Time of boarding for Port Weddings

[Mshusky]

I read in the paperwork that Wedding Experience sent me that we should be at the dock at 10:30 am. Our wedding is not scheduled until 1:15 day of sail. Has anyone else boarded that early and is there someone there that is waiting on us. I just don't want my dressed guests and the wedding party to be there so early only to sit there and wait. Is it a smooth experince?

[stevesgirl1111]

We were also asked to arrive at 10:30 and our wedding was at 1:00. The time actually goes really quickly and you will be busy pretty much the whole time. You and your guests have to check in when you get there and that takes awhile. You all have to board together and if anyone is late they will most likely not make the wedding (at least that's what we were told). Once you get onboard you will be taken to your room to change and your guests can explore the ship. My guests had a great time walking around and a few of them had a snack at the buffet and a drink at the bar. You should be completely ready (hair and makeup) before boarding. I had a little less than an hour between boarding and the wedding so I really only had time to put on my dress and touch up my makeup. Hope that helps!

[rosebud6362]

Hey Stevesgirl, how do the guests get the drinks at the bar if they aren't sailing? I thought the bars do not except cash...

Thanks!

[stevesgirl1111]

I guess the sailing guests offered to buy the non-sailing guests drinks and the n-sailing just gave them cash in reimbursement. I know that wouldn't work for everyone but it did in this case. Also as far as food went my non-sailing guests just put their guest passes in their pockets and ate at the buffet.

[dml1216]

I read in the paperwork that Wedding Experience sent me that we should be at the dock at 10:30 am. Our wedding is not scheduled until 1:15 day of sail. Has anyone else boarded that early and is there someone there that is waiting on us. I just don't want my dressed guests and the wedding party to be there so early only to sit there and wait. Is it a smooth experince?

 

Your guests will love it. We all arrived between 10-10:30 and were on the ship by 11:30. Our wedding wasn't until 1:30. I went to my room and then everyone else went to the grill to eat, then onto the deck for drinks. I do assume the sailing guests bought drinks for the non-sailing. The CCL reps actually told my entire party they could go on and eat. THey didn't have to put their visitor passes away. Everyone then toured the ship. Everyone was so excited, they didn't feel they were waiting around.

 

I was concerned about that too, but it all worked out great. I think everyone just was happy to be on the ship and not waiting with the rest of the people getting on the ship.

[Saraloo]

i have a question i guess for those of you who already got married on the cruise, my question it since you had to wait from 1030 until you were allowed to board the ship, how did you not let your husband see you, and if you have to have your hair and make up done, do you have to be wearing your veil and stuff too.. bc that might look funny waiting there and i dont want my soon to be hussbad to see me!!

[stevesgirl1111]

Unfortunately it will be very difficult if not impossible for you not to see your husband to be before the wedding. You have to check in together and your guests do too. I didn't have my veil or dress on but I did have my hair and makeup done as well as my tiara in. I know that some people have said they might try blindfolds or something but I think that would be really tough to pull off too. Not to mention that might look sillier than having your veil on! Once we were onboard my DH and I didn't see each other again until the ceremony started so it was still a sweet moment when he saw me in my dress and all put together for the first time.

[dml1216]

Unfortunately it will be very difficult if not impossible for you not to see your husband to be before the wedding. You have to check in together and your guests do too. I didn't have my veil or dress on but I did have my hair and makeup done as well as my tiara in. I know that some people have said they might try blindfolds or something but I think that would be really tough to pull off too. Not to mention that might look sillier than having your veil on! Once we were onboard my DH and I didn't see each other again until the ceremony started so it was still a sweet moment when he saw me in my dress and all put together for the first time.

 

Yes, it was the same for us. My hairdresser (who is also my friend that attended the wedding) did my hair at the hotel before we left and I did my make up. My DH and I had breakfast together in the lobby at the hotel and boarded together, with my hair and make up done, but I actually dressed really "bummy" before we boarded. Since the entire party had to board and register at check-in together, it is near impossible to not see each other. But, once we did board, we were escorted to the cabin together and he changed into the tux and out he went. We didn't see each again, for about 2 hours, until I walked into the room. Like Steve's girl said, it was still a sweet moment.

 

Best of luck to you!

 

Congrats!

[serene56]

what time did your non- sailing guest have to leave the ship?

[stevesgirl1111]

I think it was about 3:30 that they needed to leave.