10 Reasons to Have a Disney World Wedding

As blissful and exciting as it is to be engaged, planning a wedding can be super stressful and time consuming, not to mention expensive. 

Whether you’re dreaming of a princess fairytale wedding or something more globally inspired, chances are high that the wedding planners at Disney World can make your wedding dreams come true.

After all, Disney World is called The Most Magical Place on Earth.

Intrigued? Check out the top 10 reasons you should have a Disney World wedding to see if it’s the right spot for you and your boo to tie the knot.

Nobody does a themed event better than Disney

With an estimated 4,000 couples gleefully saying “I do,” at Disney’s parks and cruise ships each year, Disney’s wedding consultants are highly experienced at putting together fairytale-level weddings.

Whatever your desires are for your ceremony and reception, Disney’s wedding consultants will knock it out of the park (no pun intended!) for you and your guests.

Are you torn between Disney World or a beach for your destination wedding? Disney World has several beaches on property, as well as ocean-inspired venues. 

Have you always dreamed of a floral-filled Alice in Wonderland themed reception or ceremony. Disney World’s wedding team knows exactly how to pull it off with you needing to stress over it.

Or perhaps you’re just looking for a simple elopement or vow renewal ceremony at the most magical place on earth. 

Well you’re in luck – no celebration is too small to consider when it comes to Disney World weddings.

Disney World weddings don’t cost much more than other venues

According to The Knot, the average cost of a wedding in the US is $33,931. And depending on which state your wedding is in, the average cost is sometimes higher!

One would think that a Disney World wedding would be at least the same, if not a lot more. 

So how much does a Disney World wedding cost? Well, the numbers will surprise you.

Disney World’s fairytale weddings can be done for as little as $3,500. That’ll get you a pre-packed deal that includes a ceremony and photo session for the couple and up to 4 guests.

A ceremony with a cake-and-champagne toast at Disney World starts at $7,000. While a customizable ceremony and reception for a minimum of 18 guests ready to join the party starts at $21,000. 

By no means is a Disney World wedding on the cheap side. But considering it can be done for far less than the average cost couples spend on a wedding in the US, it’s not completely outrageous.

So yeah, I’d say Disney World isn’t all too bad when you consider weddings are already expensive AF elsewhere in the US.

ALL couples are welcome at Disney World

Sadly there are venues in popular places for destination weddings that won’t host weddings for LGBTQ couples. 

According to a study by The Knot and Q.Digital in 2017, 30% of female couples and 11% of male couples reported being rejected by a wedding venue due to their sexual orientation.

Apparently those venues aren’t in it for the joy and celebration of LOVE. They’re just money-grubbing jerks.

Disney World is NOT one of those places!

Following up on its promise to be the most magical place on earth, Disney World hosts weddings for all couples, no matter what their sexual orientation is.

The Disney World Fairytale Weddings team can handle it all

Planning a wedding can be time consuming and downright exhausting. You have to find a venue, caterer, bartender, baker, florist, DJ or band – and that’s just the tip of it!

At Disney World, there’s a massive behind-the-scenes team ready to go.

Disney photographers and videographers

As with the food, drink, and entertainment, Disney World can also provide photographers and videographers to capture your event.

All still photography packages include at least 2 photographers: 1 that focuses on traditional photographs and 1 that specializes in photojournalistic type shots.

You also have the option of scheduling a portrait session at almost any of the properties at Disney World.

Disney flower bouquets and arrangements

Weddings and flowers go hand in hand, so naturally Disney World also has a team of florists that can design bouquets, boutonnieres, and other floral arrangements for your ceremony and reception.

It will be one less thing you’ll have to worry about when planning to get married at Disney World.

Disney wedding cakes and catering

There’s no need to worry about finding an Orlando-area caterer, as the talented bakers and chefs at Disney World take care of it for you.

And just like a local wedding, you can schedule a food and cake tasting before finalizing the menu.

Sounds like the perfect excuse for a pre-wedding getaway, if you ask me!

The options for Disney World wedding venues are top notch

With 4 parks, countless restaurants, and over a dozen resorts, there is no shortage of locations for your wedding ceremony or reception at Disney World.

Depending on which package you choose, you might be limited to a select list of venues. But honestly, even then the venues available are pretty stunning.

The Memories package includes a ceremony at 1 of 4 locations: Conch Key Marina or Sago Cay at the Grand Floridian Resort and Luau Beach or Luau Pointe at the Polynesian Village Resort. 

The Escape package includes a ceremony and a cake-and-champage toast at 1 of 5 locations: 

1. Canada Terrace at Epcot
2. Disney’s Wedding Pavilion at the Grand Floridian Resort (as seen above)
3. Luau Pointe at Polynesian Village Resort
4. Sea Breeze Point at the BoardWalk Resort
5. Wedding Gazebo at the Yacht Club Resort

The Wishes package gives couples the option of 42 locations, of which they can select 1 for the ceremony and 1 for the reception.

A few of the most impressive venue options available in the Wishes package include:

1. East Plaza Garden, in front of Cinderella’s Castle at Magic Kingdom
2. Living Seas Salon at Epcot, next to a 5.7 million gallon saltwater aquarium
3. Shipwreck Beach at the Yacht & Beach Club Resort
4. Tower of Terror Courtyard at Hollywood Studios
5. Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom (as seen above)

The wedding transportation options are super luxe

The most basic and inexpensive package, the Memories package, includes limousine service for the couple. From there, it gets even better!

The mid-range Escape package allows couples to choose from limousine, horse-drawn carriage, vintage luxury cars, or THE coach of all coaches, Cinderella’s sparkling pumpkin-shaped coach.

Couples opting for the Wishes wedding package have the same transportation options as the Escape package, but can also add on coach bus service for their guests.

Whichever package you go with, your entrance will surely be fit for royalty.

Wedding package add-ons include character appearances

Secretly wishing THE ‘It Couple,’ aka Mickey and Minnie, of the Mouse family, would join the party? Yep, it’s an option!

Disney characters can be booked in 30-minute increments for couples opting for the Escape or Wishes wedding packages. 

If you and your boo want a Disney character to make an appearance at your wedding, then you’re in luck. Up to 2 Disney characters can be booked in 30-minute increments.

This would be an unforgettable gift for your flower girl and ring bearer. But let’s be honest, adults will love it too!

Even the entertainment add-on options are magical 

Another perk to the Escape and Wishes wedding packages is the option to add extra entertainment aside from the usual band or DJ at the reception. 

Think cannons full of confetti, trumpeteers, a private fireworks display, an English butler, and professional wedding crashers.

Yes, you read that right! When you get married at Disney World, you can arrange for hilariously entertaining wedding crashers to show up at your ceremony! I wonder if Owen Wilson is available?

OK, so who’s planning a Disney World wedding now!?

I don’t know about you, but if you’re going to spend money on a splashy wedding, you may as well do it up somewhere grand, right? If only I had a boyfriend!

P.S. Once you book your Disney World wedding, check out my guide to Disney World for couples to plan your honeymoon or pre-wedding trip!

This post was originally published on June 5, 2016 on Frost + Sun. It was moved to The Park Pixie on May 4, 2021.