Cruise Wedding Guide: Getting Married at Sea

Cruise Wedding Guide: Getting Married at Sea

A wedding thrown out on the Sydney Harbour is an out of this world experience that you’re going to remember forever. Your wedding day is one of the most treasurable days of your life, so why wouldn’t you go above and beyond when it comes to booking a venue? By throwing your reception or ceremony out on the water, you’re ensuring that your wedding is as special and unique as it possibly can be! Now, with this being so unique you might want to go about booking your venue a little differently than you might do with your run of the mill hotel or function room. Here’s a full guide to getting married at sea…

Determine Your Budget

First things first, the dull part. Although the budget might be boring, it’s so necessary to get a hold of before you do absolutely anything else. Everyone who’s thrown a wedding knows the pain of the wedding budget, but once you get this big expense at the way you can let the calculator rest for at least a little while. Your budget is going to determine how many guests you can host and what kind of boat you can find yourself, not to mention all the decor, food, drinks and clothing – phew, you better get budgeting to get it all figured out!

Nail Down the Numbers

Once you’ve got the finances down pat, it’s time to turn your numerical attention to the number of attendees you plan on having on board your vessel! This is a crucial step to get done very early on, as much as boats are glorious fun they’re actually pretty serious when it comes to how many people they can accommodate onboard. You don’t want to end up with an embarrassing over capacity mess up on your day, so make sure you have definitive answers from all invitees for sound of mind. Think about accounting for one or two additions just in case you find yourself in a sticky situation.

Look at Your Theme

All weddings have some kind of theme going for them, and given that you’ve chosen an amazingly unique venue that’s full of personality, you should consider incorporating the nautical vibe into the rest of your wedding. Think about introducing seafood green or navy blue into your colour scheme for a joyous nod to the Harbour in a cool and subtle fashion. Some stripe pattern details or oceanic references throughout your decor will really tie the whole venue together. This can be as bold or gentle as you like, to each their own!

Keep the Weather in Mind

Although you can’t see into the future, you should keep seasonality in mind when planning a wedding on Sydney Harbour. Because you’ll want to be outside for at least your photographs, you should avoid planning the day around the wet season or smack bang in the middle of winter.

Think About Docking Spots

Your pick up and drop off locations are more important than you might think. This one really depends on whether you’re planning on using your vessel as a mode of transport, for just your reception or as your whole venue. You’re lucky to be planning a wedding cruise in Sydney, because there are just so many amazing locations all over the city!  Choose a pick up spot that’s convenient for your guests by ensuring that it is close to public transport options, other venues for after party kick ons and has a car park located close by. You should also make sure that your spot is nice and photogenic because you’re going to want to get more than a few photos of you guys hopping onto your boat!

Follow these tips and you can be sure that your wedding day is as successful, beautiful and memorable as possible. With the Harbour Bridge to one side, the Opera House to the other and the stretch of gorgeous natural scenery out in front of you, it’s hard not to fall in love with the idea of tying the knot at sea! Get exploring your options for your perfect wedding cruises in Sydney to start your planning process now, the sooner you get to it, the better!