Weddings at Disney parks are a fairytale come to life for many couples. Disney offers a wide variety of options for those wanting to marry in a unique and extraordinary setting, whether it’s the enchanting Magic Kingdom or the charming Disneyland Paris.
The park is known for creating unforgettable ceremonies, where dreams come true in one of the most beloved places on Earth. But for one family, their dream wedding experience took a dark and unexpected turn.
Related: Disney Dress Code Comes in the Way of Wedding Photos
The early morning wedding ceremony at Disneyland Paris was set up just like any other. A beautiful cake was ready, live musicians played romantic tunes, and rows of chairs were arranged for the guests. At first glance, everything seemed perfect, with a 22-year-old man playing the role of the groom, awaiting his bride. However, things took a dramatic and confusing twist when the bride appeared.
Instead of a grown woman walking down the aisle, it was a nine-year-old girl, who was carried by her mother into the wedding area. The cast members were immediately alarmed and, realizing something was wrong, stopped the ceremony. The situation escalated quickly, and the police were called to the scene to investigate.
Related: How One Disney Bride Rented Out an Entire Coaster for Her Wedding Night
The authorities soon uncovered the truth behind the wedding: it wasn’t a wedding at all. The entire event had been meticulously planned as a social media prank. The man playing the groom, a 22-year-old British man, had spent nearly $150,000 to orchestrate this elaborate hoax.
The wedding was completely fake, and the guests, many of whom were paid extras, had no idea they were participating in a staged event. This “wedding,” which included 200 adults and 100 children, was meant to fool everyone into believing it was real.
According to reports from The Guardian, the local prosecutor confirmed the staged nature of the event, stating:
“The event turned out to have been staged, the guests themselves were all actors,” the deputy local prosecutor told Agence France-Presse. “So it wasn’t a wedding but the staging of a wedding, which was filmed with around 100 extras. They had privately hired Disneyland Paris claiming it was a real wedding.”
They included a man said to have been the fake groom, who is alleged to have organised the event. He is 22 and thought to be British, AFP reported. A 24-year-old Latvian woman was also being questioned.
The young girl, who is Ukrainian, was not found to have suffered any “violence or constraint”, the prosecutor’s office said. Her mother, aged 41, was released from questioning, as was a 55-year-old Latvian man.
As the police continued their investigation, more details emerged about the people involved in the scheme. The mother of the young girl, a 41-year-old Ukrainian woman, explained that she simply wanted to give her daughter a special experience at Disneyland Paris, saying she wanted her daughter to feel like a Disney princess for the day.
The young girl was dressed in a stunning gown, and her mother had to carry her into the ceremony because the elaborate outfit made it difficult for her to walk.
The 22-year-old man behind the prank, along with a 55-year-old Latvian man, were arrested for their roles in the hoax. The pair faced multiple charges, including fraud and breach of trust against Disneyland Paris.
Related: Has This Happy Couple Just Broken a Disney Wedding Record?
Despite the shocking nature of the prank, the authorities made it clear that the young girl had not been harmed in any way. “The young girl, who is Ukrainian, was not found to have suffered any ‘violence or constraint,’” the prosecutor’s office said. This was an important point of reassurance to the public, who were understandably concerned about the child’s well-being.
Further investigation revealed just how elaborate the scam was. The British man behind the prank reportedly paid 200 adults and 100 children £200 each to attend what they were led to believe was a ‘chic and elegant’ wedding rehearsal.
The prankster had gone to great lengths to create an illusion of a legitimate wedding, hiring extras to play the roles of guests and family members. Even the man who pretended to be the bride’s father claimed that he had no idea the child was only nine years old.
Despite the bizarre nature of the entire event, Disneyland Paris staff and security acted quickly to shut everything down. The extras, who were unaware of the prank, were stunned when the young girl was carried into the ceremony. Many of them praised Disneyland Paris cast members for handling the situation swiftly and professionally, ensuring that the prank didn’t spiral out of control.
What do you think should happen to those behind this staged wedding? Should they face jail time, or should the punishment be more focused on ensuring such an event never happens again? Should the young girl’s mother face legal consequences for her role in the prank, or was she simply misguided in her attempt to give her daughter a special experience? We want to hear your thoughts. Share your opinions in the comments below.
