I am a former Cruise Bride (2011) and I am also a travel agent. My client (bride) ask me to assist her on the wedding day. I took care of her 60 guests who were sailing as well so it was a great way for me to meet my clients. I was married on the same ship a year before the bride.. Here is my review.
I just left a beautiful wedding onboard the beautiful Carnival Spirit on Sunday. The wedding had a total of 65 sailing and 35 non sailing guests. Boarding went very smooth and we all were on my 11:45. The Bride and myself felt it would be better to do a practice run immediately after boarding. I felt this went very well and highly recommend. The only person not in attendance was the bride. This gives you as a bride a few moments of peace. There was still plenty of time for everyone to still get ready.
I went up and had time to have lunch with the wedding coordinators, Carnivals pastor, and the florist. I did not know this but Carnival always has the pastor come even if your bringing your own. He told me a few times he had to help out if the brides pastor is a no show. I wanted to compliment the florist but I forgot. The flowers are so much better now then when I got married. After lunch I went to check on the bride. The photographer and videographer had arrived. The videographer does ask you a few questions about how you met. My bride and groom declined, but they did not understand it’s part of the video. They ask you a few questions about how you met so I highly recommend to do this!!.
The wedding was back to back another wedding in the same room! My brides wedding was at 1 and the next wedding at 1:30 in Versailles Lounge. The bride and myself are not a fan of the gold curtain for photos. I highly recommend the stairwell on deck 2 near the Cool Club. The photos went very well , but you need a director. So you need someone who is in charge. Telling people who is up next and making sure family knows prior to sailing they needs to be there as well. Photos came out great and she got tons of photos compared to most brides. I would recommend hiring a personal assistant for the day. Someone needs to know your vision other then you. I knew the time limits of everything so when the Grooms sister was MIA I finally had to say time to go to reception and bride agreed.
The reception went very well and everyone was announced. This did not happen at my wedding 
so make sure you take care of this as well. I did not like the video screen at her wedding in the Dance Dance Club. My wedding had a huge purple wedding background with my name on it. My bride had some dancers with contests on each TV. I tried to get the DJ to fix but they said the server broke and they can no longer do it. I think it’s a miss by Carnival and they really needs to fix the server. It really makes the photos pop.
Attention to detail it always off when it comes to the reception. No matter how many instructions you give something goes out of order. If you want it to happen make sure again someone is prepped days before the wedding. The reception I felt went really smooth and everyone had a good time with only a few misses. She got in group photo, bouquet toss, garter, speachers, cake etc.. The only miss I saw was no slow song so if anyone did not like current top 40 they did not dance. Throw in at least one oldie in the mix lol.
Non sailing had to leave at 3pm and it was time to leave
I could not stress enough you need a personal assistant. Don’t expect the wedding coordinators who knows nothing about you to get your vision.
