A Disney Wedding is a dream come true for many Disney fans, but the high cost of many of these weddings puts it out of reach for many couples. However, there’s one notable hack to having an affordable Disney wedding, and I’m speaking from personal experience as someone in the middle of planning her own Disney Wedding.
Let’s get into the most affordable way to have a Disney Fairytale Wedding, plus tips on cutting down the cost of any of these wedding experiences through Disney. This dream doesn’t have to be out of reach! Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including the ten Disneyland hotels guests keep booking and a new milestone in Disneyland’s park expansion.
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Top Budget-Friendly Disney Wedding Option
A wedding at Walt Disney World or Disneyland is a dream for many Disney adults, but it unfortunately comes with a high price tag. Most couples can plan on spending between $20,000 and $70,000 for a Disney Fairy Tale Wedding, depending on the venue you select and your guest count. Small, intimate ceremonies average around $30,000, and larger weddings with up to 100 guests can easily double that cost. Disneyland weddings in particular tend to be generally more expensive due to higher event minimums and limited availability. And for guests opting for an extravagant castle wedding, those can easily reach six figures.
However, a Disney Cruise Line wedding is leaps and bounds more affordable than a wedding at Walt Disney World or Disneyland. If you want a Disney Fairy Tale Wedding that doesn’t break the bank, this is easily the best option. And the locations on the Disney Cruise Line ships are stunning, with the option of having the ceremony in the Grand Hall, on the deck, and on Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. Or in the newest venue option, the Haunted Mansion Parlor.
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Disney Cruise Line weddings operate differently, as there are no event minimums to worry about. Instead, a Disney Cruise Line wedding is an add-on package to your cruise sailing. You book your cruise on the ship and itinerary you want, and then add on the wedding package to your stateroom, which is a flat cost with the option to enhance the package beyond what’s included in the base price.
Disney Cruise Line weddings offer flat pricing with the option of add-ons. Your price depends on the location of the ship or on Disney’s Castaway Cay. For ceremony locations around the ship, including select patios and lounges, pricing starts at $4,000. Ceremonies held in the ship’s atriums and grand halls are priced at $5,000, while a wedding ceremony on Castaway Cay or the Haunted Mansion Parlor is $6,000. This pricing includes:
- On-site ceremony coordinator
- Choice of personal fresh floral for the couple
- Officiant and solo musician (pianist)
- Cake & Champagne Celebration after the ceremony
- Dinner for the couple at Palo, the adults-only fine dining restaurant
- Steaming for the couple’s ceremony attire
- A $100.00 onboard stateroom credit for the couple
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18 attendees, including the couple included in the base price
Adding in the cost of an average verandah stateroom, you can have a Disney wedding for under $10,000 without worrying about meeting event minimums. Couples can upgrade floral, cake, and ceremony décor options with additional enhancements available for hors d’oeuvres and beverage service during the reception. Here’s an average pricing range for optional enhancements:
- Additional attendees: $20 per person for any additional guests
- Upgraded bridal bouquet: $50-$200
- Additional florals: $30-$150
- Castaway Cay Decor: $150-$2000
- Cake upgrade: $250-$350
- Hors d’oeuvres: $100-$150 per platter
- Open bar: $16.50 per person, 25-person minimum
- Photography: $800 for an event photographer, $450 for an additional 45 minutes following the cake and champagne celebration
Keep in mind, these are all optional, and many Disney Cruise Line brides skip many of these enhancements.
All Disney Weddings Get Access to Park Photos
If you have your heart set on those iconic wedding dress pictures in front of Cinderella Castle, don’t worry you can still have those done if you do a Disney Cruise Line wedding! In fact, only couples that have had a Disney Fairy Tale Wedding are allowed to have photography done in their wedding attire at the theme parks. Wedding couples have to book an official photography session with Disney Fine Art Photography to take advantage. Prices start at $3675 for a Magic Kingdom Park Portrait session.
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Disney Cruise Line weddings offer one of the most affordable ways to have a Disney wedding, especially if you stick to the base price and forego many of the extra enhancements. This is one of the most budget-friendly ways to have a Disney wedding, all while enjoying the full experience of a Disney Cruise.
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