Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum St. Michaels, Maryland

Waterfront Weddings

Contact Event Coordinator Ida Heelan • 410-745-4944 • iheelan@cbmm.org

Make the Chesapeake part of your story.

With tranquil waterfront settings overlooking the beautiful Miles River and beyond—the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is a place unlike any

other. Make memories at one of our picturesque venues, perfect for ceremonies, rehearsal dinners, receptions, cocktail parties, and more.

Nationally recognized for preserving the heritage of the Chesapeake, the Museum brings the warm and casually elegant hospitality of the Eastern Shore of Maryland to each special occasion. Set on a private 18-acre campus with over 2,000 feet of pristine waterfront in the historic village of St. Michaels, the Museum offers spectacular views of the water.

The Museum offers stunning backdrops for wedding portraits, providing an exquisite array of Chesapeake scenery and textures, ranging from the rustic Small Boat Shed, to panoramic views of the water on Navy Point, from the very top of the 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse to the authentic Waterman’s Wharf on Fogg’s Landing. Give your guests a true Chesapeake experience with a one-of-a-kind wedding, in which they not only celebrate your special day, but take away a piece of history. From a large, tented affair for 350 people, to small intimate gatherings, the Museum is an ideal spot to create memories for a lifetime.

(top) The newly married bride and groom, Elizabeth Meyer and Ryan Kirkpatrick, have their first dance under a tent on Navy Point, after a ceremony on the Tolchester Beach Bandstand.

(bottom, left & middle) Guests received a pair of special flip-flops to add to their unique Chesapeake experience. Beautiful centerpieces under the tent on Navy Point. Photos by Michael Kress Photography, mymbkphoto.com.

(bottom right) Personalized crab mallots are given to guests during a rehearsal dinner party. Photo by Melissa Grimes-Guy Photography. melissagrimesguyphotography.coma

Make the Chesapeake part of your story...

Navy Point

(top, left)Photo by Melissa Grimes-Guy Photography. melissagrimesguyphotography.com(top, right)Photo by Hamilton Photography. hamiltonphotography.net(second row, left & middle) Photos by Michael Kress Photography, mymbkphoto.com.(second row, right) Photo by Positive Images by Rettberg. billrettber.com(bottom row, right) Photos by Michael Kress Photography, mymbkphoto.com.(bottom row, middle & right) Tom McCall Photography, tommccallphotography.com.

Navy Point, with the decks of the At Play on the Bay exhibit building, is our most sought-after venue. For an intimate reception with exquisite water views, this location is ideal from May through October for a tented event.

Includes use of upper and lower waterfront At Play On the Bay decks or grassy area by the Tolchester Beach Bandstand.

Restrooms located inside the At Play On the Bay exhibit building.

Docking available by request.

Accommodates up to 350 reception guests under your tent.

Tolchester Beach Bandstand is the perfect accompaniment for your ceremony location.

“Navy Point at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum was the perfect location for our wedding. Our guests couldn't get over how beautiful it was and were honored to be a part of it. (They are already asking if we can “renew our vows” at the same location in a couple years!)”

-Casey's review on Weddingwire.com; married on Navy Point June 23, 2012.

Foggs Landing Grounds & Van Lennep Auditorium

(top)Photo by Melissa Grimes-Guy Photography. melissagrimesguyphotography.com

(bottom left)Photo by Brian Ray Studios. brianraystudios.com

(bottom right)Photo by Francis Formica Photography. formicastudios.com

One of our most popular venues for outdoor receptions, Fogg's Landing offers spectacular views. The Steamboat Building's Van Lennep Auditorium can accommodate up to 80 or so guests for a formal sitdown dinner, or 150 guests for a more casual cocktail party. Outside on Fogg’s Landing, a tented event can comfortably accommodate 300 guests, with access to the decks surrounding the Steamboat Building which also provides a private entrance.

Includes use of restrooms, kitchen, auditorium, waterfrontdecks, and grass lawns which allow for tenting.

Private entrance for guests within close proximity to Museum parking lot.

The Van Lennep Auditorium only, and its waterfront decks areavailable for an indoor reception. Includes use of restrooms, kitchen, auditorium, and waterfront decks. Private entrance for guests within close proximity to Museum parking lot.

Docking available by request.

Hooper StraitLighthouse

(left)Photo by Melissa Grimes-Guy Photography. melissagrimesguyphotography.com

(right, top & middle) Photos by Positive Images by Rettberg, billrettber.com

(right, bottom) Photo by Graham Scott-Taylor, dada-design.com

The 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse was originally built to light the way for boats passing through the shallow, dangerous shoals of Hooper Strait, a thoroughfare for boats bound from the Chesapeake Bay across Tangier Sound to Deals Island or places along the Nanticoke and Wicomico Rivers. As a “screwpile” lighthouse, it is built on special iron pilings which were tipped with a screw that could be turned into the muddy bottom of the Chesapeake Bay.

Includes the deck under the lighthouse overlooking the water, and may accommodate up to 60 seated guests or 75 standing guests.

The upper lighthouse deck is available for guests to take in the exquisite panoramic view of the Miles River.

Docking available by request.

Includes use of restroom.

Tolchester BeachBandstand

(top)Photo by Melissa Grimes-Guy Photography. melissagrimesguyphotography.com

(bottom)Photos by Brian Ray Studios. brianraystudios.com

The Tolchester Beach Bandstand is a popular gathering place on the Museum’s campus, and the home of the annual Big Band Night each July. The structure was originally located at Tolchester Beach, a popular resort established in 1877 just north of Rock Hall, in Kent County, Maryland.

Expansive lawn space for your seated or standing guests.

Perfect location to complement your Navy Point reception.

The bandstand area can be added as a ceremony site when securingNavy point for your wedding reception.

About the MuseumThe Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to telling the stories of the Chesapeake Bay and the people who have shaped their lives around it. Located on 18 waterfront acres in historic St. Michaels, Maryland, the Museum offers exhibits, boat rides on the Miles River, and annual festivals celebrating Chesapeake Bay culture, boats, seafood, and history. The Museum's floating fleet of historic Chesapeake Bay watercraft is the largest in existence and its small boat collection includes crabbing skiffs, workboats, and log canoes. The working boatyard highlights restoration of the Bay's traditional vessels.

Founded on Navy Point in 1965, the Museum was once the site of a busy complex of seafood packing houses, docks, and workboats. Today, there are 35 buildings, 12 of which house exhibits open to the public. This Museum is the only museum devoted to interpreting the entire maritime region of the Chesapeake Bay.

For more information, call 410-745-4944

or email iheelan@cbmm.org

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum213 North Talbot Street

St. Michaels, Maryland 21663Find us online at cbmm.org

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum – Preferred Vendors

Gourmet by the BaySidney Trondshoregour@verizon.net 410-745-6260gourmetbythebay.net

Garden & Garnish CateringBrian & Cathygardenandgarnish@atlanticbb.net410-820-5169gardenandgarnish.com

The Inn at Perry Cabin

PeachBlossoms Events

St. Michaels Harbour Inn, Marina & Spa

Mason's Restaurant

Eastern Shore Tents & EventsRebecca Blizzard info@estentsandevents.com 410-810-0686estentsandevents.com

Dover Rent-All Tents & Events

PeachBlossom Events

An additional $1,000 fee applies for use of catering and rental vendors not on our preferred list.

For other vendor recommendations:myeasternshorewedding.com

Wedding Reception & Rehearsal Dinner Venues

Waterfront Navy PointOur most exclusive venue for a truly memorable event. Waterfront lawn allows for tent use. Includes use of upper and lower waterfront decks or grassy area by the Tolchester Beach Bandstand. Restrooms located inside At Play on the Bay exhibit building. Docking available by request. $8,000

• Accommodates up to 350 guests under your tent.

• Ask for holiday weekend rates for this venue only.

Fogg's Landing Grounds & Van Lennep AuditoriumAn ideal waterfront location for an outdoor reception. Includes use of restrooms, kitchen, auditorium, waterfront decks, and grass lawns which allow for tents. Private entrance for guests with close proximity to Museum parking lot. Docking available by request. $5,500

• Accommodates 300 guests under your tent.

Van Lennep Auditorium onlyAn ideal waterfront location for an indoor reception. Includes use of restrooms, kitchen, auditorium, and waterfront decks. Private entrance for guests with close proximity to Museum parking lot. Docking available by request. $5,000

• Accommodates approximately 80 seated guests, or 150 standing guests. *Add the auditorium for a reception the evening before your event for up to four hours. $3,500

Hooper Strait LighthouseThe Museum's waterfront landmark is the perfect backdrop for your event. Includes the use of lower deck overlooking the water. Upper lighthouse deck available for guests and offers a panoramic view. Docking available by request. $3,500

• Accommodates up to 60 seated guests for ceremony or 75 standing guests below the deck of the lighthouse.

• Includes the use of restrooms.

Tolchester Beach BandstandThe perfect setting for your wedding ceremony, with expansive lawn space for your seated or standing guests. $2,000

• Includes the use of restrooms.

Additional Information• Prices include the use of venues/facilities, a security person,

and staff member on premise for up to five hours (four hours for night-before rentals).

• A 6% Maryland tax will be collected as well as an additional $1,000 refundable security deposit.

• A 50% deposit is due at the time of securing venue and date.

• No additional charges are incurred when using a CBMM preferred vendor for catering and other rentals. See preferred vendor list for details.

Personalize your special day with unique Chesapeake Bay gifts from our Museum Store, perfect for wedding party gifts and guest souvenirs!

CATERERS RENTALS

Read our reviews and see more photos on weddingwire.com!

Photo courtesy of Aloft Aerial Photography

Administration Buildings

Museum Parking Lot

Welcome Center

Living Shoreline

MuseumStore

Fogg’s Landing

Navy Point

Waterman's WharfVan Lennep Auditorium

Small Boat Shed

Boatyard

Hooper Strait

Lighthouse

Tolchester Beach

Bandstand

Waterfowling & Bay History

At Play on the Bay

Oystering Exhibit

Mitchell H

ouse