Can I charter a yacht for a wedding?

Yacht weddings are a well-established Miami use case. The logistics are well-understood; the main constraint is vessel choice and legal officiant.

Yacht choice: - Under 6 guests total: any yacht works (no COI needed). - 7-49 guests: a Certificated Inspected Passenger Vessel (COI) with a 100-ton Master captain. - 50-149 guests: larger party yachts, typically 70-100+ feet with multiple decks. - 150+ guests: the biggest inspected party yachts or a charter yacht combined with a land venue.

Officiant: - Florida allows notaries public to officiate weddings — often the fastest path. - You can also bring any licensed officiant (religious, civil, or internet-ordained, though verify the officiant's credentials are recognized in Florida). - The marriage license must be obtained from a Florida courthouse no more than 60 days before the ceremony.

Typical wedding-charter inclusions: - Captain and crew. - Use of the entire vessel for the rental window. - Baseline amenities (sound system, ice, restrooms). - NOT typically included: catering, floral, photographer, officiant, a cake, or specific decor — those are vendor-provided.

Budget shape: - 4-hour charter on a 65-foot motor yacht for 20 guests: $4,000-$7,000 for the vessel. - Catering (light apps + bar): $75-$200/guest. - Officiant, photographer, florals, cake: $3,000-$10,000. - Captain + crew gratuity: 15-20% of base charter fare.

A small ceremony-only yacht charter (just the couple + officiant + witnesses) can be done under $1,500 including flowers. A full reception-aboard wedding for 40 guests runs $15K-$40K all-in, well below comparable Miami Beach venue costs.