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Unique aesthetic style
Quality catering
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About

On WeddingWire since 2011

The MV Skansonia is Seattle’s premier waterfront venue, with sprawling, panoramic views of the Emerald City skyline. This historic wedding venue represents Seattle's last wooden ferry, permanently docked on the shores of Lake Union.

Constructed in 1929 by the Skansie Brothers, the Skansonia ferried cars and passengers between Vashon Island and Point Defiance for decades, before finding its permanent docking place on Lake Union and beginning its new career in event hosting.

With its signature center bar, polished wood floors, and a large outdoor deck, the MV Skansonia stays true to its nautical roots and represents the perfect backdrop for weddings, corporate parties, golden hour happy hours, and other celebrations on the Seattle Waterfront. Take a look at our gallery for inspiration!

  • Asian-owned
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Frequently asked questions

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

Yes

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

Yes

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Bridal Suite
Chairs
China
Clean Up
Flatware
Glassware
Parking
Set Up
Tables

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

Cake Cutting
Dessert
Wedding Cake

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

House Beer
House Wine

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

1

Describe your venue:

Ballroom
Banquet Hall
Boat/Yacht
Historic Building
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
Elopements
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Bar Services
Catering Services
Clean Up
Event Planner
Event Rentals
Get Ready Rooms
Liability Insurance
Outside Vendors
Pet Friendly
Wifi

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Cocktail Reception
Dessert
Family Style
Hors d'oeuvres
Outside Cake
Plated
Server(s)
Stations
Tastings

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Cash Bar
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Limited Bar
Liquor License
Open Bar
Outside Alcohol
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

What event items are available?

Aisle Markers
Altar/Arch
Audio Equipment
Centerpieces
Chairs
Dance Floor
Decor
Furniture
Lighting
Photo booth
Tables
Tents

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

April
May
June
July
August
September
October
December

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
November
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Reviews of The MV Skansonia

4.8 out of 5 rating
4.8 out of 5 rating
89 Reviews
97% recommend it
  • Quality of service
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Average response time
    4.8 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Value
    4.8 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    4.8 out of 5 rating
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Review summary

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The Skansonia is a beautiful wedding venue located on Lake Union in Seattle. The converted ferry boat offers stunning views of downtown Seattle and a charming ambiance. The venue offers all-inclusive packages, making it convenient for couples to coordinate decor, catering, and bartending. The staff is highly praised for their knowledge, responsiveness, and friendliness, while the catering team is commended for their delicious food. The Skansonia is recommended for its beautiful atmosphere, exceptional service, and breathtaking views.

Review summary

Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

The Skansonia is a beautiful wedding venue located on Lake Union in Seattle. The converted ferry boat offers stunning views of downtown Seattle and a charming ambiance. The venue offers all-inclusive packages, making it convenient for couples to coordinate decor, catering, and bartending. The staff is highly praised for their knowledge, responsiveness, and friendliness, while the catering team is commended for their delicious food. The Skansonia is recommended for its beautiful atmosphere, exceptional service, and breathtaking views.

Weddingwire
4.8/5 89 reviews
Google
4.7/5 132 reviews
Catchofthedaly
Ardith D. Sent on 09/22/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Can’t ask for anything better!

My now-husband and I toured the MV Skansonia back in January 2019, one month after getting engaged. We had only toured one other venue prior to seeing the Skansonia, and the Skansonia was the last one we toured! We loved the atmosphere and the location, and we were also enticed by the all-inclusive option (meaning tables, linens, decor, could all be covered by the venue). However, what really impressed us over the next 2+ years was the team behind the venue. Our venue manager and day-of coordinator were kind, communicative, and flexible, helping us move our April 2020 wedding to September 2021 with barely a hitch.

Our big day finally came and went, and it was a seamless and memorable day. The Skansonia team was incredibly communicative, enthusiastic, and so much fun to work with. Our guests loved the location, the food (seriously!), and the drink selection. One other tip I’ll leave you is that with the Skansonia rolling up to Landmark Event Co., you have some extra entertainment options that I would highly recommend you explore (we went with a live strolling champagne skirt, and it was a HIT).

I could go on and on, but in summary, we would 100% choose the Skansonia to host our wedding if we had to do it again! (I mean, I have no intention of planning another wedding, after going through multiple reschedules, but you get the drift.)
Jessica
Jessica R. Sent on 10/26/2022
5 out of 5 rating

10/10 Loved

The Skansonia was a serious dream to work with from the beginning. The communication was easy and they worked with us to easily make decisions as worked through the process. The venue vibe is beautiful-with the view and the twinkle lights. Our guests loved the evening reception on the boat getting to enjoy the summer evening. We wanted to have a wedding that was simple but enjoyable and provided a “classic” experience for our out of town guests.
S
Stephanie E. Sent on 11/12/2021
5 out of 5 rating

A great 2020/2021 experience!

My husband had one request...to get married on a boat, and the Skansonia was fantastic. We had to post-pone from Sept. 2020 to Sept. 2021 and it was so easy.

Having an all-inclusive venue was great and made everything really smooth. I went to their Open House in 2019 which lead us to find our DJ and try the food.
Originally we were expecting 80-100 guests but ended up only having ~45. The space is great for small groups or larger ones.

We had to switch our ceremony to inside as there was some rain but it didn't take away from anything. The flowers were incredible and our photos turned out amazing.
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Awards

89
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2016 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2014 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2013 Winner

Real Weddings

Ardith & John
63 photos · 09/12/2021

Professional Network & Endorsements

7 Endorsements
Photography by Nicolette Photography by Nicolette Wedding Photographers

I love this venue so much that I chose it for my own wedding! The view is fantastic and I liked the convenience of getting so many services under one roof. The staff are friendly and I enjoy going back to this venue for photography, videography & photo booth events!

Tom Ellis Photography Tom Ellis Photography Wedding Photographers

The Skansonia Ferryboat is truly a unique venue, which offers some photo opportunities that you simply can't find anywhere else. Ceremonies on the bow of the boat give an incredible view of Seattle across Lake Union; on a warm summer evening I can't think of a better location for a wedding! And from the viewpoint of a photographer, the proximity of the Skansonia to locations like Gas Works Park, Golden Gardens and other popular places to take wedding party photos make it even better, since it allows me to get a variety of photos for my clients without having to waste half the day traveling from place to place. Oh, and I have to mention that the food service is always FANTASTIC! Couples, if you are getting married in Seattle you need to check out the Skansonia before you make the decision on your venue - you'll be glad you did!

Seattle Flashing Lights Photography Seattle Flashing Lights Photography Wedding Photographers

The MV Skansonia is such an iconic and truly Seattle-esque venue that offers amazing service to both the wedding group/bride/groom/guests and professionals (like us) alike. The food is amazing, the cake and onsite bakery is awesome. They do an unparallelled job attending to detail, and their coordinators are there to help throughout the entire day and beyond. They are a pleasure to work with and we hope to get to do so again in the very near future!

Preferred Vendors

Herban Feast Catering
4.7 out of 5 rating , 30 Reviews
· Wedding Caterers

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The MV Skansonia frequently asked questions

The MV Skansonia includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Bridal Suite
  • Chairs
  • China
  • Clean Up
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Parking
  • Set Up
  • Tables
The MV Skansonia includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Cake Cutting
  • Dessert
  • Wedding Cake
The bar service starting price at The MV Skansonia includes:
  • House Beer
  • House Wine
The space offered by The MV Skansonia for wedding events is known for:
  • Ballroom
  • Banquet Hall
  • Boat/Yacht
  • Historic Building
  • Waterfront
The MV Skansonia offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
The MV Skansonia offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Elopements
  • Rehearsal Dinner
The MV Skansonia offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Event Rentals
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Liability Insurance
  • Outside Vendors
  • Pet Friendly
  • Wifi
The MV Skansonia offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Aisle Markers
  • Altar/Arch
  • Audio Equipment
  • Centerpieces
  • Chairs
  • Dance Floor
  • Decor
  • Furniture
  • Lighting
  • Photo booth
  • Tables
  • Tents
The MV Skansonia is recommended by 97% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.8 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.9 in quality of service, 4.9 in professionalism, 4.8 in average response time, 4.8 in flexibility and 4.8 in value.

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