SunQuest Cruises

Sunquest Cruises, Solaris
You Bring the Dress…They’ll Do the Rest

By Gwen Hall

SunQuest Cruises’ Solaris is a wonderful worry-free, weather-proof, one-of-a-kind venue that offers the perfect solution for wedding ceremony/reception combos, receptions following a beach or church wedding, bridal brunches or luncheons, and rehearsal dinners, making this a “one stop wedding shop that just so happens to float”.

With literally hundreds of satisfied brides to their credit, The professionals at SunQuest Cruises have blended  brides’ desires to create a unique wedding experience aboard a one-of-a-kind venue with the instant-connect world of email, I.M.’s, and texting, making it possible to plan a wedding easier, faster and more cost effectively. Best of all they have every aspect of this down to an art form allowing brides to accomplish this with minimum time and effort. The result is full service wedding and reception planning and on-site coordination for a wedding that all of your guests will remember for a very long time.

DINE
Executive Chef Steve Johnson and his experienced kitchen staff create “art for the palate” as unique as the floating venue itself. Chef Steve starts each culinary creation with the gulf coast’s freshest ingredients paying special attention to every step from preparation to presentation. His many years of experience in the region’s top rated fine dining establishments are evident. SunQuest Cruises’ special event menus features upscale contemporary flavors from around the globe. Chef Steve’s, inspiration comes from combining the culinary flavors of America’s culturally diverse melting pot and his avant-garde approach to cuisine.

DRINK
SunQuest Cruises’ Solaris features a beautifully crafted bar on the second deck. The rich mahogany wood, granite top and understated lighting is the perfect place to gather with family and friends. The bar is fully stocked featuring top shelf liquors, domestic and imported beer and an impressive wine collection that will please even the most discriminating of wine tastes. 

PRIVATE BRIDAL DRESSING SUITE
Brides love the private bridal dressing suite where they can dress and stay hidden away from their groom’s eyes before they walk the staircase leading to the sky deck, and the exchange of their vows. The affluently decorated suite offers large mirrors, a make-up table, and access to its own private restroom making this the perfect place to prepare for that special moment you’ve waited for all of your life.

FULL SERVICE PLANNING TEAM
SunQuest Cruises has a dynamic team focused on weddings. Gwen Hall, Director of Event Sales assists brides from the very first email or call, all the way to the big day. Gwen says she prides herself on responding to all incoming requests for information within 24 hours of the initial request, and she personally assists each bride in selecting the wedding package that best suits her personal taste, her event date, her guest count, and her budget. Gwen creatively approaches the bride’s needs taking into consideration guest arrival dates, accommodations and transportation to the venue.

Once your date has been confirmed the bride begins working with SunQuest’s professional wedding event planner, Kristi Jenkins and wedding coordinator, Jessica Lusher.

Kristi offers the expertise of knowing “what ‘s hot for weddings”. She works with the bride to discuss new ideas as well as incorporating traditional favorites. Her goal is to make every SunQuest Wedding Cruise aboard Solaris a worry-free, one-of-a-kind event. Kristi assists brides with everything from chair cover and linen selections to choosing the perfect menu and specialty drinks to choosing distinctive floral designs, customized wedding vows, musical selections, reception entertainment and more. She can even arrange for such cool wedding additions as ice sculptures, dove releases, and blessing stones, as well as helping a bride with the wedding cakes. If you have an idea for something less common, chances are Kristi, Jessica, and the planning staff at SunQuest Cruises will be able to accommodate you no matter what your desire.
Once the major planning is done Jessica implements everything from the menu presentation to table settings to making sure everything about the bride’s  One-of-a-kind SunQuest wedding cruise is a dream come true.

Brides love working with Kristi and the SunQuest wedding team because they can email photos or links for ideas they may have, and she will do all of the leg work, pricing, ordering and delivery to make everything come together. Once Kristi gets to know a bride’s style and personality, she presents creative wedding options that are a direct reflection of that bride and groom. Most of this planning can be handled by email and telephone, requiring very little of a bride’s time, and making it easier than many brides might ever imagine to plan the perfect destination wedding from afar.

Perhaps best of all, a SunQuest wedding, reception or rehearsal dinner is as special to the staff as it is to the bride, groom, and their family and friends. The owners and staff of SunQuest Cruises have made a dedicated commitment through resources and staffing that goes a long way in insuring that every SunQuest bride has a one-of-a-kind, worry-free wedding and reception aboard Solaris…while also providing all of their guests with an event they won’t soon forget. Sure you could have your wedding or related event anywhere, but you could also have it somewhere special.

For more information about SunQuest Cruises and Solaris, or to begin planning your big day, call SunQuest Cruises at 850-650-2519 or visit them on the web at www.sunquestcruises.com and mention you read about them in  GULF COAST BRIDE Magazine.