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Weddings

About

Stillwater River Boats is a boat wedding venue located in downtown Stillwater, Minnesota. The quaint and picturesque town of Stillwater is situated about a half an hour away from Minneapolis and St. Paul. Because it is so near the downtown areas of these cities, visitors will be able to fully immerse themselves in the fascinating history of the local area during their stay. In fact, there are plenty of historic walking tours and museums just waiting to be discovered. With this rich history and the scenic surroundings, couples will be able to experience an unforgettable wedding onboard one of the river boats in this “best destination small town.”

Facilities and Capacity
Regardless of the season, couples will be able to climb onboard one of the river boats with their loved ones and experience a romantic ceremony and reception. There are six different charter boats available to choose from depending on your wedding size and style. All of the boats feature enclosed and climate-controlled levels with a patio viewing deck. The Avalon, which can accommodate up to 675 guests, is not only the largest boat in the fleet, but also the largest paddlewheel boat in the Midwest. This spacious boat features two bars and two buffet areas which are perfect for entertaining. The Majestic Star, which can accommodate up to 300 guests, has a relaxing first level lounge. On the other levels, couples will find a dining deck, bar and dance floor, and a viewing deck. The Empress, which can accommodate up to 225 guests, features a charming Victorian style for couples who are interested in more of a historic backdrop for their wedding. Both the Showboat and the Jubilee II can accommodate up to 150 guests. For more intimate weddings, there is the Anastasia. This paddlewheeler is ideal for wedding parties with under 75 guests. Regardless of your wedding style, you will easily be able to decorate and host your dream wedding onboard your selected boat.

Services Offered
To ensure you will have everything you need for your riverboat wedding, the team from Stillwater River Boats will provide you with tables, chairs, china, flatware, barware, and linens. The team is more than happy to offer entertainment referrals as well as provide you with a dance floor.

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

No

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$75

Which of the following are included in the starting site fee?

Chairs
China
Clean Up
Event Planning
Flatware
Glassware
Lighting/Sound
Set Up
Tables

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Server(s)

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

Bartender(s)
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Limited Bar
Open Bar
Premium Liquor

What is the minimum number of guests required to book your venue?

50

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

6

Describe your venue:

Boat/Yacht
Waterfront

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Bar Services
Catering Services
Event Planner
Outside Vendors

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Dessert
Hors d'oeuvres
Server(s)
Tastings

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Cash Bar
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Open Bar
Premium Liquor

What event items are available?

Chairs
Dance Floor
Tables

What food and beverage items are available?

China
Flatware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

May
June
July
August
September
October

Reviews of St. Croix Boat & Packet Co.

L
Laura Sent on 07/18/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing Venue for a Wedding

We had our wedding aboard the Majestic Star and it was the best decision we made! We couldn't have been happier with the whole experience. The event was seamless from the beginning stages of planning all the way to the end of the wedding night. They were always available to answer questions through email and were super helpful in helping me to navigate planning a wedding during the Covid-19 pandemic. The staff were all very helpful and kind, and I would highly recommend using St. Croix Boat and Packet for your wedding or event. Our guests all raved about the wedding, including the food, service, and the overall experience of being out on the river for a wedding. We can't thank you enough, so we will spread the good word!
Savannah
Savannah Sent on 11/04/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Genuine Vendor, Quality Value

This venue is amazing and the staff are genuine, flexible, fast at responses, and professional. The value you receive is well worth it and high quality! I would recommend this venue to anyone who wants a smooth wedding day and a fun time!
C
Chantal Sent on 10/28/2019
5 out of 5 rating

amazing wedding venue! all in 1 concept, great staff, great location

We had such a lovely weddingday with stillwater riverboats. We had the showboat. The boat is allready pretty and it doenst even need a lot of decoration. The staff on our weddingday was amazing and could not have done it any other way! The Captain was amazing too! We forget the sand for the sandceremony and were stressing out minutes before our ceremony. He provided us with a big bucket of beautifull white stillwatersand wich rescued our ceremony and is now even extra special!

The Captain even went all the way to provide us the best pictures ever on the river. He would tell our photographer when we were hitting certain spots for the better pictures and were to be on the boat.

Before our special day we sat together with the team from stillwater riverboats to talk about how we want our day to be arranged. Everything went very smooth.

If I had questions I would email them and I would have a response back that same day.

We did our ceremony on the topdeck of tthe boat just whe the boat would sail away.
Our first dance was indoor, but the weather was so nice that after that fisrt dance we moved the dancefloor on the topdeck outside and the staff was more willing to help. We did book an extra 2 hours on the boat (total of 6) and we are so happy we did that! we danced away on the topdeck. We just made our own playlist and used there bose system wich worked great! Everybody is still talking about our wedding. You have all your loved ones on 1 spot, people van sit, dance, enjoy indoor or outdoor, enjoy the vieuws of the river, dance. So much to entertain your guest.
T
Tiffany Sent on 02/06/2019
5 out of 5 rating

September wedding

Great experience and we had an awesome wedding!
D
Delaney Sent on 11/06/2018
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing experience!

Lauren and Amy were amazing to work with and helped us plan the day to be the best! They are very experienced and know what they are doing. The entire crew made our day go seamlessly. The staff on the boat were very friendly and helpful. Our guests had such an amazing time and we couldn't have done it without the amazing staff.
Brittany
Brittany Sent on 11/05/2018
5 out of 5 rating

Excellent Casual Wedding Reception

We had a destination wedding and held our local, casual reception on the Jubilee II with St. Croix Boat and Packet Company. The last thing anyone wanted to do after having a full wedding (in a different country!) was plan another event. St. Croix Boat and Packet made it super easy for us with their all inclusive packages. The only thing extra that we brought was our own DJ, but the rest was handled by the boat company. The food was fantsatic, and all service was excellent. We recieved so many compliments on how fun of an event it was, and I could definitely see it being scaled up for a fancier affair. I highly recommend working with them if you're looking to host a unique event with a seamless planning experience.
E
Erin Sent on 11/02/2018
5 out of 5 rating

Wonderful boat ride reception

This was the perfect boat reception with an amazing (ever changing) view of the river. The staff were very flexible and accommodating. The reception buffet food was amazing and the bar was wonderful. This was an amazing reception that is one to remember!
J
Janet Sent on 11/01/2018
5 out of 5 rating

Perfect venue for our wedding reception

We couldn’t have chosen a better place for our wedding reception than this! Everyone we dealt with, from the initial phone contact people to all the staff on the boat during our event, were exceptional! They were professional and flexible to deal with and had wonderful communication skills. . The boat staff were the absolute best and were willing to go the extra mile to make our evening a very special one. If this is the type of venue you’re interested in, we can guarantee that you won’t be disappointed with this company. The boat was clean and the dinner buffet was exceptional. Many of our guests commented to us later how good the food was and how much fun they had. Kudos to St. Croix Boat and Packet Co!!
L
Loretta Sent on 11/01/2018
5 out of 5 rating

Loretta Boustead

I wouldn’t change anything on our special day and the st croix river boat team are to thank! It was a beautiful day, the boat staff was amazing, nearly everyone commented and said it was the best wedding they have ever been to! From our first meeting to the wedding day everything went smoothly. They responded quickly and were flexible with our requests. I’d highly recommend this venue to anyone!
Tori
Tori Sent on 11/01/2018
5 out of 5 rating

Best Choice

We loved having our wedding here. The staff were very knowledgeable and super friendly. The venue was very nice, but super affordable! We had the italian buffet and tiramisu and chocolate torte, and our guests were raving about the food! The space is super flexible, and we were able to change things up as needed. Everything went better than we could have hoped for, and our guests told us it was fun going to a wedding at such a unique venue!
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

30
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner

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Map

St. Croix Boat & Packet Co. frequently asked questions

St. Croix Boat & Packet Co. includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Chairs
  • China
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planning
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Lighting/Sound
  • Set Up
  • Tables
St. Croix Boat & Packet Co. includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Server(s)
The bar service starting price at St. Croix Boat & Packet Co. includes:
  • Bartender(s)
  • House Beer
  • House Liquor
  • House Wine
  • Limited Bar
  • Open Bar
  • Premium Liquor
The space offered by St. Croix Boat & Packet Co. for wedding events is known for:
  • Boat/Yacht
  • Waterfront
St. Croix Boat & Packet Co. offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
St. Croix Boat & Packet Co. offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Rehearsal Dinner
St. Croix Boat & Packet Co. offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Event Planner
  • Outside Vendors
St. Croix Boat & Packet Co. offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Chairs
  • Dance Floor
  • Tables
St. Croix Boat & Packet Co. is recommended by 94% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.7 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.9 in value, 4.8 in quality of service, 4.7 in average response time, 4.6 in flexibility and 4.6 in professionalism.
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