Is an officiant included?

Many packages include an officiant—confirm on booking and note that officiant gratuity is not included.

How many guests can I bring?

Maximum capacity is 13 passengers total, including couple, officiant, and any vendors.

What is the meeting point?

Check-in is at Harbour Inn, 101 N. Harbor Rd, St. Michaels, MD 21663; arrive 15 minutes before departure.

What happens in bad weather?

For light rain umbrellas can be used; if conditions are unsafe, the operator can discuss rescheduling options.

Are gratuities and taxes included in the listed price?

Amusement tax and crew gratuity are added to quoted rates; officiant gratuity is separate.

Can we bring a photographer or musician?

Yes, but confirm them during booking and keep the total under the 13-person limit.

Sail Elopements Aboard the Lady Patty: Intimate Chesapeake Bay Weddings | Sailing | Events

Adventure Brief

Exchange vows aboard a 1935 ketch with sweeping Miles River views—an intimate, low-stress alternative to a traditional venue. Perfect for couples who want cinematic photos, a small guest list (max 13), and a ceremony shaped around Chesapeake Bay’s living shoreline.

2 hours

easy

From $1,690.65

On the rolling water of Chesapeake Bay, Nautical Weddings & Elopements on Lady Patty offers a simple, elegant way to marry amid open sky and maritime memory. Departing from the small waterfront of St. Michaels, Maryland, this private ceremony experience runs from the Harbour Inn, 101 N. Harbor Rd, St. Michaels, MD 21663 aboard the Lady Patty, a 1935 ketch preserved by St. Michaels Sailing Charters. The service is built for intimacy: weekday packages start at $1445 and the boat fits a total of 13 people, making it ideal for elopements, small weddings, and quiet vow renewals. The scene is unmistakably Chesapeake — low, marsh-carved shorelines, the Miles River’s tidal flats, and long reaches of bay water that shift from pewter to silver with the wind. Key features are the Lady Patty itself (classic wooden spars and a working rig), the harbor and marina at St. Michaels, and the sweeping views across the Miles River. Sail past oyster bars and bands of salt marsh where clapper rails and egrets frequent shallow channels, and you’ll feel the region’s maritime ecology and history in every swell. What makes this offering stand out is the combination of a living-historic vessel and a ceremony crafted to minimize stress. St. Michaels Sailing Charters provides an officiant as part of many packages and helps tailor vows so couples can choose a traditional or alternative format. There’s no need for a big reception; the boat, the harbor, and a close group are the whole event. Weather plans are practical: umbrellas work for light rain and rescheduling is possible if conditions demand it. The trip moves at a relaxed, visitor-friendly pace—arrive fifteen minutes before departure, and allow two hours for the full experience. The Lady Patty’s wooden decks and period lines create cinematic photo opportunities without elaborate staging, while the natural backdrop changes by the minute as tides and light shift. Practical notes: the vessel’s size limits guests to 13, gratuity and amusement tax are added to quoted rates, and officiant gratuity is handled separately. The experience is accessible to most adults and children under traditional age limits apply; for special mobility needs contact the operator directly. For couples who prefer meaningful simplicity, this is a wedding that trades convention for clarity: a handcrafted ceremony under sail, set against Chesapeake Bay’s living shoreline and the lighthouse-soft town of St. Michaels. Ceremony timeline is flexible within the two-hour booking window: couples often use the first half for vows and the second for portraits and a quiet sail. Vendors such as a photographer or small musician are welcome within the 13-person limit—confirm any added vendors during booking. Save travel time by staying in St. Michaels and walking to the dock.