What did your on shore wedding cost?

[gerbera33]

I am at the very beginning stages of planning..

 

I know this is a kinda blunt question but just curious on how much you spent approx. for your on shore wedding and what did it include? We are thinking of St. Thomas..

 

Thanks so much!!!

[zoncom]

Heard on radio the other nite- average $28,000.Would make nice down payment on a house. Makes a ship ceremony look a bargain.

Edited September 22, 2013 by zoncom

[CwillygJ]

Mine will be around $3000. This does not include any reception at all. Just the ceremony itself. I am getting married in St. Thomas in November. We are having a at home reception when we return.

[gerbera33]

Mine will be around $3000. This does not include any reception at all. Just the ceremony itself. I am getting married in St. Thomas in November. We are having a at home reception when we return.

 

I would like to know more about your ceremony if you could email me :)

 

amanda_l32@Hotmail.com

[JAC1213]

I am also at the beginning stages and I was aiming for March 2015, but the more I add everything up the longer I'm going to need to save. The prices seem to range so wide. Everything you do is an extra cost, for example the ceremony may be 2,600 on shore, but now you must add about $35 pp for transportation plus $10 pp for chairs. Before you know it the price has hiked itself way up over 15,000 depending on your wants and party size. I really don't want a shore reception, just a shore ceremony. Food is included with the cost of the cruise I figured we can just eat at the dining room, then have a reception on board after dinner. I then need to figure out what to do with everyone after the shoreside ceremony, maybe a shore excursion, which will be another expense. The price I am coming up with goes well over 10,000.

:) Crystal

[Bo59rt]

We are still in the planning stages with our wedding planner on St. Thomas for our April 1, 2014 wedding and our total so far is closer to the 11k mark. We can have 30-45 guests in this price range and this is including the beach ceremony (was an upgrade cost from a cliff side wedding) and full 4 hour reception. Also upgraded to a photographer more to our style, and an upgraded food and cake option. Lets see if this goes any higher, still a lot cheaper than a full blown stateside wedding!

[JAC1213]

Bo59rt, did you book through the ship or an island coordinator? Does your current cost include the cruise itself? Are you having music with dancing at your reception? Does your price include round trip transportation for you and your guests? Are you planning to tour the island on the wedding day, if not how do you feel about not being able to tour the island on your wedding day? Does your beach ceremony include chairs for your guests? Sorry for the gazillion questions, but thank you in advance.

[Bo59rt]

Bo59rt, Sorry for the gazillion questions, but thank you in advance.

 

JAC1213,

 

im going to break down your post....

did you book through the ship or an island coordinator?

I booked through Janelle at Island Bliss weddings I have the "Ultimate Cruise Ship Wedding Experience" which is on her website lists everything that it includes. (Inculdes transportation which was mentioned before as an "expensive" per person expense.)

Does your current cost include the cruise itself?

Nope, of course my fiancée is hooked on aft wraps so that bumped up our price by a pretty penny also.

Are you having music with dancing at your reception?

With my "Package" ( I say that lightly because I have pretty much changed everything on this package to suit what I want, with no issues from Janelle) I have a full blown reception which includes three hours of a DJ.

Does your price include round trip transportation for you and your guests?

Right now it includes two private cars from the ship, one for me and one for my groom so we can go to the court house to sign paperwork and not see each other. Also includes RT for all the guests from Ship, to beach, to reception site up on crown mountain, and back to ship.

Are you planning to tour the island on the wedding day, if not how do you feel about not being able to tour the island on your wedding day?

We will have little to no time to do anything other than the wedding. our schedule goes as:

10am ship docks

10:45 groom/best man leave ship on private car to go to Court house

11:00 bride/MOB/MOH leave ship on private car & Guests leave on safari buses

11:30 Bride arrives at beach, ceremony starts

12-1:30 Transportation to reception site/pictures taken/ Cocktail hour passed hour'dorves

1:30 -4:30 Reception (package also includes 3-course lunch and open bar, middle to top shelf alcohol)

5-5:15 guests back at dock

6pm ship leaves

I don't feel like they are missing out on anything, because this is my wedding day and that is what they are ultimately there for. However, they will get to ride along the coast to the beach, be on the beach for the wedding, take a "very scenic" ride up the mountain and have vista views at the reception site (Villa Botanica). The site is also an old plantation and National botanical garden which to me will be a lot to peruse and has gorgeous views of Charlotte Amile (Cruise ship bay).

Does your beach ceremony include chairs for your guests?

yes it does. If you wanted to look more into the package its all on Island bliss Weddings website.

 

Hopefully you get some help from all of this!!! We had to make a compromise between my Fiancée and I, He wanted easy going, I wanted traditional so this is how we worked it out. He has beach and I have a full blown wedding/reception!

[JAC1213]

Bo59rt, Thank you so much, your explanation is perfect and extremely helpful. 😀... I have read great reviews about Janelle. I like that you were able to customize her set packages. I would prefer to go with an island coordinator but I'm worried what would happen if we missed that port for whatever reason.

[Bo59rt]

Bo59rt, Thank you so much, your explanation is perfect and extremely helpful. ... I have read great reviews about Janelle. I like that you were able to customize her set packages. I would prefer to go with an island coordinator but I'm worried what would happen if we missed that port for whatever reason.

 

I have that fear also, but you have to be able to roll with the punches I guess. I have heard of Embarkment weddings going haywire and island wedding with issues but it's something you have to be able to deal with when you don't have full control over your wedding. I asked Janelle about this and she said with hundreds of weddings under her belt only a handful have missed a port. And if your ship was to miss the port she attempts to refund you as much as she can. She told me usually the cake and flowers are what cause an issue then.

 

My problem is I'm afraid we are running the wedding too close to a time limit. If the boat is late to dock up, I am short shifted my reception; if there is an accident on the road back to the ship, we miss catching the ship.

 

I'm actually excited to see what life can throw at me with this wedding, heck we have already had our best man back out, what's next!

[JAC1213]

Bo59rt, your 100 percent right. No matter where you have your wedding something can happen and you just have to roll with the punches... So sorry to hear your Best Man backed out, don't worry a better option will come along. I love your positivity and I'm sure your wedding will be great. You sealed the deal for me I'm going to chuck it up to faith and roll with it. Destination shoreside cruise wedding here we come. What's meant to be will be. Thank you

[Bo59rt]

Bo59rt, your 100 percent right. No matter where you have your wedding something can happen and you just have to roll with the punches... So sorry to hear your Best Man backed out, don't worry a better option will come along. I love your positivity and I'm sure your wedding will be great. You sealed the deal for me I'm going to chuck it up to faith and roll with it. Destination shoreside cruise wedding here we come. What's meant to be will be. Thank you

 

I'm so glad I could help you out! (but if you do happen to have a huge problem with your wedding...shhh I didn't give you the ammo to make your mind up :D)

 

Your wedding will be great! you have so many more options with a shoreside wedding then one on the ship. I'm not going to lie, you can make this really stressful on yourself too; so just take it easy and attempt to enjoy every moment.

 

Since January I have had many highs and many lows, but all of this could happen with a normal stateside wedding. I'm not going to blame on my choice of a destination wedding. Don't take the same road as me and decide to handmake EVERYTHING! I am right now finishing my bouquets and in the middle of making my boarding pass invitations (including making my own envelopes to fit these things!) But I am having fun now and will be proud of myself when I look back and say I did it my way. and believe me, my fiancée can back this, this whole wedding is being done MY way. I don't do cookie cutter :D

 

Have a blast! I will be keeping an eye out for your progress and of course (hopeful) review with lots of pictures!

[JAC1213]

I'm so glad I could help you out! (but if you do happen to have a huge problem with your wedding...shhh I didn't give you the ammo to make your mind up :D)

 

Your wedding will be great! you have so many more options with a shoreside wedding then one on the ship. I'm not going to lie, you can make this really stressful on yourself too; so just take it easy and attempt to enjoy every moment.

 

Since January I have had many highs and many lows, but all of this could happen with a normal stateside wedding. I'm not going to blame on my choice of a destination wedding. Don't take the same road as me and decide to handmake EVERYTHING! I am right now finishing my bouquets and in the middle of making my boarding pass invitations (including making my own envelopes to fit these things!) But I am having fun now and will be proud of myself when I look back and say I did it my way. and believe me, my fiancée can back this, this whole wedding is being done MY way. I don't do cookie cutter :D

 

Have a blast! I will be keeping an eye out for your progress and of course (hopeful) review with lots of pictures!

 

Lol, ok don't worry I won't hold it to you. I have been pre planning for a while and I have a severe case of "I must personalize everything" syndrome. I am going to try and take your advice and keep this simple so it's not to stressful. I am sure you will be hearing from me along the way. Can't wait to see all of your creations.

[jj44cruiser]

I'm so glad I could help you out! (but if you do happen to have a huge problem with your wedding...shhh I didn't give you the ammo to make your mind up :D)

 

Your wedding will be great! you have so many more options with a shoreside wedding then one on the ship. I'm not going to lie, you can make this really stressful on yourself too; so just take it easy and attempt to enjoy every moment.

 

Since January I have had many highs and many lows, but all of this could happen with a normal stateside wedding. I'm not going to blame on my choice of a destination wedding. Don't take the same road as me and decide to handmake EVERYTHING! I am right now finishing my bouquets and in the middle of making my boarding pass invitations (including making my own envelopes to fit these things!) But I am having fun now and will be proud of myself when I look back and say I did it my way. and believe me, my fiancée can back this, this whole wedding is being done MY way. I don't do cookie cutter :D

 

Have a blast! I will be keeping an eye out for your progress and of course (hopeful) review with lots of pictures!

Hi! Congrats on your upcoming wedding!!

 

Are you planning on getting pictures on the ship in your wedding attire w/ husband? Do you think the cruise line will give a hard time since you hadn't booked your ceremony/reception with them? That is what I am nervous about! Can't decide whether to book onshore wedding with Carnival or directly through the island!

[Bo59rt]

Hi! Congrats on your upcoming wedding!!

 

Are you planning on getting pictures on the ship in your wedding attire w/ husband? Do you think the cruise line will give a hard time since you hadn't booked your ceremony/reception with them? That is what I am nervous about! Can't decide whether to book onshore wedding with Carnival or directly through the island!

 

we are planning on having family take pictures of us around the ship. I know you can book private photo shoots with a carnival photographer for any reason. If your wedding is in the middle of the cruise week just plan for a private shoot after your celebration, or get all dressed up again on another day. I think the packages get pretty pricey though.

 

I really don't need a lot of pictures of me in my wedding dress on the ship. To me I am getting married on St. Thomas, (which is why I am having two separate photo shoots within a week of each other on the island). The ship is just my transportation to get there. So if I have a few fun pictures with a life ring or some other fun thing on the ship I will be happy.

[AdventurousCruiser07]

Congratulations! We just got back from our honeymoon after having an amazing destination wedding in Cozumel.

 

We used Cozumel Wedding Planners - Stephanie and Lluvia were great! The cost of the ceremony + reception (with 4 hot/4 cold hors d'oeuvres and an open bar) for 35 people was $5,000-6,000. Our total expense for our wedding was $15,000, but that was because we brought our own photographers/videographers, and minister from the US, upgraded our room to a balcony on the cruise, paid for all the bridal party's attire, I wore a nice wedding gown, etc.

 

Our wedding was gorgeous - it took place at Mr. Sancho's Resort - about 15 minutes from the international port. The venue was right on the edge of the jungle, so there was the vibrant green of the plants/grass contrasting with the beach and the ocean. We had tons of flowers, chiavari chairs, a floral arch, etc. Oh, and the wedding cake was AMAZING! Everyone was blown away by the flavor. You can't beat that without even a tasting first!

 

We chose Cozumel and CWP because:

1) Everything is 100% customizable - they basically give you a menu and you select exactly what you want. If it's not on the menu, they'll either figure out a way to make it work, or work with you so it still happens.

2) Cozumel is a pretty rock solid port - no tendering and it would be highly unusual for the boat to miss port.

3) You can legally get married in Cozumel, or you can just do a symbolic ceremony where you did the legal documentation in the States.

 

We had a wonderful experience - we wouldn't trade it for anything!

 

Oh and edit - I was nervous about letting Royal Caribbean know it was our wedding cruise but not booking through them - there was no negativity from them what so ever! In fact, room service came by and brought us chocolate covered strawberries in congratulations! To the cruise companies, yes they would like the added bonus of the income from your wedding taking place on board, BUT regardless, they're very happy with the group booking - because of me, they had 24 more people on the cruise that wouldn't have been.

Edited January 19, 2014 by AdventurousCruiser07
Added information

[dcarter4]

Hey Gerbera33!

 

It looks like a lot of people already responded...but I'll join in!

 

I enclosed my Excel Spreadsheet. i hope this helps! We are at 50 days to go..and you see how much we still need to pay for..right!

 

I'm also posting a diary of sorts...right here on this forum. Check out the Bahama Beach Wedding Diary!!

 

A few laughs and lots of info!

 

Good Luck!

 

D & K

W List ver 20web.xls

Edited January 22, 2014 by dcarter4