Planning a Cruise Ship Wedding

Would you like to do something different for your wedding and save money as well? If so, consider combining the wedding and the honeymoon by getting married on a cruise ship. You can be married on the ship or you might have the ceremony on a beautiful beach at one of the cruise destinations - surf, sand, palm trees. Can you ask for anything more?

If you choose to be married on the ship, ceremonies are usually held before the ship sails. You will secure your marriage license in the state from which the ship sets sail. The captain can usually perform the ceremony or you can provide your own officiant.



If you prefer a romantic beach ceremony or perhaps a ceremony on an Alaskan glacier, the cruise company can make the arrangements for you. If you marry in Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Alaska, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, obtaining a marriage license will be relatively easy. Should you decide to marry in another country, however, the process is more complex. In the Bahamas, for instance, the  ship's captain or purser must certify that the ship was in Bahamanian waters for at least 24 hours before you apply for your license, then you must wait another 24 hours to use it. You must also obtain a certified copy of the marriage license indicating it was filed according to the laws of the country where the ceremony occurred. You may need to provide a birth certificate, proof of divorce, death of a spouse and/or other documents, if appropriate.

If a cruise ship wedding appeals to you, first decide where you want to honeymoon. Then, contact the cruise line several months before the wedding to begin making arrangements. This is not something you can pull together in a few weeks. The ship will arrange for a post-ceremony dinner or brunch complete with champagne toast. Some companies provide a photographer and a wedding cake. Others do not, so be sure to ask. Also ask about a bouquet for the bride and a boutonniere for the groom.

Next, create a guest list. You may decide you want no guests, in which case the ship will provide witnesses to sign the marriage license. If you want your family and friends to join you, give them the pertinent information and allow them to book their own reservations. Most of all, enjoy yourselves as you begin your new life in a very special and memorable way.