There is little doubt that getting married is simultaneously the greatest and most stressful event most couples will embark on. More and more these days, couples are looking for options that present less stress. One such option is wrapping all of the marriage festivities in one package. In this case, we are talking about tying the knot on a cruise.
One of the first things you'll have to decide is whether you want to get married on board the ship or at a port. Not all cruise lines offer weddings on board. In fact, most of them recommend that you get married at port in your home country.
Holland America cruise ships do allow you to get married on the ship. Most of the individual ships do have wedding chapels on board, but you must get married while the ship is docked at its port of origin. It is just one of those legal things. Celebrity cruises also offer many different wedding packages, but you may not get married at sea. Again, you must choose one of the designated ports of call for your wedding ceremony location.
The only cruise line that allows you to actually get married while on the ship at sea is the Princess cruise line. The captains aboard these ships are legally permitted to perform weddings under the legal authority of Bermuda, the port of origin for the cruise line. Any of the major cruise lines, however, would be happy to help you arrange a wedding that revolves around your cruise, and most of the cruise ship companies offer wedding planners at the various ports they land at.
The most popular option is just to get married on land and spend the rest of the time at sea. One way to be sure you'll be able to afford this sort of option is to set up a cruise registry. This is similar to a gift registry, except wedding guests put money into a special account just for your cruise, instead of buying gifts. This way, the cost of your trip can be greatly reduced ? perfect for the couple that would rather have a trip than household appliances.
Right now, the economy is in bad shape and it trickles down to many aspects of our lives. Some Americans are losing jobs, others have seen a cut in hours or pay, and most are have curbed their spending habits. Now may not seem like the best time to plan your dream wedding and honeymoon, but you actually could not ask for a better time. With careful planning, you can easily have the wedding and honeymoon of your dreams all in the Caribbean. How?
As previously stated, careful planning plays an important role in getting an affordable Caribbean wedding and Caribbean honeymoon. This careful planning involves combining your them into one event. Essentially, you travel to the Caribbean, have a beautiful destination wedding and stay in the area for your honeymoon. At first, it might sound like you are shortchanging yourself, but you are not. Moreover, there are many benefits, including the money you save.
The first step is to choose an all-inclusive Caribbean resort. When doing so, look at their wedding and honeymoon packages. What should you look for? A free wedding. Yes, really a free wedding! Many all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean provide free weddings to guests. Very few restrictions are imposed. For example, your wedding is free with a 3-night stay. That is why you should consider combining your honeymoon and wedding into one event. Plan a 5 or 7-day trip. Not only is your wedding included, but you get to spend the remainder of your trip honeymooning at a beautiful beachfront resort!
As for the free wedding itself, most all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean claim you get the simple classic wedding. Yes, you do, but you also get more. The inclusions with weddings are likely to vary depending on the resort. With that said, most include a decorated wedding area, a wedding planner, marriage license, minister fees, champagne or sparkling cider, a wedding cake, candlelit dinner for the bride and groom, and two to four complimentary off-property passes for wedding guests. When you think about it, this is a lot for nothing more than a 3-nights stay at a beachfront all-inclusive resort!
Since the goal is to have the wedding of your dreams, additional add-ons are available for a reasonable fee. These upgrades will vary depending on the resort in question, but you can find additional floral arrangements, in-room hair and makeup, guest passes for attendees staying at different hotels, tuxedo rentals, photography, video services, a private DJ, a private live band, a private wedding reception, and more. If you are on a budget, choose your add-ons wisely to limit costs.
Although most resorts require nothing more than a 3-night stay at their resort to qualify for a free wedding, there is another cost saving measure of combining the two. You are getting married in a foreign country. There are restrictions and fees. Most resorts will take care of these fees for you, which can easily exceed $200, with a 7-night stay.
As you can see, combining your Caribbean wedding and your Caribbean honeymoon into one trip has its benefits, mostly the money you can save. Have you always dreamed of a wedding on a beach? You got it! Resorts let you choose from different onsite locations for the ceremony. But wait! What about your guests? Will your parents travel to the Caribbean to attend your wedding? It depends. If you want a private destination wedding, resorts will provide witnesses. If you want your friends and family in attendance, plan in advance. As previously stated, the economy impacts us all. Your family and friends cannot only attend your wedding, but have their own Caribbean vacation too. Just give them time to plan and save money for the trip.
By combining your Caribbean wedding and honeymoon into one trip and by doing so with a luxury, yet affordable all-inclusive resort, your dreams can become reality. Why settle for second best? You don't have to! Picture it now, exchanging vows on the shores of a beautiful beach, sharing your first dance to recorded music, cutting your wedding cake, clicking glasses of champagne and retreating back to your room, only to be greeted with breakfast in bed the next morning. You get all of this in the beautiful and tropical Caribbean. What more could you ask for?
Both Richard Rspad & Sarah Avery are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Richard Rspad has sinced written about articles on various topics from Romantic Ideas, Beach Vacation and Alaska. Richard Rspad is with Resort Spa Destinations - information.. Richard Rspad's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.
Sarah Avery has sinced written about articles on various topics from Travel and Leisure, Family and Wedding Bells. Let Breezes help you plan your all-inclusive . Not only do you get to stay at a beautiful beachfront resort but you may qualify for a f. Sarah Avery's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.