How to Plan a Yacht or Cruise Ship Wedding Without Needing a Life Jacket

NYC Yacht Charter

Planning an event as important and life changing as a wedding is a little different once you choose a venue off land. Different logistics and different kind of concerns before the big day might make some second guess this option. But in order for a venue to be unique, it MUST be different, it comes with the territory. And once you know the minor details to help you plan accordingly, the glorious wedding winds will set you on a steady planning course.

As we always say at GKYS, give your guests an experience, not just a good party. Any event on the water, whether on board a yacht or a cruise ship, gives a vibe of relaxation, classiness, and romance with ease. We hope these tips give you what you need to pull up that anchor, and leave that decision making dock!

The Majesty Atrium

We’ll start with the easier of the 2 off land venues: a private yacht wedding. Unlike a cruise ship wedding, with a yacht wedding you typically won't be limited to a small guest count. You also won’t be limited to decor options, and depending where you live, you won’t need that ‘destination wedding’ title that comes automatically with a cruise ship wedding.

Here are 7 common questions we receive from our clients:

1. Where do the yachts sail to?

You can find private yachts that cater to events all over North America. East Coast, West Coast, Canada, and especially Florida. We're local to North Jersey and NYC, so we’ll use this moment to tell you where our yachts go! What kind of backdrop do you want for your wedding cruise? Nature landscapes? A city skyline? The beach? These are good questions to ask yourself before you start looking. Here at GKYS, we offer a Hudson River cruise that loops around the Statue of Liberty, the bigger-than-life Manhattan Skyline, Empire State Building, and Colgate Clock to name a few sightseeing musts. But we also offer a landscape cruise along the Raritan Bay in North Jersey, where subtle landscapes of nature compose your background scene. No matter where you live, the scenery of your cruise will set the scene of your wedding so make sure to put some thought into this.

2. How much does the weather impact my event?

Destiny Dining Deck

​Fortunately, most yachts are fully equipped to cruise every day of the year, rain or shine. Ask if your yacht choice comes fully enclosed with heating and air conditioning. Passenger safety is top priority, and the Captain might decide to stay docked if severe winds are anticipated.

3. ​How do I tip the staff?

Since gratuity is solely at your discretion, tips are typically not included in Yacht Wedding packages. But any highly polished and experienced staff appreciates being rewarded for a job well done!

4. What does booking a "private yacht" entail?

"Private" means that every floor and every inch of your chosen yacht is solely there to accommodate you and no one else at your chosen time slot. You'll be given suggested times to board and and sail, but usually the yachts are flexible.

Skydeck view along the Hudson River

5. How can I utilize the outdoor decks?

Depending on the yacht you choose, you can have your ceremony, cocktail hour, and dance floor on the outside decks. It's always essential to have a backup plan in case the rain gets in the way, but this holds true to any land based event as well!

6. Are there elevators on board?

While no company can guarantee they'll be working during your event, some yachts do have elevators. Best not to rely on these though, always have a backup plan.

7. When are vendors allowed on board prior to the wedding?

Vendors are allowed on board typically 2-3 hours before guest boarding starts, but if more time is needed just clear it with the planner or yacht owner in advance. If you’re a DIY bride or groom and made the wedding decorations yourself, ask the week of your big day if you're able to get on your yacht the night before to set up. If this is not an option, have a detailed plan as to what time setup can start, who will be setting up for you, and what they need to do to make your vision come to life. If it needs to be your bridesmaids or groomsmen, make sure to plan around makeup, hair, and pictures. But if you booked Alison, our Exclusive DIY Decor Partner, she’ll be the vendor to set up your decor, so none of the stress of setup will be on your shoulders on this most important day.

Destination Cruises

Now, if a destination wedding is more your style, a cruise ship wedding is right up your alley. A cruise wedding can be a tremendous value compared to a wedding based on land, and you won’t need to book as many vendors as a land based wedding either. Another advantage is that your honeymoon begins right away. But things can be a little more complicated logistically. Obtaining your marriage license can also have its challenges.

We found 8 great tips to guide you along the way. Special thanks to CruiseCritic.com and  Grouptravel.org for the additional insight!

1. If you’re considering a cruise ship wedding in the first place, you most likely have been on a cruise at least once and loved it. You either want to stay loyal to your favorite cruise line because you know what to expect, or you might want to venture outside of your comfort zone to another cruise line. If that’s the case, you want to make sure you choose the right ship, but where do you start?

We suggest going with a popular cruise line, since they have dedicated teams and departments to plan weddings and group travel on board their ships. Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess, Celebrity, and Disney Cruise Lines are great cruise lines to start evaluating.

Make sure to ask these 7 questions during your assessment process:

1. How many non-sailing guests can the cruise line accomodate for a wedding performed at the port of departure?
2. What kind of services is the cruise line willing to offer for a cruise line wedding?
3. Does the cruise line offer wedding packages?
4. What age groups are the activities on board geared to? Some cruise lines have a larger focus on making the kids happy, others are focused on an older age group, with minimal kids on board.
5. Can you be married at sea or can you only be married at a port? Can the captain officiate the ceremony?
6. Is the bridal suite available?
7. What times are still available to get married, and what rooms are still available for reception?

2. If you’re planning a wedding on the more popular, mass market cruise lines such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara Cruises, and Holland America, you’ll have a very experienced wedding planner to help coordinate your big day. Certain times of the year do affect the wedding package price.

3. Not all ships allow the Captain to officiate your ceremony at sea. Celebrity, Azamara, Princess Cruises, and Cunard’s are able to marry couples at sea. Azamara ships are registered in Malta, and Princess Cruises and Cunard’s ships are registered in Bermuda.

4. If you wish to get married on one of the island stops of the cruise, several cruise lines have their own private islands for wedding ceremonies and vow renewals. Disney Cruise Line captains can lead wedding ceremonies on board or at their private island, Castaway Cay. Holland America conducts wedding ceremonies and vow renewals at Half Moon Cay, their own private island. Just be aware that you might need to sign the marriage license paperwork at the cruise terminal before your ship departs.

5. Ever been on a cruise where the weather impacts the port of call that day, and everyone needs to stay on the ship? Not very fun, so planning a wedding on one of the cruise destinations needs to have a prepared backup plan just in case. Hurricane season starts in June and ends in November, so we don’t recommend planning a shoreside wedding during this time frame for that very reason.

6. If you want your ceremony on board the ship, but also want guests who won’t be sailing with you to have the chance to attend, consider having your wedding while the ship is docked at home port. This also gives you the chance to choose an officiant that won’t be sailing either. And the guests can go to your wedding after party before they need to disembark for the ship to set sail. The wedding party will typically board early before the next cruise embarkation begins, and the ceremony will take place midday, giving enough time to celebrate for all the guests, whether they’re sailing with you or staying on land.

7. As we mentioned before, getting married at sea or a foreign island is complicated, and you need to be aware of all the logistics before signing your wedding contract. Have your wedding planner explain all the details, ask a ton of questions, and see where they recommend as a choice wedding spot along their cruise destinations.

8. If you have a large group of guests making your wedding/honeymoon as part of their vacation, take advantage of group rates. Getting group rates can be time consuming and annoying, so we recommend going through grouptravel.org where they find and negotiate the best group rates for you on multiple cruise lines, free of charge. There are other advantages to group travel besides the good rates! The bride and groom will get a free room, you’ll receive onboard credit to spend on the ship, a free cocktail party, free banquet room to host your wedding, welcome gifts for guests, and everyone will be seated together for dinner each night on the cruise.

NYC Hybrid Yacht Charter

Don’t let these suggestions and guidelines overwhelm you! A wedding or special event that moves and gives your guests sightseeing opportunities is an amazing experience for all to share! Whether your heart is set on a yacht wedding close to home, or a destination cruise ship wedding to start the honeymoon immediately, you’ll have a phenomenal day, and plenty of nautical memories to last a lifetime.

Do you have additional tips that would be extremely helpful? Have you ever booked a cruise or private yacht wedding? Tell us about it in the comments below! Have additional questions about these type of weddings? Ask in the comments below, we'd love to help!

Gabrielle Goldklank is the Co-founder of Golden Knot Yacht Services, a private yacht event planner for weddings, corporate events, and special occasions in NYC, NJ, Philadelphia, and DC. Golden Knot Yacht Services also offers luxury boat excursions at the Jersey Shore during the summer season. Don’t just float through life, catch some waves.
www.goldenknotys.com
@goldenknotyacht