I am thinking about not having a formal wedding

[tifferoo]

Df and I were talking yesterday and since I have been so stressed lately, I made the statement that if it were up to me, I would just have a small wedding, go on my honeymoon and be done with it. Df was shocked that I said that because he had been thinking the same thing but was afraid to tell me because he thought I wanted a big formal wedding since this is the first wedding for both of us. I had to remind him that he was the one who initially said he wanted a big wedding!

This wedding planning has been fun and stressful at the same time but I just want to say "I do" and live happily ever after now. I don't want to go through so much stress anymore. I know Nana said that she was a "stess free bride" but I have never gotten there.

Do any of you who have had small weddings have any advice for me. I loved Loveshack's destination wedding at Las Vegas but I don't think I want to go to Vegas. I want to go on a cruise. Has anybody done a destination wedding on a cruise before? Because I really want my pastor to marry us, I was thinking of getting married a couple of hours before the cruise ship leaves with just his parents, my mom and maybe his sisters and then two weeks later having a small reception to celebrate with the rest of our family and friends. What do you think?

[FarmGirl]

Oh do it! lol

Hubby and I just went down to the courthouse and said our vows there. On our first anniversary we through a big party and we resaid our vows then. It was so much easier for us, and it saved us loads and loads of money, that we used to buy our new home. After our party we had our honeymoon - it was perfect.

I've never really understood the big wedding thing myself, but some people love it!

If you and Df want to have a small wedding, then do so... it's your day, and his day... do whatever you want to do, whatever makes you feel special. Don't let anyone change your mind about what you want.

[Neneuu]

I say do it too! lol

I had the whole shabang and if I could do it again I'd go to Jamaica (Sandals resort) where we had our honeymoon... take a few important people and do it there. Save soooooooooooo much stress and money AND so lovely all at the same time! When we got to Jamaica and I saw how fabulous they set it all up I was jealous! ;)

I think it's too easy to let the stress overwhelm you and the meaning of the day gets kinda lost... that's how it kinda felt for me anyway...

Good luck!:)

[nana]

I would say do it!

In my week home I have been trying on wedding dresses, talking to photographers, talking to DJ, talking to our minister...it is a lot of work.

A wedding is a personal thing between a husband and a wife and God. My aunt got married in August in St. Thomas, USVI and she loved it. She went straight from her wedding to her honeymoon. The resort did everything for the and since it was the off season she only paid half of what it normally costs!

Tifferoo, you have got to do what makes you and your sweetie happy! GO FOR IT!

[andrea]

oh i so agree go for it....

you will have so much fun, and so less for stress... and if you search for destination wedding.. tons of topics will pop up also

[yonksgirl]

Do it girl! :trip:

:trip: If that is what makes you happy that is all that matters!!:D :trip:

[MissRyry]

The cruise idea is great!!! When we boarded the ship for our honeymoon cruise, this couple had just finished their vows and were waving to their guests offshore! They were just smiling and laughing and running all around. Played all the games that day in their dress & tux. I envied them because they seemed so stress-free and FUN! When I think back to my wedding day I don't think of "fun" = it was beautiful and romantic, but not really FUN for me. More stressful with meeting all the new people and making sure everyone had what they needed and keeping on schedule.

>'.'<

[pikachu0519]

Tifferoo, I go with what all the other gals said. Do what makes you and your future hubby happy. At the end of the day, it won't matter where you got married, how you were married, how many guests you had, or what you were wearing. What it all boils down to is that you will be husband and wife. All the rest is just details.:)

[tifferoo]

I just found out something interesting but I still need to do a little more research. There is a cruise that leaves from New Orleans the same day I want to get married and I can have a wedding ceremony on the ship prior to departing with up to 50 guests and I can bring my own pastor to marry me! I am going to look more into this. It's on a Carnival Cruise line. Has anyone ever cruised with Carnival? Is this the best cruise line?

[Mrs. July]

Hmmm, every cruise line has had a problem, but I personally would never use Carnival. Two of my friends were raped on their ships (one of them by a staff member while she was on her honeymoon), and they refused to do anything about it. Even worse, Carnival could not be held accountable because their ships are registered in foreign ports with practically no laws to protect passengers.:(

That said, it sounds like this package has exactly what you're looking for, so if you and your fiance feel comfortable using this cruise line go for it. Like I said, all cruise lines have had serious problems, but the vast majority of passengers don't have anything horrible happen to them.

[MissRyry]

Carnival has a reputation as a fun cruise line not the best or most luxurious. But Carnival was my cruise line for my honeymoon. We certainly enjoyed it and encountered no problems. I think Norweigan Cruise Line is supposed to be the best ... That package sounds exactly like what you're looking for.

>'.'<

[tifferoo]

Originally posted by Mrs. July
Hmmm, every cruise line has had a problem, but I personally would never use Carnival. Two of my friends were raped on their ships (one of them by a staff member while she was on her honeymoon), and they refused to do anything about it. Even worse, Carnival could not be held accountable because their ships are registered in foreign ports with practically no laws to protect passengers.:(

:eek: Do you mind me asking what your friends were doing when this happened? Was she alone when it happened? Was she in her room or on one of the decks? Let me know if I need to keep my 6' 2' 250 lbs husband with me at ALL times??

[tifferoo]

Originally posted by MissRyry
Carnival has a reputation as a fun cruise line not the best or most luxurious. But Carnival was my cruise line for my honeymoon. We certainly enjoyed it and encountered no problems. I think Norweigan Cruise Line is supposed to be the best ... That package sounds exactly like what you're looking for.

>'.'<

I am a pretty simple girl who likes to have fun. I don't expect to eat caviar or anything...lol so I don't think I am really looking for the most luxurious. Besides, I think the cruise itself will appear luxurious to me anyway since I have never been on one. I guess what I was trying to say is this "is Carnival cruise lines one of the most popular cruise lines"?

[Mrs. July]

Originally posted by tifferoo
:eek: Do you mind me asking what your friends were doing when this happened? Was she alone when it happened? Was she in her room or on one of the decks? Let me know if I need to keep my 6' 2' 250 lbs husband with me at ALL times??


Niether of them were traveling alone, but they were not with their companions when they were attacked. The one who was on her honeymoon had gotten lost trying to find a bathroom and asked an employee to show her where to go. He lead her down a corridor and after they turned a corner he grabbed her and shoved her into dark closet where the attack happened. My other friend opened the door to leave her cabin and was confronted by a man who forced her back inside and knocked her unconcious. She woke up during the assault and couldn't do anything because she was bound.

I don't know if I would be afraid to leave your husband's side, but I would take him with you if you're not sure where something is or you want to do an activity that might put you in a vulnerable position. Also, ask for another cabin if the one assigned to you doesn't seem safe, or don't board the ship and ask the cruise line for a voucher (some of them will give you these if your accomodations were bad and you couldn't get another room). My friend who was attacked in her cabin said the door was damaged with a piece of plywood covering the top portion and the outside was cracked, but when she asked for a different one she was told they were booked and there was nothing they could do to compensate if she left. She and her roomate thought this might make them a target for theft, but it obviously attracted someone worse.

[Journeyman]

I have done Carnival when I was younger. It is pretty much the cheapest of cruise lines so there is more chance of riff raff. It was a good time though. Really depends on the boat ya take aswell. Get on the newest of the fleets if ya can. I recently did a Royal Carrib cruise.It was a great time aswell. A big step up from Carnival. Funny thing we were docked at an Island next to a Carnival ship and some of the patrons on the Royal Carrib boat were taunting the people on the Carnival ship " Our Boats bigger then your boat !" he he

Anyways do what fits the both of your personalities. And Im sure ya will have a great time!My wife and I went to Bora Bora and stayed in a hut over the crystal blue ocean . A time we will never forget. If ya need any more tips on cruising drop me a line.

[Dovechild20]

Tifferoo, DO IT!! I think I wanna do the same thing!!!!! My sweetie and I have been buggin out about how much a wedding costs and how much it takes to plan and blah blah blah and doing that whole cruise thing and thing being free, and happy and stree-free and MARRIED sounds soooooooooooo good right now!!!

Girl, tell me more about the cruise thing, i wanna pitch the idea to my sweetie, cause if it were up to him, we would run to the nearest minister and be done with it and im starting to agree with him!

I guess the reason why, to be introspective for a second here, that most brides wanna have the traditional formal wedding is because of the "dream" of the perfect wedding day we were given and grew up with.....little did we realize that that dream takes SO MUCH WORK TO COME TO FRUITION!

For us, we met in such an untraditional way, gotten to know each other in such an untraditional way and probably be engaged in such an untraditional way, that the wedding would have to match! Plus, we honestly dont think we would have THAT many guests to be putting on an exstravagant (sp?) wedding like that. Plus, we wanna save the MOOLAH! LOL!

Go Tifferoo, Go Tifferoo, Get Married, Get Married!!!! *doin the cabbage patch real hard* LOL!