Tips for getting married in the San Juan Islands

The Pacific Northwest home to the gorgeous San Juan Islands and getting married on them is such a marvelous romantic idea! Of course, destination weddings and island weddings both pose some special circumstances and possible complications. I’ve gathered some awesome tips from the best of the best in the wedding industry to help you plan your Orcas Island wedding!

Vendor Requests for a San Juan Islands Wedding

Request that your vendors arrive the night before (if possible) or take a super early ferry the morning of your wedding. Keep in mind, a lot of vendors may charge a travel fee for coming in the night before. Usually this is in the form of hotel/lodging, so consider booking a block of hotel rooms for all your vendors and guests. (Most hotels give you a discount for this).

Reserve Ferry Spaces!

Most of the ferries to Orcas Island offer the ability to reserve your spot on the ferry. Currently the ferry system releases 30% of the vessel space 2 months in advance. Another 30% is released 2 weeks in advance, and 30% released 2 days in advance. The final 10% is held until the day of, so if your guests forget or are unable to reserve spots, they should arrive early morning to get in the standby line.

Choose a San Juan Islands AirBnB or VRBO over a hotel

While it’s easiest to book a block of hotel rooms for your vendors (especially if they don’t know each other), it’s just not as efficient for your San Juan Islands bridal party and family. Consider booking an entire AirBNB or VRBO, where you’ll have a much more intimate experience. With kitchen facilities, you can designate someone to make mimosas or haul out some snack foods before anyone gets hangry. Look for a place with large windows and an open floor plan to allow the most room for your getting ready photos. Insider tip: Check with the host before you totally take over their house, and consider inviting them to join the party.

San Juan Islands Venues to check out:

Being a travel lover myself, I’ve gathered a few amazing places in the San Juan Islands that are worth looking into! I’d love to hear if you have a special spot you’d like to share as well.

West Beach Resort

A beautiful camp style location, West Beach Resort screams welcome to the outdoorsy side in all of us. Whether you’re looking for a cabin rental or want to bring your RV, there’s plenty of opportunity for both here. A waterfront ceremony site gives your San Juan Islands guests the opportunity to beach comb the private beach.

Rosario Resort Wedding Venue

This beautiful historic mansion sits on the San Juan waterfront giving beautiful views of the Cascade Bay. Whether you’re dreaming of a beautiful indoor wedding with water views, or you want an outdoor affair on their beach house lawn, they can make your wedding dreams come true. Plus, given Washington’s crazy weather, they have options for indoor locations to serve as backup plans for the most inconvenient weather issues.

Roche Harbor Wedding Venues

Roche Harbor seems to have it all. They offer options for a chapel or the sunken gardens for your ceremony, giving you ultimate control over how your wedding feels! If that’s not enough to tickle your fancy, the indoor pavilion with adjacent courtyard offers the convenience of enjoying the outdoors as well as staying dry. If you’re having a larger party, the Seaside lawn fits 251+ and gives you all the real island feels. Round out your experience with a rehearsal dinner hosted at Shipwreck Beach. What’s more island than that?

Want the secluded getaway without the ferry ride? Check out Woodland Lodge and Farms in Port Ludlow! It’s easily accessible by car instead.