Bride's Guide to a Beautiful Wedding
- You reserve your yacht for five hours (one for dressing and decorating).
- Your guests board at the appointed time.
- Your family and friends are greeted with goblets of champagne at the bar.
- They are graciously directed to the ceremony area by your white-gloved crew.
- Your family members are seated . . . awaiting your arrival. Or you may wish your ceremony shore side in the park with its spectacular views.
- Your ceremony may be conducted by your officiant or by your uniformed captain, a United States Merchant Marine Officer.
- The ceremony, done aboard, dockside, or in the park, permits your guests to easily hear your vows without engine noise. Your hair and headpiece remain in place because there is little wind, ashore, as opposed to potentially windy places such as the Golden Gate Bridge and Angel Island. Also, remaining dockside for the ceremony allows late guests an extra 20 minutes to come aboard. (Your ceremony may be held out on the bay, if you wish; but we advise against it for the above reasons, distilled from thirty years of hosting weddings!)
- Your private yacht departs upon your direction and your guests continue to enjoy their beverages and the scenery.
- Unless you direct otherwise, we’ll open the banquet, inviting your guests
to dine while you and your wedding party have photographs taken.
- When these formal photos are done, you take your places at the head table to be served by your attentive White-Gloved Yacht Staff.
- If booked, your Master of Ceremonies/Deejay orchestrates the toasts, beginning with the Best Man, followed by the Maid of Honor, the other attendants, family and friends. These toastings are meaningful entertainment during the dining service.
- Following your dining and toasts, the MC/Deejay calls for the First Dance.
- Next comes the cake cutting and service.
- The cake cutting is followed by the bridal bouquet toss.
Imagine all of this while enjoying the spectacular sights of San Francisco Bay, breathing fresh salt sea air, eating delicious food, dancing, talking, and just having the time of your life.
It’s a small wonder our yacht staff constantly overhear guests telling brides and grooms, "This is the best wedding we’ve ever been to!"
Reserve your yacht and date as soon as possible for best choices of dates and yachts.
Once you’ve booked your yacht, date, and officiant, you’ll have more time to decide on dresses, invitations, flowers, photographer, etc. (Just ask us for our recommended vendor list).
Make reservations to attend the next Meet The Fleet OPEN HOUSE – and we’ll plan the perfect wedding and reception for you, your fiancé, family, and friends.
Make your day fun, wonderful, and memorable with Commodore Events.
Wedding Details
Rehearsal
Your rehearsal may be held during a Meet the Fleet night to become familiar with the yacht, meet the Captain, and perhaps have dinner. A rehearsal party for very little money.
Wedding Day
Schedule 5-hour time frame within the hours of 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or in the evening. Most of our brides schedule afternoon weddings for the following reasons:
- Brides want the best lighting for their photographs. Photos are an important investment.
- Winds can come up on the bay in late afternoon. With a wedding earlier in the day, the bride and her guests will be able to enjoy exterior decks with fewer concerns about hairdos and windy breezes. Passengers typically do not experience as much wind on exterior decks on the return leg.
- At most weddings, there will be guests who have not seen each other for a long time. An afternoon wedding allows guests to make arrangements for dinner to prolong the fun.
Sample Schedule
| TIME |
EVENT |
| 12:00 p.m. |
Bride and attendants arrive 1 hour early to dress, set up favors, place cards, etc. |
| 12:45 p.m. |
Guests may begin boarding, champagne set out, crew may tray-pass hors d’oeuvres |
| 1:00 p.m. |
Ceremony begins; however, typically starts late. Guests don’t mind as they are enjoying visiting. |
| 1:15 p.m. |
Ceremony ends; engines start; Captain gets underway. |
| 1:30 p.m. |
Meal service begins. Average time at table is one hour. |
| 2:15 p.m. |
First dance. Enjoy the party! |
| 3:45 p.m. |
Cake cutting
Bouquet Toss
Garter Toss |
| 4:30 p.m. |
Bar Service Ends. |
| 4:45 p.m. |
Arrive at dock, Bride and Groom must be at door to say farewell to guests. |
| 5:00 p.m. |
Cruise ends. All guests must depart in order that yacht may be readied for next event. More time aboard is easily arranged by starting earlier. |
Early Arrival
Bride, attendants, and few family members may arrive up to 1 hour early to set up guest book, place cards, favors, etc.
Bride may dress in staterooms aboard Galaxy and Chablis yachts (if available), or, we’ll provide a room at nearby hotels.
Complimentary Limousine
One way limo service, from Alameda Island for the bride so that she may make a grand entrance. Bride must be in car within 10 minutes, since driver has auxiliary duties as a crewmember. If bride and attendants desire additional car service, we will provide a vendor list.
Guest Book Table
Provided aboard the yacht. Bride provides guest book and pen. If guests are assigned table numbers, bride may leave place cards in alphabetical order on guest book table. Bride may also bring aboard flowers, favors, etc, to set out prior to guests’ arrival.
Wedding Decorator Package
Includes decorator package and uniformed Captain as officiate:
- Standing baskets with flowing flowers
- "Happy Marriage Sailors" ring buoy
- Balloon bouquets in bride’s choice of colors
- White silk orchids on tables (on mega yachts only)
- One-hour rehearsal with your Captain for $50
Church of the Sea Ceremony
Select one of five ceremonies, or you may provide your own. If bride desires changes, she must make them in typed, double spaced, bold print so Captain may easily read. Although you may request a specific Captain, we may not make any guarantees.
Meal Service
Buffet style is perfect for weddings because guests may eat when they wish, what they wish, and as much (within reason!) as they wish. The Cruise Director serves dinner to the bridal party at the head table and to mobility impaired guests.
Seated service is available. Let us know the entrée selection as well as the count for any special order two weeks prior.
Music and Entertainment
A Microphone is available for announcements, toasts, etc. We strongly urge hiring our MC/DJ (Master of ceremonies/Deejay) who will orchestrate the entire affair for $175 per hour. The music list will be provided to bride by MC/DJ via email.
Cake Service
Most of our wedding packages include a cake. If you provide, your vendor may board early to set up the cake on the provided table. There is no charge for cake cutting and serving.
Notes to Bride:
The bride is advised to designate someone to be in charge of gathering all personal items from the yacht at the end of the cruise. We are not responsible for personal property left aboard.
Candles
Votive candles must be in holder that is at least 1 inch above flame, no tapers. A unity candle must be in hurricane glass.
Dove or butterfly release, bubbles, etc.
A dove release is available through a vendor. The bridal couple may bring in butterflies. Bubbles are fine. No birdseed is permitted, since it attracts birds and their droppings. No rice, confetti, etc, since it becomes slippery. No balloon release.
Testimonials From Our Brides and Grooms
David and I wanted to thank you all for making "our day" a day that we will remember for the rest of our lives. Everything was wonderful and planned out just as we had hoped. We will definitely recommend you to anyone looking for a great way to be married!
- B& D Wedding
The food was delicious, the service prompt and courteous, and the sailing and views of the bay were magnificent!
- Vandaveer Wedding
Lots of great feedback from our guests. The crew was great and attentive. Kept to schedule. The food was delicious. Everything was perfect!
- Allen/Dowd Wedding
A simple Thank You doesn’t seem enough for the perfect celebration of our wedding aboard the gracious Commodore Yacht. It truly was the most romantic, wonderful, elegant and special day for Michael and me on San Francisco Bay and it shall forever be etched in our minds and hearts.
- Bender Wedding
Guests said it was the best party they had ever attended! Food was great, excellent staff, outstanding service.
- Olson Wedding
The service that your crew provided was courteous, timely, gracious, and always seemed to be accompanied by warm smiles.
- Parker Wedding
Call us toll-free 1.877.346.4000 or 510.337.9000 or see Contact page for convenient email contact form. We can help you plan your special day aboard a CommodoreEvents.Com yacht!
 |
|
Pets Welcome!
Do you want to include a pet in your wedding ceremony? Using pets takes a little extra planning and we are happy to help coordinate the details. See Pets in Weddings. |
Back to Wedding Packages
Serving 16 ports in the San Francisco Bay area:
Alameda, Antioch, Benicia, Berkeley, Emeryville, Martinez, Napa, Oakland, Pittsburg, Redwood City, San Francisco, Sausalito, South San Francisco, Stockton, Tiburon, Vallejo | |
