Wedding on a Cruise?? Good or Bad?

Most cruise ships have chapels that you can host your ceremony in.

Completely private. Our ceremony was in the chapel and the reception in the ivory piano bar. ETA the ceremony was about 40 minutes and the reception an hour. Other packages they had offered more time but this is what we wanted

The reception

@Lorith Are there any tips you can share when planning a cruise ship wedding? We are booked for next year with about fifteen other people.

Thanks in advance!

The only key advice I have is to make sure you specify your ceremony and reception locations. Put in those preferences early. Otherwise they put you in a bar or club.

@Lorith, Thanks!

No problem! Hit me up if you need me.

It is not insanely expensive for your guests. I am getting married in January on Carnival to the Bahamas for 4 nights. My guests can purchase the cheapest cabin at $229/person and that has actually come down a lot in 7 months. Carnival will also price match which is what all my guests have done who booked early on. It was the most affordable package for us for the reception and a great price for our guests. Some of my guests are able to fly and some aren't. It's all about planning in advance. I gave my guests 12 months notice when the STD's went out. We've invited about 85 people and so far 22 have booked. Some of my best friends aren't going which is completely fine with me since this is what my fiance and I want and this is about us. This also isn't our honeymoon for those you say "why would you want your family and friends on your honeymoon". We are also getting married on the ship in Nassau at 11am so our guests have time to get off the boat and enjoy the rest of the port. If you try to get married on the beach, it's an all day event with a lot of logistics that go into it. We also thought about using an outside vendor but if your port changes, inclement weather, etc. you are pretty much screwed. It's not for everyone because you have to give all planning responsibility to the 3rd party vendors. It has been the least stressful experience and I wouldn't do it any other way. If you are interested in it, I would definitely do your research and utilize cruisecritic.com for more advice. Weddingwire didn't help me much in the way of answering questions.

Woah for a cruise wedding, you can do it on the ship before it leaves and none of your guests have to go on the journey. My uncle did this for his third wedding. No one from my family went on the cruise. We were there for the ceremony and your married by the captain and then they had an hour long reception before everyone not staying on the cruise was asked to leave and then the cruise took off with anyone that wanted to stay.

Check out the cruise critic forums. Just search for bride and you should get a bunch of threads. It was very helpful to me when I was torn between a cruise and land wedding. Deciding factor for me came down to the number of guests not sailing and I didn't want my mom and in laws on my honeymoon.

My very first cruise (numerous cruises ago) was a friends wedding....and Im getting married on a ship too! Since I live near a port it made sense because people can just get off and go home, but I can see how further away it may not. I got Carnivals biggest package, and will have hot and cold apps and an open bar for an hour and a half with a DJ so itll be in the dance club on the ship. A Con is that decorwise I really cant do much, but that isnt so bad on my pocketbook. As far as family and friends on your honeymoon... Ive been on a bunch of cruises, sometimes with groups, sometimes not, and I actually feel like you can do your own thing fairly easily if you want, and then still have fun with people you know the rest of the time! My goal is to have as many friends and family cruise as possible.... the more the merrier!

Our families cruised with us and when we dined in the main room (we did the chefs table and steakhouse. So 2 nights we were alone) it was wonderful to recap the day and it gave our new blended family bonding time. We are all much closer because of it. I only had my parents. Now my parents attend my husband's family events. Because everyone got so close on the honeymoon.

@Lorraine, I'm not sure how old your FH's kids are, but since it is too, you can do adjoining rooms. You and FH husband will have halls rooms, and the kids will be in the other room. It should be same price on cruise because it is double occupancy.

I get sea sick on cruises so it would be hard for me. That would be the only issue for me.

My mother recently attended a wedding on a cruise ship at the departure port. She did not need to pay anything to get on the boat, only hand over her driver's license which was returned after she departed the boat. She said it was great and that the bar was spectacular.

Lorraine, is there a reason you couldn't have the whole wedding at home in NJ then just do the cruise for your honeymoon?

For more info on Cruise weddings head over to cruisecritic.com

I'm doing a DW cruise and they have a ton of helpful info. I'm going my wedding in a port midweek. It made sense for my family tho because we always do a family vacation every year. We did a cruise together last year and everyone loved it. Make sure the people you can't live without being at your wedding (your VIPs) can attend.