Here’s what you know: You’re not getting married in a hotel. That’s just not your style. And though your father-in-law’s dahlias are divine, his toolshed is enormous. So a garden wedding at the in-laws’ is out.

Here’s what else you know. You love the outdoors, the moss-draped, fern-filled Pacific Northwest in particular. You want everyone you love in one place, well taken care of and away from the duties of home and work. And you know you want to spend conscientiously, which means paying for what matters:  a beautiful wedding and… environmental education (yes, that’s right, read on.)

It sounds like IslandWood might be the perfect fit. We are so much more than an eco-friendly wedding venue. We are an environmental learning center for students and community and a graduate program in environmental education. And we just happen to have a gorgeous campus and incredible food.

Here are a 10 more things you might like to know. On second thought, make it a baker’s dozen. There’s just too much good stuff to share.

1. IslandWood is naturally beautiful.

Your guests will know it on arrival. A short trail that gently curves around giant cedars and moss-covered maples will take them from the parking lot to the Welcome Center. And that’s just the beginning. You and your guests can hike the trails that wind through our 250 acres of Pacific Northwest majesty.

2. Satisfying and palette-pleasing food.

“Please pass the peas—and the Wild Alaskan king salmon with blackberry gastrique, roasted fingerling potatoes, and seasonal vegetables.” Chef Jim White creates elegant but unfussy food from local, organic, and sustainably sourced ingredients. He has exciting ideas and listens well, producing a menu that will please your palette, whether it calls for BBQ or buttered beets.

3. Plenty to do – and learn.

Get in a morning run or yoga session, hike in the afternoon, climb a canopy tower, take the kids to a tree house, play a scavenger hunt, take a cooking class, study with a naturalist… oh, and yes, get married!  Really, there’s no reason to leave campus. But if your guests feel like exploring, there are beaches, trails, bikes and kayaks for rent locally, and a charming downtown with restaurants, coffee shops, a terrific bakery, wine tasting rooms, and boutiques.

4. You won’t have to share.

When you host a weekend wedding, the campus is entirely yours for the weekend. The only wedding crashers you’ll see are the deer who come to nibble in our meadows.

5. You’ll have to take a boat.

A 35-minutes ferry ride from downtown Seattle makes our Bainbridge Island location just far enough to feel special without being inconvenient.

6. Rustic, but not too rustic.

“I call top bunk!” That’s right, we’ve got bunkbeds for who like them. Our lodges have the homey feel of a cabin in the woods with a touch of refinement—organic cotton sheets, rooms decorated with the work of local artists, and a Great Room, with a fireplace, in which to gather with friends and family.

7. A gift to the planet.

If Earth had a gift registry, environmental stewards would be at the top of the list. By choosing IslandWood, you are supporting our environmental education programs for children, graduate students and community members.

8. Sustainable.

Solar panels, local food, forest certified wood, composting, native plantings. Every design choice was made with the welfare of the planet in mind.

9. Rain or shine, we’re ready.

We call it Creaky Tree Meadow. Once the seating is arranged and perhaps an arbor festooned with flowers, you’ll call it the perfect setting for your ceremony. But if rain is in the forecast, you can move it indoors to our Great Hall, grand in stature but warm in ambiance.

10. Amazing photo ops.

Picture you and the one you love standing on a suspension bridge spanning  a deep ravine in a sun dappled forest. That’s just one stunning photo opportunity. Check out our @islandwoodweddings Instagram account for so many more.

11. Dedicated & detailed event planners.

Our event planners love what they do and they’re very good at it. You’ll feel that love in every decision and every detail. They’re all yours from arrival to departure.

12. Gay, straight, Muslim, Catholic…

We welcome all couples, all people, and all love.

13. S’mores!

Is there any better way to spend an evening than sitting around a fire pit making s’mores at our Friendship Circle? Anyone have a guitar? If not, perhaps a little impromptu acapella?

Okay, so you’re ready to take the next step and talk to someone on our wedding team? Please reach out to [email protected]!