Best wording... no wrapped presents

Soontobedames has the best solution. Put that statement on the wedding website and word of mouth as well.

@centerpiece I always love your posts. We won't be able to have them on board for the week either. Especially any small appliances. Parking is not a quick trip to the car at the port of Tampa either and I don't want to put anyone massively out, including my wedding party. Maybe I can talk to the DOC about holding them for a nonsailing guest after they get off

Thank you all for your insights and ideas!!!

Oh also, there are other people parking and boarding the boat. It would be super awkward for someone outside to be greeting people who are just early boarders and not there for your wedding! Lol

I like what Richard and SoonToBeDames said.

I don't think many people will bring a wrapped gift, so it's not like you will a hundred presents to juggle. For the few folks who do bring something, could you just open it while you are waiting to embark? If you carry a tote that scrunches up really small in your luggage you could then just have the gift with you on the cruise and bring it home in the tote. I would not put anything anywhere about gifts. I rarely see more than two physical gifts at a wedding, so I am assuming that's what you are dealing with.

I put it on my wedding website. I included the exact letter provided by Carnival about boarding for the wedding for cruising and non cruising guests.

Lorith, I was hoping to hear what you did. I'll have to check my 10 million files to see if I have that letter. I probably bypassed it!

@lorith - I'm going to look at that myself too to maybe post!

@lorith and sailaway - did you/are you posting the food for the reception on your wedding website since the cruise gives it to us? Or is that overkill in information?

I would never mention anything regarding a gift or tell people what to bring or how to bring it.

@DWBride I'm not... I think it's a bit of overkill. Just my opinion though. I'm sure between the three menus to chose from for your food items and the buffet they can hit up during lunch before the wedding no one will go hungry regardless.

I love the suggestions here, most of you have been a huge help!!! I really appreciate the thoughtful non cookie cutter responses for a situation that's not really normal. I may do a mixture of your suggestions and also find that letter Lorith talked about! Much love!!!

I'm with RealWedding. *Someone* is going to bring a boxed gift, guaranteed, so just plan on it and ask someone to drive them home for you. It's what you'd do if you had a wedding at a typical venue, after all.

If someone does being a wrapped gift, can't they just unwrap it and bring it on board?

If the gift is in a gift bag, is that acceptable?

Saying 'no wrapped presents' could be construed as 'we want money.'

I think the best solution is to send everyone the ship's rules.

If anything, with the invites, include a misc or info card that just says something like "please review all ship rules and regulations before the wedding date" and maybe give a link to the page of the cruise company's regulations or to an FAQ page on your website. Chances are, a number of them have never been on a cruise ship and will need to know about more than just the wrapped gift policy, even if they aren't cruising.

I think in your case, I would mention that no wrapped gifts are allowed on the ship for security reasons. I would never think of that! Since you are doing a passport style invitation with lots of information that is not typically on an invitation, I don't think it will be out of place and I think there is a way to word it that doesn't make it seem like you are assuming people will bring gifts.