY limited personal days, so it would probably be best to ask the best man and other guests who you absolutely want to come.

 

[saratogadreamin09]

I voted for early January, but very early like Jan 3 or 4 or 5

 

[aristocatz]

I agree. I work in a school and we have VERY limited personal days, so it would probably be best to ask the best man and other guests who you absolutely want to come.

Best man lives in Alabama & works in a private school-grammar school aged students.

I voted for early January, but very early like Jan 3 or 4 or 5

Will the Osbourne Lights and the decorations still be going on then? How is airfare right after New Years?

 

[Lisa_M]

Best man lives in Alabama & works in a private school-grammar school aged students.

Yes, but that doesn't mean he has super flexible availabilty for vacation. Double check with him before you secure a date or your fiance may be lookingfor another best man

 

[Ciao Mickey]

My first choice would be early December when Christmas decorations are up and flights and rooms are cheaper.

My next choice would be early January. Christmas decorations come down but rooms and flights to Florida are cheaper are then too.

 

[DebbieB]

I am pretty sure the decorations go up right after Halloween-?

I'm already grumbling about the 50 guests (we initially wanted 20 including DF and me until my mom stepped into the planning) But I promise to post lots of pics!!

I don't think they go up that early. Osborne Lights did not start until Thanksgiving last year, Candlelight Processional starts the day after Thanskgiving. I voted early December, which is my favorite time to go.

 

[okeydokey]

Early November. Before the start of all the holidays, and the best chance that people will spend more money on your gifts, being that they haven't started holiday shopping yet.

You are kidding, right?

 

[LoraJ]

I had a destination wedding in Vegas. I asked the people that were most important to me what dates were good. I wanted to get married on a Friday night, but my parents were actually booked on an important cruise that was departing that day. I moved it to the Monday before so that it would still be around a weekend.

You won't be able to please everyone. I don't know if I would want to travel so close to Christmas or Thanksgiving, but I would choose early December or mid-November.

 

[aristocatz]

Hmm...so far it looks like we are leaning toward early December. We really want to see the Osbourne Family Lights!!