Disney Weddings: 10 Magical Places to Say “I Do” in Walt Disney World
The beginning of “happily ever after” is a momentous occasion – it’s why wedding planners, wedding venues, and wedding dress shops exist! It’s all about making the day as special and as memorable as possible, giving you and your spouse something lovely to look back on in the years to come.
Not that we’re biased or anything, but we think Florida is a pretty good place to tie the knot. There are some gorgeous locations within state parks, at rustic-chic farms, tropical resorts, and even a waterfall! However, if you’re looking for something truly over-the-top-unforgettable, you can always get married at a theme park.
Disney World, specifically.
That’s right! You can live out a real-life Disney fairy tale! Some folks propose in the parks – which is super sweet! – but you can also have your entire ceremony at the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, or Hollywood Studios!
Most of the Disney resort properties also double as wedding venues, but for today, we’re just going to focus on saying “I do” within Walt Disney World proper. In addition to scouting out locales, we’ll also talk about the pros and cons to help you decide if a Disney wedding is actually right for you.
Walt Disney World Weddings: I Do?
Choosing a wedding venue is a bit like finding a spouse – not every one is right for you, and even when you find your perfect match, there can still be rainy days. The main thing is finding the person – or venue – that will take you singing and dancing in the rain!
There are three main things to consider when picking a venue: money, family, and romance. (Again, a lot like marriage itself.) Here’s what “The Big Three” look like for your average Disney wedding.
Here Comes the Bill
I know. Looking at price tags can be scary – especially when it comes to anything wedding related. I mean, who knew fake flowers could get this expensive?? But, believe it or not, it is possible to have a somewhat reasonably priced Disney wedding!
So, how much does a Disney wedding cost?
It depends! Wedding package prices vary by location and are customizable with a plethora of add-ons. However, the wedding event minimum is $7,500 to $50,000. (I know, that’s a pretty wide range!) Your minimum personal cost is determined by your chosen location, date, and time of the ceremony.
Most locations throughout the parks require an event minimum of $10,000 to $25,000, with Magic Kingdom housing Disney’s most expensive venues. (That’s where that $50,000 figure comes in.) In addition to the ceremony venue fee, you can use food and other add-ons (like the Cinderella carriage ride, a visit from Mickey, and photos) to reach the minimum event price – or go over it!
While no Disney wedding is cheap, if budgeted carefully, it doesn’t have to be more expensive than “regular” weddings. Most Disney weddings average around $30,000.
Destination Drop Out?
For most folks, a Disney wedding is also a destination wedding. While this is exciting, it can have an effect on the attendance rate.
Not every friend and family member can afford the plane tickets, hotel rooms, and time off to go to Disney World, so be prepared for a smaller crowd. The venues themselves also have limited capacities.
However, if you’re looking for an intimate affair, this can be the perfect excuse to have an exclusive guest list!
Living in a Fairy Tale
Each wedding venue at Disney World (parks or resorts) is beautiful. When it comes to a romantic setting, you can’t ask for anything better! It’s practically impossible to take a “bad” photo at any of these locations.
Additionally, Disney wedding packages and Disney wedding planners make the preparation a breeze. Now that’s the real fairy tale part right there! Instead of planning from scratch, each wedding venue has a set of options – from cake to photo shoots to flowers – and all you have to do is pick the ones you like best. The endless Pinterest scrolling is over!
Just remember – while Disney is supplying the romantic atmosphere, it’s you and your partner who are bringing the true love, and that’s what matters most, no matter where you are!
Disney Weddings in Every Park!
You’ve weighed the pros and cons, and Disney has made the cut for your wedding venue. But now you have to decide where in Walt Disney World you want your ceremony to be! Budget is definitely a determining factor – and we’ll list the ceremony fees of our top 10 park locations (a large chunk of reaching that event minimum!) – but we’ll also go over the most unique features of each one so you can decide which place will provide the best backdrop for your big day.
Oh, and we’ll even drag out our most scientific formula for picking the best venue: which place vibes with which Disney movie. If you find a venue that matches the feel of your fave film… well, your decision is made, isn’t it?
Magic Kingdom
Home to Tinkerbell, Cinderella, and Mickey Mouse, the Magic Kingdom is your classic fairy tale world and a truly charming place for a wedding.
Magic Kingdom event minimum: $20,000 to $50,000
1. East Plaza Gardens
Ceremony Cost: $25,000+
Guests: 10 to 175
This venue puts you right in the center of that classic WDW portrait of Cinderella’s Castle!
With the castle right behind you and whimsically-shaped topiaries and gardens surrounding you, this spot is picture-perfect in every way! Cast members scatter flower petals along the ground, piling some into stylish swirls, so even your bridal march feels 100% magical.
Keep in mind that an East Plaza Garden ceremony will take place during operating hours, usually starting at 9:00 a.m. That means the hustle and bustle of park sounds will still be happening in the background. (Note: this is pretty much true of any park venue, FYI!)
The perfect pick for fans of: Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, or Sleeping Beauty.
2. Train Station
Ceremony Cost: $15,000
Guests: 20 to 48
Get your fairy tale wedding and vintage vibes, too, at the Walt Disney World Railroad Train Station!
Located on Main Street USA, this splendid Victorian station has four antique steam trains and your ticket to happily ever after! This venue also has excellent views (and, therefore, photo backdrops!) of Cinderella’s Castle and Town Square. The old-fashioned atmosphere here is so charming!
Ceremonies are held at 7:30 a.m. at this location, so you and your wedding party don’t have to worry about competing with hundreds of visitors.
The perfect pick for fans of: Lady and the Tramp or Mary Poppins.
3. After Hours
Ceremony Cost: $30,000
Guests: 10 to 300
The most iconic of all Disney weddings: the Magic Kingdom Park Evening!
After visitors have gone home for the night, you and your true love can have the Magic Kingdom to yourselves for an epic ceremony. Say “I do” right in front of a majestically lit Cinderella’s Castle, and… the rest is up to you! One of the most customizable ceremony experiences. Just talk with your Disney wedding planner about what you’d like to see and do on your special day. Nine times out of 10, they can make it happen!
(And yes, riding in Cinderella’s Coach to your ceremony is totally an option!)
The perfect pick for fans of: Cinderella.
EPCOT
Have an overseas destination wedding by choosing a location within EPCOT’s World Showcase! Pretty much every country has a gorgeous venue – these are just our top picks!
EPCOT event minimum: $10,000 to $17,000
4. Germany
Ceremony Cost: $5,500
Guests: up to 50
Modeled after a quaint village, the German pavilion offers fantastic real-world – or rather, old-world – fairy tale vibes! The 12th-to-17th-century style buildings that enclose the courtyard imbue the area with a cozy and colorful atmosphere. It’s how I imagine living in a Christmas snow globe would feel. With blooming flower boxes and the central clocktower chiming a sweet melody every hour, the tone is set for a beautiful day!
Ceremonies held in Germany will generally be early in the morning. This is a perfect pick if your favorite Disney movie is Tangled!
5. Japan
Ceremony Cost: $5,500
Guests: 10 to 150
Looking for a natural setting for your Disney wedding? The Japan Pavilion in EPCOT delivers just that. With glistening koi ponds, burbling streams, and beautifully tended gardens, even the most stressed-out bride will find inner peace here. (Probably.)
The iconic torii gate and exquisite pagoda add a faraway flair for your wedding day, and a bamboo bridge makes an excellent photo op for the bride and groom!
It should be noted that if over 50 guests are invited, some seats may have obstructed views of the ceremony. This location is available for early morning ceremonies.
The perfect pick for fans of: Spirited Away or My Neighbor Totoro. (Those are Studio Ghibli films distributed by Disney.)
6. Morocco
Ceremony Cost: $5,500
Guests: 10 to 120
Ready to ride into the sunset with your Arabian knight in shining armor? Well, that won’t really work because the Morocco Pavilion is available for early mornings. But trust me, with a setting like this, riding into the sunrise is just as good!
With glittering mosaics, grand archways, and a flower-filled courtyard, you’ll feel truly transported to the likes of Casablanca. In fact, this pavilion is often considered one of EPCOT’s most authentic areas! The terra cotta architecture provides a warm ambiance that’s perfect for a celebration, and the oriental stylings add a wonderful, otherwordly touch. A ceremony here is truly the start of an adventure!
Perfect for fans of: Aladdin.
And, not a Disney movie, but how could I not mention Casablanca? Any place with Humphrey Bogart vibes is definitely swoon-worthy.
7. France
Ceremony Cost: $5,500
Guests: up to 100
All right. We had to put the France Pavilion on here because who hasn’t dreamed of a Parisian romance? Well, now you can have one without needing a passport!
If you’re going for chic, this setting is for you! The courtyard is nestled in a Parisian cityscape with the Eiffel Tower in the background and a sparkling fountain front and center. Like other EPCOT locations, France is open for ceremonies in the early morning.
Perfect for fans of: Ratatouille, Beauty and the Beast, or Aristocats.
Animal Kingdom
Pull out your Adventure Book and have a wedding on the wild side! Animal Kingdom provides stellar, natural (and alien) settings for saying “I do.”
Animal Kingdom event minimum: $15,000 to $25,000
8. Tree of Life
Ceremony Cost: $7,500
Guests: Consult Disney Wedding Planner
This venue is truly one of a kind! Say your vows beneath the bows of the Tree of Life. Held in the evenings after park closing, these Disney weddings take place under the stars and wrapped in the sounds of nature.
Rustic and natural, you can’t go wrong with this venue if you love plants and animals! (And who doesn’t??)
Perfect pick for fans of: The Lion King, Jungle Book, Tarzan, or Up.
9. Pandora – The World of Avatar
Ceremony Cost: $7,500
Guests: Consult Disney Wedding Planner
Travel to the off-world Valley of Mo’ara and find yourself surrounded by lush greenery and floating rocks! This venue is one of the most stunning for Disney weddings, especially for those who choose to add extra floral arrangements. It really brings the area to life, just like Pandora!
Perfect for fans of: Avatar or Atlantis: The Lost Empire.
Hollywood Studios
Step into the golden age of Hollywood as you set off into the golden era of your life. There’s nothing more romantic than enacting a scene from the silver screen.
Hollywood Studios event minimum: $15,000 to $25,000
10. Tower of Terror
Ceremony Cost: $7,500
Guests: 10 to 100
If you like to keep things spooky, you can use the Tower of Terror for your wedding venue!
It doesn’t have to be spooky, though. The Tower’s exterior exudes the style of 1930s Hollywood, and that’s timeless and elegant. (But if the Twilight Zone theme starts playing… I’d probably run if I were you.)
Currently, this is Hollywood Studios’ only wedding venue, and it opens for ceremonies after park closing.
Perfect pick for fans of: Hocus Pocus or non-Disney offerings like The Twilight Zone series. Also great for fans of classic Hollywood movies like Sunset Boulevard.
Disney’s Wedding Pavilion
Ceremony Cost: $6,000
Guests: 10 to 250
Event minimum: $12,500 to $35,000
There’s one more place that we thought was worth mentioning, and that’s Disney’s Wedding Pavilion! Located on its own private island in the Seven Seas Lagoon (EPCOT), this sweet, little wedding chapel offers a gorgeously chic hometown feel.
With Victorian spires, a vaulted ceiling, stained glass windows, and an aisle flanked by dainty white pews, you can have a traditional church wedding combined with the magic of Disney!
As you exchange vows before the altar, the window behind you perfectly frames a view of Cinderella’s Castle! You can also take some great outdoor photos here that have the castle in the background as well.
Ceremonies can be held throughout the day, and organists are provided if desired.
We hope our top 10 wedding venues list has helped you find the perfect spot to start your new adventure with your spouse-to-be! Congratulations from our MouseEars TV family on your upcoming wedding – we’re wishing you the very best!
Tell us all about your Disney wedding in the comments below! We love tales of romance!
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