Blog

Answers for your wedding on the water

Name: Waterbruiloft
Address: Veemarkt 185, Amsterdam, 1019 CH, NL
Telephone: +31 20 624 76 35

Practical insight into sailing areas, season, choosing a vessel and the marriage ceremony on board, what every wedding day on Amsterdam's canals and the IJ teaches us.

Saloon boat with a wedding party on an Amsterdam canal

Preparation · 10 min read

Marrying on a boat in Amsterdam: the complete guide for 2026

Everything about marrying on a boat in Amsterdam: which vessels are available, how many guests they hold, which cruising area to choose and how a day's structure looks.

Set dinner table with glassware aboard a floating wedding venue

Preparation · 9 min read

What does marrying on a boat in Amsterdam cost? Here's how the price is built up

From vessel hire and crew to catering, drinks and styling: a transparent overview of the cost items of a wedding on the water.

Guests on the deck of a vessel with the Amsterdam skyline in the background

Preparation · 9 min read

Wedding venue in Amsterdam on the water: the complete guide to quay, route and ceremony

A floating wedding venue in Amsterdam combines city and water. Boarding points, cruising area, logistics and the official ceremony, all in one place.

Illuminated boat sailing at dusk through an Amsterdam canal

Preparation · 8 min read

Marrying on the canals of Amsterdam: routes, bridges, times and atmosphere

A canal wedding calls for the right vessel and the right route. Cruising route, timing and vessel size for a ceremony in the heart of Amsterdam.

Long, set table in the saloon of a classic saloon boat

Our fleet · 9 min read

Hiring a saloon boat for your wedding: eight practical considerations

Heating, acoustics, deck, kitchen and lavatories: practical points that determine whether a saloon boat works as a wedding venue for your party.

Crew hoisting the sail of a historic classic tall ship on open water

Our fleet · 9 min read

Marrying on the Markermeer with a historic classic tall ship

Wide skies, hoisted sails and a horizon free of buildings. Here's what a wedding day on the Markermeer and IJmeer looks like, from setting sail to homecoming.

Art deco saloon with timber panelling and brass aboard a classic steamship

Our fleet · 9 min read

A classic steamship as your wedding venue in Amsterdam: sailing with history

Art deco saloons, polished brass and silent sailing. Discover why a classic steamship is a unique floating wedding venue for weddings of up to 150 guests.

Guest pouring a drink behind the bar in the vessel's saloon

Proposals & moments · 8 min read

A hen or stag do on a boat in Amsterdam: celebrating in style on the water

No inflatable trumpets, but oysters, music and the finest light of the day. Here's how to organise an elegant hen or stag do on a boat in Amsterdam.

Intimate moment with two glasses of champagne on board at sunset

Proposals & moments · 8 min read

A marriage proposal on a boat in Amsterdam: the complete plan

A proposal on the water calls for timing, privacy and the right spot. A practical plan for a marriage proposal on a boat in Amsterdam.

Bridal couple on deck during a sail on open water

Proposals & moments · 8 min read

A wedding transfer over water in Amsterdam: moving guests from A to B in style

From hotel to ceremony and from ceremony to celebration. Here's how a wedding transfer over water turns waiting moments into the most enjoyable part of the day.

Bridal couple seated on the deck of a classic saloon boat during golden hour

Preparation · 9 min read

Marrying on the water in Amsterdam: where do you begin?

A practical guide to marrying on the water in Amsterdam: choosing the feeling, the cruising area and the vessel in the right order, guided by budget and guest numbers.

Sunlight falling through the windows of a saloon boat onto a set table

Mood & styling · 8 min read

Which season and time of day make for the most beautiful water wedding?

Season, golden hour and cruising area together shape the schedule of a wedding on the water. Here's how to build the day around the light, not around it.

Classic tall ship with furled sails on open water

Our fleet · 10 min read

Classic tall ship or saloon boat: which vessel suits how many guests?

A comparison between a classic tall ship and a saloon boat as a wedding venue: capacity, cruising area, atmosphere and cost, side by side.

Detail of a long linen table with ivory flowers and candles on deck

Mood & styling · 8 min read

Flowers and styling for a wedding reception on the water: what works and what doesn't

Practical styling rules for flowers, candlelight and decor at a wedding on the water, so everything still looks beautiful when the wind picks up.

Small open boat on a quiet canal in the evening light

Proposals · 7 min read

A proposal on the water: how to arrange a floating venue for your marriage proposal

Why the most beautiful marriage proposals on the water are almost always quiet ones, and how to use a floating venue through the canals to stage one.

Portrait of wedding planner Elise Rijkes

Behind the scenes · 8 min read

What does a wedding planner do for a wedding on the water?

From first conversation to the final mooring line: at a wedding aboard a floating venue, everything runs through one dedicated wedding planner. That's a choice, not a coincidence.

Curious what your day could look like?

Elise is happy to think along with you, free of obligation, on vessel, sailing area and the day's rhythm. Also take a look at our vessels or discover a bespoke wedding.

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