Carnival Cruise Wedding Opinions please

Thanks SailawaySimppi I definitely will!

I didn't do a dress rehearsal. I didn't feel it was necessary for people who had attended weddings and knew how to walk. However, because I didn't... My father didn't lift me veil or hug me or anything. Just walked away and left me to take my husbands hands and step up.

Yay Ashley! another cruise bride to add to our ranks. I shall lead you all to nautical nuptial bliss!

HAHA I seriously just had the dorkiest mental image of Captain Lorith leading her crew of cruise brides across the seas pillaging and plundering all that stands in our way. SMH... wth is wrong with me, and why did I jump right to us being pirates!

Haha! I'm thinking about doing something beforehand like a dress rehearsal but low key at our place the weekend before and letting people come and go as they please just to thank them. Then I'd write anything they needed to know in an email but I'm not sure if that's a bad idea! Obviously people would talk to us about it if they had questions but not a formal practice. Thoughts?

@sailaway - gum and mints are a good idea. I'm going to add those to my list. I also want to make a door sign that are on etsy/pinterest. Thanks for the links!!! I gotta make sure the bottles are all 3oz.

@cruisebride - We don't have a bridal party so we'll only worry about gifts for our parents. How many people did you invite and how many are already booked?

We invited 260 people and have 50 booked so far already and it's a year away - so I'm thinking we'll have a pretty big group. My fiancé has a huge family. And we only did a 4 day cruise so I think people liked that.

CruiseBride thats an idea. We KIND of have that same thing just no real rehearsal involved. The night before the wedding we are getting a hotel room in Tampa (a lot of guests live about an hour and a half away but some of our guests are from out of area). I'm thinking a hotel block but still debating. The invite is open for all invited to hang out the night before at the hotel and have a pizza party.

As far as an email.. I have done a webpage and the webpage address is being put on the STDs and invites.. I THINK you can see my page and what I'm doing with it if you click on my profile. I think... but if not, it's www.weddingwire.com/aprilandkaal ..... there will be changes though.

HOLY COW Cruisebride! That is quite a wedding! which ship and where too? When is your weddng?

How are you going to handle if it if you have more than 50 guest so say they are coming but not sailing?

We ended up deciding not to extend the non sailing option. We were going to, but for our personal situation, it just didn't make sense. The only people we are extending it to are those who have a health related condition that prevents them from sailing (pregnancy in your 3rd trimester as an example). It was a tough decision but we felt in the end it was the fairest option and if people can't come, then we completely understand. My wedding is on the carnival sunshine and is going to Bermuda.

@ashley - I have templates that a previous cruiser on cruisecritic gave me if you end up going this route. They also gave me a link to their wedding posted on youtube that gave me a great insight of what to expect. I need to find the link again! It was very helpful and put a lot of concerns to rest.

Wow 260 people @cruisebride!! I invited 85 and we have 22 so far that are confirmed sailing. That's a great turnout I think for you. We are expecting no more than 30 but we are 4 months away and I feel like if you haven't booked yet, you probably won't.

I'd love that link too just to watch it! Yea, we actually had a lot more people then we thought we would! I think we'll end up close to 75 people if I had to take a guess at this point

Well our recessional at my wedding was he's a pirate from the pirates of the Caribbean so totally plausible that we will be pirates.

Argggh mateys

We currently have like 59 people on our invite list. 25 are basically shoe ins to cruise with 8 of us already booked in 4 different cabins, 32 are "it's possible", and 2 definitely won't cruise due to medical reasons.

Yes... Future Mrs. P find that link! I'm always down for something new to keep organized. A bride on cruisecritic also once posted a template for a News letter she gave all of her cruising guests. It looked a lot like a Carnival Fun Times and had things like all the sailing guests cabin numbers, port info etc. It was pretty neat and I was thinking of trying to recreate something similar for my guests bags.

@sailaway - I may just reach out to that bride via email and ask her for the link. I found the email thanking them for the link but can't find the link. #fail

Also, I have the templates that you are talking about. send me an email at *******@*****.*** and i'll forward you everything I have.

Omg.... youre the best!! Ill send you an email when I get back to my office!!

I have one more question for you guys if you don't mind! Since I'm having a large number (75 or so cruisin) I'm really torn about whether I should provide alcohol at the dinner. At that point, the reception is over (we're doing the 1.5 hour one) but everyone is joining us in one of the included restaurants on board later on. Carnival doesn't offer any type of deal so we'd pay full cost for the alcohol - what do you think? I know people are spending money to come but the reception is over at that point and the cruise has started so I'm really torn! Of course, I know it's nice to do but are you worried about this? Do you think guests will expect it? With so many people coming, we're already spending a lot so just wanted your opinions

@Lorith I would love to see some photos of yours!

Cruise Bride... are they joining you every night of the cruise for dinner (as in you have the same assigned dining time) or is this at a steakhouse?

They can choose to or not for all the nights - it's not the steakhouse. It's just one of the included restaurants on board. We were able to make a reservation though so everyone could sit together. They can also choose not to the first night but most people if not all, will want to eat with us the first night