Featured

Sheila Sent on 12/04/2024

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Take the stress out of wedding planning, and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime!

I cannot recommend the team with the Gateway Clipper more highly. A "one stop shop," the professionalism of the staff took my breath away. Guests didn't have to coordinate transport between locations, nor did they have to find their own entertainment during photos. I chose to have the ceremony and reception all aboard the ship - so once boarded, everyone had options of activities against a backdrop of the city skyline. Those from out of town were in awe, and those living locally remarked on how much fun it was to see the city from so many new angles. My contacts (Hannah!) offered a tasting early in the year for all questions to be answered, and were in constant accessible communication up to the day. I was lucky enough to have the most beautiful summer weather, but could rest easy knowing there were rain contingencies. I marveled at how full the boat felt - a whole cruise full of my favorite people. I could move between tables, to the dance floor, the second floor where the cookie table and photo booth were (highly recommend), to the rooftop deck where you could catch your breath with a cocktail. The wait staff were masters of invisibility and efficiency. Shauna, the coordinator, and Charles, the DJ, orchestrated every moment. Since the date, my guests have done nothing but remark on how much fun they had. Our date coincided with a Pitt Game and a Steelers Game the following day. Yet, it felt as though the whole river was our own. Your photographer will love all the unique opportunities to capture the lighting from golden hour, to sunset, to the night stars. I will take every opportunity to rave about this experience!

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Shirley Sent on 04/29/2024

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Long Lasting Memories

We had our ceremony and reception on the Duchess and the day could not have been any more than incredible. Our guests loved being able to go up to the deck and take in the amazing city skyline views during the evening. Angela was fantastic at helping us put together the event and made everything stress-free.

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Thank you for the kind words and wonderful review! We loved hosting your wedding day and send you all our best wishes.

Amber Sent on 07/14/2023

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110% recommend this vendor

LOVE LOVE LOVED our Gateway Clipper reception. We had people who live in Pittsburgh and people who have never been to Pittsburgh at our reception, and they loved everything about the boat. The food was amazing, they had great preferred vendors, the staff went above and beyond, and the views were phenomenal. I couldn't recommend the Gateway Clipper enough.

User1132460 Sent on 01/14/2022

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Great packages and communication

Everything was very organized and there were several options to pick from for packages that fit any budget. I loved having the food, alcohol, dj, and cake all included in the packages as well. I provided my decor, photographer and videographer (who they provide recommendations for) and that was it. Dan was very responsive. Because we had to reschedule with covid there was a mixup with 2 gluten free meals but they were quick to fix it and make it right.

Kara Sent on 12/13/2021

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Perfect venue for a wedding

I am so glad I booked my wedding with the gateway Clipper. I had my wedding and reception on board the Princess of the Gateway Clipper. It was around Christmas time, so those decorations were already up along with added decorations for the wedding. I was very impressed with how beautiful it all looked. The cake, DJ, bartenders and food were all included in the package. Dan was terrific to work with. Very responsive to emails and answered every question I had (time and time again) about the details of the wedding. We even had the captain dock the ship in front of the point so we had the lighted tree as a backdrop for our ceremony. I absolutely recommend the Gateway Clipper for a wedding. Everything went off perfectly! The staff went above and beyond to make our wedding amazing! And the value for the price was beyond comparison. The whole experience was like a fairy tale. Do yourself a favor and book your wedding here - I promise it’ll be the best thing you could do for your wedding!

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Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

You were such a delight to work with! Your dream of a Christmas Wedding came true and the boat looked absolutely beautiful! Cheers to many years for you and Tim!

Emily Sent on 11/19/2021

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Great experience!

We initially spoke with the Gateway Clipper at a wedding convention. I had my heart set on a city venue that wasn’t a ballroom and honestly didn’t even think of the Clipper. We stopped at the booth and we’re amazed to see how affordable their pricing was and that it also included SO much such as the cake, DJ, food and alcohol. We set up a tour and ended up booking right away. Our initial date was 3/28/20 and of course we had to reschedule with the pandemic. The process of rescheduling was heartbreaking but the Clipper really did their best to accommodate us. We moved to 9/4/21 and had the MOST perfect night for our reception. We boarded in Point State Park and had our guests stroll through the park from the Wyndham, then had a sparkler exit. The food and service were excellent. We are still getting comments from our guests about how unique and beautiful of an event space it is. They were also very reasonable about set up and tear down. I would HIGHLY recommend considering the Gateway Clipper to any couples out there!

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

You were the most calm bride to work with Emily! I cannot imagine having to change my wedding date, and that phone call on 3/20/2020 I remember vividly! I am so glad that we were able to give you and Ethan your dream wedding and celebrate with you!

Dan

Steve Sent on 11/18/2021

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Incredible

Noah and Haley’s Wedding was perfect!! The venue was beautiful! The staff went above and beyond to meet any of our needs and the skyline didn’t disappoint!! The food was awesome! Our DJ, Kevin with First Class Entertainment, totally had us dancing the whole night! Our photographers (E&J Photographers) were incredible to work with! An outdoor ceremony in Pittsburgh and in early November??? But it couldn’t have been anymore beautiful!! Thank you Gateway Clipper Fleet!!

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Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Congratulations once again to Haley and Noah! They, as well as yourself were a pleasure to work with!

Dan

Maggie Sent on 10/12/2021

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Gateway Clipper Wedding

The Gateway Clipper was the perfect place to have our wedding. Everything was perfect, and Dan was so great to work with. I would recommend this venue to all brides.

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

What a beautiful wedding Maggie! I can't wait to see some more pictures when you get them back from your photographer! Keep in touch!

Michelle Sent on 09/13/2021

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Our Dream Wedding with the Best Views

Dan was wonderful to work with. He really helped create my dream wedding & all of my guests had so much fun! Everyone loved being on the water with gorgeous views & going on the top deck for fresh air. He was also very flexible, especially dealing with all of my changes because of Covid. We also got many complements on how good the food was - especially the mac & cheese! The wedding went way too fast because we all had the best time!!

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Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

I LOVE THESE PICTURES! I hope that You, Chris, & Scarlet are living your best lives and remembering your picture perfect wedding day with us! Make sure you come back for some Mac N Cheese sometime!

- Dan

Jamie Sent on 08/14/2021

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Best wedding

I know everyone thinks they have the best wedding, but we truly had the best wedding! Almost a month after the wedding now and family and friends are still telling me how much fun they had and how great the food was. Dan was always quick to respond with any questions that I had during the planning process. The music was on point. And you can’t forget having the city as your backdrop can’t be beat!

Stephanie Sent on 08/11/2021

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Miller wedding

My husband has been taking me on the Gateway Clipper for the past 6 years as an anniversary/ birthday gift. In 2019 he tried to propose to me on the Empress boat, but it rained lol. He did propose that night anyways on the trail. I asked him that night, if we look at your prices for your weddings. He agreed. That next week we looked at your options and we loved it. Covid ruined our first wedding, but the staff (Dan) understood and moved our wedding to the following year. My husband and I were so happy on July 10,2021 It was everything we wanted and more. It was definitely worth the wait. The payment options are affordable and less stressful than most venues. Thank you for making our special day so incredible.

She’la Sent on 06/05/2021

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A Night To Remember

We Had Our Wedding Reception On The Gateway. It Was A Night To Remember!

Kourtni Sent on 06/01/2021

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Awesome experience

Our wedding went super smoothly even amid the pandemic! The Gateway Clipper crew was professional and helpful. Once I got down to the dock, I didn't have to worry about anything! Also huge fan of the mostly all inclusive packages as it made planning much less stressful. I would recommend the Gateway Clipper to anyone because guests loved the nontraditional venue and it's a great value for your money.

Bethany Sent on 04/29/2021

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Professional staff, very helpful!

After needing to change our venue plans due to Covid-19, Dan and the rest of the team at the Gateway Clipper were super helpful and responsive. They were very accommodating during the planning period, especially because we live out of town. Everything on the day of wedding was beautiful. We were able to have our ceremony on the top deck and the reception was perfect. Even though we had an unexpected surprise at the end of the night (unrelated to the Gateway Clipper or the crew), the staff handled it professionally and were very accommodating. I would definitely recommend for your big day!

Valerie Sent on 03/07/2021

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Our Wonderful Wedding Experience

Even with the uncertainty of the pandemic, we had a wonderful wedding experience on February 20th on the Gateway Clipper Fleet. Our guest enjoyed everything about the venue. The staff was wonderful and Dan Bickerton, our wedding planner, did a fabulous job setting everything up and making sure our special day was a success....I highly recommend this venue.

Maria Sent on 11/24/2020

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Terrific coordinator, accommodation were over the top

I knew I wanted a wedding that everything was included. Gateway Clipper Fleet was able to package most things together and deliver for one price which is exactly the experience i was looking for and presented a list of vendors for flowers and other items that were not included. My family and friends were so amazed at how not stressed we were about and leading up to the wedding. We were really nervous about having a micro wedding during and they accommodated all of wants to help our guests social distance and no covid19 cases came from the event with everyone following the rules of wearing masks and hand sanitizing and social distancing at the tables. I appreciate everything that was done to make this a success and my father-in-law wants to have a party again there he had so much fun!

Sarah Sent on 11/16/2020

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Amazing , wonderful

With covid ruining a lot of wedding this year the one bright side for us was we had such an amazing wedding with the Gatrway Clipper . Our orgainal venue could not hold our wedding we scramble to find a new one with three months to go to the big day. Dan and his team had been nothing but amazing . My guest have told me what a great time they had and the food was amazing. Everyone felt comfortable with how many people were on board and how the staff was with wearing mask the whole time . It was wonderful

Dj Gerena Sent on 11/16/2020

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One stop shop and open communication

We have no regrets planning our wedding with the Gateway Clipper. From day one communication channels were open and highly responsive. The package we selected include almost everything we needed for the wedding allowing us to focus on ourselves and our family rather than coordinating and paying vendors.

Dan always fielded any question we had professionally and promptly.

On the day of the event, Stormi kept us informed of our timelines, made sure we were well taken care of, and kept the event running without a hitch.

All of our guest enjoyed themselves and we heard no complaints.

Hands down, we would do this again and even make the event longer.

Tricia Sent on 10/30/2020

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Best wedding ever

Our wedding was amazing!! In the middle of the pandemic and having tragedies happening, they handled our wedding perfectly. They eased our concerns and answered any questions (and there were a lot). I was shocked how our coordinator setup everything almost exactly how I wanted it without us even talking about it, how crazy is that. Everything went smoothly and perfect! We could not have asked for a better coordinator and crew. They were a delight to work with and every guest had so much fun. Everything looked stunning and the food was delicious. Especially the Mac n cheese, people are still talking about how good it is. Thank Dan for everything that you did, you went above and beyond.

Kelly Sent on 10/24/2020

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First Class Pittsburgh Wedding

To all future Brides and Grooms out there: pick the Gateway Clipper. It was the best decision we made, seriously. It is truly the closest one can get to a one-stop-shop. The event that they put together for us could not have been more perfect. Our family and friends have not stopped commenting on how this was the best wedding reception they have ever been to. For an event that turned out so perfectly, it should not be this easy to plan and coordinate. With the Gateway Clipper, it is. They set up everything (we had a meeting a week or two before and literally just dropped everything off the day before) and they managed all the deliveries throughout the day of the wedding. Dan, the wedding coordinator, is super easy to work with - he wants your event to be the best thing you’ve ever gone to and will go out of his way to make everything happen. All of this, as well as a truly professional crew (DJ & Cruise Director included), makes for an amazing, hands-off, FUN, and beautiful evening.

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

I LOVE THE CORNHOLE PICTURE!!!! I am so glad to hear that your big day was so unforgettable! Best wishes to you and Evan! :)

- Dan

Megan Sent on 10/23/2020

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Dream Come True!

My wedding was everything I could’ve ever dreamed of, I loved working with Dan! With realistic expectations and the understanding that not everything is going to be PERFECT, I would say it was pretty close! I would highly recommend any couple to have their wedding on the Clipper! Our guests were blown away and said it was the best wedding they’ve ever been too!

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Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

I am SO glad that we were able to make your wedding day everything you had ever dreamed of! You were so much fun to work with!

- Dan

John Sent on 10/13/2020

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Perfect Day

Our experience with GCF and particularly Dan went beyond our expectations. He almost always got right back to us if we had any questions. They were very flexible and we never felt shortchanged. The food was top notch and the staff and crew were extremely friendly, accomodating and professional. Their vendors are as good as they were. We couldn't have asked for anything better. Add in the perfect weather it truly was the perfect day.

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Thank you so much John! It was so nice to get to know you and Diane through this process and meet the kids also!

Dan

Hannah Sent on 09/29/2020

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Incredible!!

Oh my goodness, where do I even start?! Every bride hopes for every single detail to be absolutely perfect on their wedding day. Dan and crew at the Gateway Clipper made sure this happened for us. I honestly cannot say enough good things about Dan. He was absolutely amazing. He so promptly answered every single question I had throughout the entire planning process and made everything stress free and fun! He was so easy to communicate with and just hands down one of the best people I’ve ever worked with! The crew the day of were some of the sweetest people I have ever met!! All of them were so nice and our cruise director was so sweet! They made sure that we got some of our appetizers from cocktail hour since we were upstairs taking pictures the whole time and plated our food for us so that we could continue to talk to everyone. Our captain, Andy, made sure we had the most perfect view the entire time for the ceremony. My wedding night was a dream come true and Dan and everyone at the Gateway Clipper worked so hard to ensure that. Also, the all inclusive packages that The Gateway Clipper offers are amazing! All of the vendors they use are perfect! It makes the entire process of planning a wedding SO much easier. There is not a single thing I could possibly complain about! Thank you to Dan and all of the staff at the Gateway Clipper! I seriously mean it when I say I could not have asked for a better experience with you all!!

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Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Thank you so much Hannah! It was such a pleasure working with you (and Andrew) to plan your big day!

- Dan

Colleen Sent on 09/17/2020

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Our Amazing Wedding

Had our August 29th wedding on the Empress. It was perfect! The food was amazing, staff was super and very professional, the DJ was awesome and the views were spectacular. Most of our guests said it was the best wedding they had ever been to! I also have to rave about Dan, the wedding coordinator for the Clipper Fleet. He is fantastic at his job and kept in contact with us throughout all of the ups and downs during the unfortunate pandemic. He made the planning process so easy and always went out of his way to find answers to our questions. He even emailed us multiple times late into the evening when he didn’t have to. My only regret is that it is over because I would do it again in a second! If you’re looking for a unique and fun wedding venue, definitely check out the Gateway Clipper Fleet!

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Thank you so much for your kind words Colleen! It was such a pleasure working with yourself and Ryan throughout your wedding process! I hope to see you on a dinner cruise in the future!

- Dan

Abbie Sent on 07/27/2020

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Amazing beautiful night

I wish the night would not of ended. It was amazing, all my guest loved it. The clipper and all the staff made it 100% perfect. During these rough times the communication was awesome. I didnt have to worry about anything as they took care of it all. Please book your wedding with them or any special event.

Misty Sent on 07/19/2020

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Amazing experience with the Gateway Clipper

My husband and I live out of town and were looking for a venue that had a lot included so there was minimal for us to do! I was also looking for something that was not a traditional ballroom, as it was both of our second marriages. Not long after we booked, the Covid-19 pandemic started. Dan, the wedding coordinator, was amazing! He was quick at responding, and once we got closer and restrictions changed, he worked with management to figure out how to best help us still get married-giving us multiple options to choose from. Having to do minimal with the vendors already contracted with them was perfect for our out of town situation. The day of the wedding the staff was AMAZING! Dan and the rest of the staff had taken care of everything. It was perfect. We would highly recommend the Gateway Clipper!

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Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Thank you so much Misty! It was such a pleasure to work with you to ensure that your wedding was still able to take place with us during all of this craziness!
- Dan

Tiffany Sent on 01/28/2020

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Magical winter wedding!

We chose the gateway clipper because it was an all inclusive wedding venue. We loved how everything from the cake, to the dj was already picked and we didn’t have to worry about any of it. I don’t know how I would have done it without them. Super helpful every step of the way! We had the most amazing day! Dj was amazing, cake was amazing, and the back drop of the city was magical. Our families absolutely loved it. “The most memorable wedding” is what we’ve been hearing from everyone.

Photos by: ADAPT Creative Co.

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Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Thank you so much for your kind words! :) We loved working with you and making your big day so special for you, Zach and David!

Ciera Sent on 07/29/2019

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A dream come true

I dont think words can possibly describe absolute pleasure it was working with gateway clipper and our wedding planner, Emily. First the planning process was made an absolute breeze because the best thing about the gateway clipper was how the DJ, photo booth, and baker was all kinda included if you chose it to be which made planning just a little less stressful! Lastly, our wedding was an absolute dream! Our guests are still raving about how exciting it was to ride up and down all three rivers and enjoy the beautiful city of Pittsburgh at night on a boat all of our own! The staff was very helpful and so sweet! Lastly, our DJ and photobooth (highly recommend) did an AMAZING job keeping the party moving and keeping our family up on the dance floor all night long! There are a few things I would change about my wedding day however, choosing the Gateway Clipper as our wedding venue was not one of them!

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Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Thank you so much for choosing the Gateway Clipper as your wedding ceremony and reception venue! It was an absolute pleasure working with the two of you :)

Best Wishes,
- Emily

Kim P. Sent on 02/01/2019

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Easy to work with

Great experience so far. Our sales rep was knowledgable and worked with us to ensure our plans for the venue were everything we dreamed of.

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

It has been great working with you so far! I cannot wait to continue the planning process for your big day :)
- Emily

Kathy Sent on 01/11/2018

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From the initial email inquiry to the Big Day, we were delighted with Steve Anderson and all of the staff and venue of the Gateway Clipper Fleet for the ceremony and reception of my daughter's early September wedding. Capt. Andy meaningfully officiated the ceremony, which was symbolic & stunning with The Point as the backdrop. The food was delicious. Tyler (Cruise Director), DJ, bartenders, waitstaff and crew were helpful and professional. From the feedback that I received, the guests had a fabulous time. As wedding coordinator, I didn't worry about anything that evening and enjoyed all of the plans coming to fruition. One guest decided to host their business Christmas party on one of the boats in light of her experience at the wedding. Many of our guests hadn't been to Pittsburgh before - the venue was a spectacular way to showcase Pittsburgh. Thanks, Steve & the Gateway Clipper Fleet!

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Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Thank you so much Kathy!! I enjoyed working with you all so much!! Please keep in touch!!

Cherish Sent on 11/21/2017

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It was a pleasure working with the Gateway Clipped for our wedding. The entire crew was very helpful and open to communication. Steve, our wedding coordinator was especially professional and welcoming. He helped to make our wedding memorable and personal. I would recommend the Gateway to any couple!

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Thank you so much Cherish and Michael for allowing the Gateway Clipper and I the chance to be a part of your Beautiful Day!! Please stay in touch!!!

Steven Sent on 11/20/2017

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I couldn't be happier with our experience with the Gateway Clipper! People always said that planning a wedding was so stressful and this was not our experience at all. From the very first meeting it was smooth sailing the entire way. Steve and his staff made every aspect of this so easy which cleared the way for us to just look forward to the day without the stress of worrying if it was all done.

The actual wedding was PERFECT. They set up the tables exactly how we asked. The boat looked so beautiful and Shanya, the cruise director, walked us through every step of the way and made us feel at ease with the whole evening. The food was amazing! The bartender was fast and efficient and so sweet. The DJ played every song we asked for and executed the night seamlessly. Seriously, this was so much more than I could have ever asked for! Thank you to everyone at the Gateway Clipper for making our wedding night beyond perfect.

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Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Thank you so much Steven and Gene for allowing the Gateway Clipper and I to be a part of this Gorgeous Day!!! Please stay in touch!!!

Carolyn Sent on 11/20/2017

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Steve was wonderful to work with! Anytime I had a concern or question, he was available and more than willing to help in any way he could. He made everything so easy!

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Thank you so much Carolyn and Dan, for allowing us to be a part of your Beautiful Day!!! Please stay in touch!!

Carolyn Sent on 11/17/2017

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Steve was AMAZING to work with!! Always accessible and bent over backwards to make my dream wedding a reality. My dad ended up being in a wheelchair the day of the wedding and Steve made sure that he could still be a part of everything.

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Thank you so much Carolyn for allowing me and the Gateway Clipper to be a part of your Beautiful Day!! Keep in touch!

Tom Sent on 11/15/2017

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Our planner, Steve Anderson, was there for us from start to finish, always accommodating our requests quickly and to our satisfaction. Our boat ride/ luncheon was perfect, our only regret was not booking it for another hour or two!
Tom and Betsy Strasbaugh

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Thank you so much Tom and Betsy for allowing us to be a part of your beautiful day!! Please stay in touch!!

Jarrett Sent on 11/15/2017

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Our wedding with the Clipper was amazing. From first contact, through the planning, rehearsal, big day, and even post wedding follow ups every detail was handled in a professional yet friendly manner.

We can't thank the Gateway Clipper staff enough for guiding us to a smooth and enjoyable wedding. Multiple guests have reached out to us offering praise about the wedding!

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

It was such a pleasure working with you both!! Please keep in touch!!

Kayla Sent on 11/15/2017

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My husband and I had an incredible reception with the Gateway Clipper. We were on the Empress, which is their biggest boat, and everything turned out perfect. We worked with Steve Anderson, and he made the entire process so easy. He was so attentive to our needs, very easy to talk to, and quick to respond to our emails and phone calls. We are so thankful to have had the opportunity to work with him! The food was provided through the boat and it was excellent, 10/10. To this day, our guests continue to mention how amazing the food was. Overall, everything turned out beyond what we imagined. Standing on top of the Gateway Clipper, hand in hand with my new husband, as it floated towards the lit up city, was an experience I'll forever cherish. If you are still looking for your venue to have your reception at, the Gateway Clipper is the place to choose!

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Thank you both so much for allowing us to be a part of such a Gorgeous Day!!
Please stay in touch!!

Jackie Sent on 11/15/2017

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Steve was incredible! Attentive, thorough, and helpful. Whenever we had a request he responded immediately and made sure everything was exactly as we wanted! Couldn’t have asked for a better venue or wedding coordinator!

+3 photos

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Thank you both so much for allowing me and the Gateway Clipper to be a part of your Beautiful Day!! Hope to see you soon,

Amanda Sent on 11/16/2016

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We were very happy with our entire experience at the Gateway Clipper. All of our guests also mentioned how wonderful things were. Steve was amazing to work with through the entire process and all the staff the day of the wedding were very professional and helpful.

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

It was my true pleasure working with you both and getting to know you!! You were both great to work with and on the ball!! Please keep in touch!!!

Jackie Sent on 09/12/2016

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We wanted an imitate and small wedding without lacking in style or fun. The Gateway clipper delivered everything we wanted! The gateway clipper was very accommodating and willing to work with a smaller number of guests. They have a number of packages to choose from, that would fit any budget or guest list. The Sunday afternoon package was perfect for us. The top deck was decorated for the ceremony with a wedding arch and seating. The open top deck provided a beautiful view of the city with a romantic ambience. It looks amazing in the pictures. Steve Anderson their Wedding Specialist couldn't of been more enthusiastic to help us with the planning process. His suggestions were very helpful and he also responded to any questions we had very quickly. He truly cares about his clients and went above and beyond to make our wedding day just as we pictured it. The day of wedding he and the staff kept everyone organized and my husband and I calm and relaxed. The food, Dj, and cake were included and surpassed our expectations. The ceremony and reception afterword were amazing and I wish I could live the day all over again. Thank you Gateway Clipper for such a wonderful day I will never forget.

Brit Sent on 07/10/2016

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We used the Empress boat for our ceremony in May 2016, and could not have been happier! The Gateway Clipper team is amazingly thoughtful and organized. We were looking for a venue on pretty short notice, and reached out to their coordinator Steve in February 2016. He was one of my favorite vendors we worked with! He thought of everything as we went through the planning process, always answered my questions instantly, and was unfailingly kind when things slipped my mind or I accidentally asked him a question a second time. He's also incredibly enthusiastic and genuinely happy to help each of his couples, which is great because, you know, some vendors can be really jaded. Steve always felt as excited about our wedding as we were!

We planned a ceremony on the top deck of the boat, but thanks to non-stop rain literally all day, had to move things inside to the dance floor. The Gateway Clipper Team was ON IT -- they made the switch to inside seamlessly (everything still looked amazing), and Steve made sure I was always shielded from the rain when I arrived at the dock, covering me with umbrellas and even giving me the jacket off of his own back! Wedding day bad weather could have been stressful, but I didn't feel stressed at all given how thoughtful the team was. And despite the rain, everyone loved the cruise -- especially our out of town guests!

The Gateway Clipper team are calm, experienced professionals and could not be nicer -- I was never even close to stressed about working with them, even though I was planning my wedding from the other side of the country! To call them "attentive and nice" feels like an understatement. Team, thank you again for a flawless wedding ceremony! :)

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Thank you so much for trusting me and the Gateway Clipper with your Special Day. I loved working with you both and I am so glad the rain didn't dampen your experience! Please keep in touch!!

Jessica Sent on 07/05/2016

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Me and my husband Mike were planning our wedding in Pittsburgh from Texas so working with professional vendors was very important. When we learned of the Gateway Clipper Fleet wedding packages, we contacted them to get info and pricing, since it sounded like a really unique reception idea. Our event planner was Steve Anderson and from the moment I contacted him, I was hooked. We were really happy with the prices per guest for what the package came with and that Steve would essentially assist me with every step (very important for out of town planning, but just overall awesome to have - no need for a wedding planner with them!). The planning process couldn't have been much easier. Steve sent me everything we needed to choose and provide ourselves for the entire night to go smoothly.

The best part was that everything from the chair covers, to the DJ, to the food, and staff exceeded our expectations. The upper deck was easily everyone's favorite place due to the amazing views, but everyone complimented us on almost every aspect of the reception. Mike and I could not have asked for a better night spent with our friends and family on the Gateway Clipper Fleet!

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Thank you so much Jesi and Mike,
I truly enjoyed getting to know you both and working with you through the process!!! I am so lucky to get to work with Awesome couples like you guys everyday!!!

User2623723 Sent on 05/26/2016

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My husband and I had our ceremony and reception on the Gateway Clipper in mid-May and it was amazing! We decided early on that we wanted to find a place that allowed the planning and wedding day prep to be as stress-free as possible at a reasonable price, and we found it! Our wedding planner, Steve Anderson, guided us every step of the way and was available whenever we needed him. He went above and beyond to make sure our day went off without a hitch. It would not have been the same day without him. The Gateway Clipper staff during our reception was phenomenal. They made sure my husband and I got to try all of our food and never allowed our glasses to be empty. They were pleasant and helpful to our guests. If I had to do it all over, I would choose the Gateway Clipper again.

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Congratulations again to you both!!
Thank you so much for allowing me and the Gateway Clipper Fleet to be a part of your beautiful Wedding!! I totally enjoyed working you both!! Please keep in touch!! -Steve

User2604519 Sent on 05/11/2016

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We can not say enough good things about the Gateway Clipper. We held a 'Parivar Milan' (family union) there for our family and our future daughter-in-laws family. We basically were introducing a Charlotte family to Pittsburgh and to some new and old Indian traditions. It was wonderful. We worked with Steve who was beyond fantastic. He listened, suggested, encouraged, and held our hands the entire way. Communication via email or phone was always prompt. He arranged for us to taste the chef's Indian food. He suggested some decorating ideas and helped us along with the ideas we already had, no small feat. When it decided to rain, moving our corn hole game inside was no big deal. Everyone loved the Polish and Indian food, the Pittsburgh cookie table was awesome, as was the assistance with our handicapped guests. From dropping off the decorations the day before, to helping the day of the event I can not say enough about the entire staff. Thank you Steve and all the staff of the Gateway Clipper!

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Thank you so much for allowing me and the Gateway Clipper Fleet to be a part of this incredible celebration!!! I enjoyed working with you both every step of the way!!! Please keep in touch!!! -Steve

Mark Sent on 11/24/2015

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They went out of their way to accomodate our wedding celebration. We had a great experience overall and our guests really enjoyed the boat! They had a tour over the loud speaker on the top deck for our out of town guests. Lori, our sales coordinator, was awesome! Easily our best wedding vendor!

Eric Sent on 11/23/2015

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Great services and venue. The crew was very prepared for anything we needed. Hannah took control of our wedding and it went off without any problems. Would use the Gateway Clipper again!

Marissa Sent on 10/13/2015

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We only had our wedding ceremony on the Clipper, but our guests absolutely loved it! They got an incredible view of the city of Pittsburgh while getting to participate in our special day. The entire staff at the Gateway Clipper was wonderful to work with throughout the entire wedding planning process! They were all so friendly, helpful and willing to do whatever it took to make my wedding day absolutely perfect! They were very flexible in allowing us to decorate however we wanted, as we had a very distinct vision. They also worked with us to make it enjoyable for our guests by opening up the bar after the ceremony and sailing the Allegheny while we took pictures on the top deck. Again, they made our dream wedding become a reality and I am so glad that we had our wedding ceremony on the Gateway Clipper! I would absolutely recommend this is a wedding venue to anyone looking for something different!

Lori Sent on 09/23/2015

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Best day of our lives! Steve Anderson made sure everything was perfect and knew what we wanted before we even did! The staff kept everything running smooth and we have zero complaints it couldn't have gone any better! If you want something different from the usually hotel wedding this is the place to go you wont be disappointed and ask for Steve he was AMAZING!

Robert Sent on 09/09/2015

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What a great time! Our guests had the best experience. Steve was a great person to work with. The staff was simply amazing. For the price, WOW, what a value. Don't even think twice about using this venue.

Chenoa Sent on 08/31/2015

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Gateway Clipper was an amazing venue to hold a wedding reception. My husband and I could not have asked for more. We worked with Steve, who was/is a very energetic, helpful and responsive man. I live abroad, so he worked with my mom a lot and with me mostly through email. He was always helpful with our many questions and very flexible with our requests to incorporate other cultural ideas into the reception. He was on the ball with our updates, giving measurements needed for our decoration planning, and even made time to meet around Christmas time while I was in the US. He was very helpful in being accommodating to our requests and needs (boat material drop off times, meetings, etc) and we are so very grateful for all that he did for us to make our day as magical as it was. The boat was clean, the food was delicious (they accommodated to all of the guests' dietary needs), the boat director was very helpful, allowing us to pause to take pictures where we requested, and the servers and bar tenders were respectful and helpful. I would definitely recommend Gateway Clipper for a wedding reception or any event. They know what they are doing in their planning!

Wendy Sent on 08/18/2015

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I have to say the staff at the Gateway Clipper Fleet is fabulous. They made our wedding day so special. They went out of their way to make our day go smoothly and be so memorable. Steve Anderson, the Gateway Clipper Wedding Sales Manager, was great to work with in planning the day and the staff was so helpful during the ceremony and reception. I did not even have to ask them for anything because they were already on it! Everyone was friendly and helpful.

One thing that was very nice was the DJ, Food, Bar, linens, and Cake were all included in the package. So we did not have to contact individual vendors to make sure they were available for our day. All the preferred vendors for the Gateway Clipper were wonderful to work with and I have nothing but good things to say about them.

I would highly recommend them for your ceremony and reception venue. There is nothing like getting married on the top of the boat in front of the fountain at Point State Park, and everything was just so beautiful. This was our fairy tale wedding and we cannot stop smiling at all the wonderful memories we made that day!

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Thank you so much Wendy!!! I truly enjoyed working with you and planning your Special Day!!! Congratulations again and Thank you for allowing me and the Gateway Clipper Fleet, to be a part of your Big Day!!! :)

User2274221 Sent on 08/17/2015

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This vendor did everything they could to make our day special and unique for us. Everyone from the wedding coordinator to the cruise members to the vendors used for the cake and dj were wonderful. I highly recommend using this vendor.

Kerry Sent on 08/17/2015

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This was truly the best place to have a wedding! Our guests had the best time and were so excited to get to go on the Gateway Clipper. It was a perfect night and we even had a blue moon that night! The staff and the captain were absolutely amazing. I could not have asked for a more perfect, stress free wedding!! I will be recommending this to everyone I know as they get engaged.

User2260522 Sent on 08/07/2015

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We recently had our wedding on the Gateway Clipper and it was the wedding of our dreams!! The food was delicious, the Staff was polite and professional, the DJ was AWESOME, and the views of the city were breath taking. The best part of the Clipper fleet is they provide you with all the essentials and take all the guess work out of wedding planning. From your DJ to your Cake, your personal wedding planner helps you with everything! we were blessed with Steve Anderson as a planner and he was the most responsive, caring, solution-focused planner ever! Thank you to everyone at the Clipper for helping make our wedding day the best day of our lives!

Stacy Sent on 07/28/2015

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We held our wedding reception on the Empress vessel. It was the perfect unique venue for us to show off the city to our guests from out of town. It is also so conveniently located! We blocked off rooms at the Sheridan so our guests from out of town were able to easily fly in, take a cab to Station Square and have everything they needed as far as food and entertainment within walking distance. The convenience was also very beneficial after the reception when we went out with our guests for a few more drinks.
Our guest list was about 200 so it was also important for us to have a large dance floor, but also to have things to do for guests who do not dance. I don’t mean to brag, but so many of our guests that that this was the best wedding reception that had been to. It was just such a fun venue! You also do not have to worry about decorating too much as you would with a cookie cutter wedding venue because the view is so spectacular.
Steve Anderson worked with us each step of the way, and was always available and friendly to help with any questions or issues we had. Our packaged included Steve’s services as our event planner, a DJ (who was great by the way) from First Class Entertainment, a cake (we chose Lincoln Bakery, but Bethel Bakery is also an option), chair covers and bows, open bar, a champagne toast, cocktail hour h’orderves and dinner. Everything in the package was good quality and it was nice having a one stop shop so to speak. As someone who did not hire a wedding planner and did everything myself, it helped to have everything going through the Gateway Clipper. Both my husband and I highly recommend choosing the Gateway Clipper for your event and all of our guests would agree!

Matthew Sent on 11/04/2014

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Had an incredible time, only had reception on the Gateway Clipper vessel. It was definitely a night the we or our guest are not going to for get anytime soon. Makes a great place for one stop for all your vendors too.

Krysten Sent on 10/06/2014

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We checked so many places in Pittsburgh before we decided on having the Gateway Clipper host our event. It was the best decision I could have made. Despite having a long engagement, everything was still stressful as the time came closer. Booking with the Gateway Clipper took SO much stress out of the planning, since the cake, DJ, catering, linens, venue (both ceremony and reception), officiant, open bar, and coordination of everything was included in our package.

We worked with Steve Anderson as our coordinator and he was the best! It was sort of last minute, short notice that he took over our event since they had some staffing changes, but he was right there with us the whole time and was very thorough in making sure everything we needed and wanted was taken care of.

The food was great, the DJ was amazing, the whole evening was beautiful! The staff worked so hard to make our day exactly how we'd pictured it. I would recommend them immediately to anyone looking to host a big event!

User1752509 Sent on 08/06/2014

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The staff was wonderful to work with and made our day sooooo easy and special! They went above and beyond to make sure we had a wonderful day! The only thing we had to worry about was having fun with our guests! I highly recommend Lori (wedding planner) and this venue for a wedding!!!

Michelle Sent on 07/24/2014

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I would highly recommend the Gateway clipper for a wedding. The staff is amazing. They will do anything you ask them to do. They constantly check to make sure you need anything. The food is amazing more than you could ever eat. The cake and entertainment is also included in the very reasonable price.

User6622511 Sent on 06/04/2014

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Even though our wedding is still two years away, we have already booked the Gateway Clipper for our reception and could not be more thrilled with everyone involved in planning our special day. Joanna, the wedding planner, has been very flexible with our needs and responds in a timely manner to our emails. I am already thrilled with the service.

Sarah Sent on 08/13/2010

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We had our ceremony and reception on the Gateway Clipper and the whole evening was wonderful. We lucked out with perfect weather on our wedding day and had our ceremony on the top deck. It was beautiful and they positioned the boat right in front of downtown. Our musician played during the ceremony and he sounded terrific. Afterwards, we took pictures on the top deck, while guests enjoyed cocktail hour. Then we had dinner on the first floor followed by dancing.

All of the guests commented that the food was great and the bar service was very good too. They did everything the way we wanted: the boat went all the way up the Monangahela and they pointed out our house to guests, they poured champagne exactly when we said to, they let us save the cake cutting for later in the evening.

In the months before, Ashley, the coordinator, set up everything and always answered all of my many emails quickly. She made sure every detail was taken care of. On the day of the wedding, we had a cruise director who was very professional and took care of everything perfectly.

All of our guests loved our wedding and said it was the best (and most fun) they had ever been to. Especially at the end of the night, when we were heading back towards the city, everyone went up to the top deck to watch the nightime city go by. It was beautiful. The whole evening was great because guests were able to dance on the 1st floor, mingle and watch the dancefloor on the 2nd floor, or go outside and up to the top deck to enjoy the evening air.

I am so glad that we had our wedding on the Gateway Clipper. It was everything we imagined and so much more. And we got to show all of our out of town family and friends the most beautiful parts of Pittsburgh!

Katie Sent on 05/04/2009

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I cannot say enough about this company. Our coordinator was in a car accident the morning of the wedding, but the cruise director Alina and her team were so organized and on top of things. The wedding went perfectly and I owe it to the fabulous staff at the Gateway Clipper. They stayed late for our final meeting to get our sound perfect for the ceremony, and our captain was able to get all of our electrical things working and in order. They took care of everything, and our wedding night in the Sheradin Hotel was absolutely amazing. I didn't have to worry about a thing, and they even helped us get our gifts to the car. I have nothing but good things to say about this company and Ashley and Alina made everything run perfectly.

Molly Sent on 11/04/2015

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I’ve never heard a bride say that her wedding was perfect and wouldn’t change anything, but thanks to the Gateway Clipper, two brides got to say just that! The Clipper was the perfect venue for us! In addition to a fantastic view of the city and the water (hello breathtaking photos!), the crew and staff were amazing. The events manager, met with us several times prior to the wedding and always put us at ease. She was always organized and accommodating.

The Clipper included a rehearsal the day before and everyone was eager to make sure everything would be the way we wanted it. On the day of, our bridal suite overlooked the fleet and the river, which made the anticipation of waiting for everything to start even better. The crew went out of their way to make our day perfect. Our day-of coordinator and head bartender even handled a sticky situation with unwanted guests, and did so with poise and grace—we didn’t find out until days later. The bartender also made sure we never saw the bottom of our glasses! We felt like royalty.

We were on the Princess vessel, which is one of the smaller boats, and still had plenty of space for our 70 guests (we could have had twice as many). The ceremony was in front of the Point, and our captain made sure our vessel didn’t drift away so that all our pictures have the gorgeous fountain and skyline in the background. A microphone was available so our guests could hear every word, too. Having our wedding on the river made it magical.

We were thrilled with the reception, as well. The atmosphere was elegant but relaxed, food was outstanding, and everything was beautiful.

The atmosphere was elegant but relaxed, and everything was just beautiful.

As a same-sex couple, we were a little apprehensive as we planned our wedding, but it couldn’t have been more of a non-issue. We can honestly say we wouldn’t have changed a thing! Kudos and many thanks to the Gateway Clipper for making our day truly perfect.

User2274147 Sent on 08/17/2015

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This team did a fabulous job of arranging the wedding ceremony and reception. The cruise provided a great view of Pittsburgh and the staff was professional from start to finish, including designated staff to assure the bride and groom were never in need of a thing.

C Sent on 08/17/2015

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My reception was perfect beginning to end. The food and service were top notch. Along with the weather. Everyone raved about the reception and had an excellent time.

Erin Sent on 10/07/2021

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Very Great In Almost Every Way

Overall, I would recommend the Clipper in a heartbeat! Dan was great at helping coordinate throughout our experience with them, and then Stormi was AMAZING during the wedding ceremony and reception. The food was great, staff was phenomenal, and it's a beautiful venue. The baskery that was included for the cake was very delicious and had great customer service. The Clipper even helped accommodate an extra pickup at the dock because a few of our guests were stuck on the parkway due to an accident.
The only negatives I have is that we were told that we would have parking guaranteed for our guests, but the lot attendant kept telling us that that was not a real thing and refused to help us in anyway, and we never did get an answer about it. The entrainment company that was included also doesn't contact me until the week of, so I felt a little uneasy about that, but they were great during the reception.
But overall, this was a great experience for our wedding, and we would absolutely recommend it.

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Hi Erin! Wow - Your cake and dress were beautiful! I cannot wait to see pictures when you get them back! Thank you again for celebrating your big day with us! We have talked to the parking company and are reviewing your concerns with them!

- Dan

Kelly Sent on 09/11/2021

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Brunch Wedding on the Gateway Clipper

I had the most amazing brunch wedding on the Gateway Clipper! It was more than I could ever have hoped for, and better than I was imagining. The venue was beautiful, the people working were professional and helpful, the food was excellent, and the bar service suburb! Everything was just perfect and my guests said it was one of the best weddings they have been to; they had an amazing time! A wedding on the Gateway Clipper will be one that everyone remembers! Dan, Stormy, and their crew were absolutely amazing. Thank you for making my day special!!

Kelly Sent on 09/07/2021

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Verano Wedding 7.31.21

Highly recommend bride and grooms who would like to have their wedding downtown for the Pittsburgh views! Our guests enjoyed watching the ceremony from the point of the three rivers and cruising the river through the night as the party went on. Gateway Clipper is a one-stop-shop that includes everything that you can think of on your wedding night. Dan, the wedding planner, is very open to listening and sharing ideas to make sure your night is magical and runs smoothly!

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Thank you for your kind words Kelly! It was a blast planning with you and Jose! #YesWayJose I can't wait to see pictures from your wedding when you get them back!

Jodi Sent on 07/12/2021

4.8 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Intimate second wedding

Everybody had a great time! Dan and the staff were very accommodating and flexible! We were originally scheduled to be married last fall, but we were still able to have all that we wanted and more! It was nice to have what we considered stress free planning because Gateway provided the food, the DJ, the alcohol, and the cake. Gateway went above and beyond and I’d highly recommend it to anyone!

+5 photos

Ashley Sent on 07/18/2019

4.8 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Wow your Guests!

If you are looking for something different that will create an unforgettable experience... here it is! A fun boat ride down the river, amazing views of the city and the food?...it's good! We even got some surprise fireworks! Our guests were thanking us for such a memorable night :)

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Thank you so much for choosing the Gateway Clipper as your reception venue! It was an absolute pleasure working with you :)

Best Wishes,
- Emily

Karen Sent on 12/26/2018

4.8 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Fun boat party!

We're so glad we went with the Gateway Clipper for our wedding. We were looking for a venue where we could hold both our ceremony and reception, a venue that already looked nice and required minimal or no decorating, and where EVERYTHING was included. This was absolutely the best fit.

We worked with two planners, Amanda and then Emily for the last few weeks before our wedding. When Amanda left, Emily handled the transition smoothly and we always felt like everything was taken care of. Both helped us make decisions on the wedding, look up information and calculate costs and keep things as simple as possible, which was the most important for us. Both were very friendly and patient answering all of our questions! And thank you to Katy our cruise director and Qiana our bartender!

We held our ceremony on the indoor 2nd deck for our 66 guests, and the dinner and dance party was on the first deck. We had the photo booth set up on the 2nd deck along with a few tables set up with board games and coloring books. There was plenty of space to spread out if you wanted to step away from the party, and folks could also venture up to the 3rd deck to take in the city views.

Since we decided to get married in December the boat was already decorated with garlands, bows, and lights; it already looked great as-is. For decor, we used all Clipper Ship-provided items, including lanterns for the tables an easel for our seating chart. The only decorations we brought were a few strings of lights to hang over the dance floor balcony and they offered to hang them for us. We didn't have to do anything. So convenient!

The Clipper Ship was very willing to accommodate our special requests. I have celiac and they were able to make just about everything gluten free. While a wedding cake is included in the package through one of their preferred vendors, they were enthusiastic and flexible about allowing us to order and serve pie instead of cake at the wedding. They set up our pies on a table on different tiers and made it look great and placed our pie topper for us. We brought extra pie serving utensils for folks to serve themselves.

We were very short on our guest count and below our minimum investment but that gave us the opportunity to upgrade our menu and bar to the top tier options -- we highly recommenced you do this. Although we didn't get to sample any of the dishes before the wedding, it was all very much above our expectations and we received many compliments, especially on the sausage stuffed chicken and gouda mac and cheese. My mom says that while she usually doesn't remember what food she eats at weddings, she said she'll always remember that stuffed chicken!! In addition, because we were below our minimum, we were able to special order wine and alcohol to serve at the bar to meet our minimum, making the event even more special. DO IT!

We received many compliments on how much fun it was to be on a boat for the wedding. The space was great and everyone had a blast. I had some folks tell me it was the best wedding they've ever attended, and others were pleased at how relaxed and fun it was.

Want to have a party? Make it a boat party. Soooo fun. Everything was perfect.

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Wow Karen, we cannot thank you enough for such kind word! It was an absolute pleasure being a part of your big day! We all wish you and John happiness! Please keep in touch - Emily

Kara Sent on 08/05/2011

4.8 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

We had our reception on the Gateway Clipper and it was absolutely perfect! We decided to upgrade to a larger boat (The Empress) in order to have the bigger dance floor and it was well worth it. Ashley was very easy and accommodating to work with and the food was delicious!! Our guests are still talking about how much they loved this venue!!

Marta Sent on 11/21/2017

4.7 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
3.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Steve and the Gateway Clipper team were absolutely wonderful to work with as we planned our wedding reception! Steve especially was flexible, thoughtful and considerate with us he accommodated mine and my husband's preferences for vessel usage. He new all the answers to our questions and provided us with the best advice for executing the reception. All our guests LOVED the night!

+2 photos

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of your Special Day!! Please keep in touch!!!

Angie Sent on 11/14/2017

4.7 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
3.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Our wedding day was so special thanks to Steve! Everything was beautiful and exactly what we asked for. The cruise directors did a great job making all of our guests happy!!!

User1310579 Sent on 08/21/2013

4.7 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Our ceremony and reception both took place aboard the Princess. Our guests had fantastic time, and are still talking about our unique choice of venues. The food was simply amazing and the service aboard the boat was excellent. We were concerned when we arrived for our rehearsal the day prior to our wedding to discover that our wedding coordinator no longer worked for GCF, although I had just spoken with her a few days prior. The other coordinator, Denise, stepped right in and made sure everything was perfect. Not a single detail had been overlooked. Captain Mike officiated our ceremony, and we could not have asked for a better experience. He worked with us to design a ceremony personalized for us. Our whole experience with GCF was wonderful from start to finish. We are so glad that we chose to get married on the Princess, and would not change a thing!

Leigh Sent on 09/15/2012

4.7 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4.5 out of 5 rating

The Gateway Clipper is a great place for a wedding reception. The planning process is very efficient and they make sure that every last detail is thought of and accounted for. The only downside was that I was from out of town and was unable to meet with the wedding coordinator in person. We had scheduled a meeting but she cancelled. It would have given me piece of mind to have met with her in person but we were able to do all the remaining coordination over the phone and the event went off without any problems. I ordered off the Allegheny buffet and the food was so delicious. The DJ and cake which was also provided from the Gateway Clipper were both really good as well. Overall, I would recommend the Gateway Clipper for all brides that want to ensure they get the whole package in one place and want an evening that will be memorable for their guests.

User861374 Sent on 07/12/2012

4.7 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
3.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Fantastic team -- I worked with Ashley Barna for the most part. They really work with you, we had a limited budget, but were able to make our special day come together with a family buffet that was absolutely fantastic! I was afraid the quality would be less, but it was absolutely wonderful, every last bit of it. Everyone enjoyed themselves -- even if they didn't like to dance, the scenery was fantastic, something for everyone to do. They really worked with my budget to make it awesome and give me options. They also allowed us to use the Majestic even though we had a smaller party of 110 -- absolutely beautiful boat, I wouldn't have done it any other way.

Judi Sent on 09/07/2021

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Gateway Clipper staff is extremely helpful even on short notice !

Dan is the best representative of the Gateway Clipper wedding celebration.

Sarah Sent on 06/18/2021

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Sarah Wattick + Evan Locker Wedding 6.12.21

Evan and I could not imagine a better experience in planning our wedding reception on the Gateway Clipper. From beginning to end, everything was perfect. Dan and his team were kind and flexible and met every need. Our guests couldn’t say enough about the time they had at our reception. We recommend the Gateway Clipper to any bride and groom looking for a one-of-a-kind night!

Morgan Sent on 11/27/2016

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
3.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

I loved my event manager Steve. He was awesome.

The day was great except I didn't find the cruise director to actually know and get my vision as Steve did. She didn't keep my party moving, since we were on a little of a time delay due to rain. I had to tell her how to keep the party on track. I paid for a 5.5 hr boat which was not cheap and there should have been adjustments.
We didn't eat dinner until an hour late, I had to cancel my stop at the point because we needed to eat dinner. My cookie trays were opened before dinner we had to close that down as I discussed with Steve what my husband and I wanted.
I had a time line printed out which I studied and wanted to be pretty close with that. I also then had to call her over to close dinner up because we didn't even get the dancing done. Like 1st Dance or anything until 9pm. which left us w 2 hrs of dancing and that was my high priority of my wedding. We had fireworks which was awesome and no one really made sure we had the guests signed the photo booth book.

Overall though my guests and I had a great night, just somewhat disappointed in how much I paid to have so little time to have a party. And Reminding the cruise director to keep the party gooing, she did do everything I asked her though.

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Thank you so much for allowing the Gateway Clipper Fleet and me to be a part of this Special Day in both your lives! I truly enjoyed working with you both!! Also, thank you so much for your feedback, as we are always looking for ways to improve and better the guests experience!! Thank you again and please keep in touch!!

Amy Sent on 11/22/2016

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

We loved almost everything about our wedding on the gateway clipper! There are only a few things I would have changed. It would have been nice to have the ceremony on the 3rd deck as planned but since we had our wedding after the time change, it was pitch black. It ended up working fine but was kind of a tight squeeze.

The only other thing was I think our guests got a bit anxious waiting for the wedding ceremony to begin. I belive most of the guests were on the boat at 6pm so they were sitting in their seats for a good 40 - 45 minutes before the ceremony started.

Other than that (which really aren't a big deal) the night was perfect and our guests said they had a totally unique and fun experience at our wedding. Most of our guests were from out of town so we are hoping the experience they had in Pittsburgh will urge them to come visit more often.

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Congratulations Again Amy and Justin!! I had such a great time working with you both and thank you again for allowing me to be a part of your Special Day!! Thank you so much for your input and feedback, we are always looking for ways to improve!! Take care and please keep in touch, Steve

User2274515 Sent on 08/17/2015

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4.5 out of 5 rating

Steve Anderson is amazing at his job. He was patient, listened to what I wanted and respected what I said. The gateway clipper was an amazing venue. I highly recommend!

Roxanne Sent on 07/18/2016

4.5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
4.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4.5 out of 5 rating

The best part was that everything from the chair covers, to the DJ, to the food, and staff exceeded our expectations. The upper deck was easily everyone's favorite place. Steve was our planner and he went well beyond our expectations. it was totally awsome. wedding wire did not select vendor. Steve was our wedding planner and he

Lauren Sent on 06/27/2013

4.5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
4.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

We were so thrilled with our reception on the Gateway Clipper. We were originally going to be on the Duchess Ship and then at a meeting 1 month out from the wedding, Ashley (the event coordinator), walked us through and asked if we would want to see their new ship, The Queen. The boat was available and they let us make the switch at no extra cost. We had to plan this whole wedding remotely, as we live in SC, and they were wonderful to work with. It was truly a magical day and they did so much to make it perfect for us, from rearranging tables so we could make our own photo booth, to stopping the boat in front of the point so our photographer could take photos of all of our guests, to arranging stopping times at the dock so we could pick up a guest that had to come late to the reception, everything was wonderful. We even decided to add a whole second round of food and munchies around 9pm and Ashley and the chef moved mountains to make that possible for us. We wanted a reception venue that was different and truly, authentic Pittsburgh, and we could not have made a better decision than the Gateway Clipper. Thank you, Ashley, and the whole crew for making our day so perfect.

Lindsey Sent on 10/24/2014

4.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

Had a few problems with coordinators leaving and we were switched around through 3 people!! But they did work with us to make things work to keep our boarding time when things got mixed up! And a few extras added on for the mix up. Food was awesome!!! Staff was good. Nice to work with.

Laura Sent on 06/18/2012

4.3 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
3.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

My new husband and I LOVED having our reception on the Gateway Clipper. Our guests loved sailing, and the whole concept of being on a boat sailing along Pittsburgh.

However, if you are considering having your ceremony on the boat I might reconsider. We booked the Clipper over 2 years before our wedding, and they didn't tell us until 17 days before our wedding that only 2/3 of our guests would be able to sit during the ceremony. Apparently, the capacity inside is not the capacity for the top deck. If you don't mind your guests standing - or go into booking KNOWING that they will be standing our guests found the ceremony very different and unique and enjoyed sailing along the river.

The reception was absolutely fantastic! The food was delicious (we initially had concerns) and hot, the air conditioning was cool, and the servers and bartenders were absolutely amazing. Everyone was pleasant and seemed to enjoy being there, which is nice.

I would recommend the Clipper to my closest friends, but I would have most likely had my ceremony somewhere else...but if you're looking for a great and UNIQUE wedding this is absolutely it. We had a fantastic time.

Kimberly Sent on 11/15/2016

4.1 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
3.5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

Steve was very accomodating and was a blast to work with. He worked tirelessly with us to make sure we got everything we wanted. Everything was beautiful and the food was delicious. Our only complaint was Kate the cruise director----she seemed inexperienced and messed up a few things that Steve and us worked hard to achieve. This did put a bit of a damper on a few things during our cruise. My advice would be to find out who your cruise director is. Bartenders and all the staff on the boat were awesome--the cruise was perfect and the views were perfect. Made for some awesome pictures. I would do it again, but definately not with this cruise director

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Thank you so much Kimberly for your kind words and feedback. I had a great time working with you all as well!! We also appreciate your feedback and are always striving to make every Couple's experience better. Keep in touch!!

Rizzo Sent on 10/10/2021

4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
3 out of 5 rating

Unforgettable

Dan was very helpful! He took the stress off of wedding planning and was very responsive. I was upset that my wishes to have guest all on one deck wasn’t carried out, even though it was planned prior. Also, I am disappointed that my leftovers weren’t package up. The crew reported that we didn’t have any leftover, but many of our guests had seen crew members leaving with our cookies, cupcakes and to-go boxes. Besides that, the night was unforgettable!

Gateway Clipper Fleet's reply:

Hi Mary! Thanks so much for your kind words about the planning process. We have evaluated your concerns and talked to the crew about them. As a reminder, your contract states that food and beverage are not to leave our property.

Kandra Sent on 09/28/2020

4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
3 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Capricorn Love

Our wedding reception was amazing!!
Thanks so much Dan ... you were awesome with coordinating this so last minute!!
There was just not enough time in the day to enjoy every beautiful moment... but we would have not changed the location for our reception at all ...

Corine Sent on 09/07/2021

3.2 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
3 out of 5 rating
Average response time
1 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
3 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

Lovely Evening for a wedding! :-)

What a great event space the Gateway Clipper was for our wedding. Great views, ultimate vendors for the flowers, cake & DJ services. I would do it all over again there in a heartbeat! Everything ran smoothly thanks to the staff on board. The only wish I had was it would be longer, it went so fast!

+13 photos

Anna Sent on 10/06/2008

3 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
3 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
3.5 out of 5 rating
Value
3 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
1.5 out of 5 rating

The idea of having our wedding on the Gateway Clipper started because my husband proposed on one of their dinner cruises so we thought it would be a great idea. After researching it as well as other venues we decided to go with them because the cost was about the same as a ballroom at a nicer hotel and I felt it was much more unique. Everything worked out well until 2 months before the wedding the called and asked us to change our date because the Pittsburgh Steelers had just released their schedule and lucky us--they had a game during our wedding, we had already sent out save-the-date cards and had the invitations made so changing it was out of the question.
The next problem was that they can't give you a rehearsal time until the week prior to the actual rehearsal which pretty much put a fancy dinner afterwards out of the question (I was not happy).

The day of the wedding there were a few things I didn't like at all--
1) The ceremony took place on the very top of the ship and the speakers playing the song as you walk down the aisle were BLOWN OUT and it sounded like a horrible static mess as I'm walking down the aisle to a beautiful song.
2) Afterwards I was informed that the servers handing out appetizers were aweful-rude-didn't even know what it was that they were serving people.
3) They forgot to give out any champagne for the toasts--not to mention I had personalized flutes that "disappeared" and then magically found their way to my table 1/2 way through the night.
4) Not ONE PERSON WAS CARDED!! and I mean not 1 UNDERAGE person was carded--they served my 14 year old little brother ... need I say more.
5) We had to decorate the boat ourselves in the beginning which was fine but they were in such a hurry to get us off they were throwing everything everywhere in a brutal way I mean things that I wanted to keep things that were special were ruined because of them.

Good things--The food was absolutely delicious and in huge amounts. The boats were all refurbished a month before hand so fresh paint, carpet, the works. I had a blast and loved my wedding but there are the above things just to give people a heads up...I wish I had had one! :)

User1788585 Sent on 08/31/2014

2.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
3 out of 5 rating
Average response time
3 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
3 out of 5 rating
Value
3 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
1 out of 5 rating

My husband and I decided to go with the Gateway Clipper because of the unique experience it could offer to our guests. Our experience dealing with the team at the Clipper was disappointing overall. There were multiple situations in which we were disappointed and tried to communicate that to the organization and they choose not only not to find solutions but in general to treat a paying customer with a bad attitude. Explanation below:

1. Lost three expensive items (total value worth over $500). Instead of helping they chose to write an email saying "best of luck finding your items". The staff on the boat was suppose to pack up our things at the end of the night and somehow these items were never returned to us.

2. The bar. Despite numerous communications, we ended up with a bar that wasn't what we expected due to information that was lost in translation from one sales person to another. After trying to remedy the situation the management team was rude and not helpful. In addition we asked for bar basics (bitters, etc) and they agreed to this. Nothing was there on our wedding day.

3. Change in sales team. The person we originally started planning with was no longer with the organization about 3 months before the wedding. They never reached out to make us aware of this and instead we found out when we tired to get a hold of her and got a bounce back email. This was the beginning of the problems.

Generally they were not flexible and poor communicators. However, I will say the staff we had the day of our wedding were phenomenal. The food was great and our guests had a great time. The DJ was great to work with and kept the energy up. The venue provided the unique experience we were hoping for and we enjoyed our day. If you are looking for a unique experience - get the Clipper. For the money we spent we wanted a better experience with our venue, but instead they treated us like we weren't spending enough money and therefore weren't important.

User1832289 Sent on 09/27/2014

2.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
2 out of 5 rating
Average response time
2 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
3 out of 5 rating
Value
2 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
3 out of 5 rating

Our "wedding planner" was changed 3 times with in the 9 months dealing with them and on our actual wedding day the last wedding planner wasn't even there since it was a Saturday. We almost didn't have a stop to the dock after dinner for the priest and grandparents to get off because the info wasn't passed onto the girl that was helping us that day and from the beginning we had told them we wanted that stop after dinner. Every time they changed planners the information was clearly not passed along to the next correctly. There was no communication between any of the office workers at all. As for the staff on the boat the day of the wedding they we're so wonderful! Very professional!

Lindsay Sent on 11/10/2018

2.2 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
2 out of 5 rating
Average response time
1 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
3 out of 5 rating
Value
2 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
3 out of 5 rating

Wedding Review

Such a wonderful place to have a wedding reception at; everyone had a blast and what better way to view the beautiful city of Pittsburgh? The dj they contract with is awesome and everyone was on the dance floor for the entirety of the time. However, our wedding coordinator was brand new and was very unorganized. She wouldn't get back to my emails or calls for days, and I think she mixed up our menu with someone else's menu because there was nothing right with what we had that day. Our wedding cake topper was lost and we were told guests could board at 430 and they couldn't board until 5. Needless to say, the beginning of the reception was quite frustrating. I think they need a more experienced and organized coordinator, and I feel she owes us an apology for all of the mess ups that night.

Stephanie Sent on 10/11/2011

2.2 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
2.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
2.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
2 out of 5 rating
Value
2 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
2 out of 5 rating

The Gateway Clipper was the most stressful part of my entire wedding. We had both our ceremony and our reception on the boat. The coordinator, Ashley, is horrible. For the amount of money you pay, the quality of service just isn't worth it. We met with Ashely months in advance to work out all the details for our wedding and then on our wedding day things were not in the right place and out of order. Thank goodness my mother-in-law did a walk through prior to starting the wedding and noticed how they set everything up wrong. Ashely also ruined my rehearsal. We had an appointment with her the day before the wedding before the rehearsal to bring all the decorations down to the office to store them so they could be set up the day of the wedding. Well when we showed up with boxes and boxes of stuff Ashely was no where to be found. She showed up later and said she was in another meeting. She knew full well that we were scheduled to come down and meet her but she met with someone else without telling us instead. She was so unprofessional and kept forgetting details we had talked about.

We also found out that they ran out of hors d'oeuvres during cocktail hour. This should never have happened since they knew how many people would be there and actually we even had a few people not show up.

Overall, you'd be better off chosing another vendor. Ashley Barna is the events coordinator so she is the only one you coordinate with and she's awful. The Gateway Clipper just isn't worth it, especially for how much they make you pay.

Miranda Sent on 02/20/2008

2.2 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
2 out of 5 rating
Average response time
2 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
2 out of 5 rating
Value
3 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
2 out of 5 rating

The didn't distribute the champagne we brought and didn't return it either.

User1697023 Sent on 07/06/2014

2 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
1 out of 5 rating
Average response time
2 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
2.5 out of 5 rating
Value
2.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
2 out of 5 rating

The vessel we used was the Princess which was very beautiful, and cruising the 3 rivers provides a neat experience. However, I would not recommend them for a wedding due to incompetent staff. The event coordinators are greatly lacking in skill, nor very quick to respond to e-mails, calls, questions, etc. I often got, "I'll get back to you" and then never received an answer. One of the other coordinators was very rude and impatient when we had questions. BUT Perhaps the largest screw up was the fact that THEY FORGOT OUR HORDERVES! I'm not even entirely certain that there is a package that the Gateway Clipper offers, that does not include horderves, but we had ZERO. You think something so important and standard wouldn't be missed... The crew that was working with us during our event was very kind and apologetic (although it wasn't their fault), they had never received the event order from our wedding coordinator. Considering that FOOD is a major part of a wedding, and something so large could be overlooked, is very upsetting. Maybe they are better at dinner cruises and shuttling people across the river, but for a wedding, I'd be hesitant to book them. From the beginning of my experience with the coordinators, it was hard to put my trust and faith in their services, and that fear was justified on the day of my wedding. I will say that the owner and his daughter, with whom we had some contact, were very kind and accommodating, and seemed quite willing to help any way they could. However, maybe due to the fact that some of our requests (i.e. take extra chairs or tables off the boat so they weren't just sitting around the vessel), might require additional work, we were told by the wedding coordinator, that it couldn't be done; although the owner's daughter and other staff said that they certainly could. The Gateway Clipper would do themselves a great service to find new event coordinators. The food was okay, but definitely better during the tasting event.

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Gateway Clipper Fleet