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Book My Wedding
Q: How do I reserve the space and make my wedding date definite?
A: Friday Harbor House will confirm all space requirements for your wedding ceremony, reception, and wedding dinner upon receipt of your signed contract and initial deposit. A counter-signed copy of your contract with confirmed information will be returned to you by mail after the deposit has been posted.
Q: How much is the deposit?
A: A nonrefundable deposit of $1,000 must be sent with the signed contract.
Q: How far in advance do we need to book our wedding?
A: It depends on the time of year for your wedding. Summer weekends in the San Juan Islands book up very quickly and often are booked a year in advance. As soon as you have set the date for your wedding or reception, please give us a call. We will place a 14-day courtesy hold on your date while the contract is being drawn up and to give you time to return it with a deposit.
Q: What wedding locations are available at Friday Harbor House?
A: Wedding ceremonies are held outdoors on the scenic bluff overlooking Friday Harbor Marina and the neighboring San Juan Islands. The bluff accommodates up to 40 people for a standing room only wedding. The San Juan Room or Harbor View Restaurant may be available as a back-up in case of inclement weather.
For wedding parties of 50 to 60 guests, a reception for up to 50 people for a sit-down dinner and up to 60 people for a stand-up reception can be held in the beautiful San Juan Room. Smaller daytime receptions ending by 3:00 p.m. can be in the Harbor View Dining Room. This lovely room accommodates 40 or less people and overlooks the marina. During nice weather the doors can be opened to access the bluff.
Q: How can I save some money?
A: If your dates are flexible, we offer discounts on facility fees and food and beverage minimums during the winter months. Certain dates between November 1 and March 31 each year are available for wedding receptions at a discounted rate.
Q: How do I obtain a marriage license?
A: There is a mandatory three-business day waiting period between issue of license and marriage ceremony. Licenses issued in other counties within the State of Washington are valid. Licenses issued in other states are not valid in Washington. Licenses can be processed through the mail. Licenses can be obtained in San Juan County by contacting the county auditor in Friday Harbor at 360.378.2161.
Q: When is my final payment due?
A: The estimated balance due is required a minimum of thirty days (30) in advance of the wedding date. Payments may be made by credit card or by personal check. A customizable deposit schedule will be provided with your contract.
Q: What happens if I choose to cancel my event?
A: Cancellations made less than three days prior to the event will be charged in full. Cancellations made less than 31 days prior to the event will be charged 75% of the estimated charges, 3-6 months incur a 50% cancellation charge, and within 6 months a 25% cancellation charge would apply. Initial deposits are not refundable and are forfeited due to cancellation. Additional fees are incurred for cancellation of guest room blocks. Your contract will clearly detail these policies for you to read prior to signing.
Wedding Details
Q: Is there a weather alternative space?
A: There is no weather alternative space at Friday Harbor House for your ceremony if you are having both a wedding and your reception onsite. If you are holding your wedding at a time of year that weather may be a concern, our recommendation is to have your wedding at one of the many beautiful indoor wedding venues on the island and then come to Friday Harbor House for your reception.
Q: How early can I set up?
A: Please let us know how much time you will need to decorate and we will work with our schedule to accommodate you as best we can. A minimum of 2 hours will automatically be blocked out, with more time available based on other bookings. You are often able to set up much earlier.
Q: Do you have a dance floor?
A: We do not have a dance floor onsite but can rent one for you from a rental company on the mainland. Additional delivery fees will be assessed by the rental company.
Q: Do you know a good officiate, photographer, or florist?
A: Our island has a wealth of talented vendors, however they book quickly. Your wedding contact at Friday Harbor House can facilitate and coordinate arrangements with your vendors. This service incurs a 25% fee in addition to vendor fees. If you prefer to make arrangements with these vendors yourself, you will contact, contract, and pay the vendors directly. Click here for a list of our preferred vendors. These talented vendors are responsible, timely, and professional. Most are very familiar with our property, adding a welcome level of convenience on your special day.
Q: Can we have a rehearsal for the wedding ceremony?
A: Your ceremony package includes a one-hour rehearsal at no additional cost. This will be provided at a time that does not interfere with other booked events. If your request is for a Friday or Saturday, your wedding consultant can confirm the day for you immediately. However, the specified time will be confirmed no earlier than 45 days prior to the wedding.
Q: Is there a place for the wedding party to change clothes?
A: There are no changing rooms available at Friday Harbor House. It is recommended that the wedding party book at least one guestroom at the inn to give you a place to prepare for the wedding and to leave your belongings during the ceremony and reception.
Q: May we take advantage of the various photo opportunities on the resort grounds?
A: Please do!!! We have beautiful views of the Marina and neighboring San Juan Islands.
Q: Can the front desk distribute my gift bags upon guest's check-in?
A: Yes. We are happy to distribute gift bags to your guests as they check-in; there is a $2 fee per bag for this service. If you would prefer the bags be put in the guestrooms, the fee is $5 per bag.
Catering and Facility
Q: Do you offer buffet or plated meals?
A: We offer a full-service banquet menu that includes passed or plated hors d’oeuvres, full buffet or buffet stations, and multi-course plated meals. Please ask your sales manager for current menus and beverage lists.
Q: How do food and beverage minimums work?
A: Friday Harbor House does not require a minimum guest count to book a reception space, just a food and beverage minimum for each space booked. Your food and beverage minimum is a set amount of purchases you must make in order to rent the facility. This is in addition to the facility fee. You may apply all food and beverage purchases towards this goal. Tax and gratuities are not counted towards the minimum goal. If food and beverage minimums are not met, the balance will be charged to the wedding party’s master account as a room rental fee.
Q: What is included in my facility fee?
A: Your facility fee covers much more than just the room rental fee. For all ceremonies we include a one-hour rehearsal and a one-hour ceremony. For all receptions scheduled at the inn we provide service staff, china, and stemware. Other items such as specialty linens, ceremony site chairs, chair covers, tenting, wedding arches, candelabras, floral arrangements and pedestals may be arranged for additional fees.
Q: What linen is provided?
A: For all wedding and receptions scheduled at the inn, your facility fee provides for service staff, china and stemware, and standard linens for your banquet tables, buffet tables and bar. Other items such as specialty linens, ceremony site chairs, chair covers, tenting, wedding arches, candelabras, floral arrangements and pedestals may be arranged for an additional fee.
Q: When is the guaranteed guest count due?
A: The estimated guest count is due 14 days prior to the event. The final guaranteed guest count is due three business days prior to the event. Friday Harbor House will defer to the 14-day count, should a three-day count fail to be provided. Meal counts must also be provided at this time (i.e. plated dinners, number of children, vendor meals, etc.).
Q: How may I pay my deposits?
A: You may make deposit payments by check or credit card.
Q: How do I handle gratuities? What are your service charges?
A: All food and beverage purchases are subject to 20% service charge and 7.7% Washington State sales tax. Service charges cover all set up, clean up, and gratuities for banquet servers and bartenders. In general, all items listed on your banquet event orders will be subject to service charge and tax. Service charges are taxable.
Q: Can we bring in our own food or alcohol?
A: You may only bring in a wedding cake as we do not have a wedding cake baker onsite.
Q: Does the inn charge a corkage fee?
A: It is inn policy that all alcoholic beverages are purchased through Friday Harbor House. Exceptions may be provided, if the inn is unable to purchase a requested beverage through its own distributors. This applies solely to wine purchases, and corkage fees would be incurred starting at $20 per bottle, plus tax and service charge.
Guestrooms
Q: Is there a group discount available to my guests?
A: Yes. Guestroom rates will be negotiated with your Group Sales Manager and will be dependent on season, availability, day of the week, and total number of rooms blocked. Group minimum is 10 rooms for a discount. Once a rate is negotiated, the number of rooms determined, and the arrival and departure dates specified, this information would become part of the contract outlining your wedding ceremony and reception space.
Wedding party guestroom rates are net, non-commissionable and are based upon single or double occupancy. These rates will be subject to the prevailing San Juan County sales tax, currently 9.7%. There will be an additional charge of $20 for each guest exceeding double occupancy. There is no additional room charge for children under age seventeen. Should luggage handling be required or requested of the inn, a luggage handling fee of $5 per-person, roundtrip, will be assessed for the wedding party, in addition to room rates.
Q: How do my guests make their guestroom reservations?
A: Your wedding party guests will be responsible for making their own reservations directly with the inn’s reservations desk by calling 866.722.7356, or you may provide us with a rooming guest list. Upon booking the reservation, each participant will be required to make a deposit equal to one night’s room and tax. Credit cards and personal checks are accepted for advance deposits. All reservations and deposits must be returned by the contracted cut-off date in order for participants to receive the group rate and a guaranteed reservation. Guests will be charged one night’s room and tax for any room reservation which is not cancelled fourteen (14) days prior to the individual’s arrival, or if they fail to arrive. Guests will not be able to book online for these specially contracted room blocks.
Q: When do reservations for guestrooms have to be made to ensure the discounted rate?
A: The cut-off date for all group reservations is by contract, but generally is 45 days prior to your wedding date. Rooms remaining in the group block after this date will be returned to the resort’s general inventory for sale. Additional group room requests will be honored at the Wedding Party rate on a space and rate availability basis. Please review guestroom needs carefully, as guestrooms that have been contractually held will be charged to the wedding party whether used or not.
Q: Can I find out who has booked their room under my wedding block?
A: Certainly. At any time please feel free to contact the reservations department at 866-722-7356. Our reservationists can email or fax you a current list of information reflecting the names of your guests that have booked their rooms under your block. This list will also show you what room type they have booked, as well as their arrival and departure dates.
Q: Do you allow pets?
A: We currently do not allow pets in our guestrooms.
Q: When can our guests check in and check out?
A: Check in time is after 4:00 p.m. / check out time is before 11:00 a.m.
Activities
Q: What activities are available?
A: Our Front Desk staff provides a wealth of information on exciting activities for your wedding party, family and friends to do in the islands. We can coordinate some of these arrangements for you. Please check with the front desk for information and assistance.
- Sea kayaking from either Friday Harbor or Roche Harbor
- Hiking
- Sailing
- Golf (9-hole course with alternate tees for the back 9 holes)
- Whale Watching/Wildlife Tours
- Shopping
Q: How do I get to Friday Harbor House?
A: Please visit our website for directions and transportation information. Options include floatplanes which land at the Friday Harbor marina, wheeled planes, water taxis, the Victoria Clipper from Seattle (service offered during spring and summer only) and the Washington State Ferry system. Transportation information and assistance is available through your Group Sales Manager.
Q: Can I charter a boat?
A: Charter a private boat for quick transportation or just for fun. A quick 50-minute boat ride from Anacortes is a great way to travel to and from San Juan Island, avoid the ferry lines, and enjoy the opportunity to be out on the water creating new memories with family and friends. Enjoy a whale watching excursion on the way over! Please ask your inn contact for our list of charter boat options.
Q: What is the charge for parking?
A: Friday Harbor House offers limited free onsite parking for our guests. There is also street parking available in the area.
*Due to seasonal changes and the wide range of information covered, all information provided here is subject to change without notice.
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