If you enjoy sailing and if you love wide open seas, then getting married on board of a ship has to be the romantic dream of your lifetime. I know about this first hand, because my son and daughter in-law were married on a boat with the ceremony conducted by the captain. In their case, the cruise was a two-hour boat trip with all the family and friends on the Intra-Coastal waterway in Florida. In the boat, after the wedding ceremony, cocktails and snacks were served, to be followed later by the reception on land with dinner, cake, and the whole works.
A cruise wedding, however, could differ from this. The wedding party could be four to eighteen people on a small boat or over two hundred people on a cruise ship, and the destination could be any place in the world, if the couple is able to afford it.
If you are thinking of getting married on a cruise liner, first get in touch with the cruise lines to find out what they have to offer. Most cruise lines provide everything from flowers to decorations to cake, and they even provide wedding planners. Others may expect you to come up with your own plan, to bring in your own music and photographer, or help with the decorations and such.
If you are planning an out-of-country cruise, find out what the different cruise lines ask for the actual marriage ceremony. Some let their captains conduct it on board, while others tell you to get married at port and then board the ship. Then, make sure everyone's passports and other official papers are taken care of ahead of time. Some incorrect processing or missed legality may put a damper on your enjoyment while sailing. Also, know that if you are married aboard a cruise ship, your wedding license may be issued by the country of the cruise lines' origin.
If finances are a problem, couples with tighter means are advised to set up a cruise registry. This may sound tacky to some people, but it really isn't, because instead of gifts, wedding guests put money into a special account to help with the expense of the cruise.
A cruise wedding can combine your honeymoon with the wedding ceremony at the same time and make it as relaxing or as action-filled as you wish. Different companies offer different packages for combination wedding and honeymoon cruises; therefore, it is smart to shop around before you settle on one.
In addition, remember the weather. As romantic as it may seem, sailing the Caribbean in the hurricane season may be a very bad choice. Do some research, and plan your cruise according to the weather in your destination.
There are many romantic places in the world a wedding party can sail to, like Alaska, Europe, Pacific Islands, Far East, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean etc. One interesting and quite original trip is to get married in a chartered sailing boat on the Turquoise coast in the Aegean. First you'll have to fly there if you are going from the USA; however, the rest of the trip is much cheaper and well worth it. There, with the help of the crew and the captain, you can determine your own route and visit the ports and historic sites of Turkey, Greece, and Italy. The smaller boats can host eight to eighteen people, and in addition to snorkeling and other activities, the cuisine is a delight prepared by a true chef. The same companies that charter the small boats also offer larger yachts or boats that can hold more people. So it is a good idea to plan in detail, before you go there.
If you love the sea and want your wedding to be memorable and romantic, a cruise wedding is the way to go. Just remember to explore all your options.
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