Table of Contents:
- About IslandWood
- Planning Your IslandWood Wedding
- IslandWood Wedding Packages
- IslandWood Wedding Photographer
Combining my love for the environment with my job as a wedding photographer is something I’ll always strive to do. Luckily, I’ve found just the venue that allows you to do the same with your own wedding! IslandWood is one of my all-time favorite Washington wedding venues, located on the beautiful Bainbridge Island, as it offers couples a quintessential PNW experience while also providing environmental education to the Puget Sound region. Sound like the type of place you’d be into? Fabulous, because I’ve put together this guide to help you plan an unforgettable IslandWood wedding, packed with info about the venue, their mission, pricing, and more. Cheers to planning an eco-friendly wedding that protects our beautiful landscapes!
About IslandWood
Where is IslandWood?
IslandWood has a prime location on Bainbridge Island, just a 35 minute ferry ride from Seattle! It’s close enough to the city where it’s not too much of a hassle to get all of your guests there, but far enough where it still feels like a destination event. The vast 250-acre grounds really reinforce that destination feeling with its tall trees, lush greenery, and beautiful bird calls surrounding you; you’d never know you were just a quick boat ride away from the big city. Something I really appreciate about IslandWood is the fact that they include land acknowledgments on their website, mentioning that the majority of their work takes place on the ancestral land of the Coast Salish people; specifically, their main property is located on Suquamish and Duwamish land.
How to Get to IslandWood
If you have any guests flying in from out of state, they’ll want to fly into SeaTac. You may want to consider having them stay overnight in Seattle before heading to Bainbridge, just in case of any flight delays that may impact the time you’re planning to take your ferry ride. When the time comes to head to Bainbridge, you’ll head to the Seattle Ferry Terminal at Colman Dock, located on the Seattle waterfront at Pier 52, where you’ll hop on the ferry! Adult passenger fares for the ride from Seattle to Bainbridge only cost $9.85, so it’s such a cheap (and quick) travel day.
Why Have Your Wedding at IslandWood?
It’s an environmental non-profit
One of the biggest draws of IslandWood (for me, at least) is the fact that it’s an environmental education nonprofit, which is so awesome and eco-friendly! Their mission is to expand access & reduce financial barriers to nature-based learning for the youth of the Puget Sound region, with an enormous array of educational programs for both kids and the general community alike. Since they were founded, IslandWood has been involved in getting children out learning in nature for over 2 million hours, a number that only grows every year! What an incredible opportunity to get married in a breathtaking location, knowing that your wedding is supporting some really amazing, justice-oriented education programs that impact the world in such a positive way 🙂 You can learn more about IslandWood’s mission & vision as a nonprofit here!
And if the idea of planning an eco-friendly wedding feelings aligned for you, I’d encourage you to read my guide to How to Have a Sustainable Elopement, where I share all my advice for planning an environmentally-conscious celebration.
The staff members are gems
It’s no surprise that the staff at this venue, which is so big on environmental justice, equity, diversity, and inclusivity, are SO insanely helpful and sweet. They provide you with a dedicated planner from their team of experts, who will be by your side throughout the planning process & the day-of, supporting you in creating the most relaxed, stress-free day possible. IslandWood also has a talented kitchen team that will make sure all of your & your guests’ dietary needs and preferences are met—seriously every person that works at this venue has so much love and care for the couples they get to serve. They’re also great with golf-carting you around to all the best photo spots around the whole property so that you don’t have to try and cover the entire 250 acres by foot!
Breathtaking landscapes & endless photo spots
Speaking of the huge amount of property IslandWood covers, this venue is unbelievably gorgeous, and so completely PNW. They’ve really thought of everything a couple could dream of for a Bainbridge Island wedding, offering both indoor and outdoor spaces and an abundance of lush, vibrant greenery galore. You’ll find a variety of cozy cabins, studios, and cottages, as well as enchanting gardens, open meadows, pondside trails, even a romantic treehouse!
Trust me when I say you’ll want to budget plenty of time for couples portraits so that we can hit all of the venue’s iconic spots, including the suspension bridge, the treehouse, the pond, the greenhouse, and a few secret spots that I know about 😉 If I had to choose just a few for you to visit on your wedding day, though, the suspension bridge and those nameless spots are my favorites! I’ll be diving deeper into IslandWood’s wide selection of venue options a little later in this guide so that you can figure out where you’d like to host your ceremony & reception.
Outdoor activities & experiences for days
I highly recommend staying at IslandWood for a few days before/after your wedding with your guests, if you’re able to, so that you have time to participate in all the amazing activities they have to offer! The long list of unique experiences (both indoor and outdoor) they have to offer, both around the property itself and nearby, is phenomenal—here are a few examples:
- Hiking
- Trail running
- Yoga
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Fishing
- Paddleboarding
- Mountain biking
They can even arrange a little spa day for you and your guests on-site, including services such as massages and nail appointments! I don’t know about you, but I’m envisioning an epic wedding weekend where you and your guests take advantage of these classic PNW activities—maybe enjoying a welcome dinner and a cozy night by the campfire when everyone arrives, and then a day on the trails or on the water before the wedding arrives. The possibilities are ENDLESS.
All the nostalgic summer camp vibes
IslandWood is definitely a great option if you’re looking for a summer camp vibe, especially with the receptions hosted in the mess hall. You can even ring the dinner bell—such a cute touch! The gorgeous landscapes and charming decor of this venue means that simple table decorations (such as bud vases) work best for the space; no need for elaborate centerpieces here. You can keep it to a minimum knowing that the property will speak for itself, with all of the rustic cabins, woodsy settings, and enchanting scenery that’ll bring you right back to childhood summer camp.
On-site accommodations for you & your loved ones
Part of the reason that IslandWood makes for such a great destination wedding venue (whether you’re local to the PNW or actually traveling from somewhere else) is the fact that there are on-site accommodations. This means that you and your loved ones have the chance to all stay in one place the entire time, and get in as much quality time as you possibly can. The four sleeping lodges at IslandWood have space to accommodate up to 200 guests, and are all brimming with cozy, woodsy charm—fireplaces, communal spaces, and tons of space to relax & connect with the people you love. This takes such a big weight off your shoulders of having to find places for all of your guests to stay, and really turns your wedding into a full destination experience!
An in-house chef & kitchen team
Finally, the dining at IslandWood is simply divine thanks to the in-house chef and kitchen team. They’ll work with you to curate personalized menus and feature local, fresh, seasonally-inspired, and sustainably-sourced ingredients to meet all dietary needs, so you can relax knowing that all the food is taken care of. Every dish is created with so much love, passion, and intention, and it’s evident the moment you dive in. Dessert spreads in the welcome center are always a big hit, too!
Planning Your IslandWood Wedding
IslandWood Wedding Venues
IslandWood has such a wide variety of ceremony and reception sites, as well as literally endless places to take gorgeous portraits—every freaking corner of this property is incredibly picturesque. Below is a list of the most popular event spaces at IslandWood for weddings, but keep in mind that I’ve got quite a few secret spots up my sleeve, too.
Great Hall
A spacious hall with exposed wood beams, natural light filtering in through the roof, and gorgeous wood floors.
Indoor/outdoor: Indoor
Guest capacity: 175
Best for: Ceremonies, receptions, group yoga
Dining Hall
This is the mess hall I was talking about—all the summer camp vibes for your wedding dinner!
Indoor/outdoor: Indoor
Guest capacity: 170
Best for: Camp-style wedding dinners
Garden/greenhouse
A charming little garden with a gorgeous greenhouse, perfect for dreamy couples portraits surrounded by foliage and soft natural light.
Indoor/outdoor: Both
Guest capacity: 50
Best for: Couples portraits
Creaky Tree Meadow
My favorite spot for ceremonies, surrounded by towering trees, a beautifully-manicured lawn, and the peace & quiet of the forest.
Indoor/outdoor: Outdoor
Guest capacity: 175
Best for: Ceremonies
Treehouses
Nothing beats wandering through the trees (literally) with your new spouse in your wedding attire amongst the vibrant greenery and quaint treehouses.
Indoor/outdoor: Both
Best for: Couples portraits
Suspension Bridge
Probably my favorite spot on the property for couples photos—the neverending greenery is to DIE for, and the bridge setting is so romantic.
Indoor/outdoor: Outdoor
Best for: Couples portraits
Trails
There are so many trails to explore with your loved ones, all of which are ideal settings for portraits of just the two of you!
Indoor/outdoor: Outdoor
Best for: Couples portraits
Best Time of Year to Get Married at IslandWood
Because IslandWood has such a great variety of both indoor and outdoor spaces, you could really get married there at any time of year. I’ve mainly photographed spring, summer, and fall weddings at IslandWood, but I have no doubt that the forested landscapes turn into a magical, snowy wonderland come winter—and I can’t even imagine how romantic it would be to cozy up in one of the charming cabins/cottages/lodges while the woods around you are covered in snow.
However, I’d personally recommend having your IslandWood wedding during a warmer season, when you can really appreciate all the greenery and truly embrace that summer camp spirit! The summer months will not only allow you to explore the property in its fullest—checking out the trails, kayaking on the pond, etc.—the weather will also be ideal for an outdoor celebration. Bainbridge Island never gets too warm, but June through September will bring the highest temperatures and sunshine, perfect for you to enjoy comfortable weather during the day and the crisp forest air in the evenings.
IslandWood Wedding Packages
Now that you’ve probably fallen absolutely in love with this venue & are ready to book it ASAP, let’s talk money! IslandWood doesn’t list their wedding packages or pricing on their website, so you’ll need to reach out to them via their website to request further information.
However, I can give you the details on my own IslandWood wedding photography packages if you’re working on figuring out your photo budget. Here’s what’s included in my full-day package (though I’d highly recommend considering my two-day package for a full wedding weekend at IslandWood!):
- 12+ hours of coverage
- Unlimited consultations and communication
- All photos to keep, print, and cherish
- Personalized vendor recommendations
- Next-day sneak peeks
- Bonus film photos
IslandWood Wedding Photographer
As an IslandWood wedding photographer, it would be my honor to head back to this spectacular venue once more and document your unique celebration, surrounded by your loved ones amidst the natural beauty of Bainbridge Island. It’s a dream come true for couples craving an intimate celebration inspired by nature, connection, and community, with the added bonus of making a positive impact on the world every step of the way. Get in touch here—I can’t wait to photograph your best and most memorable moments with the people you love by your side.
If you loved this guide, I have a feeling you’ll enjoy browsing all the resources on the blog—below are a few recent favorites:
How to Get Your Washington Marriage License + Wedding Permits
Top 11 Most Beautiful PNW Proposal Locations
When to Elope in the PNW + Best Locations By Season
And a big thanks to Cameron Zegers Photography, on behalf of whom these photos were taken!
