The Wedding Cruise (Love Boat part II)

So you’ve made up your mind to have a cruise destination wedding. That’s great! You get the fun of a vacation and your wedding all rolled into one. Plus you get to explore the Caribbean or the Mediterranean. That is wonderful!

Here are some advantages of this kind of wedding:

No need to book a getaway car. You’ll have cabin rooms to use for getting ready and for your honeymoon on board. No traveling necessary. The farthest you are likely to travel is down to the beach if your nuptials can’t be held on board the ship. If you can have it on the ship, you are exactly where you need to be and don’t need the extra expense.

Everything is one place. If your nuptials will be held onboard, the cruise ship’s team of professionals will serve as your wedding coordinator as well. Think of it like having your reception in a hotel where you avail of their function room and utilize their chef. You will need to discuss your plans thoroughly with your agent before you actually book your trip so that everything will be ready before you even leave shore. Keep in mind that the ship can’t just stop at the nearest department store if you decide that you need something once it has left its berth.

Some cruise ships have tuxedo rentals available. Your groom and his men need not have suits made. This is a great way to cut down on expense and travel light at the same time. Of course, for a better fit, they may still prefer to have their own.

You can have a more intimate and significant a wedding. Like all weddings, your budget plays a major factor in how big your guest list will be. Since this is a destination wedding, like all of its kind, you are further constrained by how many of your guests you can afford to have on board. This will drastically cut down the numbers, unless you have money to burn. The good news is, this means you will have only those who are truly important with you present and you get to give them a great vacation while they attend your nuptials as well.

You will still need to have your bridal gown, and any other entourage outfits, made before you get on board the ship. Make sure to inform your dressmaker that you are getting married on a cruise so that they can provide proper packaging and storage to properly protect your dress.

If you choose a cruise destination wedding, make sure that you both travel well by sea. The last thing you would both want is to feel under the weather during this special occasion. Make sure to have the necessary medicines on hand, just in case any of you do get sea sick.

With this very special kind of destination wedding, it is even more essential than ever that you are very organized. It is to your advantage to very carefully run through your checklists and make sure that nothing gets left undone. Keep in mind that once the ship sails, you won’t have time to buy any missing items unless the ships concessionaires have them.