St. Croix and Mississippi Riverboat Weddings

Darcy and Niraj decided to host a traditional ceremony and a celebration on a boat before their Indian wedding in Minneapolis, which was scheduled for the day after. I guess that in the USA, this would be considered their rehearsal dinner! So, today I will take advantage of this reception to review the advantages and the limits of having a riverboat wedding.

A family moment

Darcy and Niraj wanted more than simple memories of their ceremony. That’s why they hired me as their professional wedding photographer to capture all the little moments of their once-in-a-lifetime event. They rented one of the majestic Stillwater riverboats. It was a great pleasure for me to discover all their family. Indeed, on a boat, going up and down from the top deck to the first and second floors, I quickly met everyone. It’s a place that encourages social interaction!

And that’s great, because it’s exactly what Darcy and Niraj wanted. It was an opportunity for their families to meet and merge before their big day. Choosing a steamboat for their dinner was a great idea, and it worked really well for them. But, let’s see if it’s always the case, and what you should consider if you decide to host such an event.

A unique scenery to celebrate your engagement

If you haven’t experienced any cruise on the St. Croix River yet, then book a tour now!

Hosting your once-in-a-lifetime event on a boat has some obvious advantages: the beautiful landscape. Indeed, having a boat traveling on the river is the guarantee to see a lot of different things: the river, the other boats, the shore, the animals (ducks, seagulls), towns, bridges, parks, harbors, etc. And given that nature is by definition beautiful (on a sunny or rainy day), it is, at least, the guarantee of a lovely cruise.

What to take into consideration

Weather

Like always in Minnesota, when winter is over, you are quite sure to enjoy bugs. But what always remains the surprise parameter is the weather! If you are planning an outdoor ritual on the top deck, you are taking a risk.

• If it’s a rainy day, you would need to move indoors. And that might be an issue regarding the number of square feet of space offered by your boat!
• If you are lucky and it’s a sunny day, the breeze would please and refresh your guests. Nevertheless, don’t forget some sunscreen, fans, water bottles, and favorite decorations including some parts in the shade.
• If it’s a cold day, make sure to have some warm blankets and hot beverages to serve to your guests.
• If it’s a stormy day (which would be pretty unlucky), then you might have your access to the boat denied, and would have to find a plan B.

Modern or vintage riverboats on charters

Space

You might think that modern boats are bigger and would offer more square feet for receptions, or higher ceilings. That might be true for a luxurious yacht, but unfortunately not for touristic boats on the river. Actually, some historical ships are pretty big too, and up to four floors!

Be careful when reading the boat capacity: the number given is for the entire ship (so, all the floors). If you want to have your ceremony on board (with all your guests), what really matters is the capacity of the main room. Indeed, if for any reason you must have your wedding ritual inside, you want to make sure that all your guests can enter the main room!

Heater & AC

Another point to take into consideration is the heater and AC system. Here again, you have to consider each boat individually.

Sanitary amenities

If you have 300 guests on a boat partying, you’d better make sure the bathroom is great.

Noise and smell

If you won’t get seasick on a river, you might not appreciate hearing a loud sound from the engine, nor smelling the output of gases. Again, the only advice would be to go first for a ride and see.

Design

Finally, you would see a difference between the interior designs. It’s up to you to decide if you prefer a historical wood environment, or a modern black and white decoration.

Some ships offer an extra little room in the basement for the bride and groom, which is convenient to store things or to change outfits.

From a photography point of view, I would recommend choosing locations with white and high ceilings, that allow photographers to properly light rooms.

Decorations and rental

Whether you choose a modern boat with a minimal design or an old one, you probably won’t need to (or shouldn’t) add a lot of decorations, except maybe some flowers.

That’s why you should make sure that the raw boat pleases you as it is. Is the floor nice? Are the windows big enough, etc.

Most of the boats have chair and table rentals included. Here you can find a high variation of quality, going from plastic garden equipment, to some wood foldable chairs, up to some fancy models. Given there is not much furniture inside the rooms, that’s an element that you will see and thus that you should consider.

Your vendors and their limitations

• Catering: Given there is usually not a real big kitchen, you will probably be limited in your caterer choice. What’s more, they would probably offer you a served buffet-style and a limited number of staff. Some boats offer bars, which is great.
• DJ: We should not forget the DJ with all his electric equipment! Indeed, if you want him to turn the wood floor into a dance floor and party, he would need to adapt to the electric system to play music.
• Photography: There are two limitations for photographers: a low ceiling and some wood walls (that give a yellow tint to the light). And the physical limitation of moving in a small space.

Think outside the box

While most couples want to tie the knot on board, remember that you can also marry near your boat on a nice beach, a state park with 10 acres of land, or a simple nice park with a gazebo.

Let’s think for instance of Taylors Falls, which offers a landscape made of rock hills and pines that is just amazing! Climb on some big rocks with a view of the river. That would be perfect for a small ritual!

Or let’s imagine enjoying a gastronomic restaurant in historic downtown Stillwater, and then inviting your guests for scenic boat tours to see all the treasures of the Wisconsin shore?

Other reasonable (not to say affordable) venues to host a small wedding

If you prefer to keep your feet on Minnesota ground, I can suggest three alternative options that you can easily find around Minneapolis that you might consider.

Conclusion: A riverboat is perfect for a rehearsal dinner near Minneapolis

If you get married in Minnesota and want to take advantage of the Mississippi River or St. Croix River for an event, boats on charters can be a good and economical option. Nevertheless, it comes with limits for your vendors and for you. Let’s think of the main room capacity for seating your guests, and the weather that can ruin an event. Thus, if you are planning a small or medium-size wedding and you have a backup option, that could be a good idea. Or, like Darcy and Niraj, if you are planning your wedding in Minneapolis, but you are looking for a fancy way to host a large dinner, then a steamboat is just the perfect idea!