Fortland
Select services venue
The venue will provide the space, plus a few extras.
Full wedding (ceremony and reception) pricing
Starting at $6,000
Guest capacity
Up to 125 seated guests
About this venue
Fortland is a ruggedly elegant, off-grid event venue and "glamping" destination located on the southern half of House Island in Portland’s Casco Bay. Accessible only by a 10-minute boat ride, it is set within the 16-acre grounds of historic Fort Scammel, a Civil War-era fortification.
Our event spaces
The Bastion
It is a masterpiece of 19th-century military engineering that has been repurposed into a dramatic, atmospheric event setting.
Perhaps the most dramatic space on the island. This stone fortification features exposed brick arches and subterranean charm. It is the premier choice for moody, romantic candlelit dinners or cocktail hours. In the context of Fortland on House Island, The Bastion (specifically the West Bastion) is arguably the most architecturally stunning and historically evocative space on the property.
Ideal for
Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception
Guests often feel this space is
“Relax and Casual”
The Dock
It is often the first place guests experience after their boat ride, making it a natural choice for high-impact moments like cocktail hours or sunset dancing.
A 1,500-square-foot waterfront platform. It offers panoramic views of the Portland skyline, Fort Gorges, and the bay—perfect for sunset ceremonies or open-air dancing. At Fortland, The Dock is the gateway to the island and serves as a premier open-air event space that perfectly captures the "working waterfront" charm of Portland, Maine. It is often the first place guests experience after their boat ride, making it a natural choice for high-impact moments like cocktail hours or sunset dancing.
Square footage
1,500
Ideal for
Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception
Guests often feel this space is
“Warm and Cozy”
The Community Tent
It is the only area on the island where food is permitted, making it the primary spot for guests to socialize over meals.
At Fortland, the Community Tent is the functional and social "living room" of the island. It’s a 40-foot diameter pavilion that serves as a vital hub for both overnight glampers and large wedding parties. Because Fortland is an off-grid venue, this space is designed to be the central point where nature, history, and modern convenience meet.
Ideal for
Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception
Guests often feel this space is
“Relax and Casual”
The Bastion
It is a masterpiece of 19th-century military engineering that has been repurposed into a dramatic, atmospheric event setting.
Perhaps the most dramatic space on the island. This stone fortification features exposed brick arches and subterranean charm. It is the premier choice for moody, romantic candlelit dinners or cocktail hours. In the context of Fortland on House Island, The Bastion (specifically the West Bastion) is arguably the most architecturally stunning and historically evocative space on the property.
Ideal for
Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception
Guests often feel this space is
“Relax and Casual”
The Dock
It is often the first place guests experience after their boat ride, making it a natural choice for high-impact moments like cocktail hours or sunset dancing.
A 1,500-square-foot waterfront platform. It offers panoramic views of the Portland skyline, Fort Gorges, and the bay—perfect for sunset ceremonies or open-air dancing. At Fortland, The Dock is the gateway to the island and serves as a premier open-air event space that perfectly captures the "working waterfront" charm of Portland, Maine. It is often the first place guests experience after their boat ride, making it a natural choice for high-impact moments like cocktail hours or sunset dancing.
Square footage
1,500
Ideal for
Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception
Guests often feel this space is
“Warm and Cozy”
The Community Tent
It is the only area on the island where food is permitted, making it the primary spot for guests to socialize over meals.
At Fortland, the Community Tent is the functional and social "living room" of the island. It’s a 40-foot diameter pavilion that serves as a vital hub for both overnight glampers and large wedding parties. Because Fortland is an off-grid venue, this space is designed to be the central point where nature, history, and modern convenience meet.
Ideal for
Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception
Guests often feel this space is
“Relax and Casual”
Available services that can be provided by Fortland
Services & amenities
- Dance floor
- Dressing room / Bridal Suite
- Event rentals
- Event staff
- On-site accommodations
- Service staff
Accommodations
- Bedroom suites
- Double bed rooms
- Honeymoon suite
- Single queen rooms
- Twin bed rooms
Reviews
Write a review5.0 out of 5
2 reviews
- SN
Sadie N.
Quintessential Maine Wedding Venue
We could not have dreamed of a more perfect place to get married than Fortland. From the setting to the incredible team, our entire experience was truly unforgettable. Getting married on House Island, just off the coast of Portland, felt so quintessentially Maine and made our wedding unlike anything we—or our guests—had ever experienced. Months later, our guests are still talking about it and telling us it was the coolest wedding venue they’ve ever been to! Between arriving by boat, the ocean views, the historic Bastion, and the feeling of being on a little island together, there was something so special and memorable about the entire experience. The Fortland and Coastal Elegance teams were an absolute dream to work with. Throughout the planning process, everyone was incredibly helpful, responsive, and accommodating. They answered every question we had, joined additional planning meetings with our vendors, and even helped accommodate trips to the island so we could make sure everything would come together the way we envisioned it. On the wedding day itself, I felt completely taken care of. I truly didn’t have to worry about a thing. There was always someone nearby with water, lip gloss, or whatever I needed, and if something went wrong, I never knew about it—it was simply handled. I was able to be completely present and enjoy the day with my husband, family, and friends, which is something I will always be grateful for. Fortland gave us a wedding day that felt incredibly personal, beautiful, and completely unique to us. We are so grateful for everyone who helped make it happen and would wholeheartedly recommend Fortland to anyone looking for a wedding venue that is truly unlike anywhere else. We wish we could do it all over again!
- B
Brad
Amazing Wedding at Fortland
Fortland is truly the best wedding venue ever!! We got married there in August and it was better than we could have imagined. From the start, Ashley and Stacey were incredible to work with. Fortland isn’t a plug-and-play venue, which is part of why we chose it, but it also means having a team who really knows the island matters. They helped us think through how to use each space and shared ideas from past weddings that made our weekend feel personal and helped imagine how a wedding could work out in such a unique place. We did a full island takeover, which I would recommend if you can swing it. Our wedding parties stayed in the tents all weekend and it ended up being one of the highlights. Even friends who don’t ever camp were comfortable and fully into it immediately. Our rehearsal dinner on the overlook deck was stunning, and wrapping the night around the campfire was super fun for both us and our friends and family. On Saturday, we used every part of the island we could. The ceremony on the dock was calm and beautiful, looking out towards Fort Gorges and sailboats. Cocktail hour on the parade ground overlooking Casco Bay felt quintessentially Maine. Stefan offered an optional fort tour that a surprising number of guests loved. Dinner inside the bastion as the sun set through the stone windows was unreal. Then we had a band under the community tent and it turned into the kind of party you hope for but can’t fully plan. Every shift in location made the next part of the night feel new and exciting. The staff really makes Fortland what it is. Katrina and Stefan, the owners, care deeply about the property and about the people getting married there, and you feel that all weekend. Grace and Jo were the caretakers on the island with us all weekend and were so fun and easy to be around while also being incredibly on top of everything. If you’re looking for a traditional ballroom wedding, this isn’t that. But if you want an experience where your guests feel immersed, connected, and a little bit off the grid in the best way, Fortland is hard to beat. We'll definitely be visiting Fortland again every chance we can get.
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