playbook
Getting married on board a flat-bottomed sailing ship
A ceremony and reception on a historic flat-bottomed vessel, with guests sailing along, a skipper at the helm and the horizon as the backdrop for the vows.
10u
duration
€ 3500–12000
budget
Ignite
pace
Getting married on a flat-bottomed sailing ship is not a standard venue, and that is exactly the point. The ship departs from a harbour on the IJsselmeer or the Wadden with the couple, their guests and the officiant on board. Along the way, the ceremony takes place on the aft deck or in the hold, depending on the weather. The skipper moors at a quiet spot or sails slowly on during the exchange of vows.
After the ceremony, a reception follows on deck, with catering brought on board or supplied from the shore. A photographer uses the sails, the rigging and the water as a backdrop. At the end of the day the ship returns to its home harbour, or the couple stays the night on board. The guests will not have seen a conventional hall, but a sailing day they are unlikely to forget.
Checklist
0 of 6
Trouwambtenaar op water geregeld
Platbodem en gastenaantal geboekt
Proefvaart met team gedaan
Catering aan boord bevestigd
Gasten geinformeerd over kleding
Slechtweer plan klaar
Related playbooks
Rent a Sloop in Volendam-Edam
A day of boating from Volendam-Edam across the Markermeer or through the city canals of Edam in a sloop. A boating licence is recommended on the Markermeer.
Rent a sailboat for a weekend with a skipper on the IJsselmeer
Two days of sailing on the IJsselmeer with an experienced skipper on board, with an overnight stay in a Frisian or Dutch harbour town.
Veluwemeren weekend with kids
Moor in Elburg on Friday evening. Saturday sail until the ice cream melts, Sunday pancakes on board.
Mosel bei Cochem Boot mieten scheinfrei
Eine kleine Yacht in Cochem übernehmen und scheinfrei auf der Mosel zwischen Weinhängen, Schleusen und Burgblicken einen Tag oder ein Wochenende fahren.
Skipper Weekend Friese Meren
Four friends on a rental boat from Saturday to Sunday. One person gets their boating license in advance so the engine can go faster.
IJsselmeer day with a trailer boat
Early in the car, slipway in Lelystad. A long day on open water calls for checking the wind and keeping the VHF radio ready.
Handy & partners
Some links may earn us a small commission. It costs you nothing extra.
by PlayTryBe team
Check with your local municipality whether a civil registrar is willing to perform a ceremony on the water, as some municipalities permit this within their jurisdiction.
Reserve a flat-bottomed vessel through BootBootBoot for the required number of guests and ask about ships that are registered as an official venue.
Plan a trial sail in advance with the photographer, officiant and master of ceremonies to decide on the spots to use on board.
Arrange catering that can operate on board, think cold buffet, finger food and a mobile bar.
Send guests clear instructions about dress code, flat shoes and arriving on time.
Plan a backup for bad weather, for example holding the ceremony inside in the hold or adjusting the route.
For anyone copying this
Do as we did
Suggestions
- Ask about a ship with a spacious saloon for the dinner.
- Plan the ceremony around sunset for the best light in photos.
- Allow extra time for boarding and disembarking as with large groups this can easily take thirty minutes.
- Ask the skipper to coordinate the music on board with the ceremony.
Variations
- - Houd alleen de ceremonie aan boord en het feest aan wal.
- - Doe een kleine ceremonie met getuigen en sluit aan met een groter feest.
- - Combineer met een dagvaart de volgende dag voor het bruidspaar en hun ouders.