There are many brides who picture themselves on their special day having a wedding in a Walt Disney World resort. The romantic aesthetic of marrying your handsome Prince in the most magical place, having a Disney fairy tale wedding, complete with a fireworks display is a vision that for many is hard to beat.
I spent almost a year working for Mickey Mouse in several Disney theme parks. I can say that I’ve seen some pretty cool wedding related things when it comes to Walt Disney World:
- wedding pictures on the steps in the Grand Floridian
- couples celebrating their honeymoon with a few rides down Splash Mountain
- vow renewal ceremonies
- engagements in front of Cinderella castle
Additionally, I had the opportunity to meet with one of the Wedding Consultants at Franck’s Bridal Studio and tour some of their on-site venues. Although my time working there was spent outside of the bridal world, I learned so much about the ins and outs of planning a Disney wedding.
If you are newly engaged and considering having your dream wedding in Disney World, here are some important things to know.
You Can Get Married Virtually Anywhere On Disney Property
If you have spent time vacationing at Disney World, you may have seen some of the unique (and gorgeous) spots where you can host your wedding on property. Whether you are having just a few close friends and relatives or a 200 person event, they have the perfect space for you to say “I do!”.
Many resorts have multiple areas that transform into absolutely magical wedding venues including:
- Boardwalk Inn
- Coronado Springs
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort & Beach Club
- The Contemporary
- Port Orleans
From my experience, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa was an incredibly popular spot for weddings as it is close to the ever popular Disney’s Wedding Pavilion – a gorgeous space for a wedding ceremony with a view that overlooks Cinderella’s Castle. The ballrooms at the Grand Floridian also act as a neutral space that allows you to customize just how much Disney you would like to incorporate in your ceremony and reception.
My pick, however, would be the beach at the Polynesian!
From private patios to pavilions to ballrooms and more, there is a space at these resorts for every couple.
A lesser known option for your Disney wedding is to host in a restaurant in Disney Springs. This is typically a better option for more intimate weddings with a smaller guest count due to space constrictions. These are also free spaces that are open to the public. One of our brides tied the knot right at Paddlefish and took photos at Port Orleans resort.
Fairytale Weddings & Alternate Reception Locations
When most people think of a Disney wedding, their mind typically goes straight to weddings in the Disney parks. And when you book a theme park venue space for a Ceremony or Reception event, your guests will not need to pay for admission to attend.
There are a plethora of spaces in the parks that double as ceremony and reception venues.
In Animal Kingdom, you have the option to dance the night away on Harambe Street, experience the charm of the Tamu Tamu Courtyard, or say yes to forever in front of the Tree of Life.
And I can’t think of a more perfect space to host a Halloween wedding than in the courtyard of the Tower of Terror in Hollywood Studios!
Epcot is home to the most interesting and beautiful venue spaces: the American Adventure Rotunda where you can dine with the presidents, the Living Seas Salon that allows you to party with the fish, and tucked away spots in all of the countries.
Lastly, of course, are the straight-out-of-fairytale Magic Kingdom venues.
If you know you are royalty and want your magical day to reflect it, you have the option of the East Plaza Garden, the Walt Disney World Railroad station, or directly on Main Street, all of which offer incredible up close and personal views of the castle. You really can’t go wrong with any of these amazing spots, but something to take into consideration is… most weddings in the park have to take place before or after park hours.
Day Of Week and Time Of Day
If your dream venue is right in front of the castle on Main Street, you can have that any day of the week, however you are going to have an extremely early morning or a very late night wedding ceremony.
Most, if not all, of the spaces in the parks require off-hour events as these are high-traffic areas during open hours. You also don’t want to have wedding crashers at your big day! The benefit to having an early ceremony is that you and your guests have the rest of the day to have a great time at the parks, rest, or continue the festivities.
Many newlyweds create an itinerary that they share with their wedding guests to let them know what their plan is for the day if they would like to join them. If you have a night wedding, you have all day to prepare and can spend the morning hitting up restaurants and even the spa with your bridal party. Talk to your Disney wedding consultant and see how other couples have structured their big day around the timing.
The Cost Of A Disney Wedding
One of the biggest misconceptions about Disney wedding packages is that they are unrealistically expensive. Like any wedding, the more you add on to your day, the higher the cost will be. The price can start to add up when you choose special a la carte options.
It is an additional fee for a ride in Cinderella’s carriage and to have Minnie & Mickey show up to your reception, but these are some pretty awesome extras that you might find are totally worth splurging on! Our bride and groom Kristen & Jeremy did just that! Also, Kristen had the most perfect princess dress from designer Kitty Chen!
Disney Provides Most Of Your Vendors
When we spoke to the Wedding Consultant at Franck’s Bridal Studio, she told us that many couples choose to have a Disney wedding simply because of how easy the planning process is. The stress free experience with the Disney wedding team is a highly desirable aspect for many couple, especially for the majority who are coming to Disney from other states or countries. This saves much of the hassle of having to coordinate outside vendors in the Orlando area when you are miles away.
Disney weddings are basically full service providing services like catering, photography, videography, entertainment, floral, transportation, and more. Some services that they do not provide are officiants, hair and make up, invitations, and wedding attire (so make your appointment at Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo!).
Your Wedding Does Not Have To Include Elements Of Disney
It sounds strange to have a wedding at Disney that doesn’t have much of a tie in to Disney itself. As stated before, the ease in which couples can plan their wedding in a “one stop shop” type of environment is one of the perks of hosting your wedding there.
The variety of venues also lend themselves to be flexible in the kind of theme that you are going for and what you would like to incorporate into it. If you want a formal wedding reception with no trace of mice or princesses, any of the ballrooms or even the countries at Epcot would be perfect for you.
How much Disney you would like to include in your big day is completely left up to you. Talk to your wedding consultant at your planning session to determine what your wedding day will look like!
Disney’s fairy tale weddings really are the stuff of dreams. Contact a Disney wedding planner and have an idea of what kind of wedding you would like. For instance, is it a traditional wedding or a more casual party vibe? What wedding date are you interested in? What will your guest count be and will they help with a room block, how do you obtain the marriage certificate, etc. They will get you started on the way to booking your perfect wedding at a Walt Disney World property!