slord12

We sent ours out 9-10 months in advance! People already knew our plans though so a destination wedding really was no surprise! My save the dates are magnets that look like luggage tags with a map of the Bahamas on them. We instructed our guests to RSVP from the save the date since so much advance planning is necessary. We are requiring their cruise reservations by April - if we don't have it too bad, so sad! I've been very happy with my website and guest list import tool. It's so easy to upload from your address list and keep track of the numbers. So far we have had 35 RSVP for the cruise and have 7 who are coming to the wedding but can't join us for the cruise. We shall see where we stand once April rolls around!

Here is my save the date!

Most welcome. I just wanted everyone to know that it is easy to do yourself because you aren't really often given the information to start plus not every county will do it by mail.

Exactly - the way the documents read it sounds like you HAVE to go through TWE. I will happily save that money and do this myself, ha!

I just wanted to say the Brevard County Clerk's Office has been AMAZING to work with and the license was SO easy to get. They emailed us the paperwork right before Thanksgiving, We went to the Notary on Dec 4th and UPS'd it to them that afternoon. They received it this morning, I paid the fees by phone with my credit card and the forms are in the mail, validated and ready for us to get married next month. All the steps I did were the same steps I would have had to do if I have used TWE and I still would have had to pay the Florida Fee, the mailing fees, AND the additional fee they charge for doing it for you ($125 extra dollars). So for those getting married in Florida, any county license can be used in any other county in Florida. You can do this on your own, it is quick, easy and the Ladies at the Brevard County Clerks office are great to work with!

This is great to know! Thank you for sharing!

Where did you get your sunglasses? I've been looking at them on Etsy, but was hoping to find someplace more affordable.

 

 

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The ones I found on Etsy were all super expensive - try logolenses! I'm not sure how many you'll need, but for us it was cheaper to get them here.

What an awesome day - it looked incredible! Totally agree with you about Berani too - he IS such a cutie-pie! This excursion is on my want to do list now. Loving your review, thank you so much for sharing your vacations with all of us!

for some reason my posts keep getting deleted by admin and I really don't think I've mentioned anything wrong but whatever! haha so for me we are just plugging along on the wedding plans. We just can't wait for the trip especially now since it has been under 20 degrees for the past week and snow. URGH! Today I started filling our gift bags and I keep finding more goodies to add. I'll attach pictures of the stuff we have so far. I ordered bags with anchors and hibsicus flower lanyards for the cards on the cruise! I also included:

Lint rollers

make up wipes

sunscreen

toothbrushes

toothpaste

antibac wipes

tide pens

kleenex

note pad (will add pens later)

tylenol

 

I'm also looking for a cheap website to buy some drinking cups for each person as well because I know I had to buy one on my last cruise and it would have been nice to have one.

 

Other then that we have just been finishing up some last touches on different things and waiting *ahem* patiently (yeah right) Hope all is well with my fellow brides and grooms!

 

http://s1382.photobucket.com/user/Steckman31886/library/?sort=3&page=1

Love the bags! I ordered drawstring backpacks to put all of our stuff in.....only problem is I haven't decided what all to include. You had some great ideas. The only definite item we are including is sample size sunscreen and the sunglasses we had printed up for everyone.

Yes formal night is the second night of the 3 day cruises. Curves and Far From Over are the shows, I'm a huge Far From Over fan!

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Wow - yes they have jumped. I just got alerts that most went up over $100 per person in every category!! What is going on?

Yeah! I'm so excited. Stressed because of $ of course but that'll always be an issue! hehe. I got all the documents today so I'm going over them, do I fax or send it through postal?? Which room are you hoping to get for the ceremony?! Do you happen to have any pictures of the lounges, etc?!!?

I scanned and emailed mine - I have gotten quick responses each time too! No problems there. I am thinking I may wind up in the Fantasia Lounge (main theater) or the Plaza Lounge (aft where the comedy club is held) because our wedding will more than likely be so large! Have you checked out the deck plans on the Carnival website? You can click through deck by deck and look at photos of all of the lounges.

Here is the link: http://http://www.carnival.com/cruise-ships/carnival-sensation.aspx

I'm really not picky at all about location - I just want to show up and have fun!

Looks like we'll be Sensation bride buddies :D! We have decided to go with the Sensation since it does have more availability I feel less stressed out and it is cheaper! I'm so excited. I don't like the itenarary but Sensation is a beautiful ship so for my wedding thats all that matters (we figure we can go on a different ship later on throughout the years!) and we will have the Dj *which we really wanted* so i'm happy!!

 

 

 

 

 

Congrats btw :)

Woohoo!! That's awesome - the club on the Sensation is beautiful so I am very excited about our reception there since we booked the DJ too! Keep me posted on how it's going. I love this whole no stress thing I've had going on.

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Save the dates were sent out about a month ago and we have had a great response so far! We invited tons of people. We've only had one rude comment about cost, but honestly, it was expected from this person. I kept it together and just said "well you know you can come to the wedding and not cruise, right?".

People have been shocked we invited so many guests. I guess it's because most destination weddings are small. We tried to explain to them, it wasn't about keeping it small or saving money - this is just what we wanted to do! We show up, and have a great time!

I still have to find my dress, and we need to pick out what the guys are going to wear. I picked the color/fabric for the girls dresses and told them to pick whichever style they like. I have a variety of sizes, and I wanted them to feel comfortable and pretty in what they were wearing.

We decided to order the silk real touch bouquets so that we know exactly what we're getting. We decided on bright tropical colors!

I just laugh when people ask how planning is going! We're done until May for the most part when we have to submit the final guest list, pick cake flavors, and finalize reception food options. We have to do the same for the welcome dinner at the Radisson the night before the wedding.

My best friend is getting married this weekend, and I THANK MY LUCKY STARS that I chose a cruise wedding!

Which area on the Sunshine were you looking to have your ceremony? I think that ship is awesome, I'd have chose it, if it offered shorter cruises.

We opted for the Sensation so we could do a "long weekend" getaway in the summer. We have had a fantastic response so far. I know the ship is older, but I love it!

The Paradise is going into drydock in February 2015, so it will definitely get some cosmetic upgrades and could potentially get a few 2.0 elements.

When is your wedding?

Congratulations! So happy to hear you had a wonderful day, and the pictures were perfect.

Hello! I know there is a forum for weddings, but not getting help there. If anyone knows of anyone or has gotten married on the Fantasy I would like some help and advice. Did yours go perfectly, problems with the coordinator/planner, guests, pictures, reception and when it was time for non sailing guests to leave?

 

 

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I frequent the wedding forum and haven't seen a post from you. I am getting married on the Sensation (same class as Fantasy) on June 11, 2015. My first cruise ever was on the Carnival Dream for a wedding, and that's the day I fell in love with cruising and decided then and there a cruise wedding was for me.

My fiance and I are both busy with our jobs, and he coaches 3 sports so we wanted something fun without the stress of choosing every little detail. We know for certain that our reception will be in the nightclub since we booked the DJ. We have a large wedding party (16) and invited almost 300 guests (obviously we know not near that many will be able to attend) but we are ready just in case they surprise us and all are able to make it! We chose a 3 night cruise during the summer because we thought more people would be able to use it as a summer vacation without having to take a whole lot of time off work.

My mom and I are going to pick out the bridesmaid dress color and start looking for my dress next week then all we really need to do is pick out the tuxes and wait.

Our final guest list and documents aren't due until early May, but I've told guests I needed confirmations for hotel and cruise by April 1 (that way I have a little bit of time to play with if needed). We are hosting a welcome dinner the night before at our hotel so we needed the confirmations for how many will attend the dinner.

Hop on over to the wedding forum and I'll be glad to help and answer any questions you have!

I will say, if your only experience with Carnival is on 7 day sailings, prepare to be disappointed on the sensation.

It is different - I LOVE the Sensation though. I thought I'd be disappointed too after only cruising 7 nights on the Carnival Dream and RC Freedom of the Seas. Turns out, the Sensation is my favorite, so much so that we are getting married on it in June! My RC snob fiance ;) even loved it. Go have fun, you may be surprised!

There is a formal night!

So frustrating! I know you have to be upset and stressed with everything already being marked Liberty. I guess it's a risk we all take by booking a wedding like this - Carnival can change anything, at anytime! Not sure who all you have talked to, but if you can get the "right" person on the phone sometimes things can be accomplished. Have you emailed John Heald? He has a lot of pull, and he will at least respond to you and get you in touch with someone. Not saying anything will be offered for sure, but it's worth a shot.

I wouldn't worry about the group booking thing too much - it's really not as great as they try and make it sound...and trust me, they will try and make it SOUND fantastic. Most times you get better deals by booking individually. Price drops and upgrades don't work the same with group bookings, and most times you won't get VIFP nights (they say they can be considered "non revenue" nights if you get any free rooms out of the deal).

Personally, I don't like the 2.0 upgrades (sure Guys Burgers are good and all and there are a few other things - but there are SO many other things I wish they would have left alone - productions shows for example). I understand your frustration if your guests were expecting it, but really most probably will forget all about it....especially your first time cruisers! They are going to be so excited to board that ship that they won't care!

Everything will work out, just go and have a great time!

So happy to see all of these Sensation brides!

I love the ship - I appreciate it's "old school" ship feel! I have been awaiting some dry dock info and so far for Fantasy class ships the Elation and Ecstasy appear to not be getting all of the 2.0 upgrades. I am relieved honestly. I know what to expect on this ship and that was why we chose it!

I am hoping for my ceremony to be in the main theater (Fantasia) and since I booked the DJ the reception will be in the nightclub.

We are waiting on our save the dates to come in and will have those mailed out in early October at the latest. We are inviting 260 people and are hoping for a good turnout!

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Thanks for this! Our wedding is next summer on the Sensation so I've been waiting for some Fantasy class drydock info to come out. Honestly, I'm relieved that it sounds like not much will change on these ships. I like them for what they are now and I know what to expect!

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I don't think so - information on the Elation and Ecstasy drydocks have been posted so far on goccl.com. The Elation is only getting routine maintenance and the Ecstasy is getting the pool bars - Blue Iguana and Red Frog but no other 2.0 upgrades. I'm getting married on the Sensation next year so I was interested in this topic too. I am betting none of the Fantasy class ships get all the 2.0 upgrades!

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We just got back yesterday, and it was incredible!! Thank you so much for your helpful tips.

WE WERE ABLE TO RIDE ESCAPE FROM GRINGOTTS!! The ride did break down several times during our stay, but it worked perfectly when it was our turn to ride.

We had a great time, and can't wait to return. Thanks again!

Woohoo!

Our wedding cruise is confirmed for June 11, 2015 on the Carnival Sensation! We chose a 3 night cruise to encourage lots of friends/family to cruise with us. I am hoping for a good response. Right now everyone seems excited, but it always comes down to the wire on who is willing to spend the money. Everyone on this forum has been so helpful with the information they have posted!

You were on the same cruise as me on FOS in April 2013! My first cruise was on Carnival, the Dream, and it started my addiction.

My boyfriend (now fiance) had only been on RC - so when we booked a 3 day cruise on an older Carnival ship (Sensation) he was skeptical. Well, he loved it! Don't get me wrong, I had a great time of the FOS too and would go again, but for the price and value I continue to choose Carnival every time.

I just took my mom on the Sensation in May and she loved it too! This is a woman who has only cruised in suites on NCL - so that's saying a lot in my opinion.

Give it a try - you may just be surprised!

How exciting! We chose Port Canaveral as our sailing point because we want to spend time at the space center when we return from the cruise... Yes we fly our nerdy Geek flags high lol After that we decided a four day to the Bahamas made a good choice for similar reasons, financially and we have invited several first time cruisers.

I have only sailed from Port Canaveral, so I have nothing to compare it to, but it is always so organized and fast. I attended a wedding cruise out of PC in 2012 and felt so comfortable with how everything ran. I told the coordinators during the reception that when I got married I'd be calling them, haha! We are working on our save the dates already and will finalize once the date is official - we are sending something cute, but also including a mailer with tons of information. We will have a lot of first time cruisers too so I'm expecting lots of questions and concerns. I'm just so excited - I'm from a small town and everyone here does the same type weddings and that is just not me at all! Keep me posted on your wedding, I know it will be great!

I did the spreadsheet of our budget just so my fiance could see how much money we are putting aside and that everything will be covered. I think he was worried we'd get on the cruise and have no fun money. I kind of was too. I update it each time we spend money or either of us make a deposit. It helps me not.panic about what isn't done yet. But I'm a planner. It's my comfort.

I see you are getting married on the Sensation - and we have made the decision to do the same! I've been on that ship twice, my fiance once, and we both decided a 3 night cruise would make a great weekend getaway with our guests. We were originally thinking of a 7 night - but with the number we are inviting - 3 nights just made sense for them time wise and financially. We are finalizing our date choices this weekend, and calling to book early next week. I am so excited!