Hi Penny,

Our wedding was March 19, 2010 and we wanted to thank you for everything. The weather was perfect and the day was fantastic! The crew of the Queen was extremely helpful with everything and made the day go smoothly. We can't thank them enough. Everyone that attended our wedding loved it. It was like nothing they had every been to before.

One of the things I love the most about having had our wedding on the Indian River Queen is that we plan to go back and do one of the dinner cruises and relive the memories of our wedding day and just relax. Not many people can experience their wedding day again and get a nice boat ride and dinner!

This picture is at the end of our cruise and the beginning of our life together.

God Bless & Thank you again for everything,   The Pletchers

Tim and I had the time of our life on the Indian River Queen for our wedding reception. The food was awsome and the entire night went smoothly. You and your team did an amazing job, all of the guests told me that there was always someone there for anything that they needed. Penny, I know that you were always there for me makeing sure that everything was ok and that Tim and I had everything that we needed. I am still getting compliments about our reception and some guests told us that it was the best wedding they had ever been to. Tim and I will remember this wonderful day for the rest of our lives!

Thank You so much! Angela (Bride)

To All The Crew,

We have heard from almost all of the guests and they all had a great time! Many said it was the best wedding they have ever been too!

My videographer even said it was magical just from the little time he experienced!

Thanks again, Heather (Bride)

Hi Penny,

Sarah and Mark are still on honeymoon - Sarah is due to fly back on Friday and will spend the weekend with us. The rest of us arrived home this morning at 10:30 after a good overnight flight. Just trying to come down to earth.

I just had to reply straight away to thank you, Captain James, the crew and Greg and Brian and Everybody for such a fantastic wedding. Everything (even the weather in the end) couldn't have been more perfect. The food, the service, the music, the ceremony were just amazing. All the guests had a fantastic time and some said that it was the best wedding they had ever attended. We brought lots of your postcards home to hand out to friends and family.

Thank you again! Best wishes, Judith (Mother of the Bride)

Hi Penny, We just got back from honeymoon yesterday. We are still smiling from the amazing day that you and your team organized so well for us. We have been reminiscing about the wonderful wedding - it couldn't've been better.

We will let you know as soon as the official photos arrive and as promised, please feel free to use them on your website. Many thanks, Sarah (The Bride)

Neosha King of "Cherish"
Gets Married

After the ceremony, a 100 guests boarded the privately chartered Indian River Queen cruise ship and feasted on a buffet-style dinner, which was served by a wait staff. For dessert everyone sated their sweet tooth with a three-tier, butter cream, picture-frame cake made by Artist Cake Work located in Cocoa Beach, which featured childhood images of the bride and groom.

As the evening came to an end, the newlyweds shared a tender kiss and embrace. The new Mrs. Lawrence basked in the glow of their love. "If the wedding was this great, then I can’t wait until after the wedding!" The Whole Story

Penny asked me to share our experience about my daughter’s (Nicole) wedding aboard the Indian River Queen. We had a wonderful experience and expect you will as well. Penny and her crew were wonderful. We were extremely pleased with the entire event, band, food, hospitality and views.

We chose the cocktail type reception as opposed to a sit down dinner, which is how it’s done in Louisiana, our birthplace. We found it very convenient in that our guests could roam around, visit, and enjoy their ride and spectacular views. One of Nicole’s friends was so impressed by Nicole’s wedding that she decided to have her wedding on a boat in Tampa. Nicole commented that the only flaw of her friend’s wedding was that she had a sit down dinner. The guests had to spend most of their time waiting for cocktail service and the meal instead of visiting with family and friends. By the time dinner was over, the cruise was near the end.

The caterer that Penny recommended far exceeded our expectations. Everyone loved tasting the variety of food served and are still talking about it. Heavy hors d’oeuvres were served to the guest at each level non-stop. I know it was extra work for the caterer, but it made for a more relaxed, fun time.

For the ceremony the bride and groom stood up front with the captain. Captain Jim performed superbly and made everyone comfortable. Nicole decided to skip the tuxedo formality by having everyone in island attire (Hawaiian shirts and dress slacks), which is considered rather formal in many places we lived previously. Nicole, however, did wear a beautiful wedding dress (tea length without veils). Everyone was able to dance, and stay cool while enjoying the views. We were also very pleased with the entertainment/music provided aboard the Queen. Chris Miller and friend played outstanding music that appealed to all age levels and tastes.

Overall, our experience with having our daughter’s wedding on the Indian River Queen was beyond our expectations. Our families keep asking when we can do it again. But alas, I have only one daughter. Everyone is still saying that it was the best wedding that they ever attended. We agree!

Sincerely, Mona

Hello Penny,

Sorry it has taken us so long to be in touch. We just wanted to let you know that we had a wonderful time on your boat for our reception in August. Rupert and I have received nothing but wonderful feedback about the experience. We will always have such a memorable day to remember.

All your suggestion for the DJ and Photographer were very welcomed too. Both did such a great job. Kathy's photos were beautiful.

Thanks again, Renee and Rupert, August 2nd.

From my perspective as mother of the bride, Sharon’s wedding day was just about perfect. The ceremony was held at the Cocoa Riverfront Park behind the Civic Center, with guests conveniently parking at Lee Wenner Park (for free). After the ceremony guests just walked across the yard to the river and boarded the Indian River Queen (IRQ), which had already been moved from Whitley Bay Marina around and under the bridge to the moorings at Lee Wenner Park.

I can’t explain exactly why, but just being on the IRQ put everyone in a very happy and festive mood (and using the boat versus a hotel does keep out potential wedding crashers). The view was spectacular - and it was so exciting to have everyone on the boat anticipating the arrival of the wedding party and the Bride and Groom so we could actually embark on the cruise (we left at about 6:00 pm and later enjoyed a beautiful sunset). We elected to have the champagne toast – it was a nice touch for the Maid of Honor/Father of the Bride/Best Man and Father of the Groom speeches.

The IRQ provided us with a unique and memorable reception for everyone in attendance. The Captain and the crew looked good and performed flawlessly. There was always something for everyone to do (drink, dance, talk, or simply enjoy the view from any one of the 3 decks). The caterers Debbie and Penny found for us were superb – the food was good and they did not run out of anything. The bar service was excellent and a variety of non-alcoholic drinks were available for underage guests. The band played great music (everybody loved this band) and did everything on time. Somehow they managed to get just about everyone on the boat smiling and up dancing together on the second floor (both young and old). Sandy from the IRQ staff and our wedding planner’s daughter took care of deliveries (e.g., cake) arranging the tables with the flowers, favors, etc., when we were busy at the ceremony. The table cloths (IRQ linen ones for the first floor and paper ones we purchased for the 2^nd and 3^rd floors) provided a really nice touch. The wedding planner (Judy Headrick) that Debbie found me was indispensable.

We could not have pulled this off without the experience and advice of Penny and Debbie and their contacts. Guests continued to tell me for weeks and weeks after the wedding just how much fun they had. I’m glad we had the formal sit down meal buffet style with assigned seats – the older people (especially my mother) expected it and that way we were able to separate certain relatives and divorced guests from others (to avoid awkward situations). But I’m sure a cocktail style reception would be fine too.

Things I worried about (and I’m glad I did) included watching the headcount closely – I had an RSVP deadline of at least 3 weeks (not 2) prior to the wedding, I numbered the response cards (some people forget to put their names on them), and I asked for guest email addresses on the response cards so I could easily notify them of important details (like where to park, directions, area maps, etc.). I discouraged high heels, encouraged sweaters (it can get cold on the water at night), and established an age limit of at least 10 years old and able to swim - so parents could enjoy themselves without worrying about babies/toddlers, and so we would have more room for adult relatives. We invited over 200 people and ended up with about 145 guests – we had to personally contact about 20 to determine if they and members of their family were actually going to come or not (some people just don’t understand wedding etiquette). Finally, I would make sure you have both a photographer (we used professionals) and a videographer (my brother-in-law did it).

The IRQ and its staff greatly exceeded our expectations – my husband and I were extremely pleased and have very fond memories of the wedding.

Donna

I can't possibly express my experience in an email. However, let me just sum it up as the best experience of my life! Everyone, who attended the ceremony says that it was the best wedding ever! The Captain, Penny, and all the crew worked extremely hard to assure us of that. The food, entertainment, sunset, scenery, and service was perfect. Penny was like my own personal wedding planner and I could not have done it without her....I would highly recommend a wedding ceremony on the "Queen" to anyone. You will not be dissappointed.

We had the most beautiful ceremony by the captain. Everyone had a great time. It was very romantic and everything went without a hitch. Penny was on top of it all, there wasn't anything we had to think about. The food was amazing and the staff was a lot of fun. It was a very windy night and we were all afraid of possibly getting sea sick if we were to get out on the river but nothing like that happened to anyone. The ride was smooth. Just a little advise, if you hire a DJ make sure they have worked on the boat before so you get the best sound and sense of comfort from them. Penny will let you know who has worked the boat.

Your pictures on the boat will be beautiful not only because of you and your husband but the scenery. We had the wedding just before the sun went down and the sunset was a romantic touch. I hope this helps with your decision and if you would like me to send you some pics let me know.     Bride ~ Sherri

Penny and Sandy,

There are no words to express how happy we are with the service you and your crew provided for the Suomi - Sexton wedding on February 23rd. It was PERFECT! Thank you for making this event the PERFECT wedding that it was. Both my son and new daughter-in-law had the PERFECT wedding they dreamed of because of your efforts!

So many of our guests continue to say that it was the best wedding they ever attended. They only wished it had lasted longer!!!!!!!!!!!! Every detail was attended to. You treated the bride and groom like royalty. And Sandy... your unobtrusive way of keeping things moving was PERFECT! You whispered in my ear the directions I was to give the guests and it was PERFECT! The food was PERFECT! Kudos to the catering crew. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for making this wedding the huge success that it was! Please let me know if there is a way for me to recommend your services to others who might be thinking of having their wedding on t he Indian River Queen. This was a wedding never to be forgotten. PERFECT is the key word here.     Respectfully, Susan Suomi

Hi all!

We want to thank you again for a fabulous wedding. Everyone we chat with that was there say that this was the best and fun wedding they had ever been to.

Thanks again! Jackie and Penney

Hi again Penny!

We REALLY enjoyed our visit with you on the Indian River Queen and Island Boat Tours this week and have posted a quick report of our experience on a UK discussion forum which we moderate for Attraction Tickets Direct. You can find a link to it here: Blog UK We will also really look forward to adding this to the Brit Guide in due course and wish you well for a great year of bookings and success!

Many thanks, Simon and Susan

Hi Penny!

Please extend my hello to Debbie, Captain and the entire crew! Hugs to all, especially that catering company that you use. We can't stop talking about our Holiday party last year. Everyone said it was the best that they had EVER had. I wish our office was in Cocoa, the Queen would be our every year party. I am now with the challenge to outdo it. It will be impossible!

Lisa

The one thing that bothered me all weekend was that I didn't thank you and your team, including the cooks, the servers, the greatest DJ and the camera crews while I had the microphone. I guess I had way too much fun that it interfered with my mental to do list. It eats me up though, because you all did a fabulous job and we're all thinking of another reason to get back on the boat. The food was delicious, the boat looked amazing and the staff was very kind to everyone. Some have even asked me to see if you all thought about adding bunks for overnight stays on the boat. That was the first time we saw our CEO get down and dance like he did. What a party!

Lisa, Human Resources

My Husband and I took the Friday Night Dinner Cruise to celebrate our One Year Anniversary. Everyone was very nice and welcoming. The cruise was very relaxed with beautiful views on the river. Dinner was delicious and the dinning area was so lovely. The view on the boat was breathtaking! I recommend that visitors and locals experience this wonderful piece of what Brevard has to offer!

Mrs. Michzurick

We booked the dinner cruise for the last evening of our honeymoon trip. We would have visited the Kennedy Space Center on our last day in the U.S. and were looking for a special and romantic way to end our wedding trip.

When we found this dinner cruise we were very happy, because it would have been a special dinner, instead of going to a restaurant, as good and refined as a restaurant can be. We were not disappointed.

The boat is beautifully kept and furnished. The staff were all very friendly and helpful. For one thing, when we got there the battery of our camera needed to be charged up and the lady at the bar kindly offered to let us charge it at one of the plugs behind the counter. There was live music, the musicians played some jazz and some pop music, and the atmosphere was casual yet refined and romantic.

We felt completely at ease and we enjoyed sitting on the upper deck or on the main deck. On the lower deck there was a buffet. That was the part we were more dubious about when we booked, but we found that the food was plentiful and tasty. We wouldn't have eaten better in a restaurant, since we would not have gone to a very expensive and exclusive restaurant anyway. The tables were beautifully decorated with flowers and the room was nicely lit.

We will remember that evening as the best one of our honeymoon, and the dinner cruise certainly played a major part in it. We would definitely recommend it, and if could ever go back to Florida we would most certainly take this dinner cruise again.

Diana Corrado

Hello Penny!

I want to thank you for providing the environment for a great Mother’s Day for my family. We are all still talking about the Indian River Queen experience. It was nice to meet you and your family. Your family approach has really touched us and we are talking up the boating experience to our friends, fellow club members, and co-workers.

You have a great boat and family and thanks for sharing it with us on Sunday.
Oh attached are just some fun photos of us enjoying the dayagain, enhanced by your fantastic boat excursion.   Thanks again!

Joe Radosky

I attended the Armstrong's rehearsal dinner on "The Indian River Queen" the 27th of March and I wanted to thank you for providing us with an awesome experience! Your staff was great! Everyone was so nice, caring and helpful! The food was absolutely amazing! I Loved, Loved, Loved the Mashed Potato Bar by the way!

I know this is a pretty random question but I was wondering if you were able to share the Smashed Potato recipe with me? I live in Virginia and am craving your mashed potatoes, trust me, if I lived any closer we would be taking a trip on another cruise real soon! We really enjoyed ourselves and wanted to thank for providing such a great time for us all!

Heather

Ahoy Mates' !

I have heard nothing but "THANK YOU and GREAT TIME, Last Night was AWESOME! The BEST Team Bldg event I've ever been to." and I owe it all to you and your crew. Thank you so much!!!

Quite a few of the local people have told me that they've seen your boat in the past and wondered about it. Now that they know, they will call upon you if they have the need for a party! I hope that you will receive future business because of last night.

One of our presenters this afternoon is wondering if your camera was digital, and if so, would it be possible for you to email the pictures to him (and I) to be embedded into his presentation. I realize this is short notice so if not, I understand. I would appreciate the pictures at some point if you'd share. It would be fun to make a collage of yours and mine to frame for my office.

Thank the Crew again for me Penny. It truly was a wonderfully fun time!

Cherry Wench, aka Janet

Howdy Ma'am,

I just wanted to let you know we had a great time on your boat for the Shuttle Launch. Both my friends and my kids thought the whole experience was a blast! (pun sort of intended).

Thanks for a great ride and dinner.

Charles "Jack" Emerson, Lieutenant Coronel, U.S. Army, Classification:Unclassified

As usual you and your staff made my job so easy. Thank you so very much for all you do. Have emailed a couple of people suggesting they call you ASAP for Xmas parties and some were on board asking about general renting of boat. Never did I hear a negative comment from anyone.

Without you and your staff no fundraiser on board could be as successful as the 6 boat cruises WFIT has held on board. Thanks again to all your staff and your son is a doll and just a nice nice kid.

Sandi, (fundraiser organizer)

Penny,

I can't thank you enough for the fantastic service you and your staff provided on our boat cruise. Our employees are still talking about the great time they had, and how much fun it was being out on the party boat. What a great experience! I am sure this will not be our last time cruising with you. Thanks again to your and your staff. ~ Dan ~

Dear Debbie, Penny and Captain,

We had such a wonderful time at our Christmas Party. Thank you for helping us in every way to make it so memorable. Our employees were delighted by the smooth sailing, cordial servers, food, band and meeting the Captain while the Queen was on autopilot.(I did not know there was such a thing on a boat). It a was truly a night to remember. Thanks you again. Is it possible to ride the Queen for a relaxing dinner cruise? I'd love to go again when the stress level is way lower. Let me know.

Sincerely, Paula Spina, Space Coast Fire and Safety

In case you want an event which is outstanding and extraordinary you should have it organized by Penny S. Flaherty, the boat lady. She did an excellent job for us on the occasion of the Columbus launch (STS 122) in December with 700 international guests and in February, with 200 international guests. All participants from about one dozen countries were absolute enthusiastic and thrilled. Also the value for money ratio was very adequate.

In case of further questions don't hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards, Günther Brandt, Vice President Columbus & ISS EADS/Astrium GmbH

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