Whitehall room question

[mlholster]

Hi everyone I have a question about the Whitehall Room at the GF. I know you can have a reception there but is it possible to have the ceremony there? I thought I read that somewhere.
I Also have another question other than ballrooms at GF and CR and the wedding pavilion are there inside ceremony locations along the monorail track?
My DD would really like to keep everything in this area.
Thank you all, I hope you know how helpful you are

 

[pixie921]

Hi everyone I have a question about the Whitehall Room at the GF. I know you can have a reception there but is it possible to have the ceremony there? I thought I read that somewhere.
I Also have another question other than ballrooms at GF and CR and the wedding pavilion are there inside ceremony locations along the monorail track?
My DD would really like to keep everything in this area.
Thank you all, I hope you know how helpful you are

I can actually help with this (usually I'm the one asking all the questions)!

We have been looking into this exact thing, and my consultant and I had a long conversation Friday afternoon about it after she'd done some research for us.

You absolutely can have a ceremony at the Whitehall Room. They've had ceremonies in the room, on the covered "porch" area, and on the big open patio. You have all 3 spaces when you rent the WH Room, so the usage is up to you.

As far as other places inside the GF, that would be a resounding NO. We really wanted to have our ceremony on the Commander's Terrace (where Escape brides have their cake-cutting) and we were told that the GF general manager will not allow it. He is apparently very "sensitive to the experience" of guests and won't have anything being taken into any space that might "disturb or inconvenience" guests. This apparently includes extra chairs, decorative screens, flowers, etc.

While as a guest I appreciate the concern, as a "bride" (actually vow renew-er), I have to admit I was bummed that he wasn't willing to work with us at all.

Hope this helps!

 

[mlholster]

Thank you so much for the answer. I think the room looks beautiful and would be a lovely spot for any celebration.
Do they (Disney) move tables and chairs for you between the events? Also do you know if you get charged a ceremony and a venue charge?
We have a planning session in July so just trying to understand everything.

 

[Brit_Jude]

The Wedding Pavillion is at the Grand Floridian so on the monorail, I don't think it is very far - even walkable from one to the other. So it is possible to get married at the WP and have the reception at the GF in the Whitehall room without too much travelling between for your guests.

I think I have seen on here when complete weddings were held in the American Adventure in Epcot too.

Please keep in mind that turning rooms from wedding ceremony to reception will take a little time, at least an hour depdending on your decoration, table linens etc and from my experience in conference planning they may not be keen on this. You will need to consider what to do with your guests during this time (pre-reception on the patio?) though you could have the two parts in separate areas, wedding ceremony on the patio and reception in the room or vice versa. This would allow both areas to be set up ahead of time.

 

[mlholster]

The Wedding Pavillion is at the Grand Floridian so on the monorail, I don't think it is very far - even walkable from one to the other. So it is possible to get married at the WP and have the reception at the GF in the Whitehall room without too much travelling between for your guests.

I think I have seen on here when complete weddings were held in the American Adventure in Epcot too.

Please keep in mind that turning rooms from wedding ceremony to reception will take a little time, at least an hour depdending on your decoration, table linens etc and from my experience in conference planning they may not be keen on this. You will need to consider what to do with your guests during this time (pre-reception on the patio?) though you could have the two parts in separate areas, wedding ceremony on the patio and reception in the room or vice versa. This would allow both areas to be set up ahead of time.

Thank you. This is a valuable point to keep in mind.

 

[pixie921]

Thank you so much for the answer. I think the room looks beautiful and would be a lovely spot for any celebration.
Do they (Disney) move tables and chairs for you between the events? Also do you know if you get charged a ceremony and a venue charge?
We have a planning session in July so just trying to understand everything.

I was told that if you were to have a ceremony at the Whitehall Room (or porch, or patio), you would be charged the $2000 ceremony venue fee. There is no additional fee to use the space for the reception; you simply need to meet the food and beverage minimum that goes with your package.

We will have a very small group (13-17 people) and would have our ceremony at one end of the Whitehall porch and our luncheon at the other end, with plants and folding screens to divide the two spaces. That of course wouldn't work for a larger group, but this way, we're always in the shade of the porch and can decorate it however we'd like.

 

[mlholster]

I was told that if you were to have a ceremony at the Whitehall Room (or porch, or patio), you would be charged the $2000 ceremony venue fee. There is no additional fee to use the space for the reception; you simply need to meet the food and beverage minimum that goes with your package.

We will have a very small group (13-17 people) and would have our ceremony at one end of the Whitehall porch and our luncheon at the other end, with plants and folding screens to divide the two spaces. That of course wouldn't work for a larger group, but this way, we're always in the shade of the porch and can decorate it however we'd like.

Thanks

 

[pixie921]

Thanks

You're welcome.

I do have to amend my earlier statement about the GF's manager not being willing to work with us, though. I found out today that my consultant has never actually spoken with the GF GM ... it was *assumed* that our request would be denied (this was after she first told us it wouldn't be a problem). We have now asked her to actually contact the GM and make the request, so we'll see what happens. I have no idea if we'll have any success, but apparently it's on us to make sure that questions are getting asked of the right people at WDW.

 

[mlholster]

You're welcome.

I do have to amend my earlier statement about the GF's manager not being willing to work with us, though. I found out today that my consultant has never actually spoken with the GF GM ... it was *assumed* that our request would be denied (this was after she first told us it wouldn't be a problem). We have now asked her to actually contact the GM and make the request, so we'll see what happens. I have no idea if we'll have any success, but apparently it's on us to make sure that questions are getting asked of the right people at WDW.

Good luck with your request! Thanks for answering all these questions, would you mind a couple more? We will be in Disney in a few weeks so hopefully we will be able to see it firsthand.
My DD wondered if you could have a buffet in this room? Also what the capacity would be? She would really like a dance floor as well. I have tried to find this room on a map but we couldn't, I am thinking it is by all the ballrooms is that right?
Does anyone know of some lucky bride that may have posted some pictures of the room set up for a ceremony or reception?
Thank you again.

 

[pixie921]

Good luck with your request! Thanks for answering all these questions, would you mind a couple more? We will be in Disney in a few weeks so hopefully we will be able to see it firsthand.
My DD wondered if you could have a buffet in this room? Also what the capacity would be? She would really like a dance floor as well. I have tried to find this room on a map but we couldn't, I am thinking it is by all the ballrooms is that right?
Does anyone know of some lucky bride that may have posted some pictures of the room set up for a ceremony or reception?
Thank you again.

I can try to answer a few more and I definitely have some links for you.

According to Carrie's Passporter weddings book, the WH room capacity is 40-60, depending on whether or not you move in a dance floor. I think DJs also have been placed out on the patio area for dancing outside. It's located in the northwest (I think!) corner of the convention center, tucked sort of back behind the GF's Sago Cay building. If you look at a resort map with the convention center, you can see the patio outside of it.

This post has great photos of the room all set up:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=30461574&postcount=384

And a couple more:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2399408

http://www.mousewedding.com/wedlocwr.html

Hope this helps!

 

[puente0629]

Good luck with your request! Thanks for answering all these questions, would you mind a couple more? We will be in Disney in a few weeks so hopefully we will be able to see it firsthand.
My DD wondered if you could have a buffet in this room? Also what the capacity would be? She would really like a dance floor as well. I have tried to find this room on a map but we couldn't, I am thinking it is by all the ballrooms is that right?
Does anyone know of some lucky bride that may have posted some pictures of the room set up for a ceremony or reception?
Thank you again.

We are having a our reception at the Whitehall and yes you could have a buffet, we are doing a brunch buffet, with dance floor the capacity is 50 people

 

[mlholster]

Thank you both Pixie921 and Puente0629, you all have been so helpfull! The room is really beautiful, can't wait to see it in person.
Best wishes to both of you.

 

[pixie921]

Thank you both Pixie921 and Puente0629, you all have been so helpfull! The room is really beautiful, can't wait to see it in person.
Best wishes to both of you.

Glad to help! And I hope you'll let us know what you and your daughter think of everything once you get back.