Chebeague Island Inn Weddings | Venue Guide
Perched atop a hill on Chebeague Island, just off the coast of Maine, Chebeague Island Inn offers a secluded and picturesque setting for couples dreaming of an elegant island wedding. With sweeping views of Casco Bay, this beautifully restored 1920s inn combines timeless charm with coastal sophistication. Whether you envision an intimate ceremony on the waterfront lawn or a tented reception under the stars, the inn’s exclusive-use option creates an intimate, personalized experience. Thoughtfully appointed guest rooms, exceptional cuisine, and warm, attentive service make Chebeague Island Inn the perfect destination for a refined yet relaxed New England wedding.
How Much does a Chebeague Island Inn Wedding Cost?
Hosting a wedding at Chebeague Island Inn in Casco Bay, Maine, offers couples a luxurious coastal experience with stunning ocean views and impeccable service. Reception pricing starts at $5,000 during the peak season, with an additional cost of $95 per person for the required catering packages. Bar Packages start at $45 per person, so for a 150 guest wedding we estimate prices to be in the $26,000-$35,000 range. The Inn also has additional packages for eclusive use, which grants use of all 21 rooms the boutique hotel provides. Please note that these figures are approximate and can vary based on specific requirements, guest count, and selected services. For a detailed proposal tailored to your wedding plans, it’s recommended to contact Chebeague Island Inn directly. Looking for other wedding venues? Check out some of our favorites in Maine here.
Why We Love Chebeague Island Inn as a Wedding Venue:
The Inn, while small, is beautifully restored. The nearby reception tent is placed perfectly to the side of the building, allowing the lawn at the top of the hill to remain open to the panoramic view of the ocean. Sitting high on the hill, Chebeague offers as private of a Maine wedding experience as you can find anywhere. Arriving by ferry, your guest experience is quintessential Maine, followed by a gorgeous ceremony view overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The property allows for ultimate customization, and the lower venue fee from most Maine venues allows your budget to extend into your design elements to blow your guests away.
How the heck do you pronounce “chebeague”?
Josie and I have probably pronounced the name of the island and the inn wrong 100 times, even after knowing how to pronounce it correctly. The correct pronunciation is “shuh-big”. The most accepted meaning of Chebeague comes from early native american history, meaning the “Island of Many Springs”. The island’s year round population is only 396, meaning your wedding is going to be just about as private as it gets for a Maine Summer Wedding.
Why Couples Love Chebeague Island Inn for their Wedding
A Destination Wedding Without (all) of the Hassle
Chebeague Island Inn offers the perfect blend of a destination wedding feel without requiring international travel. Just a short ferry ride from Portland, Maine, the island setting feels worlds away while remaining accessible for guests. The moment you step off the boat, there’s a shift—things slow down, and the stress of wedding planning melts into the salty sea breeze. Couples love that their wedding weekend becomes more than just a day; it’s an immersive experience where guests can relax, explore, and celebrate in an intimate setting without the distractions of everyday life.
Exclusive, Private, and Intimate Feel
For couples who want their wedding to feel like a private retreat, Chebeague Island Inn delivers. With the option for a full buyout of the inn’s 21 rooms, you and your guests can take over the property, creating an intimate, all-weekend celebration. No shared spaces with strangers—just your closest friends and family enjoying a carefully curated experience. The exclusivity adds a layer of comfort and ease, allowing couples to truly soak in every moment with their loved ones.
Coastal Elegance with a Timeless, New England Charm
The inn itself is a photographer’s dream, blending historic character with coastal sophistication. Originally built in the 1920s, the property retains its classic charm with thoughtful updates, offering the best of both worlds. The wraparound porch, shingle-style architecture, and curated interiors provide a refined yet welcoming atmosphere. The ceremony lawn overlooks Casco Bay, while a sailcloth tented reception captures that effortless balance of elegance and laid-back island charm. It’s the kind of place where every corner feels intentionally designed, yet nothing feels overly staged—perfect for couples who want their wedding to feel stylish but relaxed. Josie and I have coined this “laid-back luxury”.
Unmatched Views and Breathtaking Sunsets
Few venues in New England can compete with the unobstructed sunset views over the water that Chebeague Island Inn offers. The venue is perched high on the island, ensuring that golden hour floods the entire property with warm, romantic light. Whether it’s a ceremony with the bay stretching behind you, a cocktail hour on the lawn with panoramic ocean views, or a reception that transitions seamlessly from sunset to starlit sky, the setting is naturally stunning at every moment. Couples love that the venue itself does so much of the heavy lifting when it comes to aesthetics—minimal decor is needed when the surroundings are this breathtaking. Even if you don’t get a sunset, and you get some classic coastal Maine fog, the surrounding landscape is still flooded with tranquility and beautiful, elegant Maine.
A Seamless Guest Experience with Built-In Relaxation
One of the biggest reasons couples choose Chebeague Island Inn is because it’s not just a venue—it’s an experience. Beyond the wedding day, guests can enjoy bike rides around the island, rounds of golf at the nearby course, beach walks, or simply unwinding on the inn’s porch with a cocktail. The staff is known for their warmth and hospitality, ensuring that every guest feels welcome and taken care of. Couples love that their wedding weekend turns into a mini-vacation for everyone involved, where every moment—whether planned or spontaneous—feels intentional, relaxed, and unforgettable.
Our Favorite Spot for Photos on Chebeague
While walking down the hill during sunset provides some terrific views, the flowers that surround the reception lawn are beautiful in bloom and makes for a great spot to sneak quickly away from the tent and grab some portraits.
A Preview of a Chebeague Island Inn Wedding
Simple, coastal beauty.
Final Thoughts for your Chebeague Island Inn Wedding
Chebeague Island Inn isn’t just a wedding venue—it’s a fully immersive, unforgettable experience. From the intimate island setting and breathtaking waterfront views to the seamless hospitality and effortless elegance, it’s a place where your wedding weekend feels like a curated retreat for you and your guests. Whether you’re drawn to the exclusivity, the golden-hour glow over Casco Bay, or the perfect balance of refined and relaxed, this venue delivers a wedding that feels both elevated and deeply personal. If you’re dreaming of a coastal New England wedding that’s as timeless as it is stress-free, Chebeague Island Inn is the perfect place to bring that vision to life.
Know the Ferry Schedule
Unfortunately with a Maine island wedding, you are very dependent on the ferry schedule for your guests. You can find more information on the ferry from Cousins Island here, or you can find more information on the ferry that arrives from Portland at this link. Please note, the ferry from Portland takes about 45 minutes, vs the Cousins Island CTC Ferry that takes about 15-20! To get to the island on your own time, we recommend Fogg’s Water Taxi.
Hire a Great Wedding Planner
A wedding planner will help you tremendously for an island wedding, taking a load off of your shoulders to align schedules and coordinate with everyone on timing and logistics! Take one of our reccommendations below:
Pinch Me Planning
Nicole Mower Events
SHE-Luxe Weddings
K. Marie Events
Understand what an Island Wedding Means
If you’re hiring a band, it’s likely that they will need to take a ferry a few days in advance with all of their equipment, as special ferries only transport large amounts of goods certain days of the week. Your vendors will have to make accommodations for their travels to make sure they arrive on time, so it’s best to hire someone like us who have made the trip many times before!
HAVE FUN!
We know it sounds silly, but the most important thing you can do on your wedding day is have fun. Give your guests an itinerary, fully embrace Maine Island Life, and take some time to enjoy your wedding weekend with family and friends. Chebeague Island Inn has great food, so take advantage of the fresh summer menus and enjoy the Island!
THESE MEMORIES LAST A lifetime.
Josie and I offer something you can’t find everywhere: A wedding photography and videography experience by a husband-and-wife team. We are based in Southern Maine, but travel all over the United States and across the globe to photograph and film weddings for couples who put an emphasis on preserving their wedding day memories. We’d love to have the opportunity to get to know you better and create a package that works best for your wedding and vision! Reach out at the contact form below to get the ball rolling – we can’t wait to chat.
