Destination Weddings in The Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas

Ideas & Inspiration

Enjoy a low-key waterfront wedding retreat on the scenic shores of the peninsulas.

By:

Kristine Lloyd

photography by:

April Greer

Summer in the Pacific Northwest can be as elusive and uncertain as falling head over heels on a first date, and yet a cloudless day of cobalt skies on the Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas is enough to make romantics of us all.

Sitting in a mountainous rain shadow that almost guarantees sunshine in the summertime, the eastern inlet region of the Olympic Peninsula-and the stunning Kitsap- is a quintessential Northwest getaway. A short ferry ride from Seattle and you’re coasting along Highway 101, salty sea breezes wafting in through the windows and snow-capped crests peeking through the outstretched limbs of evergreens. Around a bend, you’re likely to run into one of the many charming port towns. With craggy peaks that etch the skyline like cut glass and placid waters stretching out lazily below, the peninsula offers the perfect backdrop for a romantic waterfront wedding whether you’re looking for an intimate seaside ceremony or a grand affair overlooking one of its many bays.

Sunning sea otters might linger on the beach to witness your “I dos” at the quaint Resort at Port Ludlow, where you and your guests can rent the cozily appointed 37-room inn for the weekend. Walk down the aisle of willowy dune grasses to historic Burner Point, a circular lawn with a totem pole depicting the history of the area and a sprawling old coastal oak to shade you as you say your vows. Surrounded by panoramic bay views, the grassy point seats as many as 150 guests. Yes, you’ll be charmed by the intimate inn, but what really sets the venue apart is the flexibility of its staff. Recently, one couple worked with the resort’s chef to design their own signature cocktails for the reception. As catering coordinator Susan Windle acknowledges, “It’s not about the resort, it’s about the bride and groom.”

Just across Hood Canal on the Kitsap in the old mill settlement of Port Gamble, you can ride a horse-drawn carriage from wedding to reception in this New England–style town. Announce your newlywed status to the world with the chimes of historic St. Paul’s Church bells. The church, built in 1879, still has its original pews, which can seat 150 guests. Or you might opt instead for the recently built, white-picket-fenced Hood Canal Vista Pavilion, perched on a bluff overlooking Port Gamble Bay, which accommodates as many as 150 guests inside or 200 for an outdoor ceremony. Just a few feet away, in the adjacent tented patio, your friends can toast and two-step late into the evening.

Right down the road from Poulsbo, at Kiana Lodge, you’ll find a rustic 6-acre gem tucked into the landscape surrounding Agate Pass. Kiana, meaning “garden of the gods” in the language of the Suquamish Tribe, lives up to its name, with ferns, rhododendrons and seasonal foliage in full bloom throughout the grounds. Exchange vows under the garden atrium’s cedar-beamed skylight before as many as 350 guests, then head outside for a feast featuring the lodge’s signature salmon.

At the southern end of the peninsula, treat your guests to an array of activities, from sea kayaking to clam digging to a round of golf, at the luxurious Alderbrook Resort & Spa in Union. With 77 water-facing guest rooms and 16 cottages, there’s plenty of room for family and friends to settle in for the weekend. Hold your ceremony on the waterfront lawn, in front of as many as 250 guests, as the sun sets behind the surrounding cedar trees, tracing its candescent path across the water. After feting with friends and nibbling on scrumptious confections prepared by the in-house pâtissiere, make a grand exit by seaplane at the resort’s marina.

While the cool Puget Sound water may not quite beckon you into it, its soft lapping against wood pilings will lull you into the sweet state of relaxation only the peninsula can induce. You’ll feel worlds away from the city, and after the weekend is over and you’re heading for your next destination, you may realize you’re already there.

Kitsap and Olympic Peninsula Area Resources

Venues

Cakes & Catering

Flowers

Hair & Makeup