Organising a drinks reception on a boat after the town hall ceremony

The civil ceremony often lasts less than half an hour. Afterwards, guests find themselves outside the town hall, and one question comes up: where do you take them to raise a glass? A boat moored or cruising on the Seine offers an answer worthy of the moment: a venue entirely your own, just minutes from the town hall, with Paris as the backdrop.

A drinks reception generally brings together more guests than the dinner, over a shorter time. This changes how you choose the boat, plan the running order and manage the journey there. Here's how to organise it.

Planning the journey between the town hall and the quay

This is the point couples underestimate most. Between leaving the town hall, photos on the steps and hugs all round, the group always takes longer than expected to actually set off.

• Choose a boarding point close to the town hall. Most Parisian arrondissements have a quay reachable within twenty minutes. We'll point you towards the most convenient one for your town hall.
• Organise transport for your guests: a shuttle, a convoy of cars, the Metro for younger guests, or a short walk if the quay is close by. Think of older guests and those in heels, as the quays are often cobbled with frequent steps.
• Share a precise time and map on the invitation or by message, with the name of the quay and a visual landmark.
• Allow a margin of at least thirty minutes between the end of the ceremony and the boarding time.

Choosing the boat based on the number of guests

For a drinks reception, count every guest invited to that moment, including those who won't be staying for dinner. A standing format can accommodate more people than a seated meal, but everyone still needs to be able to move around and reach the buffet.

• A yacht suits an intimate wedding, or a drinks reception limited to close friends and family.
• A barge can host anywhere from a few dozen to several hundred guests, often with an indoor lounge and an outdoor deck. It's the most common solution for a full drinks reception.
• A moored boat is ideal if guests arrive at different times: no strict departure time, no latecomers left on the quayside, and easy access for guests with reduced mobility.

If the dinner is held elsewhere, choose a cruise option that brings you back near the reception venue, or stay moored to let your guests leave at the planned time.

Building the running order of the drinks reception

A drinks reception generally lasts between an hour and a half and three hours. On a boat, it benefits from following a clear rhythm:

• The welcome: a glass served as soon as guests board, while everyone gets settled.
• Cruising: if the boat sets off, plan to pass a monument at the moment of the toast or the speeches. The crew can time the route accordingly.
• Photos: the outdoor deck and the banks of the Seine offer backdrops your photographer will make good use of. Set aside a moment for the group photo before the first guests leave.
• Departure: if some guests won't be staying for dinner, returning to the quay at a set time makes it easier to say your goodbyes.

Planning the buffet, drinks and the finer details

A drinks reception is a standing occasion, often held in the late afternoon: guests are hungry and thirsty after the ceremony. Favour canapes that are easy to eat with one hand, in enough quantity to tide everyone over until dinner, or to stand in for a meal if the drinks reception is the only part of the day.

• Champagne or cremant, a signature cocktail, and well-thought-out non-alcoholic drinks for children and drivers.
• Light decoration that matches the rest of the wedding: flowers, signage, a guest book at the boarding point.
• A playlist or a musician for the atmosphere, checking what the boat allows.
• A weather back-up plan: a boat with a glazed lounge or a covered terrace keeps the party going even if it rains.

Once you've told us the town hall, the date, the number of guests and the format you want, we'll suggest suitable boats and coordinate the caterer, the timings and the boarding point with you.