Surprise! We’re Getting Married!
Laura and Steve on their wedding day aboard Sapphire Princess.
March 13, 2012
by Laura Gow
Planning the perfect wedding, from the bridal shoe to the cake topper, is a dream for many women but I wasn’t one of those girls. Countless hours can be spent mulling over dresses, reception halls and bouquets – but that was never for me. However, I had a dream wedding anyway, lovingly and secretly planned by my longtime boyfriend, my soul mate, Steve, aboard Sapphire Princess.
I have to say, Steve turned out to be an incredible wedding planner and a master of surprise. As I boarded the ship in Seattle, I had absolutely no idea I was about to take a cruise with my family, become engaged, get married and go on my honeymoon.
I thought we were celebrating Steve’s birthday. My first surprise came shortly after we boarded, as we were exploring the ship with our 2-year-old daughter, Cassidy. Why were both sets of parents and our brothers on deck? Steve smoothly explained they had come to celebrate his birthday with us.
Behind the scenes, Steve, our families, and the Sapphire Princess crew were quietly preparing for our ceremony and reception. Little did I know that a fishing expedition in Ketchikan would yield the reception’s main course. A chef almost gave it away when he called our stateroom to ask how to prepare the salmon for the wedding dinner. I replied, “You mean the birthday dinner?” Steve later told me he was reeling, but I thought nothing of it.
Steve and I have been securely together since meeting in high school 20 years ago. We know our habits, and getting up early the next morning to see the majestic site of the Tracy Arm Fjord seemed like a natural thing for us. Little did I know I was in for a shock – an 8 a.m. proposal!
Steve was adamant that we head to the bow of the ship. We passed my father along the way and I insisted that he come along but he made several excuses for staying back. I grabbed a chair and made him sit down anyway, but dad huddled toward the back of the group – he didn’t want to infringe on the moment to come.
What came next became a very public proposal. Steve handed me his coffee cup, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. The crowd cheered and the Princess photographer captured it all.
Then came the biggest shock of all – we’d be getting married at 6 p.m. that evening! I had a scant 10 hours to get ready. But Steve and the Princess wedding planners had made all of the arrangements. He chose my favorite color, peach, for the bouquet and boutonniere. He picked out my favorite cake, raspberry coconut, favorite music, everything. He really had been paying attention all these years!
The next 10 hours were a whirlwind. We docked in Juneau and hurried to get our wedding license. Then I returned to the ship for the hair and nails appointments Steve had pre-booked. Certain things started to make sense – Steve insisting on clothes shopping with me and encouraging me to buy the white skirt. Or how jumpy he got when I borrowed a silver necklace from my mother because he thought she’d given something away by providing “something borrowed.”
The ceremony was beautiful; we were surrounded by the people we love most. Our wedding feast featured the fresh salmon we had caught the day before. It was an incredible feeling to share this meal with our guests.
I did have a dream wedding, although it was not planned by me. As Steve said, “I wanted to give you a Princess Day.” And he did.
Laura lives in La Grande, Oregon. She and her husband, Steve, have been on five Princess cruises with a sixth cruise planned for June! Their 3 ½ -year-old daughter, Cassidy, has already enjoyed four Princess cruises!
hi yes cruise ships are the best to get away i would love to work an live on a cruise ship forever all ways meeting new people what a great life xx
Congratulations Laura and Steve, your romantic story is what the spirit of “The Love Boat” is all about! We wish you many years of happiness!
I just love your story. How exciting for you. I dream of getting married on a ship, especially Princess. We found an engagement ring last feb on the Dawn princess and as it was quite expensive I never thought that I would ever get it. Last december my partner (also named Steve) thought it would be a great idea to contact the ship and see if the beautiful passion stone ring was still on board. It was, we asked them to put it away for us and we went on another cruise to pick it up. The staff could’nt believe it and were so wonderful and excited for us. They really are a great cruise company and I so hope I can have a wonderful experience like you did. All the very best for your future. Kind regards, Juanita
I am almost in tears! Thank you for sharing your lovely story. Having been to the Tracy Arm, I can also imagine how beautiful and magical the proposal was. We now celebrate every wedding anniversary on a Princess ship though it took us 25 years to start doing so…let the romance continue for us both. Congratulations!!
My Mother went on a cruise last january and she enjoyed it so much she is 74 and so she decided I should go on one too I have has a very stressful couple of years so we are planning one for January I am so excited I don’t get to spend much time with my mamma and she is my best friend. I think she went on a carribean cruise but we are looking for a little less expensive sooo can you help us we live in Missouri
What a great story! We too got married on the Sapphire Princess, except in the opposite direction- the Mexican Riviera. We could not have asked for better planning by the wedding department. All we had to do is basically show up, and bring our music. You choose the cake, flowers, vows, and picture package. Stress Free!!!! Congrats on your memorable day.
What an amazing story! Best of luck to both of you
Congratulations to you both!! What a beautiful story…..I hope you both have a lifetime of happiness and may you enjoy many more special moments.
Congratulations!!! I am so inspired by your story. I am 60 and single. Combining cruising and a wedding would be a dream come true. I’m a romantic and a strong believer in LOVE. Steve, you the man! Laura, you are a smart woman. You know a keeper when you see one. I wish you both many years of blessings and love. <3
Hats off to Steve!! That was an incredible story and I really don’t know many men who would have been able to plan such a perfect day! Good luck to you both and keep making memories.
Ok, the tears are falling. What a wonderful love story. Laura you are so lucky to have such a thoughtful amazing man. I’ve been on one of the Alaska cruises with Princess and must admit your wedding had to be the hi-light of your cruise even with all the beauty surrounding you. Congratulations to you both and may you grow old together.
Sweet story. I shared this for my clients on my Facebook!
Great romantic story, It would benefit many if you were chosen to do a reality show.
Perhaps others could learn how to treat each other!!! May God bless both of you.
Oh Laura, you definitely got a “keeper” with Steve! What a magnificent gesture…one that you’ll not only remember for the rest of your lives, but one that your daughter will aspire to! Daughters always gauge the men they meet by their Fathers….that future young man really is going to have some huge shoes to fill! Good work Steve, all our best for your new future as husband and wife. Princess is truly the BEST!
What a lovely story, I too got married on Emerald Princess January 9th 2012, it was a fantastic day just the two of us, It was great way to get married, I would recomend it to everyone. Were on Emerald Princess January2013 for our anniversary carnt wait.
I have been with my boyfriend for 18 years this Nov. and a few time in our years together I’ve told him I’m going to get married will you be there. My way of asking him, will you marry be? He always has responded yes, he’s one to not like center of attention. So we’re am i going with this story. Hmm I’m reading this beautiful love surprise wedding I think I know where I could take my wedding vows. Surprising him. After all he’s always said yes. Question roughly what is the cost besides the boarding fee to have a wedding on a cruise ship? Who ever could give me some info greatly appreciate it.
This is a perfect post.
A surprise wedding is not possible in Australia, as the legal paperwork must be completed by the couple a month prior to the wedding.
CONGRATULATIONS LAURA AND STEVE!!!!!
My fiance and I have been best friends for 10 years and have been engaged for almost a year and are getting married this April. I am taking Erin on her first cruise EVER on the Sapphire Princess Coastal 7 day r/t LAX. Though she is more prone to Disney, Princess was in my budget for a perfect and romantic honeymoon. Though we did look into getting married onboard a Princess Vessel, we chose to get married at a beautiful restaurant with a gorgeous outdoor setting and in door reception hall so we could have our honeymoon privately.
I wishe you all of the best and again, Congratulations.
Congratulations Laura and Steve!! Laura, what a catch you have in Steve, planning all those details for just the perfect shipboard wedding…awesome. My husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary, and my 50th birthday in 2011 on a cruise to Hawaii on the Golden Princess. We love cruising with Princess!! We can agree with you that our friends at Princess know how to make milestones extra special. All the best for many years of happiness together, and on your future cruises!
I wish to offer my congratulations to you and Steve, and say how amazing he is at keeping a secret! I also wish to welcome you to the family. My husband and I were married onboard the Sapphire Princess in its inaugural season for Princess Cruises, 2004. We were married on the Alaska sailing out of Seattle, the first day at sea and enjoyed the rest of the sailing as our honeymoon.
I wish you and your family a wonderful lifetime of memories!
Congrats….I just LOVE this story. He could give lessons on how to be a good husband. Many years of happiness and saliling. Bon Voyage!
Thats a fantastic story, congrats to you both. I hope Princess surprise you with a cruise for your wedding anniversary gift next year!
What a beautiful story ( fairy tale ) what a great guy you have . Congrats !
HAVE A GREAT LIFE TOGATHER…
What a wonderful surprise! How romantic is that?
reading your story makes my heart pound around.. so sweet.. you are a lucky girl having steve do all those things for you.. you made such a good couple… princess will do everything for the best and happiness of the passenger
This is by far the best, most well-though-out, romantic, & fun reason to go on a cruise. I would be happy to just be a fly on the wall at this event. This is very uplifting and smile provoking. May you have many, many more adventures. I wish you well. I hope to have a few adventures of my own as well!
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