Fairy tale wedding

Disney fan reflects on 1992 nuptials at The Most Magical Place on Earth

As Cinderella’s Coach pulled up at 3 p.m. Oct. 24, 1992, to Sago Cay Lawn at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney fan Trish Bandell Strachan could not help but feel the magic. Cast members and hotel guests on their balconies watched as she said “I do” to her husband, Kris Strachan, and erupted into cheers as the newlyweds marched down the aisle.

“I’ll never forget that,” the 53-yearold Arizona resident said. “It was a very thrilling day.”

The Strachans hosted the first destination wedding at Walt Disney World, according to their wedding planner Susan Millikan (then Wilkinson). But the celebration only came to fruition because of Trish’s parents, Jeanne and Dan Bandell.

Trish and Kris planned to get married in an intimate ceremony in Sedona, Arizona.

“We were hoping that we would glean enough money ... from the wedding so we could afford to go to Disney World for the honeymoon,” Trish said.

But the Bandells had another idea. Jeanne and Dan were celebrating their wedding anniversary in February 1992 at Walt Disney World when they wondered if their daughter could marry her prince at The Most Magical Place on Earth instead of merely honeymooning there. In 1991, Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings was founded and began offering ceremonies on Disney World property.

After some digging, the Bandells met with Millikan — who joined Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings in January 1992. She was one of five employees in the department and part of the team

PHOTOS COURTESY DISNEY FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY Trish and Kris Strachan returned to Walt Disney World for a vow renewal on Oct. 24, 2017. This time, the ceremony was held at Disney’s Wedding Pavilion, which was not built when they hosted their 1992 wedding at the Grand Floridian.

Trish and Kris Strachan were married in October 1992 at Walt Disney World. They were the first couple to host a destination at the resort, according to their wedding planner Susan Millikan.