As most lifelong fans will tell you, Walt Disney World is far from your average run-of-the-mill amusement park. Rather, it’s a global institution unlike any other in the world today, providing millions of visitors with fun-filled experiences straight out of Cinderella, Pirates of the Caribbean, and many other classic films.
Given how universally beloved Disney continues to be, it’s hardly a surprise that certain brides and grooms dream about holding their long-awaited wedding ceremony inside Walt Disney World itself. Fortunately, not only is that option available for everyone interested in holding their dream wedding within The Most Magical Place on Earth; it’s also a viable alternative for every self-professed Disney fan planning their nuptials.
Recently, we had the chance to speak with Korri McFann, Marketing and Sales Strategy Director of Disney’s Fairytales Weddings & Honeymoon program. In our conversation, McFann discussed the foremost features that come with hosting a Disney-backed wedding, highlighting the unique experiences that come with planning a ceremony inside Walt Disney World’s property.
Hosting a Magical Wedding – The Disney Way
Like any of the property’s sprawling parks or resorts, Disney’s Fairytales Weddings & Honeymoon program has been happily serving visitors for the past four decades. As McFann told me, “Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons has been making dreams come true for over 35 years, offering epic destinations for weddings, vow renewals, honeymoons, engagements, and anniversaries to couples around the globe.”
Beginning in 1991, the program sought to explore fans’ increasing demand for marital events. Providing an experience reminiscent of a destination wedding with an iconic Disney flair, Disney’s Fairytales Weddings was able to reinvent the wedding ceremony from the ground up.
“At the time, the idea of turning your wedding into a destination celebration with your family and friends was a very new idea just beginning to take place,” McFann said. “We believed it was a category Disney could provide unique wedding experiences and innovate the way destination weddings are planned across the globe.”
What to Expect From a Disney Wedding
The first thing to keep in mind about a Disney wedding is that, like normal ceremonies, no two Disney weddings are entirely alike. Instead, McFann said she and her team meticulously cater to every couples’ respective wants, doing everything they can to ensure their ideal wedding becomes a reality.
“What makes Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings so amazing is that we get to plan weddings with couples from all over the globe, all stages of life, and all are all unique,” McFann said. “We host so many couples at each of our four destinations that there is no ‘typical’ couple these days. Our job here at Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings is to assist them in making their wedding vision come to life, get to know them as a couple (their likes and style), and help them to plan the most amazing wedding within their budget.”
To that end, McFann told me that the program helps couples plan through every aspect of the wedding, from logistical challenges and transportation and hotel services, to colorful wardrobes and fashionable entrees themed after customers’ favorite Disney movies.
“Everyone is unique, and they want a completely custom wedding to match,” she said. “Our Disney Wedding team worked hard to discover each couple’s vision. We do see a lot of couples looking for a modern-day fairy tale and some seeking princess inspired events. We continue to see some couples take inspiration from their favorite Disney love stories, such as Beauty and the Beast to Tiana and to Rapunzel.”
“We can help create storybook backdrops into their wedding reception to lighting installations all the way to a small nod of color inspiration into their floral,” McFann continued. “It can be subtle or grand depending on the vision. Again, our role is helping couples incorporate any style and/or vision into their day.”
“And They All Lived Happily Ever After”
Reading all this, you might begin to wonder: Is booking your wedding through Disney’s Fairytales Wedding truly worth it? Personally speaking, from everyone I’ve spoken with – McFann included – the answer is a resounding yes! While it might not be a great option for more casual Disney fans, it’s nevertheless a fantastic opportunity for would-be brides and grooms to combine some of their greatest passions and interests in life into the most romantic Disney-themed experience imaginable.
“I got married with Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings so I can attest to what an unbelievable experience it is to have a destination wedding at Disney,” McFann told me. “From the infrastructure to our creative resources, dedicated wedding planning team and having my wedding guests entertained it was completely magical. My magical wedding day memories are something I will continue to cherish. It was a fairy tale.”
