Micro Wedding Yacht Charter San Diego

Photo Tour

Weddings & elopements, aboard Malarky.

Micro Wedding & Elopement

What a micro wedding on Malarky looks like.

Micro weddings on Malarky are best for 4 to 12 guests, including the couple. Elopements are usually 2 to 6 guests.

The ceremony typically takes place on the bow trampoline during golden hour. The couple stands near the front of the boat, the officiant leads the ceremony, and guests sit or gather nearby with the bay, Coronado Bridge, and skyline in the background. Most ceremonies last about 10 to 15 minutes.

After the ceremony, the celebration moves to the shaded aft deck. This is where guests can enjoy champagne, dinner, light bites, toasts, and conversation as the boat cruises through the bay.

The indoor lounge is available throughout the charter for photos, a quiet moment, dessert, or a first dance. It has comfortable seating, natural light, modern decor, and windows looking out over the water.

Couples choose Malarky because it feels intimate, simple, and memorable. There is no ballroom, no venue minimum, and no stressful setup day. Just your closest people, a private catamaran, and one of the prettiest views in San Diego.

Wedding couple toasting aboard Malarky with a historic tall ship behind on San Diego Bay

Wedding couple in formal attire on Malarky's bow with the MALARKY sail backdrop

Three Spaces

Three beautiful spaces on board.

Your wedding charter includes access to three distinct areas of the boat.

The Bow

This is the ceremony space. The open bow trampoline creates a clean, beautiful setting for vows, photos, and sunset views. With the Coronado Bridge in the distance, it is one of the most photogenic spots on the bay.

The Aft Deck

This is the main reception area. It has shaded seating for about eight guests, with room for the full group to stand, mingle, eat, and toast. It works well for catered meals, charcuterie, cake, and drinks.

The Indoor Lounge

This space is ideal for a first dance, getting-ready photos, dessert, or a quiet break from the deck. It is comfortable, bright, and still gives you views of the bay through the windows.

Malarky's 47ft sailing catamaran under sail on San Diego Bay near the Star of India

Wedding couple holding hands looking out over San Diego Bay aboard Malarky

Wedding-Day Flow

A simple wedding-day flow.

A typical micro wedding charter is about three hours. If you would like a longer reception, we recommend booking four hours. Here is a common timeline:

Boarding & cocktail hour

Guests arrive at the Shelter Island dock, board the boat, and settle in with drinks and light snacks. The boat usually departs within the first 15 minutes.

Cruise & photos

The captain positions the boat for the best views and ceremony angle. This is a great time for couple photos, group photos, and candid moments around the boat.

Golden hour ceremony

The ceremony takes place on the bow, usually about 15 minutes before sunset for the best light. The captain keeps the boat positioned for the view while your officiant leads the ceremony.

Reception cruise

After the ceremony, guests move to the aft deck for food, drinks, toasts, and time together. The boat continues cruising the bay before returning to the dock during blue hour.

When you book, we'll help coordinate timing based on your wedding date, sunset, music needs, decor plans, and vendor logistics.

The Setting

Why sunset works so well.

Sunset is one of the best times for a wedding on San Diego Bay. The light is soft, the bridge creates a beautiful backdrop, and the skyline begins to glow as evening settles in.

We recommend planning the ceremony about 15 minutes before official sunset. We'll help you calculate the best timing for your date.

Winter weddings usually mean afternoon ceremonies and earlier dinners. Summer weddings are later in the evening, with sunset closer to 8:00pm. Spring and fall offer flexible timing and often some of the clearest skies of the year.

For couples who want the sunset as the centerpiece of the day but don't need a full wedding ceremony aboard, see our private sunset yacht charter page. Same boat, same bay, lighter format.

Photography

Wedding photography.

Golden hour on the bay is a beautiful setting for wedding photos. The boat, water, skyline, and bridge all create a natural backdrop without needing much extra decor.

We can recommend local San Diego photographers who have worked on Malarky before and understand the boat, lighting, and timing. Just ask when you book.

Food & Drink

Food & drink on board.

For a 12-guest wedding, food is usually handled one of two ways.

Catered

We can connect you with local San Diego caterers for anything from light bites to plated meals. Catering options can be matched to your guest count, timing, and dietary needs. The crew can help with basic plate, serve, and clear service on board.

BYO food

You're also welcome to bring your own food. Many couples choose takeout from a favorite restaurant, charcuterie, desserts from a local bakery, or a simple celebratory spread. This works especially well for relaxed micro weddings and elopements.

BYOB is welcome on Malarky. Champagne, sparkling wine, white wine, rosé, beer, canned cocktails, and spirits decanted into plastic containers are all allowed. See the full BYOB charter details for more.

A couple of house rules: please, no drinking from glass on deck (we provide plastic cups), and no red wine, as it can stain the white deck.

Larger Weddings

If your wedding is larger than 12 guests.

Malarky is designed for intimate weddings of 12 guests or fewer. This limit is set by U.S. Coast Guard rules, and we're upfront about it because we want your wedding to feel comfortable and well-planned.

If your guest list is larger, our sister vessel Triton Charters may be a better fit. Triton is a 75-foot catamaran certified for up to 100 guests, with a bar, dance floor, and full crew.

Malarky is best for intimate weddings and elopements. Triton is best for larger ceremonies and receptions.

Vendors & Officiants

Vendors & officiants.

We handle the boat side of your wedding: the vessel, crew, route, sound system, safety equipment, ice, coolers, and onboard setup.

You handle the wedding details: officiant, photographer, florist, caterer, music playlist, decor, and any signage.

If you need recommendations, we can share a short list of local San Diego vendors who have worked with Malarky before. We don't charge referral fees. We simply recommend people we trust.

Pricing & Booking

Pricing & booking.

Malarky wedding charters are $550 per hour with a 2-hour minimum. This includes private use of the boat and a crew member for hospitality. A USCG-certified captain is required and hired separately at $50 per hour, paid directly to the captain.

Catering, florals, photography, and other add-ons are priced separately. The hourly charter rate is the same regardless of day, season, or time of day. For the full structure of how charter pricing works on Malarky, see pricing details.

Length & timing

Most couples book three hours for a micro wedding. That's enough time for boarding, photos, ceremony, reception, and a relaxed return cruise. Four hours is best if you'd like a longer dinner or reception. Smaller elopements with 2 to 6 guests may only need the 2-hour minimum.

Booking window

Summer weekend evenings usually book 4 to 8 weeks in advance.
Spring and fall dates are often available 2 to 4 weeks out.
Winter dates are usually more flexible and can often be booked 1 to 2 weeks in advance.

If your date is important to you, we recommend booking early so we can reserve it for you.

Cancellation policy

Full deposit refund if you cancel three or more weeks before your charter.
Free reschedule up to one week before departure.
Non-refundable within one week of the scheduled departure.

See the full 2026 cancellation policy →

Reserve Your Wedding Charter →

Frequently Asked

Micro wedding questions, answered.

What's a micro wedding on a yacht?

A wedding with a small guest list, typically 2 to 20 people, held aboard a private yacht instead of at a traditional venue. On Malarky, we cap at 12 guests including the couple, which fits the elopement-to-micro-wedding range nicely. The ceremony usually happens on the bow at golden hour, the reception on the aft deck, and the indoor lounge is there for photos, dessert, or a first dance. No venue rental, no guest-count minimum, no setup day, just the people who matter most aboard a 47-foot catamaran on San Diego Bay.

How many guests can attend a Malarky wedding?

Up to 12 guests including the couple. That's the U.S. Coast Guard cap on the vessel, and we don't exceed it, by design. If your wedding is larger than 12 guests, our sister vessel Triton Charters can host up to 100 on a 75-foot catamaran with bartender and dance floor, same San Diego Bay, different scale. We'd rather send you to the right boat than try to make Malarky work for a 50-guest wedding.

Can the captain officiate?

Our captain is not a wedding officiant. You'll need to bring your own officiant (or have a friend get ordained online. California's friendly to one-day officiants). We can recommend local San Diego officiants who've worked Malarky weddings before if you don't have someone in mind. Ask at booking.

What's included in a wedding charter?

The entire 47-foot Voyage catamaran exclusively for your wedding party, bow trampoline (ceremony), aft deck (reception), indoor lounge (dance / refresh). USCG-licensed captain and crew for the duration. Sound system (bring a playlist on your phone). Lifejackets, ice, cooler. BYOB and BYOF allowed (no glass, no red wine). Catering can be arranged through our partner local caterers if you'd rather not BYO, mention it when you book.

How long is a typical wedding charter?

Three hours is the sweet spot for a micro wedding: 60 min cruise + cocktail hour → ceremony at golden hour (~15 min) → reception meal → blue-hour return. Four hours works if you want a longer reception. Elopements with very small parties (2–6 guests) sometimes book the 2-hour minimum, which gives ceremony + champagne + photos and time to head back.

What about photography?

Golden hour on the bay is a beautiful setting for wedding photos. The bow trampoline works wonderfully for ceremony shots, with the Coronado Bridge and downtown skyline as natural backdrops. We can recommend local photographers who've shot Malarky weddings before, they know the light, the boat, and the timing. If you're bringing your own, just send them a quick brief on the three spaces and the timeline; they'll handle the rest.

Can we customize the route or location?

Within reason. The captain proposes a route based on the day's conditions and your priorities, typical pattern is depart the Shelter Island dock, position near the Coronado Bridge for the ceremony, anchor for the reception, return at blue hour. We can adjust for specific photo spots or timing. Every wedding charter stays on San Diego Bay because the bridge + skyline are the defining shots. We don't run Mission Bay or open-Pacific charters.

How far in advance should I book?

Weekend evening slots in summer book 4 to 8 weeks ahead. Spring and fall are typically 2 to 4 weeks ahead. Winter weddings (still beautiful, the bay clears up in winter) are usually flexible 1 to 2 weeks ahead. If your date is set, book as early as possible. Cancellation policy: full deposit refund 3+ weeks before charter; free reschedule up to 1 week prior; non-refundable within 1 week.

For more, see our full frequently asked questions.

Explore More

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Mark the milestone against the Coronado Bridge at golden hour.

Micro Wedding & Elopement Yacht Charter in San Diego, for up to 12 guests.