Empress Events
San Francisco, Sausalito and Berkeley Wedding LocationSan Francisco, Sausalito and Berkeley, CA
Phone: 415/332-3291
www.empressevents.com
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Description
Imagine the ultimate way to enjoy a day sailing on San Francisco Bay. You might start by reciting your wedding vows dockside in picturesque Sausalito Harbor aboard the Sausalito Empress, a sleek, 90-foot double-deck yacht. (Or launch from San Francisco or Berkeley, if you’d rather.) Then the Empress, lined with huge picture windows and appointed with shiny brass fixtures, frosted glass sconces and cherrywood trim, would slip out of the harbor and head toward San Francisco as your guests enjoyed drinks from the yacht’s two bars. The captain, a veteran sailor who knows the Bay’s water intimately, would soon guide your yacht under the Golden Gate Bridge, where he would cut back the engines and let the Empress glide silently under the great span. There, surrounded by some of the world’s greatest scenery, you’d be making memories to last a lifetime.
For fifteen years, Empress Events has been delivering idyllic experiences like this to couples who love the idea of a wedding on the water. The appeal is understandable: At anchor, the gleaming white Empress is easily the monarch of her part of the harbor, flanked by yachts of every description that seem to bob and bow in her presence. There’s a delicious sense of anticipation as you walk all the way to the end of the dock to reach her, and your guests will be eager to set sail.
Once the Empress is under way, wedding parties often start the festivities with a champagne toast to the bride and groom in the forward section of the lower deck. The ceremony usually takes place upstairs, followed by a reception below. Besides its journey beneath the Golden Gate, the Empress also sails past the downtown skyline, which over the years has also become a favorite wedding photo background. Once photographers finish staging shots on the upper deck’s fantail, musicians move in and the entire deck becomes party central, with guests dancing on its beautiful deep-stained oak surface. (If you like, the sound system can be adjusted so that loud music doesn’t intrude on the lower deck.) The yacht has a great sense of flow, with front and back stairways—the forward one curves as gracefully as a grand staircase.
Of course good food is a must for a seaborne celebration, and previous clients have raved about what Empress Events serves. The onboard galley can prepare everything from a simple luncheon to a gourmet meal. In place of a sit-down dinner, where guests find it hard to mingle, the Empress sets up a cocktail reception where everyone can nosh on tapas-like dishes from buffet tables while circulating with each other. The company also draws from a select group of vendors who know how to work efficiently on water.
If your wedding will be the start of a lifetime journey, why not launch it aboard a vessel that has hosted so many beginnings? Spend the day with the love of your life as front-row spectators to the beauty that is San Francisco Bay.
Formerly Bay and Delta Yacht Charters.
Capacity
Ceremony |
Reception/Special Events |
Meetings |
|
Max. Seated Indoors: 129 Max. Seated Outdoors: 0 |
Max. Seated Indoors: 149 Max. Seated Outdoors: 0 Max. Standing Indoors: 149 Max. Standing Outdoors: 0 |
Max. Seated: 129 |
|
CEREMONY & MEETING CAPACITY: Indoors, the Empress holds up to 129 seated guests. |
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Fees & Deposits
50% of the estimated event total is required to reserve your date. The balance is due 10 days prior to the event. Rental fees range $600–4,000 depending on day and time of the event and guest count. Meals range $30–60/person. Tax, alcohol and a 19% service charge are additional.
Availability
Year-round, daily, anytime.
CateringProvidedAlcoholProvidedBYO w/ Corkage Fee Sites UsesCeremoniesWedding Receptions Special Events, Parties Business Functions/Meetings Rehearsal Dinners On-Site Accommodations Services/AmenitiesCatering: providedParking: large lot Kitchen Facilities: n/a Accommodations: 3 guestrooms Tables & Chairs: provided Telephone: office phone Linens, Silver, etc.: provided Outdoor Night Lighting: yes Restrooms: not wheelchair accessible Outdoor Cooking Facilities: no Dance Floor: provided Cleanup: provided Bride's & Groom's Dressing Area: yes View: panorama of SF cityscape and SF Bay Meeting Equipment: full range Other: event coordination, on-site wedding cake and florals, clergy, A/V equipment |
MusicIndoorsOutdoors Wheelchair AccessNot Wheelchair AccessibleSite ViewsCoastlineOcean/Bay Panoramic RestrictionsAlcohol: provided or BYO with corkage feeWheelchair Access: first floor only Smoking: designated areas only Insurance: not required Music: amplified OK |
Wondering what CBA or BYO means?
415/332-3291
www.empressevents.com
Email or request a proposal for your event from Empress Events
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