Wedding 5/4/2014 on carnival splendor

I just got married last week on the Carnival splendor, it was a great experience! There were a few hiccups here and there but for the most part everything turned out better than I planned. I will post a slideshow and if anyone has any questions go ahead and I will do my best to answer them thanks...

This is the link to our pictures

http://youtu.be/FGw2tWFSi8k

Valerie

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Our cruise was 8 days long, on our last stop to Gran Turk I trashed the dress. I scheduled an appointment with one of carnivals photographers. this is a picture taken from my iphone, I have to upload the professional ones but I strongly recommend this, it's a once in a life memorable moment 😊

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How did you get to take one of the Carnival photographers with you? I am trying to hire someone around the island.

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You can make an appointment with one of carnivals photographers.

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Wow! I was just watching your pictures on youtube! OMG...you look so beautiful! Thank you for sharing with us.

I spoke to Carnival about having their photographer going out with us, they said they were not able to do due security reasons.

Thanks jusilva , I had a make-up & hair stylist working hard on me.

I booked the photographer for Gran Turk, I do believe it was available due to the fact that the ship docks right on the beach and they don't have to travel far but I would look into it, always ask different people.

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I will ask them for sure. I already have a photo shoot for Cozumel day, but if carnival can take all the pics including trash the dress, that would be awesome! Do you have more pics for trash the dress?

Thank you for sharing! It looks like you had a fabulous wedding; you look amazing! I completely plan to TTD also!

Laycj18, thank you! Do you know which island you would TTD?

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gran Turk trashing the dress

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Beautiful!!!

I already schedule my TDD in Cozumel. Spoke to Carnival Weddings 2 times and of course, 2 different answers. The first time we called was a big "no no" for the photographer getting off of the ship. Second try it was a maybe. That is something they can not guarantee and it will be pretty much the photo manager discretion. So, decided to go ahead and book with a local vendor. How was your experience? Thank you!

Jusilva, I honestly booked the photographer from PIXELS<--- carnivals photographers the day of my wedding, the photographer I had was amazing, I shared with him the idea of TTD and he booked me immediately right on the 4th deck where the pictures are displayed. I recommend it to every bride. It's a once in a lifetime memory! I wouldn't change a thing...

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My daughter is getting married on the Splendor! Lots of questions!

What room did you choose for the wedding and reception?

What package did you choose? - my daughter chose "Time to Celebrate BIG"

Did you get a DJ? Did you pick all your own music?

Were most of your guests sailing with you or did you have many just attend the wedding in port? Did this work well?

What did you really like? What would you have done differently? What were the hiccups?

Please share some more details.

So far we have 30+ people sailing.....including a number of children. We have FTTF because originally we weren't planning for the wedding....and they tell you only the bride and groom have access to their room upon boarding.....did you find this was true? - did everyone else just "hang out" - would it be best if those families with little ones stick with FTTF (we're also doing western Caribbean....so 2 tender ports) or were most people able to get to their rooms before the wedding?

Right now all 30+ people sailing with the wedding party have early dining and we will try to have tables in the same general area and switch around each night at dinner. Bride and groom can sit at a different table each evening......

Also, if you had people "just" attending the wedding (and not sailing) did you purchase a buffet pass for them before the wedding? Not sure if this is over-kill with the package we purchased, including free drinks......- did they have a decent open bar for the wedding? How was the food?

Thank you!!!!!

The wedding was at the morrocan and the reception at the robusto bar. We wanted the DJ package at first but the other bride who was getting married that same day booked it first which left us with the host option which wasn't bad because I had a DJ create the cd that eventually be used for the reception. The host was a good addition to the reception if you ask me.

I chose the same package. I ended up having 89 guests which I had to speak to carnival about it since the package mentions a limit of 50 non sailing guest but they were nice enough to accommodate all my guests(at $30pp who wouldn't accommodate) I had only 4 sailing guests. Everyone else came on the ship and escorted off when the reception was over.

Regarding the cabins, we had 2 cabins. They were both ready since one was booked by me (the bride) and the other by the groom. Once we arrived to pier they escorted us to the VIP area, there they checked us in and handed us our s&s cards.. It was great not having to wait In lines or having to mingle with the guests, I didn't want to bother at that point.

Once the ship was cleared for boarding we boarded the ship and brought to our cabins.

My guests enjoyed exploring the ship while they waited for the ceremony to commence, some even went to the bar and enjoyed some cocktails, the groom found many of the guests up on the 9th deck enjoying the buffet ( I didn't purchase any packages for it) I guess they bumped into it and went for it!

My cons ... Time was definitely very short, just when we started having a good time, they shut us down. The wedding coordinator was a bit pushy but under the circumstances I did understand.

Our photographer didn't take many pictures we wanted( but I did love his work)

Overall, it was an amazing time. We both were very pleased and happy. Me trashing the dress on the beach was the icing on the cake :)

Oh and I didn't try the food lol I was too busy mingling with the guests.., but here's some pictures

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Thank you for sharing your experience. Did you board before any of your guests could see you? I don't really want them to see me with all my makeup and hair done...Thank you.

Busy......that's why we booked the "time to Celebrate big"....it gives an extra half hour plus it wasn't a sit down dinner so the bride and groom can mingle the entire time (if they were sitting for a dinner, honestly only the people at their table would be talking with them).

I do know that the Bride does NOT get on the ship dressed......you go to your room immediately to get ready.

Were your guests just told when and where to meet you for the wedding and left on their own to "get there" on time once you all got on the ship?

We should have lots of people available to take pictures and I've heard that that is one of the more "expensive" parts of the cruise wedding....so we're not going to make a big deal over it. Although I love the TTD pictures, etc she has borrowed a very expensive dress so we will NOT be doing that, LOL!!

I was told the DJ will also act as the host so I'm hoping we have that covered and the DJ is able to keep things moving and fun.

I heard that pics are most expensive in the package!

Yes, I am getting dress on board! But I will have my hair and make up done in the hotel before and I didn't really want to mingle around before. But we were told that everybody should be boarding at 10am.

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You can be escorted to the VIP section that way you don't have to mingle with the guests, when they started boarding the wedding parties unfortunately I was boarding along with the guests so there was a lot of mingling then.. Everyone wanted to say hi etc... Once on the ship you go to your cabin to get ready, I'm not quite sure what was said to the guests in regards to meeting back up I'm time for the ceremony.. I wasn't around lol

Oh and the picture packages are very pricey.. It can add up! We got the $999 one and when I trashed my dress I had to also pay for those individually

I heard that pics are most expensive in the package!

Yes, I am getting dress on board! But I will have my hair and make up done in the hotel before and I didn't really want to mingle around before. But we were told that everybody should be boarding at 10am.

 

 

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10th told you 10am boarding? We boarded at 11...

10am

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Be prepared to board a bit later than 10am .. They have to clear the ship before anyone can board and that takes a while for a ship that big

Well, when we did the invitation the time on our contract was 10am, but after, we did a tour on the Legend and I noticed that they take while to clear the cheap and ask a couple of people about it, they said usually they starting boarding at 1130. Now, I am not sure how I am going to approach my guests about the time.

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