Nautical Wedding Elopement Package

Plan a Nautical Wedding Aboard St. Michaels Sailing Charters!

Celebrate your love with a wedding or elopement on the water. St. Michaels Sailing Charters offers private sailboat ceremonies aboard the historic 1935 ketch Lady Patty or the spacious, modern 44-foot catamaran Epiphany, all departing from the charming waterfront of St. Michaels, MD. With sweeping Chesapeake Bay views, our intimate sailboat weddings offer a beautiful alternative to traditional venues—no travel, no crowds, and no unnecessary stress.

From small ceremonies to simple elopements, our dedicated crew helps create a ceremony that feels personal, effortless, and true to you. Surrounded by peaceful waters and open skies, you’ll enjoy a relaxed, romantic experience you’ll cherish forever.

We offer two unique options that are sure to make your special day a truly unforgettable experience! Choose the perfect sailboat wedding package from the following wedding cruises options.

Ceremony Under Sail Package:

Departing from St. Michaels Harbor, each sailboat wedding includes a two-hour private sail. Our historic 1935 ketch Lady Patty can accommodate up to 12 guests total, including the bride and groom, while our modern 44-foot catamaran Epiphany can accommodate up to 6 guests total. Weather permitting, ceremonies are performed under sail.

This experience is ideal for intimate sailboat weddings and elopements. Our officiant offers a range of ceremony styles, from traditional to alternative, allowing you to create a celebration that feels personal and meaningful.

The package fee includes a two-hour sail aboard either Lady Patty or Epiphany, Maryland State amusement tax, officiant services with a fully customized ceremony, captain and crew gratuity, and a celebratory champagne toast for your guests. Please note that the officiant tip is not included.

Wharf Side Wedding Package:

For couples wishing to include a larger group of family and friends, our modern 44-foot catamaran Epiphany offers a wonderful ceremony option. During the service, up to 6 guests (including the bride and groom) may be aboard the vessel, while up to 50 additional guests are welcome to watch from the dock.

Following the ceremony, couples may choose to depart for a private, one-hour post-ceremony sail with up to 6 guests while enjoying a champagne toast before joining the rest of their party at a local restaurant or venue for a reception.

Epiphany is also available for private bareboat charters for up to 13 guests. Please note that bareboat charters do not include champagne, captain and crew, officiant, or associated fees which must be arranged and paid for separately.

Officiant:

Both packages include the wonderful Maryland-ordained wedding officiant, Bonnie Brown Scott of Beginnings and Ends. With extensive experience performing ceremonies aboard sailboats, Bonnie creates heartfelt, personalized ceremonies by taking the time to learn your unique love story. She will connect with you directly, asking thoughtful questions to craft a custom ceremony that feels meaningful, authentic, and perfectly suited to your special day.

“We could not have found a better person to officiate our November wedding! Bonnie made us feel like we have known her for a long time, and that showed in the ceremony she performed. After just one introduction call and a few questionnaires, Bonnie captured the essence and true nature of our love and relationship so well that my husband and I, our parents and guests were all blown away at her service. She made the legal aspect of this process painless and worry free. We found Beginnings and Ends to be extremely affordable which helped us stay within our budget. We highly recommend Bonnie to officiate the wedding of any future couples (seriously, look no further). Thank you Bonnie for making the most important part of our day so perfect!” – Client Review

Marriage License:

A valid marriage license from the Talbot County Courthouse in Easton is required. Licenses may be obtained in person or by mail and must be in your possession at least two days prior to your ceremony. Please note that the license becomes valid 48 hours after application and the marriage must take place within Talbot County. Additional details and requirements can be found on the county’s marriage license information page.

Champagne Toast:

Immediately following the raising of the sails and your marriage ceremony, we raise our glasses with a celebratory champagne toast to you! Additional beverages are available for purchase including beer, wine, and non-alcoholic options.

Food:

We partner with local businesses to offer custom, pre-ordered food options that can be ready when you arrive. This is the perfect cruise for catered appetizers or a charcuterie board.

Additional Vendors:

Add more to your day by including photography and videography, boat florals, a bouquet, wedding cake, or musicians! Here are a few local recommendations:

• Photography: Laura’s Focus Photography is familiar with both of our sailing yachts and specializes in a nautical, documentary-style approach that’s perfect for capturing this once-in-a-lifetime day.
• Videography: Andover Media is also familiar with our sailing yachts and offer state-of-the-art video production to capture your day.
• Florist: Poppy Jar Flowers specializes in small weddings using luxury and hard to find flowers to make your floral wedding dreams come to life.
• Cake: Ruby’s Cake Shoppe is known the have the best tasting wedding cakes in the area with numerous flavor and design options to choose from.
• Guitarist: Justin Ryan is an acoustic guitarist and singer/songwriter that can add that perfect sound to your day.
• Bagpiper: Easton Piper can create a truly unique experience by adding emotional sounds of the great highlands bagpipes to your special event.
• Hair & Makeup: Salon Sophia Tate in Easton provides full service hair and makeup services so you can look your absolute best!
• Reception Dinner & Event Space: Head to The Wildset Hotel for private dining at Ruse for a memorable meal prepared by James Beard-nominated Executive Chef, Michael Correll. Or join additional guests for a reception complete with dancing at Wildset’s Milk Truck Garage, a beautiful new private event space with stained glass and exposed wood beams.
• Tent & Rentals: Want a tent and chairs for your Wharf-Side Wedding? Eastern Shore Tents & Events is a full service rental company with tent options, furniture, tableware, linens and more.

Weather:

In the event of inclement weather, don’t worry—you can bring umbrellas, and we can proceed as planned, either dockside or out on the water. Epiphany also features a large covered area that can be used for added protection. If the weather isn’t ideal, and your schedule allows, we’re happy to explore rescheduling options for a day with better conditions.

Attire:

Many couples are skipping the traditional look and going for effortless, stylish vibes—think sleek wedding dresses or jumpsuits, short veils, lightweight linen jackets, or dressy boat shoes. You can keep it classic or have fun with playful, nautical-inspired accessories. Some even choose casual, colorful options like Hawaiian shirts and sandals. One tip: skip the heels on deck for safety and comfort. It’s your day—make it totally yours!

Be sure to bring comfortable shoes, cameras, sunhats, and a light jacket in spring and fall. It’s about 10 degrees cooler on the water so plan accordingly.

Other General Info:

Safety: Our yachts are exceptionally clean and well-maintained, with all modern safety features (life jackets, VHF etc). Foul weather gear is available in the event of unexpected bad weather.

Kid Friendly: Children of all ages are welcome aboard our yachts. We love kids! We have infant, toddler, and youth life jackets to fit all sizes and ages.

Parking: Free parking where we are parked at the Harbour Inn, 101 N Harbor Road, St Michaels MD 21663.  If there are no spaces available, then there is parking on the side streets and along the waterfront down past where the work boats tie up.

Cancellation Policy: Private wedding charters will receive full refund if cancelled more than 7 days prior to start of charter. 50% refund if cancelled less than 7 days and more than 72 hours before start of charter. No refunds if cancelled less than 72 hours before start of charter.

Swag: Our ships store includes custom St. Michaels Sailing Charters embroidered shirts, baseball caps, zip hoodies, tote bags, beach towels, stemless wine glasses, and more.  You can pre-order at checkout or let our crew know you are interested in purchasing a souvenir.

Max Passengers:

• Lady Patty carries of maximum of 13 guests (includes bride, groom and officiant)
• Epiphany carries a maximum of 6 guests (Epiphany is also available for private bareboat charters for up to 13 guests).
• The U.S. Coast Guard considers all children (regardless of how small they are or what age they are) to be passengers, and as such, you need to count them in, too. For example, mom, dad, and their six-month-old are three paying guests, not two.

Toilet:

• Lady Patty is equipped with a small marine head available for emergency use, also located down a short set of steps.
• Epiphany features a private and spacious modern marine head (bathroom) located down a short set of steps.
• For both sailboats, we recommend guests use the lobby restroom at the Harbour Inn before boarding.

Accessibility:

• Getting aboard Lady Patty is easy most of the time unless we have an extremely high or extremely low tide in which case there is a step up or a step down to get aboard. Most of the time the deck is just about the same height as the dock so it’s a simple to walk aboard.  Once on deck, guests can walk forward and sit on the cabin top without any steps or they can step down 2 steps into the cockpit area.
• Getting aboard Epiphany is easy most of the time unless we have an extremely high or extremely low tide. There is usually 1 or 2 steps to get aboard. Once aboard, guests can walk forward to the bow area without any steps, or step down three steps walking towards the aft cockpit seating area.
• On both boats, our captains and first mates are there to assist anyone who needs a hand.

Comfortable Seating:

• Lady Patty offers cushioned seating along each side of the wooden cabin top as well as cushioned seating in the rear cockpit area with the captain.
• Epiphany has numerous cushioned seating options in shaded front and rear cockpit areas with two dining tables. Guests can also lounge on comfy beanbag chairs or captains reclining chairs on the bow for a front row view of the sail. Guests also love relaxing on the trampoline and can enjoy the view of the water below.

Still have questions? ☎ 410-849-9864