Getting Married on a Cruise Ship
To be married at sea has such a romantic ring to it and surely a good majority of the brides-to-be would jump at such an opportunity if given the chance. However, weddings on a cruise ship can be an expensive affair and unfortunately not in everyone‟s budget. In this article we cover some of the more salient features of getting married on a cruise ship to help make your decision a bit easier.
Weddings on cruise ships are actually quite popular and people are happy to combine it with the honeymoon. It does save the couple a bundle when compared to having a land based wedding ceremony and reception. This money can be spent on a cruise which will include the wedding ceremony and honeymoon. Couples are also able to take their parents and give them a vacation as well.
When you decide to marry on a cruise ship you are in effect planning a wedding event more than just a ceremony. Many couples invite their closest friends and make it one grand party. Some of the things you need to know about weddings at sea are detailed below for your use.
Sorry to put a damper on your enthusiasm and excitement but marrying at sea does not actually happen. The ship needs to have a special license which allows you to marry while it is sailing. Otherwise it is not considered a lawful wedding because you cannot marry in international waters. Therefore the wedding will take place on the ship but in port. For the marriage to be legally recognized in the US it has to take place in US territory, for example you will get married in Fort Lauderdale or any US port and then set sail for your cruise. Couples are advised to thoroughly research this point before finalizing their decision.
Allowing the cruise line to take care of the planning is a wise move; they take care of everything and you just need to make choices from the selections they give you. The planning will be done based on the size of the wedding party, wedding date, space availability and more. You will not be running around checking out reception venues, dealing with caterers, photographer, videographer, band, florists and getting the mother of all headaches to boot! Give the organizer the color scheme for your wedding and the flowers will be arranged. Of course if you like a particular kind of flower you can always request it.
Cruise lines offer wedding packages which take care of all the intricate details and some ships have a lovely chapel on board so you can marry in church. It is very important to book well in advance, in fact as soon as you agree to marry your knight in shining armor get started planning your wedding on a cruise ship.