Catholic Disney Brides

[Believing is Seeing.]

Hi Ladies!

So I know this is a difficult question and it all depends on who you ask. But I'm wanting to know about Catholics getting married at WDW. It's always been my dream to marry at WDW, like who hasnt!? But its not considered a sacrament in the church if not in a catholic church. This is really important to me to someday be married there but I wonder if under this circumstance and with the agreement of the diocese of orlando to have the ceremony in a catholic church near disney then have the reception on site. I believe Disney doesn't allow this but if I wasnt the only one wishing this, don't you think they would make the exceptions? Now I'm not engaged but this has always been on my mind.

Maybe we can start a conversation on this topic and hopefully there are more others out there like myself. Who knows. What do you think Disney would do if you were willing to pay at all stops for a grand reception? Could Disney provide the floral for my bouquet? These are just things that cross my mind because obviously this isnt advertised.

So I hope this is a good thread and you wonderful ladies have some ideas!

TIA!

[lurkyloo]

Good news - many couples have had their ceremonies at Catholic churches in Orlando and then had Disney's Fairy Tale Wedding receptions at Walt Disney World.

Disney is very sensitive to the requirements and will work with you to arrange your WDW reception following a church wedding. And, yes, they can also provide all your floral arrangements (there will be delivery and move fees for this).

This subject comes up fairly regularly on these boards. Check out Carolina & Sergio's planning journal - they are being married offsite and having a Disney reception:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1807984

[Wish on a Star]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2245262

lfama was talking about having 2 ceremines in this thread- one when she got home

also I have a friend whose dream wedding was a beach wedding in Hawaii. She didn't want to upset her very traditional family so she ended up having a very small Catholic wedding first to make it official. It was just the couple, the parents and the preist- and I can't even say she wore her dress- but she might have. Anyway, when she got to Hawaii she did it all again. Technically it was a vow renewal- but it played like a wedding! Everyone was happy!

[KPeveler]

I am getting married in CT, not disney, and having a committment ceremony in Florida at Disney! pretty much if you are willing to pay, disney is happy to do what you want!

[Believing is Seeing.]

Originally Posted by lurkyloo

Good news - many couples have had their ceremonies at Catholic churches in Orlando and then had Disney's Fairy Tale Wedding receptions at Walt Disney World.

Disney is very sensitive to the requirements and will work with you to arrange your WDW reception following a church wedding. And, yes, they can also provide all your floral arrangements (there will be delivery and move fees for this).

This subject comes up fairly regularly on these boards. Check out Carolina & Sergio's planning journal - they are being married offsite and having a Disney reception:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1807984

Great, thanks for the link, lurkyloo!!

If you don't mind me asking, what do you mean by sensitive? Glad to hear about the floral arrangements! What other services could Disney provide for my ceremony? Say I was to stay on property to get ready and then the honeymoon? Could they offer a transportation option to and from?

And I've heard that you can't do in-park portraits if youre not having your ceremony on site? Right?

I hope I'm not asking too much.

[Believing is Seeing.]

Originally Posted by Wish on a Star

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2245262

lfama was talking about having 2 ceremines in this thread- one when she got home

also I have a friend whose dream wedding was a beach wedding in Hawaii. She didn't want to upset her very traditional family so she ended up having a very small Catholic wedding first to make it official. It was just the couple, the parents and the preist- and I can't even say she wore her dress- but she might have. Anyway, when she got to Hawaii she did it all again. Technically it was a vow renewal- but it played like a wedding! Everyone was happy!

Right. I've thought about this as well. I'd love to see it all in one spot and only splurge once.. Haha

[Believing is Seeing.]

Originally Posted by KPeveler

I am getting married in CT, not disney, and having a committment ceremony in Florida at Disney! pretty much if you are willing to pay, disney is happy to do what you want!

Thats what I'm figuring. Thanks for the advice! And best wishes.

[camara381]

Hey there. As Carrie mentioned we are having our ceremony at a nearby church and then the cocktail hour and reception in Epcot. Disney is providing all of our personal floral. They were originally doing our ceremony as well but there isn't enough time between masses. We also contracted our transportation through Disney (charter bus, limos, luxury van). We are getting ready at AKL the photog and video are coming to the room, then ceremony and then to the reception. Oh and You are allowed to do in park photos.

[Believing is Seeing.]

Originally Posted by camara381

Hey there. As Carrie mentioned we are having our ceremony at a nearby church and then the cocktail hour and reception in Epcot. Disney is providing all of our personal floral. They were originally doing our ceremony as well but there isn't enough time between masses. We are also contracted our transportation through Disney (charter bus, limos, luxury van). We are getting ready at AKL the photog and video are coming to the room, then ceremony and then to the reception. Oh and You are allowed to do in park photos.

Oh my goodness! That is so so SO good to hear! I'm so glad!

Your big day is coming up fast! Best wishes to you camara381!

[lfama]

As someone mentioned, I am doing two ceremonies. I am having the legal ceremony in Disney; there is a protestant reverend I found from these boards who performs Catholic ceremonies, but obviously, it won't be a sacrament and there will not be a mass and it won't be recognized by the church. I still want our religion included in the actual legal wedding, though. Then, a month or so later, we're going to go to church and have a priest bless our marriage. We spoke to the church, and they said this is done all the time and not a problem. It's not going to be a big wedding ceremony, I will probably just wear a white sundress and DF will probably wear a button down and khakis. I probably won't even walk down the aisle!

[not_Joanna_eggs]

I too am doing two ceremonies, but the opposite of lfma. We are getting legally married here at home at our Church, a few days before we leave for Disney.

The priest of my church is a longtime (before I was born) family friend, and it was important to me that he be the officiant at the wedding. Since priests are only able to preform marriages in churches, he gave us 2 pages of options how to make it work. For us, the easiest scenario was to have a super low-key (us and 2 witnesses - that's it!) church ceremony at home, and the our priest can preform our "vow renewal" (3 days later) at Disney, without any concern as the marriage is already legal, and vow renewals can happen anywhere - since it's not a sacrament.

[Believing is Seeing.]

Originally Posted by lfama

As someone mentioned, I am doing two ceremonies. I am having the legal ceremony in Disney; there is a protestant reverend I found from these boards who performs Catholic ceremonies, but obviously, it won't be a sacrament and there will not be a mass and it won't be recognized by the church. I still want our religion included in the actual legal wedding, though. Then, a month or so later, we're going to go to church and have a priest bless our marriage. We spoke to the church, and they said this is done all the time and not a problem. It's not going to be a big wedding ceremony, I will probably just wear a white sundress and DF will probably wear a button down and khakis. I probably won't even walk down the aisle!

Good for you! I'm so glad we have these boards. They bring people together and even help you find officiants.. It seems that a lot relys on talking to your church and figuring out what works for both you and them. Good luck and best wishes to you and yours!

[Believing is Seeing.]

Originally Posted by not_Joanna_eggs

I too am doing two ceremonies, but the opposite of lfma. We are getting legally married here at home at our Church, a few days before we leave for Disney.

The priest of my church is a longtime (before I was born) family friend, and it was important to me that he be the officiant at the wedding. Since priests are only able to preform marriages in churches, he gave us 2 pages of options how to make it work. For us, the easiest scenario was to have a super low-key (us and 2 witnesses - that's it!) church ceremony at home, and the our priest can preform our "vow renewal" (3 days later) at Disney, without any concern as the marriage is already legal, and vow renewals can happen anywhere - since it's not a sacrament.

This is so interesting. This is what I have thought about myself. I want both but I don't want my whole family to have to move around twice to accomodate my wish at WDW. I'm so glad you found a way that works for you. You'll be a beautiful bride! Best wishes!

[rumrunnergirl]

I'm Methodist but I also did two ceremonies, because we wanted to keep our dating anniversary as our wedding date, and that fell on a Sunday so we couldn't do it at WDW since we had an Escape package.

So - our pastor married us on the date we wanted (just our witnesses and kids were present) and then we had our DFTW the following Friday, complete with Unity Candle ceremony, reception and dessert party. We also brought our pastor with us to WDW to perform that ceremony.

Worked out perfect!

[Believing is Seeing.]

Originally Posted by rumrunnergirl

I'm Methodist but I also did two ceremonies, because we wanted to keep our dating anniversary as our wedding date, and that fell on a Sunday so we couldn't do it at WDW since we had an Escape package.

So - our pastor married us on the date we wanted (just our witnesses and kids were present) and then we had our DFTW the following Friday, complete with Unity Candle ceremony, reception and dessert party. We also brought our pastor with us to WDW to perform that ceremony.

Worked out perfect!

Aww, that so cute! I'm so happy for you rumrunnergirl! It perfectly works out for you. Thanks for sharing your special day(s) with me!