What did you do with larger guest lists do for your Rehearsal Dinner or Welcome Party

[Skylersmommy5]

I was wondering what other DisBrides did in Disney that had larger guest lists (100+) did for your Reearsal Dinner or Welcome Party? My DH and I are estimating our list at no more than 115 guests(ourselves and DS included in this count). We don't want to invite just our Bridal Party, Parents, and Grandparents, we want all of our invited guests at our Welcome Party. Were any of you able to do something for $3,000 or less but still have something nice and simple done? We want the celebration kicked off right by all and welcome to Disney.

Please share what you did for your Reearsal Dinner or Welcome Party(I'm sorry if this is a duplicate topic/post). Thanks.

 

[dakcp2001]

Some people have rented Shipwreck Cove for a BBQ, not sure how much it costs.

You could rent a villa or room and get pizza? Where are you staying?

I have read some very creative things here so I am certain someone will be able to help I think it is nice to include everyone at the welcome party to kick off the festivities.

 

[Skylersmommy5]

Some people have rented Shipwreck Cove for a BBQ, not sure how much it costs.

You could rent a villa or room and get pizza? Where are you staying?

I have read some very creative things here so I am certain someone will be able to help I think it is nice to include everyone at the welcome party to kick off the festivities.

Thank you so much for replying. Your ideas are fantastic, thank you. The logistics of Hotels to stay at we're still deciding on that. I'm hoping for either AKL, Poly, or GF. Who knows it may be a moderate hotel like CBR or POFQ.

I love your idea of the pizza, I just hope our little one and the other little ones won't get sick of pizza 2 nights in a row(or chicken fingers for the kids party it will be for them). I've never heard of Shipwreck Cove. I know my DH wants a Crawfish Boil, but I know there are caterers in Orlando that will bring them to you, but I know Disney doesn't allow outside catering, so that may be a problem(and one I'd like to avoid at all costs).

My sister had a BBQ for her Welcome Dinner for her Wedding a few years ago and it was a huge hit(her wedding was by our dad's home in Boston and had her Welcome Party as a 4th of July BBQ at our Dad's home).

Since we're paying for the whole thing ourselves to seem cheap, but we would
love to have everyone meet the night before. You're absolutely right, everyone
loves to feel included. We are asking everyone to travel from all over the
country. I just can't put myself to invite some and leave the rest fending for
themselves(although Disney has many possibilities). Maybe it's just how I was
raised.

Thank you so much for your idea. Please keep the ideas coming. I'm open to all suggestions.

 

[lurkyloo]

For that many guests, you would probably need to do a private event. You could do a casual catered meal (BBQ, burgers) at one of the convention centers, which have no venue-rental fees, but it would be tough keeping dinner under $3,000. Brunch or breakfast would be much easier to keep to about $25/person.

You could also inquire about doing a private event at Hurricane Hanna's Grill at the Yacht & Beach Club's Stormalong Bay - it could be cheaper cuz the food there's cheaper!

Shipwreck Beach is great for large parties, but it requires a $3,000 event support package (fencing, plant walls, tents for food stations, etc.) on top of the $1,000 food and beverage minimum.

 

[Skylersmommy5]

My appologies in advance to anyone reading my previous post, typing on an iPhone kind of butchers your replies and makes them look funky.

I was trying to say in the last post is I don want our welcome party to seem cheap, but at the same time relaxed and fun and truthfully I don't want a single guest feeling as if they're invited to come to the ceremony & reception(or kids party for the little ones, ours included) and feel like they aren't welcome to be at the Rehearsal Dinner(why we're doing a welcome party instead).

 

[kcampbell]

Another thought on the private event tangent would be a catered BBQ or Clambake at Fort Wilderness Resort. They can tie in hayrides, character appearances, and campfires too (if you're willing to pay). Just depends on your wishes! When you eventually talk to a Wedding Coordinator (they book all your venues) keep an open mind b/c there are so many places you would never even think of--just part of the magic of Disney!

 

[Skylersmommy5]

For that many guests, you would probably need to do a private event. You could do a casual catered meal (BBQ, burgers) at one of the convention centers, which have no venue-rental fees, but it would be tough keeping dinner under $3,000. Brunch or breakfast would be much easier to keep to about $25/person.

You could also inquire about doing a private event at Hurricane Hanna's Grill at the Yacht & Beach Club's Stormalong Bay - it could be cheaper cuz the food there's cheaper!

Shipwreck Beach is great for large parties, but it requires a $3,000 event support package (fencing, plant walls, tents for food stations, etc.) on top of the $1,000 food and beverage minimum.

thank you so much for your ideas. You're idea could work quite well too. We are going to have to look into it. We are planning to have a farewell breakfast/ brunch too, I didn't want it seeming like we were going to do breakfast or
lunch 3 consecutive days in a row. We will have some guests more than likely arrive late because it's during the school year).

We're not even opposed to doing appetizers and soft drinks too, and maybe Mickey Rice Krispy Treats and Mickey Ice Cream Bars. I know the cost of food
adds up quickly even for large groups.

Hot Dogs & Burgers still do the trick, so do pizza and Speghetti. I just can't fathom having that many guests come to our hotel room and it be a quick "hi, glad you're here. Please help yourself to some food and drinks." I like the idea of Hurricane Hanna's and maybe suggest we have a little picnic in the sand on the beach. I wish it could be more fancy, but with having a nice reception, farewell brunch, I know the welcome party just feels right.

I also can't just say "we're having dinner at(fill in name of restaurant). It's going to cost you $$$). That doesn't seem right to me either(My appologies to any DisBrides that did this).

 

[Skylersmommy5]

Another thought on the private event tangent would be a catered BBQ or Clambake at Fort Wilderness Resort. They can tie in hayrides, character appearances, and campfires too (if you're willing to pay). Just depends on your wishes! When you eventually talk to a Wedding Coordinator (they book all your venues) keep an open mind b/c there are so many places you would never even think of--just part of the magic of Disney!

Great ideas. Thank you. I will have to see what other places they come up with. We're willing to spend the money, just we don't want it coming out to the same price we'll be paying for the VR itself. I know our DS would be thrilled to have Mickey & Minnie there or even Pooh. It might just be worth the money for it for his priceless reaction( and a surprise gift for him). I might have to increase that budget a little bit(and save up even more). Actually with throwing a kids party that might be the perfect time to have an appearance by Mickey & Minnie. Really we are wanting everyone to feel the Disney Magic right from the get go.

The BBQ might be a perfect idea. I know my DH and I couldn't even afford to do a Disney Wedding almost 3 years ago when we got married (an couldn't travel b/c of my pregnancy with DS), so every penny right now is being saved to have this as a Wow Factor(VR at Disney only Becki would think of having it here) VR, but still making it casual and fun and magical(and hopefully one nobody will forget).

 

[HopefulDisneyBride]

We had a rehearsal dinner/welcome party for approx 55 people. We rented out Sea Breeze point and they had it catered - buffet style. It was great - we did it right at sunset, the location is on the water - really pretty. The food and service was excellent. We made sure to keep it much more casual than the wedding reception the next day to keep it different and less expensive. Also, fireworks at Epcot went off towards the end and were visible which was a nice surprise (even for us). I have no clue as to the cost though - the groom's family paid for it.

 

[lurkyloo]

You know what - are you planning to have a fireworks dessert party as part of the vow renewal, cuz if not, that would make a unique, classy, yet relatively inexpensive welcome event!

Let's see... if you did it in Epcot at Italy Isola, the food and beverage minimum is only $1,650 and you could have appetizers and desserts. Add the $575 venue-rental fee. Then there would be a $12.95 viewing fee for each person who didn't have park admission... hmmm, that's $1,490. And they will probably require you to charter two 55-person buses to get everyone there. That's another $900+. Maybe too expensive....

You could do a Wishes dessert party at the Grand Floridian Marina for much less - no venue rental fee, no mandatory buses and no viewing fee. The food and beverage minimum is just $1,000, and if you want the music to Wishes piped in, it's $600-$800 more. And you'd need to pay to bring in more tables, but that's about it. It would certainly be a welcome party like no other your guests have been to!

 

[gibsi53]

We ordered catering style food from the local Publix and brought it all back to our garden suite at the boardwalk. We had a low-key welcome party in our room and then went downtown to Raglan Rd and asked our server to let us know when we reached our the dollar amount we planned to spend. Originally we were going to do a 1 hour premium open bar but this way we were able to provide drinks and apps at Raglan for 2 and a half hours for the same money!

Overall it was pretty cheap and so much fun!
Good Luck!

 

[Skylersmommy5]

Lurkyloo, after Reading all about your Dessert Party for your Wedding, I am sold on the Dessert Party. I think for our our actual VR Day Reception we're going to make it Lunch then followed by the Illuminations Dessert Party. I do like the Appetizer and Dessert Welcome Party. Even if it is a little more than what I was estimating, even doing Wishes Fireworks Welcome Party Idea too and that could work well. I can only hope a few jobs my DH is pushing me toward come through And my DH passes his next two college courses to afford our Wishes VR.

Thanks for all your ideas. You all are the best. I truely am loving everyone's ideas. I just hope my sister doesn't think I'm trying to outdo her Wedding that our dad payed for. Gosh I swear you appreciate all the planning of a Wedding/VR when you're paying for it yourself.

 

[Skylersmommy5]

We ordered catering style food from the local Publix and brought it all back to our garden suite at the boardwalk. We had a low-key welcome party in our room and then went downtown to Raglan Rd and asked our server to let us know when we reached our the dollar amount we planned to spend. Originally we were going to do a 1 hour premium open bar but this way we were able to provide drinks and apps at Raglan for 2 and a half hours for the same money!

Overall it was pretty cheap and so much fun!
Good Luck!

Thanks for sharing your idea, as I love Publix(The memories of being born and raised in Florida). That's an awesome idea. I love the idea of the bar area of Raglan Road, however it might be difficult for the Bar Area with a few little ones. I think my sister and I may feel like we need a babysitter in order to do that. If we do wind up renting DVC Points for the few days o our VR, the Publix/Sams Club idea could work too just buying food or drink there and having everyone come to our room and if the pool/beach area is close have everyone congregate out there and it still be affordable and yet still welcoming everyone.

 

[Skylersmommy5]

We had a rehearsal dinner/welcome party for approx 55 people. We rented out Sea Breeze point and they had it catered - buffet style. It was great - we did it right at sunset, the location is on the water - really pretty. The food and service was excellent. We made sure to keep it much more casual than the wedding reception the next day to keep it different and less expensive. Also, fireworks at Epcot went off towards the end and were visible which was a nice surprise (even for us). I have no clue as to the cost though - the groom's family paid for it.

Your Rehearsal Dinner sounds awesome, and how great to be able to see the fireworks too! We too want it to be casual even for those who just arrived that day/night so they don't have to worry about dinner.

If we do luck out and can afford a Villa/Grand Villa for a few days of it, maybe even a trip over to Dominos Pizza and some speghetti and sauce (maybe meatballs) that day and salad with a few homebaked sweets( We do have some family and friends within a few hour drive whom we know will drive up) can enlist their help a little bit for baking cookies, brownies, and rice krispy treats for dessert. That may be cheaper too. Thank goodness for grocery stores and Sams being close. We will have cars so that won't be an issue to get everything ourselves.

Thanks everyone again for your ideas. You all are too helpful.

 

[Legalmccoy]

Hi!

I've been reading these blogs for awhile now and I finally decided to post! I'm getting married in August of next year, and I am having the same problems with a rehearsal dinner. I am going to have about 50 guests and I want to include them all without breaking the bank as we are already on a tight budget. I like the idea of renting out a villa and getting a lot of food. I was wondering if there are any 1 bedroom villas that will hold that many people at one time and if so what would be the best villa to do that in? Thanks everybody and I apologize for hijacking this post!

 

[lurkyloo]

Granted, the 1-bedroom villa we stayed in at Bay Lake Tower isn't as big as those at, say, Old Key West, but I think 50 people would be kind of a squeeze in one of those. Maybe you could go for a 2-bedroom villa on a ground floor so it would have a patio, or, even better, a Grand Villa!

 

[Skylersmommy5]

Hi!

I've been reading these blogs for awhile now and I finally decided to post! I'm getting married in August of next year, and I am having the same problems with a rehearsal dinner. I am going to have about 50 guests and I want to include them all without breaking the bank as we are already on a tight budget. I like the idea of renting out a villa and getting a lot of food. I was wondering if there are any 1 bedroom villas that will hold that many people at one time and if so what would be the best villa to do that in? Thanks everybody and I apologize for hijacking this post!

hi there and congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

You didn't hijack at all, and I posted this also for any other brides out there who were having he same problem. If you do go with Publix like a previous poster mentioned and buy your desserts from there(especially cakes or cupcakes) they are the best. My sister and I always had our Birthday Cakes from there every year until we were out of high school. If you do have food catered from them and do sub sandwiches, their deli is amazing and I've never heard a friend complain about them(I only eat certain ones that don't come from there though).

I was afraid to ask if the villas have grills or else a few boxes of burgers and hot dogs from Sams with buns could be done pretty inexpensively too(just hope you have a few people who love to grill).

Believe me I know our VR for 100-115 is already going to cost us and arm & a leg. That's why I was asking for something more simple and casual and can
can have everyone there. It is a nice gesture to invite everyone instead of just the Bridal Party.

Since you have less guests than I do at

 

[Skylersmommy5]

Lurkyloo, you I think have me rethinking doing both a Welcome Party and Dessert Party. Maybe that would be better combined as both actually with appetizers and dessert so the little ones aren't overly sugared the day of our VR with cake, Mickey ice cream bars, and more desserts later on. Are you able to have characters at the Dessert Partyin WS? We may think of a Mickey & Minnie for the Welcome Party and Cinderella & Prince Charming at the Reception.

 

[lurkyloo]

Unfortunately they won't let you have characters at the outdoor World Showcase venues. Maybe you could just have both couples come to the reception!

 

[Skylersmommy5]

Bummer, thank you for letting me know in advance. Are you able to have 4 Characters at the Reception? That is a wonderful suggestion. Thank you.