Shuttle Information

Hello All!!! We are only a little over a week out before packing everything up and heading up to the island! I promised that we would share shuttle news with you before the big day so that you could plan accordingly. 

We have a 15 passenger van booked for Friday night's welcome party, as well as for the wedding on Saturday. We know that one pick up location will be behind the Outlook Inn, in their back parking lot. The shuttle will also be headed out to the Rosario Area, with the pick up point close to Orcas Suites. We want to accommodate everyone, so please give us a call and let us know where you will be staying on the island, so that we can let our driver know where she needs to go. 

We are so excited to share this weekend with you! The weather is looking good, hopefully it will stay in the 70's. Please remember it can be cold at night--a sweater or light coat is not a bad idea for the evenings. Thanks All!

What you can do on the magical Orcas Island

Hello wedding go'ers! Can you believe it? Only 65 days until the wedding- wow! We thought it would be a good time to start listing fun things you can do during your stay on the island.

Just to give you an idea, Orcas is an outdoorsman/woman's paradise. There are so many trails and parks you can explore. Jason and I recommend going to Moran State Park and hiking or driving up to the top of Mt. Constitution. On a clear day you can see the other San Juan Islands and even Canada! If you drive to the top of Mt.Constitution, you will need the Discovery Pass to park your vehicle, or you can buy a day pass here.If you are wanting to explore the island by water, there are many places you can rent kayaks on the island. Or, if you are dying to see some of  Puget Sound's famous whales, you can participate in a whale tour.You can also explore the island on horseback click here for more info.

 If you like to shop (I know I never do...hehehe), there are a couple streets of boutique shops you can enjoy. They usually open late morning, and close early evening. Not many things stay open very late on Orcas, so keep this in mind. Many of the shops are specialty shops, carrying unique clothing items, gadgets, etc. Always a fun browse. Click here for more information.

All this shopping may make you hungry...which brings us to another wonderful characteristic about the island; they love their restaurants. There are many to choose from! Jason and I have eaten at many of them, and have not had a bad meal yet. We recommend trying multiple! Click here for more information on the restaurants.

Since we will be visiting Orcas during the summer, the Farmers Market will be in full swing. Orcas is known for their artists, and many islanders grow crops and raise animals that produce items they can sell here. Check it out on Saturday starting at 10:00 and running until 3:00. This would be fun to do before getting gussied up for the wedding.

Some of you are bringing children. You may want to check out the Funhouse. Click here for more info.

 Orcas does have a variety of things for you to do, but it also is an easy place that you can just unplug and relax. Have fun and please let us know if you have any questions about things to do and see while you are here. If you need supplies or groceries, the Island Market is conveniently located in the heart of Eastsound. Ray's Pharmacy is also located in town. We encourage you to get out and explore. The island's main income is from tourism. As you shop and dine, keep in mind that you are supporting the island's economy. Trust us, they appreciate it!

Invitations will be coming out shortly. Please know, while you are making plans for your weekend on the island, we are providing a shuttle for the Welcome to the Island party on Friday night, and for the wedding on Saturday. We strongly urge you to take advantage of these shuttles. We want everyone to celebrate safely!We will add more information about where and when to catch the shuttles in our next post.

What Should I wear to this Orcas Island event?!

For those of you that have inquired about attire, and have looked through their closets for what to wear to a summer island wedding, this post is for you!

First, let me start with describing the ceremony/reception location. This is an outdoor wedding, so your shoes will encounter gravel, grass, and some rocky soil. The ceremony will be taking place outside, in the early evening, with a tented reception going into the night. We will be right next to the water and a marina, so chances are it will be breezy and very cool once the sun goes down. 

We are encouraging an elegant cocktail attire. For the ladies, please have fun and get dressed up. This could be a cocktail dress, dressy top and skirt, or even a longer length dress would be appropriate. We would love for everyone to wear fun accessories, i.e. hats, and BLING. For the guys, a suit or slacks and a button down would be perfect. Ties are of course optional---but wouldn't it be fun to wear a bow-tie? Have fun with it! You all know how I love an occasion to get dressed up! ;)

With the average temperature for this location in late July being in the low 70's, please remember it could drop down to the 50's after the sun sets. If it is a cooler evening, we will have heat lamps and walls on the tent.

Some of you know that my sister designs hats, you can go to her employer Topsy Turvy Design to see some of her creations and get some hat inspiration.....

Here is a link of some cocktail attire images if you need visual aid :)

Let me know if you have questions. We are looking forward to seeing everyone in July! Check back for posts on island attractions.

Hello and Lodging Information!

Hello Family and Friends!

Welcome to our Wedding Blog!  For the next few months we will be updating this blog with information about Orcas Island, wedding details, and other useful information.  

We will be sending out “Save the Date” cards in the near future, but because of the popular wedding location, it is very important to book lodging as soon as possible.  We are going to be married on Orcas Island, in the town of Eastsound, on July 28, 2012.  Orcas Island is a very popular summer vacation destination and lodging close to Eastsound is somewhat limited.  Our plan is to have events taking place in and around Eastsound so that you can walk from place to place.

Below are just a few of the places that are close or within walking distance of Eastsound:

Kangaroo House (10-15 minute walk from Eastsound, 3 minute walk from ceremony location)

 http://www.kangaroohouse.com/

Smugglers Villa Resort (10-15 minute walk from Eastsound, 3 minute walk from ceremony location) You can start reserving rooms for next year on August 1^st.  They go quickly.

 http://www.smuggler.com/                

North Shore Cottages (15-20 minute walk from Eastsound, 5-10 minute walk from ceremony location)

 http://www.northshore4kiss.com/        

The Wisteria Cottage (in Eastsound)

 http://www.orcas1.com/Wisteria.htm             

The Eastsound Suites (downtown Eastsound)

 http://www.eastsoundsuites.com/                   

The Outlook Inn (downtown Eastsound)

We have blocked rooms that vary in price for guests staying 1-4 nights (Thursday-Sunday). Call and say you're booking a room for the Robertson-Profit wedding! 

http://www.outlookinn.com

One website that we have used extensively is the Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce site:

 http://orcasislandchamber.com/lodging

Below are other sites we have looked at and found homes and condos for rent near Eastsound:

http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/washington/san-juan-islands/orcas-island#a4716

http://www.orcas-lodging.com/

http://www.orcashomes.com/vacationrentals/map_of_rentals.php                      

There are a few hotels within a 15-minute drive:

Inn at Ship Bay (About a 5-7 minute drive from Eastsound)

 http://www.innatshipbay.com/

Cascade Harbor Inn

 http://www.cascadeharborinn.com/

Orcas Suites

http://www.orcassuites.com/activities.html

The above links are just a few of the many places you can stay on Orcas Island.  We have tried to include a variety of price ranges and accommodations -- bed and breakfast, hotels, condos or rental homes. 

We are sharing this information now in hopes that if you know you are attending the wedding, you will book your rooms as soon as possible. We fear that if you wait too long that you will have a difficult time finding lodging near Eastsound and all the action. We know of at least one other wedding in Eastsound the same weekend as ours and there may be more…

As summer ferry traffic to Orcas Island can be heavy, we recommend that you stay on the island at least one night before the wedding so you don’t miss out on the festivities. Here's a link to the ferry schedule:
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Ferries/Schedule/ScheduleDetail.aspx?tripdate=20110618&departingterm=1&arrivingterm=15&roundtrip=true

We will be on Orcas by Wednesday, July 25^th.  You are more than welcome to join us as we run around and enjoy the island: kayaking, hiking, oysters, whale watching and shopping.

We are hoping that you view this occasion as a fun vacation getaway like we do.

We are very excited to be able to share this wonderful event with you!

Love,

Jason and Brenna