Skip to main content
Weddings

About

Fortland is a wedding venue located on the grounds of historic Fort Scammel in Casco Bay, just 10 minutes by boat from downtown Portland, ME. This beautiful 16-acre island venue offers a unique setting for a memorable wedding celebration.

Facilities and Capacity

The 1,500-square-foot dock at Fortland offers views of Portland, Fort Gorges, and Falmouth Foreside, perfect for your waterfront reception, dining, or dancing. The 150-year old stone bastion is ideal for a candlelit dinner or cocktail hour featuring exposed brick and curving arches. Fortland has seven beautifully-furnished camping sites, which can accommodate wedding guests who want to stay overnight. The three yurts and four tent cabins provide a charming and comfortable atmosphere. The composting toilet outhouses ensure that camping guests can access basic amenities while staying on the island. In addition to the camping sites, Fortland also offers an outdoor cooking area, which can be used to prepare meals for the wedding party and guests. The 40" diameter tent is an excellent option for an outdoor reception, providing shelter and welcoming atmosphere for guests to gather and take a break out of the sun. Fortland's historic Civil War-era architecture offers a stunning backdrop for a ceremony, and the panoramic views of Portland Harbor and the calendar islands provide a breathtaking setting for exchanging vows. With its unique and picturesque surroundings, Fortland is sure to leave a lasting impression on your guests.

Services Offered

Fortland provides coordination for boat transportation to the island, cookware such as propane grills and burners, pots/pans, and cooking utensils. Lanterns, linens and bedding, towels, and firewood are also provided. Celebrate your special day at Fortland, a tranquil escape from everyday life while enjoying the therapeutic benefits of the outdoors to mark your new chapter.

illustration popular

Venues you may like

See other venues that are popular with couples right now

Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$6,000

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$5,000

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$6,000

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$5,000

Which of the following are included in the starting site fee?

Bridal Suite
Set Up
Tables
Transportation

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

5

Describe your venue:

Beach
Campsite/Cabin
Historic Building
Park
Waterfront

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Covered Outdoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Elopements
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Accommodations
Get Ready Rooms

What event items are available?

Furniture
Tables
Tents

What transportation and access is available?

Shuttle

What months are included in your peak season?

August
September
October

What months are included in your off-peak season?

June
July

Reviews of Fortland

This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Review summary

Powered by AI

Fortland is a magical, unique island wedding venue near Portland offering stunning coastal views, historic fort settings, and on-site yurts/tents for weekend glamping. Reviewers praised the attentive, resourceful staff for seamless logistics (including boat transport) and excellent event support. Guests loved the atmosphere and highly recommend it for a memorable Maine wedding getaway.

Review summary

Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Fortland is a magical, unique island wedding venue near Portland offering stunning coastal views, historic fort settings, and on-site yurts/tents for weekend glamping. Reviewers praised the attentive, resourceful staff for seamless logistics (including boat transport) and excellent event support. Guests loved the atmosphere and highly recommend it for a memorable Maine wedding getaway.

B
Bryan Sent on 10/06/2023
5 out of 5 rating

The most magical wedding venue in Maine

Our loved ones and friends left the wedding, and one sentiment was shared by all: "the most unique venue and best weddings we've ever been to!"

Fortland is outstanding - surrounded by Casco Bay with views of downtown Portland, several hundred year old historic bastions where we held dinner, beautiful yurts to sleep our friends for an entire weekend stay - our wedding weekend went above and beyond all expectations.

The team at Fortland is incredible. Let me repeat, INCREDIBLE! Kind, generous, caring, and hard working - they not only make the magic happen behind the scenes, they the kindest and most wonderful people we've met in a long time. They are wonderful and were the key ingredient that made our wedding weekend a success and so special.

We can't recommend Fortland enough. It is such a magical place that encompasses all the beauty and natural wonder of Maine. What a perfect place to start our journey of marriage.

We can't wait to come back and celebrate our anniversary each year in the place we said "I do".
A
Allycia Sent on 09/11/2023
5 out of 5 rating

The best wedding venue in Maine!

Fortland is an incredible venue! We are so grateful we found something so unique for our wedding. It is a destination wedding, glamping adventure, and historical wonder - all within 10 min of downtown Portland. Choosing an off-grid island may sound intimidating, but it is no more work than a barn venue. You and your guests get to take water taxis from Portland out to a private island (The island is divided in half with Fortland covering the southern end). We opted for the full island takeover for two nights. A group of our close friends stayed out there with us Friday and Saturday, giving us extra quality time. Gathering around the bonfire both nights really added to the destination/camp feeling.

The island offers a plethora of locations you can hold your wedding events. We had different spots for arrival, ceremony, cocktail hour, and dinner. The lookout deck above the parade ground was a huge hit with our guests during cocktail hour. It offers gorgeous panoramic views of the harbor - the sunset is a can't miss. We chose to have dinner in the fort's bastion and it was magical. The bastion is both romantic and moody. The bastion has views of the harbor perfectly framed for your guests.

The Fortland staff is amazing to work with. They are all kind, helpful, and fun genuine people to get to know! From our first call through to our wedding day we had a great collaborative partner in Fortland. If you’re looking for a venue that you can revisit for anniversaries, and one that your guests will absolutely love, you need to book Fortland.
Anna
Anna Sent on 07/31/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Pure Magic

I wish I could give more than 5 stars to this AMAZING venue. From first "hello" to the "see ya later" the morning after the wedding when we were all leaving, we knew without a doubt Fortland was the best possible venue for us. Besides the fact that House Island is stunning, the staff and their attention to detail are really what make this venue great. They were beyond helpful and accommodating with our millions of questions and all of our guests couldn't say enough good things about their interactions with them as well. The yurts and tents provided a serene and tranquil escape before and after all the wedding craziness for both us and our guests who stayed overnight with us. Though the island provided a few logistical challenges, the staff worked tirelessly with our vendors to ensure we were all on the same page. They're clearly well-versed in figuring out creative fixes and working with anxious brides! All-in-all this venue is absolutely pure magic and the ultimate "Maine wedding" experience. I mean, how can you beat an island venue, the proximity to Portland, the option for guests to stay overnight with you and the beauty that is Fortland?! We couldn't recommend it enough!!
R
Richelle Sent on 06/07/2023
5 out of 5 rating

360 degree views with amazing space!

We held our employee appreciation event at Fortland. Jane and her team were amazing and helped us through the whole planning process to make sure our event went off without any issues! They even made sure our band had boats on and off the island for them and their equipment. It was great!
N
Nancy Sent on 05/17/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Your Guests Won't Stop Talking About This Location!

Fortland is the most amazing and magical place to have any event. Everyone who attended has not stopped talking about the experience. We had our company party out there and staff had such a great time that it has now become a reason to stay at our company just to go to the island party! Staff was professional, helpful and organized while also being friendly and welcoming. They gave us a tour of the island and historic fort and the acoustics were so amazing we had one of our guests play a guitar set inside the walls. All of us are from the area and even though it is a stone's throw from Portland it felt like we were transported to the most quintessential coastal Maine location. The coastal views are unmatched from almost everywhere on the island and there was truly sea glass on Sea Glass Beach!
J
John Sent on 05/04/2023
5 out of 5 rating

A Magical Experience

An absolutely incredible experience! Stefan, Katrina, Jane, Timothy, and the whole team are amazing people, and set up a wonderful time for us and our 32 guests. They went above and beyond helping with everything from booking and getting on the boat to making sure we were comfortable hanging out late into the evening. From the beautiful tents, yurts, and ocean lookouts, to the awe-inspiring civil war-era tunnel systems and forts beneath, this will be an experience you and your companions will never forget.
F
Faith Sent on 04/13/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Micro wedding at Fortland

My husband and I had our micro wedding this past October in dreamy Portland, Maine. My friend Katie, a local photographer, introduced me to the idea of having our ceremony at the stunning “Fortland”. Fortland so generously let us utilize the island for our ceremony/celebration in coordination with a local marina, “South Port Marine”, which assisted with our transportation needs. Fortland staff was very easy to communicate with via email/phone and was extremely flexible and generous with our use of the island/materials. As an added bonus, when we arrived at the island, we were greeted by Fortland owner, Stefan, who so graciously toured us around the civil war era underground tunnels (which made for some absolutely stunning photos). I can’t speak enough about the amazing ocean views from the upper deck and on the perimeter of the island. October 15th was such a stunning days filled with wonderful memories. I highly recommend booking this venue.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

7
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 Winner

Professional Network & Endorsements

Preferred Vendors
Katie Arnold Photography
5.0 out of 5 rating , 8 reviews
· Wedding Photographers
Bethany & Dan Photography
5.0 out of 5 rating , 102 reviews
· Wedding Photographers

Map

Fortland frequently asked questions

Fortland includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Bridal Suite
  • Set Up
  • Tables
  • Transportation
The space offered by Fortland for wedding events is known for:
  • Beach
  • Campsite/Cabin
  • Historic Building
  • Park
  • Waterfront
Fortland offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Covered Outdoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Fortland offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Elopements
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Fortland offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Accommodations
  • Get Ready Rooms
Fortland offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Furniture
  • Tables
  • Tents
Fortland is recommended by 100% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 5.0, with the same score awarded for quality of service, flexibility, value, professionalism and average response time.

Other vendors in Portland for your wedding

Wedding Venues