Nautical Wedding Venues for Couples Who Love the Water

Celebrate your love near the shore.

By: Sara Ventiera

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Maritime Ceremonies

Humans have been gravitating toward the open seas since prehistoric times. So, it should come as no surprise that many couples want to incorporate their love of the water into their big day. From inland boat houses and yacht clubs to old school schooners, here are 10 nautical wedding venues ideal for anchoring up to your S.O. in true maritime style.

Maine Maritime Museum

Bath, Maine

Set in Bath, nicknamed the City of Ships, the Maine Maritime Museum tells the tale of the area’s seagoing heritage. The town boasts a modern-day shipyard that, back in its heyday, was home to 22 boat builders along its waterfront. Percy & Small Shipyard is the only original dry dock remaining on the Kennebec River. Today, it’s part of a 20-acre campus that makes up the museum, which sees couples wed on its pier with the historic 1906 schooner Mary E. in the background. For lovers of maritime history and tradition, it would be tough to find a more fitting place to commemorate the big day.

Shoreline Cruises

Lake George, New York

What’s better than saying “I do” on the open water? Saying it with beautiful views of the verdant Adirondack Mountains on one of the first ships to set sail on Lake George. Shoreline Cruises’ the Horicon is a historical wooden yacht that can accommodate up to 150 guests for a standing event. The company regularly hosts private wedding charters and the folks responsible for organizing the parties are known for their attention to details, including freshly pressed linens, chair covers and gorgeous maritime-inspired table settings. For couples who are struggling to narrow down the guest count, their 2004 The Adirondac has room for up to 400 guests and a private bridal suite.

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

Savannah, Georgia

William Scarborough was a big deal in the maritime industry back in the 19th century. He was president of the Savannah Steamship Company and one of the principal owners of Steamship Savannah, which made its first trans-Atlantic crossing just over 200 years ago. His stately mansion, appropriately dubbed the William Scarborough House, has been transformed into the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. Honoring Savannah’s seagoing history, the gorgeous venue boasts replicas of historic ships, nautical paintings and antiques from the Atlantic trade routes of the 18th and 19th centuries. Plus, it boasts the largest privately-owned garden in Savannah’s historic district, so it’s great for couples who want to feel the coastal breeze in the air.

Carolina Girl

Charleston, South Carolina

It’s hard to find a more nautical-inspired wedding venue than a boat. The Carolina Girl offers couples a chance to say “I do” on an actual yacht. Offering three levels, this floating event space has enough room for 150 guests. No matter which deck you're on or which way you look, your dearly beloved and “crew” will be treated to spectacular panoramas of the low country estuaries and marshland. During the charter, the vessel passes through Charleston Harbor (right near Fort Sumter, the starting place of the Civil War), the colorful Charleston Historic District and the Arthuer Ravenel and Ashley River Bridges.

Whiskey Red’s

Marina Del Rey, California

With 180-degree views of the bobbing masts in Marina del Rey harbor, Whiskey Red’s is the perfect place for boat-loving couples to celebrate their union against the backdrop of a dramatic Pacific sunset. It is home to the largest waterfront patio in the marina with cozy fireplaces to keep warm as the weather cools down at night. The scene is nice without any décor, but the fully customizable space offers newlyweds a chance to really highlight the maritime theme of their dreams with whatever cool coastal colors and centerpieces they’d like. Plus, the seafood-focused fare and handcrafted cocktails really kick the whole thing over the top.

Events by Jamie Leeds

Washington, D.C.

When chef Jamie Leeds married her wife Tina at one of her restaurants, the couple incorporated their love of the ocean into the party. Their cake was frosted in undulating blue waves. Their rings were carried down the aisle in a gorgeous oyster shell. Their guests waved blue streamers as they walked away from the arbor as a married couple. It was a fantastic day, and Leeds decided it was time to help other couples experience the same hospitality. Last spring, she launched Events by Jamie Leeds in the same space where she tied-the-knot, offering water-lovers her signature “urban beach food” and bespoke designs.

Pilot

Brooklyn, New York

Ever want to tie-the-knot on an actual schooner? You can do so at Pilot, an oyster bar set on a rare surviving Grand Banks-style wooden sailboat. Built by J.F. James and son in Essex, Massachusetts, Vogue said "she is 140 [feet] of remarkable maritime craftsmanship" when the racing vessel—designed to compete with the fastest sailboats on the planet—was launched in 1924. It eventually went into service as the longest serving pilot ship in American history for the Massachusetts Pilot’s Association, before being converted into a Brooklyn oyster bar. The intimate wedding venue is ideal for couples who want to incorporate a gorgeous piece of maritime history with some killer scenes of the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop.

Macatawa Bay Yacht Club

Holland, Michigan

When lifelong sailors Danielle Gamache Rast and Olympian Christopher Rast were looking for a meaningful place to celebrate their union, they decided to tie-the-knot at Gamache’s childhood yacht club in Holland, Michigan. Already adorned with dark woods, nautical flags and other sailing appropriate décor, Gamache’s sister Jacqueline brought the nautical theme over the top. Model sailboats were used for catering food and the photo booth featured an array of maritime props like the captain hats donned by Gamache and her maid-of-honor. Like with most yacht clubs around the United States, the event must be sponsored by a member of MBYC to hold a wedding at Macatawa Bay Y.C.

The Loeb Boathouse

New York, New York

The Loeb Boathouse is one of the most iconic venues in New York City—and the entire United States. It’s been featured in dozens of films, from “3 Men and a Little Lady” and “The Odd Couple” to “When Harry Met Sally” and “27 Dresses.” That’s because it’s romantic as heck. Located right on a lake in Central Park, it’s surrounded by birds, butterflies and lush greenery with peaking views of skyscrapers above the tree canopy. After the extravagant ceremony, couples can float along the pond in a rented rowboat as visitors have done for a century and half or take a break in an authentic Venetian gondola as they prepare for their big entrance to what’s bound to be an unforgettable party.

Washington Park Boathouse

Denver, Colorado

Part of the City Beautiful project in the early 1900s, the Washington Park Boathouse has long been a top destination for waterfront weddings in the Centennial State. Jules Jacques Benios Benedict, one of the most prominent architects in Colorado, completed the structure in 1913. It overlooks Smith Lake, legendary flowerbeds and the dramatic landscape that harkens back to Denver’s early years. While it still holds its historic appeal, the Boathouse was renovated in 2012 and now includes modern day amenities like a bridal suite, staging kitchen and other features to help accommodate up to 150 guests.

Nautical Wedding Venues for Couples Who Love the Water

Related To:

Shop This Look

Maritime Ceremonies

Maine Maritime Museum

Shoreline Cruises

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

Carolina Girl

Whiskey Red’s

Events by Jamie Leeds

Pilot

Macatawa Bay Yacht Club

The Loeb Boathouse

Washington Park Boathouse

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