We're big off season travelers and had the magical experience of having this place to ourselves over Christmas. Our Scandinavia-inspired guesthouse was exactly what we were looking for - thoughtfully designed with huge windows, nestled among towering trees, and every amenity was extremely considered and of the highest quality. The property itself is spectacular with a communal garden, hot tub, and sauna plus plenty of space to wander. There's also a trio of goats and views of the North Bay for days. Core memories made! read more

I'd like to "Thank You" for the generosity you showed my family during the Tribute to Matthew Miller on Saturday, April 12, 2025. It was a perfect day of weather after a long winter of rain. The event space and grounds far exceeded any expectations. Both Valeri and Shayne were professional and delightful. I highly recommend Saltwater Farms to anyone who wants to book any event on San Juan Island. Best, Christine Miller and family read more

Saltwater Farm was our dream wedding venue, and it lived up to our impossibly high expectations. The rooms were so comfortable, and having our guests onsite made the event so special. The venue itself is just gorgeous, and needs very little in the way of decor. We really felt like we were showing all of our guests exactly why we love the San Juans, and that was so wonderful. It was great to be able to keep the dance party going until midnight, as well as to have the option of camping for our guests. We're so excited to return -- and are going to try to convince everyone we know to get married there! We'd like to specifically call out Shayne and Valeri - both were so lovely and friendly all weekend, and our guests had only positive interactions with them. At one point someone said "I think Valeri might have the power to be in multiple places at the same time?", because it just seemed like she was everywhere, doing everything. Thank you both for making the weekend so special! read more

We visited for a wedding last weekend, and Saltwater Farm has some of the most beautiful spaces on San Juan Island. The way in is a little dusty so watch your shoes, but once you're inside you're in for stunning views and dazzling arrangements. The fenced garden is gigantic, and can fit over 150 people and still have plenty of room left! And the dance floor and bar that's right in the center of it? Amazing, and I have no notes. Though, I will say that the dance floor is a little precarious and difficult to get on and off of. A hand rail or two might be nice for any guests with mobility issues. But, the grassy knoll overlooking the ocean is perhaps the nicest view on the entire island. On a summer's day with the sea breeze cooling you off, being here meant I was perhaps at the nicest wedding I'd ever been to. It seems that there's a ton of flexibility for what can be at a wedding here, and this space and what you can do with it will leave a lasting impression on me for the next decade, if not longer. Also note: I haven't worked with the management here, so I can't accurately attest to what it was like to work with them! I can just speak about the experience that the happy couple curated for us. read more

We recently attended our close friends' wedding at Saltwater Farm and had an amazing experience. Our guest house was beautiful and came fully stocked with soaps and shampoos from local vendors, extremely comfortable sustainable linens, and farm fresh eggs and pastries delivered each morning. Waking up to the beautiful view of the forest each morning was peaceful and serene. Each morning we found ourselves enjoying the garden which was in full bloom and saying hello to our new goat friends. They were excited to have company! Overall, the property was absolutely beautiful and offered more than I could have imagined. The owners and staff were more than accommodating and truly made sure our experience was top notch. We look forward to our next trip back in the near future. read more

My wife and I got married at Saltwater Farm in September 2019 and I can easily say: having our wedding here was an absolute DREAM! We really wanted to keep our wedding eco conscious. This brought a whole different level of challenge to the planning process but Andrew, Merriss, and their team were MORE than accommodating. They kept high communication with us through the our planning process, were on top of changes as they happened, and really enabled something that exceeded our expectations. Our guests who stayed on-site, loved the cabins, as did we! Those who didn't stay on site were able to make a weekend getaway and found the location to be very close to town and the ferry. Locals from Seattle walked or drove onto the ferries. Out of town folks rental cars or took seaplanes to the island. Access was NOT much of an issue. Beyond all of the technical elements and the professionalism and friendliness of the Saltwater Farm staff, the facilities are incredible. The barn is gorgeous. The cabins are wonderfully little weekend homes. The sound system in the barn bumps, and common area was great for our little meals and a preparation for the bride and her bridesmaids. The garage was an awesome man cave for the groom and groomsmen to prepare in with some games of pool and a bard. And, last but certainly not least, everything about the farm is absolutely idyllic. Not only do they take great care of their guests and have great facilities, they have truly built a dream wedding venue in a GORGEOUS location. Being a photographer myself, it was a no brainer to select this location once we did our first visit. I knew that our photographer and videographers would have incredible scenery as backdrops as they captured our preparation, the ceremony, and then the reception. We were even able to sneak away for 45 minutes during a post-ceremony, pre-reception, sunset photoshoot at nearby South Beach, which was well worth the time before returning to an epic party with our friends and family. We will be back for our anniversary every year! Thank you to everyone at your wonderful farm, for giving our dream wedding a home. We're forever grateful! I think our video (by Kyle Kotajarvi) does a great job, showing the farm and island. For more: https://youtu.be/nvXPFj07lWs read more

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My son and daughter-in-law held their absolutely magical wedding at SWF over Memorial Day weekend. The venue is incredible and the setting unparalleled. Our guests, who came from all over the US and few of whom had visited the PNW much less the San Juan Islands, were stunned by the natural beauty. We bought the two night package and held a welcome supper for 100 guests in the garden on Saturday followed by the wedding and reception on Sunday evening. Our wedding party and family occupied the entire property, even using the camping facilities. Other guests stayed off property in lovely Friday Harbor. The staff of SWF were very helpful and professional and went out of their way to create a smooth weekend and welcoming atmosphere. It has to be said that planning a wedding on an island is not for the faint hearted, but everything went off flawlessly and every invested minute of extra planning and effort paid off tenfold. I can't imagine a more beautiful, personal and truly exceptional venue. read more

UPDATE TO RESPOND TO BUSINESS COMMENT: The claim that they are fully prepared to host a 150-person wedding the second weekend of July is, to us and probably anyone following the news, disingenuous at best. Their version would be spreading people out all over a property and keeping people in separate spaces, after you've paid them $16,000. Even then, they wouldn't be allowed to host 150 people under Phase 3. Also, don't buy that they are offering us a refund for "any costs we have not yet incurred in preparation for your wedding." You know how much they offered us? $2,000. $2,000 out of $16,000. Apparently they've incurred $14,000 for a wedding that never happened! Finally, they have not provided us full "An Unforgettable Weekend" bookings during Summer of 2021, as they appear to make it sound below. That's simply not true. They've offered us weekdays, and out of peak season weekends that cost about half of what we paid them. It now appears that they're asking friends to pad their reviews, including (it seems) family members describing them as "easy to work with." I would certainly hope! read more

The ridiculousness of refusing to refund our monies paid for a wedding we had to cancel due to this venues outright refusal to equitably reschedule our wedding due to the covid-19 pandemic is just unconscionable!!! I guess it's on to the Washington State Attorney Generals office now as well as the Better Business Bureau to get our refund!!! I hope you're ready to rumble Saltwater Farm because we sure are!! See you in court!! It's times like these when I sure am happy we have a prominent Attorney in the family who will handle this situation for us pro bono!!!! Despite Andrew F 's claims, I was in fact an actual customer of this so called business until they ripped us off!!!! read more

Two years out can say that while the property is stunning, the management experience added so much unnecessary stress and unpleasant conflict. Our ferry was delayed hours and we arrived on site 8 hours later than planned and attempted to do some early prep to make up time, which ended with a horrible interaction in which their on site staff walked in, did not say hello or introduce herself, began to ask "did you get express permission to use the kitchen? I'm going to go call Andrew and see about this!" After slamming cupboards and aggressively moving our belongings around. Then hours later without apology attempted a "oh, lleve your jumpsuit!" in a stunningly in genuine sugary sweet voice. For a weekend where I was feeling incredibly raw and present, excited to celebrate a new chapter with my community, I hadn't anticipated needing to ask the venue to remember our humanity and just interact with us in a semi respectful manner, like saying hello on our first morning when we were 16 hours into our rental. There were a few other incidents like this that I had to try my absolute hardest to suppress so I could enjoy the weekend. My wedding weekend. All to say, I loved my wedding for the people in my life, but if I could do it again the pictures aren't worth the treatment and I'd do it differently. Just something I would have wanted to know so thought I'd share. read more

Beautiful cabins on a farm with a view of vintage planes taking off and landing? Yes please! Such a sweet little corner of San Juan Island, and only a 15-minute walk to town. We'll definitely be visiting every year, and maybe planning a wedding anniversary party here. read more

The Saltwater Farm team was such a joy to work with in planning our wedding on San Juan Island. From start to finish, we were wowed by the care, professionalism, attention to detail, and willingness to go every inch of every mile to help make the day a success. The team took the time to get to know us as a couple, to understand our hopes, and work with us to see plans come to life. We rented the property for a weekend so that some of our guests traveling from across the country could enjoy the cabins and grounds and feel settled in and at home on San Juan Island. The property is stunning with a mix of old-growth Douglas fir, meadows, overlooks, and trails. While still very close to Friday Harbor, the large property feels tucked away and all your own for the party. We had an intimate and peaceful rehearsal brunch at the Inn. We were married in a ceremony on the lawn overlooking the ocean, hosted a warm bright cocktail hour in the field, dinner, and dancing in the gorgeous barn + stayed the night in the bridal suite. We can not sing the praises of this venue and management team enough and know you will have a wonderful event if you choose Saltwater Farm. The design is absolutely stunning and constructed so thoughtfully. Flush with amenities and yet sustainably built and simple enough to feel close to nature, the Inn, cabins, and barn leave space for your creative vision but without the blank slate of a ballroom. As the newest major venue in the San Juan Islands, the team is open and creative to couples' ideas for how to enjoy the property. This never felt like we were hustled through or just another wedding at a fast-paced site. With lots of lead time, the Saltwater Farm team was upfront and proactive in engaging with us and our vendors to work out a smooth plan for the day. As we delightfully slipped off schedule on our wedding day, the on-site kitchen let our caterer make timeline adjustments so our guests could enjoy the day without hustle. Locations were simple for all vendors to set-up and schedules were flexible. Every interaction we had with the team was positive and we left wishing we could book Saltwater again immediately to throw the same party every year. If you're reading this review and haven't scheduled your tour and booked your date, know this venue is one of a kind and a truly special gem in the wedding landscape. read more

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I've planned weddings all over WA state for the past 13+ years and I must say Saltwater Farm is a fantastic wedding venue!! They have great views, multiple outdoor areas for gatherings, their barn is perfect for large events and their cabins are gorgeous!! Every detail has been thought through when creating their venue and you can tell! San Juan Island is already a magical place to visit, but then when you add spending time at Saltwater Farm, it is icing on the cake!! I can't recommend this property enough for anyone interested in a weekend away or as a place to get married!! It is phenomenal! read more

Saltwater Farm at Friday Harbor - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

I was lucky enough to attend a fabulous wedding at Saltwater Farms when they just opened. Even though it was their first event, it was clear that the owners were incredibly invested and devoted to making our experience as smooth as possible. The facilities were beautiful, and the view of the sound were breathtaking. I hope to be able to visit again soon! read more

I am a bride who worked with Saltwater Farm after my fiancé and I had to cancel our wedding at a different venue due to the ongoing pandemic. Andrew and Merriss showed us incredible grace as we considered Saltwater as a new venue for our wedding. They were communicative, patient, and clearly understanding of the emotional turmoil we'd endured in cancelling our original wedding. Moreover, the property is even more beautiful in person. The architecture is stunning, and no detail has been overlooked. Having grown up in WA, and seen a *lot* of venues over the years, I really don't think anything compares to Saltwater in terms of location and thoughtful design. On a personal note, I understand firsthand the heartbreak of having to postpone a wedding and not being able to re-secure a Summer date. That is exactly what happened to us with our original venue. At the end of the day, everyone is having to endure losses and make compromises. I've seen a whole spectrum of vendor responses in replanning our wedding: Some exceptionally gracious, some disappointing but understandable, and sadly, some do not feel ethical. At the end of the day, every business is different, and fully "taking the hit" is more feasible for some than others. With that being said, having seen it all, we genuinely feel the owners of Saltwater run an ethical business that puts couples first. read more

The location is just spectacular, with a mix of dense, misty forest and sweeping meadows with views looking out over the sea and neighboring islands. Architecture fans will love the clean, minimalist designs of the cabins and main lodge that complement and frame the scenery. And the warm hospitality of the hosts, Merriss and Andrew, make the whole place feel like a home. read more

Saltwater Farm at Friday Harbor - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

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Merriss and Andrew have poured their heart and soul into a beautiful venue with outstanding design that will be perfect for all gatherings (when gatherings are allowed again!). The Farm is walking distance (a long walk, but a walk nonetheless) from Friday Harbor, so it's convenient to the ferry and seaplanes, and there's plenty to do and see in a weekend. We have stayed at the Farm twice and loved every minute in the Scandinavian-style cabins, the gorgeous Gathering Space, and the spectacular forest and farm surroundings. I can't say enough about the design of the buildings; it reminded me of staying at Juvet Hotel in the fjords of Norway! Merriss and Andrew and their family are hard at work making the farm a lovely destination for weddings and gatherings of all kinds. Go! read more

The cabins and the property are beautiful! The barn that our friends' wedding reception was in was spacious and it was such a fun time having everything be onsite on the property. read more

Absolutely gorgeous setting for our wedding. Our guests could not stop talking about how beautiful the property was- it sits on a big piece of land the overlooks the sea on one side and is forested on the other. Merriss and Andrew, the owners, have put a ton of time and effort into making this place special and it shows throughout the property which gets better every time we visit. Beyond the property itself they were great to work with as well. We were one of the couples who had to reschedule our wedding due to COVID and they were completely honest, transparent, and flexible working with us to find a solution that could work for all parties involved and to ensure that the date we finally had our wedding would be as magical as we planned. They went out of their way to check in and make sure everything would run smoothly prior to the event as well. Thank you to Merriss, Andrew, and Hannah! read more

Saltwater farm has a very large facility and lots of rural property with some modern attractive small individual cabins and some large event pavilions. However the staff left a lot to be desired and really upset and disturbed us so much so that we left immediately after and have told others about our rude encounter with the Australian accented male who spoke to us and told us one thing and then did the opposite. We were deceived and after waiting well past the 20 minutes he told us to wait it was for nothing as then he just told us too bad and was very curt and rude about it making several cutting remarks. His seemingly ageism (as we couldn't see any other reason for him to act this way) was shocking and really upsetting to my wife. We wouldn't recommend this place to friends or family or anyone really. We travel quite a lot but can't even recall being treated so disrespectfully by any staff people like this in decades. It's only because of the attractiveness of the setting that I'm giving this place a grade of C. read more

They do not take care of their customers! Greedy and selfish to say the least. I hope they can reevaluate their actions and step up for the people they promised to take care during the best day of their lives. read more

Saltwater Farm was an incredible destination for our farmstyle wedding. Merriss and Andrew have crafted an extraordinary place with the beautiful barn, stunning landscape and accommodations of all kinds. This piece of property will knock your socks off and is conveniently close to town which is absolutely essential when trying to share the islands with your friends and family. Every detail of our day turned out perfectly and I'm looking forward to returning to celebrate anniversaries here for many years to come. Thanks Merriss and Andrew! read more

Saltwater Farm is providing zero reasonable accommodation for COVID-19 related cancellation or rebooking. Not only are they refusing to issue a refund for a $16k summer weekend booking, but they are actually trying to charge MORE for moving the wedding to a weekday during the off-season or in 2021. A lawyer had to be brought in. After several reviews about this were posted to their Facebook, they deleted it, and have been getting relatives to start padding their Google and Yelp reviews. read more

My husband and I planned our wedding at Saltwater Farm last summer (with the amazing help of our wedding planner, Katie Stringer) and it was the best experience we could have imagined. Andrew and Merriss were in constant contact with us and always seemed happy to answer any of our (many) questions and requests. They made us feel like they truly wanted our wedding to be the best day of our lives. They worked with us when we changed our guest count, allowed us to make the venue feel like our own, and still say hi and ask how we are doing when we cross paths on the island. The barn is incredible and all of the guest accommodations are amazing as well. San Juan Island is so lucky this family decided to build this venue, it's exactly what this island needed. We are locals to the island but having our wedding at Saltwater Farm made it seem like a destination wedding, even for us. Thank you Saltwater Farm read more