Cruise STDs...what to send?

[FLgator]

Ok, here's the deal...we are going to get married in port on the beach in Key West or Ocho Rios while sailing on a cruise. We are deciding between 2 cruises in either Jan. or Feb. 2009. I know that is only about 7 months away and we need to get a move on! Well, we have given ourselves until this Friday to decide. This means once I have our TA block the cabins the countdown begins for deposits and the first deposit may be due as early as 2 weeks from that date! Therefore, once we block the cabins this weekend, I need to get the STDs with booking info out immediately! I plan to DIY them.

 

My question is what should I send for an STD I would love to do the whole boarding pass or passport booklet, but the reality is I am short on time and creativity. Should I send some sort of brochure or card with the booking info (cruise description, prices, and TA info) along with a magnet?? You guys are all so creative....any ideas or templates you can think of?

 

Thanks!

[merocket59]

Go to vistaprint.com and sign up for their emails, they always have free offers and they have magnets that would be great for STDs. There are templates on the website so you can use one of theirs or upload an image you like but you would have to pay for the upload and shipping. Then in a few months you can send out a brochure that way it will help remind them to book and you have a little time to make them.

[Tamster808]

WooHoo, I actual can help someone!

I am getting married in Port Canaveral 04/17/09. Here is what I send out as my STD. However, I did not put STD on so everyone thought it was a invitation. Poor planning on my part. It is a brochure with basic information. I do not have the template Sandra did it for me (she is the BEST). I do have the template that I did (UGLY) if you would like to see what I included for info. PM me and I send it to. But like I said I should have said Save the Weekend.

About holding the cabins, I booked with RCCL and they allowed me to hold cabins for three months. You might want to with your TA.

[Tamster808]

Sorry the first picture is so blurry.

[adias.angel]

We are doing the same thing. Vista print is probably the way you want to go if you don't have the time to do it in. Personally I love the boarding pass and passport STD's.

 

Besides the standard when and where you should include information about payment schedules for the cruise and also explain a little for those who have not cruised.

 

One of the big mistakes people make is thinking the dinning room and activities on board cost extra. It might be very helpful to your guests to understand basically what they pay for the cruise includes just about everything but drinks and shore excursions. Carla

[CruisingKeyWest09]

I am getting married while in Key West on my February 2009 cruise.

We sent out STD's about a month ago - no real information on the STD's.

We are sending out pocketfold wedding invitations 6 months in advance. These invitations would have all the information for booking the cruise and hotel information for in Miami. My STD's just served the purpose of announcing the date we have chosen. I found an invitation that has a cruise ship on it.

It looks like this http://www.bridalpeople.com/invitati...ages/15859.jpg

I bought mine at a local invitation shop - I got 50 of them for 30.00!!! I printed them at home. They turned out fabulous!

My STD's read like this:

Save the Date

Heather C.N XXXXX

&

Troy J. XXXXX

Are “Tying the Knotâ€!

Cruise Date: February 19th – February 23rd, 2009

Wedding Date: Morning of Friday, February 20, 2009

Wedding Location: Smather’s Beach, Key West, Florida

Cruise Line: Carnival

Ship Name: M/S Destiny

Details and Invitation to Follow

Visit our Wedding Website: Heather Schreiber and Troy Reynolds | Our Wedding Website

I would post a photo of the invitation - but .... I dont know how to attatch! Sorry!

[FLgator]

Thanks for the ideas girls!

 

Tami- I sent you a PM.

 

Heather- Those cruise invites are really cute....I wish I could find something like that around here. WHo are using to plan the ceremony in Key West?

 

I would of done vistaprint if I had more time, but I figure for what it costs for rush delivery I could make them on my own and not have to worry about not liking them when they arrive.

 

What do you guys think about sending invitations out 7 months in advance I just think the magnet is a waste for us considering we have to get everyone to book so soon...not like we need to give people a reminder for months down the road. Does that make sense?

 

I think we will eaither do a DIY save the week type card which would include all booking info....or we will just send invitations containing all booking info. What do you think?

 

Are you all sending invites to everyone you sent STDs to, or only to those who show interest?

[becks]

If you really want a passport style, they aren't that bad - particularly if you keep it to a minimum number of pages. If you want, I'd be happy to help. I'm working from home tomorrow, so I'll have time to do a lot of the design work.

 

And you can basically prep both of them (one for each cruise), and then on Friday after you've decided, print the one you need. I printed and prepped 40 in about 3 hours, so it's not really that time consuming. (The boarding passes took much longer.) If you're interested, send me a PM with a way to reach you and we'll go from there.

 

If you want to see what mine looked like, go here:

http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t16622

[CruisingKeyWest09]

Heather- Those cruise invites are really cute....I wish I could find something like that around here. WHo are using to plan the ceremony in Key West?

 

If you are interested I would be more than happy to see if our invitations shop still has them in and if so I could get them and mail them to you .... thats up to you.

 

I am using Key West Weddings to Go. Since we are only in Key West from 7am - 2pm. They are VERY reasonable!

[Tamster808]

I am sooooooooooooooooo glad there are other cruise brides out there! I have been feeling lonely?!?!?