Panama Wedding Yacht Rentals

Wedding yachts in Panama

The boats above are the Panama fleet, cheapest first. An elopement or a ceremony for a dozen fits a 50 to 65 ft yacht with a flybridge or a wide aft deck. A party of 20 to 30 takes a Todomar or a PBTF party boat. A seated reception for 40 or more takes the 90 ft Broward, Miss Colombia. There is no set guest cap in Panama: send the full head count, children included, and the team matches the boat.

Yacht rentals for weddings: six ways to use the water

The elopement: the two of you, an officiant and a photographer at sunset. The ceremony at anchor: guests aboard, the boat still in a Taboga cove or off Taboguilla. The reception cruise: dinner and dancing on the bay after a ceremony in Casco Viejo. The welcome party the night before. The day-after recovery cruise to Taboga. The wedding-party photo session at golden hour, with the skyline and the Bridge of the Americas in the frame.

How many guests, and which yacht

Count everyone aboard, including the officiant, the photographer and any children; every person goes in the head count. Under 15: a yacht keeps it intimate. 20 to 30: a party boat, with one open deck for the ceremony and the dancing. 40 and more: the Broward, with a saloon for the dinner and decks for the toasts. Above that, the team quotes two boats or a ceremony ashore with the reception on the water.

The minute of the ceremony

The captain anchors or holds the boat still for the vows, the engines quiet, the crew out of the frame. Choose the spot with the view you want behind you: the Casco Viejo bayline, the city skyline or an island cove. A microphone through the boat's sound helps everyone hear over the wind.

Timing the ceremony to the sunset

Panama is close to the equator, so the sun sets between about 6:00 and 6:45 pm all year. Board around 4:30 pm, say the vows at about 5:30, and the golden-hour photos follow. In the dry season, December to April, the evenings are usually clear; from May to November keep a covered plan for a short storm.

The legal part

Many couples hold the legal marriage ashore, at the civil registry or with their officiant, and the ceremony on the boat. Bring your own officiant if you want one aboard. The requirements for foreigners marrying in Panama are set by the Panamanian authorities, so check them well ahead of the date.

Setup, vendors and what to wear

Flowers, an arch or aisle styling, catering or a private chef, a bartender, a DJ and a photographer can all be added to your charter when you book, each with its price shown beside it. Vendors load at the slip before guests board. Glass, confetti, glitter and rice stay off the boat, and petals stay aboard rather than over the side. Flat sandals or bare feet on deck; long veils and trains catch the wind.

Casco Viejo and the boat

A favourite Panama shape: the ceremony in Casco Viejo, in one of the old quarter's churches, plazas or rooftop venues, then a short drive to Flamenco Marina for the reception cruise at sunset, with the same old quarter lit up across the water. The transfer for the guests can be added to your charter when you book, so nobody has to find the marina alone.

Booking and paying

Book months ahead for a dry-season Saturday. A 50% deposit online holds the date, and the balance is paid in person on the day. The proposal that came before is on Panama yacht proposals; the anniversaries that come after are on Panama anniversary yacht charters.