Take your vows on the water

Holding your wedding on the water will make it a unique and memorable event for everybody involved, whether you choose a stunning cruise on Sydney Harbour, or a lazy meander down the Swan River. Cruise companies offer charter vessels for a variety of wedding party sizes, so you should have no trouble finding the perfect boat for your big day.

There are several styles of wedding cruise to choose from

1. A luxury liner is the ultimate in wedding decadence, and the Starship Sydney, which can host up to 750 guests, is a perfect example of a modern, stylish venue for a lavish wedding.
2. A paddle steamer is a graceful choice, full of charm and history and perfect for a vintage style wedding. Experience the feeling of stepping back in time as you board one of these beautiful vessels.
3. A yacht is the ideal choice for a smaller more intimate wedding on the water, perhaps for a maximum of fifty guests. Make your wedding personal and plan your own route with a yacht charter.
4. A catamaran is a great choice for a sleek, modern wedding, and can often accommodate between 150 and 200 guests for a cocktail reception. The interior is often minimalist and contemporary, allowing you to stamp your own personality with the decorations.
5. A floating restaurant is a good compromise if you want the feel and views of a wedding on the water, but also want to stay attached to dry land. This type of venue is also generally cheaper than chartering a boat as you don’t need a crew.

The pros and cons of weddings on the water

Hiring a cruise ship for your wedding has plenty of advantages. It is usually an all inclusive package, meaning that the company you hire the boat with can also provide catering, entertainment and decorations. They may also be licensed for civil ceremonies.

Your wedding will take place against stunning scenery, which will change continuously as the day progresses, giving your guests plenty to look at and some great photo opportunities. Overall, holding your wedding on a boat will make it a unique and unforgettable occasion.

There are a few potential downsides to holding your wedding on a boat. Firstly the hire of the venue can be quite expensive, and you usually have to pay a set amount per guest for catering on top of a fee per hour for use of the boat.

Secondly your guests are confined to the boat for the duration of the cruise, which is great for you as you get to mingle in a small area and talk to all of them, but not so great for your guests if they want to leave early, or get a little sick on the water.

Finally you are at the mercy of the weather when you are holding your wedding on a boat. If you are planning to have your ceremony or drinks reception on the deck make sure you have a back-up option in case of rain, and plan an alternative cruise route with the ships captain in case of rough water.