Wishes Wedding- Help!!

[nickipoo2012]

hi i am completely new to the forum and any advice/ help would be greatly appreciated! I got engaged in Disney World in Sept 2010 and we are planning on a Disney World wedding in Sept 2014- i know we cant book it until a year before but we are from the UK so need to start planning now to give friends and family plenty of notice to save up! We are expecting less than 18 guests so thought the Escape package would be perfect but we've had more interest from friends and family than we expected who are planning to use our wedding as their summer holiday so we are thinking maybe we need the Wishes package instead! Obviously i know when it comes to booking they may change their mind in which case no problem we can book the Escape but if we had to book Wishes:-

1) Is it fairly easy to get a date if you book it as soon as allowed? We are thinking mid-week in September so it is low season

2) We can afford the Escape no problem but are worried about Wishes- we can afford the $12000 minimum spend but is it possible to stick to it without going over budget?

3) I dont understand how the food works with Wishes- it says minimum $125 per person spend but can you eat anywhere and can you include champagne as part of the budget

4) Obviously Disney will want you to spend as much as possible but what are the wedding co-ordinators like? Are they good at helping you keep within budget or are they all about the hard sell?

5) Is anything included with Wishes or do have to pay for everything?

6) Where are the prices? I cant see individual things like cakes on the Disney website

I am willing to have the cheapest of everything to keep costs down and i dont want centrepieces or favours- my only splurge will be having Mickey and Minnie at the reception but i just dont know where to start and how to budget for everything and where to find the info! I am going to Orlando this September and staying at Disney so i was hoping to research it then but i got the impression from Disney you cant speak to any Wedding planners until 15 months before so i dont know if anyone out there will be able to answer my questions- i wont be going back after this year before the wedding so i am really going to have to leave it upto them! Any help or advice would be a massive help- thanks so much

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

hi i am completely new to the forum and any advice/ help would be greatly appreciated! I got engaged in Disney World in Sept 2010 and we are planning on a Disney World wedding in Sept 2014- i know we cant book it until a year before but we are from the UK so need to start planning now to give friends and family plenty of notice to save up! We are expecting less than 18 guests so thought the Escape package would be perfect but we've had more interest from friends and family than we expected who are planning to use our wedding as their summer holiday so we are thinking maybe we need the Wishes package instead! Obviously i know when it comes to booking they may change their mind in which case no problem we can book the Escape but if we had to book Wishes:-

1) Is it fairly easy to get a date if you book it as soon as allowed? We are thinking mid-week in September so it is low season
Yes. During that time of year, you should have a fairly good shot at getting the venues you want (but look out for the weather-that's hurricane season-so make sure you're extra comfortable with your rain back-ups.

2) We can afford the Escape no problem but are worried about Wishes- we can afford the $12000 minimum spend but is it possible to stick to it without going over budget?
A lot of brides stick to the minimum, but remember in the escape package tax and gratuities are included whereas with Wishes they are not, so sticking to the "12k" minimum is really $13 or $14k

3) I dont understand how the food works with Wishes- it says minimum $125 per person spend but can you eat anywhere and can you include champagne as part of the budget
The amount you're required to spend per guest on food and beverages on the day, and the amount depends on the time of day for your events (lower in the morning, greater in the evening). This minimum can be met with a combination of food, alcohol, and if you have a dessert party, that food counts as well.

4) Obviously Disney will want you to spend as much as possible but what are the wedding co-ordinators like? Are they good at helping you keep within budget or are they all about the hard sell?
Most of them are good at working with your budget.

5) Is anything included with Wishes or do have to pay for everything?
Well, tables/chairs/basic white linens are included, but some venues require a site rental fee which to me covers this.

6) Where are the prices? I cant see individual things like cakes on the Disney website

To get an idea of prices check out the BEO thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2182201 People also list their BEOs in their personal journals. Keep in mind Disney changes their prices A LOT, so the BEO thread gives you a good idea of how prices change over time.

I am willing to have the cheapest of everything to keep costs down and i dont want centrepieces or favours- my only splurge will be having Mickey and Minnie at the reception but i just dont know where to start and how to budget for everything and where to find the info! I am going to Orlando this September and staying at Disney so i was hoping to research it then but i got the impression from Disney you cant speak to any Wedding planners until 15 months before so i dont know if anyone out there will be able to answer my questions- i wont be going back after this year before the wedding so i am really going to have to leave it upto them! Any help or advice would be a massive help- thanks so much

Responses in blue. HTH

 

[TabZ]

Have you thought of maybe having your escape wedding and having numbers limited at the ceremony then having a dessert party or a standard meal with the rest of the guests? Might be a way of keeping costs down... Dessert party food is about $30 a head, might work out cheaper than doing a reception through the wishes package?

 

[nickipoo2012]

thank you for your answers thats helped a lot, i might be worrying for nothing and only a few people can make it- i never thought of just having people at the reception not ceremony, i suspect people may get upset though if they have travelled from the UK and they wont be involved in the ceremony but its worth bearing in mind and i can always just keep it strictly bridal party and parents at the actual ceremony and everyone else at the reception! thanks both of you for your advice

 

[TabZ]

I know what you mean but always remember at the end of the day its your wedding day, you can do what you like!

I'd love to do it the other way, have everyone at the ceremony but only selected people at the meal afterwards but Disney won't let you do that which sucks

 

[disneygirl2785]

Talking to my consultant yesterday, she said, for a Wishes wedding the number of people at the ceremony must match the number of people at my brunch reception. I assume the same is true for a dessert party?!? Just passing on the info I was told!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Hi sweetie from another UK VR bride!!!
You know, it is definitely worth considering a Swan/Dolphin wedding when looking at all your options!! At the S/D you can have just about everything you can have with a DFTW package (eg. character appearances) and it is still right there at WDW. It is most definitely a 'Disney' wedding!!! The really good thing is that you can probably have a 'Wishes' style event for less money than it would cost you to have an 'Escape' wedding through DFTW. There is no minimums (you can book the basic package and add exactly what you want, or, if you wish, you can book one of the more inclusive packages) and there are no restrictions on guest numbers. Best of all, the planners are excellent at communication - keeping you informed and answering your queries very quickly!! IMHO this is essential when planning an event from such a distance away and the DFTW planners are not always do on the ball with this.
If you have any questions about S/D weddings, don't hesitate to ask, or take a peek at my PJ/TR, the link to which is in my signature.
Happy planning whatever you decide!!!

 

[Chilly]

Hello From another UK Bride (past).

I suggest you get this book, it'll answer a lot of your questions:

http://disneytravelbabble.com/disney-weddings/passporters-disney-weddings/

 

[MrRomance]

I think you've probably got your questions answered by the PP's, but I wanted to wish you all the best in planning your big day!

We are also in the UK, our DFTW is a small Memories ceremony, so we didn't have too much decision making to do. We just had to arrange our reception ourselves through Disney Catered Events.

Remember that it is your day and that you won't "please" everyone. It is completely possible to stay close to the 12k budget. Lots of DFTW brides have done it and no doubt they will be only too pleased to help you along the way.

As Joanne has pointed out, there is the S & D option which is often a lot cheaper. You will find that there are brides/couples who go for S & D and others who are dead set against it because they don't see it as a real "Disney" wedding. Personally, I don't have any opinion one way or the other and feel it is very much a personal choice, but you'll have support and advice whatever you choose to do.

Have fun planning!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Jay sweetie, I know that it is not your opinion, but forgive me as I just have to say it........
A SWAN AND DOLPHIN WEDDING IS INDEED A REAL DISNEY WEDDING!!!!!
But I guess that you knew I would say that....right?