How to Get Married on a River Walk Boat

The River Walk is undoubtedly the first thing you think of when your heart steers you towards San Antonio. Now, imagine exchanging vows not just beside the river, but on it – drifting past the twinkling lights and stone bridges as you say, ‘I do.’ If that sounds like your kind of fairytale, then you’re in the right place. Today’s blog post has all the details – from the best time to book your cruise to info on if you can decorate your boat (spoiler alert: you can!). Ahoy, mateys! I present to you my step-by-step guide for how to get married on a River Walk boat.

What does a getting married on a River Walk boat look like?

In short, anything you want it to. Most of us know the typical tourist boats floating up and down the River Walk. The boats are chock full of eager faces with a boat captain at the helm spinning a lively tale about the history of San Antonio.

So, will you be getting married surrounded by tourists?

Absolutely not! For your wedding, we are talking about a privately chartered boat. In other words, you would have a boat for just yourself and your guests.

The boat is reserved for a given amount of time, and you can select your destinations along the San Antonio River. For instance, you could have your guests picked up at their hotel in the River Walk area, have your ceremony on board or at a stop along the way, and then have your final destination be the Pearl with a leisurely tour in between.

Camden Street Bridge sculpture, F.I.S.H. by F.I.S.H Donald Lipski over the River Walk in San Antonio, Texas — Camden Street Bridge sculpture, F.I.S.H.

How to Get Married on a River Walk Boat – The Ceremony

Here’s the quirky catch: everyone needs to stay seated for safety’s sake. But, if everyone is seated, how do you stand up and say your vows, you ask?

Of course, you could have a mobile ceremony where you remain seated with an officiant who simply says your vows as you float down the river. But the undoubtedly preferred option is to have an officiant waiting for you at a prearranged dock. You stop off at the dock, have your ceremony, then get back on the boat and keep on cruisin’.

If you are looking for lovely River Walk locations, then check out the waterfalls at Travis Street, the waterfalls at Pecan Street, and the stairs at Convent Street. All three of these stops are perfectly conducive to a small elopement ceremony (photos of all three locations below).

Granted I always choose the more eclectic option, but personally, if you are going to get married on the River Walk, then I think you need to go all in. And that means selecting either the Camden Street Riverwalk Bridge location with the quirky hanging fish sculptures or, (my personal favorite) the Grotto just up the river for a little touch of spooky.

One thing to note: it is prohibited for the boat to remain stationary for more than 30 minutes with or without guests. So, just make sure you keep your ceremony short. Oh, and in case you are wondering, your photographer will probably get the go ahead to stand up and take photos for at least some of the boat trip (I did).

How to Get Married on a River Walk Boat – The Reception

Once you’ve said your vows, it’s time to celebrate! And what better way than with a glorious dinner prepared for you as you cruise along at a leisurely pace.

What restaurants are available for the dinner cruise?

You will need to work with one of the approved caterers for the dinner cruise package. However, there are 25 solid options on the list. The list includes everything from the Landry Seafood House, Paisano’s, Casa Rio, and even the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. You also have Black Tie Affairs Catering, plus most of the major downtown hotels.

The cost of the restaurant dinner packages will vary according to each establishment.

What kind of bar service is available on board?

Serving drinks on a moving boat is a bit of a challenge. As such, you can assume that they are not going to be any flying cocktails – intentionally, at least.

Canned wines and cocktails – including hurricane and margaritas – are available, as well as a variety of beers, hard seltzers, and nonalcoholic drinks. Prices range from $4 to $12 a drink.

Go Rio also offers a premium beverage service for bottled wine or champagne. Another premium option is the mimosa package and wine spritzer package. The premium beverage service begins at $100 per bottle and $35 for the mimosa or wine spritzer package.

How to Get Married on a River Walk Boat – The Logistics

When should I book my cruise?

A private charter is not a last-minute decision. Charters must be made at least two weeks in advance. And for you planners out there, Go Rio opens its calendar one year in advance.

Private charters are very popular, especially during the holidays. Note, that this includes Fiesta, Muertos, and Christmas. Case in point: I was told at the Go Rio office that the 2025 bookings for December are already taken.

What happens in case of inclement weather?

With as much weird weather as we have had this year, I asked Go Rio what would happen in case of rain. The company said that, ‘we do what is in the best interest of the client and offer to reschedule a different time that day or weekend if available or a full refund if we cannot operate.’

In other words, the company wants to work with you so that you have the best experience possible. If rain is in the forecast, there is no way to duck and cover while you sail down the river. Rescheduling is really the only way, and Go Rio knows that. The company will try to work with you and get you sailing as soon as possible.

How many guests can I have on board?

The maximum number of passengers is 37, though the recommended number of guests is 30 for the sake of comfort.

If you plan on serving dinner during the cruise, then the maximum number of guests is 20 to allow for service staff. For dinner cruises it is recommended that your guest count only be 16.

Finally, if you will be having a cocktail cruise, then the maximum number of guests is 25.

Note that it is the policy of Go Rio that everyone needs to remain seated while the boat is in operation for the sake of safety.

Can a boat be decorated?

An enthusiastic, yes! As long as the decoration does not drag in the water or hamper the boat navigation in anyway, then you should be good to go.

Of course, after writing this, you know there are some people who are going to go ham. So, here is a list of prohibited items:

Latex balloons that impede driver vision
Silly-string, glitter, confetti, rice, birdseed
Fireworks (including sparklers) or weapons of any kind
The use of generators on board
Live animals, except for service animals
Open-flamed candles; votive and enclosed candles are permitted on tables only
Decorative materials may not be placed on doors, light fixtures, or electrical equipment
Banners, awnings, promotional/commercial signage, and lighting may not be placed or projected on the boat unless approved by the city of San Antonio and Go Rio; banners must be no larger than 2’ x 2’ with black lettering on a white background
Nails, tacks, staples, and tape may not be used on boat panels or wooden rails

As you might have guessed, you are responsible for removing any decorations immediately following your cruise.

Are pets allowed on board?

Unfortunately, only service animals are allowed on board. If you were planning to have Rover as your ring bearer, you will need to have him waiting for you on dry land for the ceremony.

How do I book a private charter?

To book a private charter through Go Rio, begin by going to the company website to fill in their online form. You would need to select if you want a river tour, dinner cruise, bistro cruise, or cocktail cruise. Then it’s a matter of choosing where you want to go.

How much does it cost to get married on a River Walk boat?

Pricing for private charters is based on the day of the week and destination.

Non-peak rates are set for any cruise on a Monday through Friday that ends at 5:30 PM. Peak rates are set for any cruise on a Monday through Friday that begins at 5:30 PM or later or for any cruises on Saturday, Sunday, or on any holiday. Note that if your charter begins during a non-peak time, but extends into a peak time, then your entire charter will be billed at the full peak rate.

Also, note that time is charged on a continuous basis. So, any stop during a cruise – say, for a ceremony –is considered part of your chartered time on the boat.

If you are headed strictly downtown or to the museum reach area for either a basic private charter or a cocktail charter, then prices are $180 per hour for non-peak times and $230 per hour for peak hours. If you would like a full tour of the River Walk and want to visit both downtown and the museum reach area, then the price is $360 per hour for non-peak times or $460 per hour for peak times.

Dinner charters must be booked for a minimum of two hours, and obviously, will cost more due to the need for extra staff. For the downtown- or museum reach-only trips, the cost is $360 per hour for non-peak times, or $460 per hour for peak times. Combination trips going to both the downtown area and museum reach are $540 per hour or $690 per hour for peak times.

Finally, Go Rio kindly recommends that you tip your boat captain. While the dinner charters will often include a tip for the dining staff, the boat captain is usually not included.

Prices are valid as of August 2025 and our subject to change. For a full description of the Go Rio packages (including all rules and package dining details), please visit this link.

Kristi and Hunter’s Engagement Cruise

Yes, I finally got to go on a boat! I had the pleasure of photographing Kristi and Hunter as they floated down the San Antonio River on Saturday.

It was an all-day family affair that started off at the Japanese Tea Gardens in the morning. The whole family had driven into San Antonio for Hunter’s proposal to Kim’s daughter, Kristi. I photographed the magical moment at the main pavilion. I’ll have details later, but let’s just say this family made the cherry blossoms bloom in the Texas heat.

That evening, Kristi’s mother, Kim, had planned a big surprise for Hunter and Kristi: a family celebration dinner cruise. Kim had done a great job keeping the news a secret, and I was there at the Westin Hotel shuttle stop to capture the moment when it was revealed.

What’s it is like on a dinner cruise

It really is cooler down on the River Walk. That afternoon the thermometer got up to 101°, but you truly wouldn’t know it as we were floating down the river. Everyone was laughing and having a great time.

Kim had chosen Boudro’s as their caterer. The menu choices for the evening included Angus steak, salmon, and plenty of guacamole. The food looked great, and I’m sure it tasted even better as you drifted past the San Antonio scenery.

Sailing on a private charter had been an item on my San Antonio bucket list, and I am happy to have checked this off. It was a great experience, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. So, just remember – San Antonio offers lots of creative, affordable wedding venue options (check out my fantastic list of San Antonio’s most affordable wedding venues here). Sure, you could get married in a sweaty picnic pavilion in a public park or, you could be floating down the San Antonio River in style.

I know which venue I would choose.

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If you find this article on ‘How to Get Married on a River Walk Boat’ useful, then check out these articles:

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