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WEDDINGS

October 4, 2024

Why They Chose a Kemah Yacht Elopement

Jamie and Chris are explorers and adventurers, and like me, love the water. They wanted to spend their wedding day doing something that reflected those values. Initially considering the beach, they decided to change course and look into a yacht charter. Chris is a sailor himself, and the couple have spent a lot of time on his sailboat, so a wedding ON the water instead of next to it felt right.

A bride and groom holding a red and white life ring that says just married.

How they structured their half day elopement:

  • meet at the restaurant to decorate
  • photos around the marina
  • ceremony on the water
  • sunset cruise
  • lakeside dinner

Their Elopement on the Water

Jamie and Chris found the perfect charter, a motor yacht called Panacea docked a Waterford Harbor Marina in Kemah, Texas. The yacht is owned and operated by Captain Robert L. Donley from My Wedding on the Water. Captain Robert is also an ordained minister, which took the search for an officiant off the couple’s to-book list.

We met at the restaurant, Sundance Grill II, where they’d be having their post cruise dinner to decorate the table they’d reserved. From hear we headed toward the docks to capture some pre-cruise family photos before boarding.

Boarding the Yacht

Captain Robert met us at the dock and helped everyone aboard. He gave us the grand tour, conducted a safety briefing and set us loose to start celebrations. While we all moved around the yacht taking photos, the captain undocked the Panacea and started the cruise toward Clear Lake.

Once we left the no wake zone, we all settled into seats up on the fly bridge to get some cover from the sun and take in the gorgeous views. Despite late February’s weather unpredictability, we had beautiful clear skies and temps in the upper 70s. It was a truly perfect day for yachting!

The bow of a power yacht at Waterford Harbor Marina in Kemah, Texas.
A bride and groom stand on a dock in Kemah, Texas.
A bride and groom stand on a dock with their arms around each other and smile at each other.
A bride and groom kiss each other on a dock at their Kemah yacht elopement.
A bride in a navy blue and white dress stands with a groom in a blue suit on a dock in Kemah, Texas.
A bride and groom look into each other's eyes on a dock in Kemah, Texas.
Elopement guests and a bride wearing heart shaped sunglasses pose on the bow of a yacht in Kemah, Texas.
A bride and her guests sit sharing a laugh at her Kemah yacht elopement.
A bride and groom share a quiet moment on a yacht in Kemah, Texas.
A double photo where a bride and groom pose with their elopement guests on a yacht, and a bride and groom posing on the fly bridge of a yacht.
A bride and groom stand on the fly bridge of a motor yacht looking out at the water.

Ceremony on the Water

Out in the middle of Clear Lake, Captain Robert dropped anchor and we began the ceremony. Chris took his place at the bow and Jamie walked out to meet him. After vows and the exchange of rings, Jamie and Chris “tied the knot” with a set of white and blue ropes. It was the perfect symbolism of their commitment to each other and their love of boating.

A bride smiles through the window of a motor yacht as she prepares to enter her elopement ceremony.
A bride walking to the bow of a yacht for her elopement ceremony on Clear Lake in Kemah, Texas.
A bride in heart shaped sunglasses laughs as she meets her groom on the bow of a yacht on Clear Lake in Kemah, Texas.
A bride and groom stand on the bow of a yacht while the captain conducts their elopement ceremony.
A bride and groom stand on the bow of a yacht while the captain conducts the ceremony at their Kemah yacht elopement on Clear Lake.
Elopement guests look on as a bride and groom share vows on the bow of a yacht in Kemah, Texas.
Guest look on as a bride and groom exchange wedding rings at their Kemah yacht elopement on Clear Lake.
A closeup of a bride and groom holding hands during their elopement ceremony.
A bride take a ring from the officiant to place on her groom's hand.
A bride and groom say their vows on the bow of a yacht during sunset at their Kemah yacht elopement.
A closeup of a bride and groom holding a rope during their elopement ceremony.
A bride and groom participate in the tradition of tying the knot with a white and blue rope at their Kemah yacht elopement in Texas.
A bride and groom "tie the knot" with a white and blue rope on the bow of a yacht in Kemah, Texas.
A bride and groom laugh as they tie a knot with a white and blue rope at their Kemah yacht elopement.
A bride and groom standing on the bow of a yacht, gaze at each other as they pull a fisherman's knot tight during their elopement ceremony.
A bride and groom standing on the bow of a boat lean in to kiss at their Kemah yacht elopement.
A bride and groom kiss at their elopement ceremony with a lake in the background.

Sunset Elopement Cruise

After the ceremony they shifted right to champagne toasts. Chris did the honors of popping the cork and pouring everyone’s glass, while passing boaters shouted congrats to the couple. As everyone was enjoying their drinks, Captain Robert raised anchor and took on a ride. We passed by Kemah Boardwalk before making the loop back toward the marina.

Jamie, Chris and their handful of guests spent the cruise taking tons of photos, drinking champagne, and enjoying the beautiful sunset. We had a blast setting up their photo with the streamer poppers. These are fun because the streamers stay connected to the popper, so nothing goes flying into the water and there’s no violation of our Leave No Trace clause.

A bride and groom pose with a red and white life ring that says just married, on the bow of a boat with a lake in the background.
A bride laughs while her groom pops a bottle of champagne open at their Kemah yacht elopement.
A bride laughs while her groom pops a bottle of champagne open at their Kemah yacht elopement.
A groom pours champagne for guests on a yacht during sunset.
A groom passes out champagne to elopement guests on a yacht.
A bride and groom toast champagne with their elopement guests onboard a yacht in Kemah, Texas.
A bride wearing heart shaped sunglasses stands on the bow of a yacht looking out at the water as her dress blows in the wind.
A bride and elopement guest wearing heart shaped sunglasses laugh with each other on a yacht in Kemah, Texas.
A red white and blue flag blows on the stern of a yacht in Kemah, Texas.
A bride walks to the stern of a yacht sailing on Clear Lake in Kemah, Texas at sunset.
A bride and groom drink champagne during a sunset yacht cruise on Clear Lake in Kemah, Texas.
A bride and groom sit on a yacht drinking champagne at sunset.
A bride and groom pose with a red and white life ring that says just married with Kemah Boardwalk in the background.
A bride and groom holding a red and white life ring that says just married, kiss while guests discharge streamer poppers at their Kemah yacht elopement.
A bride wears a denim jacket with her new last name embroidered on the back and pearl detailing.
Waterford Harbor Marina at sunset.
A bride and groom pose with guests on the bow of a boat during sunset at their Kemah yacht elopement.

Dinner at Sundance Grill II

We arrived back to the marina as the last light of the day faded away. Once Captain Robert officially signed the marriage license, everyone headed to the restaurant, just a short walk from the dock. Sundance Grill II is a classy restaurant with a laid back charm and generous menu. Jamie and Chris cut their cake and while they waited for dinner to arrive, Jamie present Chris with a slick looking Delvey Compass.

A table at Sundance Grill II in Kemah, Texas decorated for an elopement dinner with a white table cloth, navy blue table runner, and vase filled with shells and twinkle lights.
A mantel at Sundance Grill II decorated with a navy blue runner and Mr. and Mrs. signs.
A bride and groom cut a round two tier cake with white fondant and an anchor at their elopement in Kemah, Texas.
A groom opens a Delvey compass given to him as a wedding gift by the bride.

Jamie and Chris planned their Kemah yacht elopement to be a relaxed experience. They prioritized enjoying their guests, having a memorable ceremony, and doing it in a location they love.

For more boat content, check out this yacht birthday party in Galveston.

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