Ship Provide Beautiful Locale for Weddings
Are you ready to make that big step from single to married with a memorable wedding ceremony on board of one of the many cruise ships currently traversing the blue seas? Ship weddings are far more common than you think and in addition to providing a single venue for the ceremony, reception and perhaps even honeymoon, they also offer a host of other perks that are germane to this kind of venue!
Since cruise liners are well aware of the growing popularity their vessels are enjoying in the wedding business, it is not surprising that many a line is now putting together special packages catering to those intent on saying their vows on the high seas. Some ships will now come equipped with a special wedding chapel while others will have at their disposal highly trained wedding planners who will take on the responsibility of planning a wedding on the ocean from start to finish, including what to do with guests!
Even as many a bride and groom to be appreciate the flexibility associated with marrying on a ship, there are still some things you will want to consider, expense being one. Granted, the convenience of entrusting a third party with all of your wedding related planning – music, flowers, catering, cake, and decorating will be taken out of your hands – you will have to decide on the various options and how they fit into your budget. For example, while some cruise lines have their own officiator for the ceremonies, others require that you bring a minister or other licensed individual on board.
Similarly, if you decide that you want to stay on board for a cruise after your nuptials, you will need to think about the cost associated with a honeymoon package and also what to do with the guests. If you put them up for the duration of the cruise – or any portion thereof – you will most likely be able to get a great deal, but are you able to foot the expense?
This of course ushers in the question about etiquette, after all, how do you boot the in-laws off the boat just after you said “I do?” Couples are now choosing to have a portside wedding prior to the actual cruise with the ship as the backdrop. This will permit you to have a huge attendance and then later on run up the gangway and take off on your honeymoon – just the two of you. In other cases the couple may start off the cruise and decide to get married in one of the port cities, although this option does not usually work well when hoping to have many guests attend.
The bare bones wedding package on Carnival Cruise Lines, one of the most popular lines currently advertising, runs only $800 which – when compared to an average wedding – is little more than a drop in the bucket. From there, you may choose to go up as high as your budget allows and your fancy directs.
