Travel
Portland will be the hub for our wedding weekend, with our big day taking place on Peaks Island — a small island just off Portland’s coast.
There are lots of ways to get to Portland, but only one way to get to Peaks. We’ve got all the travel details, ferry information, parking tips, and accommodation recommendations below.
Scroll away!
Getting there
By Car
If you’re down to make the drive, Maine makes for a great road trip!
We have a few hotel options below that offer valet parking for a fee if you’ll be taking the open road. And no need to bring your car to the island, since the venue is so close to Casco Bay Lines (aka the ferry station).
A note on parking:
Maine residents, as you may well know, parking at the ferry can be tricky. There may be spots available in the parking garage, but if not, there are options for street parking near Casco Bay Lines.
And for folks going the Airbnb route or staying outside of Portland’s Old Port area, we recommend taking an Uber to the ferry to avoid parking altogether.
By Plane
You could fly straight into Portland Jetport. It’s great because you’ll be close to accommodations and the Old Port as soon as you land.
To the Wedding Venue
The day of the wedding, get to Casco Bay Lines at 56 Commercial Street by 2:15PM (a little earlier is even better!)
We’ll have a dedicated ferry for wedding guests departing at 2:30PM that you can hop on. Look out for a boat called “Aucocisco”, or big signs that say “Julia & Don”.
Peaks is just a twenty-minute ferry ride away, and Greenwood Garden (aka the venue) is a five-minute walk from the dock when you arrive on the island. Just go up the hill to the stop sign, take a right, and walk straight.
Accommodation
Options
Where should I stay? Island or mainland?
We recommend staying on the mainland in Portland, ideally in the Old Port, which is a small, historic strip along the waterfront. It’s close to the ferry terminal, it’s where most of our events are happening, it’s pretty much walkable, and there’s a lot more going on there than on the island.
While Peaks Island is beautiful, it’s pretty small with limited lodging and dining options. Bringing a car over on the ferry also costs about $160 round trip, and spots sell out quickly.
Airbnb
Airbnb is great for exploring Portland, booking with a group, and potentially saving some cash. We’d recommend staying in Portland, close to Casco Bay Lines for easy transportation on the big day. Check out Airbnb options here.
Convenient Hotels
Any hotel or Airbnb in Portland will be convenient. But staying in the Old Port — closest to the action — will be most convenient. Some Old Port hotels we recommend are: the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Waterfront, the AC Hotel Portland Downtown, and the Hampton Inn Portland Downtown (good for pets!)
Budget-Friendlier Hotels
These options would be a short drive or longer walk to the ferry or events going on over the weekend, but they’re great for avoiding the summer surge prices for hotels directly in the Old Port. We’ve linked discounted prices.
Check out the Aloft by Marriott (not too far from the ferry), The Clarion, Hilton Garden Inn, La Quinta Inn & Suites.