By Molly Tully
Destination weddings are all the
rage, with cruising through the Caribbean being a popular option. But
did you realize that you could have your ceremony and reception right
here in Bayonne aboard a large luxury liner, then bid adieu to family
and guests, and take off on the honeymoon of a lifetime?
The convenience of these cruise ships, along with
their unique location and fun factor, have begun attracting New Jersey
brides as they plan their big day. Since you’ll be utilizing ballrooms
and cocktail lounges that would have otherwise been left empty while
at port, the cruise lines are happy to pass along cost savings. In many
cases, prices can be less than $50 per person, which may be just too
good of an opportunity to pass up. Plus you’ll have unbeatable
views of the New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty, and lower Manhattan.
Throw in a personal wedding coordinator, invitations,
ice sculptures, chocolate fountains, flowers, custom cakes, private
bridal suites, hair and makeup services, favors, tuxedo rentals, a yoga
class before your ceremony, spa services, and even a wedding gown waiting
in your stateroom, and you’ve got the recipe for a memorable,
affordable, and—dare we say it?—stress-free wedding day.
“Cruise ship weddings have gained in popularity
due to the affordability factor and the fact that bridal couples and
their guests can have a week-long celebration for the same cost as a
four-hour hometown wedding,” says Valerie Brizuela of the Wedding
Experience (theweddingexperience.com), a wedding planning company in
Miami that specializes in cruise ship weddings and plans up to 10,000
weddings a year for ten cruise lines, including those departing from
New Jersey and New York. “The average cost of a 100-person wedding
in a hometown is approximately $28,000—the cost for the same amount
of people for a cruise ship wedding with reception is approximately
$5,000,” she adds.
At those prices, you just might consider bringing
everyone along on the full cruise. Or at the very least, you could afford
to bring your closest friends to join in on the week-long party and
vacation, still for less than the cost of a traditional reception wedding.
And “on top of the savings and the week-long
celebration,” says Brizuela, “the bridal couple gets to
experience unique and exotic locations as well as having the potential
to experience the trip of a lifetime.”
Just keep in mind that these ceremonies and receptions
usually take place in port during the day of departure—most likely
between 12 and 3 p.m., before the cruises head out toward open waters.
These celebrations tend to be intimate affairs, due to restrictions
determined by the cruise line, but a number can accommodate up to 150
nonsailing guests. While you and your guests will receive priority boarding
with escorts—don’t worry about being trampled by the rest
of the cruising passengers—in many cases only a one- or two-hour-long
luncheon is possible. So if you had visions of dancing ‘til dawn,
this is not for you.
Many cruise lines don’t allow live bands—custom,
recorded music or deejays are often the only possibilities. Professional
photographers may also be prohibited, forcing you to rely on the ship’s
own service of shutterflies. And it may be hard to track down the actual
boat you’ll be holding your wedding on to check out the room ahead
of time; you’ll have to rely on photographs and the word of your
wedding planner.
You’ll also have to get your guest list organized
early. Some cruises require the names—and full payment—for
all of your guests 45 days in advance; for security reasons, if their
name is not on the list the day of the wedding, they can’t board
the ship—no exceptions.
But these are all minor details when considering
the cost savings and the added benefit of a trip of a lifetime. Then
there’s the possibility of stowaways—Uncle Louie passed
out under the table or even worse, family members deciding to “surprise” you
and join in on the week-long honeymoon cruise, when you were looking
forward to the two of you retreating to your private bridal suite alone. If
that’s the case, be sure to make it clear to all invited that
family reunions can be planned for another year. And don’t worry—the
cruise line has numerous safety precautions in place to ensure that
Uncle Louie and all other stowaways have been properly left ashore.
Cruise Ship I Dos
Departing from Bayonne:
Celebrity cruises features deck
weddings, where you can get married al fresco under white wedding canopies.
Their Test the Waters package allows you to tour the ship prior to your
wedding. Packages, which include ceremony, coordinator, flowers, cake,
champagne, and photo services for up to 150 nonsailing guests, start
at $32 per person. Additional perks include invitations, wedding parasols,
couple’s massages, and flower petals sprinkled on your bed at
turndown. 866-535-2352; celebritycruises.com.
royal caribbean’s wedding
ceremony packages start at $1,995 for a ceremony, complete with officiant,
coordinator, flowers, music, wine, chocolate-covered strawberries, and
photo services. Receptions start at $32 per person, with a maximum of
75 nonsailing guests. Extras include video packages, hair and makeup,
stationery, favors, ice carvings, and tuxedos. Add adventure to your
vows with their Explorer Weddings by getting married at a rock wall
or ice rink. 888-933-7225; royalcaribbean.com.
Departing from new york: carnival cruises Packages,
starting at $1,850, include officiant, bouquet and matching boutonniere,
wedding cake, champagne toast, and photography services. They can arrange
everything from a simple open bar and hors d’oeuvres reception
to a formal sit-down dinner in one of the ship’s formal restaurants,
with a maximum of 50 nonsailing guests per wedding. 800-933-4968; carnival.com.
princess cruises For $1,600, you’ll
get get married with an officiant, flowers, music, cake, and champagne.
Extras include invitations, spa services, video, tuxedos, and ice sculptures.
Receptions start at $21 per person. Live wedding cams in shipboard chapels
share your day with friends and family members who couldn’t make
it. 866-444-8820; princess.com.
norwegian cruise lines offers
a wedding coordinator, music, white rose bouquet, matching boutonniere,
private website, cake, champagne, and spa services. Cocktail receptions
start at $24 per person, and sit-down receptions start at $48 per person,
for up to 75 nonsailing guests. 800-392-3472; ncl.com—M.T.
Beyond the ballroom
By Patricia Simone
Imagine splendor, spectacular spaces, and neoclassical/Art
Deco architecture. The Mezzanine in the former Newark
National Bank, the tallest building in Newark, delivers all this and
more after a $55-million restoration. With 40-foot ceilings, hand-painted
murals, marble floors, and grand staircases, this elaborate venue offers
award-winning customized cuisine, service, and event décor that
are sure to wow your guests. Robert Frungillo of Frungillo Catering Design
calls this option “New York savvy chic,” where old teller
booths double as bars and the vintage bank vault serves as the prefect
backdrop for a memorable cocktail hour.
For more intimate affairs with a contemporary New
York City flair, consider The Loft in Montclair, run by Events by Joni.
Whether you’re leaning toward a themed wedding with dramatic lighting
or something more casual, the exposed ceilings, brick walls, and cosmopolitan
menu is sure to delight. According to owner Joni Bronander, some of most
requested favorites are scallop dumplings and butternut squash ravioli.
Hankering for something more avant garde? Then
look into the Grounds for Sculpture, which boasts more
than 250 contemporary sculptures set among 35 acres of beautifully landscaped
gardens. According to Roxanne Klett, corporate and private events manager,
the newly renovated Seward Garden Center for the Arts follows
the contemporary art concept featured in the park through its unique
industrial design.
For solitude seekers and nature lovers, consider
the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, which hosts
environmental education, field research, and respite for eco-tourists.
Eco-friendly couples can help support this private non-profit’s
conservation work while providing a fantastic back-to-nature experience
for their guests. “Our three decks can act as dance floors or bar
areas, with expansive views across 6,000 acres of pristine salt marsh,
and spectacular sunsets,” says Cindy O’Connor, executive
director.
For the more adventurous set, the Adventure
Aquarium, which was totally renovated in 2005, is the perfect
pick. Treat your guests to views of the gorgeous Philadelphia skyline
with theatrical lighting that highlights different bar or food stations.
Dine and dance amongst rare and dangerous sea creatures in spaces with
names like the Underwater Journey, the Shark Den, and the Underwater
Safari. According to Stacy Soper, facilities sales assistant manager,
cocktails by the two-story waterfall or the Shark Tunnel are two favorites.
So what are you waiting for? The wedding event of
your dreams can be found in New Jersey—in your own backyard.
Fun, Fantasy & Flights of Fancy
Check out these fabulous New Jersey locations
for a wedding experience that will captivate you and your guests.
Adventure Aquarium
Camden Waterfront
856-365-3300, ext. 7375
adventureaquarium.com or
currentsballroom.com
Suggested Booking: 12 mos in adv
Number of Guests: 150 to 560
Price: Starts at $90 pp
Facilities for the ceremony and reception
Grounds for Sculpture
Hamilton, 609-689-9134
groundsforsculpture.org
Suggested Booking: 18 mos in adv
Number of Guests: 150 to 350
Space Rental: $1,500 to $4,750
Choose from preferred caterers, or book your own. Some hour restrictions
apply
Membership required by event
The Loft/ Events by Joni
Montclair, 973-783-5222
eventsbyjoni.com
Suggested Booking: 12 to 18 mos in adv
Number of Guests: 50 to 175
Space Rental: $1,500 to $2,500; food and service additional
Plenty on street parking
The Mezzanine
Newark, 973-256-9380, frungillo.com
Suggested Booking: 12 to 18 mos in adv
Number of Guests: 150 to 500
Price: $90 to $180 pp
Wetlands Institute
Stone Harbor, 609-368-1211
wetlandsinstitute.org
Suggested Booking: 6 to 12 mos in adv
Number of Guests: 40 to 400 (with tent)
Space Rental: $600 to $3,000
Choose from preferred caterers, or book your own
Locations: The Seaview Resort & Spa
By Molly Tully
Destination
weddings are immensely popular these days, but there’s always the
fear that friends and family may not take the time or pay the expense
for a Caribbean getaway. Marriott’s Seaview Resort and Spa in Galloway
(609-652-1800; www.seaviewmarriott.com),
just minutes from the bright lights of Atlantic City, solves your destination
worries. It’s the perfect way to fulfill your desire of an exotic
resort-like locale, without having to leave the state. “Seaview
is the only full-service resort that is a drive-to destination,” says
Tim Cahill, director of sales and marketing. “Many brides and
grooms want a destination wedding where all the guests can enjoy leisure
activities including golf, spa, beach and boardwalk, nature walks, kids’ activities,
and adult fun in Atlantic City, while still having time to interact with
family members they have not seen for a while.”
This Georgian-style mansion, originally built in
1914, is an elegant bayside retreat with a turn-of-the-century Gatsby-esque
charm. “Many brides and grooms love the historic ambiance Seaview
has to offer,” adds Cahill. But you won’t be sacrificing
the amenities and luxuries of today. Seaview’s 297 guest rooms,
which have seen the likes of such guests as Bob Dylan and the Rolling
Stones, feature antique furnishings along with high-speed internet, cable
television, in-room movies, and spacious bathrooms with marble floors.
All of the function spaces and public areas were renovated in 2005, and
all guest rooms and suites will be refreshed in March of 2007.
Seaview is situated on 670 acres and features 36
holes of championship golf on two of New Jersey’s oldest and most
prestigious courses. They even offer a “Groom’s Golf Free” package,
where the groom will receive a free round of golf. There’s also
the Faldo Golf Institute, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a health
club, and tennis.
The Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa offers bridal
packages for the bride or the entire wedding party. And your guests will
likely be interested in spa treatments as well.
The new Bayview Ballroom, added in the $6 million
renovation in 2005, can accommodate up to 460 guests and features a veranda
overlooking the famed Bay Golf Course and a porch with views of Reeds
Bay. Weddings can also take place in the Presidential or Regency ballrooms
in the main building. Seaview has even arranged for a 250-person event
with the wedding held on the front lawn and the bride arriving by horse
and carriage up the front drive, to the amazement of the guests. The
party moved to the Bayview Garden for cocktails and then was brought
inside to the Bayview Ballroom for dinner. Guests were then brought out
to the Bayview Patio for an hour-long fireworks show. “It was truly
a night to remember,” says Cahill.
Rehearsal dinners can be held at the resort or
can even take place at one of the many restaurants in Atlantic City.
Seaview can arrange for transportation back and forth for you and your
guests. And they also offer a wonderful Sunday brunch.
Many different wedding packages are available to
accommodate all wedding sizes and budgets. A typical event would include
a customized website for the bride and groom, a personal wedding coordinator,
a bridal suite, a five-hour event with open bar, hot and cold hors d’oeuvres
with a five-course meal, a Viennese and internationl coffee station, and
a custom-made wedding cake created by their award-winning pastry chef.
Packages range from $89 to $250 per person. Contact: Jennifer Hoffman,
catering sales manager and certified wedding planner, 609-748-4310; jennifer.a.hoffman@marriott.com