Disney Wedding Podcast

This week, Brittany Evans shares the story of her cruise wedding aboard the Disney Wish, with a ceremony in the Grand Hall and a celebration in The Bayou. She discusses how she and Michael planned the event from Canada, including their decision to use Lovestream to live stream the wedding for friends and  family back home. And you’ll hear Brittany’s top tips for anyone considering a wedding or vow renewal aboard a Disney cruise! Click here to see ALL the photos!

Today, Anna Newmeyer shares the story of her ceremony at EPCOT’s Place de Remy, reception at Sea Breeze Point, and dessert party at Vikings Landing in Norway. You’ll hear how she made smart budget tradeoffs like keeping the guest list small, having the first dances at the ceremony venue (to eliminate music at the reception), and making all the bouquets from Trader Joe’s flowers so she could afford splurges like an appearance by Mickey and Minnie and a ride mix-in on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure! Anna also discusses how she turned multiple reservations at the Grand Floridian Cafe and Boma into an inexpensive rehearsal dinner and farewell brunch! Click here to see all the photos!

This week, Emily Hines-Gerry shares the story of her ceremony at the Wedding Pavilion and reception at Citricos. You’ll hear how Emily chose venues that need very little décor so she could splurge on non-negotiables like Cinderella’s Glass Coach (for her) and the Major Domo character (for Christian). She also shares details of the “Tiana’s Tea” she held at Ariel’s for her bridal party and her welcome dessert party at Mexico Vista in EPCOT. Click here to see ALL the photos! 

Today, Ari Saltz shares the story of her Grand Californian wedding at the Disneyland Resort, with a ceremony at Parkview Terrace and a reception at Brisa Courtyard. You'll hear how she planned her wedding from out of state, including the best resources she found and how she DIYed many aspects of the event to get the look she wanted on a budget. Ari also shares her favorite menu items and cake flavors, plus her top tips for anyone planning a wedding or vow renewal at the Disneyland Resort. Click here to listen and see all the photos!

This week, Marielle Herman shares the story of her Wedding Pavilion ceremony, Ariel's reception and Fantasmic! dessert party. Because Marielle and Will are vegetarians, she talks about how they customized an almost-meat-free reception menu, including a grilled-cheese-sandwich action station! And because Disney's Hollywood Studios is Marielle and Will's  favorite park, you'll hear how they incorporated it via the dessert party and a pre-park-opening portrait session in their favorite part, Toy Story Land! Click here to see ALL the photos!

Today, Alejandro and Shaubrey Metts share the story of their ceremony at Place de Remy and celebration at Terrace des Fleurs in EPCOT. You’ll hear how they kept their budget low by skipping a formal reception in favor of spending the day at EPCOT with their guests and then gathering that night for a dessert party—with savory bites and a cake to cut—back in France during the fireworks. They also discuss how they chose their officiant and the one wedding element they decided to splurge on!

This week, Sam Rosswood shares the story of her Tree of Life ceremony at Animal Kingdom and Lantana Hall & Courtyard reception at Coronado Springs Resort. She and Zach met while working at a zoo, so Animal Kingdom has always been a special place for them. Today Sam shares details of the ceremony, including how they decided on early morning instead of late at night and how glad she was that she skipped upgraded lighting effects in favor of the basic lighting included in the Ceremony Venue Fee. She also shares how Disney was able to accommodate multiple food allergies and special diets at her reception, plus how the having a silhouette artist can work triple-duty as entertainment, guest favors and a guest book! Click here to listen and see ALL the photos! 

Today, Steph Pollock shares the story of her Wedding Pavilion ceremony, California Grill reception and Terrace des Fleurs dessert party. One of her and Matt’s top priorities was giving guests uniquely Disney experiences, from brunch at their favorite restaurant with a surprise appearance by Christmas Mickey and Minnie to a fireworks dessert party inside EPCOT with a ride mix-in on Soarin’. Steph also discusses how she worked within the constraints of California Grill’s menus and how she was able to save money to pay for all those Disney touches! Click here to see ALL the photos!

This week, Brianna Laing shares the story of her ceremony at Sea Breeze Point, celebration at The Attic, and dessert party at UK Lochside. Although she initially worried that having a two-hour celebration instead of a full reception would feel rushed, Brianna says it ended up being the perfect amount of time. She talks about how she was able to stick to her budget by using the Fairytale Weddings Guide and listening to other couples’ experiences on the Disney Wedding Podcast. And Brianna shares why she and Jake chose to do pre-park-opening portraits inside Animal Kingdom and what it was like! Click here to see ALL the photos!

Today, Katie Petrozzino shares the story of her ceremony at the Wedding Pavilion, reception at Grand Floridian Ballroom Salon 6, and Luminous The Story of Us dessert party at EPCOT’s Germany Promenade. You’ll hear how she and Jordan were able to focus on guest experience while saving money via DIYs and reusing floral and décor. Plus, she discusses the meetings they requested with chefs at the Grand Floridian and EPCOT to ensure their reception and dessert party menus offered plenty of options for guests with food allergies, from the vegan mac ‘n’ cheese bar to the gluten- and dairy-free wedding cake! Click here to see ALL the photos!

This week, Sharli and Shane Gulley return to the show to share the story of their 10-year vow renewal ceremony at Oak Manor Lawn, with a pre-reception at Animal Kingdom’s Harambe Train Station, a ride mix-in  on Flight of Passage, and a reception at Festival of the Lion King. Because color was such an important part of their wedding, for their vow renewal they juxtaposed colorful venues and lush greenery with a Black & White theme for décor and guest attire. Today you’ll hear how they worked within the constraints of the Festival of the Lion King venue to achieve their vision, plus the story of their Fantasmic! welcome party and why Disney’s pre-park-opening portrait sessions are worth every  penny! Click here to see all the photos, and click here to listen to the story of their Disney wedding!

Today, Kaitlyn Niland shares the story of her ceremony at the Wedding Pavilion, reception at GM Lounge, and welcome party at Terrace des Fleurs. As a professional project manager, Kaitlyn did considerable planning for her wedding, from creating a detailed estimate of where guests might stay in the room block to working closely with Disney on a gluten-free menu and cake after a disappointing experience at the menu-tasting event. In this episode, she shares her top planning tips, plus the things she would change if she were to do it all over again.  Click here to listen and see all the photos!

This week, Stephanie and Sal Izelle share the story of their Wedding Pavilion ceremony, Italy Isola cocktail hour, and American Adventure Rotunda reception. They offer their favorite menu items and cake flavors, tips for saving money on floral and décor, and advice for those who worry that guests won't be able to handle the late-night timing for American Adventure receptions. Plus, you'll hear all about their welcome party at  Fantasmic! the night before. Click here to see all the photos!

Today, Karen Hooper shares the story of her wedding at EPCOT and Animal Kingdom. Because she and John couldn’t fit all the Disney wedding events they wanted into a single day, they decided to  hold theirs over two days, in two parks. They started with a ceremony at GM Lounge to give them a great view of Spaceship Earth, followed by a  short celebration in the same venue, complete with food, dancing and a visit by Mickey and Minnie! Then they took guests to Mexico Vista for a dessert party in front of the fireworks, followed by a ride mix-in on Soarin’. The next day, they treated guests to mix-ins at Kilimanjaro Safaris and The Festival of the Lion King, then got escorted to Tamu Tamu  Courtyard by Disney’s Uninvited Guests, a pair of actors posing as wedding crashers. There they had dinner, more dancing, a cake cutting, and an appearance by Safari Goofy! In this episode, Karen talks about the logistics of a multiday wedding, including why she now recommends it to everyone! Click here to see ALL the photos!

This week, Disney bride Alyssa Tapia shares the story of her ceremony at the Wedding Pavilion and reception at the Grand Floridian Ballroom Salons VI–IX. You’ll hear how she worked with myriad outside vendors to bring her entertainment and décor vision to life, including a light-up dance floor, full draping, and a flower wall, plus dancers, drummers, stilt walkers and, of course, Mickey and Minnie! Alyssa also discusses her welcome party at Tamu Tamu Courtyard, complete with an appearance by Safari Daisy and Donald and the Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe. Click here to see all the photos!

Whether you’ve been planning your Walt Disney World wedding in your head for years or you just discovered that Disney does weddings, today’s show has the steps and tips that will set you on the path to your dream Disney’s Fairy Tale Wedding or vow renewal. Disney bride Kelly Magrath and I cover how 2024 pricing works—including how to stick to the lowest Event Minimum Expenditure—how to book your event, and how the planning process works. Kelly also shares details and advice from her own ceremony at the Wedding Pavilion, with a pre-reception at the Whitehall Room, fireworks at Italy Isola, and a reception at American Adventure Rotunda—plus a welcome party at the Marina Patio & Terrace! Here are some other episodes to get you started planning your Walt Disney World wedding or vow renewal: How to Set Up a Room Block Disney Park Portrait Session FAQ How to Save a Bundle on the Bar Menu-Planning Tips How to Get Your Marriage License How to Get the Floral & Décor You Want at a Price You Can Afford How to Use Outside Vendors Click here to see ALL the photos!

Today, Mary Stump shares the story of her ceremony at Oak Manor Lawn, reception at Citricos, and dessert party at Terrace des Fleurs. You'll hear how she and Jason chose these locations and how they prioritized guest experience with surprises like an appearance by Mickey and Minnie and a ride mix-in on Remy's Ratatouille Adventure. You'll also hear how Mary worked with Disney on gluten-free menu items and was able to add a gluten-free tier to their wedding cake.  Click here to see all the photos! 

This week, Laura Iaconiani shares the story of her vow renewal aboard the Disney Wish, with a ceremony in the Atrium and a reception at The Bayou. You’ll hear how they chose the Wish, which upgrades they made to the standard package, and why they decided to use their own photographers and makeup artist on the cruise. Laura also shares how they customized the ceremony  with a comedic vocal performance by her sisters!  Click here to listen and see all the photos!

Today, Kaitlyn Chelkis shares the story of her ceremony at the Wedding Pavilion, reception at American Adventure Rotunda, and dessert party at Italy Isola. Guest experience was one of her and Michael’s top priorities, and in this episode Kaitlyn shares how they treated guests to fireworks, a Pittsburgh cookie table, and a rehearsal dinner at Animal Kingdom’s Harambe Station, complete with a Kilimanjaro Safaris ride mix-in. You’ll also hear about one of Kaitlyn’s favorite memories of the day: riding in Cinderella’s Glass Coach! Click here to see ALL the photos!

This week, Kari Schultz shares the story of her Christmas-themed ceremony at Italy Plaza and reception at California Grill—plus a welcome party with Safari ride mix-in at Tamu Tamu Courtyard and a dessert party at Germany Promenade, complete with an Ugly Sweater contest and Soarin’ ride mix-in! Kari shares how she incorporated her “elegant Christmas with a touch of Disney” theme by choosing the most lavishly decorated EPCOT pavilion and incorporating greenery, berries, and candles in the décor. You’ll also hear how Disney surprised her and Matthew with brand-new Christmas outfits for Mickey and Minnie that had just arrived from Hong Kong Disneyland! Click here to see all the photos!