Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the ideal wedding is often uniquely defined, something deep in the mind and heart of each bride. Whether you dream of a small wedding ceremony on a cozy yacht at your favorite anchorage or of an elaborate Cinderella-style affair at a waterfront resort, the Chesapeake Bay offers a wealth of locations to satisfy your nuptial fantasies.
Here's a look at a few of the many venues available to ensure your wedding is everything you dreamed.

Suicide Bridge Restaurant
An ironic place to start, but nonetheless a beautiful location. Suicide Bridge Restaurant is located along the Choptank River in the heart of Maryland's Eastern Shore. You and your guests can enjoy fine dining in a relaxed atmosphere at the restaurant or savor the scenery along the Choptank River on a nuptial cruise.
Suicide Bridge is the home harbor and embarkation point of the Choptank River Boat Company, which operates The Dorothy & Megan and The Choptank River Queen, reproductions of authentic 80-foot turn-of-the-century paddlewheeler river boats.
The seafood-rich menu at Suicide Bridge Restaurant includes crab balls, stuffed flounder, grilled tuna, rockfish and for meat lovers, prime rib.
410-943-4689, www.suicidebridge.com

The Inn at Perry Cabin
The Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michaels, Md., was built by Samuel Purser Hambleton in the 1800s to serve as a cabin for Commodore Oliver Perry after the war of 1812. Consistently named among Conde Nast Traveler's Gold List and others, the property was first converted into a luxury country house hotel in 1980. In 2003, Orient-Express made a further investment in the property of $20 million.
While rich in history, it is elegant yet informal, featuring all the amenities of a fine 21st-century hotel including access by helicopter, an indoor pool and health complex. The decor is typically English with floral prints, stripes, and lots of ruffles. Wedding guests looking for solitude can stroll peacefully along the water's edge. Or they might choose to chat with friends and family over afternoon tea on the patio. Guests looking for more diversions can take a short stroll or bike ride into St. Michaels to explore the shops and the Maritime Museum.
800-722-2949, www.perrycabin.com

Watermark Cruises
You can have your wedding onboard a luxury charter yacht and make the Chesapeake Bay, Severn River or Baltimore Inner Harbor the backdrop for your special day. If tying the knot aboard a fabulous modern yacht is your glass of champagne, the Catherine Marie, operated by Watermark Cruises, is just what you had in mind. The 95-foot Catherine Marie features soft muted earth tones inside with original art, mahogany paneling and bars, curved stairways with lighted steps, and large, low windows for expansive views of Annapolis' maritime setting.
White deck chairs create a charming aisle for the grand entrance of the bride and her attendants. After the ceremony, guests can descend the stairs to the second deck for the champagne toast and hors d'oeuvres. After the cocktail hour, guests can walk down another staircase to the main deck for a seated dinner before the party gets underway.
Watermark offers a fleet of charter cruise boats to accommodate virtually any size wedding party.
800-569-9622, www.watermarkcruises.com

White Swan Tavern
The White Swan Tavern has been a familiar landmark in Chestertown, Md., since pre-Revolutionary War days. Not far from the great Eastern cities, it is an unexpectedly quiet, elegant place nestled in the history of Maryland's Eastern Shore. The White Swan is for those who treasure serene streets, birdsong mornings, impeccable service, and the grace of New World Tradition in a waterfront town.
In 1978, the property was impeccably restored to its 1793 appearance, with one room devoted to the display of many artifacts found on the site. Inside the White Swan you'll find handsome fireplaces, antique Windsor chairs, and aged wooden tables. Out back you can enjoy a picturesque brick courtyard surrounded by a well-kept rose and herb garden and a beautiful meadow with terrace seating. The inn is within walking distance to four churches as well as several shops and restaurants. 
410-778-2300, www.whiteswantavern.com 

Chesapeake Beach Hotel & Spa
What a treat for your bridal party and family to have a full-service salon and spa in the hotel where they're staying. Your guests will have a place to get hair, make-up, and nails done for the big day. Family and friends will enjoy the overnight accommodations in this brand new hotel with enough room types to satisfy their needs and their budget.
Overlooking the Bay, Chesapeake Beach Hotel & Spa, and accompanying Rod 'N' Reel Restaurant, in Chesapeake Beach, Md., offers a picturesque waterfront setting for weddings, especially if there's an angler or two in the family. A large sportfishing fleet sets sail each day nearby targeting some of the Bay's hottest fishing spots.
1-877-RODNREEL, www.rodnreelinc.com
 
Chesapeake Bay Beach Club
The Chesapeake Bay Beach Club hosts a unique waterfront banquet facility, designed for weddings and receptions that can accommodate small gatherings and large. Located directly on the shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Stevensville, Md., this setting is one of the best for wedding photography.
The Club's elegant Sunset Ballroom, with large windows providing spacious Bay Views on three sides, can entertain up to 220 people in a seated setting. The Ballroom is light and airy, an ideal backdrop for any decorating style, especially those interested in a waterfront theme.
The Club's Tavern Ballroom is a beautiful room with many windows, vaulted ceilings, and views of the Bay and adjacent marina. This ballroom accommodates 150 guests in a seated setting and is ideal for receptions, rehearsal dinners, showers and luncheons.
The Club's adjoining beach and lawn areas may be tented for additional seating. Two of the Beach Club's waterfront lawns are ideal for a waterfront wedding ceremony. Each area features its own trellis, which can be beautifully decorated, providing a classic background for waterfront nuptials.
410-604-1933, www.chesapeakebaybeachclub.com

The Schooner Liberte
The happy couple can raise a sail together following the ceremony on board the Liberte, a magnificent 74-foot three-masted staysail schooner based in Annapolis. With an 18.5-foot beam and a 65-foot deck there's plenty of room for up to 49 guests with a full bar and catering.
You might just want to charter the Liberte for a get-acquainted cruise for the families prior to the big event. Or perhaps the happy wedding party would like to be delivered to the reception location by boat.
410-263-8234, www.theliberte.com

Inner Harbor Cruises
Harbor Cruises in Baltimore offers large-scale wedding venues at a picturesque and convenient location. Docked at the famous Inner Harbor in Baltimore, the Lady Baltimore is next to Visitors Center on Light Street. She's within walking distance of all major hotels and attractions. Custom-built by Blount Marine in Warren, RI, her sleek appearance and customized bow seating, makes her a popular choice for weddings.
At 111-feet with a 29-foot beam, Lady Baltimore can hold up to 450 guests within her two fully-enclosed, heated and air-conditioned decks, which provide year-round cruising comfort. The lower deck offers a large group seating area along with an intimate area with tables of four flanking the large picture windows surrounding the bow. The middle deck provides a spacious seating area. Either of these two decks are available for private parties. The top deck is open, which reveals an amazing portrait of the Baltimore's skyline. The decor is complete with wall-to-wall carpet, tiled dance floor, mirrored ceiling tiles, wall sconces and paneled bars with brass trim.
For smaller groups of 60 or more, the Prince Charming lives up to its name. His cozy appearance and compact space makes for a unique and memorable place to hold your wedding. He's 80 feet long with a 22-foot beam.
800-695-boat, www.harborcruises.com