Ask The Experts: Getting Married on a Cruise or Saving the Experience for the Honeymoon

There is something uniquely romantic about getting married on a cruise. Cruise weddings have been popular for a long time, and offer a charming and magical way for couples to celebrate their love and demonstrate their commitment to one another. The tradition of getting married on board ship is so longstanding that captains are able to legally marry couples!

However, there are some downsides to a marine wedding, and there are plenty of couples who prefer to take a special offer cruise for their honeymoon and do something more traditional for the ceremony itself.

There are pros and cons to both approaches, and the choice ultimately depends on your own preferences as a couple. To give you a helping hand when it comes to making a decision, here are some of the most important things to keep in mind.

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Getting Married on a Cruise

Pros:

Convenience

One of the best things about cruise weddings is how convenient they are. Just like the rest of a cruise vacation, the cruise line can take care of pretty much every aspect of wedding organization, planning, and management, from the ceremony venue and officiant to the reception and even the cake. This means less stress for the couple, allowing you to enjoy your big day in total relaxation.

Scenic Backdrops

Another fantastic benefit to a cruise wedding is the location, which can be…anywhere you want in the world! You can get married with the sun setting beyond the horizon with nothing but ocean waves for miles and miles, or with gently swaying palms and golden sand beaches as a backdrop.

Guest-Friendly

Thanks to the size of a cruise ship, a cruise wedding can accommodate any number of guests, meaning you can have a small, intimate ceremony or an enormous blow-out. It also means your guests get a bonus vacation as part of the reception!

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Cons:

Limited Control

Convenience is one thing, but it does mean relinquishing control over a number of aspects of your wedding. Cruise weddings tend to be harder to customize, and you will have to accept that certain things are out of your control.

Guest Attendance

Whilst cruise weddings are excellent for guests who have plenty of leisure time, you will find that some friends and family might not be able to attend due to time constraints or health considerations. This means you will be looking at a limited guest list.

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Saving the Experience for the Honeymoon

Pros:

Traditional Wedding

There’s nothing quite like a traditional wedding ceremony, and many couples prefer to get married in a more traditional style before heading off on a cruise for their honeymoon. Taking this approach means you have more control over the ceremony and reception, and it lets you choose your dream venue, decor, entertainment, and all the other elements of a wedding.

Guest Accessibility

Getting married at sea might sound romantic, but a dry land wedding is far easier to get to for guests who don’t have the time or can’t embark on a cruise. This means you don’t have to run the risk of any of your loved ones missing out.

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Cons:

Planning Complexity

Traditional weddings require a lot of planning and coordination, which can be stressful. A cruise wedding takes this responsibility off your hands, which can be a great help.

Higher Costs

When you factor in the costs for venue rental, catering, flowers, and entertainment, traditional weddings tend to be more expensive than the all-inclusive packages offered by a cruise.

Honeymoon Planning

A cruise wedding means that your honeymoon is taken care of, while with a traditional wedding, you will still need to plan a separate honeymoon, which also means more expense!

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Ultimately, both choices offer the opportunity to celebrate your love in a memorable way, so consider what aligns best with your vision and preferences.

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