HELP!- Reception decision dilemma

ALegrande

Mouseketeer
Joined
Jan 18, 2017
Hello all!

I'm having a bit of a decision dilemma for what I would like to do for my reception. I know the choice is ultimately mine and should be what I truly envision for my day, but I am terrible at making decisions haha and would love some input from past brides to help.

I am stuck between two decisions- a full reception Illuminations buffet party or a traditional reception at S/D. I can actually do the Illuminations party for cheaper than the S/D reception, however, the main catch is that I wouldn't be able to have dancing at the Illuminations party and that is something I'm not sure I could live without! I always envisioned dancing with my family and friends under the stars, playing some of our favorite 90s hits, etc, so having the dessert party would limit us on that. However, I do know that everyone I've read that has had the dessert party has LOVED it and I've read such good things about it. We would also be including a ride mix-in, which I think is SO fun and unique but again, we would miss out on the dancing part...

My mom suggested going dancing at Atlantic Dance Hall after the Illuminations party, but going that route, young cousins I have and children of friends couldn't be there (21 and up only) so I'm wondering if that would deter the adult guests from joining...

I'm also concerned that the short nature of the Illuminations party would leave a lacking feeling. I'm worried people will think "I came all this way for such a short celebration?!"

I'm also torn because I've read recently some negative wedding experiences going through Disney, and I'm worried I would be "just another number" and would be missing out on a great personalized experience with using S/D events...

In short lol I am very torn and just not sure what to do! If any S/D brides and those who have had full reception dessert parties could share their thoughts on their experiences, perhaps that can help me decide! I would greatly appreciate any info that can help me figure this out. Thank you!
 
You can have dancing at an outdoor Epcot reception, you just have to wait til the park closes to play amplified music. Plenty of brides have done this! Check out this episode of the podcast: http://disneyweddingpodcast.com/2015/06/17/wishes-wedding-spotlight-heather-michael/

You would do a full reception, not just a 1-hour dessert party. Your pre-reception would be during IllumiNations, then you'd have speeches and serve dinner, and then the dancing would start once the park was clear. If you wanted music before then, you could have acoustic musicians.

Having IllumiNations at your reception is going to knock your guests' socks off. It's something they can only see at a Disney wedding, and it's the thing they will still be talking about years later. Doing a ballroom reception at the Swan is going to cost you as much as a Disney reception and just seem like any other hotel wedding to your guests.
 
@lurkyloo thank you so much for this information! You are always so helpful! I had no idea I could still do the full reception with Illuminations and the dancing. I do have one other question though- could we still add the ride mix-in if we went that route? Aah I'm so excited this was really my only hang up from going the Illuminations route so I'm so relieved to hear this could work! :-D

@guinea pig I am a little worried about the weather but I am planning to have the wedding in March (2018) when we usually have great weather here in Florida! But yes always a possibility of rain- I did see that Disney will move you inside in the event of rain as long as they have space available so we may not get the fireworks then but at least we could still have the party! I would be trying to be outside at S/D too at the Cresent Terrace so there would be the same worry regardless of place.
 


@lurkyloo also- would I have to go through a Wishes route to do this like the bride featured on your podcast? Or would I be able to book it through Disney Catered Events? I'm having an Escape ceremony at YCG and then will have more guests in attendance for the reception so I was planning on going through DCE for this reception part if I go the Illuminations route. He Wishes enhancement minimums are just too high for me! Just wondering if that's even possible or if something like this would need to be planned through DFTW Wishes package...
 
@lurkyloo thank you so much for this information! You are always so helpful! I had no idea I could still do the full reception with Illuminations and the dancing. I do have one other question though- could we still add the ride mix-in if we went that route? Aah I'm so excited this was really my only hang up from going the Illuminations route so I'm so relieved to hear this could work!

Yes, they can either escort you on the ride mix-in first and then take you to the viewing area or escort you there and back again from the viewing area. It depends on what the park approves.

Also, even if it rains, you still get to view the fireworks. Only the food is moved inside. Then they escort you out to a viewing area with ponchos, if necessary, when it's time for the show.

@lurkyloo also- would I have to go through a Wishes route to do this like the bride featured on your podcast? Or would I be able to book it through Disney Catered Events? I'm having an Escape ceremony at YCG and then will have more guests in attendance for the reception so I was planning on going through DCE for this reception part if I go the Illuminations route. He Wishes enhancement minimums are just too high for me! Just wondering if that's even possible or if something like this would need to be planned through DFTW Wishes package...

Yeah, if you go through DCE they will not let you wear your gown and might even stop you from having a DJ or a cake. Are you familiar with the Catered Event Experience/Mini Wishes? That could be a cheaper way to have a Wishes event like this. In the past they have offered a dessert/reception option for Mini Wishes. It was recently removed from their website, with only brunch and lunch still listed, but there has been no official word that it is discontinued. It would definitely be worth talking to Disney about whether that would be an option. Alternatively, your Escape planner can set you up with a dessert party and you can wear your gown. But they *usually* limit Escape catered receptions to 2 hours. Again, something to chat with them about...
 
Thanks again for your quick response. Yeah I knew about the dress part but I was hoping I could get away with the DJ and cake going through DCE. If I went through the Escape package, I couldn't bring the extra guests to the reception that I would have. So it appears I'm back in my same dilemma! Haha. I wish there was a way to add an hour of dancing or something easy like that to the Illuminations dessert party. Alas, the struggles of being a DisBride!

I will definitely ask them though about the mini Wishes dinner reception. I saw online it was only brunch or lunch and I absolutely 100% want a night reception, so originally that's what deterred me from that. But if they are still offering them at night, that could be the way I can get exactly what I want without the full Wishes price point! Thanks again for all of your info and suggestions!
 
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I'm doing mini wishes with a 7:00-7:30 pm ceremony so if they still offer that, I think that would be perfect! To do illuminations reception from 8:00 or 8:30-11:00 or 11:30
 
Oh that's cool!! That would be great, but I would probably have to have it go at least until 12:00 midnight to get some decent time out of the DJ since they won't be able to start until around 11 :-/. Definitely something to consider! Thanks for sharing! :) :)
 
@lurkyloo I have another scenario I was wondering about...

Could I do a DCE reception at Yacht Club Marina and include a DJ? Or are DJs just generally off-limits with DCE receptions? I know it wouldn't be nearly as close to the same experience as Illuminations up close, but since I want to have my ceremony at YCG, a reception at the marina would be great and we could then at least see the higher up displays of Illuminations. Hmm.... :confused:
 
Unfortunately, it's the whole no-planning-a-wedding-without-going-through-DFTW thing again. They would see that as you trying to have a Wishes wedding without paying for a Wishes wedding and tell you you have to work with DFTW.

Regarding the start time for a DJ in Epcot, sometimes these are flexible. Originally they told me our Primeval Diorama dinner in Epcot couldn't start til 11pm because of clearing guests out of Universe of Energy, but then they let me start at 9:45pm. Let me check with a bride who just did Mini-Wishes with an evening reception in Epcot and a DJ to see what time the DJ actually started...
 
@lurkyloo I figured so, but just wanted to make sure I was covering EVERY possibility before I decide! Its such a big (and expensive!) commitment so I just wanted to make sure I considered every avenue. I think the Mini-Wishes is the route I'll probably end up going, since it would give me exactly what I want. I am a little hesitant to the late start of the music, just because we would have several kids there and that would make for a very late night for them. I would appreciate any feedback from the bride you mentioned above! If we could start dancing even at 10pm that would be much better! Again, thank you so much for always answering my questions! This has been a lifesaver!
 
@lurkyloo -me again! I have yet one more question! Lol

I finally got engaged this weekend (yay!) and I downloaded the Passporters e-book. One question I've had for a while after seeing it on Disney's page is about the no 5:00pm ceremonies during Daylight Savings Time with escape packages. I'm confused because daylight savings time is, to my knowledge, the months of the year with longer days (aka spring and summer). I would like to get married in March of next year, one week after we spring forward the clocks, so I'm just wondering if I'll be able to do the 5:00pm ceremony? It would make sense to me that they wouldn't have 5:00 ceremonies in the winter, when the days are shorter, so I just want to make sure they mean those winter months, not these longer days in the spring :). Do you have any further clarification on this? Thanks!
 
@lurkyloo -me again! I have yet one more question! Lol

I finally got engaged this weekend (yay!) and I downloaded the Passporters e-book. One question I've had for a while after seeing it on Disney's page is about the no 5:00pm ceremonies during Daylight Savings Time with escape packages. I'm confused because daylight savings time is, to my knowledge, the months of the year with longer days (aka spring and summer). I would like to get married in March of next year, one week after we spring forward the clocks, so I'm just wondering if I'll be able to do the 5:00pm ceremony? It would make sense to me that they wouldn't have 5:00 ceremonies in the winter, when the days are shorter, so I just want to make sure they mean those winter months, not these longer days in the spring :). Do you have any further clarification on this? Thanks!

Hi there! I think I may have answered your question in one of the Facebook groups today, but just in case.... This is a new thing that just appeared in the planning kit with no fanfare, but so far I haven't heard of them telling any Escape brides about it or actually enforcing it. I would talk to your planner and see what the deal is for the date you want.
 
Totally biased opinion here, but you should definitely do a Mini Wishes and invite me because I'm dying to go to another Disney wedding. Haha. Anything you choose will be amazing though and I can't wait to hear all of your details!
 

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