A Disney Wedding

Imagine your dream wedding. Would it be a grand event or an intimate gathering? Would it include elaborate details or just close family and friends? No matter what your dream, Disney has the answer. Disney’s Fairytale Weddings is the way to go! And they don’t only do weddings -- Disney’s Fairytale Weddings also offer Vow Renewals and Commitment Ceremonies.

Disney's Fairytale Weddings currently offers three different collections, the Escape Collection, the Couture Collection and the Wishes Collection.

The Escape Collection is the small, simple, yet always elegant collection. If you are not interested in a grand affair then the Escape Package is for you. These packages are limited to 20 people including the couple getting married. It includes a basic ceremony, basic photography, a bouquet for the bride, a boutonniere for the groom, a violinist for the ceremony and reception, a four-hour limousine, a two-tiered wedding cake and a bottle of champagne to toast the bride and groom. The only things you need to take care of yourself are the marriage license and the person to marry you.

The Wishes Collection is the completely customized Disney wedding. You can have as many people as you would like, from 10 people up to hundreds. Whether you want to be married in a country in Epcot, in one of the many resorts, or even in front of Cinderella Castle, then this is the Collection for you. Almost anything you can dream of Disney will do.

The Couture Collection is semi-customizable. Disney has teamed up with Wedding Planner, David Tutera, and he has put together a few packages from which you can choose different options. This collection can easily run over $100,000.

I had the opportunity to help plan and be in a Disney Fairytale Wedding Escape Collection wedding. My sister-in-law, who had been engaged for over a year, decided it was finally time to get married. She decided in May it was time and was married in July . She was also in the process of building a house so she put the reins in my hands, as she didn't think she could handle both -- so off I went! When she first mentioned getting married, she wanted to just go to the Justice of the Peace. Her new husband, however, had other ideas. He wanted a wedding. I know you are probably thinking, "Isn't it usually the other way around?" Usually, yes. But, you see, my sister-in-law had been married once before and her husband had not. I half jokingly mentioned Disney, knowing about the Escape Collection and knowing it was relatively inexpensive. I also knew that my new brother-in-law had worked the College Program for Disney and loved Disney almost as much as I did. Low and behold, they both were very excited to hear my suggestion and asked how quickly I thought we could get everything together. I promptly called Disney and was told they would need about six weeks to be able to properly plan everything, and they gave us a few dates to pick from.

They then had to decide on the location. Because of the close date, Disney's Wedding Pavilion was booked solid but they had their choice of Sea Breeze Pointe (walkway between Disney's Boardwalk Inn and Epcot) Sunset Pointe (Disney's Polynesian Resort), Wedding Gazebo (Disney's Yacht Club), and Sunrise Terrace (Disney's Wilderness Lodge). Right away Sunrise Terrace and Sunset Point were ruled out because they only hold up to 10 people and they knew there would be the full 20 people allowed. They decided on Sea Breeze Pointe. We mailed a few things back and forth with Disney and they were booked.

We then received a packet full of information. Included in it were the ways to get the marriage license, recommended vendors (hair, makeup and clergy), and all the choices that needed to be made. I must say Disney makes it incredibly easy to plan an Escape Collection wedding. They had their choice between five different flower options, 30 different songs, 10 different cake flavors, etc.

I spent the next month helping everyone book their reservations to Disney. The bride and groom chose to stay at Disney's Boardwalk Inn so that they could be close to the ceremony location. Everyone else stayed at the various resorts on property. I made sure to link everyone's reservations under a Grand Gathering including the Disney Vacation Club members. Before we knew it we were leaving for Disney!

Upon arrival at the resort the tuxes were delivered, the dresses were pressed and everyone was excited for the rehearsal dinner that night. The rehearsal dinner was held at the Cape May Cafe Buffet at Disney's Beach Club Resort. It was great -- not too formal and everyone was able to eat as much (or little) as they wanted. After the typical toasts and thank-yous, everyone said goodnight. Tomorrow was the big day and everyone was so excited!

We woke up the next morning and started to get ready. Hair and Makeup arrived and we were done in plenty of time. Part of the wedding package from Disney's Fairytale Weddings includes a wedding coordinator. She arrived promptly and started to organize everything. She brought all the guests and the groom over to Sea Breeze Pointe to insure no one saw the bride ahead of time. She then came to get us. (Did I mention I was the Matron of Honor?) We were handed our bouquets and they each contained a Hidden Mickey!

As we made our way through the Boardwalk lobby and along the actual Boardwalk many people were yelling out their congratulations. It was definitely magical!

When we arrived at Sea Breeze Point we could see what an incredible job Disney had done. They had obviously been there for hours, setting up. The violinist started to play and I made my way up the aisle. Then it was time for my husband to escort his sister up the aisle. The ceremony was beautiful! It was somewhat short yet incredibly sweet, and just what the bride and groom wanted! It was in the 90s that day so the shorter the better, especially for the groom and the groomsmen being that they were in three-piece tuxedos. There was even a little comic relief during the ceremony. Before the "Big Kiss" the groom pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his brow so that he wouldn't sweat on his bride.

After the ceremony, and included in the Escape Collection package, was a cake cutting and champagne reception. The cake was adorable with Mickey and Minnie perched on top, and to top it off the cake was delicious! Everyone gathered around for toasts and the bride and groom cut the cake and fed each other a piece. We took lots and lots of pictures. The violinist then played "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" and the bride and groom had their first dance.

The ceremony and champagne reception took about two hours total. Everyone then went to change and do their own thing for a few hours until we were all to meet back at Disney's Boardwalk Inn. We then took our Escape Collection Package limo rides to the California Grill, where we were to have the dinner reception. I have eaten there many times before but there were many people who had never dined there. Everyone absolutely loved it! The food was amazing and delicious. My husband said it was the best steak he had ever had. After dinner we all went out onto the balcony at the California Grill to take pictures during the sunset with the Magic Kingdom as a backdrop.

Disney's Magic Kingdom Park was having Extra Magic Hours that night so the majority of us then took the monorail and headed over there where we finished out the night, continuing to celebrate the wedding.

The wedding was incredible and magical all wrapped up together. Disney made is so easy to plan and helped incorporate anything the bride wished for. I keep telling my husband that one day we will have to renew our vows at Disney.

Disney also has wedding / vow renewal / commitment packages available at Disneyland Resort and on Disney Cruise Line.

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