DCL Wedding without paying a fee??

[Gbj2b]

Hey All!!

We will be sailing in September on the Dream. This will be my 8th cruise, however, this will be our friends 1st cruise! There are 30 of us going in total. Our friends have decided that they would like to get "married" while on the cruise. I use quotes because all the formal paperwork will be done prior to leaving port. I was able to get Outlook Lounge booked for a private event, however, I didn't specify it was for a wedding. Another of our friends attending will be the ones marrying them.

My question is, Has anyone ever gotten married on the ship without paying the minimum $3000 for the bells and whistles? Will Disney frown upon us finding a "loophole" by booking a private event space on board? Or will it not even matter because we aren't using any of their services, ie. Minister, Pianist, Wedding Coordinator, etc.

I love DCL and don't want to do anything that would be considered underhanded, at the same time, if I can find a way to save them money for what will be a 15-20 minute ceremony, why not?

 

[Burgundy Rose]

To be fair, I haven't got a clue, but I can't imagine them turning you out when they realise your friends are saying their vows. If you book a space, as long as you treat it well and return it in a timely fashion, I don't see how they could possibly police what's going on during your gathering. I wouldn't call that a loophole - celebrations are what spaces like that are meant to be booked for, surely?

 

[Shanti]

Hey All!!

We will be sailing in September on the Dream. This will be my 8th cruise, however, this will be our friends 1st cruise! There are 30 of us going in total. Our friends have decided that they would like to get "married" while on the cruise. I use quotes because all the formal paperwork will be done prior to leaving port. I was able to get Outlook Lounge booked for a private event, however, I didn't specify it was for a wedding. Another of our friends attending will be the ones marrying them.

My question is, Has anyone ever gotten married on the ship without paying the minimum $3000 for the bells and whistles? Will Disney frown upon us finding a "loophole" by booking a private event space on board? Or will it not even matter because we aren't using any of their services, ie. Minister, Pianist, Wedding Coordinator, etc.

I love DCL and don't want to do anything that would be considered underhanded, at the same time, if I can find a way to save them money for what will be a 15-20 minute ceremony, why not?

They'll certainly notice what's going on when they see the bride and groom in their wedding clothes, and all of the assembled guests. Do you really want to give your friends the stress of knowing they're not being honest with the cruise line and might be charged some type of penalty afterwards? Call DCL and ask if they can independently exchange vows onboard without buying a package. Maybe that will be allowed, maybe not, but there won't be any stress about the couple "getting caught" being dishonest or breaking rules on such an important day.

It might help them avoid fees if you describe it to DCL as a "vow renewal ceremony", because that's what this apparently is, although everyone involved will emotionally consider it a wedding. You mentioned that they had already completed the "formal paperwork" & these vows are just a formality, but Americans aren't married by paperwork alone. They have to exchange vows to legally be married. So this means the couple must have already privately exchanged vows, if the event onboard is really just a formality as you indicate. So you'd be within your rights to describe this as a "formal vow renewal ceremony" to DCL, and not as a "wedding".

 

[lorimay]

Hey All!!

We will be sailing in September on the Dream. This will be my 8th cruise, however, this will be our friends 1st cruise! There are 30 of us going in total. Our friends have decided that they would like to get "married" while on the cruise. I use quotes because all the formal paperwork will be done prior to leaving port. I was able to get Outlook Lounge booked for a private event, however, I didn't specify it was for a wedding. Another of our friends attending will be the ones marrying them.

My question is, Has anyone ever gotten married on the ship without paying the minimum $3000 for the bells and whistles? Will Disney frown upon us finding a "loophole" by booking a private event space on board? Or will it not even matter because we aren't using any of their services, ie. Minister, Pianist, Wedding Coordinator, etc.

I love DCL and don't want to do anything that would be considered underhanded, at the same time, if I can find a way to save them money for what will be a 15-20 minute ceremony, why not?

Yes, most likely you will probably be stopped.
I am pretty sure they will notice and the couple may be embarrassed and their wedding ruined when they are asked to stop.
I know DCL brides and Disney brides pay a lot of money for their events. DCL only does a couple weddings onboard during a cruise. They do one on a sea day and one on CC per cruise. I did a vow renewal in 2012 and we were the only couple that day. The go to lengths in Disney World and on the cruise to be sure there is only one bride at a time. Thats why it costs so much.
I think you should reconsider this for many reasons.
There are some very inexpensive options while in some of the ports for weddings on beaches. This may be a better option they being stopped with 30 guests waiting for a wedding.

 

[All about me]

I was able to get Outlook Lounge booked for a private event, however, I didn't specify it was for a wedding. Another of our friends attending will be the ones marrying them.

When you booked the Lounge, was a contract provided? If so, it should state if any types of events are prohibited.

 

[lanejudy]

Unfortunately, I do think you are setting yourselves up for a problem with DCL. To my knowledge, any wedding or vow renewal that occurs onboard must be organized through Disney Fairytale Weddings. Even those weddings are "officially" performed on land prior to boarding, with a ceremony planned and held onboard; but as you say, the "paperwork" is done on land. I honestly don't know what DCL would do if they find out onboard that a wedding is occurring. As a PP suggests, I would make contact to discuss that you reserved the space with intention of celebrating your friends' marriage. I'd hate for your friends to suddenly find a large charge to their onboard account for the cost of a wedding. Or worse, for the couple and possibly you as well, to be put off the ship.

Some couples do a private vow renewal in their stateroom or on their verandah, but you can't accommodate 30 people like that. Others find very low-cost services at a port stop. Since another friend in the group is "officating" and it sounds like there aren't really plans for flowers, music, etc. -- could they do something more low-key? Maybe on a beach at a port stop? I would avoid doing anything onboard the ship.

Best wishes to your friends and enjoy your cruise!

 

[Quellman]

Can't wait to hear the results. I can see the reasons as to why or why not Disney may or may not care. Just will be interesting to know which way they fall on.

 

[matthew517]

I know someone who has performed several vow renewals on deck 12 and one on castaway cay.

 

[matthew517]

I would not get dressed up in a traditional wedding dress.

 

[mevelandry]

Hey All!!

We will be sailing in September on the Dream. This will be my 8th cruise, however, this will be our friends 1st cruise! There are 30 of us going in total. Our friends have decided that they would like to get "married" while on the cruise. I use quotes because all the formal paperwork will be done prior to leaving port. I was able to get Outlook Lounge booked for a private event, however, I didn't specify it was for a wedding. Another of our friends attending will be the ones marrying them.

My question is, Has anyone ever gotten married on the ship without paying the minimum $3000 for the bells and whistles? Will Disney frown upon us finding a "loophole" by booking a private event space on board? Or will it not even matter because we aren't using any of their services, ie. Minister, Pianist, Wedding Coordinator, etc.

I love DCL and don't want to do anything that would be considered underhanded, at the same time, if I can find a way to save them money for what will be a 15-20 minute ceremony, why not?

I'm not sure how you could do it...

DH and I renewed our vows on our verandah but it was just the two of us.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hey All!!

We will be sailing in September on the Dream. This will be my 8th cruise, however, this will be our friends 1st cruise! There are 30 of us going in total. Our friends have decided that they would like to get "married" while on the cruise. I use quotes because all the formal paperwork will be done prior to leaving port. I was able to get Outlook Lounge booked for a private event, however, I didn't specify it was for a wedding. Another of our friends attending will be the ones marrying them.

My question is, Has anyone ever gotten married on the ship without paying the minimum $3000 for the bells and whistles? Will Disney frown upon us finding a "loophole" by booking a private event space on board? Or will it not even matter because we aren't using any of their services, ie. Minister, Pianist, Wedding Coordinator, etc.

I love DCL and don't want to do anything that would be considered underhanded, at the same time, if I can find a way to save them money for what will be a 15-20 minute ceremony, why not?

While I haven't done it, I would think, if you've booked a room for a private event (and not specified it's a wedding), you won't be getting all the "bells & whistles" that come with an actual DCL wedding.

By "all formal paperwork" do you mean the actual wedding? And the event onboard will only be a ceremonial event? The DCL wedding does the actual marriage pre-cruise, on land, before the participants board. The event onboard is only ceremonial.

 

[darnheather]

What is DCL charging for the $3000? Did the event space you booked have a fee? I also wouldn't wear formal wedding attire or make a big show of things but I don't see how DCL can stop you from using the room you booked for what you want as long as you aren't doing anything illegal.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

What is DCL charging for the $3000? Did the event space you booked have a fee? I also wouldn't wear formal wedding attire or make a big show of things but I don't see how DCL can stop you from using the room you booked for what you want as long as you aren't doing anything illegal.

They can stop them from having a wedding if the contract says they can't. It is private space, owned by DCL.

They can also forbid many activities that are legal amongst consenting adults. Their space, their rules.

 

[darnheather]

They can stop them from having a wedding if the contract says they can't. It is private space, owned by DCL.

They can also forbid many activities that are legal amongst consenting adults. Their space, their rules.

Yes I understand that. She does need to review the contract. However this won't be a legal wedding as the participants will already be married.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Yes I understand that. She does need to review the contract. However this won't be a legal wedding as the participants will already be married.

Most weddings on DCL are not legal weddings, though. The licenses are all issued.elsewhere.

 

[darnheather]

Most weddings on DCL are not legal weddings, though. The licenses are all issued.elsewhere.

Can we at least wait until OP returns to answer questions regarding the contract and what the $3000 official wedding includes before we start splitting hairs and debating?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Can we at least wait until OP returns to answer questions regarding the contract and what the $3000 official wedding includes before we start splitting hairs and debating?

From the DCL website:
Packages include:

• An onsite ceremony coordinator for the day’s events
• Choice of fresh floral for the ceremony couple
• A solo pianist to perform at the ceremony
• An officiant to conduct the ceremony
• A wedding cake and champagne toast celebration
• Dinner for 2 at Palo during your cruise
• A commemorative Disney Cruise Line ceremony certificate
• Steaming services for the couple's ceremony attire
• $100 stateroom credit for merchandise, spa treatments, Port Adventures and other onboard activities. (Unused portions are non-refundable and non-transferable.)

Photo packages with an event photographer may be arranged for an additional charge. Please Note: Ceremony photography packages must be ordered prior to your cruise in order for a photographer to be present.

Also found this link: https://www.disneyweddings.com/cruise/pricing/
Ceremony package includes up to 8 guests plus the couple. Each additional Guest age 3 and older is $20.00 per person.

The legalities of the wedding license must be taken care of before your Disney ship leaves her home port. Since our senior officers are not able to perform legal ceremonies, you will be legally married on the ship on Embarkation Day during your scheduled meet-and-greet with your onboard ceremony coordinator, before your Disney Cruise Line ship leaves its home port. You, the couple, will be responsible for obtaining and bringing the appropriate marriage license application with you to your meet-and-greet. Couples are also welcome to take care of the civil ceremony back home prior to sailing. If the couple is already legally married prior to their sailing, the civil ceremony is omitted from the scheduled meet-and-greet.

 

[lanejudy]

I know someone who has performed several vow renewals on deck 12 and one on castaway cay.

I would not get dressed up in a traditional wedding dress.

I suspect those were low-key events, not "wedding" like in appearance.

Can we at least wait until OP returns to answer questions regarding the contract and what the $3000 official wedding includes before we start splitting hairs and debating?

I don't think it's as much a question of "what does the $3000 include" and whether or not OP wishes to have those services. It's more an issue of Disney's rules. Disney is VERY particular about weddings on their property -- and that includes their ships as well as the parks and resorts. Simply put, they don't allow weddings that do not go through one of their packages. Doesn't matter if you reserved a private room. Same is true at the resorts; one can't just reserve a convention or conference room and hold their own wedding with a bunch of guests. The fact that OP has asked here about this indicates that she is aware of Disney's rules on the situation and is looking to get around it. Have people done it and gotten away with it? I'm sure they have. But small private affairs with immediate family or a couple of friends are a lot different from an event with 30 people in a rented room onboard a DCL ship.

Again, I recommend OP's friends look into an off-ship location during a port stop.

 

[gotomu212]

I do know that if you try to get married at the parks they will step in and stop it. We saw that happen and those folks were not in wedding attire. There will be DCL staff at your private event. Whether or not they would step in would be up to them.

One compromise is to treat it more like a reception and maybe the bride and groom can give a little toast where they say something along the lines of promising to love and cherish each other. Wearing any kind of traditional wedding dress will most likely get it stopped though.

 

[undertheradar]

The more people try to work around the rules, the more DCL restricts things for everyone else.