Originally Posted On: https://www.credello.com/

When planning your dream Disney wedding, you may wonder just how much it will cost. Truth be told, you may be surprised by just how affordable a Disney wedding can be! Here are some key factors to keep in mind when estimating your total costs so that you don’t end up going into debt for your wedding.

How much does a Disney wedding cost?

There’s no set amount for the price of having a wedding at Disney because there are so many options! However, according to the director of Disney’s “Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons,” you’ll need to spend a minimum of $10,000 to host an event.

That may sound shocking to you but consider that The Knot claims the average wedding in the U.S. costs $28,000!

So how can you make it to $10,000 at Disney?

Location

First, you’ll need to consider which venue you’d like to host your ceremony and reception at.

The cheapest option is renting a location outside of the parks, like adjacent hotel banquet halls or gazebos. These start at $3,500.

But if you want the creme de la creme of wedding venues, then you’ll want Cinderella’s Castle, which requires a $50,000 spend minimum for the day.

If you’d prefer to meet somewhere in the middle, most venues in the park will cost $5,000 – $7,500, taking care of most of your spending minimum.

Food

One of the perks of hosting your wedding at Disney is that you’re not stuck with a single catering menu; your guests can select food from everywhere in the resort! Food costs vary based on the meal, with pricing starting at $140/per person for breakfast, $175/per person for lunch, and $210/per person for dinner.

Extras

Now that you’ve got the basics covered, you’ll probably want to go the extra mile and make your Disney wedding truly special! Disney offers a variety of add-on perks that can be tailored entirely to your specs and budget. You can have characters stop by, custom pyrotechnics, or even make your arrival in Cinderella’s carriage!

Disney can also handle more of the “nuts and bolts” for your day, significantly cutting down on the time you’ll spend planning the event and sourcing vendors. Their wedding planning team can help with floral arrangements, guest transportation, music, and photography/videography; you name it, it’s all included in-house for your event.

Things Disney won’t cover

While the wedding planning team at Disney can cover the majority of your to-do list, there are still some things you’ll probably have to handle on your own. In particular: your wedding outfits. You’ll most likely need to source your wedding dress, suits, and accessories outside of the park.

Also, sales tax and gratuity for the staff working on your wedding are not included in your spending minimum and will be added to the final bill. Expect to pay 6.5% in sales tax for goods and services plus an additional 25% in gratuity, as these will be added to your total due.

The bottom line

Your wedding day should be special, and what’s more special than a wedding at Disney? But before you start planning, you must understand what your budget should look like so that you’re not surprised at the final bill. By understanding what you’re spending and planning strategically, you can keep your Disney wedding affordable and memorable.