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The beginning of Shana and Michael McGowan’s relationship might not have been extravagant, but for their wedding, they opted for a touch of romance by the sea. The couples share a love for the Jersey shore and felt it was only right to host their big day close to the water. Shana and Michael found the Ocean City Yacht Club to be the perfect venue for the vibe they wanted to create – chic, yet subtle and romantic.
“Michael and I met at a local bar in our [home]town,” Shana explained to Weddings by the Beach. “As much as that wasn’t the most romantic way, we knew our wedding needed to have a little more [romantic] twist to it. We fell in love with the Ocean City Yacht Club immediately.”
The site of the Ocean City Yacht Club, located at Bay Avenue and Battersea Road, was originally built as “The Grand Dame Club House” in 1912. After multiple rebuilds and renovations over the years, the current venue now boasts a floating dock, enclosed porch, and a patio, all overlooking the bay and perfect for weddings.
But perhaps the biggest selling point for Shana and Michael was the Yacht Club’s ballroom. It features massive glass windows with a view of the water, great for catching the evening sunset.
“The gorgeous open floor plan leading out to the bay, floor-to-ceiling windows – just breathtaking,” Shana said. The couple held their ceremony in September of 2023 outside on the dock overlooking the water, a beautiful time of year when the bay breezes and summer sun are still warm.
“Something about the calmness of the water, and getting married out on the dock – everything felt right,” Shana recalled. Besides just the views and location, Shana spoke highly of the Yacht Club’s food menu.
“Everyone raved about it,” she recalled. The couple chose the Filet Mignon and Chilean Sea Bass as their menu options.
The Yacht Club also offers a space upstairs for the bridal party to get ready, an aspect many brides look for in a venue to reduce the number of trips to and from the wedding day location.
“At the OCYC [Ocean City Yacht Club], they offer the entire day to get ready in the upstairs area of the club, which is awesome,” Shana said. “Great room and has a deck overlooking the view of the bay.”
One of the couple’s favorite memories of the ceremony was watching their children stand by their sides, as the bay breeze and late summer air met with the views of the bay.
“We would both agree that we were lucky enough to have both of our children in our wedding party,” Shana said. “It was a memory we’ll never forget. Marrying the love of my life, with having our kids, right by our sides.”
