Emily and Omar got married at two of my favorite Whidbey Island wedding venues: Captain Whidbey Inn and The Wayfarer. They were the perfect venues for this intimate celebration. Before the wedding, Emily and Omar told me that they wanted the celebration to feel like the best backyard dinner party. The combination of incredible design and thoughtful details made the experience unforgettable.

2 Amazing Whidbey Island Wedding Venues

Emily and Omar got ready at Captain Whidbey Inn then headed to The Wayfarer for their ceremony and reception.

Captain Whidbey Inn

Captain Whidbey Inn is one of the most popular Whidbey Island wedding venues. It has all the nostalgic Pacific Northwest charm that makes the island so special. Captain Whidbey Inn has a hotel and cabins on a wooded property by the shoreline. There’s also a restaurant on site, making catering easy.

Venue type: Indoor/outdoor

Starting cost: $35,000

Capacity: 150 guests

The Wayfarer

The Wayfarer is another of my favorite Whidbey Island wedding venues. It could be categorized as a barn wedding venue, but that doesn’t really do it justice. The lush hills and orchards have a secret garden feeling that’s perfect for an intimate dinner party reception.

Venue type: Outdoor with covered space

Starting cost: $5,100

Capacity: 100 guests

Emily and Omar’s Detail-Oriented Day

As a wedding photographer, I love seeing a combination of great design and sentimentality. Emily is very design forward, so this wedding was a dream come true for me. Omar is from Oaxaca, and Emily wanted to bring in a lot of aspects from his home since some of his family weren’t able to attend.

Here are some of the highlights of the details that made Emily and Omar’s Whidbey Island wedding venues feel so personal on their wedding day.

• Invitation Suite and Paper Goods: Emily and Omar opted for hand letterpress paper for their wedding. Emily created the menus. Meanwhile her friend Stacia designed invitations with illustrations by Emily’s friend and artist Elsie Greer. 

• Emily’s Jewelry: Emily wore her mother’s wedding band and earrings from her first trip to Oaxaca. She designed her own wedding band, which has diamonds from her grandmother’s wedding ring.
• Omar’s Ring: Omar’s wedding band is made from a Mexican coin to reflect his heritage.

• Emily’s Veil: Emily designed the custom flower appliques on her dress train and veil. They include bluebonnets for her mom from Texas, dogwood flowers for her dad from North Carolina, and marigolds for Omar’s family in Oaxaca.
• Table Decor: The reception table featured candles that Emily and Omar’s brother hand selected in Oaxaca. Omar’s brother and sister embroidered the napkins with guests’ names.

With so many deeply personal details, you can see how Emily and Omar made their Whidbey Island wedding venues their own. Everything was intentional and meaningful. Even though so much thought went into the wedding beforehand, the day itself was relaxed and heartfelt.

Whidbey Island Wedding Photography

Aside from taking place at two of my favorite Whidbey Island wedding venues, Emily and Omar’s day was a treat to photograph because they cared so much about the people around them. Before the wedding, they told me, “Community and family is the whole theme for us, we just want to be with and celebrate with our nearest and dearest. That’s truly the most important aspect of the day.”

That really shows in their wedding photos! Emily and Omar preferred candid wedding photos over posed portraits. They wanted to preserve their friends and family in their element without disconnecting them from the moment. Every smile you see is unprompted and genuine.

Would you like me to photograph your wedding? I’m a Portland wedding photographer. I’ll document your day with nostalgic photos on film and digital. Get in touch with me! 

Thank you to the vendors who made this Whidbey Island wedding so beautiful.
Photography: Andreia Claro Photography
Dress: Cicada Bridal 
Suit: Indochino 
Florist: Camile Craig
Cake: Sweetpea’s Cakes
Catering: Serendipity Catering + Events and Oyster Bar Co, 
Hair and Makeup: Kelsey Rae Noll from Rendering Beauty
Invitation Design: Stacia Starkes with illustrations by Elsie Greer and letter pressed by Girlie Press Inc 
Getting ready and first look venue: Captain Whidbey Inn
Ceremony and reception venue: The Wayfarer