Weddings on San Diego Bay

Why Get Married on San Diego Bay

A yacht wedding solves problems most venues can't. The backdrop changes as you cruise, so your photos run from the Point Loma shoreline to the downtown skyline to the blue arc of the Coronado Bridge without anyone leaving the party. San Diego Bay is sheltered by Point Loma and Coronado, which keeps the water generally calm and comfortable, even for guests who worry about seasickness.

And because the venue is the boat, there's no shuffling between a ceremony site, a cocktail hour, and a reception hall. Everyone boards together, and the day flows from one deck to the next.

Choosing the Right Yacht for Your Wedding

The right yacht depends almost entirely on your guest count, because every yacht has a hard, Coast Guard–certified passenger limit.

• Up to 134 guests: the Westport 100. Our large-event yacht has a main-deck lounge with banquettes, a beverage bar, a salon with panoramic views, aft decks, and a forward sun deck. A common layout is the ceremony on deck and the reception in the lounge and salon. Rates start at $1,500 per hour for up to 25 guests and scale with headcount.
• Up to 13 guests: an intimate wedding or elopement. The Sunseeker Predator 72 brings head-turning sport-yacht style, while the McKinna 69 adds a fully enclosed, climate-controlled Skylounge, a useful backup if the evening turns cool. The McKinna departs from Mission Bay rather than San Diego Bay.
• Rehearsal dinners and welcome cruises: any yacht in the fleet, sized to the group you're hosting.

Ceremony, Reception, or Both

Most wedding charters run 4 to 8 hours. A ceremony-only charter can be shorter; a ceremony followed by a full reception usually needs the longer end of that range, plus time for boarding. Tell us your timeline when you request availability and we'll suggest a charter length and route that fits it, including timing the cruise past the skyline for golden-hour photos.

Planning Checklist

• Officiant and marriage license. CDM Yachts isn't a wedding officiant or permitting authority, so confirm the legal requirements for your ceremony independently. We handle the vessel, route, and on-water logistics.
• Food and drinks. You're welcome to bring your own food and beverages, including alcohol, or we can coordinate catering and bar service in advance.
• Décor. Décor placement depends on the vessel. Share your plans and we'll confirm what works on the yacht you book.
• Guest arrival. For Shelter Island departures, public parking is available in the lot across the street near the pier. Your confirmation includes the exact boarding location, which is worth passing on to guests and any shuttle company.
• Weather. If conditions are unsafe for boating, we reschedule to a mutually convenient date rather than sail.
• Booking. Full payment secures your date, and cancellations at least 5 days before the reservation are fully refunded. See our charter policies.

The Whole Wedding Weekend

The ceremony isn't the only time a yacht fits. Couples also book a welcome cruise for out-of-town guests, a rehearsal dinner on the water, a bachelor or bachelorette charter, or a relaxed morning-after cruise. Our guide to planning a wedding weekend on San Diego Bay walks through how to fit them together.