Just booked our cruise wedding!!

[Ecofrugal]

Hey!  I was on the Paradise twice this this year (April and June), both times for weddings!!  

 

OK, I will be very honest about one thing, the theater where they both wedding were held was very... uh... gold?  And, yes, the decor in the clubs (and the ship in general) is just hideous.  Bu if you can get past that it's a nice ship!  My suggestion is to look at pictures and choose colors that won't clash with the decor of the ship and the theater.  Pastels will look a little strange in that theater!  Both weddings picked a shade of brown for the bridesmaids dresses and it looked fantastic.

 

Also both of the brides hired an outside photographer to shoot their weddings.  Both wanted pictures BEFORE the ceremony back at the hotel (the portraits and getting ready) since I think a lot of the family and bridal party weren't sailing.  If I recall correctly, there isn't that much time between the ceremony, the reception, and the time the non-sailing guests have to leave the ship so if you have a lot of non-sailing family members you want in the portraits you might consider hiring someone for an hour or two before the ceremony, maybe to take those family pics in the port before you board?  But if everyone is sailing I don't think this would be a problem.  Although one photographer ended up sailing with the group and took pictures of all of the dinners (a ton during the formal dinner) and they did a trash the dress around the boat one day that was kind of neat. 

 

The ship itself is older and smaller. But I got very lucky on the Craps table and enjoyed the comedians they had on board.  Oh!  Be sure to make it to the Marriage Game and try to get the Newly Wed spot.  It's pretty fun for you and your guests.

 

If you have any questions I did play a roll in both weddings and got to see some of the inner workings of Paradise Welcome Aboard weddings so feel free to ask!

[Ecofrugal]

Weird!  I remember posting the first two replies but they didn't show up so I posted the third one.  Now there's the first two replies.  Sorry!  I didn't mean to post all the same info twice!

[okmyers]

I'm getting married at Key West onboard Conquest 1 month after you. I'm doing everything onboard because I felt like the destination weddings were to risky and probably a little more stressful. I booked the pianist because of the location. I surely didn't want my wedding and/or reception in the disco club!!!! The entertainment is first come first serve so I would go ahead and book something just in case there are several other weddings going on.

 

Does anyone know anything about the cake? I'm trying to decide if I want to bring my own cake topper?

[kks2012]

Ecofrugual, I thought carnival doesn't allow outside professional photographers

[AshleyW]

 

 

Originally Posted by okmyers 

 

I'm getting married at Key West onboard Conquest 1 month after you. I'm doing everything onboard because I felt like the destination weddings were to risky and probably a little more stressful. I booked the pianist because of the location. I surely didn't want my wedding and/or reception in the disco club!!!! The entertainment is first come first serve so I would go ahead and book something just in case there are several other weddings going on.

 

Does anyone know anything about the cake? I'm trying to decide if I want to bring my own cake topper?

 

I went ahead and booked the DJ - I don't mind having our reception in the cheesy disco. Plus my family likes to dance so I'd rather have the room and music for everyone to have fun.  

 

As far as the cake - my coordinator said mine would be 2 tiered based on my guests (approx 30) and most likely plain white with some white piping on it. I brought my own cake topper so it would at least be a little personalized.

 

 

Originally Posted by kks2012 

 

Ecofrugual, I thought carnival doesn't allow outside professional photographers

 

That's what I was told as well. I'll have lots of family there taking pictures, so I'm not going to risk bringing along a professional photographer and have something happen.

 

[Ecofrugal]

 

 

Originally Posted by kks2012 

 

Ecofrugual, I thought carnival doesn't allow outside professional photographers

 

Not sure about that but they all had them.  And the coordinators were talking to the photographers and telling them how the ceremony would go so the coordinators knew the B&G had hired their own.  And no one kicked them off.  

 

I think it's like Sandals.  You aren't supposed to bring your own, but if they are a guest and they are sailing (or staying at the resort) they aren't going to turn away their money.

[Ecofrugal]

We're also bringing our own photographer.  Photography is one of the most important details for me and half of our budget is going toward ours.  I would not trust a cruise photographer with my big day.  We aren't announcing it to the cruise line who she is, she's just coming as a guest and will just happen to be at the wedding with some cameras.   With so many people with cameras these days, for all the cruiseline knows the "pro" is just a cousin with a fancy camera or something.  I remember one bride joking that the photographer was her "best friend from college"... yeah, they had never met before the cruise!  But, again, the cruiseline doesn't know this, nor do I think they really care at the end of the day.

[CherylSewell]

I'm getting married on the Paradise out of Tampa Nov 8, 2012. We are sailing to Cozumel and back. We decided getting married at Port so let me know all the details when you return.

 

 

[mableswift]

Hmm, congratulation dude,  I think its a superb idea about doing cruise wedding but can please tell me which cruise have you booked for it. I just want to know the details of it, many of my friends suggest me to go with How2Vacation, as its the best agency that is most professional in this type of function. I know this because I have attended many cruise wedding and services was through How2Vacation, amazing decoration, fast and smooth service, food were delicious, all various categories of drinks and beverages.

 

 

CHEAP VACATION PACKAGES ALL INCLUSIVE

[HKdolphingirl]

Originally Posted by Ecofrugal 

 

Hey!  I was on the Paradise twice this this year (April and June), both times for weddings!!  

 

OK, I will be very honest about one thing, the theater where they both wedding were held was very... uh... gold?  And, yes, the decor in the clubs (and the ship in general) is just hideous.  Bu if you can get past that it's a nice ship!  My suggestion is to look at pictures and choose colors that won't clash with the decor of the ship and the theater.  Pastels will look a little strange in that theater!  Both weddings picked a shade of brown for the bridesmaids dresses and it looked fantastic.

 

Also both of the brides hired an outside photographer to shoot their weddings.  Both wanted pictures BEFORE the ceremony back at the hotel (the portraits and getting ready) since I think a lot of the family and bridal party weren't sailing.  If I recall correctly, there isn't that much time between the ceremony, the reception, and the time the non-sailing guests have to leave the ship so if you have a lot of non-sailing family members you want in the portraits you might consider hiring someone for an hour or two before the ceremony, maybe to take those family pics in the port before you board?  But if everyone is sailing I don't think this would be a problem.  Although one photographer ended up sailing with the group and took pictures of all of the dinners (a ton during the formal dinner) and they did a trash the dress around the boat one day that was kind of neat. 

 

The ship itself is older and smaller. But I got very lucky on the Craps table and enjoyed the comedians they had on board.  Oh!  Be sure to make it to the Marriage Game and try to get the Newly Wed spot.  It's pretty fun for you and your guests.

 

If you have any questions I did play a roll in both weddings and got to see some of the inner workings of Paradise Welcome Aboard weddings so feel free to ask!

Such a good thought about picking non clashing colors, I hadn't even thought of that! Getting married on Paradise in port October 28, 2013!! So excited!