Getting married in Greater Portland & Casco Bay

Greater Portland solves more guest problems than any other part of Maine. It has the state's main airport, the most hotel rooms, the best restaurants, and enough to do that people who arrive a day early are glad they did. If a meaningful share of your guest list is elderly, travelling with small children, or simply reluctant, this is the region that makes the wedding easy to say yes to.

What it does not have is the sense of remove people often want from a Maine wedding. You are marrying in a small city, and it will feel like one — though Cape Elizabeth, the Casco Bay islands and Freeport all put open water and quiet within twenty minutes of the airport.

Getting here

Portland International Jetport (PWM) is genuinely close — 10–15 minutes from downtown, and it is hard to overstate how much guests appreciate that. Fares are higher than Boston and the schedule is thinner.

Boston Logan (BOS) is about 2 hours south and will be cheaper. Many guests will choose it. The Amtrak Downeaster also runs Boston to Portland, which is a genuinely pleasant option worth mentioning to anyone nervous about the drive.

Downtown Portland parking is metered, tight, and the one logistical annoyance of the region. If your venue is in the Old Port, tell guests where the garages are.

Where your guests stay

The only region in Maine where you can reasonably tell guests to sort themselves out and trust it will work.

• Downtown and the Old Port — the largest cluster of hotels, walkable to restaurants and to most city venues. The obvious block.
• The waterfront and Eastern Prom — a handful of higher-end options with harbour views.
• South Portland and near the Jetport — chain hotels, cheaper, five to ten minutes out, with the airport shuttle solving arrivals.
• Freeport — its own small cluster, useful if your venue is on that side.
• Cape Elizabeth and the islands — very limited rooms. Beautiful venues, but plan on guests sleeping in Portland and driving or ferrying.

Rooms still go in summer, but a month or two of lead time is workable here, unlike anywhere else on the coast.

The guidance above is ours and is about which towns to aim at. For actual rooms, prices and availability, use the booking map at the top of this page — it's live inventory rather than a list we'd have to keep current.

Things to do

The most self-sufficient region on this list for guests with a free day:

• The Old Port — cobbled streets, working waterfront, and the restaurant scene Portland is actually famous for. Book dinner ahead in season.
• Portland Head Light at Fort Williams Park, Cape Elizabeth — the postcard, plus a large free park to walk off a rehearsal dinner.
• Casco Bay Lines ferries — Peaks Island is a 17-minute ride and makes an effortless half day. The mailboat run is a cheap three-hour harbour tour.
• The Eastern Promenade — trail, beach and the best view in the city.
• Freeport — L.L.Bean is open around the clock and guests will go regardless.

This is the region where "what should we do beforehand?" answers itself.