Some couples don’t want a traditional wedding—or a traditional wedding venue. They want their venue to be as unique as they are. They want their celebration to be memorable, exciting, and truly different from all the other weddings they have been to. Finding the perfect unique setting for your wedding can be challenging, but if you’re willing to invest time in brainstorming, researching, and visiting different locations, you can eventually find something you’ll love.

The Perks of a Unique Venue

Let’s start by listing some of the benefits you’ll enjoy by choosing a unique, non-traditional venue for your wedding:

• Memorability. First, a unique wedding venue will be more memorable. This won’t be “just another wedding,” for you or for anyone else in your audience.
• Aesthetics. Different locations also offer different aesthetics, from the natural view of an expansive ocean to the bright lights of a casino.
• Personalization. Searching for a unique venue gives you more opportunities to find a location that suits you and your partner’s personality and interests.
• Flexibility. In many cases, searching for a non-traditional option gives you more flexibility—with less competition over dates, and more ways to plan your wedding from start to finish.

With those in mind, let’s take a look at some ideas for your non-traditional wedding.

A Yacht

First, you could host your wedding with a private yacht charter. The idea is to take you and your guests through a romantic, wedding day cruise—preferably with the dazzling skyline of a big city like New York. With a romantic, luxury backdrop and an endless stretch of water before you, the scenery will be like nothing else. Depending on where you get the private yacht charter, you may also have access to complete wedding packages, which include everything you need for your wedding day, like photographers, musicians, hair stylists, florists, and caterers.

A Beach

If you love the aquatic theme of a private yacht, but you want something that’s actually on land, you could consider hosting a wedding at the beach. With the ocean as your backdrop and the practically unlimited potential of the outdoors, you can easily make this setting your own. There are just a few problems you’ll need to consider; for example, your wedding may be weather-dependent, and if you plan on making use of a public beach, you may have other people to contend with.

A Private Residence

If you want to forgo the possibility of an overly public wedding, you could retreat to the security and privacy of a private residence. If a relative or someone you know has a big enough estate, like a sprawling farm or a mansion, they can host your entire party of guests; you may also be able to host the wedding at any private residence if your party is small enough. Here, you’ll have unlimited flexibility with how you plan the wedding, but you may be limited on scenery—and you’ll need to come up with a plan for catering, music, and all the other wedding peripherals.

An Art Studio, Gallery, or Museum

If you love art, or if you want to give your wedding a different touch of class, you could have a wedding at an art studio, a gallery, or a museum. These locations typically offer wedding packages for a fixed rate, with optional additional services like catering and music. Depending on the venue, your guests will likely have access to most (or all) of the exhibits. Just keep in mind you may be restricted on what you can and can’t do in the venue.

A Sporting Arena

If you and your partner are obsessed with a specific sports team, or if you’re passionate about sports in general, you may consider having a wedding at a basketball arena, a football stadium, or a baseball diamond. Most of these locations have package deals available for couples interested in getting married—especially during the off season.

A Forest, River, or Lake

If you love the outdoors, but the beach isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other locations to choose from. Depending on your interests (and what’s in your local area), you may choose an area lush with forests, a majestic lake, or a powerful river as the backdrop of your wedding. Look at national parks, state parks, and other recreational areas. Like with the beach, be prepared that the public nature of the environment and your weather dependencies could lead to issues.

An Amusement Park

If you and your partner are thrill seekers, you could also get married at an amusement park. Before or after the ceremony, you and your guests can wander the park and ride rides. Some of the downsides here include crowding and lack of control—as well as weather dependency.

A Castle or Historic Site

Some couples fall in love with the idea of hosting a wedding at a castle, or a similarly historic site. The unique architecture and layout could be exactly what you need to make your event distinctive.

Tips for Searching

Of course, these aren’t your only options for a unique wedding, but they should at least help you start thinking about the possibilities. Keep an open mind as you continue brainstorming; think about the places that are significant to you and your partner, and the locations that have been special to you throughout the course of your relationship. While searching, make sure you ask lots of questions. The more you learn about each venue, the more confidently you’ll be able to make a final decision; you’ll also learn more about the strengths and weaknesses of each prospective location, which could lead you to an even better option. If you’re interested in learning more about private yacht charters in New York, or if you’re ready to talk to someone about your upcoming wedding, contact us at Aqua Azul Yacht today! We’ll talk you through your options, and provide you with a free quote, so you can start imagining what your wedding would look like onboard a yacht.