There’s something special about cruises that makes, unlike any other vacation, a unique experience in and of themselves. You have the opportunity to visit several destinations without worrying about airport mishaps, being on time for departures, checking in and out of accommodation, or the seemingly endless car rides. All meals are included, but you can also sample foods from local restaurants or restaurants during port days. While being out at sea can seem boring for some, there are so many ways to keep yourself entertained throughout the duration of your trip. Many cruises have shopping areas onboard, as well as nightclubs, spa treatment facilities, live music, movies, and theatre shows.
But what if you want your first cruise to be a little more special? If you’re planning your wedding and would like your nuptials to be a little more special than the standard ceremony, you may have considered getting married on a ship. It’s not a bad idea at all; in fact, it’s a great way to make the entire experience more romantic and unique. This is, after all, one of the most important days of your life, and it would be a pity not to give it your all and not do something that you really want to do. However, it’s essential to remember that a wedding like this will require a little more careful planning so that you can have all the logistics in order.
Do your research
Just because you can tie the knot on a cruise line doesn’t mean all of them accept it. This is why it’s crucial to do your research beforehand in order to determine which lines actually offer this service. Typically, the bigger ships are the ones that are more likely to host wedding ceremonies, and the lines in the luxury category don’t have any problem with weddings either. Make sure to check carefully, as there are some cruises that allow smaller events, such as vow renewals, but not actual weddings. If you want a small wedding, though, you may be able to choose this option as the staff can provide personalized amenities for a small number of passengers.
The seasons
When you’re considering the best season for your wedding, you’ll probably think of the weather first and foremost. Depending on the temperature, the bridesmaid dresses you choose will have to be of different materials to ensure comfort. The gowns you choose for an autumn ceremony, for example, will have to be long-sleeved, made from silk and wool blends so that they’re both cozy and festive, and follow a color palette that is in line with the season, such as mustard yellow, burnt orange, burgundy, or deep navy blue.
However, for cruise weddings, the season also matters because of the possible stark contrast when it comes to costs. Getting married on a ship during a holiday is likely to be more expensive, so you should avoid it if you want to stick to a budget. For instance, Valentine’s Day may sound like the perfect time to tie the knot, but it can also be twice as much to host the ceremony on that date. Learn about the possible surcharges during holidays before moving on with the planning.
The paperwork
It makes sense to question whether getting married on a cruise is even legal in the first place. The short answer to that is yes, but you should still get the paperwork in order ahead of the wedding day. Your officiant can be brought in to conduct the legal proceedings the same way it is for the standard, land-based weddings. But that only works if the ceremony takes place during the embarkation day. If you plan on getting hitched during the cruise, either a local notary or a nondenominational officiant will preside and ensure the wedding is legal.
If you want to be married by the captain, your choices will be more limited as there are only a few cruise lines that allow this. The reason is that there are legal limitations pertaining to the countries of registry to which the vessels belong. Some of the exceptions you should look into if this is what you want include cruise lines registered in Malta, Norway, and Bermuda. Some cruises will give you the option of a private island for a wedding, but keep in mind that the marriages may not always be legal.
The number of guests
Some cruise ships will only be able to accommodate very intimate events that do not exceed ten to fifteen guests, while others can host nuptials with at least forty guests. The maximum is about 150 guests, but most won’t be able to make such a large gathering possible simply because the venue itself restricts the number of guests allowed to participate. In many cases, non-sailing guests are allowed as well, but naturally, only if you have an embarkation-day wedding.
The number of people you can bring will depend, but the maximum can be around 80 to 100 people. Being non-sailing guests means that they will have to leave before the ship sets sail. Shoreside ceremonies will also welcome non-sailing participants, but only within capacity limits since the venues will likely be smaller. Check exactly how many people can join and if they can join at all so that the guests also have time to look for gifts, prepare their speeches, and have time to break into their new shoes. Those who are part of the wedding party, such as the mother of the bride, will also need time to find the perfect dress.
Wedding packages
Some wedding venues offer customized wedding packages that you can use. What is included in a package will vary depending on the cruise line, the package level you chose, and whether you want to get hitched in a port or at sea. Working with a wedding coordinator will remove a lot of the hassle and stress so that you can be more relaxed about the whole experience. You can even develop a wedding week that includes a series of events such as special dinners, beverage tasting, afternoon tea, fireworks, or live band music.
Planning a cruise wedding can seem like a handful, but if this has been a dream of yours for a long time, you should try your best to achieve it. Not only is it a unique way to celebrate your special day, but it is also considerably cheaper than the standard land wedding.
