Naysayers up North (we’re looking at you, Newport, RI) might contest Annapolis’ status as the sailing capital of America, but even they can concede that our city is a boat lovers’ haven. With its serene setting on the Severn River and bevy of charter options, nautical nuptials just make sense here. The only question is: what kind of seafaring experience is right for you?
Tie the Yacht
When Tanhea Meadows began her search for a wedding venue, the White Marsh resident focused on traditional venues, like hotels and restaurants. “It never even dawned on me that getting married on a yacht was a possibility,” she says. Tanhea doesn’t remember how she heard about Watermark Journeys, a company that organizes private yacht weddings on the Chesapeake Bay, but she initially wrote them off, thinking the cost would be prohibitive. She was excited, however, when a salesperson reached out and explained how a charter could fit within her budget. Tanhea and her husband, Quincy Meadows, were married on August 7, 2021, aboard the Catherine Marie. “The atmosphere, the guests’ anticipation, seeing the boat pull up, and hearing the captain sound the horn… it was unreal,” she says.
Photos: Forever Yours Photography LLC
Bride’s gown: David’s Bridal
hair: A Diamond Touch by Travis Williams
Makeup: Facial Expressions by Tenia
Caterer: Ken’s Creative Kitchen
Flowers: Ling’s Moment
SAVVY TIP: "The boat will not wait for you! Make sure your guests know exactly where they will be picked up and advise them to arrive early. I made a welcome bag for guests with a fact sheet that included photos and directions to the dock as well as little tips, like [what types of shoes to wear]." —Tanhea Meadows
Elope at Sea
Saying “I do” aboard a historic sailboat sounded very romantic to Rebecca Gott, who grew up on the Bay in Southern Maryland. “I loved being able to share those roots with my Arizona-born husband,” she says. The couple chose their vessel, the Selina II, based on its location in St. Michaels. “It’s such a quaint and charming town,” Rebecca explains. Their hotel, the Harbour Inn, was steps away from the Selina II and Rebecca appreciated that she could still incorporate traditional elements into her elopement, like a white dress, bouquet, and cake (provided by the crew!)
Photos: Alexandra Kent Photography
Bride’s gown: LILBETTER via Amazon
Hair: Patty Maloney of Creations Hair Salon
Makeup: Natural Looks by Victoria
Flowers: Bay Blossoms
Plan a Sailing Shoot
After COVID-19 forced them to reschedule their wedding three times, Andrea Sievers and her fiancé decided to cut their losses and focus on their party of two. They exchanged vows at the Annapolis Maritime Museum before cruising on the venue’s 1940 Chesapeake Bay skipjack, the Wilma Lee. “I was nervous that I might get seasick,” Andrea says. “Just in case, I thought I might as well do the real thing on solid ground.” Fortunately, their celebratory sail went untainted and Andrea and her husband Matt enjoyed a romantic (and very photogenic) cruise after their ceremony.
Photos: Lindsay & Co. Photo
SAVVY TIP: “As lame as this sounds, I wish I had a hair tie. It gets a little windy out on the water!”—Andrea Sievers
Make a Grand Entrance
Kaity Luisi and her husband Paul spend a lot of time on their boat, a 18’ Parker Center Console, so they thought it would be the perfect means by which to roll up to their Eastport Yacht Club reception. They didn’t tell their guests ahead of time, but arranged for friends to pick them up from the Charles Carroll House gardens just after their ceremony, at St. Mary’s Church, concluded. “They were really sweet,” Kaity says. “They decorated our boat and had ice waters and champagne in a cooler ready to go.”
Photos: Anne-Marie VanTassell
SAVVY TIP: “Have a plan B. If the weather was awful and it was raining sideways, we had arranged for a car to take us from the ceremony to our reception.”—Kaity Luisi
