{"id":2039,"date":"2026-06-20T14:03:48","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T14:03:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jacksonvillemovingnews.com\/?p=2039"},"modified":"2026-06-20T14:03:48","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T14:03:48","slug":"why-more-couples-are-choosing-cruise-weddings-over-traditional-ceremonies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jacksonvillemovingnews.com\/?p=2039","title":{"rendered":"Why more couples are choosing cruise weddings over traditional ceremonies"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

As prices for traditional ceremonies climb, some couples are getting creative about where and how they say \u201cI do.\u201d They are going to the open seas. <\/p>\n

Read more USMNT advances to World Cup knockout rounds with 2-0 win vs. Australia<\/a><\/p>\n

Wedding bells are ringing \u2014 and so are rising costs.<\/p>\n

As prices for traditional ceremonies climb, some couples are getting creative about where and how they say \u201cI do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Megan Nodal, 28, once envisioned a large, traditional wedding with a church ceremony and a full reception. After getting engaged in 2024, she quickly reconsidered.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe wedding industry is insane,\u201d Nodal said. \u201cYou can order a white cake for $150, but the moment you say it\u2019s for a wedding, it jumps to $500.\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead of marrying in South Florida, Nodal turned to social media for alternatives and discovered cruise weddings.<\/p>\n

Travel advisor McKenna Ciner, 28, began researching cruise weddings in 2024 but found limited information. She has since become a resource for couples considering the option. Ciner married aboard a cruise in January and has helped others, including one couple who wed in March.<\/p>\n

\u201cGenerationally, we\u2019re viewing weddings differently,\u201d Ciner said. \u201cIt\u2019s less about the size of the guest list and more about what the couple wants.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Fora\u2019s Wedding and Honeymoon Report, cruise wedding bookings have increased by more than 200%, reflecting a growing trend.<\/p>\n

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Cost is a major factor. Ciner said basic packages typically start around $4,000, regardless of cruise line. Popular options include Disney Cruise Line, Virgin Voyages and Royal Caribbean, with higher-tier packages reaching about $10,000.<\/p>\n

Nodal said a traditional Florida wedding would have cost about $50,000. Her cruise wedding package cost roughly $7,000, including the ceremony, a one-hour reception, d\u00e9cor and champagne. After adding a $5,000 photographer and cruise fares, the total came to about $15,000.<\/p>\n

Another draw is convenience.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never worried about vendors canceling or things going wrong,\u201d Nodal said. \u201cThe stress-free aspect really helped.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cruise weddings also turn the celebration into a multi-day experience for guests.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe ended up with something more intimate, with people who truly wanted to be there,\u201d Nodal said. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t what I originally imagined, but it was better than I expected.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ciner advises couples considering a cruise wedding to first consult close family and friends to ensure they can attend. She also recommends sharing full travel costs early, once itineraries are released, to give guests time to plan.<\/p>\n

Read more Blue paint seen chipping off Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As prices for traditional ceremonies climb, some couples are getting creative about where and how they say \u201cI do.\u201d They are going to the open seas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2038,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2039","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy"],"yoast_head":"\nWhy more couples are choosing cruise weddings over traditional ceremonies - Jacksonville Moving News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/jacksonvillemovingnews.com\/?p=2039\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why more couples are choosing cruise weddings over traditional ceremonies - 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