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.

Weddings Inspired by France

Have you always dreamed of getting married in romantic Paris? With the moonlight shining and the Louvre in the background, it must be a magnificent sight! Too bad the budget won’t accommodate your actually having your nuptials there and have your family present at the same time.

Don’t be sad. If you can’t go to Paris for your wedding, why not bring Paris to you? With a little creativity and some help from the experts, you can have a Paris inspired wedding without the extreme cost of transporting everyone there.

Paris is a city of romance. Bring a touch of that romance to your wedding by having it in the moonlight. Why not have a tent to protect you and your guests from the coolness of the night, as well as from inclement weather. There are now tents that are clear or almost gauzelike so that you can see the stars shining above you.

You may not be in France but that doesn’t mean you can’t have french food. How about having fromage as an appetizer instead of butter and rolls? Cheese is a favorite in France and is considered a course all on its own. You may also want to have pate de foie gras as well. Oysters have long been considered aphrodisiacs, and you definitely want your groom stimulated for the wedding night, right?

A Salade Niçoise would make for an interesting salad dish. Escargot is an acquired taste but definitely delicious if your guests don’t mind eating snails. Coq Au Vin is another favorite and not as startling to those of your guests not used to exotic dishes. If you want to give your guests something more familiar to eat, how about a steak au poivre.

Don’t forget the wines! The French are famous for this and it makes sense to have at least some wine flow at your nuptials if you want to stay in theme. If nothing else, champagne for your toasts will be present.

Dessert is always supposed to be the perfect finish to a meal. Crepes are a healthy and beautiful favorite. Chocolate Mousse and Baba au Rhum are also favorites. There are so many pastries to choose from, it will really be up to your taste in desserts in the end that will determine what treats to close the meal with.

The Eiffel Tower or the Louvre are too big to transport. But you can have a similar feel if you have your wedding high up on a hilltop so you get a good view of the city. Lighting and creative construction by a good crew can create a fake pyramid behind you. That will make for interesting pictures and a bit of dramatic effect for your reception.

Of course a key element will be the music. France has a very deep musical culture. The variety is quite wide. Unless you are very familiar with their music, you may want to ask for some assistance in choosing the appropriate songs to play at your reception. Unless you speak french you may end up with a song that has a great beat but without your realizing may be a song about breaking up. Definitely not something to play at your wedding.

It always pays to consult professionals. Hiring them can take a major load off your shoulders if you want to pull off something authentic since you will need truly inspired people to work on a theme such as this. It may cost you a bit more but the results can be worth it.

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