Need a wedding officiant for a Disney wedding? Whether you’re getting hitched at a Disney theme park in Florida, California, Hawaii, or before a Disney cruise, here’s what you need to know! 

 

Listen now: 

 

 

Disney theme parks and resorts are a popular choice for couples planning a dreamy fairytale wedding ceremony! 

 

En Español: ¿Quién puede oficiar una boda en Disneyland o Disney World?

 

And if you book your ceremony through Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons (which is recommended, scroll to the bottom of this article to read why), they provide many of the services and vendors you might want – including the venue, food and drinks, decor, transportation, a day-of coordinator, and a photographer. 

 

Disney doesn’t provide a wedding officiant, however. That means you’ll need to choose your own officiant to perform your Disney dream wedding. 

 

So, what is a wedding officiant? And who can officiate a wedding at Disney?

 

Let’s take a look! 

 

 

Photo: Carolina Boyadjian/ Unsplash

True love!

 

What is a wedding officiant? 

 

A wedding officiant is the person who leads the ceremony, pronounces you married, and signs your marriage license. Each state decides its own requirements for who can legally officiate a wedding. 

 

You can ask a friend or relative to officiate your Disney wedding in Florida, California, Hawaii, or before a Disney cruise, or you can hire your own professional officiant in the area. 

 

Wedding officiants can perform religious or non-religious wedding ceremonies. Many officiants will work closely with the couple to write the perfect ‘wedding script’ and design the perfect ceremony, and are happy to include any rituals you might want (such as a unity candle lighting or sand ceremony). 

 

Related: Disney Inspired Wedding Ceremony Script with Participation of Children

Florida

 

Who can officiate a wedding at Disney World in Florida? 

 

You can ask a friend or relative to officiate your Florida wedding if they’ve been ordained online. Florida allows online ordained ministers to officiate weddings, including those ordained with American Marriage Ministries, and officiants don’t need to register with the state before performing a ceremony. 

 

That means that once your friend or family member is ordained, they’re all set! They’ll be able to legally pronounce you married and sign your marriage license. 

 

• Learn more: Become a Wedding Officiant in Florida
• Get Ordained Online to officiate a wedding in Florida

 

You can also hire a professional officiant to perform your ceremony. Professional wedding officiants decide their own rates and services based on their level of experience and the type of ceremony you request. 

 

Request a list of qualified officiants from the experts at Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings if you’d like recommendations, or check for local officiant listings online. 

 

 

 

Photo: Patrícia Ferreira / Unsplash

Cinderella Castle shines in the distance at Magic Kingdom Park, Orlando

 

 

California

Who can officiate a wedding at Disneyland in California?

 

You can ask a friend or relative to officiate your California wedding if they’ve been ordained online. California allows online ordained ministers to officiate weddings, including those ordained with American Marriage Ministries, and officiants don’t need to register with the state before performing a ceremony. 

 

That means that once your friend or family member is ordained, they’re all set! They’ll be able to legally pronounce you married and sign your marriage license. 

 

• Learn more: Become a Wedding Officiant in California
• Get Ordained Online to officiate a wedding in California

 

You can also hire a professional officiant to perform your ceremony. Professional wedding officiants decide their own rates and services based on their level of experience and the type of ceremony you request. 

 

Request a list of qualified officiants from the experts at Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings if you’d like recommendations, or check for local officiant listings online. 

 

 

Photo: Renato Marzan / Unsplash

Take your vows, then take a stroll as newlyweds down Main Street, U.S.A. in sunny Disneyland, California.

 

 

Hawaii

Who can officiate a wedding at Aulani Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii? 

 

You can ask a friend or relative to officiate your Hawaii wedding if they’ve been ordained online and have registered locally before the ceremony. Hawaii allows online ordained ministers to officiate weddings, including those ordained with American Marriage Ministries. Officiant registration is required in Hawaii. 

 

Once your friend or family member is ordained and has registered with the state, they’re all set! They’ll be able to legally pronounce you married and sign your marriage license. 

 

• Learn more: Become a Wedding Officiant in Hawaii
• Get Ordained Online to officiate a wedding in Hawaii

 

• Learn more about how to register as a ceremony officiant in Hawaii:

Hawaii Officiant Government Registration Requirements

 

You can also hire a professional officiant to perform your ceremony. Professional wedding officiants decide their own rates and services based on their level of experience and the type of ceremony you request.

 

Request a list of qualified officiants from the experts at Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings if you’d like recommendations, or check for local officiant listings online. 

 

 

Photo:  Adam Bouse / Unsplash

Aulani Disney Resort & Spa in Kapolei, on the island of Oahu, Hawaii

 

 

Disney Cruise Line

Who can officiate a wedding aboard Disney Cruise Line? 

 

This one is a little trickier than the examples above. Because cruises with Disney Cruise Line take place outside of the United States, you must hold your wedding ceremony on land (in the U.S.)  before or after your cruise for your marriage to be legal. 

 

You’ll apply for and purchase your marriage license in Florida (your port of departure), and will choose your wedding officiant based on this location. 

 

For example, if you book a Disney cruise to the Bahamas, you might get married in Fort Lauderdale the day before you depart, using a Florida marriage license. You can ask a friend or relative to perform your Florida wedding if they’ve been ordained online or hire a professional officiant.

 

• Learn more: Become a Wedding Officiant in Florida
• Get Ordained Online to officiate a wedding in Florida

 

• A Wedding Officiant's Guide to Performing Destination and Cruise Ship Weddings

 

 

Photo:  Mike Arney / Unsplash

A romantic view in Castaway Cay, The Bahamas. Sail off into the sunset after a fairytale wedding aboard a Disney cruise!

 

Can you get married at Disney without permission? 

 

Although some couples elope at Disney without booking an official wedding service (and simply marry on the grounds with a few loved ones watching), this can cause problems. 

 

According to a few experts online, Disney doesn’t allow any unscheduled or unauthorized weddings on their property, even quickie weddings. You might be asked to leave, and the officiant or justice of the peace who performs your ceremony might be banned from performing weddings at Disney locations in the future if they're caught.  

 

 

---

 

You might also like: 

 

• Disney Themed Wedding Ceremony Script
   
• Romantic Disney Movie Quotes to Include in a Fairytale Wedding Ceremony Script
   
• Inspiration for Your Disney Themed Wedding Ceremony and Vows

 

Photo: Screenshot from the Disney classic, Cinderella

Add a dash of Disney magic to your wedding ceremony and vows with these quotes and moments from some of our favorite Disney movie couples. Read the full article here. 
 

 

---