Reception Location: Epcot

photo by Root Photography

Epcot is an amazing location for wedding receptions and offers couples a wide spectrum of choice. Each country pavilion has something unique to offer and the Living Seas Salon is a popular choice for couples looking for a location that is elegant, private, and fun.



However, like all theme park reception locations, the locations in Epcot come with a set of rules that don't apply to the resort locations:

1. You must charter transportation for you and your guests for a minimum of five hours during the event. The exception to this rule is that they sometimes allow you to meet an event guide at the gate if your event is during park hours, but until you check with DFTW it's safe to assume you're going to need to charter a motorbus for your guests.
   
2. You can only use Disney photographers and videographers for your event.
3. Except for personal floral (bouquets, boutennieres, etc.) all floral must be done by Disney.
4. You can't have characters or amplified entertainment (music coming through speakers) if you pick an outdoor venue.
5. Your reception location could have holiday decorations up if it's that time of year and you can't have them removed.
6. You may be able to buy out an entire ride or show for your guests after park hours. For example, you can buy out Turtle Talk with Crush for $700. Contact DFTW for more information. You may also be able to have an event guide take you over and hold the line for your party during park hours so that you and your guests can ride something, but it depends on the ride and you aren't allowed to ride in your wedding gown. (Otherwise, I totally would have rocked out on Soarin' with my veil flying in the wind.)
   

See couples who used Epcot as a location here.


Epcot Canada

• Events take place on the Canada Terrace, which is the upper level of the Canada Pavilion. You have to have at least 10 guests and the maximum number you can have is 85. The venue rental fee is $325 and the food and beverage minimums are $1,750 for breakfast, $2,450 for lunch, and $3,000 for dinner.
  

• Canada is the only pavilion available for Escape weddings. The Canada Terrace package includes a cake, a bottle of Iron Horse Fairy Tale Cuvee (or two bottles of sparkling cider), a bouquet, a boutonniere, a violinist, a limo, mini-bus service for the guests, event guides, two WDW annual passes, and photography from Disney Photographic Services. There is a guest limit of 18 guests for this package (although you can add up to five guests for a flat fee of $500) and ceremonies take place at 9 AM, with the event ending no later than 10:30 AM. It is important to know that you can only take photographs at the Canada pavilion if you get this package, so don't get this one if you've got your heart set on walking around Epcot with your photographer, taking pictures in multiple locations.

• Couples who have used Epcot Canada
  

Epcot China

• The Great Hall of China is an impressive venue that requires a minimum of 60 guests, with a maximum of 120 (without entertainment). The room is modeled on Beijing's Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest. One of the drawbacks during park hours is that the restrooms are located outside the hall and are shared with theme park guests. You also can't see IllumiNations from here. The venue rental fee is $2,000 and the food and beverage minimum is $4,500.

• Couples who have used Epcot China

Epcot France

• Bistro de Paris - This venue is the space above the Chefs de France restaurant. It looks out over the water, which means that you can watch IllumiNations from here. The restaurant seats up to 120 (but that can change depending on entertainment/dance floor) and you have to use the chairs and tables that they already have. The menu is based on the regular menu for the restaurant, with a food and beverage minimum of $5,000 for events ending before 4 PM and $10,000 for events ending after 4 PM. The venue rental fee is $250.

• The Terrace des Fleurs (French Island Upper) - This venue is an outdoor terrace next to the lagoon available for receptions or dessert parties of 50 or more guests. If you're using the terrace for a reception, the site capacity has a maximum of 60 guests and the food and beverage minimum is $3,750. If you're using it for a dessert party, there is a $22/person food and beverage minimum. The venue rental fee is $325.

• Eau de France (French Island Lower) - This venue is an outdoor terrace next to the lagoon available for reception or dessert parties of 50 or more guests. If you're using the terrace for a reception, the site capacity has a maximum of 80 guests and the food and beverage minimum is $3,750. If you're using it for a dessert party, there is a $22/person food and beverage minimum. The venue rental fee is $325. NOTE: This location is not wheelchair accessible.

• Rue de Paris (French Island Arm) - This venue is an outdoor terrace next to the lagoon available for reception or dessert parties of 50 to 100 guests. If you're using the terrace for a reception, the site capacity decreases to 30-40 guests and the food and beverage minimum is $2,255. If you're using it for a dessert party, there is a $22/person food and beverage minimum. The venue rental fee is $325.
  

• Couples who used Epcot France

Epcot Italy

• You have a choice of two pavilions in Italy: the Italy Isola or Italy West Plaza. Both locations only offer buffet service, limited to cold items and a small selection of hot items. There are also restrictions at both locations about displaying and serving your wedding cake, so be sure to talk to your wedding planner about that. Although these locations are beautiful, one of the drawbacks is that restrooms are located outside of the venues and during park hours you will be sharing the restrooms with park guests.

• Italy Isola - This venue is an outdoor terrace next to the lagoon available for reception or dessert parties of 100 to 150 guests. If you're using the terrace for a reception, the site capacity decreases to 50 to 60 guests and the food and beverage minimum is $3,750. If you're using it for a dessert party, there is a $1,650 food and beverage minimum. The venue rental fee is $575. This is one of the best places in Epcot to see IllumiNations.

• Italy West Plaza - This venue is a smaller outdoor terrace adjacent to Italy Isola's larger bridge available for reception or dessert parties of 50 to 125 guests. When you use this location for a private event, you have to rent a wall of plants to separate the area from the main walkway. If you're using the terrace for a reception, the site capacity decreases to 30 to 60 guests and the food and beverage minimum is $1,500. If you're using it for a dessert party, there is a $440 food and beverage minimum. The venue rental fee is $325. One minor drawback to this location is that it provides wheelchair access for people using Italy Isola, so guests of other events may be coming through your party.

• Couples who used Epcot Italy

photo by Root Photography

Epcot America

• You have a choice of two reception venues in the American Adventure Pavilion: the American Adventure Dining Room or the American Adventure Rotunda. The dining room is a more intimate area while the rotunda is more impressive and well-suited to large events.

• American Adventure Dining Room - This event location is located on the third floor of the American Adventure building. It consists of a living room seating area and a dining room which holds 60 guests in rounds of 10. With dancing, however, the capacity is reduced to 30 people. The food and beverage minimums are $1,225 for breakfast, $1,500 for lunch, and $3,000 for dinner.

• American Adventure Rotunda - This reception venue is the area under the giant dome of the American Adventure Rotunda and can hold parties of 100 to 230 guests. The venue rental fee is $2,075, but there is no site-specific food and beverage minimum. There are som restrictions on this site, however. Events must begin after 7:oo PM and restrooms are located outside of the attraction (shared with guests during park hours). The lower level of the rotunda seats 150 guests with plenty of room for dancing and the upper level seats 80 guests and requires the purchase of an $800 greens package.

• Couples who used Epcot America

Photo by Photography by Taz

Photo by Photography by Taz

Photo by Photography by Taz

Photo by Photography by Taz

Epcot United Kingdom

• Epcot United Kingdom has two different locations that are available for wedding receptions: United Kingdom Lochside and the United Kingdom Terrace. The food and beverage minimums for both locations are the same: $440 for dessert parties and $1,500 for a full meal. The food is limited to buffet service of cold items and a small selection of hot items, with restrictions on displaying and serving wedding cake. Restrooms for the U.K. locations are outside of the venues and are shared with park guests during park hours.

• United Kingdom Lochside (United Kingdom Lower Terrace) - This is an outdoor terrace right on the water of the lagoon, which makes it a great place to watch IllumiNations. The terrace is available for dessert parties of 20 to 70 guests or full meal receptions for just 20 guests. The venue rental fee is $325.

• United Kingdom Terrace (United Kingdom Upper Terrace) - This terrace accomodates a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 50 guests. The venue rental fee is $250, which is lower than the other terrace even though this terrace comes with existing seating in the form of wrought iron tables. This saves you money on seating, although you're stuck with those tables...no additional tables may be added.

• Couples who used Epcot United Kingdom

photo by Randy Chapman

The Living Seas Salon

• This incredible event space has five large windows that look directly into the aquarium at The Seas pavilion. The venue capicity is 25-104 guests at tables of six, which cannot be changed or removed. The space also has a piano that cannot be removed or used to hold food and beverage, but provides a nice option for intimate entertainment. The venue rental fee is $500 and the food and beverage minimum is $2,450 for events before 4 PM and $3,500 for events after 4 PM. NOTE: The lights in the aquarium are turned off at 9:45PM and for the health and safety of the animals you can't do anything about this, which is something to remember if you're planning on having a late reception.

• Couples who used The Living Seas Salon

Other Areas in Epcot

• The venues listed above are the most commonly used, but there are other areas which may be available for your event. If you really have your heart set on a place, let your wedding coordinator know and they can try to work with you to make your dream a reality. You also may be able to move between venues if, for example, you want to have a pre-reception in one location, your reception in another, and then a different venue for the dessert party.