Today, Annie Gauthney shares the story of her ceremony at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, reception at the Grand Floridian Convention Center’s St. Augustine C & D, and dessert party at the Grand Floridian Marina Patio & Terrace. You’ll hear how she arranged personal floral, music, and transportation for the church portion of the day, plus what you have to do to get married at a Catholic church other than your own. She also shares how she was able to have an 80-guest wedding for just $32,000, including tons of great money-saving tips, like having a 6-inch cake, choosing barbecue for her dinner menu, cutting a character appearance, hiring an outside vendor for uplighting, using the Grand Floridian Marina for her dessert party instead of EPCOT, and skipping alcohol at that party.
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Transcript
Carrie (Host): Today on the Disney Wedding Podcast I am speaking with Disney bride Annie Gothne about her ceremony at Corpus Christi Catholic Church and her reception at Disney’s Grand Floridian, followed by a dessert party at the Grand Floridian Marina. I thought you would be interested to hear how she chose these locations, how she planned everything, and how it all turned out. Welcome, Annie.
Annie: Hi! I am so excited to be on.
Carrie: Thanks for being on the show today. I always like to start at the very beginning. How did you decide to pair a Disney reception with a ceremony at a local Catholic church?
Annie: At first it was stressful because I was not sure about the rules for getting married out of state or how it would work in Florida. I am number six of seven kids, and although four siblings are married, none got married outside Maryland, so I did not have anyone to lean on. I knew for sure I wanted a church ceremony. I briefly considered doing a hometown ceremony with a Disney reception, but I wanted everything in Florida. I looked into Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe, about 15 minutes from Disney, but the website clearly said they do not do weddings. I posted in a Disney brides Facebook group asking Catholic brides for advice. Everyone recommended Corpus Christi and also Holy Redeemer in Kissimmee. I reached out to Corpus Christi. The coordinator, Karen, was amazing and worked with me the entire time. They are very used to out-of-state brides planning Disney receptions, so everything worked out perfectly. I highly recommend Corpus Christi for Catholic brides having a Disney reception.
Carrie: For anyone wondering how this works with Disney pricing, the Fairy Tale Weddings Guide explains that when you do not book a Disney ceremony location, Disney bases your event minimum on whether your reception is at a resort or in a park. Resort receptions use the Seabreeze Point minimum; in-park receptions use the Animal Kingdom minimum. It is absolutely possible to have a Catholic church ceremony and a Disney reception.
Carrie: How did your friends and family react to the location?
Annie: My family was not surprised. If anyone was annoyed about traveling to Florida, no one showed it. I have been obsessed with Disney since I was a kid. We went all the time, my family still goes every year, and I did the College Program in 2018. My in-laws were not surprised either. I never looked at Maryland venues because Disney was my dream. We invited about 140 people and had about 80 attend, which was perfect: big enough to feel like a party but small enough that I could talk to everyone and it still felt intimate.
Carrie: Did you set up a room block?
Annie: I did and I regret it. It was stressful trying to fill the rooms. Most of my family stayed at Shades of Green, which did not count toward free nights. I recommend asking guests about their plans before you do a room block. We chose Coronado Springs and Art of Animation to offer moderate and value options. My room-block specialist advised against a deluxe because guests rarely book it due to cost. In the end the room block did not fit our situation because few people used it.
Carrie: How did you make up the missing room nights?
Annie: My uncle booked five nights through the block. Another uncle and his son stayed at Port Orleans for a week, adding fourteen nights. I stayed at Riviera the night before and the night of the wedding. We ended with 23 nights against a 20-night commitment. It was a huge relief.
Carrie: How did you choose the day of week and time?
Annie: I originally wanted a weekend, but we chose Monday because the event minimum dropped significantly by going weekday instead of weekend. Since it was a destination wedding, people would take time off anyway. I am not a morning person, so I wanted an afternoon ceremony. Ours was at 1:00 p.m.; cocktail hour at 3:30; reception 4:30–8:00 p.m. It was perfect. We considered a morning event to save money, but I did not want to get up at 1:00 a.m. for hair and makeup.
Carrie: How did you pick your Disney reception venue?
Annie: We got engaged at the Polynesian, so I wanted the reception there, but it was not available. Our planner Joe recommended the Grand Floridian based on our budget and showed us photos. I had always pictured photos on the grand staircase, so it felt perfect.
Carrie: For ceremony elements Disney was not handling, like floral, music, or transportation, what did you do?
Annie: Disney did do our floral and delivered everything to Corpus Christi around 11:30 for the 1:00 ceremony: bridesmaids’ bouquets, boutonnieres, mother corsages, and my bouquet. The church planned the rest. I worked with the music director at Corpus Christi and with Karen on logistics. For transportation, I polled the Disney Brides Facebook groups, and after you, Carrie, recommended VIP Transportation, I booked them. They were great and very patient over email while I figured out budget options.
Carrie: Did you add entertainment at the reception?
Annie: We had DJ Steve Weinstein. The dance floor was packed all night. There were a couple of slip-ups: the father-daughter dance got skipped at first, and some bridal-party names were announced incorrectly, but he was kind and kept everyone dancing. We considered adding Mickey, but I could not justify about $2,000 for 30 minutes, even though I know it would have been amazing.
Carrie: Did you eventually have the father-daughter dance?
Annie: Yes. I told our photographers, Claire and Rob, right after the opening dances. They let the DJ know, and after dinner he brought us onto the floor. It ended up flowing well.
Carrie: Any menu items or cake flavors you recommend?
Annie: We ordered a small top-tier cake so we could do a cake cutting without spending $500+. Ours was about $100, with churro filling and cream cheese icing. It was delicious, and we enjoyed leftovers during a mini-honeymoon. For dinner we did a BBQ-style menu: pulled BBQ chicken, salmon, mac and cheese, collard greens, potato salad, corn, cornbread, and two salads. The baked cheddar mac and cheese got the most compliments. For cocktail hour we kept it light—charcuterie, breads, cheeses, and shrimp with cocktail sauce—so guests would still eat dinner. Disney was excellent with dietary needs. I have gastroparesis, so they prepared a custom plate for me with grilled chicken, gluten-free bread, and my own mac and cheese exactly as requested.
Carrie: Tell us about your dessert party at the Marina.
Annie: It was amazing and a huge hit. The reception ended at 8:00 p.m., and the dessert party ran 8:00–9:30. Disney guided everyone seamlessly to the Marina. We took private photos during the fireworks while guests watched from the Marina. We served Mickey pretzels with cheese and mustard, churros with Nutella, and our family favorite, the Num Num Cookie from Hollywood Studios. Drinks were tea, lemonade, and coffee. We skipped alcohol there to save money since the reception bar had been open for four hours. I first wanted an EPCOT welcome party, but that would have doubled the cost. The Marina was more budget-friendly and just as magical.
Carrie: Can you share a timeline of the day?
Annie: Three bridesmaids started hair and makeup around 5:45 a.m.; I sat at 8:00 and finished around 10:00. From about 10:50 we did photos and video in the room and on the balcony, then down to the Rapunzel and Peter Pan murals at Riviera, which were some of my favorite shots. The bus picked us up about 12:30. The full Mass at Corpus Christi was at 1:00 and lasted about an hour. We did family photos at the church, then rode to the Grand Floridian for bridal-party photos on the steps and by the chandelier. Cocktail hour was 3:30–4:30. Disney gave us a private room afterward to breathe and eat. We were slightly behind schedule, but it all worked out. Bridal-party entrances were around 4:45, then the first dance immediately—Disney requires the first dance right after entrances. We did the mother-son dance next; the father-daughter dance happened later after dinner due to the earlier mix-up. Then speeches, dinner, dancing, and we wrapped at 8:00. The dessert party ran 8:00–9:30. It was a very kid-friendly wedding because everything ended by 9:30–10:00, and we were back at Riviera around 11:00.
Carrie: Any favorite memories?
Annie: Being announced as Mr. and Mrs. Gothne after ten years together since high school was incredible. Walking down the long aisle with my dad and seeing my husband’s face was unforgettable. Taking photos at Riviera and the Grand Floridian and seeing guests and strangers react made me feel like a princess. The dessert party extended the magic and gave me extra time to soak in the day.
Carrie: Where did you focus your budget?
Annie: The dessert party was non-negotiable because it felt uniquely Disney. Hosting it at the Grand Floridian instead of EPCOT made it more budget-friendly. Watch menu choices because in-park specialty items increase costs. Lighting was very important. Disney quoted $1,200 for 12 uplights; Kings Entertainment provided 20 for $400, and they synced colors to the beat, which brought the ballroom to life. We also prioritized feeding everyone well since most guests traveled far.
Carrie: Where did you save?
Annie: Flowers. I kept them simple so they would not distract. Only my husband wore a boutonniere. We skipped extras like the carriage and draping. The carriage was about $6,000, and we chose experiences that lasted longer, like the dessert party.
Carrie: Did anything go wrong?
Annie: Besides the dance and entrance mix-ups, there was a surprise $200 makeup charge right as we were heading to photos, which was annoying but did not ruin anything. The buffet was another hiccup. I had been told Disney would serve buffet items to guests at the table so people would not need to get up, but it was a typical buffet and guests did have to get up. It was not what I wanted, but no one complained.
Carrie: Was there anything you worried about that turned out fine?
Annie: The church process was simple: do premarital counseling with your home parish, then your archdiocese (ours was Baltimore) sends your file to the Archdiocese of Orlando and then to your Florida church. I was also nervous the Grand Floridian ballroom would need heavy decor, but with uplighting and items I brought—votives and tea lights, candelabras, and signs like a Nala and Simba portrait by the cake and an “It was always you” sign near the sweetheart table—it looked beautiful. I worried Disney would rush the day, but they did not. Planning communication could have been better, but day-of execution was fantastic. If anything went wrong, I never knew about it.
Carrie: Who set up your DIY items?
Annie: Disney did not allow setup until 2:30 p.m., which worried me because doors opened around 4:00–4:30. It still worked. One of my bridesmaids, her mom, and her sister-in-law set everything up. The night before, they met us at Riviera, we handed everything off, and I texted detailed setup notes. That saved a lot of money. For example, Disney would have charged $5 per votive; I bought 40 on Amazon for about $30.
Carrie: Anything you would do differently?
Annie: Schedule a Zoom call with your DJ a week before. We did not, and I think it would have prevented the small issues. Our DJ was great overall; the missteps were about alignment, not ability.
Carrie: Any other tips, especially for combining a Catholic ceremony with a Disney reception?
Annie: I booked Disney first to lock in the day and time, then immediately reached out to the church so there was no stress. In general, soak in every second. It goes fast. I thought I wanted the planning stress to end, but now I would do it ten times over to relive the day. Be prepared for post-wedding blues, especially after a Disney wedding. I cried for about nine days because I was so happy and sad it was over. Disney’s communication can be stressful, but it works out. Also, Disney handles linens, napkins, catering, and you can avoid juggling many vendors if you want. Outside vendors are allowed at the Grand Floridian, but keeping it with Disney simplifies things.
Carrie: Are you comfortable sharing what you spent?
Annie: Our final Disney bill was $32,000 for 80 guests. That includes everything through Disney but not my dress, photographers, or videographers. People often assume a Disney wedding is $100,000, but that is not necessarily true. You will not do a $5,000 Disney wedding, but a reasonable budget is possible. Be honest in your initial planning call about your ceiling. I told them we could not spend $80,000, and Joe walked us through options and pricing. It is doable.
Carrie: This will be very helpful for Catholic couples and couples on a budget. Having 80 guests for $32,000 is encouraging.
Annie: Doing a BBQ menu helped. We capped dinner at $240 per person and told our planners, Christy and Kathy, not to let us go over. For that price we got a lot of food, and it was great.
Carrie: Annie, you have offered wonderful advice for anyone getting married or renewing vows at Walt Disney World. Thank you so much for your time.
Annie: Thank you, and thank you for your help during my planning and for your book. It was so helpful. Good luck to all the Disney brides. Soak it in. It is absolutely amazing.