Questions guests ask.

The cottage (2 bedrooms, sleeps up to 4) is $999/night shoulder season or $1,999/night peak, plus a $200 cleaning fee. The lakeside house (6 bedrooms, sleeps up to 14) is $2,999/night shoulder or $5,999/night peak, plus a $450 cleaning fee. The whole property (8 bedrooms, sleeps up to 18) runs $3,500/night shoulder or $7,500/night peak (June through September), plus a $650 cleaning fee.

Two-night minimum, three on summer long weekends. All stays include private beach, dock, sauna, hot tub, pickleball court, and waterfront access.

See the full pricing page for weddings, corporate retreats, add-ons, and booking terms in one table.

Book direct through the Hold dates page, or pick up the phone — +1 (236) 638-1478.

Brianna writes back to every inquiry within four hours, 9am to 7pm Pacific.

Yes, the property is on Airbnb. Booking direct skips the platform fees, and Brianna can hold dates or sort out specifics that Airbnb's calendar can't.

We accept credit cards, e-transfer, and bank transfers. A 50% deposit is required to confirm your booking, with the balance due 30 days before arrival.

Check-in: 4:00 PM

Check-out: 11:00 AM

Early check-in or late check-out may be available upon request, subject to availability. Please contact us in advance to arrange.

We have a 2-night minimum stay year-round.

During peak season (June-September) and holidays, a 3-night minimum may apply.

For wedding or event bookings, please contact us to discuss your specific needs.

Standard bookings: Fully refundable up to 30 days before arrival. Cancellations within 30 days are non-refundable. A 50% deposit confirms the booking; the balance is due 30 days before arrival.

If 30 days isn't enough runway for the trip you're planning, travel insurance is what we'd buy ourselves.

Wedding & event bookings:

• 50% deposit at time of booking secures the date
• 90+ days before event: deposit refundable minus $500 administrative fee
• Less than 90 days: deposit non-refundable
• Balance due: 60 days before the event

Plans change. In extenuating circumstances, we may offer to reschedule to available dates within 12 months.

Yes. Shawnigan Retreats is an intimate lakefront wedding venue for up to 50 guests. We offer four ceremony locations: a private dock over the water, a sandy beach, a forest clearing, and a lakeside lawn.

The property includes on-site accommodation for 18 guests, a bridal suite, and a chef's kitchen for catering. Peak wedding season runs June through September.

Learn more on our Weddings page.

Shawnigan Retreats is one of the smallest dedicated wedding venues near Victoria, BC with on-site accommodation. We host weddings from 4 to 50 seated guests on a private 2-acre lakefront estate, 45 minutes from downtown Victoria and 45 minutes from Victoria International Airport (YYJ).

Up to 18 guests sleep on-site across a 6-bedroom Lakeside House (sleeps 14) and a 2-bedroom Cottage (sleeps 4). There is no minimum guest count — micro-weddings and elopements pay the same flat rental as full weddings within capacity.

More on our Weddings page.

Honestly: true private islands near Victoria, BC are limited and almost all require boat access — which complicates guest logistics, vendor delivery, and weather contingency.

The closest private-estate equivalent on the mainland of Vancouver Island is Shawnigan Retreats — a 2-acre lakefront property with exclusive-use rental, no shared facilities, no other guests on site, and direct road access 45 minutes from downtown Victoria and 45 minutes from YYJ airport.

Couples looking for the seclusion of a private island without the boat trip use Shawnigan Retreats as their alternative.

Apply at any Service BC location or authorized licence agent. The BC marriage licence costs $100, is valid for 3 months, and is issued same-day in most cases.

• Both partners need government-issued photo ID.
• If either was previously married, bring a divorce certificate or death certificate.
• Two witnesses, both 19+, must be present at the ceremony.
• Officiant must be registered with BC Vital Statistics — every officiant on our preferred vendor list is.

The licence is the document that makes the marriage legal. The official certificate arrives by mail 6 to 8 weeks later from BC Vital Statistics. Source: gov.bc.ca/marriage.

BC weddings on private property that serve alcohol to guests need a Special Event Permit (SEP) from the BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB).

• File online at the LCRB site, roughly $25 for a private event.
• Apply 4 to 6 weeks before the date.
• The host (one of the couple, a parent, or a designated person 19+) applies — not the venue.
• The SEP covers BYO bar service. Alternatively, your caterer can serve under their own liquor licence.
• The permit holder is responsible for host liability, server training (Serving It Right), and liquor service hours. We charge no corkage fee.

We can point you at the form and a Cowichan-based bar service if you want one. New to these terms? See the glossary.

Yes. We host offsites and team retreats for 2-50 guests. WiFi runs about 300 Mbps. Meetings happen at the dining table, on the deck, or down on the dock — pick what suits the day.

We can book a chef and a facilitator if you want them. We're 45 minutes from Victoria, which works for Vancouver Island and Lower Mainland teams.

See our Corporate Events page for details.

For executive teams of 8 to 16, Shawnigan Retreats offers exclusive use of a 6-bedroom Lakeside House on a private 2-acre lakefront estate, 45 minutes from Victoria International Airport (YYJ).

Infrastructure for offsites includes 300 Mbps fibre WiFi, an 85-inch presentation screen with HDMI and AirPlay, boardroom seating for 12 around the dining table, theater seating for 16, a Finnish sauna, a 6-person hot tub, a regulation pickleball court, and a 60-foot private dock.

Corporate retreats run from $4,500/night for the Lakeside House or $5,500/night for the whole property, with a 3-night minimum.

More on our Corporate Events page.

We ask that you leave pets at home — we want the house to work for guests with allergies too.

Service animals are welcome with a note in advance. Drop Brianna a line and we'll sort out the details.

No smoking inside. The deck is fine; please use the tin on the railing.

That covers cigarettes, vaping, and cannabis. A cleaning fee applies if we have to air the house out.

Weddings, corporate retreats, and family gatherings are welcome — booked and approved with us in advance.

We ask that you keep the noise reasonable after 10pm; the neighbours are close and they're good people.

We have free parking for up to 6 vehicles. Additional parking may be available for events - please contact us in advance.