The MV Skansonia

I had the amazing privilege of officiating my goddaughter's wedding recently on the MV Skansonia and, yes, this is truly one of the highlight venues in the Seattle area. I'm from Indianapolis and most certainly have never had the opportunity to officiate a wedding at such a remarkable setting matched by stellar customer service and wonderful food. The entire event was exceptional from beginning to end. I will admit that I worried when my goddaughter announced her wedding would take place on the MV Skansonia - a retired Washington State ferry boat built in 1928 that has been beautifully refurbished and is permanently moored on Lake Union. I wanted to say to her "You do remember I'm in a wheelchair, right?" Of course, she did remember. While the MV Skansonia does have a small second level that is, in fact, not accessible, for this event it was primarily only used for dressing, etc. and I was able to fully participate in every aspect of the event from wedding rehearsal to ceremony to dinner to signing certificates and to the event closing dancing and social hours. I never struggled to get around and access to the boat has been made relatively easy with a wide ramp that goes up the venue (there is a bit of a steep lip - if you're not independent with a wheelchair, I recommend making sure you have some help). The set-up was beautifully arranged with Lake Union and the Seattle skyline in the background. Despite the challenges of holding an event on a ferry boat in record-breaking temps and the subsequent wedding outdoors on said ship, the event team was friendly, professional, and pulled the event off quite wonderfully. The ship itself is beautiful. The food served was tremendous and dinner arrangements were efficient and effective. I loved the woman, whose name I am completely forgetting, who helped with the rehearsal and came armed with ideas, tips, and lots of positivity. We worried a little bit as during the rehearsal a nearby tugboat made a little more noise than expected, but the day of the wedding was perfection and we even had nearby boaters stopping to watch. The wedding set-up allowed for great views and photography. The follow-up events were nicely organized. The main floor served as an awesome dance floor, while the dinner area was beautifully set up with tables and a picturesque setting. The Skansonia offers an all-inclusive venue with food, drinks, tables, chairs linens, staff, a coordinator, and more! They also note that they have a dressing room, indoor event space, outdoor event space, reception area, wireless internet, accessibility, and a covered outdoor area just in case (This is Seattle, after all). I stayed at a hotel about a mile away and was able to travel down by wheelchair largely using the Burke-Gilman Trail. There are other restaurants and sites nearby, as well. I'd easily and enthusiastically recommend this team and this venue. While I'm from Indiana, if by some weird shot I ever get married again I'd think long and hard about going to Seattle because this is easily the best venue for a wedding I've officiated and it offers an array of services, room to party, and an entire atmosphere that screams out romance. The venue has deservedly won awards and this experience was definitely one of my favorite experiences while in Seattle.

We got married on the MV Skansonia on Sept 30, 2012.Easily, the best night of my life.We didn't have a wedding planner and we didn't know what we were doing, either- we just met with the wedding coordinator onboard and she did everything.It went perfectly. The food - amazing. So many compliments of how it was better than any other "wedding food" they've had.The view - no contest.The price- exceptional for what you get.The venue - the ultimate PNW experience.The staff - 10/10. Fantastic from start to finish. I will never forget the night that they made possible for us.Highly recommend the MC Skansonia for an event you'll never forget.

Beautiful venue!!!! My friend just hosted the most beautiful birthday bash in this venue last week. Black tie, glitzy, bling, amazing views, open bar! And dance floor with lake union views all around!! The best!! Love having friends that go all out for birthday!! As we all should. There were close to 200 of us and most of us did take uber. The place is hidden from the street but it's behind the boats. It is a boat!! It doesn't leave! It's massive, expansive views! Oh so pretty inside!!We had a huge bar, dance floor, casino, buffet area, eating area. It was a pretty big spot! Love it! And I can see my house from here! Bonus! The food kept on coming! Kitchen crew my girlfriend got was fantastic. Evan the bar staff! Can't think of a better venue for private event! Gorgeous! Fun! An evening to remember for sure! And those views!!!

I cannot hype the MV Skansonia enough!!! This is truly one of the most magical, affordable, and perfect venues in Seattle. They made our day PERFECT. Highlights: - View is UNREAL. It was important to us to have a classic Seattle, show-stopping view for our out of town guests. This one is hard to beat.- The classic Seattle ferry boat is so unique. Chances are your guests haven't been to a wedding like that before and I wanted to be unique. The inside is recently remodeled, spacious, charming, and has great string lights/portholes. - The venue is mostly all inclusive. I didn't have to find my own florist, caterer, furniture rentals, etc. And everyone they partner with is incredible. We did have to bring our own DJ, officiant, and any extras (such as a photo booth). - We found this venue to be more cost effective than going a la carte at other city venues. We could have gone cheaper outside the city limits but it was very key for us to be in actual Seattle.- Finni, the planner/coordinator, is the best of the BEST. She is included with the venue and is incredible. She had so much advice, answered a million questions, and took care of so much of the work!!!! Love you, Finni. This venue is a must see. If you are looking for classic Seattle but still right in the city and you want to do minimal planning by yourself, THIS IS IT!

This is a great private party venue. The MV Skansonia is moored just west of Ivar's Salmon House and the I-5 Canal Bridge on the North end of Lake Union with fabulous views of the Seattle skyline across the lake.The food was excellent, the service friendly and it proved to be a perfect way to spend a Tuesday evening in August.

​Skansonia--highly recommend!We were looking for a Seattle venue for our wedding that had a scenic view, offered tasty food, and was affordable. Location/ViewThe Skansonia is on Lake Union and provides a great view of the lake and downtown. Indoor/outdoorOne of the best features of the Skansonia is that the venue is versatile. We knew if the weather was sunny, we could enjoy cocktails with our guests and hold the wedding service outside, on the bow of the Skansonia, surrounded by views of Lake Union and the Seattle skyline. But if it rained, the interior of the Skansonia would be an excellent indoor alternative with its wood work and natural light. Food & Beverages​​The food was amazing! All of our guests were raving about the food served at our wedding. Attending a tasting (before the wedding) was helpful in planning our menu. That being said--everything they offered was tasty. Bar service was great and well staffed. While planning our special day, Skansonia staff suggested having a signature cocktail. We loved the idea; it was well implemented and the guests were all impressed. ServiceThe team at Skansonia was super helpful with planning and implementing our wedding plans. We appreciated their helpful attitude, prompt communication, and thoughtful ideas. Flowers and the cakeIt was great knowing the team at Skansonia would be able to take care of the flowers and the cake. No worries about working with additional vendors and day-of delivery. We worked with the Skansonia florist and were wowed by the seasonal flowers she selected. The cake was tasty and enjoyed by all guests. I can definitely say that Skansonia played a big part in making our wedding day memorable and fun--to the wedding couple and guests alike. Thank you, Skansonia!Mike and Jef

What an awesome place to have our wedding! The day was perfect and we couldn't have felt more supported than we were with Finni and her team. She did a wonderful job, always willing to help and so patient throughout the whole process. She was extremely accommodating and so helpful throughout the whole day.The venue was gorgeous and the food and dessert were excellent. We lucked out with beautiful weather and our guests, who were mostly from out of Seattle, couldn't stop talking about the venue. I highly recommend this venue, and this staff, if you're looking to get married. Finni and team - thanks so much for helping make our special day perfect!

They say that your wedding day is meant to be one of the best days of your life..Thanks so much to Vicki, event specialist at MV Skansonia, for helping to make our wedding day the greatest day of our lives. First, you are delightful to be around and having you there on the wedding day coordinating everything was amazing! I loved my flowers from Lake Union Custom floral (their vendor) so much, they were so beautiful and exactly what we discussed and what I envisioned. All of the small details, you made them happen. I literally had the best time of my life, I wish I could press the rewind button!!Our wedding cake from Lake Union Custom Bakery, again, my description communicated by email come to life and more beautiful than I expected. My expectations were EXCEEDED. What a perfect perfect day.Thank you so much!!Margarita and Lorenzop.s to all brides out there, I had such a wonderful experience with Skansonia (Vicki, Victoria and Mikaela... Lake Union Custom Bakery, Lake Union Cafe). I'm stilllllll in awe of the day.

I cannot say more positive words about our experience with the Skansonia. I truly believe there's not a better value when it comes to Seattle wedding venues. Not to mention the total professionalism and hospitality provided by the staff (Anita in particular). My wife and I have no previous marriage experience so we're somewhat ignorant in that regard, but we've heard from dozens of people who have been to other events there and unanimously they've all had positive experiences. Even in our conversations with other vendors (officiants, photographers, etc) they had nothing but positive remarks to say.Our special night could not have been more perfect and I sincerely thank the Skansonia and staff for their help.

We recently had the best wedding experience at the MV Skansonia, and we couldn't be happier with our choice! From the moment we stepped foot onto the boat, we were mesmerized by the views. The scenery provided the perfect backdrop for our special day, creating an atmosphere of dreamy romance that exceeded our wildest dreams.One of the things that truly set Landmark apart was that they're all-in-one. Working with them included catering, bar services, table linens and the venue itself. This made the entire planning process incredibly convenient and stress-free. We didn't have to worry about coordinating with multiple vendors or managing different aspects of the event separately. Everything we needed was right there, under one roof, which allowed us to focus on what truly mattered - celebrating our day with our friends and family.The staff were an absolute blast to work with. From our initial inquiry to the last call on the night of the wedding, they were there for us every step of the way. Sarah, in particular, deserves special recognition for her communication and planning skills. She was dedicated to ensuring that our day turned out absolutely perfect. She listened to our vision, offered invaluable advice, and went above and beyond to make sure that every detail was taken care of. Her professionalism made us feel completely at ease, knowing that we were in the best possible hands.Thanks to the outstanding efforts of the entire team at Landmark, our wedding day was nothing short of spectacular. The seamless coordination, impeccable service, and stunning surroundings exceeded all of our expectations. We can't recommend them enough to any couple looking for the perfect place to say "I do." Trust me, you won't be disappointed!