Charming Bellingham Ferry Terminal Wedding
When couples think of wedding venues in Bellingham, WA, they may automatically think of a venue like Lairmont Manor. Not many think of the Bellingham Ferry Terminal as an option right off the bat – but spoiler alert: it absolutely is, and a surprisingly beautiful one at that! Callie & Sam chose to host a Bellingham Ferry Terminal wedding and let me tell you, they made this terminal look phenomenal. You’d never know it was a cruise terminal for ferries to depart and arrive from!
A quick intro to Callie & Sam before you fawn over their gorgeous wedding day – after meeting through mutual friends, these two were brought together by their love for the outdoors. Sam proposed at their favorite lookout & bonfire spot, with a fire set up by their good friends who were hiding close by during the big moment. Such an adorable way to propose, and clearly it went well! I hope you enjoy looking through their beautiful wedding at the Bellingham Ferry Terminal!
Callie & Sam’s Bellingham Ferry Terminal Wedding
Getting ready with friends & family at a nearby hotel
When Callie & Sam planned their wedding, they knew they care much more about spending time with their loved ones rather than focusing on the small details, so it was only fitting that they get ready for the day with their friends & family. Because the ferry terminal isn’t a formal venue dedicated to weddings, you do have to do a bit more DIY planning work to bring together all the elements of your day, such as finding a place to get ready (like a nearby hotel), hiring all of your vendors, and setting up your ceremony. These two had a great time with their closest loved ones as they stepped into their wedding attire, and prepared for the big day ahead.
Creative wedding portraits inside the ferry terminal
I have to say, some of my favorite photos ever are usually the ones taken in unexpected places – like these ones of Callie & Sam standing in front of a random window inside the ferry terminal. We saw this spot, spent a few minutes playing around with the light & shadows, and ended up totally loving the result! Sometimes, you just have to trust your photographer when they stop you at a somewhat-odd spot for photos while you walk around your venue. They may end up being some of your most cherished images from the day!
A dreamy ceremony in front of the Bellingham Bay
One of the biggest draws of the Bellingham Ferry Terminal is the scenic views of the Bellingham Bay you get to enjoy during your ceremony. The floor-to-ceiling windows are a super unique feature of the ferry terminal, and provide some of the prettiest, softest diffused light, especially on overcast days like this one. Which you can pretty much expect for any wedding in western Washington that takes place outside of the summer months!
Sunset portraits on the waterfront before a night of dancing
Before making their way to the dance floor to enjoy the night with their guests, I took Callie & Sam out to the waterfront to enjoy the golden sun peeking through the cloudy skies. You may not think that docked boats would make for a pretty backdrop to wedding portraits, but they definitely do when you have a couple as stunning as this one! We walked around the terminal, stopping at little spots along the way, and used up the last bit of light that this spring day wanted to give us.
Bellingham wedding vendors
The team of vendors for Callie & Sam’s wedding absolutely killed it – did you see that greenery-covered circular arbor they said their vows in front of?! Be sure to check out the awesome people who contributed to this beautiful wedding day below!
Hair & Makeup: Salon Bellissima
Wedding Dress (Shop): I Do Bridal
Floral centerpieces & arch: Angela Cain of 3 C’s Farm
Bridal/bridesmaids’ bouquets: Roozen Gaarde
Rentals (chairs, linens, decorations, etc): 3 C’s Farm
DJ: Whatcom Sound
Catering/Food: Danielle's Back East BBQ
Cake: Pure Bliss Desserts
Donuts: LaFeen’s Donuts & Ice Cream
Why Should You Have Your Wedding at the Bellingham Ferry Terminal?
If you’ve been looking through this gallery and think that you might want to have your own wedding at the ferry terminal, here are some of the biggest reasons I personally think that the Bellingham Ferry Terminal makes for a great wedding venue.
The unique dome-shaped, floor-to-ceiling windows
I mean, did you even see the windows that Callie & Sam got married in front of? I’ve never seen anything like them! They let in a ton of soft, diffused natural light that is super beautiful & flattering on skin, so it’s a no-brainer that this is a gorgeous, unique ceremony location for your big day.
You’ll have waterfront views for days
I may be biased since I live near the water, but one of the best parts of Bellingham is the beautiful views of the bay! At the ferry terminal you get amazing waterfront views (thanks to the fact that this is where ferries dock), and easy access to spots on the water for evening portraits, or even your first look.
You have both indoor & outdoor spaces available to you
Being that the terminal is right next to Marine Park in Fairhaven, you have access to both indoor and outdoor spaces to make use of on your wedding day. Have your first look next to the water, and bring your family outside for family portraits in the park. Then head back into the terminal for your reception – and you can even pop outside again to the park or the dock for sunset portraits. Having an indoor venue is also great for rainy season, which, let’s be honest, is pretty much all year in Bellingham. You won’t have to worry about weather impacting your day!
It can accommodate up to 200 of your favorite people
The ferry terminal is super spacious and can accommodate up to 200 people, so no need to cut down your guest list if you don’t want to – invite ‘em all!
A Kind Review from Callie & Sam
Callie & Sam wrote me the sweetest review after their wedding, so I wanted to share it with you if you’d like to get a feel for what it would be like to work with me. Thank you Callie & Sam!
"Kielen was an ideal photographer from start to finish. She is a great communicator and is very organized and flexible, making the process easy and enjoyable.
Kielen always made sure our preferences were being heard and there were many thoughtful touches throughout the experience. We both felt comfortable working with Kielen as she has a gentle nature but is also good at directing, and we need a lot of direction!
The photos she produces are incredible. We’re amazed at what she can do with various forms of lighting, both indoor and outdoor settings, landscape photos as well as detail pictures. On the day of the wedding, I hardly knew she was there but she was able to capture all of the moments, both big and small.
We are so happy we chose Kielen as our wedding photographer!"
Another Bellingham Wedding Venue to Check Out
Looking for more Bellingham wedding venues to consider for your special day? Lairmont Manor is another one of my absolute favorites – take a look at Abby & Graham’s Colorful & Vibrant Lairmont Manor Weddingfor real-life inspiration!