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Newport Beach Wedding Events

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Plan Your Dream Wedding

Imagine exchanging vows along southern California’s pristine harbor as your something blue. Share sunset views with loved ones or dance under the moonlit sky surrounded by iconic Newport Beach’s coastal views and waterfront skyline aboard our unique floating venue as you embark on your dream wedding experience. City Cruises provides all-inclusive options tailored to your budget and style with chef-prepared menus, full bar packages, and customizable entertainment. Create unforgettable moments that you and your guests will treasure.

CEREMONIES & RECEPTIONS

Begin your happily ever after with Newport Beach’s coastal views as your backdrop. Picture your romantic rooftop ceremony, offering panoramic views of the famed Newport Beach skyline and pristine harbor, followed by a lively reception indoors where dining and dancing await in our stunning interior space. Our all-inclusive packages cater to every budget and style, ensuring we transform your vision into reality. Come aboard and tie the knot with City Cruises.

REHEARSAL DINNERS & WEDDING RELATED EVENTS

Turn your dream wedding-related events into an unforgettable celebration with breathtaking on-the-water views of towering yachts and celebrity homes. Our vessels offer an all-inclusive experience perfect for a rehearsal dinner, engagement party, bridal shower, brunch, and vow renewal. Delight in exceptional hospitality, ensuring your wedding-related event is unforgettable. Let our dedicated team expertly handle the planning, leaving you free to come aboard, raise a toast to your love, and revel in the joy of your union.

A Space for Every Occasion  

The magic is in the details, and each of our venues offers an abundance of choices. Take a visual tour of our Newport Beach fleet, with yachts offering both indoor and outdoor spaces – customizable to host your most intimate, to extravagant affair, with unparalleled panoramic views from every direction. Our climate-controlled interiors and open-air exterior decks rank among the largest and most luxurious in their class. Consider our spaces as a blank canvas to bring your wedding dreams to life. Whether you’re planning an intimate event or a grand affair, there’s something tailored for every couple.

PACKAGE INCLUSIONS

Our venues provide all the amenities and furniture necessary for your event. City Cruises all-inclusive wedding packages include the below among other offerings.

• Two-hour lunch cruise
• Champagne toast
• Cash cocktail bar
• Two or three-hour dinner cruise
• Plated, food station, or buffet menu
• Dessert or wedding cake
• Background music
• China, linens, glassware
• Service staff & bartenders
• Complimentary cake cutting
• In-office coordinator
• One-year anniversary dinner

ENHANCEMENTS

For more information on creating your dream wedding on the water,  click  here.

• Ceremony officiant
• Live ceremony music
• Live entertainment
• Bar & menu upgrades
• Dance floor
• Videographer
• Customized florals
• Photographer
• Specialty linens
• Photo booths & more!

Your Wedding is Better on the Water  

Our wedding guide provides images, inspirations, packages, and enhancements to create your perfect day. Ready to tie the knot with City Cruises? Provide your email address below and download our free wedding guide.

GET IN TOUCH

You’ve said  yes , now allow us to plan the start of your beautiful journey.

Send us some of the essential details about your event, and one of our event planners will personally reach out to discuss availability, and pricing, and arrange a tour of our fleet.  

Tell Us About Your Event

After form submission, you’ll receive a customized offer from an experienced Account Manager matching your event vision.

 or Call 1-800-459-8105

Event Details

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WEDDING BLOG

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IN THE MEDIA

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– THE KNOT

You Can Actually Rent the Yacht from ‘Succession’ for Your Wedding

– WOMAN GETTING MARRIED

Isaiah Hartenstein and Kourtney Kellar Share Photos from Their ‘Blissful’ Wedding — on a Yacht!

– PEOPLE MAGAZINE

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Frequently asked questions, how many people can go on a wedding cruise in newport beach, does city cruises offer all-inclusive weddings in newport beach, how much do yacht weddings cost in newport beach, what types of wedding packages does city cruises offer in newport beach, does city cruises newport beach offer a coordinator for the wedding cruise, what sights can be seen at a boat wedding in newport beach, will there be photo opportunities at a newport beach yacht wedding, where do wedding cruises depart in newport beach, does city cruises newport beach provide a wedding vendor list, be the first to get offers and news, shopping cart, find your experience.

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May 27, 2015 by [email protected]

Our yachts are the perfect Newport RI Wedding Venue!  Sailing Excursions: Known as the boutique of Newport Rhode Island yachts, boasts the elegant and legendary Schooner Adirondack II and the Sloop Eleanor. These boats are known for their quality craftsmanship, and its intimate, elegant and comfortable environment.

From the Schooners’ beautiful sails and construction to the experience of sailing through Narragansett Bay, these are yachts for taste and style and are a perfect place to host your wedding.

Newport is an ideal location for your destination wedding. Schooner Adirondack II is the perfect Newport RI wedding venue for small wedding ceremonies, receptions, proposals and gatherings. She has also entertained many a bachelor and bachelorette party. It’s a great way to have your out of town guests enjoy this historic city while joining you on your special day. Our professional crew will cater to your every need from start to finish.  They will dazzle you with their skills and impress your guests.  Book your Newport Nautical Wedding on one of these elegant yachts. 

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Wedding Ceremonies

Say, “I DO!” while taking in the famous Newport RI Sunset. Let this iconic sunset act as a perfect backdrop to your perfect day!

Tie the knot as the sun sets, casting its golden glow over the Narragansett Bay. Share this moment on a quiet sail aboard our 80-foot schooner with the sails raised and the sound of only gentle breezes and lapping waters around you. Say your vows as you set sail aboard the Adirondack II or Eleanor . Our yacht is perfect for “smaller ceremonies” and has a large amount of charm and uniqueness – up to 57 aboard the Adirondack II or up to 24 aboard Eleanor . This is the perfect Newport destination activity for you and your guests.

Day-after Sails

Treat your day-after friends and family to a classic private sail on Schooner Adirondack II or Sloop Eleanor . If they haven’t had time to get out on the water in Newport, this relaxing, intimate, private brunch covers all the bases while you get to say ‘Thank You’ and ‘Good Bye’. Guests sit back with a drink in hand.

Bridal Showers

The Adirondack II is an ideal venue to host a unique bridal shower! This yacht is great for smaller, elegant, and memorable gatherings. Its spectacular views are from the comfort of its wrap around seating and its cockpit is perfect for gift giving. Sip on Mimosas and sail in style while you host this special nautical event.

Bachelor & Bachelorette Parties

What better place to host your friend’s bachelor or bachelorette party than aboard a boat in Narragansett Bay! The Schooner Adirondack II offers an elegant way to go down memory lane and celebrate the future on the horizon! You will be surrounded by the sounds of nature and have an exhilarating sail on Newport waters that will give you time to reflect on the past and take in the thoughts of the future. Whether you decide to sail the day away or cruise into the sunset, this is a great, elegant, and original idea for a Bachelor or Bachelorette party.

Wedding Reception

Complete your wedding with an elegant, comfortable and classic reception on our 80 foot yacht, Schooner Adirondack II . Treat your friends and family to the classiest yacht in town as you cruise around Newport for a classic Sunset! The Schooner Adirondack II is the only Newport Yacht of her caliber that will smoothly cut through the waters and sail into the sunset with class and style.

Call for more info 401-862-8441

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PRIVATE TOURS

Corporate Events

Graduations

Birthday Parties

• Private Sunset Sails

Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties

Small Intimate Gatherings

Private Charter Rates

Contact us for outside caterers we recommend.

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See our calendar of events, private yacht charters.

Sail out into Newport Harbor and impress your guests. Step aboard the legendary Schooner Adirondack II or Sloop Eleanor for a private charter. These yachts are perfect for Corporate outings, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Weddings, and more. Read more »

PUBLIC EVENTS

Sail out into NY Harbor and impress your guests. Step aboard one of our classic vessels for a private charter. These yachts are perfect for Corporate outings, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Weddings, Team Building and more. Read more »

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Newport, RI | Weddings & Events

Make 2024 Your Year

Celebrate your special day at The Bohlin

Taking cues from classic New England architecture styles and design sensibilities, we’re pleased to introduce to you, The Bohlin – a wedding & event destination that nods to the nautical heritage of Newport.

Weddings Private Events

A Unique Location

Centered in a world-class marina, the bohlin’s dockside terrace is surrounded by sailboats and classic luxury yachts..

Coastal Chic

The art of sailmaking, the strength of marine rigging and the warmth of varnished wood..

Anchored by a signature Sperry Tent, the softness of sailcloth is complemented with a touch of rustic elements and rich woods, just as they are on a beautifully designed schooner.

City by the Sea

Nestled amongst the cobblestone streets and the city’s iconic wharves..

The Bohlin embodies the historic character of Newport’s downtown waterfront while embracing a coastal chic design aesthetic.

Absolutely incredible. The compliments kept coming all night long, my guests were blown away! Such an incredible venue with outstanding views of Newport. Robyn  ·  October 2019

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Get in touch with a personal event planner to help with every last detail.

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On WeddingWire since 2009

A one-of-a-kind wedding venue in Orange County, California, City Cruises - Newport Beach provides a private and elegant affair aboard gorgeous yachts that you and your guests will cherish forever. With the shimmering water, gorgeous sunsets, and a star-filled sky, the romance will be evident as you celebrate your unique love story.

Facilities and Capacity

This diamond in the Newport Beach fleet, is the largest charter yacht in the harbor with 6,000 sq. ft. of event space on three spacious decks, which can host up to 450 guests. Since the yacht was launched in 2002, she has represented the very pinnacle of coastal contemporary yacht design. The huge bay windows of indoor dining decks and dance floors make for spacious elegance coupled with fine attention to detail. The sophisticated interior design in stylish blues and grays appointed with granite bars, modern woodwork, brushed chrome accents, and custom lighting make the yacht ideal for upscale large events. Other features include large screen televisions, Wi-Fi, a stage, and carpeted sky lounge for stargazing.

Endless Dreams has been featured on: CSI: Miami, HBO's Entourage, Showtime's Dexter, and the KTLA Morning Show. Recently Endless Dreams was featured in a music video

• 8'6" to 9'6" interior ceiling height
• Granite bar
• Raised dining platform for VIP's, buffet tables, or band
• Dramatic stern boarding
• 3,000 sq. ft.

Furniture is subject to change. Some furniture that appears is different to standard. Please speak to a City Cruises Events Coordinator about furniture options.

• Entertainment deck with built-in dance floor with colored LED lighting
• Entertainment platform for DJ or band
• Lounge/Bridal Suite
• Aft sliding glass doors opening to veranda-style balcony
• Comfortable couches and cocktail tables
• Large open bow area
• 2,400 sq. ft.
• Open-air sky deck with stage
• Ambient string lighting
• Excellent harbor viewing
• Custom lounge furniture
• The yacht is eloquently anointed with rare exotic woods, granite, marble, "Ultra" glass murals and designer wall and fabric coverings. Interior amenities include a large main salon with a baby grand piano, marble fireplace, entertainment center and bar. Guests will enjoy outdoor viewing areas from the large bow, aft deck, or by strolling the "walk-around" decks. Her enclosed upper deck seats up to 130, with a full-service bar, and can also be used as a great space for dancing.
• European designer seating
• Formal dining area
• Several intimate seating areas
• Baby grand piano
• Marble fireplace
• Entertainment center

Furniture subject to change. Some furniture that appears is different to standard. Please speak to a City Cruises event coordinator about furniture options.

• Seated dining for 120

Once the private playground for legendary actor John Wayne, the Wild Goose is the ultimate venue for unforgettable events. Three decks of gorgeous woodwork, priceless paintings, intricate carvings and unique amenities make a cruise aboard the Wild Goose a one-of-a-kind experience.

The Wild Goose has been featured on the Discovery Channel and California's Gold with Huell Howser.

• Grand Salon entry with bar
• Large Built-in display table
• Aft deck entertainment and dance area
• Fireplace room - perfect for relaxing
• Two restrooms
• Master stateroom/bridal suite
• Open air bow and aft decks
• Library with poker table
• Outer promenade around entire deck
• Cocktail space only
• Seated dining for 127 guests
• Fully heated

Mojo is a 100-foot, custom-designed motor yacht created for intimate events. A master suite with spacious bath doubles as a bridal dressing room, and two additional staterooms offer space for pre-ceremony preparations. Other features include an open upper deck and newly remodeled main salon with full bar. Her facilities and features make her a popular choice for celebrations, weddings, commitment ceremonies, as well as corporate retreats and teambuilding excursions.

Mojo was featured on the following television shows: Hells Kitchen, The Bachelor, Date my Mom, For the Love of Ray J, The Tyra Banks Show, Columbo, Baywatch, VIP, and Blind Date.

• Plush main salon with full bar
• Large open-air aft deck with bench seating
• Large open-air bow with bench seating
• Seated dining for up to 56 guests
• Room for DJ entertainment
• Spectacular views with panoramic windows
• Guest staterooms with 3 large restrooms
• Private bridal suite

The 90-foot Dream Maker is one of our most popular yachts accommodating up to 90 guests. Built in P-510 during WWII, formerly referred to as crash boats, this one was stationed in the Aleutian Islands in 1943-44 as Air Force vessels that waited in the water for a chance to rescue downed pilots. There are only 200 surviving crash boats. They were kept a secret for 25 years after the Korean War. Her status as a Canadian-owned vessel would have prevented her from ever being certified by the U.S. Coast Guard for charters had it not been for some smart persuasion with the local Congressman to have her deemed by Congress as "a historical vessel".

After military service she was sold to a Canadian who renamed her "Magnum Force" and re-fitted her as a private yacht complete with staterooms, salon, and a Jacuzzi on the bow. Some of the original bunks remain. Recent renovations include a classic contemporary look with marble and natural wood accents. The modern main salon is tastefully decorated and features a lounge area with teak detailing. Comfortable couches line both sides of the room, and wraparound windows afford a 360-degree view. She also boats a spacious open-air bow with comfortable seating, full bar, built-in dance floor and bride's cabin.

Dream Maker has been featured in TV and film such as reality TV show “More to Love”(2010) , The Bold and the Beautiful soap drama featured Dream Maker as the royal yacht of an Arab Prince, V.I.P.(2002) with Pamela Anderson portrayed the yacht in scenes for a high seas diamond heist. The Dream Maker is a popular charter yacht in Newport Beach for corporate parties and weddings or receptions.

• Lounge area with settees and cocktail tables
• Marble bar and full galley
• Restroom facility
• Access to bow, open-air deck with comfortable seating and beautiful teak deck
• Built-in dance floor
• Entertainment area
• Three restroom facilities
• Lounge area
• Changing room with full-length mirror

Our Waterfront Lounge & Garden is the perfect venue for:

• Weddings & Receptions
• Anniversaries
• Theme Parties
• Wine Tasting Events
• Military Balls
• Holiday Parties
• Grad Nights
• Casino Nights
• Association fundraisers
• Silent Auctions
• Fashion Shows
• Trade Shows
• Daytime Meetings
• Corporate Dinners
• Team Building Events
• Movie & TV Locations

The beautiful Waterfront Lounge Garden includes a gazebo alter, an elegant water fountain and a spectacular backdrop of Newport Beach Harbor. The ambience, amenities and breathtaking views provides guests with an amazing experience.

• Personal Wedding Coordination
• Ceremony Service
• Customized Wedding Cake
• Centerpieces
• Gourmet Food
• DJ/Entertainment

CORPORATE EVENTS:

Whether you're entertaining clients, hosting a company outing, holding a business meeting, corporate convention, or launching a new product, the Waterfront Lounge is a gorgeous venue to enhance the experience. Utilizing our facility for corporate events offers an excellent mix of business and pleasure for your guests, and our staff is sure to make it memorable.

VENUE SPACES:

Fully equipped to meet every desire, the event venue offers full media capabilities, a flexible meeting space, and personal attention to your needs by our staff.

CUSTOM MENUS:

From cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, drinks and more; it is not the type of cuisine but the superb quality that makes it an experience to savor.

ENTERTAINMENT:

A mingling cocktail and appetizer experience on the deck, and music and dancing, the Waterfront Lounge provides a unique and intimate space for a wealth of entertainment options.

• Flexible meeting space with bar
• Variety of contemporary seating options for meetings or intimate gatherings
• Comfortable lounging areas with fireplace, plush seating and decor
• Covered open-air deck with luxurious patio furniture and modern glass fire pit tables
• Spectacular Newport Beach Harbor water and sunset views

Services Offered

Your wedding on the yacht, will feature a four-hour cruise, inclusive of insurance, fuel, docking, and city permits. Couples will also have access to professional and experienced wedding coordinators who will assist you from the initial meeting through the day itself. For the big day, City Cruises - Newport Beach aims to make everything perfect by providing a variety of event services, including:

• Event rentals
• In-house bar
• In-house catering
• Photography

Understanding that food is very important in creating your perfect wedding, City Cruises - Newport Beach offers a variety of menus and cuisine styles for your special day. This allows you to personalize the menu to meet your budget. This includes the Bay Island menu, Lido Isle menu, and Balboa Island menu, which include menu selections like bowtie chicken alfredo, chicken florentine, Icon’s California chicken, oven-roasted salmon, pork loin, and more. There is also the option for a themed menu, like a Mexican, Mediterranean, or Indian menu. Finally, catering at this venue also includes options for stationed appetizers, hors d’oeuvres, and desserts.

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue, what is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season, what is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season, do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue, what is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season, what is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season, which of the following are included in starting site fee, which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering, what is the starting price per person for bar service, which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service, what is the minimum number of guests required to book your venue, how many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer, describe your venue:, what kind of settings are available, which of the following wedding events does your venue service, what event services do you offer, what catering services do you offer, what bar services do you provide, what event items are available, what food and beverage items are available, what transportation and access is available, what months are included in your peak season, what months are included in your off-peak season.

Any other questions?

• Quality of service 4.8 out of 5 rating 4.8
• Average response time 4.7 out of 5 rating 4.7
• Professionalism 4.8 out of 5 rating 4.8
• Value 4.7 out of 5 rating 4.7
• Flexibility 4.7 out of 5 rating 4.7

Absolutely Amazing- Perfection!!!

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City Cruises - Newport Beach frequently asked questions

• Bridal Suite
• Event Planning
• Cake Cutting
• Wedding Cake
• Bartender(s)
• Limited Bar
• Cruise Ship
• Covered Outdoor
• Uncovered Outdoor
• Bridal Shower
• Engagement Party
• Rehearsal Dinner
• Bar Services
• Catering Services
• Event Planner
• Event Rentals
• Get Ready Rooms
• Liability Insurance
• Outside Vendors
• Aisle Markers
• Aisle Runners
• Audio Equipment
• Chair Covers
• Dance Floor
• Photo booth
• Tent Accessories

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City Cruises - Newport Beach

The Royal Princess

Perfect for weddings at sea, receptions, anniversaries corporate events, birthday celebrations, graduations and more. This yacht is stunning!

Coast Guard Certified for: 149 Passengers

Overnight Accommodations: None

• Main Salon is smartly decorated with royal blue carpets, teak walls, and accented with brass trim.
• Full Wet Bar
• Large Upper Deck to accommodate 125 guests.
• 3 Heads (Restrooms)
• Dining Area
• Full service Galley
• Professional Stereo Sound System
• Large Bow area

Spinnaker Yacht Charters has wedding packages for all sizes of wedding receptions.

We have custom packages for Weddings, Birthday Parties, Seasonal Parade of Lights Cruises, Corporate Events, and all Special Events in Newport Beach.

Spinnaker Yacht Charters Contact Us

• Weddings on a Yacht
• View Newport Harbor Yachts
• Birthday Parties on a Boat
• Parade of Lights Cruises
• Corporate Events on a Yacht

Balboa Island Wedding | Newport Harbor Yacht Club Wedding Reception

When these two Corona Del Mar natives were designing their wedding, it was imperative that Newport Beach play a prominent role. From their gorgeous Balboa Island wedding ceremony at Saint John Vianney to their Newport Harbor Yacht Club wedding reception, it was an affair to remember.

Preparation at Balboa Bay Club

We began the day at the Balboa Bay Club, where Hayden and her bridesmaids were getting ready.  The Club is a sprawling, bay front resort across the bay from Balboa Peninsula. It is wonderfully furnished and convenient to all things Newport Beach.

Hayden has the finishing touches of makeup applied by her makeup artist. Once the look is complete, they pop a bottle of Dom and celebrate the day!

The first bottle didn’t last long.

Hayden’s gorgeous Monique Lhuillier gown was something else.

Hayden’s mother closes the last clasp on her gorgeous gown as her sister looks on.

I love a good bridesmaid reaction shot!

Proof that one doesn’t need an amazing setting for a great portrait. This little alcove was just down the hall from Hayden’s room. The perfect light and privacy made it a great spot for this picture. On the right, Hayden and her bridesmaids trying to lighten the mood before things get serious.

Curtis puts the finishing touches on his fine navy blue suit.

Curtis and his groomsmen cheers before the wedding.

The Balboa Island Wedding

Hayden and Curtis held their Balboa Island wedding ceremony at St. John Vianney chapel, a gorgeous church in the heart of Balboa Island.

Kind of an Abbey Road vibe 😉

Hayden and Curtis wave from inside their vintage Rolls Royce as they head toward the reception.

Hayden and Curtis’s most important request was to spend some time photographing them while the Balboa Island Car Ferry took their car from Balboa Island to the Peninsula.

The ferry holds around about three cars and it takes about 5 minutes each trip. We had enough light in the day to go back and forth twice. Curtis, ever the gentleman, helps bride Hayden out of their vintage Rolls Royce limousine on the way to their Newport Harbor Yacht Club wedding reception

The ferry dumps off passengers right at the Balboa Fun Zone, one of the last great coastal amusement areas.

Hayden and Curtis’s reception aesthetic consisted of a simple color palette that blended in with the newly remodeled Newport Harbor Yacht Club

Curtis and Hayden glide across the floor during their first dance.

You may also like this Montage Laguna Beach wedding !

Planning a wedding in Newport Beach? We’d love to work with you! Fill out the form below to schedule a consultation!

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Have your wedding on a boat. Wedding Cruises and Wedding Locations by Electra Cruises®

Ideal for medium-sized events

Say “I do” on the Athena

Decorated with a flawless Greek motif emblematic of its name, the 115-foot Athena is the perfect vessel for medium-sized weddings or corporate events. She can seat all of your guests for dinner on the upper deck with a set of fine glassware for all. Both the lower and upper decks comes complete with their own full bars.

The Athena is certified with the U.S. Coast Guard, will accommodate up to 150 guests and comes equipped with all safety features required by law.

Formally equipped with a full catering galley, silver chafers and coffee and tea urns. Service is elegantly presented with only the finest china and linens. Combine this with a beautiful view of the Southern California coast and you can rest assured knowing Athena is one of the most ideal wedding sites for beach wedding venues. Come drink some coffee on the deck. Or enjoy tea looking up at the stars.

The main salon is adorned with 65 feet of leather sofas and a baby grand player piano. The lower level features 4 large restrooms. This provides your guests with places for them to stretch their feet, relax and enjoy the festivities. You won’t need to entertain them. This vessel does that for them. All you have to do is enjoy one of the most beautiful vessels for beach wedding venues. We do all the rest for you.

Features a luxurious suite perfect for a bridal dressing room, VIP room or corporate staging area. With this type of luxury, you won’t feel squished and can enjoy your wedding day and the preparation for it in comfort and style. You’ll have beautiful memories throughout the entire wedding process.

Take a look at our gallery so you can see for yourself the high standards and quality we offer to you and your guests. Feel free to call us for more information about our fleet and what each vessel, as well as our staff, has to offer. Learn why this is one of the most luxurious wedding sites for small wedding venues.

Looking for a different boat?

We have 5 luxurious and classic yachts to choose from.

Custom designed for ultra-luxury, the Eternity accommodates even the grandest weddings and events with the unparalleled views and exquisite service you expect from Electra Cruises.

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These mansion museums reveal the grittier side of the Gilded Age

It took many maids and butlers to run the opulent residences of 19th-century swells. New tours are telling their stories.

Streaming shows like HBO’s The Gilded Age and Apple TV’s The Buccaneers   depict the lives of American elites in the late 19th century. Onscreen, this time period seems like an endless party: afternoon strolls in flamboyant hats; candlelit dinners featuring aspic and caviar; intrigue-filled society balls.  

These streamers have fueled an uptick in tourism at historic house museums of the era, says Evan Smith, president and CEO of Discover Newport . The seaside Rhode Island resort is home to lavish fin de siècle mansions Marble House and the Elms , where scenes from The Gilded Age were filmed.  

Until recently, these opulent estates hadn’t paid much attention to the dozens of servants it took to run the properties. But, “people have a natural curiosity about how a massive home was cleaned and maintained,” says Lauren Henry, a curator at the Biltmore, the 250-room Vanderbilt family mansion turned museum outside of Asheville, North Carolina .

The Biltmore’s “ Backstairs Tour ”—which delves into servant life and visits a two-story butlers’ pantry and snug maids’ rooms—is now the property’s most popular. Last summer, the Hearthstone Historic House (the Wisconsin mansion of a paper factory mogul) launched “The Other Side of the House,” a tour where costumed interpreters portrayed coachmen, maids, and other hired help.

Here’s how these museums explore both the glitz and the grit of Gilded Age households.

When was the Gilded Age?

Mark Twain first coined the term “ The Gilded Age ” in 1873 to describe a period of rapid industrialization in the United States , which introduced a lifestyle of opulence, materialism, and corruption. The wealth gap widened, and by the end of the 19th century, the country’s top one percent owned 20 percent of the country’s wealth.

Flush with old and new money, railroad barons, bankers, and entrepreneurs built palatial homes in styles like Queen Anne, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Beaux-Arts, and Renaissance Revival across the Northeast, the upper Midwest, and the West Coast. Marble was imported from Italy , white mahogany from Central America, and mosaics and rare artwork from France .

At the height of the Gilded Age, no expense was spared at these properties, including hiring large staffs to tend the properties. For instance, the Biltmore—designed in 1895 to mimic a chateau—required a staff of 30, including a trendy English butler and French chef.  

In the Hudson Valley of New York State, the 65-room Staatsburgh State Historic Site , the jumbo country home of financier Ogden Mills and his wife, Ruth Livingston Mills, is now a museum. In its heyday, it employed 24 house servants (maids, footmen, kitchen workers) and dozens of staffers to maintain the landscaped grounds, gardens, yacht, horses, and carriages.

Southern house and plantation museums built before the American Civil War, from George Washington’s Mount Vernon in Virginia to the Redcliffe Plantation in South Carolina , have had to grapple with how to sensitively chronicle the roles of the enslaved people who kept these properties functioning. But the issues are different at Gilded Age estates, since most were staffed by Irish and German immigrants. “It was a white, Western European workforce,” says Donald Fraser, an educator at Staatsburgh.

( Diverse historic interpreters share their side of the story .)

Go inside Gilded Age mansions

In the 1980s, the Biltmore became one of the first Gilded Age historic homes to include the servants’ quarters on tours. “People were constantly asking to see the kitchen,” says Henry. Over the years, additional spaces were added, including the butler’s pantry, housekeeper’s rooms, and the fourth floor where the female staff lived.

Tours showcase the dramatic difference between life for the owners and their staff. Guides describe the everyday tasks of the head housekeeper, the butler, and the lady’s maids. Visitors use side entrances to the kitchens, pantries, and sewing rooms, then climb steep service staircases to the simple servants’ quarters.  

Personal possessions (a German-language bible, family photos) give context to the workers’ private lives. At the end of the experience, attendees pass through the Biltmore owners’ chandelier-lit hallways, portraits-filled living rooms, and bedrooms with four-poster beds and silk draperies. The contrast is stark.

Staatsburgh’s “Life in Service” tours are guided by historic interpreters wearing period garb who take visitors into a dim basement where male servants slept, the outsized kitchen complex, and the unfussy servant’s lounge.

( See why this historic mansion spurred the haunted house craze .)

Telling the servants’ stories

The lives of rich swells like the Vanderbilts, Carnegies, and Rockefellers are extensively documented in newspapers, books, and portraits, as well as at their historic home museums. But accurately depicting the world of the maids, butlers, and cooks in these American palaces is more difficult, since a servant’s job was to be as invisible as possible. That means historians and curators must rely on census data, advertisements, and local newspaper archives, which list wedding announcements and obituaries.

Oral histories from the descendants of former staffers give guides more to work with. At the Elms , the 10-acre Newport summer estate of coal tycoon Edward Julius Berwind, the Servant Life Tour is based on the photos, archival materials, and memories of Gloria Pignatelli. Her father, Michael Pignatelli, was the superintendent of the Elms for 20 years. “It was fortuitous because we didn’t know much about the servants until quite recently,” says Trudy Coxe, CEO and executive director of the site. “We had a lucky break.”

On the Biltmore’s “Backstairs Tour,” travelers hear the Downton Abbey -esque tale of a lady’s maid and a butler who met at the house in the 1920s and got married. After receiving information from a distant relative, guides now talk about the couple’s young daughter, who received a gold locket from Edith Vanderbilt, the mistress of the house. “It’s always amazing to be able to hear more of the story,” says Henry.

Related Topics

• HISTORIC SITES
• LIVING HISTORY
• HISTORIC PRESERVATION
• CULTURAL TOURISM

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