Imagine this: Cinderella’s Castle bathed in golden twilight, Mickey and Minnie as your honorary guests, and a sprinkle of pixie dust in the air. It’s the Disney wedding that you’ve daydreamed about! But wait, before you slip on the glass slippers, let’s talk numbers: How much does a Disney wedding cost?
There are many expenses involved in Disney fairy tale weddings, including the venue, catering, decorations, and more. Whether you dream of a royal ball or an intimate garden affair, these price tags might easily overwhelm you. Fear not! In this article, Viva Wedding Photography will break down the expenses and provide practical tips to help you plan your dream wedding without breaking the bank.
What does a Disney wedding package always include?
Before discussing costs, it’s important to note that all couples who choose to have their wedding at Disney’s Fairy Tale Wedding will receive the same basic wedding components and services. Let’s find out more about Disney Wedding packages!
During the wedding planning process, you’ll have the help of a Disney Wedding Consultant who will assist you in figuring out exactly what you want and then coordinate everything from the flowers and decorations to the food and music.
Every couple also has access to a Day-Of Coordinator who will assist them throughout the day. Together with the couple’s Disney Wedding Consultant, this person is responsible for ensuring the big day goes off without a hitch, from guiding them down the aisle to keeping everyone on schedule.
The wedding ceremony location will also provide a variety of wedding services like standard ceremony chairs, audiovisual equipment, live music, a rain location, and more.
Besides, when planning a magical wedding at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or Aulani, couples who wish to serve a full dinner at their reception are offered a complimentary menu sampling experience.
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How much does a Disney wedding cost on average?
The cost of weddings at Walt Disney World Resort can vary from $7,500 to $100,000, with the average expense being approximately $30,000.
The cost of Disney weddings varies based on several factors. For instance, a comprehensive wedding package that includes a premier venue, peak date and time, catering, flowers, music, entertainment, transportation, and a large number of guests can cost more than double the average price. However, opting for an off-peak wedding with minimal extras can significantly reduce costs compared to the average wedding.
The minimum expenditure of a Walt Disney World wedding
From our experience, the answer to “How much does it cost for a Disney wedding?” typically ranges from $7,500 to $50,000. As we said, the final amount of money would vary depending on the location, the wedding date, and the event time. For example, a wedding on a Saturday night at Magic Kingdom will have a significantly greater minimum spend than one held at a Disney property on a Wednesday morning.
Generally speaking, you should expect to spend at least $7,500 when you get married at a Disney fantasy destination wedding. Still, this number won’t be final until you include the number of attendees, taxes, and tips.
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How Much Does A Disney Wedding Cost According To The Venue
1. Disney Cruise Line Wedding
If you’ve always wanted to say your “I dos” in the middle of the ocean, Disney Cruise Ship has a pricing structure to make that dream a reality. Beautifully designed alternatives for everything from wedding flowers to wedding cakes will be available.
On the Cruise Line, Disney wedding prices can be as little as $3,500 (with more expensive alternatives for more guests and fancier venues).
Here’s what a real Disney Cruise Ship wedding looks like:
2. Disney Resort, Aulani
If you plan a Disney wedding at this place, two different packages are available to ensure that your special day is just as you imagined.
- PILIALOHA
Packages like the one offered by Aulani are perfect if you want to get married in a tropical location but have the convenience of pre-selected options. At this venue, the answer to “How much is a wedding at Disney?” normally starts at $5,600 for a group of 18 (the couple included). Choose from lovely pre-selected wedding elements, like on a Disney cruise, to make your big day magical.
- LOKAHI
This package is ideal for lovebirds who want a wedding celebration that feels uniquely theirs. The Lokahi package, which begins at $16,500, allows you to choose the aspects of your wedding that are most essential to you.
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3. Disneyland
If you’re planning your Disney wedding at this venue, you should expect to pay at least $3,325. The location and the entire day of the week will determine the final Disney fairytale wedding cost. Minimum spending on food and drink also depends on the time of day (brunch, lunch, or supper) and location.
Each meal, from brunch to lunch to dinner, costs an additional $20. Service fees of 25% (including both labor and gratuities) will also be added to the total. A per-person minimum must be met for catering, which is determined by the time of day of your wedding.
The crystal coach has a driver and two footmen in full regalia. You can add a string trio, Disney characters, florist additions, carriages, and more to make your ideal grand celebration even more real.
In the Rose Court Garden at Disneyland Resort, you can get married in front of more than 500 rose bushes. With its white gazebo and secluded setting, this spot is straight out of a storybook. Disney wedding prices at this venue often range from $4,000 to $10,000, and you can host anything from two to 350 guests.
Parkview Terrace, Brisa Courtyard, and the Magic Kingdom Lawn provide stunning outdoor ceremony settings under the California sun for prices between $3,000 and $8,000.
In the Wedding Garden or Adventure Lawn Gazebo, the cost of your Disney wedding often ranges from $2,600 to $6,000 and is ideal for smaller wedding parties.
4. Walt Disney World
In Florida, a Walt Disney World wedding cost relies on a party minimum (similar to Disneyland, beginning at $15,000) that can be customized to include the activities and features most essential to the happy couple.
As mentioned above, the venue, day of the week, and time of day all affect the minimum spend required to hold an event, but typically, it’s around $5,000. Conch Key Marina, Luau Beach, Luau Pointe, and Sago Cay are the most reasonably priced, with event minimums between $5,000 and $15,000.
The German Courtyard, Italian Isola, Italian Plaza, British Courtyard, Tamu Tamu, Moroccan Pavilion, Chinese Pavilion, Canadian Terrace, French Eau de France, Italian Terrace de Fleur, and Japan Courtyard Bonsai Promenade are all in the next price range, with minimums between $7,000 and $17,000.
The Croquet Lawn, Oak Manor, Destino Plaza, the Casitas Courtyard, Sea Breeze Point, the Wedding Gazebo, and Shipwreck Beach are all attractive wedding options with a minimum cost between $8,000 and $20,000.
Disney Wedding Pavilion, located on the banks of Seven Seas Lagoon, is a beautiful private island venue that requires an event minimum expenditure limit of $10,000 to $35,000. Around $20,000 and $50,000 can get you a magnificent ceremony on or near Main Street, USA, with picture-perfect vistas of Cinderella’s Castle.
In addition to primary nuptial services, they also provide Disney’s Fairy Tale Wedding & Honeymoons program, which offers wedding and honeymoon services at Walt Disney World Resort. So, if your wedding vision and dream honeymoon both land in this place, consider choosing this package to take advantage of the discount and minimize your Wedding Disney World costs.
The Cinderella Castle
Every Disney fan’s fantasy is to get married in front of Cinderella’s Castle. Numerous wedding venues near this Walt Disney World landmark are available, but they all come at a hefty price. So, the Disney fairytale wedding cost at this venue can be anything from $20,000 to $50,000.
There are three locations in Magic Kingdom where Disney Fairytale Weddings can take place:
- This outdoor wedding setting is located in Magic Kingdom East Plaza and contains floral arrangements, chairs, and a backdrop of the Castle. The Ceremony Venue Fees are $25,000.
- Cinderella Castle and the Magic Kingdom Train Station provide a picture-perfect wedding backdrop. The Ceremony fees are $15,000.
- Disney World Weddings The After Hours are intimate and enchanted, with the Castle in the background and rows of chairs adorned with flowers. The cost to host the ceremony will be $30,000.
It would be worthwhile to go all out if you’ve always wanted to tie the knot in the most enchanted spot on the planet.
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How Much Do Disney Weddings Meals Typically Cost?
Any combination of a pre-reception, a reception, a wedding cake, & bar service is possible with Food & Beverage Services. This service has a per-person minimum.
Depending on the time of day, Disney now requires a minimum number of guests for brunch, lunch, and dinner events. Costs may rise above the starting point if additional options are included.
Food and beverage minimums for reception are the following:
- Brunch is $165* per person
- Lunch is $185* each
- Dinner is $210* per person
(Add 7.75% sales tax and 23% service fee to the price.)
Some of the beverages and foods available for a Disney wedding are:
- Plated menus are a classic way to serve your wedding guests, allowing you to present each meal individually.
- Menu Options for Buffets and Food Stations: Provide guests with various delicious options.
- Beverage minimum service: Host bar packages, hosted bars, or cash bars are all viable solutions for your event.
- Desserts: If you want to impress your guests even more, throw a dessert party with dishes that reflect the enchanted atmosphere.
- Cakes: Sweeten your occasion with a custom cake or pick from our specialty cakes.
>>> Further reading: Top 43 Delicious Wedding Food Ideas To Impress Your Guests
How Many Disney Elements Should You Include In Your Wedding?
Your Disney-themed wedding can have many components, all chosen by you and your future spouse. Horse-drawn carriage rides, fireworks displays, and appearances by the characters you love most at Disney are just a few examples of unique touches that can be added to your wedding day. And these factors often have a huge impact on “How much is a Disney Wedding?“
1. Photographs And Film
Disney photographer and videographer of the highest caliber will be on hand to record your Disney wedding in all its enchanted glory. In addition, they provide sessions for specialized portraits. The cost will be different for each service.
Packages range from basic coverage to more elaborate options with multiple photographers, videographers, and additional services such as engagement shoots and custom albums. Disney wedding prices in this category can range from a few thousand dollars to over $10,000.
2. Floral
Your bridal bouquet and other decorations should match the themed decor of your big day. Then, have the Disney florists make bouquets, corsages, and boutonnieres for the bridesmaids.
The cost of floral arrangements at a Disney wedding can vary widely depending on several factors, such as the type of flowers, the number of arrangements, and the level of complexity.
Regarding the average Disney fairytale wedding cost, couples can expect to spend between $5,000 and $10,000 on decor and floral arrangements. This amount may increase depending on the couple’s preferences and the size of the wedding.
3. Entertainment
Disney offers a variety of entertainment options, from live bands to DJs to character appearances. With this wide range of options, couples are easily tangled about Walt Disney World wedding costs regarding entertainment. Typically, the entertainment price can range from $1,000 to $10,000 depending on the entertainment type and the reception length.
A live band is one of Disney weddings’ most popular entertainment options. The cost of a live band can vary depending on the band’s size, the length of the reception, and the level of experience and popularity of the band.
Another popular entertainment option for Disney weddings is a DJ. A DJ can provide a wide range of music to appeal to guests of all ages and can often offer a more affordable option compared to a live band.
Disney weddings also offer the unique opportunity for character appearances at the reception. Characters such as Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Cinderella, and Prince Charming can appear and add to the magical experience of the wedding. However, depending on the character and the appearance length, it can also come at a higher cost.
4. Transportation
Arrive at your wedding in style by hiring a team of elegant horses to draw Cinderella’s coach. A Landau coach pulled by a quarter horse & driven by a guy dressed in a morning coat is available for your wedding procession.
Rent a classic Rolls-Royce, Ford Model A, or limousine if you want a motor for your big day. If you’re having a big wedding, it’s a good idea to charter motorcoaches to take guests from their hotels to the ceremony and reception.
The cost of transportation can vary depending on the type of transportation chosen, the distance traveled, and the rental duration. Limousine rentals can cost anywhere from $150 to $500 per hour, depending on the type of limousine and the rental company. Horse-drawn carriage rentals can cost $1,000 or more, depending on the length of the rental and the location.
Tips To Minimize Disney Fairytale Wedding Cost?
Several variables can affect how much you spend on your Disney World wedding, including the location, the time of year, and the number of attendees. Having a wedding during the off-season or in the middle of the week will save you money because there will be fewer guests and, hence, fewer expenses.
To cut wedding costs even further, consider making some wedding decorations yourself or finding affordable substitutes for more expensive options. What you may and cannot carry into Disney parks is subject to change, so check with Disney or The Vacationer before you go.
An unforgettable Disney World wedding does not have to cost an arm and a leg. A Disney wedding will be a once-in-a-lifetime chance for you and your guests, regardless of your options or how much you spend.
Getting married elsewhere and then enjoying your first week as a married couple at a Walt Disney World resort for your honeymoon is a viable option due to the package’s reduced price compared to a full-fledged wedding. Disney has many resorts perfect for couples and many enjoyable and inexpensive adult activities.
FAQs about Disney Weddings
What is the deposit for a Disney wedding?
According to reports, couples typically deposit an amount ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 for a Disney wedding. The full deposit for your wedding is required 30 days prior to the wedding date.
How Far Out Can You Book a Disney Wedding?
You have the option to reserve your Disney World wedding ceremony and full reception as early as one year prior to your desired date. Other wedding events can be booked up to ten months in advance. Early booking ensures that you have the finest selection of dates and venues.
Can You Secretly Get Married at Disney World?
Although it may be technically feasible to have a secret wedding at Disney World, it is highly unlikely to be allowed. Therefore, we do not recommend pursuing this option. Any event or activity that attracts attention carries the potential of being disrupted. However, engagements are considered acceptable and permissible.
>>> Further reading:
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- Wedding Checklist For Groom: No Need To Worry On The Big Day
A Disney wedding is a dream come true for many couples, but can come with a hefty price tag. By understanding thoroughly the pricing structure and following the tips above, you can plan your dream wedding without breaking the bank. With careful planning and budgeting, bringing Disney magic into your big day is no longer out of reach. Viva Wedding Photography hopes this guide has helped you figure out “How much does a Disney wedding cost?”. From Walt Disney World to Disneyland and beyond, there’s a venue and package for every couple’s budget. So don’t let the numbers scare you away from your fairy tale ending!
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