Disney Fairy Tale Wedding Cost
by Professor Heather Adamczak | Feb 3, 2020 | Aulani Resort and Spa, Beyond the Parks, News, Park Style |
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a fairy tale wedding like you see on Disneys Fairy Tale Weddings? You have the perfect partner, you have the ring, now how do you afford it? There is a stigma that getting married at Disney is only for very wealthy people. You may be surprised to know that it is more affordable than you think!
In this post I am going to break down wedding pricing at Disney destinations for you! Disneys Fairy Tale Wedding planners believe nothing should stand in the way of bringing the wedding in your head to life. You are not only paired with a perfect wedding planner, but a dedicated team of wedding experts. Together, they work to create your fairy tale wedding.
Basic Dessert Party Pricing
How much you pay for your event depends on which venue you choose and how many guests you have. In-park venues require venue fees, viewing fees and possibly transportation, and each has a different food and beverage minimum. Resort venues have no venue fees but different food and beverage minimums, and they may require an audio fee to pipe in the fireworks show soundtrack.
Below are some sample budgets for events at various locations. Note that the food and beverage minimums listed are for partial-seating events like dessert parties only. There are higher minimums for a sit-down dinner, where everyone gets a seat.
How Is The Disney World Wedding Cost Calculated
How do you calculate the full price of your wedding? In general, youll need to add up your ceremony fee, location fee, and any add-ons, including food and beverages for guests.
For the Wishes package, the forumla is as follows: x + Ceremony fee + Enhancement Minimum = Total cost. Enhancements are any extras like florals, photography, or transporation.
Most locations have enhancements minimums you need to reach. As you can image, the more in-demand locations have higher enhancement minimums. For Magic Kingdom after hours, for example, the minimum expenditure is $50,000.
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How Much Is A Disney Wedding In Front Of The Castle
If you want to reserve your spot for a wedding at Cinderellas castle, that will be $30,000. And that is just the ceremony venue fee. If you are looking to have a lot of guests and services for you wedding you are looking to pay $50,000 to $100,000.
This takes place at Magic Kingdom Park at the Florida location. This wedding is custom made to your every wish. This event is a night and occurs 2 hours after the park closes.
There is mandatory Disney transportation to this venue. There are indoor and outdoor options for this venue.
This is truly a setting unlike any other. Live out your dreams with this amazingly magical Disney wedding option.
How Can I Save Money
If the guests of the party book a minimum of 10 room nights at the resort hotel, a complimentary night for the couple will be included.
Spending less than $10,000 on a Disney wedding is doable, according to ThisFairyTaleLife.com. She interviewed five couples who did get married and shared their experience on her blog post.
The prices are going to be higher on the weekends and after 12 p.m. They wont vary by season, either, like other venues do. If youre able, plan your wedding outside of these times.
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Walt Disney Parks And Resorts Worldwide
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. was incorporated on September 29, 2008, and took over the parks and resorts business segment. Disney Parks and Resorts reorganized in early 2009 which included layoffs in all units due to recession-induced falling attendance. 600 U.S. managers in January were buyout packages. Worldwide Operations was formed under President Al Weiss in 2009. Worldwide Operations would take over various back-office functions previously performed by both Disney World and Disneyland including training, procurement, menu planning, and merchandise development. While its Walt Disney Imagineering subsidiary combined its three development units.
In November 2009, Disney received approval from the Chinese government to build a in ‘s district. The resort opened on June 16, 2016.
California Adventure completed its overhaul in 2012 adding two new lands: and . The overhaul also included a re-themed of several attractions plus a pair of classic dark rides. In July 2017, it was announced that land would be replaced by Pixar Pier, with four neighborhoods, and the remainder not in Pixar Pier would be replaced by Paradise Park. Pixar Pier opened on June 23, 2018.
, a 14-acre themed land for both and announced at the on August 15, 2015. Construction began at both locations on April 14, 2016. The lands at both parks opened in 2019.
Weddings At Walt Disney World
Dreaming of a Disney World wedding? Heres the scoop on the true Disney World wedding cost!
Disneys Fairy Tale Weddings offers several price tiers depending on what your wedding budget is and where on Disney World property you would prefer to tie the knot. The prices vary depending on the size of the venue and how many guests can be accommodated. Some venues will accommodate less than 10 guests while others will allow for dozens. You can find a full list of pricing for Disney weddings at Disney World in Florida online here. But to give you an idea of what you can expect to pay, heres a breakdown.
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Because Disney World is massive and hosts a variety of options when it comes to ceremony and reception venues, Disney sorts the locations into different categories based on price minimums. Below are the different wedding package price options that vary based on location:
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Fairy Tales And Price Tags
Much like Disney Worlds hotel categories , event locations are broken out into tiers with venue fees starting at $2,500 and soaring up to $30,000 for Cinderellas Castle inside Magic Kingdom. But the venue fee can change depending on the time and day of the week. And thats only the beginning of the bill. Because each venue has a required minimum spend. Meaning, in addition to the venue fee, you have to spend a designated amount on your wedding florals, decor, food, etc. And the higher the venue fee bracket, the higher the minimum spend. So, even though the cheapest location costs $2,500, with the necessary minimums, the cheapest wedding at Disney starts at $5,000. And that also means Cindys pad isnt just $30K. The minimum spend for just a ceremony at the castle is $50,000.
If you have your heart set on a wedding inside the parks, the most affordable option is World Showcase at EPCOT, where locations at each pavilion can be booked for $4,500. Disneys Hollywood Studios and Disneys Animal Kingdom also have locations for $4,500 such as the Tower of Terror or in front of Tree of Life, but the minimum spend is higher . And then theres Magic Kingdom. In addition to the castle, you can book the East Plaza garden for $25,000 or the Main Street Train Station for $15,000. But again, they come with steep minimums anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000.
How To Add A Dessert Party To Your Disney Wedding
Only at Disney can you cap your wedding day with a private fireworks viewing partyand potentially a private ride on an attraction! Although commonly referred to as dessert parties, these private events can also include dinner and/or drinks, making them ideal as a cocktail hour, welcome party or anniversary celebration.
In-park dessert parties are available during the fireworks shows at EPCOT and Disneys Hollywood Studios. For the Magic Kingdoms fireworks show, private parties are held at the Grand Floridian Marina and the Contemporary Convention Centers Porte Cochere.
Complete details and pricing for every dessert party venue at Walt Disney World can be found in Chapter 10 of Carrie Haywards Fairytale Weddings Guide. Below is an overview to get you started
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Different Venues At California Disneyland
Outdoor Venues For Budget-Friendly Wedding Celebration In West Coast
Wedding Garden and Adventure Lawn Gazebo offer more affordable rates ranging from $2,600 to $6,000 and are ideal for smaller weddings. While Brisa Courtyard, Parkview Terrace, and the Magic Kingdom Lawn are perfect for a spectacular outdoor ceremony and are available for $3,000 to $8,000 per person.
The Rose Court Garden For More Private Celebration
The Rose Court Garden is another fantastic venue for a spectacular wedding celebration. The Rose Court Garden, so named because it is surrounded by more than 500 rose blooms, is Disneyland Resorts premier wedding location. This charming setting is ideal for a private wedding celebration for up to 350 guests. The Rose Court Garden has a white gazebo, and weddings here are no less than fairytale events. The fee for the ceremony ranges from $4,000 to $10,000.
Aulani Hawaii Disney Wedding Cost
Hawaii epitomizes a romantic paradise. Disney Resort & Spa on Oahu, Aulani, is the ideal location for the most magnificent wedding celebration you will cherish for the rest of your life. Aulani Hawaii Disney wedding cost varies based on the venue and your wedding requirements. Aulani Hawaii offers two Disney wedding packages: the Pilialoha Package and the Lkahi Package.
The Pilialoha Package
The Pilialoha Package is designed for small-scale destination weddings with up to 18 guests in addition to the couple. This package includes spectacular settings such as Sunset Alcove, Alohi Point, and Kula Wai , white garden chairs, a religious wedding officiant, and up to an hour of photography.
The cost of a Pilialoha celebration begins at $5,400 however, you can customize it according to your needs by adding Hawaiian entertainment, live music, tropical bouquets, leis, and more.
The Lkahi Package
Starting at $10,600, the Lkahi Package is apt for a lavishly customizable wedding celebration. This package includes a one-hour ceremony, religious officiant, rehearsal, an indoor ballroom reception, a white wedding arch, and white garden chairs, a citrus water station for guests, and up to two hours of professional photography.
Aulani Hawaiis Lkahi Package also includes some of the stunning indoor ballrooms for a fantastic indoor wedding celebration.
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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.
Event Minimum Locations From $15000 To $25000
- Tree of Life in Disneys Animal Kingdom
- Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror in Disneys Hollywood Studios
- Magic Kingdom East Plaza
- Magic Kingdom Train Station
- Magic Kingdom After Hours
Additional costs for catering, floral arrangements, entertainment, transportation, photography, videography, and portrait session can be found here for Disney World.
The Walt Disney World resort in Florida offers three general options for wedding ceremonies and receptions: Memories, Escape and Wishes.
The Memories package is the cheapest and simplest of the three with a starting price of $3,500. The package comes with a ceremony that can includes up to four people including the couple and offers three venues for the ceremony: the Conch Key Marina at Disneys Grand Floridian Resort & Spa or Luau Beach or Luau Pointe at Disneys Polynesian Village Resort. The package also comes with:
- a violinist
- a limousine charter for three consecutive hours
- a one-hour session with a Disney photographer
The price of the ceremony can go higher depending on differing seasonal and holiday rates, as well as additional features for the ceremony and reception. Couples are also required to book a two-night minimum stay at any Disney Resort hotel.
The Escape package has a starting minimum price of $7,000 and offers invitations for up to 18 people include the couple. The package offers two collection options: the Deluxe and the Premium Escape collections.
Each collection also comes with:
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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, Cinderellas 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.
Disney World Weddings Dont 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 Worlds fairytale weddings can be done for as little as $3,500. Thatll 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.
So yeah, Id say Disney World isnt all too bad when you consider weddings are already expensive AF elsewhere in the US.
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Enjoy Endless Photo Ops
According to McFann, a Disney wedding must-have is a Disney bridal portrait session, where the newlyweds snap photos in iconic locations throughout Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios, in Cinderella’s coach, at the fireworks show, and even with Mickey and Minnie! Proof that dreams really do come true.
The Disneyland Resort Hotel Weddings
All three hotels at The Disneyland Resort can host wedding ceremonies and receptions. Hotel events have much lower price minimums than in-park events, and therefore are a popular option.
Ceremony Venue Fees for Hotel Locations
Monday through Thursday: $2,600 $4,000Sunday and Friday: $2,800 $4,500Saturday: $3,000 $5,000
Photo credit: White Rabbit Photo Boutique
In-park weddings are highly customized and specific pricing is not available. However, you can expect an early morning castle wedding at Sleeping Beautys Castle to start above $62,200++, after hours in-park evening receptions to start above $82,485++, and after hours in-park evening ceremonies and receptions to start above $100,000++.
Note: Its possible to have your ceremony at a hotel venue, and your reception inside one of the Parks!
++ indicates the price is not inclusive of sales tax and service charge.
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