Our Wedding Day
10th March, 2023
Ceremony
7:30pm
The Wedding Pavilion at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Click here to watch it live
Reception
8:30pm
Italy Isola at Disney's EPCOT
Travel and Accommodations
Our entire wedding will be contained within the Walt Disney World Resort. We highly recommend you fly into the Orlando International Airport (MCO) and stay on-property at any of the numerous Walt Disney World Resort hotels.
Need help? Feel free to email the groom for assistance!
Travel
Orlando (MCO)
For our out of town guests, the Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the closest airport and provides several transportation options to the Walt Disney World Resort. If you choose to fly into MCO and are staying at a WDW Resort hotel, you can choose to book transportation direct to your hotel through Mears Connect or The Sunshine Flyer.
Other Airports
Other nearby airports include the Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) and Tampa International Airport (TPA), however these are further away and will require a rental car or taxi. Prefer to travel by train? You can bring your car on the Amtrack Autotrain from Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL.
Accommodations
While we will be staying at the Grand Floridian Resort and Villas for the length of our stay, you have a multitude of options across the Walt Disney World Resort as well as off-property options. For ease of transportation, we recommend staying at one of the 31 resort options within the Walt Disney World Resort.
Book directly through WDW
This option allows you to review all 31 resort options available and book directly. Prices may fluctuate depending on seasonality and sales
Purchase DVC rental points
We recommend David's Vacation Club Rentals to access 12 Walt Disney World resorts at a lower cost than booking directly through Walt Disney World. This method requires both availability and someone willing to sell their points.
Book using a Travel Agent
This method is a free service that handles all of your vacation planning in one spot (hotel, park tickets, dining reservations, etc.) for an easy, hands-off booking process.
Things to do
Here are a few of our favorite things to do while at Walt Disney World; you can also reach out to us directly for any recommendations!
Eat
- Disney's Animal Kingdom
- Satu'li Canteen
- Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Docking Bay 7
- Disney Springs
- City Works Eatery & Pour House
- Disney's Wilderness Lodge
- Whispering Canyon Cafe
Drink
- Disney's Boardwalk
- Jellyrolls
- Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
- Trader Sam's Grog Grotto
- Disney Springs
- Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar
- City Works Eatery & Pour House
- Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Oga's Cantina
Play
- EPCOT
- Magic Kingdom
- Disney's Hollywood Studios
- Disney's Animal Kingdom
- Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
- Disney Springs
COVID-19
We wish we didn't have to have this conversation; however, we want to ensure the safety of our friends and family as we celebrate together.
Vaccination Requirement
Previously we had required that all guests be fully vaccinated before the events. After careful consideration, we have decided to rescind this requirement. However, we ask that everyone tests before traveling, before the events, and upon returning home. We ask that you not attend any of our events if you test positive for COVID-19. If you test positive after our event, we ask that you call your doctor immediately to discuss treatment options. We wish to err on the side of caution, doing everything in our power to provide the safest venue and for all our guests to feel comfortable while attending.
Masks
If you are not fully vaccinated, we ask that you wear masks at all indoor locations. We ask that everyone follows the CDC's guidance for wearing masks while traveling.
Live Stream
If you cannot attend, you can watch a livestream of our wedding by clicking here. If for any reason that link does not work, our videographers have provided a backup link here
The Wedding Party
Bride and Groom
Shannon Swanson
Going on a nighttime safari with Kristopher for my birthday
Kristopher Wagner
Experiencing the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser with Shannon
Attendants
Meet the attendants for our wedding and learn their favorite Disney memory
Ella Melzer
Seeing Cinderella Castle from the ferry boat for the first time
Jesse Sharkawy
Riding the Kilimanjaro Safari with my wife
Sarah Melzer
Watching Fourth of July Fireworks from Liberty Square
Nicholas Stuter
Waking up every morning at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and seeing the animals walk outside my room
Jordan Barrett
Spending an entire day meeting characters and collecting signatures for my grad cap
Will Swanson
Staying at Disney with Jordan for the first time
Kelly Swanson-Obando
Feeling like I'm flying on the Avatar Flight of Passage ride in Pandora
Jeb Wagner
Exploring the halloween party with my siblings and eating all the desserts
Casper Wagner
Spending the night in Cinderella Castle and being a part of the parade during the year of a million dreams
Jeremy Charles
Accidentally cutting to the front of the line for Donald Duck
Schedule of Events
Thursday
Rehearsal Dinner
Who: All guests (optional)
When: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Where: Fantasmic! Disney's Hollywood Studios
Dress: Smart casual
Please meet at the entrance to Disney's Hollywood Studios at 6:30pm
Friday
Ceremony
Who: All adult guests
When: 7:30pm - 8:00pm
Where: Disney's Wedding Pavilion
Dress: Cocktail attire
Reception
Who: All adult guests
When: 8:30pm - 1:30am
Where: Italy Isola, EPCOT
Dress: Cocktail attire
Sunday
Park day
Who: All guests (optional)
When: 11:00am
Where: EPCOT
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my young children?
We have decided to have an adult-only ceremony and reception; however, your children are more than welcome to travel with you and attend our rehearsal dinner. If you need an in-room sitter for the ceremony and reception, you can use Kid's Nite Out or a similar service. We appreciate your understanding.
Can I use my phone to take pictures during the ceremony?
As we celebrate our love and commitment to each other, we ask that our guests take this opportunity to be fully present and enjoy the moment with us. In order to create a truly special and memorable experience for everyone, we kindly request that guests limit their phone usage during the reception and turn them off during the ceremony. We understand that it can be tempting to document every moment, so we have hired professionals to photograph, record and live stream our events; we hope that you will take this opportunity to be fully present and fully engaged in the celebration. Thank you for helping to create a meaningful and special day for us all.
Do I need to stay at a Disney-owned hotel?
No, but there are benefits of staying at a Disney Resort Hotel including discounts on park tickets. In the "Accommodations" section we recommend staying at a Disney hotel. If you read that section and need more help, feel free to email the groom for assistance.
Do I need a theme park ticket for any of the events?
You do not need a theme park ticket to attend the rehearsal dinner, ceremony, or reception. If you choose to celebrate with us on Sunday at EPCOT, you will need to purchase a ticket to enter the park.
Do you have a registry?
We have decided to not have a registry; we understand that attending our wedding is expensive, and your presence is the best gift. However, if you wish to give, we will gratefully accept a small contribution towards our honeymoon, next home, or joining Disney's Vacation Club. Alternatively, we would be honored if you would consider making a donation to one of our favorite charities in lieu of a traditional wedding gift. Bat Conservation International, EveryCat Health Foundation, Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, and Lubee Bat Conservancy are organizations that are close to our hearts and we believe in their missions. You could also purchase carbon offsets for your travel to help us with our goal of having a carbon neutral wedding.