Located just a quick 10-minute boat ride from downtown Portland, ME, Fortland is an island wedding venue. It is situated on the grounds of Fort Scammel on House Island in Casco Bay and offers 16 acres of camping ground.
Arriving at Fortland, you are greeted by the stunning panoramic views of Portland harbor and the calendar islands, creating a breathtaking backdrop for your special day. Your guests can enjoy the unique experience of staying in a yurt or tent cabin and being surrounded by the natural beauty of the Maine coast. There are composting toilet outhouses and an outdoor cooking area, a 40" diameter tent perfect for an outdoor reception or cocktails. The island also offers the perfect backdrop for more traditional celebrations, with 40,000 square feet of historic Civil War-era architecture and tunnels. Host a waterfront reception on the 1,500-square-foot dock with stunning views of Falmouth Foreside, Portland, and Fort Gorges. Or, for a more intimate setting, The west bastion provides the ideal atmosphere for a candlelit dinner or cocktail hour. Its exposed brick and curving arches make it a truly unique space that will set the tone for an unforgettable event.
At Fortland, we pride ourselves at offering an event experience defined by a sense of adventure and a touch of magic. We provide everything you need to stay on the island in comfort, including linens, towels, bedding, cookware, and firewood. Say “I do” at Fortland for an experience that brides, grooms, and guests alike will never forget.
Audrey this place looks great and you and misa. Can go out for an overnight so you can see how you like it. An all in one venue is lesss expensive and you can choose everything Reviewed on 27-12-2023
Bryan Funk(other)5 out of 5 Rating
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\". Reviewed on 06-10-2023
Allycia Jones(other)5 out of 5 Rating
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. Reviewed on 11-09-2023
Anna Szendrei(other)5 out of 5 Rating
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!! Reviewed on 31-07-2023
Richelle Brossi(other)5 out of 5 Rating
We booked Fortland for our company's employee appreciation event. Jane and the team were all amazing to work with and welcoming. They provided us with all the information needed to ensure our event was a success and our planners were even able to spend the night in this beautiful space to enjoy some quiet moments just taking in our surroundings and relax. Reviewed on 08-06-2023
Nancy Pugh(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 18-10-2022 Fortland is the most amazing and magical place to have any event. 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. All of us our 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. Reviewed on 17-05-2023
Charlie Mitchell(other)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 22-08-2022 We have had multiple staff events on the island and they have been spectacular. The crew do an amazing job striking the balance of making the island feel all yours while being available to take care of any needs. It is laid back, but elegant. An easy place for good people to really enjoy the best of Maine. Reviewed on 15-05-2023
John Simonaitis(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 01-09-2022 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. Reviewed on 04-05-2023