A Country Hotel and a Cruise for the Perfect Wedding and Honeymoon

Couples that decide to have a large family wedding have a lot to arrange and the expenses can quickly spiral out of control. It is a good idea to sit down and agree on a definite budget before going to visit possible venues and looking at holiday brochures for the honeymoon, in order to try and keep the money side of things under control. A sea voyage makes a nice alternative to a couple of weeks at a beach resort and with the money that can be saved by booking lastminute cruises online, there should be plenty left over to pay for a first class reception after the ceremony. With ships sailing to destinations all over the world there is bound to be something that appeals. Hotels vary greatly regarding the amount that they charge for wedding receptions and the final cost will depend to a large extent on the number of guests and the type of food and drink that is required. Vintage champagne for 200 guests would obviously add quite a lot to the bill for example. Cruises From Barcelona are popular with UK honeymooners as they only involve a short flight and take in romantic cites such as Naples, Rome, Monte Carlo and Barcelona itself. Itineraries vary between the various operators but many of them take in Italy, France and sometimes Greece, Malta and Morocco as well, making them ideal for newlyweds that want to start their new life together by visiting several beautiful and exotic destinations.

Instead of having an ordinary ceremony in a church or registry office, followed by a reception and honeymoon, companies like P&O Cruises can arrange for everything to take place onboard one of their luxury liners. This is a good idea for people that are planning a low key event but could prove to be too costly or time consuming if there are likely to be a large number of guests attending. Many ship operators will lay on champagne and flowers in your stateroom and provide a wedding coordinator to make sure that everything goes smoothly on the big day. Couples that fancy a transatlantic crossing could try one of the Cunard Cruises that are well-known for their elegant cabins and first class service. Such a trip would give the bride and groom some time to relax before immersing themselves in the bustling metropolis of New York. There are many five star hotels in this city that would be ideal for holding a lavish wedding reception if the lucky couple fancy an intimate affair with some close family and friends joining them on their voyage across the Atlantic. If the beaches of Florida sounds more appealing than the Big Apple then perhaps Fred Olsen Cruises, which call in to Key West on their way to South America, may be a better choice. People that decide on a wedding at sea usually hold a reception in the UK for family and friends that are unable to make the journey for whatever reason.

If it is agreed that a big celebration at an English hotel will be held after getting married onboard an oceangoing liner then it is a good idea to start making preparations well in advance. In addition to looking at MSC Cruises and those offered by the other major lines, all the normal tasks will have to be dealt with. This is a mammoth undertaking for any single person, so the responsibility is best shared among two or three close friends. A hotel with extensive grounds is perfect for a summer wedding although one can never be sure if the weather will be fine of course. For a honeymoon with guaranteed sunshine, a trip that takes in the South Pacific could be the answer. There are several operators such as Princess Cruises that have itineraries taking in Hawaii, Tahiti and other islands in this region. Taking a camcorder along is a nice touch as the footage can be shown at the reception after returning to the UK. Many hotels have conference facilities that include digital projectors, which would be ideal for this purpose. French Polynesia offers some wonderful scenery that lends itself to being filmed and islands like Bora Bora are sure to catch the imagination. Another area that is very popular with sun seekers is the Caribbean and Silverseas Cruises are one of the choices for people that wish to travel to this area. Turning up at the reception back home with a great tan is a nice bonus.

With any type of wedding, whether it is held in a church or in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the help and advice of relatives and friends can be invaluable in ensuring that everything goes to plan. Personal recommendations for hotels that other couples have used are always welcome and with the many different choices for the honeymoon, like Regent Cruises and journeys organised by other well-known operators, tips from people who have gone on this type of holiday before may help to narrow the selection down a little. For trips that involve flying to remote destinations like Sydney, Australia for example, it is a good idea to leave a few days in between returning home and the family reception. This will give the bride and groom time to recover and make sure that they look their best. Most liners have excellent spas and exercise facilities so an exotic cruise is a great way to prepare to meet old friends and relatives that have not been seen for many years. People that are travelling a long way to attend the reception may like to book a room in the hotel where it is being held and it is worth asking for special rates as a discount will often be offered when the hotel is already making a decent amount from a large wedding celebration. If the rate is low enough then it could be a nice gesture to offer the rooms to close relatives as a thank you gift.