Disney Wedding Elopement

[Poopie Kitty]

I will try my very best to make this as simple as possible. My fiance and I are legally married as of last year (I needed his health insurance), but we have told no one and we wanted to plan a big wedding for Feb 2014. So, for the last year we have been planning and picking out everything. Well, as it turns out, a lot of recent events have taken all of our money and we have zero financial help from any family members. So, we have decided to "elope", meaning, take a Disney cruise, get all dressed up, say our vows, take pictures, have dinner, and call it a day.. just the two of us. However, Disney said we have to pay the $2500+ (plus the cost of the cruise, too) no matter how many guests are there... even if it's just the two of us. I'm wondering, instead of paying Disney the money for the little wedding package (which includes cake, champagne, etc), can't we just dress up and pay photopass for a session and save that money, so we can just pay for the cruise itself? We don't really need to worry about the legalities of it, since papers are already done. We're mostly concerned with dressing up, saying our vows, and getting photos. We really really need to cut corners. Would Disney have an issue if we dressed up and did our own thing? Any advice would be great, but we need to be able to pull this off for less than $3000. Thank you!

 

[Ljbadfan]

if i remember right, disney will not let any outside minister marry you on the ship. it has to be by the people on the ship. thats why its expensive.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Whilst I am sure others will scream....


Here is what I suggest. Get dressed up on formal night. Go up to the secret deck on 7 or someplace else you like. Make your promises. Kiss your spouse

As for the photos. If the DCL photographer sees you exchange vows he/she might feel like he has to report it. So set up a private photo shoot pre or post vow statement

 

[truck1]

Call DCL and ask about the pics. I think you can schedule a personal photoshoot onboard.

 

[SapphireMind]

that's why we didn't renew on DCL - it was insane to pay 2500 for my husband and our kids to do a vow renewal that wasn't legally binding. While I know you can't wear wedding gear in WDW, I haven't seen any prohibitions on it for DCL I don't see why you couldn't do a photoshoot with the photographers and even order a little wedding cake to enjoy. You don't need an officiant.

 

[dizzyr]

"Technically" you are on your honeymoon - you're already married and lots of people delay their honeymoon (we did). I'm sure other people on their honeymoons have booked photo sessions and gotten all dressed up in their wedding finery to "recreate" moments for the photo ops. I would just book the private session and go for it. Have a backup outfit plan (maybe a simple white sundress) in case they don't let you wear a wedding dress.

Good luck and congratulations

 

[PKK/MJK]

DCL weddings actually take place in the terminal prior to the cruise. For it to be an official US wedding it has to take place on US soil. The "wedding" on the ship (or on castaway Cay) is sort of a a public renewal of vows. (We talked to a couple on our last cruise who were carrying their wedding gown and tux. in the terminal and asked when were they getting married, on the ship or CC and they filled us in the "legal" aspect of their upcoming marriage.)

 

[leelip1982]

The legal part takes place on the ship before you leave port not in the terminal.

 

[Disney Dreams]

I will try my very best to make this as simple as possible. My fiance and I are legally married as of last year (I needed his health insurance), but we have told no one and we wanted to plan a big wedding for Feb 2014. So, for the last year we have been planning and picking out everything. Well, as it turns out, a lot of recent events have taken all of our money and we have zero financial help from any family members. So, we have decided to "elope", meaning, take a Disney cruise, get all dressed up, say our vows, take pictures, have dinner, and call it a day.. just the two of us. However, Disney said we have to pay the $2500+ (plus the cost of the cruise, too) no matter how many guests are there... even if it's just the two of us. I'm wondering, instead of paying Disney the money for the little wedding package (which includes cake, champagne, etc), can't we just dress up and pay photopass for a session and save that money, so we can just pay for the cruise itself? We don't really need to worry about the legalities of it, since papers are already done. We're mostly concerned with dressing up, saying our vows, and getting photos. We really really need to cut corners. Would Disney have an issue if we dressed up and did our own thing? Any advice would be great, but we need to be able to pull this off for less than $3000. Thank you!

The reality is that you are already married. You eloped previously. You are essentially eloping a second time. You have already said your vows. I know your plan was a big wedding to make it "real," (my cousin who was in the Navy did the exact same thing prior to deployment), but as that is not occurring - you are eloping a second time. And since you are not having an officiant do anything, it's not actually an elopement as much as a private, special moment you two will share.

Therefore, what you are really asking is: Can a previously married couple put on their wedding clothes and have pictures taken with a PhotoPass photographer on their delayed honeymoon?

And that is the exact question I would ask DCL. Skip the full story as what it all boils down to is a honeymoon during which you want a photoshoot in your wedding clothes.

- Dreams

 

[lives4vacation1210]

plan a big wedding for Feb 2014.

Are you going on the Feb 15th sailing on fantasy? If So, i'll be your photographer (You bring the camera). Ill even hold a book and ask you to say I do! I'm no minister by any longshot, haha. But since it's just a vow renewal it doesn't matter anyway.

cheers
John

 

[csidisney]

We renewed our vows last May. We booked a cruise on the magic and we got off at Nassau and headed to a beach where I had hired a pastor and photographer (total $500). It was gorgeous!!! Both before and after our ceremony, we walked around the ship in our wedding attire and took pics and no one batted an eye. I used my own DSLR camera for the pics around the ship. Have fun!!

 

[poohmomof5]

I will try my very best to make this as simple as possible. My fiance and I are legally married as of last year (I needed his health insurance), but we have told no one and we wanted to plan a big wedding for Feb 2014. So, for the last year we have been planning and picking out everything. Well, as it turns out, a lot of recent events have taken all of our money and we have zero financial help from any family members. So, we have decided to "elope", meaning, take a Disney cruise, get all dressed up, say our vows, take pictures, have dinner, and call it a day.. just the two of us. However, Disney said we have to pay the $2500+ (plus the cost of the cruise, too) no matter how many guests are there... even if it's just the two of us. I'm wondering, instead of paying Disney the money for the little wedding package (which includes cake, champagne, etc), can't we just dress up and pay photopass for a session and save that money, so we can just pay for the cruise itself? We don't really need to worry about the legalities of it, since papers are already done. We're mostly concerned with dressing up, saying our vows, and getting photos. We really really need to cut corners. Would Disney have an issue if we dressed up and did our own thing? Any advice would be great, but we need to be able to pull this off for less than $3000. Thank you!

Best of luck to you guys! Sounds like a wonderful way to renew your vows! I think the previous poster is right, just call up and say you are on your honeymoon, and can you do a photo shoot in your wedding attire?

Congrats and enjoy your time together!

 

[Candy Apple]

While I know you can't wear wedding gear in WDW

Why not? What if someone just said they were just dressing up as Cinderella, not wearing a wedding gown? Would they deny admission? Lots of little girls like to dress up as Cinderella. Maybe a grown woman would want to, also. And, a grown man may want to dress up as Prince Charming.

Have a backup outfit plan (maybe a simple white sundress) in case they don't let you wear a wedding dress.

Why wouldn't they let you wear a wedding dress?

Clothes are clothes. As long as certain body parts are appropriately covered, why would wedding attire be prohibited anywhere?

 

[Trish.Glenn]

Why not? What if someone just said they were just dressing up as Cinderella, not wearing a wedding gown? Would they deny admission? Lots of little girls like to dress up as Cinderella. Maybe a grown woman would want to, also. And, a grown man may want to dress up as Prince Charming.

Why wouldn't they let you wear a wedding dress?

Clothes are clothes. As long as certain body parts are appropriately covered, why would wedding attire be prohibited anywhere?

Grown ups, adults, are not allowed to dress in costume at the parks. The only exception is MNSSHP. They will deny you access if you are dressed in costume.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Why not? What if someone just said they were just dressing up as Cinderella, not wearing a wedding gown? Would they deny admission? Lots of little girls like to dress up as Cinderella. Maybe a grown woman would want to, also. And, a grown man may want to dress up as Prince Charming.



Why wouldn't they let you wear a wedding dress?

Clothes are clothes. As long as certain body parts are appropriately covered, why would wedding attire be prohibited anywhere?

Disney will NOT let you into a park in a wedding dress during normal operating hours. If you want the fairy tale photo of you in front of the castle with your groom prepare to pay BIG BUCKS!

 

[maria-fan-22]

I y'all have a friend who could come along, you can have them become a minister through the Universal Life Church and they can "marry" you since it's already legal and such, there isn't any reason why y'all can't get "married" on a veranda or something.

Good Luck and Congratulations.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Why not? What if someone just said they were just dressing up as Cinderella, not wearing a wedding gown? Would they deny admission? Lots of little girls like to dress up as Cinderella. Maybe a grown woman would want to, also. And, a grown man may want to dress up as Prince Charming.

Actually, yes, they have denied admission to WDW parks to guests wearing costumes (look up the teenager who was in the news because she was heartbroken over being denied entry to I think it was AK dressed in a homemade Tink costume) and they will deny admission to WDW parks if you're wearing wedding attire without a CM escort. Adults can wear costumes, etc. for MNSSHP only. Any other time costumes are a no-no for adults. Remember, at Disney 10+ is an "adult". And, if you are in the park with a costume on and it appears other guests are asking to take pics with you a CM will likely ask you to stop. Disney cannot have non-Disney folks representing their characters in any official way. Disney has no way of knowing who is in those guest costumes and what they might do to the children so excited to take that picture. KWIM?

Why wouldn't they let you wear a wedding dress?

Clothes are clothes. As long as certain body parts are appropriately covered, why would wedding attire be prohibited anywhere?

Wedding attire can easily be misconstrued (especially by small children) for princesses & princes. Don't believe that? Read Disney wedding stories about brides who notice little girls gaping at them, pointing, and getting excited over seeing "a princess". It's magic for a bride! Also, if you have people in wedding attire wandering the parks what's to say they won't "meet" a "friend" who also happens to be ordained in front of the castle and suddenly this impromptu wedding occurs? That cuts into a big money-maker for Disney's weddings and will certainly be a huge no-no.



To the OP, I'd contact DCL and see if they will do a shoot onboard as part of your honemoon (like an earlier poster stated). You could ask if you could bring wedding attire. Or, wear something that could be wedding attire but then again not entirely. Like a white or off-white flow-y sundress for the bride and a light short sleeve button-up linen shirt & casual pants for the groom. Stuff you'd see in a nice but laid-back beach wedding.

 

[Meghatron]

I y'all have a friend who could come along, you can have them become a minister through the Universal Life Church and they can "marry" you since it's already legal and such, there isn't any reason why y'all can't get "married" on a veranda or something.

Good Luck and Congratulations.

They are already legally married, so ordainment isn't required. Anyone can officiate the vow renewal without going through the ULC process.

 

[neg58]

Disney will NOT let you into a park in a wedding dress during normal operating hours. If you want the fairy tale photo of you in front of the castle with your groom prepare to pay BIG BUCKS!

And on 'Bat Day' which two years ago was on Mother's Day at Disneyland. It was horrible. There were all kinds of people wearing dog leashes and leather studded bondage outfits, bustiers that were ridiculous, many costumes with Haunted House themes. Really bad.

On the ships, people can wear costumes or ball gowns or whatever. I've seen pictures of dads dressed as prince charming and no one stopped them.

Nancy

 

[neg58]

OP, are you going on the cruise and just wanting to also take pictures or are you going specifically to call it a wedding? If you want to go on the cruise, take your chances and try to get pictures from the photographers. If you do, great but if you don't, you've still had a great cruise (and you could take pictures on the beach or at a church in one of the Ports, dressed up at Palo, on the deck). If you only want to go on the cruise to get specific wedding pictures, I don't think you should risk it. If you call and ask, DCL will tell you the package is $2500 and they won't promise that you'll be allowed to wear your dress around the ship (I think you will) unless you buy the package.

Nancy