Family in law

The reason it's cheaper for you is because it's more expensive for everyone else. I definitely think it's too much to ask that people are required to take a weeklong vacation or they can't see you get married. I think this is something you should have cleared with your families and VIP guests before you booked. Otherwise, you just have to be ok with the fact that many people will not and cannot attend.

Are they financially contributing to the wedding? If not, DO YOU! You guys want the cruise, do the cruise. It's unique & different, but fun! If people can't make it, they can't make it. For destination weddings, it's typically a 3 day ordeal anyway with flights & hotels & rental cars so whatever. I would be prepared that a lot of people won't be able to make it, but I assume you know that?

Exactly this. If your FH is okay with not having his family attend, then stick to your guns and plan the cruise wedding y'all want. But if having family there is important, then it might be worth considering other options.

Totally agree with this. Also, asking people to reserve 7+ days (with travel time) for your wedding is kind of pushing it. It may be more understandable for a 3-4 day cruise, but a 7 day cruise with 8 months notice is a lot. You're totally within your right to plan the wedding that you want, but you need to go into it with the understanding that some people, even the most important ones, may not be able to attend.

Exactly this. If the two of you love this idea, then you have done all you can to provide enough time for them to save. Of course not everyone will be able to make it, but if being at your wedding is a priority, they will find a way.

Personally, I would not have a wedding somewhere my in-laws couldn't attend. I know they have told you that it's asking to much of people, etc... but have you thought about how it might be asking too much of them? Maybe they can't afford it or can't make it happen. That would be really hard for them i'm sure--- to miss their son's wedding. I wouldn't do it if both sets of parents weren't on board (ha ha--- so punny). Depends on your relationship with them I guess though.

Side note: I always find cruises end up way more expensive than all-inclusives.

This is a tough one though I'd say whichever decision you end up making, let it be your FH that addresses it with his family so that you don't take too much heat.

I think the cruise idea is kinda neat and unique although I do feel maybe if it was a bit shorter of a cruise it would be a bit more palatable. I know my job only allows me so many vacation days and 7 days would be a large chunk of the time available to me so it could be a situation where some people may not have enough vacation days to go on a trip that long or may have plans to use it for something else.

I guess it depends on who will not be able to make it and how important it is for you and your FH to have those people there. I know for my wedding some people will not be able to make it due to distance but it is, what it is!

I think seven days is a long time for anyone to take off work, so I'd be prepared to have a small turnout. Remember if you're paying, the in-laws don't have much of a say. Does the possibly of your in-laws not attending the wedding bother you? If not, I would go ahead with your cruise plans!

It sounds like you and your FH are in love with this idea and that's what you want to do. If that's what you want, then do it. But only if your in-laws aren't contributing financially. If they aren't, they have no say. And your decision is if they can't come, do you proceed?

That said, I don't understand why getting married eight months after getting engaged is too soon. Could they mean age? That's odd to me.

Personally, I was upset when my brother and SIL decided to do a destination wedding that was $2,500 per person and then got married in secret six months beforehand. But that was their decision and my decision was to go or not, and they could be upset or not. I think that weddings like this are passing costs on to guests, but then again, I've realized that what you spend is your choice, and what they spend is theirs. I say do the cruise if they will go, and realize you might not have a ton of people there.

You and your fiance need to sit down and figure out your priorities. Is the fact that your in-laws may not be able to afford or take that much time off a deal breaker? Will you regret their absence years down the line? 7 days is a really long time to ask your guests to commit for your wedding. If you really want them their maybe you could compromise and do a shorter cruise? I had a friend do a cruise wedding and he absolutely loved it. It was small, but they were able to enjoy the time with the people who attended.