Planning your dream wedding destination can be a bit daunting; let us take the guesswork out of the way for you with this idyllic and historic property.
Located on Salt Spring Island — a remote rainforest oasis near Vancouver Island — Hastings House is accessible by a convenient daily ferry. It also features classic English countryside charm, dazzling gardens, cottage and hotel stays, and an in-house spa.
Inspired by the property’s long history as a working farm, sustainability is second-nature to Hastings House, seen in the delicacies at Manor Dining and in the property’s blissful gardens.
At Hastings House, you can have an oceanside ceremony in front of colourful sailboats, then wander through the garden for photos before settling down for dinner and a reception on a seaside terrace.
If you’re looking for a West Coast wedding destination that’s equal parts dreamy, cozy and accommodating, this is it.
The best of Salt Spring Island
Hastings House Country House Hotel is well-known to locals as one of the island’s most reputable hotel and dining experiences. In 2022, it was recognized as a finalist in the category of Best Elopement Experience at the Vancouver Island Wedding Awards.
I visited towards the end of the season in September, and the gardens were still in full bloom, their fragrance perfuming the warm, late-summer breeze.
There was even a couple at the reception office looking to book Hastings House for their own wedding. With the reasonable wait times offered, you can rest easy knowing this historic cottage stay is a known destination, approved by locals.
While weddings at Hastings House are enchanting in their own right, the collection of 18 suites and cottages makes it perfect for accommodating overnight or weekly family stays.
Rooms are rustic and comfortable, offering a range of additional amenities, including fresh muffins delivered each morning, in-room bouquets of fresh-cut flowers from the garden, a made-to-order hot breakfast, and complimentary shuttle service upon arrival and departure.
That’ll make it easy for your guests to travel to the venue from one of the island’s two BC Ferries terminals, plus they’ll have the opportunity to admire the island’s many farms, vineyards and orchards along the way.
On-site wellness amenities
Your wedding guests can partake in wellness services offered by experts at the Wellspring Spa. This on-site facility is located in a cedar-clad barn, nestled amongst scenic gardens.
The spa offers a variety of massages, facials and body treatments to keep you and your wedding party looking and feeling their best.
The Churchill Cottage and Post Cottage are perfect bride and groom suites, offering some distance from the main house and additional privacy for couples during their honeymoon.
A stroll through the gardens will take you on a journey through roses and other fragrant flowers, giving the property a romantic ambiance.
Farm-to-table dining
Hastings House’s Manor Dining is known as one of the finest culinary experiences in the Southern Gulf Islands.
I had the opportunity to experience a dinner for three and can attest to the quality of ingredients that Swiss Executive Chef Marcel Kauer utilizes at Manor, infusing traditional dishes with new creativity.
Manor Dining offers a selection of dishes featuring the freshest ingredients sourced from on-site gardens and local farmers, all found in and around Salt Spring.
You can wed with up to 20 of your nearest and dearest in the heritage two-room space of the original Manor House, which will definitely give your wedding a classic vintage feel.
Hastings House really has the answer to all your big wedding-related questions. All you have to do next is pick a date and reserve your stay.
When: March 20 to Nov. 2 annually
Where: 160 Upper Ganges Road, Salt Spring Island, B.C.
Cost: $450+
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Em Medland-Marchen
Em is a Staff Writer for Curiocity Calgary. They are passionate about live music, rose gardens, iced coffee, their dogs Bandit and Stanley, and walks along the Bow River.
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