Twenty-one years ago, we got hitched at Walt Disney World, pulling off the fairytale wedding of our dreams—or at least the version that didn’t require us to sell a kidney. We’d have loved to say “I do” smack in front of Cinderella’s Castle, with every friend, relative, and that random guy we met at a gas station once cheering us on. In our wildest fantasies, there’d be a horse-drawn carriage (with horses that don’t poop on cue), fancy horsemen blowing trumpets, Mickey and Minnie photobombed by Goofy, and fireworks so loud they’d drown out our first married smooch. That’s the real-deal Disney fairytale wedding, right?

Here’s the kicker: back then, that dream was rumored to start at $100,000. A hundred grand! For that price, I’d expect Cinderella herself to officiate while the Fairy Godmother pays off my student loans. Most of us mere mortals couldn’t swing that, and today? Ha! I’d need to rob Tinker Bell’s pixie dust stash just to afford the deposit. But the geniuses at Disney Weddings—bless their mouse-eared hearts—know how to sprinkle magic on any budget. We got our fairytale, minus the castle and plus a guest list that didn’t include Great Aunt Mildred.

Disney Weddings has come a long way in 21 years, and they’re still the champs of making your day sparkle, whether you’re rolling in dough or just rolling your eyes at the price tag. Trim the guest list, ditch the fireworks, and boom—you’ve got a wedding that’s still magical without needing a loan from Scrooge McDuck.

If you’ve snagged one of those insane castle weddings with all the trimmings, or are planning one, slide into our or comments or DMs on our socials! We’re dying to hear the details—and maybe sneak in for some cake. For us, our budget-friendly Disney “I do” 21 years ago is still a magical memory, and it’s heartwarming to see Disney keep the magic alive for every couple, no matter how many gold coins they’ve got stashed in their pirate chest.