When to start??

[Jenn050709]

My fiance and I are planning our dis wedding for May 7, 2009. My question is, when would be the best time for us to start this whole process?? I know that things can’t be booked until 12 months out, but when would the best time be for us to contact Disney to get things “officially” moving??

Thanks for your help!!

 

[holidaybride]

I say it is never to early to plan!! I started looking at Disney about 2-3 years before my wedding! You can't actually book anything for 12 months, but you can call them and get all the information sent to you..and start looking at what venues you are interested in. Oh, I think you can book a couple of the places 18 months out?? Not a 100% sure though! I would also officially book right at the 12 month mark so you get the date you want!!
Congratulations and Good Luck!

 

[Jenn050709]

Thank you so much! I wish I could book everything and get everything done NOW...it's driving me crazy not being able to do anything at this point!!

 

[Skylarr29]

The wedding pavilion and theme park locations can be booked and signed at 12 months out, the ballrooms and other locations can be booked and signed 8 months out. I would call a few months before your one year mark. In the mean time I would just research research research to get and idea of what you want, vendors, budget etc.

 

[Jenn050709]

Is there a way to get a list of vendors or their work by calling disney, or do we have to wait until we go down there to plan??

 

[laura forbes]

Hiya I have a while to wait too (a little longer that you) I want the Wedding pavilion and you cannot book that until 8 months out and I am really desperate to get started . I have made contact with some of the outside vendors that I would like to use like Randy Chapman (photographer) and hair and make up people and mostly they seem happy for you to book 18 or so months out. but otherwise there is not much that we can do although I have been dress (window) shopping and looking into making my welcome bags and things. and spending almost all of my free time on these boards.

 

[Jenn050709]

Oh yay!! Finally another 2009 bride!! Now I don't feel so alone

I know what you mean about waiting though....I can't wait to actually start booking things, which unfortunately, means that won't be for a while. Hopefully by the end of this year we can have enough money saved to start booking some things.

I'll definitely be looking on here for vendors. It seems that a lot of people are using outside vendors and not Disney. That just opened up a whole OTHER world of questions in my brain!!

 

[Kashmir104]

Oh yay!! Finally another 2009 bride!! Now I don't feel so alone

I know what you mean about waiting though....I can't wait to actually start booking things, which unfortunately, means that won't be for a while. Hopefully by the end of this year we can have enough money saved to start booking some things.

I'll definitely be looking on here for vendors. It seems that a lot of people are using outside vendors and not Disney. That just opened up a whole OTHER world of questions in my brain!!

Hi Jenn050709!!

Another 2009 bride here!! You are definitely NOT alone!

I contacted Disney in August (about 2 months after DF and I got engaged) to start asking questions. That was 2.5 years from my wedding date. They actually assigned me to a site coordinator right away, and I heard back from her that same day in August. Her name is Kristi Davis and she has been nothing but HELPFUL throughout this entire process! I can't even say enough great things about her! In any case, I've been asking her a ton of questions (probably ones that I should be asking my planner instead), and she has always answered each one for me!

I am doing a Couture Wedding and somehow Disney worked their magic, so DF and I were able to sign the contract and put down a deposit last weekend. I realize it's against the rules, but I'm really grateful that they were able to pull some strings for me! I don't know if it was because of the type of wedding I am having, the timing (I'm having mine during "Holiday Week" at Disney, so no conventions are able to book during that busy time anyway), a little pixie dust thrown in, perhaps Kristi got tired of me asking her so many questions, or a combination of all of the above, but I say it cannot hurt to at least contact them now and see how far they can take you! You might be surprised!!

Also, all of my vendors are going to be through Disney... and not because it's required by my collection or anything. Actually it was Wendy46001's pictures that sold DF and I on Disney Photography Services. (I PMed her and she was super helpful answering all 50 billion questions on DPS- the photos are one of the most important parts of the wedding to me (I'm a picture nut!)- second only to the ceremony and our friends and family being there of course). Also, check out Luvndisney's photos too! They are awesome!

I also find myself spending most of my free time on the boards, looking at everyone's photos and their planning journals. Definitely gives you some great ideas! In the mean time I am just trying to gather info on BM dresses, bridal gowns, attendent flowers, food choices, parties, etc. until I can do the real work closer to the date.

 

[jodeeluvsdisney]

I am planning a late in the year 2008 wedding, so I too feel the frustration of not being able to "officially" plan a lot of the major items. But, as others have mentioned, and I think you yourself mentioned, I look at it as more time to d save as DF and I will pretty much be footing the entire bill.

And, the ladies here are sooo helpful and generous with ideas that it makes it so much fun to read the board and do lots of research way ahead of time!

Have fun just having all of your questions answered and gathering lots of great ideas!!

 

[Kashmir104]

But, as others have mentioned, and I think you yourself mentioned, I look at it as more time to d save as DF and I will pretty much be footing the entire bill.

That's our case too! There was no way we could pay for our wedding by ourselves (like we are doing) if it was any sooner than 19 months away! When I put the money in the savings account, it feels like that time is maybe not long enough!!!! It's such a nice feeling to know we are all in the same boat!

 

[Jenn050709]

Thank you girls SO much!! This all helps me so much!! Tim just started back to work and unfortunately for him (fortunately for me) he's going to be saving money for the majority of the wedding. My pay just won't be able to help much.

But since he just started back to work, he and I both have bills to work on first THEN we'll concentrate on the wedding. It was hard for me to agree to a 2009 wedding (we'll be dating almost 7 years ) but then I realized it'll be easier for us to pay, easier for our friends and family to save to come and that way we can have EVERYTHING we want...not just what we can afford (hope that makes sense)

But I'll definitely be asking questions. I'm going to transfer my journal over from a different site tonight, wish me luck

 

[princess110607]

Thank you girls SO much!! This all helps me so much!! Tim just started back to work and unfortunately for him (fortunately for me) he's going to be saving money for the majority of the wedding. My pay just won't be able to help much.

But since he just started back to work, he and I both have bills to work on first THEN we'll concentrate on the wedding. It was hard for me to agree to a 2009 wedding (we'll be dating almost 7 years ) but then I realized it'll be easier for us to pay, easier for our friends and family to save to come and that way we can have EVERYTHING we want...not just what we can afford (hope that makes sense)

But I'll definitely be asking questions. I'm going to transfer my journal over from a different site tonight, wish me luck

I just wanted to tell you that your planning journal is awesome! I didn't want to post their b/c it was so neat and organized, so I thought I'd type here. Good luck with the planning...your doing great so far!

 

[Jenn050709]

Thank you! Like I said, I'm kind of an organized freak when it comes to the wedding (I guess that's putting it lightly )

And feel free to post in the journal now....I really don't mind

 

[laura forbes]

It was hard for me to agree to a 2009 wedding (we'll be dating almost 7 years )

I agree it was very hard for me to go for a 2009 wedding. We got engaged after 7 years together but we needed time to save and give our families plenty of notice as we are coming from the UK, but we get to get married on our tenth anniversary which is nice.

 

[Jenn050709]

That will be nice! Plus you won't have to change your anniversary date We were going to get married on our anni (June 15) but ultimately decided against that.

And wow for dating for 7 years before getting engaged. Friends of mine dated for 5 and another friend dated for 8...we just like the LONG engagement