My fiance and I are planning to have a wedding in Disney, however, both of our families are rather large and live all over. We know we want to have a formal wedding reception back home, since most of our family won't be able to make it down to Disney. So we were wondering if we could just do a dessert/viewing party instead of a reception?
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Do we have to have a reception?
- Thread starter Ashley Porter
- Start date
Sweet Melissa
Well-Known Member
It depends on what kind of wedding you're planning to have. You can forgo a reception, but your pricing minimums will stay the same. So if you're going to have a Wishes wedding (for more than 20 guests), then you'll still have to find other ways to meet the minimum pricing even if you don't do the reception. If you're doing an Escape wedding, or something at the Swan/Dolphin, then yes, you absolutely can just do the dessert party.
PeoplemoverTTA
Well-Known Member
We have 21 people total and we're not doing a formal reception (our wedding is at the Swan). We're having cake and a toast immediately after our ceremony (which is at 10:30am), then that night we're doing an Illuminations Dessert party (the total cost for 21 people, UK Lochside location came to $986 and change).
We're doing a big family picnic here at home in August (our wedding is in July). Our friend owns a gourmet slider food truck, so he's going to cater it, and we're having cupcakes and cookies for dessert. Low key, family friendly - it will hopefully be a lot of fun
You don't have to do big and expensive, even with a Disney wedding (if you have a big party, though, you're stuck with the minimums like Melissa said) - do what you want, it's your wedding!
We're doing a big family picnic here at home in August (our wedding is in July). Our friend owns a gourmet slider food truck, so he's going to cater it, and we're having cupcakes and cookies for dessert. Low key, family friendly - it will hopefully be a lot of fun
You don't have to do big and expensive, even with a Disney wedding (if you have a big party, though, you're stuck with the minimums like Melissa said) - do what you want, it's your wedding!
Where do I find the minimums?
EvilQueen-T
Well-Known Member
CaptainShortty
Well-Known Member
If you want to have a Wishes Wedding than no, you must have a full reception which meets certain total expenditures as well as minimums in Food and Beverage. If you're interested in only have a ceremony you can look into either the Memories or Escape Collections.
The Memories collection is about an hour in length total and is for your (and your fiance) as well as up to 4 other Guests (so a total of 6). You must book a hotel stay to have this package but inside the package you will get either a limo or in-room celebration, a photographer, floral for the bride and a violinist. You may add on additional small items (floral, park photo package, etc.) for a fee. This only includes a ceremony and does not include any type of reception.
The Escape Collection is for you and your fiance and up to 18 total Guests. It includes the ceremony and then a small cake and champagne celebration. There are stock packages to choose from so it isn't as customizable as a Wishes Wedding but you get more than with the Memories package.
You can also look at booking a dessert party or something similar through Disney Catered Events but keep in mind if you do choose to go this route, you won't be allowed to wear any of your wedding attire (re: Bridal Gown) into the park. That is a privilege reserved for those Brides that have booked an in-park event through Disney's Fairytale Weddings and Honeymoons.
Hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other questions! =)
The Memories collection is about an hour in length total and is for your (and your fiance) as well as up to 4 other Guests (so a total of 6). You must book a hotel stay to have this package but inside the package you will get either a limo or in-room celebration, a photographer, floral for the bride and a violinist. You may add on additional small items (floral, park photo package, etc.) for a fee. This only includes a ceremony and does not include any type of reception.
The Escape Collection is for you and your fiance and up to 18 total Guests. It includes the ceremony and then a small cake and champagne celebration. There are stock packages to choose from so it isn't as customizable as a Wishes Wedding but you get more than with the Memories package.
You can also look at booking a dessert party or something similar through Disney Catered Events but keep in mind if you do choose to go this route, you won't be allowed to wear any of your wedding attire (re: Bridal Gown) into the park. That is a privilege reserved for those Brides that have booked an in-park event through Disney's Fairytale Weddings and Honeymoons.
Hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other questions! =)