Wedding on the Water
Entertainment Cruises’ new Manhattan Elite boasts sophistication, luxury and privacy for your wedding festivities
Standing out in New York isn’t easy. The city boasts more than 8 million people, and every couple planning their wedding is bound and determined to have their big day reflect their uniqueness. So why not get off the common ground and set sail around the picturesque Hudson River on a private yacht with your wedding guests for a party they’ll never forget?
Entertainment Cruises recently debuted the Manhattan Elite as its newest yacht in its fleet, and she’s a beauty to behold. Perfect for wedding ceremonies and receptions, the Elite can be rented out for your guests to enjoy complete privacy, which comes in handy since everyone thinks they’re the paparazzi nowadays. Seriously, you don’t want strangers gaping at your wedding—not because you’re gay or a lesbian, but perhaps because you just want to completely let loose without worrying it’s going to be on YouTube later. Plus, we all know someone who’s had to deal with another couple having a wedding at the very same venue on the same day. Awkward. At Entertainment Cruises, you can rent the entire yacht out for just your guests. Fancy!
Do you want sophistication, luxury and privacy for your wedding festivities? Then the Manhattan Elite is for you. The yacht departs from Pier 61, Chelsea Piers as well as Lincoln Harbor Marina in Weehawken, NJ, features two decks (or floors) for everyone to spread out: The first deck is dedicated to the dinner and the second deck has a fantastic lounge area with bar, private VIP/Bridal Suite, a romantic fireplace, outside space (that can be enclosed or opened) for the ceremony or guests to enjoy.
All right, so let’s imagine your wedding on the open seas (OK, the Hudson River, but still very impressive). On the Manhattan Elite, which serves 20 to 75 guests, you can marry on either deck, and the ship is yours to personalize. Once it’s rented out for an event, you and your beloved can customize the décor, menu, entertainment and much more. So thrilling, since I’d completely go the nautical route with sailor-inspired cocktails and anchors on my invitations. Of course, Entertainment Cruises welcome outside vendors including florists, wedding planners and other professionals, and can even recommend local vendors they have excellent relationships with. If you’re searching for wedding vendors who are equality-minded (in addition to Entertainment Cruises, of course), check out our Local Resources Marketplace.
So who’s a match for Entertainment Cruises? Emilie Hagon, wedding account manager, says, “Our typical client is anyone who likes a unique event outside of the typical banquet hall. The Elite is perfect for more than just weddings and wedding-related events. We also cater to corporate events, fundraisers and special occasions including birthdays and anniversaries and much more.”
The stately yacht is available for whenever the group wants to sail, so if you’re planning a wedding in the morning or midday, you can easily plan it on the Manhattan Elite or another one of its yachts.
It’s really as uncomplicated as selecting a date, booking the yacht best for your needs and planning out the wedding you and your fiancé/ fiancée envision. Entertainment Cruises offers a wedding coordinator to all couples to assist with details in the planning stage as well as the day of. Honestly, this is probably one of my biggest regrets in my own wedding—not having a day-of coordinator. It takes so much stress off the couple! And someone to talk to throughout the planning process is invaluable—especially when she or he knows your venue inside and out.
So even though the wedding is all about you, we know your guests will love this venue selection, too. Why? As Entertainment Cruises tells all of its customers on its website, “You haven’t seen New York until you’ve seen it from the water. Entertainment Cruises offers a distinct portfolio of dining and sightseeing cruise experiences on New York Harbor. No other venue in New York can match our fantastic fusion of dining, entertainment, sightseeing and spectacular views of the famous Manhattan skyline.”
Along the route, you and your guests will mingle with ease, taking in the sights, such as the Chelsea Piers, where five of Entertainment Cruises yachts depart from; the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum Complex, which showcases the WWII aircraft carrier USS Intrepid and more; the iconic Empire State Building, which scales 1,250 feet; the South Sea Seaport, which dates back to the 1600s and was once known as the world’s gateway to NYC and America; three bridges (George Washington Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge); Governor’s Island, the oldest continuously operated military post in U.S. history, and the Lady of Liberty herself: the Statue of Liberty.
Because New York now offers full marriage equality to its state residences and legal marriages for same-sex couples from any state in the country, Elite and the other yachts in the fleet at Entertainment Cruises are a supreme choice for a destination wedding that your guests will look forward to flying in for.
Beyond the Manhattan Elite, Entertainment Cruises also offers Spirit, Bateaux and Atlantica. Each yacht has its own personality and style, such as Spirit, known for being the most festive and engaging dining cruise experience on the Harbor. Buffet dining and DJ music make this a moving celebration for every occasion. If you’re a globetrotter, the Bateaux offers a European-inspired all-glass dining vessel serving the New York skyline before you from all directions. It’s the ultimate combination of exquisite dining, impeccable service, fine wine, live band and unparalleled views in a setting of sophistication. And elegant private yacht Atlantica boats endless dining, entertainment and décor options to make the possibilities for your wedding virtually endless. All of these options add up to a premier destination for your wedding any way that you cut your cake—the fine folks at Entertainment Cruises know how to spoil you and your guests, and they truly enjoy doing it.
For more information, call 888-822-5997 or visit entertainmentcruisesweddings.com.
