When we started dreaming about our wedding, we knew one thing: it had to feel like us. We weren’t after a ballroom, a guest list of 200, or the stress of planning a massive event. We wanted something intimate, joyful, and a little unexpected.

After years of visiting Universal Studios Orlando together—especially for my January birthday trips—it had become ourplace. So when my husband proposed on Christmas Eve, we started wondering: what if we just got married at Universal?

Why We Chose Universal Studios

We considered everything—from a dinner in a field in Virginia to local venues in Richmond—but none of them felt quite right. I called hundreds of venues across Virginia, but in the end, we realized we were trying to force something that didn’t feel like us. We didn’t want to book a cookie-cutter venue. We wanted to create a memory.

Enter: The Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Studios Orlando.

 

The $1,000 Wedding Package That Had Everything We Needed

Hard Rock offered a weekday wedding package that included:

• An intimate ceremony space for up to 20 guests
• A one-hour cocktail hour
• Open bar + two food options
• A custom wedding cake
• A day-of wedding coordinator

All for $1,000. It felt like the best-kept secret in Florida wedding planning.

We chose a weekday—Cinco de Mayo—which added a fun, festive twist. Our ceremony was at 11 AM, followed by an outdoor cocktail hour in the hotel’s beautiful Spanish-style courtyard.

Design Details That Made It Ours

We kept our guest count under 20 to make everything feel personal and meaningful. I worked closely with their on-site coordinator (a total gem!) to make sure every detail reflected our style.

She helped ensure things like:

• Swapping out the red velvet chairs and red carpet (very Hard Rock ) for neutral ones
• Bringing in $5 rental chairs from a nearby hotel
• Helping execute the layout and timeline perfectly

The venue itself was a dream—white Spanish-style architecture, black modern windows, and a courtyard that made it feel like a destination wedding in Mexico, but with a tiny footprint and budget.

Vegan, Gluten-Free, Refined Sugar-Free… and Delicious

We asked the chef to accommodate our diet, and they exceeded our expectations. Our cocktail hour featured a hummus platter and bruschetta—both 100% vegan and gluten-free. And the cake? Custom-made with date sugar and still talked about to this day.

We even imported our own vegan-friendly champagne (shoutout to Avaline!) to toast with.

How We Spent the Rest of Our Day

After the ceremony and cocktail hour, we relaxed. Some guests went to the pool, others to their rooms, and we all met back up that evening for dinner at Vivo in City Walk. Being able to extend the celebration without pressure made the day even more special.

A Wedding That Was Truly Us

We look back and still say: we wouldn’t change a thing. It was the perfect blend of personal, affordable, and stylish. A little non-traditional, a little unconventional—but filled with so much heart.

And yes, we’d relive that day over and over again if we could.

Planning a Small Wedding in Florida?

If you're thinking about a non-traditional wedding, destination-style on a budget, or just want something different, don’t overlook resort packages like this one. Especially midweek—they can give you everything you need without the overwhelm.