Marathon Wedding

[TheRunningMonk]

Greetings All!

My girl and I are both avid runners and thought that it would be fitting to get married DURING the 2008 WDW Marathon. I have a ton of questions (thankfully all my questions are about the event and not the girl!) with hopes that someone can help us out.

Here are the first few:

1. I've seen a lot of folks say they got married at DW but can't find a precedent of anyone getting married during the marathon. Will Disney allow this? I don't see it as being disruptive to the other runners at all.

2. We don't really want to rent out a venue and spend a lot of money on a wedding that won't last the typical couple of hours. We are planning on starting the race as single people, stopping at the 13th mile marker (half way) to have a very short ceremony with family and friends, and then finish the race as a married couple (we absolutely LOVE the symbolism!) Is there a wedding package that would cover something this simple? Would I have to use the Disney wedding planners or could I just coordinate it all myself? I'll probably need the help of an on site coordinator to make sure everything comes together while we run, but we definitely won't need all the usual "big wedding" stuff. All we are really looking for is a minister, a photographer, and a table with a huge cake. Nothing extreme.

3. What is needed to coordinate the logistics of getting my party to the 13 mile marker? Since it is on Disney proper grounds, I'm assuming that everyone would need a day pass (not a problem since everyone will have a park hopper for several days anyway). Hopefully I can get a deal on several rooms at one of the resorts for my group. Any thoughts on which complex?

4. I'm going to run the race in a full tux and she is going to wear a modifed wedding dress. I'm assuming that Disney won't have a problem with this. All the other marathons I've run in have had their share of crazies dressed up many different ways! This will definitely be tasteful and shouldn't give the folks at Disney any concern.

5. If any of you are planning on running the 08 marathon and happen to find yourselves at mile marker 13 around the 2 hour mark, stop by for a piece of cake and lift your glass with us in a Gatorade toast!

Thanks in advance for any advice, warnings, and help you all can provide.

Chris

 

[wendy46001]

sounds cute...no idea if disney would let you do it (all you can do is ask right)...but love the thought...

 

[JJClemson]

First of all, as a fellow runner, I think it is soooo cool that you're planning on getting married during the marathon I have never heard of this being done before during the WDW marathon.

Your best bet is probably to call Disney's Fairytale Weddings directly and speak with them about it. Their number is 321-939-4610.

Good luck Happy planning and happy running!

 

[curiouser]

Wow, what a creative idea! You'd really need to contact DFTW to see if that's possible. It would have to be something they would work out with DWWS.

According to the 2007 map (here: http://adisneyworldsports.disney.go.com/media/dwws_v0220/en_US/pdf/07MarathonCourseMap.pdf) the 13th marker is not in one of the parks, but on the road between Shades of Green and the Speedway. That may cause some problems, but I am not sure.

Good luck and keep us posted!!

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I've read stories about this happening in past years! Since the marathon takes you past Cinderella's Castle, you could actually stop in front of it and have a quick and inpromptu ceremony. It wouldn't be anything formal, but it would be official.
Good luck!

See this link for an example of getting married on the course:
http://disney.go.com/inside/issues/stories/v050719.html

 

[WDW72]

I think you would need to talk to DFTW. Wedding Dresses "even modified" are not permitted in the parks, unless you are attending a dessert party that is coordinated thru DFTW. With the logistics involved you would need to talk to them as well as the cake issue.

 

[pooh98378]

The only potential problem I can think of that you might run into is if you want to do the Magic Kingdom Photo Shoot. The park is apparently full of runners in the morning on some of the marathon days and so they don't do the photo shoot. Good luck!

 

[TheRunningMonk]

Thanks for all the help everyone! Looks like I have some planning and logistics to work out, but it sounds doable. I'll definitely call DFTW and get the corporate scoop and also see what ideas they have as well.

I'll try to keep this thread alive with any info I can find out aong the way(in case anyone else has this idea later) and I'm looking forward to seeing some of you at mile 13 in January!

Thanks again for all of the help.

Chris

 

[DisneyFairy19]

Great Idea.... Good Luck