Weddings (and fireworks!) at Sea

Today's NYTimes Travel section includes a feature on getting married
on a cruise ship (pitched as more economical than a land-based
wedding):

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/11/tr...ravel&emc=tda3

When we sailed Celebrity Solstice in March, there was an unusually
large wedding party of several hundred pax. The rumor was, the groom
was wealthy and picking up the tab for all. They reportedly had all of
the suites on the ship. I imagine the ceremony itself was quite an
event--it was held on the grass lawn on the top deck. What a setting!
The only negative of their presence was, when they held group events,
the lounge they chose was closed off for their "private party."

The upside was, the whole ship enjoyed a fireworks show courtesy of
the bride and groom! The night they married, the captain announced
there would be fireworks off the starboard side at a certain time. It
actually occurred a little later than that--imagine the coordination
involved to get a fireworks barge (?) alongside a cruise ship at a
certain time in the middle of the Caribbean! The show was pretty
impressive and about 10 minutes long. The maneuvering and slowdown
caused us to arrive in Puerto Rico an hour late, but they tacked on an
hour to our port stay. More rumors--they had to pay a $100K fuel
surcharge for the fireworks deviation, and the wedding festivities
were being filmed for a TV show.

Diana Ball
Austin, TX

D Ball wrote:
Today's NYTimes Travel section includes a feature on getting married
on a cruise ship (pitched as more economical than a land-based
wedding):

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/11/tr...ravel&emc=tda3

When we sailed Celebrity Solstice in March, there was an unusually
large wedding party of several hundred pax. The rumor was, the groom
was wealthy and picking up the tab for all. They reportedly had all of
the suites on the ship. I imagine the ceremony itself was quite an
event--it was held on the grass lawn on the top deck. What a setting!
The only negative of their presence was, when they held group events,
the lounge they chose was closed off for their "private party."

The upside was, the whole ship enjoyed a fireworks show courtesy of
the bride and groom! The night they married, the captain announced
there would be fireworks off the starboard side at a certain time. It
actually occurred a little later than that--imagine the coordination
involved to get a fireworks barge (?) alongside a cruise ship at a
certain time in the middle of the Caribbean! The show was pretty
impressive and about 10 minutes long. The maneuvering and slowdown
caused us to arrive in Puerto Rico an hour late, but they tacked on an
hour to our port stay. More rumors--they had to pay a $100K fuel
surcharge for the fireworks deviation, and the wedding festivities
were being filmed for a TV show.

WOW...what a wedding and the fireworks were a nice bonus for all the
passengers. Having the wedding up on the lawn, is the first good use of
it that I have heard of, also a lovely setting for a wedding.

I think the rumor of a TV show is more realistic then just a wealthy groom.

sue

Sue Mullen wrote:


D Ball wrote:
Today's NYTimes Travel section includes a feature on getting married
on a cruise ship (pitched as more economical than a land-based
wedding):

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/11/tr...ravel&emc=tda3


When we sailed Celebrity Solstice in March, there was an unusually
large wedding party of several hundred pax. The rumor was, the groom
was wealthy and picking up the tab for all. They reportedly had all of
the suites on the ship. I imagine the ceremony itself was quite an
event--it was held on the grass lawn on the top deck. What a setting!
The only negative of their presence was, when they held group events,
the lounge they chose was closed off for their "private party."

The upside was, the whole ship enjoyed a fireworks show courtesy of
the bride and groom! The night they married, the captain announced
there would be fireworks off the starboard side at a certain time. It
actually occurred a little later than that--imagine the coordination
involved to get a fireworks barge (?) alongside a cruise ship at a
certain time in the middle of the Caribbean! The show was pretty
impressive and about 10 minutes long. The maneuvering and slowdown
caused us to arrive in Puerto Rico an hour late, but they tacked on an
hour to our port stay. More rumors--they had to pay a $100K fuel
surcharge for the fireworks deviation, and the wedding festivities
were being filmed for a TV show.

WOW...what a wedding and the fireworks were a nice bonus for all the
passengers. Having the wedding up on the lawn, is the first good use of
it that I have heard of, also a lovely setting for a wedding.

I think the rumor of a TV show is more realistic then just a wealthy groom.

sue

Does anyone know where one gets a marriage license for a wedding at sea
and if it's then legal in all the states? We were just talking about
this the other day.

Marcia

On 4/10/10 9:50 PM, in article , "Marcia
R." wrote:

Does anyone know where one gets a marriage license for a wedding at sea
and if it's then legal in all the states? We were just talking about
this the other day.

Marcia

I would assume, as Celebrity ships are mostly registered in Malta, you would
be married by the Captain under Malta law. A U.S. state is required, under
Sec. IV of the Constitution, to recognize marriages entered into in any
other U.S. state; Malta marriages won't benefit from that constitutional
protection. States will have different rules with respect to the recognition
of foreign marriages.

peter wrote:
On 4/10/10 9:50 PM, in article , "Marcia
R." wrote:

Does anyone know where one gets a marriage license for a wedding at sea
and if it's then legal in all the states? We were just talking about
this the other day.

Marcia

I would assume, as Celebrity ships are mostly registered in Malta, you would
be married by the Captain under Malta law. A U.S. state is required, under
Sec. IV of the Constitution, to recognize marriages entered into in any
other U.S. state; Malta marriages won't benefit from that constitutional
protection. States will have different rules with respect to the recognition
of foreign marriages.


It sounds like you'd almost need a legal marriage in the US before of
after the big one at sea.

Marcia

On Sat, 10 Apr 2010 14:54:03 -0700, "Marcia R."
wrote:

peter wrote:
On 4/10/10 9:50 PM, in article , "Marcia
R." wrote:

Does anyone know where one gets a marriage license for a wedding at sea
and if it's then legal in all the states? We were just talking about
this the other day.

Marcia

I would assume, as Celebrity ships are mostly registered in Malta, you would
be married by the Captain under Malta law. A U.S. state is required, under
Sec. IV of the Constitution, to recognize marriages entered into in any
other U.S. state; Malta marriages won't benefit from that constitutional
protection. States will have different rules with respect to the recognition
of foreign marriages.


It sounds like you'd almost need a legal marriage in the US before of
after the big one at sea.

Marcia
Actually Princess ships are all British Commonwealth flagged and they
have worked out the requiriments. Most foreign weddings are recognized
in the US if properly performed and then registered in the Bride and
Grooms home location. Princess's wedding department will work with you
to make it happen.

No need to get married at home first anymore.
Joseph Coulter
Joseph Coulter Cruises and Vacations LLC
www.josephcoulter.com

904 685 5317

On Sat, 10 Apr 2010 14:54:03 -0700, "Marcia R."
wrote:

peter wrote:
On 4/10/10 9:50 PM, in article , "Marcia
R." wrote:

Does anyone know where one gets a marriage license for a wedding at sea
and if it's then legal in all the states? We were just talking about
this the other day.

Marcia

I would assume, as Celebrity ships are mostly registered in Malta, you would
be married by the Captain under Malta law. A U.S. state is required, under
Sec. IV of the Constitution, to recognize marriages entered into in any
other U.S. state; Malta marriages won't benefit from that constitutional
protection. States will have different rules with respect to the recognition
of foreign marriages.


It sounds like you'd almost need a legal marriage in the US before of
after the big one at sea.

Marcia
One other thing I recall reading is that you will have your bans
published in a Bermudan newspaper (IF your ship is so flagged, most
ships IIRC) as that is a requirement of Bermudan las.
Joseph Coulter
Joseph Coulter Cruises and Vacations LLC
www.josephcoulter.com

904 685 5317

Marcia R. wrote:

Does anyone know where one gets a marriage license for a wedding at sea
and if it's then legal in all the states? We were just talking about
this the other day.

Marcia, I think your best bet here is to call the cruise line you are
thinking of and ask them how it works.

sue - who thinks this is a great idea!!

Sue Mullen wrote:


Marcia R. wrote:

Does anyone know where one gets a marriage license for a wedding at
sea and if it's then legal in all the states? We were just talking
about this the other day.

Marcia, I think your best bet here is to call the cruise line you are
thinking of and ask them how it works.

sue - who thinks this is a great idea!!

It's probably not for me personally...don't ask. LOL. However, it was
close enough that I pondered it.

Marcia

On 4/10/2010 10:42 AM, Sue Mullen wrote:

WOW...what a wedding and the fireworks were a nice bonus for all the
passengers. Having the wedding up on the lawn, is the first good use of
it that I have heard of, also a lovely setting for a wedding.

I think the rumor of a TV show is more realistic then just a wealthy groom.

sue


What a fun and memorable wedding. Their guests will never forget this
fireworks display, and the rest of the passengers enjoyed it as well.
It must have been spectacular.


Becca