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soccerlady16
06-02-2004, 03:12 PM
My boyfriend and I are big Disney fans, so naturally we want to get married there. But the problem is that we're broke. So I was thinking if it was possible to secretly get married there. Just him, me and a minister, a quick ceremony, in a secluded area of the park, like Tom Sawyer Island. Is this to crazy or do you guy think we can pull it off?

Lani
06-02-2004, 03:21 PM
Hmm... I won't say it's not possible, but it might get awfully embarrassing if someone from the park comes by and tells you you can't do it.

I do have one question, though. Assuming you are going to ask a minister (or a justice of the peace) to perform the ceremony, do you think that person might have a moral problem with doing it that way? I mean... don't ministers have high morals and all that?

I know some folks here who've gotten married elsewhere, and have all gone into the park to spend their day at the park. Maybe that might be nicer. Wear bride and groom mouse ears, and maybe your reception outfit, too, and have a great time! That way you don't have to sneak around anywhere, and people will give you tons of best wishes everywhere!!

Oh, and if it's on Friday or Saturday night, you guys can go and dance to some Big Band sounds! :)

millionairegirl
06-02-2004, 03:29 PM
As a bride, I can tell you there's no way you'd get me to do that. Your wedding vows are the most sacred thing, and to run the risk of being stopped (possibly mid ceremony!) is just too great. Not to mention, there's just not one totally secluded area in the park to make it as intimate as you'd like.

There's a reason why Disney doesn't allow this sort of thing (besides the obvious $$$ involved), if they let you do it-they'd have to let everybody do it. I don't want to have to spend everyday in the park trying to avoid wedding ceremonies.

sediment
06-02-2004, 03:54 PM
DL City Hall should set up a Justice O'Peace. I smell a revenue-generator!!

AVP
06-02-2004, 04:24 PM
As I understand it....

If you are caught in mid-ceremony, security will wait a respectful distance away from you until it's over.

At which point you will be escorted off property. If you are an AP, you will lose you pass.

I completely, totally understand wanting to get married at Disneyland. In fact, I did get married at Disneyland - over in the hotel. We knew that we could not afford to have a big Disney wedding, so we had a very, very, very small Disney wedding.

You might consider checking into the price of just the Gazebo rental, having your ceremony there, and then spending your honeymoon at the park.

AVP

Drince88
06-02-2004, 04:31 PM
A question to someone who's looked into doing a wedding IN Disneyland.

In Feb 2002 I was in Disneyland for a weekend before a class in the area, and as I was riding Casey Junior, saw a couple being married ON the Storybook Land boat. The officiant was sitting between them on the bow or stern (it was 2+ years ago), and the whole boat was filled with their "party" and the cast member was not doing her spiel, just driving the boat. The bride had a nice "daytime" offwhite/lace dress and bride ears, and the groom was equivalently dressed (with top-hat ears).

Would that have been a "sanctioned" wedding, or a wedding that ended up with APs (if they had them) revoked?

I've just always been curious about that, and this seemed like a good thread to ask it.

Photographer
06-02-2004, 04:47 PM
That sounds so sneaky. Hee hee. Now I'm thinking IS there a place for a real quick ceremony? I'm not saying you should try it. I'm too much of a goody-goody to do more than just think.

sediment
06-02-2004, 05:04 PM
You wouldn't be bothering anybody if you got married at DCA.

Kevy Baby
06-02-2004, 06:07 PM
FWIW, I thought you may want to read about our experiences of going to DL in full tux and gown after a reception that I discussed in my very first thread (http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/showthread.php?t=20451).

And as far as places to actually hold the ceremony, the wishing well would seem a good choice, but my personal fave would be on the steps of City Hall in TOON TOWN.

beast77
06-02-2004, 10:15 PM
I got married in the resort last year, and I am also a photographer that photographs Disney weddings whenever I can book them. Disney has faced some liability issues related to kids thinking that the bride is a princess. Brides have had dresses ruined and gotten mad at Disney, and brides have gotten snippy with kids (their parents get mad at Disney) so it was stopped. Weddings "In park" are now limited to after hours. If you get married at the hotels, you have the option of paying $500 for 1.5 hours in the park prior to it opening (In park photo ops only, no ceremonys/receptions...bring your own photographer) Disney provides an escort and breakfast. I think it works out pretty well, having the entire park to yourself.
All things considered, Disneyland weddings are not that expensive....they include everything you need. You can rent just the gazeebo (well, you could last year) I think it is around $1000.

Oh, on a funky note: There are rules against you getting married in the park only if you are not from: England, Austrailia, or Japan. When my wife and I were planning our wedding, we told the Fairytale Wedding people that money was not a problem, we wanted to be married in the area to the left of the castle (as we had seen done). They told us that no amount of money could get that. SO, that day we are walking around the park and see a wedding going on there. We marched back to Fairytale Weddings and asked why those people could and we could not..... we were told that it is because we are American. That Disney has had a tradition of allowing Japanese couples to marry at that spot and will continue to honor that. But they have a new policy that only couples from Japan to do so. Well, now that same (third party) company that arranges those weddings is now doing it for couples from England and Australia. But the rules still forbid American couples from having the same privilage...... I dint have an issue with any couple getting married in the parks.... I just think that ANY policy that is based on race or national origin is questionable at best. I feel that all couples should be allowed (for a price of course..I understand that it is Disney's job to make money), or none at all.

Karlos the Jackal
06-03-2004, 05:02 AM
I know a guy who got married on Pirates of the Carribean. They had enough friends to fill up a whole boat and did a quick little ceremony on the ride. I haven't talked to him much in years so I don't have any more details, but I could email him and see if he wants to tell the story.

As far as getting a minister to officiate -- one whose religious beliefs and assumed "high morals" would not prevent him from such clandestine activities -- you could just find someone with one of those mail-order ministry deals, where they are legally ordained and can perform marriages, but have no particular religious affiliation and often just do it as a lark. I have a couple of friends who've done that and have performed marriages.

--K

Pat-n-Eil
06-03-2004, 07:35 AM
you could just find someone with one of those mail-order ministry deals, where they are legally ordained and can perform marriages, but have no particular religious affiliation and often just do it as a lark. I have a couple of friends who've done that and have performed marriages.

--K

On the internet you can be ordained in about a minute and it is totally legal in all 50 states.

The Universal Life Church (http://www.ulc.net/) will also send you a certificate of good standing should the local county clerk want to be a jerk.. The officiant's duties include filing the marriage certificate with the county clerk, so make sure this legality is taken care of.. You'll also need a witness.

As long as the bride & groom don't dress conspicuously and the officiant has the words memorized, I can't see how this is either illegal or immoral.. you can get married wherever you like so long as it doesn't interfere with other people's ability to enjoy the park too.

A marriage ceremony can be as short as:

"Do you [bride] take this man to be your lawful wedded husband? (I do).

Do you [groom] take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife? (I do)

I now pronounce you man & wife".

Any other words are optional.

bakerbunny
06-03-2004, 08:29 AM
We got married on Feb 3 1996, in the hotel rose garden (where ESPN zone in DDT now stands) on a saturday morning....
We paid approx $1500 total Disney provided chairs, a baby grand piano, set up and take down, they even had a non-denominational minister that they had a contract with and helped with security and provided attendants and rooms for dressing (good thing too, as my daughters dress did not fit even after being altered, and they raced and got pins and needle and thread and fixed us up). We had breakfast at Goofy's kitchen afterward, and everyone went into the park for the day, we met up about 4pm and had a glorious time at Blue Bayou.

So you can get out of it rather inexpensively. We had our own photographer, flowers and refreshments.

We booked a "honeymoon" package at the DLH which included 2 nights and 3 days, a free dinner at hooks pointe and engraved M & M champagne glasses.

Disney did it right. Even stopped the rain long enough for the ceremony, and the beautiful disney day.

Lani
06-03-2004, 09:21 AM
At which point you will be escorted off property. If you are an AP, you will lose you pass.
YOINKS!!! OK, that would be baaaaaad. :eek:

The Lovely Mrs. tod
06-03-2004, 09:48 AM
You might consider checking into the price of just the Gazebo rental, having your ceremony there, and then spending your honeymoon at the park.

I thought Disney was opposed to That Kind Of Activity in the park... :eek:

:D

--TLMt

Forbin
06-03-2004, 10:19 AM
So lets see...

1) You are going to sneak into Disneyland to get married

2) You are going to use a Person to marry you who will probably violate a few oaths to marry you on private property in secrecy
or You are going to use a minister who earned their rights over the internet and probably doesn't have any real connection with the institution of Marriage other than I can?

3) You intend to break a few laws to 'SAY' you've been married at Disneyland.

What a great way to start off a relationship.

Here's a better way.

Go to Disneyland...buy one of those Floor Plaques they sell for $200. Put your names on it and have your name PUT INTO DISNEYLAND for many years. Take a picture of it a year later. That's a much better legal memory than sneaking into Disneyland.

PS : Oh yah and during pirates you can umm...have a memorable ride late at night when you are the only ones there. That's a better memory :)

mad4mky
06-03-2004, 10:40 AM
PS : Oh yah and during pirates you can umm...have a memorable ride late at night when you are the only ones there. That's a better memory :)

And with all the castmembers watching you on video monitors... :D :eek:

Lani
06-03-2004, 10:47 AM
Go to Disneyland...buy one of those Floor Plaques they sell for $200. Put your names on it and have your name PUT INTO DISNEYLAND for many years. Take a picture of it a year later. That's a much better legal memory than sneaking into Disneyland.Great idea, Forbin!! Don't they let you add a date to those bricks, too? You can add the date of the wedding on it.

While we're at it, how's about getting all the various pictures you can get in the park? Wearing those groom and bride mouse ears (and as Kevy Baby said, avoiding a full wedding outfit, but wearing that RECEPTION outfit -- a nice ivory or light-colored daytime dress, and maybe a suit), and getting pictures taken on Splash Mountain, Screamin', etc. If you can get a friend to take photographs, you can get photos of you with various characters, on a carriage, etc. etc. etc. and you can put together a really nice collage photo frame or scrapbook full of great Disneyland wedding day memories!!

Oh and while we're at it, how's about a dinner at Blue Bayou, on the water?? AND Fantasmic dessert buffet??? OH MY GOODNESS, why the heck didn't *I* think to do this for my OWN wedding?!?!?!?! :D

Pirate Girl
06-03-2004, 11:06 AM
Go to Disneyland...buy one of those Floor Plaques they sell for $200. Put your names on it and have your name PUT INTO DISNEYLAND for many years. Take a picture of it a year later. That's a much better legal memory than sneaking into Disneyland. :)

I like that idea!

beast77
06-03-2004, 11:52 AM
If you would like a Legal Disney wedding, they have a minumum of $7500 spent (through them..on things like food, decorations, flowers) for Mon-Thurs before 1:30 PM. It has a higher Min. on Fri-Sun or after 1:30 on any day. They stopped doing the small weddings last year. It is fairly inexpensive when you consider all that you get and all that they do. It takes a LOAD of stress out of the day. Also, if you compare them to other full service vendors..... Disney is dirt cheap.

The Lovely Mrs. tod
06-03-2004, 12:55 PM
Does that $7500 include catering? If so, that's not bad at all...

-TLMt

Forbin
06-03-2004, 01:15 PM
Actually, read it again...you have to spend MINIMUM of $7500.

I was about to say that I did see a wedding at Disneyland. so they still do it.

GusMan
06-03-2004, 01:39 PM
You know... I was thinking of going to DL to renew my vows with my wife... I think this thread has talked me out of it... at least doing it "Disney Style"

millionairegirl
06-03-2004, 02:30 PM
As long as the bride & groom don't dress conspicuously and the officiant has the words memorized, I can't see how this is either illegal or immoral.. you can get married wherever you like so long as it doesn't interfere with other people's ability to enjoy the park too.

A marriage ceremony can be as short as:

"Do you [bride] take this man to be your lawful wedded husband? (I do).

Do you [groom] take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife? (I do)

I now pronounce you man & wife".

Any other words are optional.

Ok, but why would you want that?

It's like this totally solemn thing, and do shrink it to three lines seems to totally diminish the experience.

'I do'

'I do'

'Ok, let's go ride Pirates!' :rolleyes:

Lani
06-03-2004, 02:32 PM
'I do'

'I do'

'Ok, let's go ride Pirates!' :rolleyes:Hey, you can sing that to the tune of "Yo ho Yo ho!"

"I do, I do, a married life for me." :D