Pressed for time or looking for a wedding with a difference? Why not combine your wedding ceremony, reception and honeymoon into one non-stop celebration-at-sea! Here’s how…

Are You Suggesting a Cruise Ship Wedding?

Indeed, we are! Years ago, there was a hit TV show named The Love Boat, which followed the lives and loves of the crew and passengers of an ocean liner. Here, on the high seas, romance bloomed, vows were exchanged and everyone lived happily ever after. Fast forward some 30 years and the New York Times reports that cruise boat weddings are trending in real life – with more and more American couples opting for this maritime wedding-honeymoon combo. What’s more, it’s rumoured that Hollywood power couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie will tie the knot aboard a cruise boat later this year.

Why Should I Get Married on a Cruise Ship?

If you’ve never thought of it as a viable option, have a glance through these quite compelling arguments for a marriage at sea:

It’s quick and easy – if you’re not up for months and months of tedious planning and traipsing around the countryside searching for the perfect wedding venue/wedding flowers/wedding caterer, a pre-packaged sea wedding is for you!
It offers a spectacular venue – the backdrop is a gorgeous blue ocean
It’s cost-effective – the cost of hosting a traditional wedding can be astronomical; cruise ship weddings, on the other hand, are comparatively cheap
There’s plenty of on-board entertainment and activities to keep your guests happy, with minimal input on your behalf
The honeymoon is in-built – from the moment you step on board, you’ll have that holiday feeling. Cruise ship wedding packages take care of your every need – wedding décor, wedding photography, wedding cake, even bridal hair and makeup – so you won’t have to lift a finger.

What Do I Need to Know About a Marriage at Sea?

Marriages at sea are all about the flag under which the ship flies – in other words, where it’s registered – and the waters in which it’s sailing. Some countries allow ship’s captains to officiate at marriages, some don’t. Many cruise ships offering wedding packages have a marriage officer on board, while others offer purely symbolic ceremonies, in which case you will need to have your marriage solemnised by the courts, first (this is, in fact, no different an arrangement to any religious wedding ceremony in South Africa, where a cleric may or may not be a marriage officer as designated by the Minister of Home Affairs). Check with the cruise liner’s wedding planners to make sure.

Cruise Ship Wedding Etiquette

Follow these guidelines to ensure you get hitched without a hitch!

Cruise ships suit small, intimate weddings – invite only your very nearest and dearest
You will need to know precise numbers before booking your passage, so make sure you follow up RSVPs in good time
If you’re feeling generous, there’s nothing stopping you splashing out and paying for your wedding guests’ entire trip
However, it’s perfectly acceptable to require guests to pay for their own accommodation aboard the ship, with you picking up the tab for the on-board wedding reception
If your guests are paying their own way, waive the wedding presents tradition – their attendance at your Big Day is present enough!
If you wish to include a greater number of guests, but know that they will not be able to cruise with you, consider having your wedding ceremony and reception whilst the boat is still docked in your hometown – then cruise off into the sunset with those who can go along for the ride.

Who Offers Cruise Ship Weddings?

A number of popular cruise liners around the world offer wedding packages, including:

MSC Cruises – South Africa
PO Cruises – The Mediterranean
Princess Cruises – Around the World
Royal Caribbean International – The Caribbean.

Or Go Big!

Money no object? Have the champagne-and-caviar, wedding-and-honeymoon experience of a lifetime on board the world’s biggest, most luxurious ocean liner, the Cunard Line’s Queen Mary II.

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