Colorful Celebration at My 2 Favorite Whidbey Island Wedding Venues

A groom walk towards a bride on a dock at a Captain Whidbey Inn wedding.

March 31, 2025

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.

A bride and groom hold hands during a wedding ceremony under a tree at The Wayfarer Whidbey Island.

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.

Vintage signs hang on a wooden building at Captain Whidbey Inn.
Birds fly over Whidbey Island on a cloudy day.

Venue type: Indoor/outdoor

Starting cost: $35,000

Capacity: 150 guests

An invitation suite lays on a tile ground in a Whidbey Island wedding venue.

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.

A long wedding reception table sits under a tree at a Whidbey Island wedding venue.

Venue type: Outdoor with covered space

Starting cost: $5,100

Capacity: 100 guests

A bride leans on a groom's shoulder outside a yellow shed at The Wayfarer Whidbey Island.

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.

A bride smiles as she puts on earrings.
A bride's family helps her fasten the sleeves of her wedding dress.
A bride walks along the shore towards a groom at a Whidbey Island wedding venue.

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. 
A bride and groom greet each other on a beach outside Captain Whidbey Inn.
A bride holds a colorful bouquet on a dock on Whidbey Island.
A bride and groom pose on a dock before a Whidbey Island wedding.
A bride and groom stand on a staircase outside a Whidbey Island wedding venue.
  • 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.
A bride and groom greet family members under a tree at a Whidbey Island wedding.
A bride and groom kiss under a tree at a Whidbey Island wedding venue.
A bride and groom smile and walk their recessional at a Whidbey Island wedding.
A bartender hands a wedding guest a cocktail.
  • 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.
Oysters sit in a tub of ice at a Portland wedding reception.
Wedding guests put oysters on their plate at cocktail hour on Whidbey Island.
Bright flowers and candles decorate a reception table at the Wayfarer Whidbey Island.
A custom menu sits at a place setting for a Whidbey Island wedding reception.

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.

A bride and groom sit at a long reception table with wedding guests outdoors at The Wayfarers Whidbey Island.
Wedding guests eat dinner outdoors at a table at a Whidbey Island wedding venue.
A server carries a tray of champagne through the Wayfarer Whidbey Island.

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.”

A bride raises a glass during a speech at a Whidbey Island wedding.
A bride and groom cut a heart-shaped cake at their Whidbey Island wedding venue.
A bride and groom kiss in a field at golden hour at their Whidbey Island wedding.
A bride and groom walk through a field laughing at The Wayfarer Whidbey Island.

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.

A bride holds out her lace veil in a field at sunset.
A bride dances with wedding guests in colorful dresses.
A wedding guest in a green dress holds a cocktail.
A bride and groom hold hands and walk towards an outdoor wedding reception at The Wayfarer Whidbey Island.

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

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