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Updated May 15, 202415 Stylish Portland, Maine Wedding Venues
Whatever your dream wedding venue looks like, find it at one of these favorite Portland locales.
If you think of Portland as all waterfront and lobster boats, think again. Portland, Maine is filled with gorgeous historical architecture, Victorian-era homes, mountain vistas and, yes, those water views — and you can take advantage of all this and more when you book a Portland, Maine wedding venue. Whether you're planning an intimate destination wedding to Maine during the summer or you have your eye on a wintertime wedding day once the tourists depart for the season, you can find options suitable for any time of year among our 15 stylish, Portland, Maine wedding venues. Just maybe stick to the indoor options during those harsh New England winters?
From the most elegant to the most rustic to the most quintessentially "Maine," here are some of our favorite Portland, Maine wedding venues.
The Press Hotel in Portland, Maine
Stylish and modern, but with a touch of history, The Press Hotel is a fantastic pick for couples seeking a sophisticated wedding venue in the city. With a subtle newsroom theme, the hotel takes its style inspiration from the newsrooms of yesteryear, with herringbone area rugs, wood floors and journalist-style desks. For more intimate weddings, opt for a ceremony or reception space that feels more like a private library than a hotel venue, or the hotel's rooftop. You have four different special event spaces to choose from. Whichever you choose, make sure to get a stunning photo of you and your honey descending the dramatic staircase in the hotel's lobby.
The Portland Sheraton at Sable Oaks in South Portland, Maine
For a classic hotel wedding, but with the flexibility of several outdoor spaces, look to The Portland Sheraton at Sable Oaks. The property's picturesque gazebo offers a lovely spot for an outdoor ceremony, while the indoor grand ballroom provides the high ceilings, chandeliers and ample space that you expect from a hotel wedding venue. Outdoor and indoor fireplaces, as well as newly remodeled public spaces, make for extra spots for you and your guests to mix and mingle, both during and after the big event. For larger weddings, this venue definitely delivers, with space for more than 300 guests.
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Westin Portland Harborview Hotel in Portland, Maine
But for a hotel wedding with water and downtown views, the Westin Portland Harborview Hotel is ideal. Situated in the city's Arts District, the property boasts an array of eye-catching spaces for your ceremony, reception and photos, with sleek architecture and artsy lighting accents everywhere you look. With 11 event rooms; 16,000 square feet of space; and capacity for up to 500 guests, you'll certainly not be left wanting for options when it comes to planning the big day of your dreams. But even if you're having a small wedding, or even an elopement, the hotel still comes through, with virtual hosting capabilities that allow your guests from both near and far to celebrate alongside you.
Bayside Bowl in Portland, Maine
Fun-loving couples looking for a truly outside-the-norm Portland, Maine wedding venue will love Bayside Bowl. Yes, it's a bowling alley, but this is not the bowling alley of your youth. Stylish and adult-focused, Bayside Bowl provides a unique wedding venue that's both fun and fashionable. You get an array of spots within the venue to utilize as you think will best fit your wedding vision, from the light-strung rooftop complete with a vintage Airstream, to the bowling lanes. The venue's in-house caterer makes wedding planning a breeze, with a focus on creative culinary options and local craft brews.
The Public Works in Portland, Maine
If you consider your wedding style to be more industrial than classic, go with an industrial-style Portland wedding venue that reflects that, such as The Public Works. With its concrete floors, exposed ductwork, exposed brick walls, industrial-style lighting and workable garage doors, this space is urban and altogether trendy. You and up to 200 guests will enjoy both indoor and outdoor spaces, including a patio draped with Edison lights. Choose to dress up, or dress down, the venue as much as you like, to create a wedding truly of your own design.
House Island in Portland, Maine
Who wouldn't want to get married on their own private island? House Island is exactly that—a private island a short boat ride away from Portland, where you can create your dream wedding with ease. The island includes more than seven possible ceremony sites, five beaches, three homes (including a 1950s cottage and two luxury homes) and two docks. All in all, you could host a wedding for up to 2,000 guests here. Just keep in mind that full island takeovers require a three-night minimum stay, so House Island is more so the perfect setting for a weekend wedding event versus just one special day.
Fortland in Portland, Maine
Want a Portland wedding venue that feels like you're on your own private island. Fortland is a unique island venue on Casco Bay that's perfect for intimate weddings of 50 guests or fewer. Just a short 10-minute boat ride from Downtown Portland, you'll feel like you're a world away. This is definitely for a couple and guests who enjoy the great outdoors, as your entire crew can stay in yurts and tent cabins on the island for your entire wedding weekend. Exchange vows with views of the harbor as your backdrop, and enjoy an outdoor or indoor reception.
Blind Tiger in Portland, Maine
At first glance, your guests will assume that this boutique hotel is actually a private residence, likely because it was one, in the 1800s. Now, Blind Tiger is a beautifully appointed venue, with its lounge, fireplaces, billiards room, living room and other intimate spaces. The smaller spaces do mean that Blind Tiger is more suited to micro weddings, but if that sounds like what you're planning, you're in luck. The all-inclusive micro wedding packages include stays in nine of the hotel's guestrooms and full use of the back garden and all other public spaces.
Greenwood Garden on Peaks Island in Portland, Maine
If an island wedding appeals to you, but you definitely won't have 2,000 or so guests and you're not necessarily looking to plan an entire wedding weekend, you may want to consider Greenwood Garden on Peaks Island. With views of both Casco Bay and the Portland skyline, this venue is likely what you think of when you think rustic summer getaways to the Maine shore. Enjoy lots of wooded spaces, rocky beaches, expansive lawns and airy indoor spaces, all at your disposal and perfect for a low-key, casual, outdoor wedding.
The Inn on Peaks Island in Portland, Maine
Also on Peaks Island, The Inn on Peaks Island offers the same island setting and the same views, but with a charming inn backdrop. Accessible via ferry, the inn offers cottage-style guestrooms for those who want to stay a while, but for the day of your wedding, you can expect to choose from two wedding ceremony locations, either outdoors on the water or inside the inn. Tent receptions give you extra room for dancing, dining and the like. However you plan your big day, the inn is ready to welcome you, your sweetheart and up to 100 guests.
Saltwater Grille in South Portland, Maine
For a restaurant wedding venue with water views, you'll love Saltwater Grille in South Portland. The restaurant offers two event spaces: The Spinnaker Room with its cathedral ceilings, large windows and abundant natural light and the larger Seawatch Room with its exposed wood beams, beachy vibe and outdoor balcony. There's room for up to 112 guests at this Portland-area venue, and couples rave about the classic New England cuisine.
Ri Ra Irish Pub & Restaurant in Portland, Maine
Host an Irish wedding an ocean away from the Emerald Isle. Thanks to Ri Ra Irish Pub & Restaurant, you and your sweetie can enjoy an Irish-style big day, complete with all the dancing and drinks your heart could desire. But this venue is no dingy pub; instead, it's a high-end maritime-themed venue with ocean views and elegant touches that accentuate both the Irish vibe and the region's culture and history. Since it is a restaurant, the venue is on the smaller side, suitable for guest lists of up to 150 people.
Beech Ridge Barn in Scarborough, Maine
You only need to drive about 15 minutes outside of downtown Portland to find enough wide open spaces for a rustic farmhouse wedding. At Beech Ridge Barn, you'll discover a restored, 1800s property, inclusive of the barn, farmhouse and a separate guesthouse, all set on 25 acres and suitable for weddings of up to 250 guests. Invite your wedding party to stay over at the five-bedroom farmhouse or equally large guesthouse; you'll have plenty of space to get ready on the day of. When it's time to say "I do," choose from multiple ceremony sites.
Black Point Inn in Scarborough, Maine
For a quintessential Maine waterside wedding, look to Black Point Inn, another venue just a short drive outside downtown Portland. The historic inn is exactly what you'd envision for a Maine getaway, complete with Adirondack chairs on the vast front lawn and expansive stretches of shoreline. The luxurious hotel provides four event spaces and endless ways to customize them to fit your wedding vision, whether you want a formal, fine dining-centric reception or a low-key clam bake on the beach. Plan an entire wedding weekend at the inn and the helpful staff will further assist in planning rehearsal dinners, farewell brunches and other aspects of your wedding.
Chebeague Island Inn in Portland, Maine
Situated on another one of Portland's Casco Bay islands, Chebegaue Island Inn is a boutique luxury hotel outfitted with everything you could need for a dreamy wedding overlooking the water. Whether you want to set up your banquet tables on the waterfront lawn and chow down on some Maine lobster or you'd like to mingle with your guests underneath the stars but protected from the elements, thanks to this inn by the sea's gorgeous glass house, your options are varied, no matter the season. Invite up to 200 guests and let the staff—who only accept a limited number of wedding receptions each season, to ensure you get the utmost attention—take care of the rest.
