Christmas Eve Wedding

[OKWDVCMagic]

My fiancee and I are looking to have a December wedding. Does anyone know if WDW allows Christmas Eve weddings? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[hiwaygal]

I'm sure they do...the question is whether a time/location is available and if they allow Escape (intimate) weddings. I know they allow Wishes (custom) weddings but the minimums are usually higher for holidays.

Another thing to consider is the crowds and the costs to any of your guests. Christmas is considered "premium" season at Disney so all the room rates go up.

You might want to call DFTW and ask...

 

[OKWDVCMagic]

Thanks for the response. I have emailed my planner and waiting for her response.

 

[4luvofthemouse]

They do offer xmas eve weddings, as we originally looked into it.
We decided to wait a couple days after xmas. The price for your guests is a little high but it just a smidge higher than peak season, for example, one night stay All-Stars with discount around that time is around $130 a night. The wedding min. that we were originally quoted for 2007 wedding was the same min. as a wedding on Sat. $20,000
Also one more thing they do not allow Dessert Parties at Epcot at that time of year due to the candlelight processional.

 

[Skylarr29]

That's very strange that they wouldn't allow Illuminations DP's when the candle light processional runs seeing as it runs from the day after Thanksgiving until sometime beginning of January I think. They still have Illuminations those nights it is just pushed back 30 minutes.


I personally, wouldn't go with a Christmas eve wedding, but that is just me personally. I think it is a lot to ask guests to pay such inflated prices (even after the room discounts) It will also be BEYOND crowded. I just don't think the trip surrounding the wedding would be very pleasant with those kinds of crowds. Also what kinds of plans and obligations do your friends and family have? They may not want to give up thir Christmas traditions etc. to be at Disney. I know I would want to be at home eating ham and drinking egg nog! I think the beginning of December would be much more pleasant, IMHO.

 

[M&M126]

I would have to agree with the above poster. I wouldnt do a Christmas Eve wedding at Disney. The crowds are awful and plus it's expensive for your guests to travel at that time right before and after Christmas. I would go with early Dec or even early Jan. The Christmas decorations would still be up and it would be beautiful.

 

[liberty]

Wow...i think a christmas eve wedding would be lovely...very magical!, but also expensive!

 

[Laurafoster]

We were looking at a wedding closer to xmas but decided against it for a couple of reasons.

1. The price! The minimum is $20,000 but all other costs are more expensie - DJ for example as its a holiday.

2. How busy it was, harder for guests to get hotel rooms, parks are packed! I wanted my guests to be able to enjoy the vacation!

3.This is just me personally but it would have meant my guests spending christmas in WDW away from their friends and other family which i know i wouldnt have been comfortable with.

We decided with the 5th December, and it worked out great! because costs were lower i was able to spend more on areas i wanted to. The Christmas decorations were all up but the parks were not busy so we could all enjoy everything. The weather was great too!

 

[liberty]

Yeh earlier on in December, seems a nice time.hehe

 

[OKWDVCMagic]

Thanks for all the information. We initially had planned for a wedding around the 12th of December. One of the problems was that my DS and nephews are preparing for or in high school finals. Since the wedding will be only for immediate family numbering around 16-19 people we are planning on paying for three nights of the stay for most of the family. If the minimum cost is $20,000 that will make it a real easy decision. We will not do it.

 

[Laurafoster]

Thats why we chose to do ours earlier. Not sure on your dates but could you not do it a week before or after? Check with your WP as to what dates count as premium event dates, that should reduce the minimum!

 

[PrincessBride07]

We at first thought of Christmas Eve for our wedding, but considering crowds and prices; we moved it to early December.

Also, they do allow dessert parties during the candlelight processional but not in Italy. You can still have one in UK, France, and Morroco. The reason being is that is where the queue line moves down to Italy for the processional. Now Christmas and Christmas Eve might be different, and would imagine for different reasons.

 

[OKWDVCMagic]

I am still gathering information but I have heard from DFTWP is that Illumination dessert parties are not allowed throughout holiday week. It starts on the Sunday before Christmas and goes I believe until after the first of the year. A real bummer

 

[theantibride]

What about the beginning of December? Before finals and everything? Or January 2nd or 3rd? The Christmas decorations are usually still up then but the prices might be better and the crowds will be thinning as everyone is heading home to get the kids ready to go back to school.

 

[OKWDVCMagic]

That was our initial plan but we are now planning for a five day family vacation. It is really impossible to pull either my son and my nephews from high school for a full week. Many of the high schools are cracking down on any absence that is not due to illness. Even if we did get them excused from school they would still have to keep up with the assignments. It will not be enjoyable for my son or nephews if the spend their time in WDW doing their homework. About January 2nd or third we also considered that option as well. Everyone is excited about waking up Christmas day in WDW. This destination wedding has taken on a life of its own.

We are resigned to doing the Christmas week wedding and biting the bullet.

Thanks for your input.

MG

 

[Laurafoster]

What days actually count as "premium events"?? Could you not do it say the 22nd? I know its not quite Christmas eve but still would be magical.

 

[OKWDVCMagic]

The minimums appear to stay the same but the cost of WDW entertainment supposedly triples in cost. This is what has been told to me but it appears there is nothing writing. I could change up the dates but the family arrangements are complicated. If we ask the family members to come earlier the plan was to stay until after Christmas day. My DF and I are paying for the families 3 night stay. DFTW only is giving 10% discount on hotels during that week. We couldn't afford to pay for the entire familiy's 5 nights. So we still are looking at all possible options

 

[Disneygirl0259]

Prices always SKYROCKET!

around christmas time

 

[OKWDVCMagic]

Prices always SKYROCKET!

around christmas time

Yes, it is very true. We are preparing for sticker shock!