Urgent help needed: How long to book Disney wedding?

[Phantasia]

So, today we made our decision ... WE'RE GOING TO BE MARRIED IN UNDER TWO WEEKS!!

The clincher was opening up to my mom and asking her what she thought ... if she thought we were absolutely out of our trees, or if she thought we could get it together. Her response? Great! Perfect! Sounds like fun! And, with that encouragement, I suddenly found myself officially engaged and planning a destination wedding.

Since your family is going to be at Disney with you to celebrate, why not consider a justice of the peace at home before you go then everyone can share in the celebrating at Disney.

That's a great idea, but my brother-in-law is actually the one who is going to be performing the ceremony!

Talk about how it would play out if you did it on this trip and if you're happy with that - go for it! If you want it to go a particular way and it just won't happen that way unless you wait, then wait.

Thanks to your great advice, that's exactly how we approached it, and we realized that the ability to have our wedding in a place we love surrounded by people we love just was too rare an opportunity to pass up, so we decided to grab it!

I got married in FL (and in a jiffy as well!) and you can get married in FL by a notary which is different than in a lot of states ... I agree... if WDW can't do it, then book a room and find someone to marry you! A DIY WDW Wedding!

That's basically what we're doing. We're in the process right now of trying to find a notary ... not to perform the ceremony, because, as I mentioned above, my brother-in-law will be performing it (and he was SO HAPPY to be asked.) We just need them there for the official paperwork bits... And then we're going to do it on Disney property through either the Swan/Dolphin or one of the DTD resorts.

We did most of the other booking from my home computer....Photographer/Music/Flowers/. But they can handle that as well.

I'll definitely be PMing you re: photos and any vendor recommendations you care to make. I'm likely going through Just Marry!, but if there are things I can take care of for less on my own, I definitely will. Thanks for the great first-hand account, and the offer of sharing your photos.

Let us know what you decide. Good luck...either way...you will have a wonderful trip!

Thank you so much! We're thrilled with our decision. Like you, we're not really "traditional" wedding folks, so we're quite happy to do a quiet, small ceremony where we can focus on each other and our nearest and dearest, rather than the hoopla that goes into the poofy dress and a huge, blown out reception. ... and it'll all be at Disney!!!

Thanks everyone! I'll definitely keep you posted on here.

[Dsnygirl]

Congratulations on your decision... I was reading through this thread earlier tonight, and wondered what your final decision was going to be. Honestly, I was hoping you'd decide to go for it -- you sounded so excited about the whole thing every time you talked about it, and sad when you mentioned putting it off. So, I'm so glad you guys decided to make it happen -- I'm looking forward to following this thread through your magical day!!

[Twinkletoes77705]

Oh Joy! Yall are going to have a wonderful time. I am very happy for yall. Congrats and have fun planning. Dont get too stressed out...just enjoy yourselves and remember...the wedding is the smallest part of your new beginning!

[barbiegirl314]

Congratulations!!! I'm glad things are working out for you.

Make sure you keep us up to date and don't forget to post pictures for us.

[TheVBs]

How wonderful!! I'm so excited for you! Can't wait to hear how it goes, and please show us pictures when you get back. I know it will be magical!

[anneo]

Another thing you might want to do is call and have it notated on your reservation that you're on your honeymoon or tell them when you check in to your room. We were treated like royalty when we had our honeymoon at Disney. They gave us little perks, and we even got a room upgrade. Probably one of the best memories we have from our honeymoon was on POTC. We were wearing our Just Married buttons, and one of the cast members gave us a boat all to ourselves. He said we were on our honeymoon cruise, but to remember to keep things G rated because there are video cameras all throughout the ride.

[Phantasia]

Okay, so things are starting to come together.

Ceremony:
We're just awaiting confirmation, but we're hopeful that we'll get 2pm at the Crescent Terrace at the Swan. We're thinking a simple brass arch w/ flowers. (Haven't picked a color yet - suggestions welcome! I'm thinking in the yellow-y, orange-y, fuschia-y vein...). My DEAR brother-in-law is performing the ceremony (he's a Lutheran minister). We've got our readings and vows picked out, but they're dull, so I won't bother sharing. :P Solo violinist for music.

Oh, and I just got my dress yesterday at David's Bridal! I live near Toronto, so the nearest David's Bridal was ~2.5hrs away. Immediately after work, I drove down there, picked up my mom and my sister on the way, and made it by 8pm. Tried on 8 dresses and came away with one I LOVE, all in under an hour.

With only 10 guests (well, 9, really ... one is my minister brother-in-law, and he won't need a chair), we're not having any wedding party - just us up there as bride and groom.

Champagne Reception:
Immediately after the ceremony, we're going to have a little cake and champagne (and sparkling cider for the kids) at the Crescent Terrace.

Photos: Then we'll start the running around for the pro shots - arch, beach, etc. at the Swan/Dolphin. Then all 12 of us will walk over to the Boardwalk for a few more pro photos (as long as we have him/her), and when their time with us is up, I've hired my lovely niece to start snapping away. I think the Boardwalk and Yacht/Beach are just stunning. After playing on the Boardwalk for a bit, we're going to head to the Magic Kingdom resort area and snap a quick few pics at the Poly (my mom's DREAM resort) and then head over to the GF for some photos before our dinner reservation.

Wedding Dinner:
We're currently booked at Citricos in the main room, but I'm starting to wonder if Narcoossee's might be better. We're thinking an 8 or 8:30 seating. Anyone have a preference between the two?

I think that's about it! See? Totally manageable in two weeks.

Thanks again, everyone, for the advice and well wishes. I'll share more info and updates as I have 'em!

Oh, and we leave for our vacation on Friday evening! We're driving down, and it's a 2.25 day drive. We arrive at FW Sunday night.

Another thing you might want to do is call and have it notated on your reservation that you're on your honeymoon or tell them when you check in to your room... one of the cast members gave us a boat all to ourselves. He said we were on our honeymoon cruise ...

That's a great idea -- and what a wonderful story! I got shivers reading it. We get to spend a week in the parks with "Engaged" buttons, and then a week in the parks with "Just Married" buttons. :P

[LittleRoosMommy]

Your plans sound great!!! And you were worried in your first post that you wouldn't be able to pull it together in 2 weeks!! It sounds like you've got everything under control!!!

I think either Citricos or Narcoosee's will be great for your dinner. Definitely get in noted on your ressie about this being your honeymoon! What a great place to start your new life together!!

Congrats!! Hope you have a wonderful trip and wedding!!

[Twinkletoes77705]

Sounds great...thanks for sharing with us. When you return please do a trip report. Can not wait to hear how it went. Sounds like you did great and got all the stress out in a few days...while other ppl spend up to a year stressing out! Good for you! May God bless you all!

[Patricia]

Sounds wonderful!

I've been following your progress in this thread. You went from "I don't know" to a complete wedding plan in 5 days!

Fantastic! I'm so happy for you.

Congratulations!!

[Dsnygirl]

Wow -- your plans sound great!! And to think you've pulled it all together so quickly... good for you! It sounds absolutely magical, and I can't wait to see pics and hear how everything goes!!

[TheVBs]

See, it was just meant to be! Your plans sound wonderful.

[Aggie97]

Wow -- this is so exciting to read about! Your plan sounds just wonderful. Congratulations and very best wishes to you!

[another tink]

We ate at Narcoossee's last time we were there and loved it. Its right by the water looking toward MK> Food was great also. I have never been to Citricos, so can't comment on it. Congrats and good luck.

[ozmom]

Congratulations - looking forward to trip report and pictures.

[momofdisneyprincess]

I'm so incredibly thrilled for you. Please post a trip report complete with pics when you get back. I can't wait to hear all about it. Actually, what is the date of the "big day"? I might actually be down there then and maybe I'll be lucky enough to catch a sneak peak of the photo ops.

[Iluvpooh]

glad you came up with a plan. I was going to suggest this.
http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/park/cruises.asp

[betteratmk]

Trip report please, we leave Saturday as well, Have the best day ever

[Phantasia]

Almost everything is done now ... from engagement to wedding plans complete in under 5 days.

Wedding Day Morning:
First thing in the morning, DF and I are going to cab it out to the County Court in order to get our marriage license. If this part doesn't go well, we're really stuck. Then we're going to stop for a cozy breakfast somewhere along the way back to Disney. Maybe mimosas?

Pre-Ceremony
DF and I bid each other adieu until 2pm ... the women in the wedding (my mom, two of my sisters and my two nieces) gather in a suite in the Swan to get our hair & makeup done, and get dressed.

I'm not entirely sure what the men are planning to be up to at this point. (And "the men" are my dad, brother-in-law minister, my two young nephews, my sister's boyfriend and the blushing groom.)

Wedding Ceremony Date & Time:
We'll be holding the ceremony at the Walt Disney World Swan's Crescent Terrace at 2pm, on Thursday, October 1, 2009.

(For those of you following along, yes, we had to bump the wedding up a day in order to get the venue and vendors we wanted.)

• Dress is bought (and beautiful) - it's strapless chiffon A-line with an elegantly beaded bodice and airy pleated chiffon skirt. Oh and it has a chapel train. (Not practical for an outdoor wedding, but ... how often do I get to wear a wedding dress??)
• Just in the process of finalizing flowers (going with a red-orange-yellow theme) - I just fell in love with mango mini calla lilies and they're driving my costs up. : (
• Working out the song list for the solo violinist (thinking a mix of traditional, Disney and film scores) - Recommendations welcome! The only one I'm set on right now is "Two Hornpipes (Tortuga)" from the PotC films as the recessional.

After the ceremony we'll be walking over to enjoy cut the beautiful Swan two-tier wedding cake and do our champagne toast (sparkling cider for the kiddies.)

After Ceremony
We have the photographer for almost a full hour after the time at the Terrace, so then we're off to the Boardwalk for photos. I've only been there once before -- are there particularly beautiful or "don't miss taking a shot HERE" spots? Tips definitely appreciated.

Once the photographer's time is up, we're going to continue snapping shots, a little more informally, but also want to take this time before our dinner to really have some fun.

We're going to use my sister's minivan to shuttle my guests from the Epcot resort area to the Magic Kingdom resort area, where we're going to stop for pics at the Poly before continuing on to the GF.

Wedding Dinner
Our wedding dinner is CONFIRMED! It was touch and go there for a bit, but they were able to get us a spot at Citricos for 12 people at 8:20pm. I've never been to Citricos before, but it looks absolutely gorgeous (and matches my wedding colours) and the reviews I've read have left my mouth watering.

And last, but FAR from least, I want to thank EVERYONE who has been incredibly helpful and supportive on Intercot. I always share all the replies with DF and it helped to keep us both sane this week. A huge hug to all of you!

We're starting on our drive in just a few hours!

[momofdisneyprincess]

Fabuous! So bummed I will miss it but I will anxiously await your trip report. Congrats to you and the DF!!!