There were guests dancing before dinner to a favorite local band, kayakers watching the ceremony from the water, and, just when everyone thought the evening had settled into a reception, the newlyweds climbed into sea kayaks in full wedding attire and paddled around the boat. That surprise alone would have made this ferry boat wedding memorable, but it was only one part of a weekend designed to introduce friends and family to the Seattle Whitaker and Spencer call home.

The couple met by chance over Labor Day weekend in Lake Tahoe in 2022, where a relaxed weekend of homemade pasta, wine tasting, and lakeside afternoons turned into something neither of them expected. Their relationship quickly became rooted in adventure, good food, music, and life on the water, making their wedding less about following traditions and more about inviting loved ones into the world they had built together.

What We Love About This Ferry Boat Wedding

• A surprise sea kayak paddle around the boat in full wedding attire
• Guests dancing before dinner to the couple’s favorite Seattle band
• Mini framed photos at every place setting featuring each guest
• Sunflower bouquets handcrafted by the groom’s mother
• A welcome party complete with an ice cream truck and family-inspired menu
• A private first look with no cameras or guests present

Showing Guests Around Seattle, One Stop at a Time

Because neither Whitaker nor Spencer grew up in Seattle, almost everyone attending traveled from somewhere else. Rather than simply hosting a wedding, they treated the weekend as an introduction to the city they love.

The celebrations began with a welcome gathering at Reuben’s Brews, their neighborhood favorite. Spencer’s family hosted the evening with a menu that reflected his German, Italian, and Vietnamese heritage, while an ice cream truck and a hilarious video created by Whitaker’s brother kept things light from the start.

“We wanted the entire weekend to be a true reflection of us and our life together in Seattle,” Whitaker shared. By the time guests boarded the ferry boat wedding venue the following day, everyone already felt like part of the celebration instead of arriving as strangers.

From Vows on the Ferry to Kayaks on the Lake

The ceremony remained refreshingly simple. Whitaker’s brother officiated, striking a balance between humor and sincerity as the couple exchanged vows on the deck overlooking Lake Union. Even some of their fellow sea kayakers paddled nearby to watch from the water.

Before any of that happened, though, Whitaker and Spencer shared a first look that no one else witnessed. “We actually didn’t allow our photographer or videographer there to capture it. We wanted it to be just for us.”

After the ceremony, their favorite Seattle band, Small Paul, took over cocktail hour, encouraging guests onto the dance floor long before dinner.

Then came the surprise.

Without warning, the newlyweds disappeared, climbed into their sea kayaks still wearing their wedding clothes, and paddled around while guests rushed onto the deck to watch. Whitaker’s dress floated across the water behind her as they circled the boat before returning to dry off, change into comfortable clothes, and rejoin the party downstairs.

Featured Vendor:
tmInspired Photography

Prioritizing Candid Moments Over Long Photo Sessions

Whitaker and Spencer approached their vendor search with one clear goal: they wanted to spend their wedding participating in it instead of performing for it.

After hours of research, they found JB vendor tmInspired Photography and Ochoa Films, whose documentary approach matched exactly what they envisioned. Portraits were intentionally limited to just fifteen minutes before they returned to celebrating with everyone else.

“We wanted to spend our wedding living the day rather than staging it.”

Music mattered just as much. Louis of Bamboo Beats (DJ Swervewon) met the couple at MV Skansonia before the wedding to get a feel for both the space and the flow of the evening. By the time the reception began, guests barely needed an invitation to the dance floor.

Keeping the Decor Simple Let the Setting Shine

For two people who spend much of their free time sea kayaking, choosing MV Skansonia wasn’t difficult. The historic ferry overlooking Lake Union already offered everything they were looking for, so there was little reason to compete with it using elaborate décor.

Instead of committing to a strict palette, they kept the design simple and let cheerful sunflowers become the one defining floral element. Spencer’s mother, Chi Deame, handcrafted every bouquet and arrangement herself, adding a family contribution that carried through the day.

Skipping elaborate decorations also meant they could invest more heavily in the parts of the wedding they cared about most: photography, videography, music, and the venue itself.

Every Guest Left With a Story to Take Home

Many of the day’s most memorable details happened around the reception tables.

Instead of traditional place cards, every guest discovered a mini framed photograph featuring one of their favorite memories with the couple. Seattle-themed canvas bags made it easy to carry home both the photo and another deeply personal favor: miniature bottles of olive oil from Whitaker’s family farm, the same place where the couple first said “I love you” and later became engaged.

The entertainment included another surprise. Rather than a conventional first dance, Whitaker and Spencer learned the iconic dance from Pulp Fiction, performing it to Chuck Berry’s “You Never Can Tell” while guests cheered them on.

How They Avoided the Post-Dinner Lull

Rather than accepting the usual post-dinner lull, the couple had a plan. Espresso martinis arrived immediately after dinner, giving everyone a second wind before the dance floor filled again. Fake mustaches, cans of body glitter, and a playlist packed with crowd favorites kept guests laughing well into the evening.

Whitaker and Spencer spent almost the entire reception dancing alongside everyone else, setting the pace instead of watching from the sidelines. Looking back, they credit much of the relaxed atmosphere to something they did before the wedding day even began. Spending time with guests during the welcome celebration removed any pressure to circulate constantly during the reception, allowing them to simply enjoy one another.

One Small Decision Helped Them Enjoy the Entire Day

One practical decision the couple would recommend is protecting time for yourselves throughout the day.

Before entering the reception, Whitaker and Spencer slipped away for a quiet dinner together so they could actually eat before greeting guests. They also resisted the pressure to speak with every attendee, choosing instead to be present with each other and enjoy the celebration they had spent months planning.

Their advice is simple: stay aligned on what matters most, build your schedule around that, and leave the morning after completely free. Having time to rest and relive the weekend together ended up being one of their favorite parts of the celebration.