A Backyard San Juan Islands Wedding
As a Washington-based destination wedding photographer, I’ve had the opportunity to document weddings all over the Pacific Northwest, but few places offer the kind of grounding beauty that Lopez Island does. This past season, I photographed a backyard wedding on the bride’s grandmother’s property that fully embraced the quiet, purposeful pace of the San Juan Islands, and it reminded me of what weddings are all about: community, intention, and the love surrounding the couple. I shot Maddie and Nils’ San Juan Islands wedding on a mix of digital and 35mm film in the beginning of September as the season started to change.
Lopez Island isn’t the flashiest of the San Juans—that title probably goes to Orcas or San Juan Island itself—but that’s exactly the appeal. It’s less touristy, more laid-back, and deeply rooted in community. For couples who want a San Juan islands wedding that feels personal and un-rushed, Lopez checks every box.
Summertime San Juan Islands Wedding
This San Juan Islands wedding I photographed was held at the bride’s family property—a beautiful farm with a field that had sweeping views of the strait and ferries arriving to the island. I was the only hired vendor for the day, with the bride and groom cooking all the food for their guests themselves (you read that right!!!) with some help from locals that manned the smoker and barbeque, florals locally sourced and made themselves, a DJ who was also a friend, and a community that came together to fill in any remaining gaps. When I tell you that I felt I was part of their family for the day, I truly mean it! You could feel the love and admiration for the couple in the air and it was super special to be part of.
One of the main advantages of planning a San Juan Islands wedding on private property is flexibility. On Lopez, this means no strict curfews, no back-to-back bookings, and no competing with tourists for event space. It was extremely important to Maddie and Nils that we remained true to their relationship, so their timeline was very relaxed allowing for more genuine and authentic moments. We didn’t rush getting ready photos, skipped the flat lays, and their first look was no frills. They were barefoot all day long and wanted a timeline that reflected the intentional and slow pace of island living, focusing on their community and those they love most. So that’s what we did!
The Logistics: Not as Complicated as You Think
Because of the nature of being on the islands, it’s important to plan around the ferries. To get to Lopez Island, you leave from Anacortes and it’s super important to book your reservation in advance! I also encourage people to get to the ferry terminal well ahead of time to avoid risk of missing your reserved ferry. I got in the morning before their wedding and with about 45 minutes to spare before departure. It worked out perfect because the ferry was full shortly after! To find the ferry schedule (often released a few months in advance) click here. There are a couple of cute BnBs on the island, but overall accommodations can fill up quickly so once you’ve decided a San Juan Islands wedding is what you want, I encourage people to book their stays asap! I stayed at the Lopez Islander Resort which was lovely and also had a delicious restaurant on the marina!
A Wedding day in the San Juan Islands
I arrived to Maddie’s grandma’s house and was immediately in love. Family and friends were putting the final touches together while Maddie finished getting ready with two of her closest girlfriends. After they were both ready (with help from their lovely pup!), Maddie and Nils did their first look on the balcony with views of the ferries coming in. Nils could hardly make it out of the door before tears started flowing, and Maddie’s dad peeked around the corner to join them shortly after. We then segued into family photos and relaxation time before the ceremony!
Their ceremony was communal, with a huge focus on their family. They didn’t have a bridal party, but rather had their loved ones walk down the aisle to greet Nils during their San Juan Islands wedding. Parents, siblings, grandparents – everyone got a chance to be part of their day and that was super important to them.
After an intentional and emotional ceremony – I’ve never seen so many guests crying and it queued the waterworks for myself – we headed into cocktail hour where they mingled with their guests and soaked up the love. We snuck off for bride and groom photos while their guests dished up dinner, then it was time for dances and the party! They cut the cake (that was also made by a loved one!) as September’s corn moon glowed red in the distance and their family danced the night away.
Final Thoughts
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to weddings, but if you’re looking for a slower pace, a natural setting, and the freedom to make the day your own, a backyard wedding on Lopez Island is worth considering. As a photographer, it’s a dream to document events where the focus is on connection rather than production.
If you’re in the early stages of planning your own San Juan Islands wedding and want to keep things intentional and grounded, I’d love to talk so let’s connect! Whether you’re drawn to Lopez, Orcas, or San Juan Island itself, there’s no shortage of incredible backdrops out here—and no shortage of stories waiting to be told. If you want to see some of my other wedding work, click here to see the latest love stories I’ve captured.