About this vendor
Ships of the Sea Museum in downtown Savannah is surrounded by the largest privately owned garden in the historic district. The 1819 Scarbrough House is the elegant setting for the maritime collection. The charming Scarbrough Garden is ideal for wedding ceremonies offering a large brick terrace nuzzled between the majestic Museum stairway and a pavilion. Under the shadow of a century-old Sycamore, this intimate garden is full of lush greenery complimented by seasonal plantings. The North Garden includes a Maple Grove and a pergola along a vine-covered brick wall. Follow the stairs down into the Assembly Room, bordered by a citrus grove and a natural garden. This open-air, covered event space has in-house lighting, a catering room, restrooms, and a private bridal suite with a shower.
Amenities + details
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Settings
- Garden
- Historic Venue
- Museum
Venue Service Offerings
- Bar & Drinks
- Bar Rental
Reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
you make those big decisions with ease.
4.5
out of 5.028 reviews
Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 8
I’m just now getting around to writing this review, but my husband and I were married at Ships in November 2022. The venue itself is undeniably beautiful and created an incredible ...
backdrop for our day. However, there were several challenges that future brides should be aware of.
If you’re planning a DIY-style wedding, it can work here—but be prepared to spend quite a bit on items that many other venues already include. At the time I booked, Ships did not provide tables, chairs, bar glassware, or certain basic lighting elements. I’m not sure what has changed since 2022, but those items were all additional expenses for us. While Ships advertises the space as a “blank slate,” that essentially means that almost every essential piece must be brought in by the couple.
Given the size and resources of the museum, I do believe they could invest in staples such as tables, chairs, reception lighting, and glassware—especially considering their eco-friendly mission. Providing these basics would reduce the need for disposable items and help support the sustainability standards they highlight.
All that said, our day was beautiful, and we truly loved the ambiance of the venue. Just keep in mind that if you’re working with a tight budget, this may not be the best fit. Between rentals, add-ons, and other required items, costs add up quickly. For context, our wedding in 2022 cost around $50k even with several DIY elements. I can only imagine what the total would be today, especially if the same items are still not included.
In short: a stunning venue, but not a budget-friendly one—so weigh the added costs carefully.
We had our wedding at the Ships of the Sea in the Scarborough Gardens and it was perfect. We had to pick a new venue 4 months before a wedding due to unforeseen circumstances with ...
our initial venue and Ships of the Sea was so accommodating. The whole property is so beautiful and it was perfect for our micro destination wedding!
**Wedding Venue Review**
~Museum is also great btw~
We got married at Ships of the Sea last month, and it was the best day of our lives. This beautiful venue will forever hold a s...
pecial significance to us. We are grateful for SoTS and its employees.
✅ Gorgeous outdoor setting for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception
✅ Sloan, Brian, & Co. are very friendly, as are the rest of the staff
✅ Prices went up since we put down the deposit years ago; Sloan & Co. worked with us to get the right package/service
⚠️ Alcohol packages aren’t super clear online; just reach out to Sloan directly to clarify
⚠️ Venue is DIY; amazing blank canvas for those that want that, friendly warning for those that don’t
🚩 No red flags! Enjoy!
Planning: Sincerely Yours Events
Photos: Ava Moore Photography
Flowers: Kato Florals
"But problems do arise when expectations do not match experience." - Ships Interim Executive Director
Let me start with the quote above that summarizes our entire experience with ...
Ships. Our actual wedding was beautiful and we have so many memories to keep with us, however, our experience with Ships was horrendous from start to finish. And since I was accused of making a threat, let me be CLEAR, I planned on reviewing my experience with Ships regardless of the outcome. If you are a middle-class, DIY, or on a budget bride, Ships of the Sea is NOT for you. They only cater to privileged bridal parties who are in a financial position to hire wedding planners or coordinators. As a result of our complaints, they made this an official policy. A policy that is classist and flat out discriminatory. Ships will NOT take accountability for anything, and we barely got an apology. No matter what we said, they kept telling us "You are not professionals. A professional would not have let these things happen." I am extremely saddened that this experience. My only hope is that brides in the future take this information and choose wisely when deciding their venue.
My husband and I went through THREE venue coordinators over the course of five months when planning our wedding. Each time a coordinator would leave, I was never notified of their departure, and several details of our wedding were lost during each transition, so it felt like we were starting from square one each time. I complained to Ships how it was frustrating that several details of my wedding was lost and approximately two weeks before my wedding, I am being bombarded with last minute details that should have been addressed beforehand. We did not have a formal Day Of Coordinator, however, I had a friend (with years of event planning experience) volunteer to help us. My Day Of Coordinator also had several complaints about things that happened on the wedding day. Due to our extreme disappointment, we decided to take our complaints to the Interim Executive Director. My Day Of Coordinator sent her complaints to her, and that's when we received the quote above. In the phone call, the Interim Executive Director essentially blamed everything that happened on us for not having a wedding planner. She stated, "You didn't know what you were doing because you are not a professional." I was FLOORED. I pointed out every single incident of miscommunication and lack of accountability from her staff, and she stood firm to her statement that having a planner would have prevented all of this from happening. I read off emails her staff sent, and she told me that she DID NOT see the email chains, but was only looking at our contract. AGAIN, I WAS SPEECHLESS. Here we are, customers who paid, who have proof of when Ships employees were clearly in the wrong, and she didn't even bother to read it so that she could have a better understanding of why we were upset. At that point that I knew Ships did not care. They did not care about us, they did not care about our complaints, they were not going to take accountability, or even acknowledge the mistakes their employees made. The interim Director had a terrible attitude and even accused us of not having "common sense" when I noted that one of the issues could have been easily resolved if her employees just communicated. We requested a refund and it was immediately denied because they "upheld their end of the contract." Words cannot express how unprofessional Ships was.
We used ships for our wedding venue. It is such a beautiful venue and we fell in love with the gardens. We had our ceremony in the Scarborough Garden, Cocktail hour in the maple g...
rove, and reception under the pavilion. We did have to provide all of our rentals (tables, chairs, linens, etc.) but that's okay because we we're able to curate our own look. We didn't rent glassware, instead ships provided plastic cups that were able to be recycled because of their sustainability policy - which is awesome!
During our planning process, Ships went through a few different wedding contacts, but they were always on top of communication and answered any all questions we had. The director also worked closely with my day-of coordinator helping to ensure our day went smoothly. I would highly recommend!
We got married at Ships of the Sea in March and were so, so grateful that we were able to have our wedding there. The azaleas in the garden were blooming and it was so, so beautifu...
l! While I also had the experience of working with multiple members of their team throughout the planning process, we had the privilege to work with Sarah there for the last couple of months of planning and she was such a gift. She was a clear communicator, very prompt, and would always answer all of my questions that I had without issue. I was so thankful to have the opportunity to work with her for the night of our event!
I agree with other reviewers regarding having to bring everything in, but in my opinion it is totally worth it for such a beautiful and unique space!
Ships of the Sea is a gorgeous venue, but choose it at your own risk. We went through FOUR coordinators for the venue, and it felt like starting from scratch each time. This venue ...
provides you with absolutely nothing- so essentially you are paying thousands of dollars for a covered slab of concrete. If you have the budget, amazing vendors, and a great vision, you can pull it off. I had an amazing florist and coordinator, but if I could do it over, I don't know that I'd go with SotS. Like a previous commenter, I was upset with the installation in the reflection pool. It was very inappropriate for a wedding. Museums of course can display whatever they'd like, but when one of their main revenue sources (that they are charging a hefty fee for) is a wedding, that has got to be kept in mind when choosing outdoor exhibits in the wedding space. Be warned that there is no single use plastic (which I am fine with) allowed on site, but there is also no dishwasher for the bar. So when you run out of rented glassware, they switch to paper. There is also no flames allowed on the premises, so that limits send off options. All in all, this venue worked for me, but you really need to know what you're getting into before you spend the money!
Beautiful but ny sister-in-law is getting married here and the front desk person named Bobby has been rude each and every time we have visited to try and plan out decor and etc. He...
smirked at us as he denied helping us each time.. They also did not inform us that they wouldn't be removing some very somber art installations before the wedding. As another reviewer mentioned severed hands sculptures etc. If the deposit hadn't been put down she would not use this venue.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL VENUE! Savannah's hidden gem that everyone should know about. The location is the perfect mix of 'right downtown' and 'tucked away for an intimate setting'.
We u...
tilized the Scarborough Gardens (ceremony), the Maple Grove (cocktail hour), and the Assembly Room (reception) and it was all STUNNING!
The museum was open for a private tour to the guest during cocktail hour. The venue offered free (overnight) parking for guest in their private parking lot. The bar services (package and staff) were accommodating, plentiful, and extremely personable.
Nicole, the venue's event coordinator, is an actual angel. She as supportive, professional, flexible, and hands on throughout the entire process and the whole day of the event. She is the key to ensuring a smooth and perfect event.
Ships of the Sea is such a beautiful venue, but I was so disappointed by their team. They emailed us a week before our wedding to let us know they had just finished installing an a...
rt exhibit outside, in the venue space that we would be using. This was not a festive or lighthearted theme for a wedding venue, but instead featured many somber items including sculptures of severed hands in the reflecting pool. Our contract stated they could install art exhibits in the venue space, but they would have to let us know when the installation was scheduled. The exhibit had been planned since 2020, and they only gave us a weeks notice in October of 2021 (after installation was complete) sending us into a frenzy to get rentals to cover up the exhibit. The venue coordinator was extremely rude and unhelpful - even though they breached the contract, she was extremely confrontational when we asked for reasonable accommodations (taking parts of the exhibit down or paying to cover everything up). Luckily I had a wedding planner so I did not have to deal with the stress of this on the day of my wedding, but overall this sent stress levels through the roof for everyone the week of the wedding. You would expect an organization that makes the majority of their money from venue rentals would be more accommodating and sympathetic to the client. The actual venue is so beautiful – the garden feels so intimate for the ceremony, the cocktail hour space is wonderfully set up, and the reception area is the perfect size for larger or smaller weddings.
This venue is BEAUTIFUL!!!! We got married here last year and I could not have loved it more! My husband and I looked at tons of wedding venues all around Georgia. When we visited ...
Ships of the Sea we both feel in love and knew it was t he best place for us! We had our ceremony and reception here. The staff was helpful and responded quickly to all of our questions. There isn’t much included in the rental price (like chairs, tables, etc) but I was able to make it how we wanted it. We were able to have the museum open during our cocktail hour so guests could tour inside. We even had an interpreter dressed as an old sailor. I liked that it gave our guests something different to do during cocktail hour. There are also tons of beautiful places to take pictures throughout the grounds. All of our pictures have amazing greenery as a background. You can save some money on a florist since the venue is mostly naturally decorated. If you are wanting a beautiful garden venue look no further!
As wedding photographers, we LOVE this venue! Everywhere you turn is gorgeous, creating endless photo-ops. We also love that it's located conveniently in the heart of Savannah, all...
owing you to get photos in the streets and squares as well. We'd highly recommend this venue for your wedding!
Beautiful gardens
The Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum was recommended to us by a local, and thank goodness it was, as it was truly meant to be the venue to host our special day. Regan and her team ...
took excellent care of us for 2+ years. (yes, the only downfall was the long wait, but I can assure you time flies by and if you're willing to wait you will not regret it).
The entire venue is breathtaking and in prime location for Savannah visitors. From the house to the gardens, it made for several magical backdrops! It provided everything under one roof (ceremony site, cocktail hour, and reception).
Every single email was answered in a timely and professional manner. Every question was answered. (Trust me, I am the person that asks 1,000+ questions). Every concern was met with reassurance, options, and accommodations.
I would HIGHLY recommend this venue to anyone and everyone!
From the moment my husband and I stepped foot into the garden at Ships of the Sea, we knew that it was the perfect location for our wedding! On the evening of our big day, everythi...
ng turned out even more gorgeous than expected and that was largely due to the support from the awesome team at Ships of the Sea. They were the easiest vendors to communicate with and were always extremely helpful during the planning process. Living in Savannah, I knew that there was a very strong chance we may see rain on our day and without Regan's advise on what our rain plan should be, I would have been a nervous wreck! All of our guests commented on how perfect the venue was and we would absolutely choose Ships of the Sea over and over for our wedding!
Ships of the Sea was the most beautiful venue for our October wedding. We knew immediately from our tour that this was the venue for us.
The venue is so pretty and can be designe...
d for your taste. Reagan and her staff were great with communication, and accommodated all our wishes.
The venue was absolutely perfect and our guests raved about the beauty of ten garden and the museum.
Ships of the Sea was the perfect venue for our Savannah wedding! Regan was such a delight to work with. She responds quickly to any question, and now feels like a friend. The gr...
ounds have three distinct areas with something for everyone; the beautiful gardens and Scarbrough House full of history, the pergola and tree grove, and then the more modern reception area. Our guests loved exploring the Museum and garden. Every area is so beautiful, your pictures will be gorgeous!
We picked the perfect venue for our wedding. Ships of the Sea provided just the right blend of historic and modern, which matched our tastes and aesthetic. We walked into the garde...
ns and knew it was the right place for us! The staff was accommodating, and Debbie is wonderful!
Debbie Shuman and the whole team at Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum were such a pleasure to work with! They were prompt, professional, and by the end of it felt like friends. They...
are very proud of their establishment and keep the venue & gardens in tip top shape. The bridal sweet and facilities were kept at a perfect temperature and enough space for my large group to store things as well. I had both my ceremony and reception here. I couldn’t have gone with a more perfect venue, worth every penny!
Best decision we ever made! Debbie and her team made our destination wedding planning a breeze. She was incredibly helpful and very through with everything related to our big day. ...
We utilized the entire museum for our ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. It was the best investment we could have ever made and was worth every dollar. The facility was clean, well manicured, and well prepared. Our guests gushed about the beauty and how it was such a unique space. We would highly recommend the Ships of the Seas Museum to any prospective bride & groom.
Ships of the Sea was an incredible option for our wedding. The location is personal for me and husband because early in our dating we went to Savannah Music Festival concerts there...
. From the beautiful "secret gardens" to the open air/covered pergola room, you won't regret choosing Ships. In case of rain, you may choose to have a tent reserved as a backup, but we were fortunate enough to have perfect weather! I highly recommend Ships of the Sea.
We chose to have the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception at the beautiful of Ships of the Sea Museum. The different areas- in the garden at the entrance is where the ceremony wa...
s held. It was October 4th and the setting was perfect. We then had the cocktail hour in the trellised garden, just a few steps from the ceremony. It was great! They provided the bar/bartenders and drinks through the SOS. Your guests can tour the museum during the cocktail hour and many did. We had corn hole for the guests at the end of the garden and a three piece band playing. At 8 pm we moved to the huge, outdoor covered pavilion and it was "magical". The catering kitchen that they have along with the "bridal suite" and ample supply of very nice bathrooms, made everything perfect for our guests. We had a sit down dinner and 13 piece band with a dance floor and fun was had by all! Hat's off to Debbie Shuman and her staff at Ships of the Sea Museum.
Picking Ships of the Sea as our wedding venue was one of the first, and best, choices we made for our wedding. Debbie was amazing. She was easily the nicest vendor we worked with, ...
and she was really excited to see our plans for the two gardens, and was more than willing to help with our signature drink from their bar service. It was honestly the best place we could have ever imagined to have our wedding and reception.
My husband and I were so fortunate to have our wedding at the beautiful Ships of the Sea Museum. The natural beauty of the gardens in this place during the spring/summer is absolut...
ely beautiful. It was a pleasure working with Debbie to land the wedding of our dreams. Even our photographer mentioned how he loved shooting weddings there. If you rent the large covered reception area you can definitely add your own personal touch to the place. We had almost 200 guests which we thought was the perfect number to have in that area. Everyone was able to be seated comfortable and still accomodate a large dance floor, band, and food stations. I think the area may be a bit large if you have a smaller wedding. The setting was beyond perfect and elegant. I think this place is a hidden gem but I see it becoming a very in-demand venue in the near future. You are allowed to use your own caterer which was very important to us. You have to use their beverage service but that was fine by us because we still thought it was a great value. It was perfect!!
I am a Savannah native and when I was venue searching I fell in love with the Ships of the Sea. There is no other venue in Savannah more perfect than this. It is an open canvas. Yo...
u can bring in your own caterer, decorations, music, etc. to fit your dream. Honestly, the gardens are so beautiful, in my opinion you don't need a ton of decor. I used simple white table cloths, burlap runners, lanterns, and a mix of rustic flowers in mason jars on the tables. It was absolutely perfect. I worked very closely with Debbie. She is an absolute GEM!!! Without her, my wedding day would have not been the same. She helped me from day one make it the most perfect day, she helped me make memories that will last a lifetime. I cannot say enough about the staff at the Ships of the Sea all the way to those who tend to the gardens...wow! They are so talented. My guests were very impressed and are still saying to me how beautiful and perfect the venue was. Ships of the Sea made my dream come true!
The venue is beautiful! The two gardens provide plenty of ways to have a ceremony and reception. Our guests loved it!! Debbie is great to work with at Ships of the Sea.
I had my wedding at SOTS in November 2013 and it was fabulous. The venue was so easy to work with and the final event was gorgeous! I highly recommend to any bride looking for a ve...
nue in Savannah!!
The gardens of the Ships of the Sea Museum are absolutely gorgeous. The space is so perfect for a wedding. The flow is perfect when you use both gardens. They do not allow more ...
than one event a night and they provide uniformed officers. The staff is wonderful. My only complaint is that for the price you pay - you really don't get anything but the space. You have to pay for every other little thing from chairs, silverware, linens, etc. You also have to use the rental companies on their list and the rental company charges huge fees (even though the rental prices aren't too bad).
Contact
41 Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, Savannah, GA
Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum