A Yacht Wedding in NJ: What Couples Need to Know
A yacht wedding in NJ surrounds your love story with breathtaking beauty. Imagine saying “I do” as the New York City skyline shimmers in the distance and the gentle waves create a soundtrack of romance. It’s a dreamy setting that turns your celebration into a fairytale on the water.
Photo credit: Smooth Sailing Celebrations
A Yacht Wedding in NJ Made Seamless with Smooth Sailing Celebrations
Smooth Sailing Celebrations is an amazing North Jersey-based, nautical event planning service that works with different yacht companies. They pair couples with the perfect vessel for their event and offer assistance throughout the planning process—all for free! We spoke to Camille Cerria, the company’s owner, to learn more about this unique venue option. Here’s what she told us!
At Smooth Sailing Celebrations, we hold our client’s hand and assist in every way that we possibly can, from yacht selection to referring trusted vendors. This includes officiants, DJs, bands, photographers, florists, etc. that are familiar with the boats and Coast Guard regulations.
Most Frequently Asked Questions From Clients
“What’s the catch?”
Couples don’t understand how our nautical event-planning service can provide them with such valuable information for free. The answer is that the boats pay us a commission to bring our clients’ business to them, and to continue to work with the couple from beginning to end. The boats pay us the same rate of commission. We only recommend a boat if we truly believe that it’s a viable option for the couple and suits their criteria.
“How much time does it take to plan?”
We are often contacted for weddings taking place within a few months. Because we have over 45 yachts in our fleet, we usually have a few lovely yacht options available on their preferred date. Our record is planning a wedding for a couple whose venue had double-booked and bounced them 25 days prior to their wedding date.
“What’s included in a wedding package?”
Couples are usually amazed at what is typically covered in a wedding package. Ceremony, premium open bar, cocktail hour of butlered and displayed hors d’oeuvres, champagne toast, dining and wedding cake are included. Also linens, tables, chairs, and most include centerpieces and sometimes chair covers. Maitre’d, waitstaff, and bartenders are included, as well as a Coast Guard-certified Captain and marine crew.
“How do you recommend handling seasickness?”
Grooms especially have sometimes been out on small fishing boats in the middle of the ocean, drinking beer on a hot day. Under those circumstances, they have understandably experienced seasickness and question whether this is a possibility on their wedding boat. The answer is no. Even the smallest wedding yacht for 12 guests is larger and more stable than the average fishing boat and, of course, the calm Hudson River has no ocean waves.
For those who truly do have weak stomachs, a great home remedy is candied or crystallized ginger. Take two pieces half an hour before boarding the yacht. It will calm the stomach and not interfere with any medications the guest is taking—and they can still indulge in the premium open bar.
“What about décor?”
Clients are allowed to decorate in any way that suits them, excluding glitter/confetti or damage to the yacht. The yachts are beautifully appointed with windows. Most couples do the bare minimum of decorating—perhaps bringing in their own centerpieces or specialty linens in lieu of the boat’s provisions. Yachts are not merely a venue…yachts are an experience that you will never regret booking for your milestone celebration.
“How long do you recommend a yacht wedding and reception last?”
Most wedding couples get married on the boat prior to their wedding reception. Many yachts have bridal suites onboard. With the half hour ceremony time, the typical event is 5 ½ hours long. It may sound like a long time, but the one complaint I’ve heard most often over the years is that “the time went by so fast, too fast!” This is music to our ears, because it means that everyone had a wonderful time, Once in a while, we get requests for the boat to come back to the dock after a few hours if most of the guests are from the medical profession and are on call. In those cases, the reception continues dockside instead of sailing.
A Yacht Wedding Experience to Remember
A yacht wedding in New Jersey is more than just a celebration—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. With breathtaking skyline views, seamless planning support, and the magic of being on the water, couples can create memories that feel timeless and extraordinary. For those who dream of a wedding that’s both elegant and adventurous, Smooth Sailing Celebrations makes it possible.
