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Wedding Planning
The Best Boating and Floating Wedding Venues Across the World
Planning a wedding on the open seas, lake shores or rivers near home? Check out these charter yachts, riverboats and sailboats we’re currently crushing on. If your wedding style is all about showing off your favorite city skyline, a mega-yacht rental in Miami might be right up your alley. Or, maybe you’re more likely the type to take your closest friends and family on a cruise in celebration of your marriage, culminating in one epic dinner party night that doubles as your reception. Keeping style, luxury and good design in mind, we’re bringing you the best boats and floating wedding venues across the world. Whether your destination wedding options include Istanbul, an African safari or Croatia, or keeping it close-to-home in Chicago, New York or Savannah, we’ve got you covered.
Reporter: Alyssa Brown
Reporter: Alyssa Brown
Photo:Sonya Khegay
Dream Island Yacht
Montenegro
For those considering a wedding elopement on the open seas, this Montenegro charter sailing yacht is a stunner. You’ll be able to bring along about eight guests for the occasion, or you can turn this option into a honeymoon plan and sail off into a few days of soaking up sun and sea.
Photo:Lloyd Photographers
MV Skansonia
Seattle, Washington
Treat your wedding guests to a night on the water in Seattle, with sweeping views of the city skyline, the Space Needle and Queen Anne. Aboard the historic MV Skansonia, you’ll host your ceremony on the open-air deck followed by cocktails, dinner and dancing in a timeless nautical setting.
Lake Geneva Cruise Line
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
There are a few options to choose from when deciding which wedding venue on the water to go with at Lake Geneva, but our favorite is probably the Lady of the Lake. She’s a good size for a cocktail reception of up to 225 guests or a seated dinner reception of up to 120. We love her open-air covered deck and light, airy aesthetic.
Photo:Jose Villa
Spirit of Bermuda
Bermuda
With space for up to 50 guests to cruise around Bermuda’s turquoise coast, Spirit of Bermuda can be used as a wedding venue, rehearsal dinner spot, cocktail party venue or post-wedding gathering option. The charter is a modern reproduction of a 19th-century sailing sloop.
Photo:World Yacht
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World Yachtlearn more
Exchange your vows as your party crew floats past the Statue of Liberty on the World Yacht. This NYC private charter is large enough to host 500 guests for one wild party or wedding, and there’s even a rooftop bar.
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Point Ruston Ferry
Tacoma, Washington)
The Point Ruston Ferry dates back to 1936 and has the beautiful colors and detailed ironwork to prove it. Ceremonies on board can take place on the open-air deck followed by receptions in the light, bright interior spaces.
Photo:Traverse the Tides
Narwhal Yacht Charters Inc.
New York, New York
For a micro-wedding or elopement, a 6-person wedding on Narwhal Yacht Charters is a magical way to experience New York in a new, unique way. The sailboat charter maxes out at 6 people aboard, which leaves just enough space for you and your partner, an officiant, a photographer and two of your very dearest friends.
Photo:Krista Welch
Steamer Virginia V Foundation
Seattle, Washington
All aboard this National Historic Landmark in Seattle’s South Lake Union for a wedding rich in maritime history and lively celebration. Steamer Virginia V can seat up to 85 guests in the main saloon for dinner, or you can opt for a cocktail style wedding event with up to 150 guests.
Photo:Pilot
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Pilotlearn more
Brooklyn’s go-to schooner for drinks and oysters, Pilot can easily be taken over for a rehearsal dinner, wedding welcome party, wedding reception or day-after brunch with a group of up to 150 guests. The 100-year-old boat can be found at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6 and is a full-service seasonal oyster bar, cocktail spot and restaurant.
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Photo:Alex Paul Photography
Entertainment Cruises Boston
Boston, Massachusetts
You can choose to depart from Rowes Wharf or the historic Seaport District for your Boston harbor wedding cruise. There are four different yachts to choose from, varying in size from just right for 140 guests to made for up to 449 guests. All options are glam and offer great food and a built-in dance floor.
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learn morePhoto:Riverland Studios
The Carolina Girl Yacht
Charleston, South Carolina
A luxury yacht with multiple observation decks, a bar and a top-deck dance floor, The Carolina Girl Yacht is a great wedding venue option for up to 150 guests. There’s an in-house wedding planner and your guests will love the views of the Charleston harbor.
Photo:Photo Studio Čerina
Polaris Split Boat Excursions
Split, Croatia
Cruise along the glistening Dalmation Coast in this 146-passenger historic yacht with beautiful indoor dining spaces and wide-open decks. Charcuterie boards, octopus, risotto and Mediterranean salads are just a few of the on-board catering offerings, all with local Croatian wines to complement.
The Queen Mary
Long Beach, California
This stately vessel boasts 14 Art Deco salons and event spaces that make beautiful backdrops for wedding events. The Queen Mary has been hosting SoCal weddings for the past fifty years and can accommodate an intimate affair or a black-tie wedding of 800 or more guests.
Photo:Ambrosio Photography
Seafair Miami
Miami, Florida
This larger-than-life modern luxe yacht has multiple event spaces indoors and out, the largest of which works well for an event of up to 300 guests on the sea deck. Aboard Seafair, your guests will enjoy great views of Miami from the sparkling waters of Biscayne Bay.
Photo:Spirit of Chicago
Spirit of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Take your wedding guests on a cruise of the Chicago lakefront and enjoy the city skyline from just about any vantage point on board. The Spirit of Chicago can be booked privately for weddings of up to 600 guests.
Photo:Apt. B Photography
Savannah Riverboat Cruises
Savannah, Georgia
Whether you’re after a ceremony and cocktail spot or a venue that’ll host your whole wedding reception of up to 1000 guests, this Savannah Riverboat should definitely be in the running. Sunset cocktails on the deck, anyone?
Photo:Majesta Patterson
Hornblower
San Francisco, California
Whether you’re planning something intimate for 50 guests or fewer, or picturing a more grand wedding with up to 1,050 guests, Hornblower offers plenty of yachts to choose from. This is a great option if you want to cruise around the sights of the San Francisco Bay on your wedding day
Photo:Trilogy Weddings
Trilogy Weddings
Maui, Hawaii
Trilogy Weddings’ collection of luxury sailing catamarans includes a range of yachts that can host up to 50 guests for an unforgettable gathering. This team makes the planning super easy and seamless, with a few simple options to choose from when creating your ideal celebration.
Southern Belle Riverboat
Chattanooga, Tennessee
This Chattanooga riverboat would be a fantastic option for a sunset ceremony on the deck followed by cocktails throughout the indoor and outdoor spaces. Southern Belle can host a wedding of up to about 500 guests.
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Photo:DnA Wylie Photography
Flagship
San Diego, California
Whether you’re considering a cruise along the San Diego coast for your wedding day, rehearsal dinner or welcome party, you can pick the yacht of your choice with Flagship. Their party vessels range in size from 25 to 300 guests.
Photo:Mariel Hannah
Electra Cruises
Newport Beach, California
Huge windows, open-air decks and luxurious finishings make the yachts you’ll find at Electra Cruises true stunners. If there’s such a thing as an easy-to-plan wedding, this is it. Catering, cake, photography, entertainment, flowers, an officiant and a coordinator are all included in your wedding package.
Photo:Bella Bosphorus Cruise
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Bella Bosphorus Cruiselearn more
This luxury charter boat can host up to 100 of your nearest and dearest for the most unforgettable wedding. Choose from the waters surrounding Istanbul, the Bosphorus, Black Sea or Princes’ Islands as your backdrop and your guests will be in for a treat!
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The Leight Starlearn more
This three-level luxury charter yacht has various nooks, lounge spaces and cozy hangout spots. For a seated outdoor dinner, 50 is the sweet spot for your guest list. You can also sleep up to 12 guests in overnight suites on board, so it could be just as epic for a bachelorette party as it is for a small wedding.
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Biscayne Lady Yacht Charters
Miami, Florida
Miami party yachts are where it’s at! A wedding on one of these bad boys can suit an event of up to 550 guests in a glamorous, opulent setting that’s totally customized to work for your style.
Photo:Spirit of Philadelphia
Spirit of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Don’t overlook the Philly waterfront as a wedding location option! The Spirit of Philadelphia yacht cruises from Penn’s Landing along the Delaware River, giving you and up to 530 of your guests a chance to see the city skyline from a new perspective.
Photo:Zambezi Queen
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Zambezi Queenlearn more
The Zambezi Queen has 14 suites on board and seating for an event of up to 30 guests, making it the perfect floating venue for a small destination wedding that includes days of cruising along the Chobe River and national park between Namibia and Botswana. Think of it as a luxury safari river cruise with a wedding thrown into the mix.
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Belmond Road to Mandalaylearn more
Cruise through the tropics of Myanmar with your closest buds in tow and visit historic temples and fishing villages while sailing along the Ayeryarwady River. You’ll be able to bring along about 82 guests for the occasion and the top deck with its pool and open-air vibe would be a fab spot for a wedding on board.
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