There are extraordinary wedding venues in Newport. And then there is this — the open harbor, the sails filling overhead, the coastline of one of America’s great sailing cities unfolding around your guests as Schooner Aquidneck moves through Narragansett Bay. A Newport wedding charter is not just a venue. It is a moment that stands entirely apart from anything else your guests will experience that weekend.
Sightsailing specializes in private charters aboard Schooner Aquidneck, a spacious, beautifully appointed vessel designed specifically for group sailing and capable of accommodating up to 49 guests. Whether you are planning a ceremony at sea, a pre-wedding welcome sail for out-of-town guests, a rehearsal dinner on the water, or a post-wedding brunch cruise to close out the celebration, Aquidneck provides the setting. Our experienced crew handles everything else.
No sailing experience is required — for you or your guests. Departing from Bowen’s Wharf in the heart of Newport’s waterfront district, every charter puts your wedding party in the middle of one of the most photographed and celebrated harbors on the East Coast. Daytime and sunset departures are both available, and each offers something the other cannot.
Onboard wedding ceremonies are available, with wedding officiants provided upon request. The Newport coastline — Fort Adams, the Pell Bridge, the open reach of Narragansett Bay — makes for a ceremony backdrop that no ballroom or garden can replicate.
A Newport wedding charter works for more than just the ceremony. Welcome receptions for arriving guests, rehearsal dinner celebrations with a genuine twist, and post-wedding brunch cruises are all popular options. The charter adapts to wherever in your weekend you need it most.
Food and beverage arrangements are easy to make through our network of local Newport caterers, and our crew manages all loading, setup, and cleanup before and after the sail. Your wedding party arrives. Everything else is taken care of.
A daytime sail gives you Newport in full light, the harbor busy and beautiful. A sunset charter turns the sky over Narragansett Bay into something your photographer will thank you for. Both are available, and both are unforgettable in entirely different ways.
All wedding charters take place on the protected waters of Narragansett Bay, which means a smooth, comfortable experience for guests of all ages and comfort levels on the water. Your captain and crew are experienced sailors and genuinely skilled hosts, attentive, unobtrusive, and focused entirely on making your event memorable. There is no script, no forced choreography, and no moment where it feels like anything other than your celebration.
For couples planning a full Newport wedding weekend, Sightsailing can work with you to schedule multiple events across the fleet: a smaller, intimate Starlight charter for the wedding party, and a full Aquidneck charter for the broader guest list, for example.
Most couples choose the Schooner Aquidneck, which accommodates up to 49 guests and offers the most space for a celebration on the water. For smaller, more intimate events, just the wedding party, for instance, the Starlight (up to 6 guests, 2-hour sail) or the Sightsailer (up to 13 guests, 1.5-hour sail) are also available. We can help you choose based on your group size and vision.
Yes. Onboard wedding ceremonies are available, and wedding officiants can be arranged upon request. Contact Us to discuss the details of planning a ceremony at sea.
Absolutely. Food and beverages can be easily arranged through our local catering partners, who offer yacht charter menus specifically tailored for events like this. Beer, wine, champagne, and canned cocktails are permitted; however, hard liquor is not. Our crew handles all loading, setup, and cleanup, so you and your guests can focus entirely on the occasion.
A wide range: onboard ceremonies, welcome receptions for out-of-town guests, rehearsal dinner celebrations, private sails for the wedding party, and post-wedding brunch cruises are all popular. Many couples use Sightsailing for more than one event across their wedding weekend.
Not at all. Our professional crew handles everything. Guests of all ages and experience levels are comfortable aboard, and the protected waters of Narragansett Bay make for a smooth sail even for first-time sailors.
Both are exceptional. Daytime charters offer full visibility of Newport Harbor and the coastline, ideal for photography and for guests who want to take in the full scenery. Sunset charters offer a dramatic, golden-hour backdrop over Narragansett Bay that is genuinely hard to describe until you’ve seen it. See our Schedule & Rates page for current departure times.
Submit a Private Charter Inquiry Form on our website. We recommend reaching out early — summer and early fall wedding weekends book well in advance.
There is no single way to see Newport, so we offer them all. Step aboard for a sightseeing cruise, a hands-on sailing lesson, or a celebratory special event. Browse our daily departures below and secure your spot on the water.
