Rachel & Scott live in Mudgee, NSW Australia.
They did a cruise in September of last year, from Hawaii to Sydney, with the ship stopping in Papeete (Tahiti), Moorea, and Bora Bora on the way.
They wanted to elope and take the opportunity of visiting our islands to get married on the beach in Tahiti!
While they thought of having their ceremony in Tahiti at first, once I detailed their options to them and showed them how much more romantic and beautiful Moorea is vs. the capital island of Tahiti, they agreed that a Moorea wedding it would be!
How Is It Like To Hold A Moorea Wedding While On A Cruise?
The ship was in port for just one day so they wanted the ceremony to be in the morning, so they could have some free time in the afternoon to go discover a bit of the island before sailing away to Bora Bora.
Working with the ship’s ground agent, we arranged that these two could get off the ship in an early tender to shore (as most often cruise operations will only let passengers with individual arrangements get off AFTER all passengers who have booked tours with the company have gone on their excursions, which can take a couple hours when that is a multi-thousand passenger ship – so even with an ETA listed as let’s say 6am, you may as well only be able to get ashore at 9am).
Rachel did not want to get off the ship wearing their wedding outfits but rather to get changed and ready for the ceremony at a private place, so we secured a transit room in a hotel for them to do so.
I had already picked-up their flowers – a gorgeous bouquet in pastel colors + greeneries, and a matching boutonnière for Scott – the previous night from the florist, so there we were headed for the private islet beach to celebrate love. We were able to enjoy that lovely private beach location and have it just for ourselves – which on a day when a large cruise ship is in port, let me tell you, is easier said than done – and after the ceremony, Rachel & Scott then went on to doing more photos at some other places around the island, before returning to the ship in the early afternoon.
Nelly was amazing! I absolutely recommend her to anyone thinking of getting married in French Polynesia.
Without her our day literally wouldn’t have happened. At any time of the day or night Nelly always seemed to reply almost instantly, she was always polite, helpful and always patient. On the actual day Nelly was so helpful while we got ready at the hotel, she even got me a bottle of water! The vows that she put together for us were absolutely amazing, she captured everything that I could have ever hoped for. Thank you Nelly!
Thanks to you Rachel & Scott and we wish you a beautiful life! Not forgetting your two sausage dogs, all the best to you all!
• Wedding Planner + Officiant in Moorea: Nelly at wedOtahiti
• Photographer: Helene Havard
• Rachel did her own hair & make-up
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