Top 10 Things You Might Not Know About Walt Disney World Weddings

Love is big business at Walt Disney World. It is the top honeymoon destination on the planet. That is not surprising, since Disney is filled with elegant castles, beautiful princesses, and their dashing princes. The fairy tale does not need to begin with the honeymoon, couples get married at Walt Disney World every single day. You can plan a wedding that is small and intimate, or you can instead turn your day into a royal occasion, the choice is yours. There is a lot of flexibility when it comes to your big day. There are many different places to hold a wedding at Walt Disney World, and the cast members want to do their best to make your special day magical.

This list is not meant to help you plan your wedding. It is instead to give you a little bit of information that may help you decide whether or not a Walt Disney World wedding might be for you. If you decide that you would like to know more, call (321) 939-4610. From there, someone will be able to give you a lot more information than you will find here. You will also want to check out disneyweddings.com. On the website you will get a feel for whether or not a Walt Disney World wedding might be for you. Disney hosts approximately 2,500 weddings a year. They must be doing something right.

10. Renew Your Vows

You don’t have to be getting married to enjoy a wedding at Walt Disney World. It is the perfect place to renew your vows. All of the resources available to brides and grooms are available to anyone who wants to hold a renewal ceremony. What better way to celebrate a landmark anniversary? Turn a family vacation into the opportunity to show each other that you would do it all over again. Packages for commitment ceremonies are also available.

9. Start Planning Online

You might worry that you’ll have a hard time planning your wedding if you live far away from Central Florida. Don’t worry, there are plenty of online planning tools that will help you to get started on creating your perfect day. The Dream Wedding Maker on the Disney Weddings website will allow you to try out different scenarios and see what you like the best. You can also choose colors, dresses, and plan other details on the site. You don’t have to decide immediately, you can save your choices for later. There’s a place to include your budget, so you will not fall in love with something that you can’t afford. There is also an “I’m just dreaming” option, you don’t need to actually be getting married in order to plan a wedding.

8. Plenty of Live Help

There is also plenty of live help available to assist you in planning your perfect day. It starts when you call (321) 939-4610. Depending on which package you purchase, you can have help from a Wedding Sales Coordinator, a Day of Coordinator, and a Wedding Event Planner. The cast members know how to plan a wedding and they will go all out to give you the day that you dream of. You will not be on your own.

7. Use the Facebook App

If you are on Facebook you will want to “Like” the Disney Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons page. Located at facebook.com/DisneyWeddings, you can create a personalized site to keep your family and friends up on all of your latest news and developments. Your friends do not even need to have a Facebook account to access your personalized site. Your Disney Wedding Planner will also be able to add information, so you will not have to worry that you forgot something. While you’re on the FB page, be sure to look through the photos. They will get you even more excited for your Walt Disney World wedding.

6. Choose From Three Different Packages

In order to make a Walt Disney World wedding possible for anyone, there are three different packages to choose from. Each package has countless variables so that you will be able to customize your day. “Memories” is the least expensive package, starting around $2,500. The Memories ceremonies are intimate, with up to four guests, plus the couple. “Escape” is the second package. That is for the bride, groom, and up to 18 guests. Escape starts around $5000. The most elaborate package is known as “Wishes”. This is what you will want to choose if you are planning something larger or more elegant. Wishes starts at $12,000, and has the most variables. Remember that the prices given include only the basics, and are subject to change. Most of the theme park venues are available only through Wishes.

5. Add Fireworks

Do you see fireworks when you look into each others eyes? The rest of your guests will be able to see them as well if you add them into your wedding package. At some venues you might be able to time your wedding so that you have either Happily Ever After or Epcot Forever in the background after you’re pronounced husband and wife. If that seems like too much of a bother and you’re willing to pay extra, you can include fireworks in your package. If you decide to add them you’ll know that they will be set off at the perfect moment, giving your wedding an extra that your guests will never forget.

4. Invite Some Disney Characters

Disney characters are not going to be a part of your ceremony. They are not allowed to be witnesses or guests. You can, however, have them show up for part of the reception. The character appearances last for 30 minutes and you can have one or two characters at a time. Adding characters is a fun way to experience some extra Disney magic on an already magical day.

3. Pick Your Country or Park

Have you always dreamed of a wedding in a faraway land? If so, you’ll want to check out all of the venue options available throughout World Showcase. Most of them are included only in the Wishes package, and you’ll be surprised by the variety of choices. You might want to exchange your vows in the Italy Plaza, or maybe the China Courtyard will make your dreams come true. Since World Showcase has well over a dozen different venue options, if you want an overseas wedding you can have it without leaving the United States.

Of course World Showcase is not the only place to hold a theme park wedding. Also at Epcot you can get married “under water” at the Living Seas Salon. Disney’s Animal Kingdom has two venues in Africa. If your dream is to hold your wedding on the steps of Cinderella Castle you’re out of luck, weddings are not held inside the Magic Kingdom. You can, however, have the castle as the backdrop for your ceremony if you pick the Magic Kingdom Park Swan Boat Landing as your venue.

2. Feel Like Cinderella

For the ultimate fairy tale wedding, Disney offers the Pumpkin Coach. It is, of course, based on the transportation that Cinderella took to and from the ball, although this one will not turn back into a pumpkin at midnight. The open aired carriage is white and it is led by a team of, what else, white ponies. Two elegant footmen and a driver are included but don’t worry, they won’t turn into mice if the clock strikes. The bride and groom will feel like Cinderella and Prince Charming as people watch the coach pass by.

1. The Most Popular Venue

If you’d like a traditional wedding that is still filled with Disney magic, you will want to consider the Disney Wedding Pavilion. It is the most popular wedding venue on Walt Disney World property, and it is available in both the Escape and the Wishes packages. The nondenominational chapel can hold up to 250 guests, but smaller ceremonies are also held there. It is located on Seven Seas Lagoon and there are views of Cinderella Castle in the background. Up to six weddings a day are performed at the pavilion, seven days a week. The Disney Wedding Pavilion is also the home of Franck’s, which is a planning studio. It is based on Martin Short’s character in the movie Father of the Bride.