Hi everyone!

Now that the big date is getting closer and we've ironed out some details, we wanted to give you some updates to help streamline your travel to Friday Harbor.

First, we need to make some revisions to our earlier guidance on the ferry system.

Ferry Schedule:

The summer schedule has been released! Here are the departure times from Anacortes to Friday Harbor:

4:05am

6:15am

9:05am

12:00pm

2:00pm

4:45pm

8:20pm

11:00pm

Reservations:

Washington State Ferries (WSF) releases reservations in three tiers:

First tier (25% of capacity): Released 2 months prior to the sail date (guess the knucklehead who missed this)

Second tier (25% of capacity): Released 2 weeks prior

Third tier (25% of capacity): Released 2 days prior

The last 25% of ferry capacity is held for standby.

If you check the site now, most reasonable slots may already be booked, but don't fret! The next opportunities to secure reservations will be available 2 weeks and 2 days before the sail date! WSF opens up reservations at 7:00am sharp! Bookmark the date you'd like to check reservations and be ready! Otherwise, you can call WSF directly @ 206-464-6400 to book directly.

For example, if you want to make a reservation for September 6th, bookmark August 23rd at 7am to be on the site and ready to book.

Important Tip:

Plan to arrive at the ferry terminal at least one hour before your desired departure time. This will give you enough time to navigate any unexpected delays and ensure you have a smooth boarding process.

Alternatives:

If reservations are already making your head spin, consider walking on or carpooling! The venue is just a 5-minute drive from the ferry terminal!

Last, reservations ARE available for departures from Friday Harbor to Anacortes.

**For any questions or concerns, please reach out to either Alan or Katie!! See you on the other side!

Katie and Alan are pretty damn excited to celebrate their wedding with you! And what better way than to celebrate at one of their favorite places of all time? The San Juan Islands!

From short jaunts down Chuckanut Drive to camp counseling shenanigans at Orkila, the Puget Sound has played an enormous role in Alan and Katie’s lives.

The celebrations will take place at Saltwater Farms, a fun venue nestled just a short drive from Friday Harbor, the main town on San Juan Island. Imagine summer camp for adults. Getting out to the island is always a fun adventure, we’ll cover some basics here just so you are comfortable making arrangements for the wedding. If you are overly confident you can navigate the ferry system without any instruction, at all, like my dad, then scroll to the bottom for the TLDR and we’ll see you on the other side, Otherwise, listen up:

Now, unless you’re feeling incredibly sexy and want to arrive in style via seaplane, most guests traveling from Seattle can count on catching a ferry from the Anacortes Ferry Terminal, about an hour away from Seattle. In peak travel months, the ferry system can seem intimidating, but if you follow the below instructions, you’ll be sloshing back the bubbly with the raucous bride and groom without having broken a sweat.

First of all, make sure to check the WSF Website for all schedule information and reservations. As of now, the summer schedule isn’t yet released, so be sure to check back in a month or two for exact departure/arrival times. The ferry ride from Anacortes takes about 45min to arrive at Friday Harbor, and that includes the various stops it’ll take at the other islands. Generally, you can expect a healthy slough of ferries back and forth from Anacortes to the San Juans (departing Anacortes about once an hour). The price for a ticket for a vehicle is around $75 which is inclusive of driver/passengers and the return trip home.

Whether you're a ferry expert or a Salish Sea virgin, we’d recommend getting to the ferry 1 hour prior to your planned departure time. If you are driving, reservations are a great idea, as stand-by spots are held for only 25% of the ferry capacity (keep in mind, those suckers hold anywhere from 60-140 cars, depending on the ferry). Check the WSF website for the late summer ferry schedule departure times. Don’t miss the ferry, get there early!! Or you'll end up like this guy:

Reserve a ferry spot for your vehicle, get to the Anacortes Ferry Terminal at least 45 min before your ferry departure, plan to spend $65/vehicle, drive very carefully onto the ferry, chow on some Ivars as you wait, enjoy the view, walk around the ferry and take some really cute pics you’d be proud to post on Instagram.