PNW ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER

As a wedding photographer and bride-to-be, I understand firsthand how overwhelming and difficult it can be to find the perfect venue. I want to help give some direction to any couple planning their wedding and looking for the best PNW wedding venues.

Soooo, I have curated a list of beautiful wedding venues for PNW couples.

These are all Oregon, Washington State, and Idaho venues that I would consider booking myself for my own wedding!

My Top 10 Best PNW Wedding Venues

The venues on this list range from elopement/micro weddings to large weddings. I wanted to make sure that there were options for everyone since everyone’s wedding experiences are so unique.

Whether you’re into gardens, forests, or vineyards, I’ve got you covered. 

NOTE: These locations are spots that I have either shot at as a wedding photographer, or they’re on my bucket list to visit. Not only did I make this list with my own wedding in mind, but I am also giving my professional insight and advice as an intimate wedding photographer. 

VENUE ONE | THE GRIFFIN HOUSE

The Griffin House is a venue with an unbelievable view of the Columbia River Gorge; it looks straight out of a European wedding catalog and can be decorated to match any style! It is perfect for couples who love an organic, timeless look.

Nestled on top of a cliff above Hood River, Oregon, it is only 40 minutes outside of Portland.

It seats 175 guests and offers the option to reserve the venue for the whole weekend, so you can stay overnight at an additional cost!

They do require a wedding planner AND a full-service caterer but they have no required vendors list! You get full access to their furniture inventory which includes tables, chairs, dance floor, and arbors.

VENUE TWO | HUMMINGBIRD ESTATE

Not only is this a gorgeous venue but it’s located in one of the cutest towns Oregon has to offer! The cute vintage vibes are off the charts. 

This venue is a historic English Cottage style bed and breakfast built in 1926.

With your wedding booking, they include two nights in a three-bedroom suite, so if you want photos of you and your party getting ready, it’s perfect! They also have four other suites that are perfect for your family and friends to stay in.

This vintage PNW wedding venue is just to die for! Here are a couple of things to note if you’re considering hosting your special day here.

All music has to be off by 9:30 PM, and the venue needs to be vacated by 10 PM. I also think that it’s important to mention that they do keep the tasting room open during your wedding day. But, they will give you the option to close it (for an additional price) if you want to rent out the whole estate.

This quaint estate venue is such a great option for vineyard weddings in Southern Oregon!

VENUE THREE | THE ORCHARD HOOD RIVER

This working pear farm venue is a beautiful secluded garden just 5 minutes from downtown Hood River. It has UNREAL views of Hood River Valley’s pear orchards and snow-capped Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams! 

The Orchard is the perfect setting for a romantic, timeless wedding and even offers in-house farm-to-table catering! They complete the vibe with wooden farm tables, cross-back chairs, string cafe lighting, and other stunning furniture pieces that are all included in your price. 

They also have a built-in bar so you can have the best time celebrating your wedding night! 

Things to note if you’re thinking about booking this dreamy venue… They do require you to use their in-house caterer, as well as choosing a planner off of their own vendor list. So if you’re looking for an easy experience choosing those two vendors, this venue might be a great option for you!

VENUE FOUR | NA-MU LODGE

This venue is located less than a mile from downtown Leavenworth, WA (which is the cutest little Bavarian village).

It’s surrounded by lush mountains and rivers. Na-Mu Lodge is a smaller space perfect for intimate or micro-weddings! If you and your significant other love the outdoors, I highly recommend this venue! 

Na-Mu has a perfect modern mountain lodge aesthetic with amazing natural light indoors. The lodge has 4 private suites, an indoor table that seats 12, and a fully stocked kitchen space!

The more I look at this venue the more I fall in love, it’s literally so perfect for intimate weddings! 

Because this is nestled in the mountains, it is difficult to get to during the winter months. So, if you don’t have 4-wheel drive vehicles or chains, I recommend opting for a summer intimate wedding here!

VENUE FIVE | TREEHOUSE POINT

Treehouse point is in a whimsical forest location 30 minutes from Seattle in Issaquah.

It is great for elopements or intimate weddings that have up to 80 guests. They have options for either an indoor or outdoor ceremony.

There are 7 treehouses plus 2 suites with overnight accommodations and breakfast for up to 20 guests. Even if your guests do not stay, I think this would be the perfect place for you to stay the night of your wedding. Talk about a magical kick-off for your honeymoon!

They have one wheelchair accessible treehouse, which is great for anyone attending and staying at the venue that might need special accommodations.

When it comes to the most delicious part of the day (dinner + drinks), you may be charged an extra fee if you decide to go with a caterer outside of their vendor list. If you’re planning to use an outside caterer, I’d just keep that in mind! Also, you must provide a licensed bartender if you are interested in alcohol on the premises.

VENUE SIX | THE EMERALD FOREST

If you want to feel like your wedding day is a romantic forest folk tale then look no further.

The Emerald Forest is a beautiful woodsy venue located in Redmond, WA for the most intimate weddings with up to 35 guests (including vendors).

They have a couple of restrictions, such as not allowing glassware for drinks, their music curfew is 10 PM, and they only allow beer, wine, and champagne. There aren’t any vendor restrictions though, so you can pick any photographer, caterer, or planner your heart desires!

This beautiful forest venue is just incredible! If you want a fairytale intimate wedding in the forest, I think it would be the perfect place for you! 

VENUE SEVEN | FERN ACRES

If you are absolutely obsessed with the elegant forest wedding in the movie Twilight (like me) then you are going to LOVE Fern Acres in Forks, Washington! Even if the forest look isn’t your vibe this wedding venue located on the Olympic Peninsula has garden locations on the property as well.

This venue includes rustic benches for your ceremony, plus other furniture options. Also, it has accommodations for up to 60 guests.

Their pricing starts at $3,200 for weddings and $1,500 for elopements.

Please note that you must get a banquet permit from Washington state for this PNW wedding venue. Along with that, there is no kitchen facility and rental time is 10 AM to 11 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.

VENUE EIGHT | WOODINVILLE LAVENDER 

Woodinville Lavender is a beautiful lavender farm tucked away in the Sammamish River valley 30 minutes from downtown Seattle. It’s an intimate space with a garden aesthetic, and is just absolutely breathtaking when the lavender is in full bloom!  

This lovely location accommodates up to 50 people and includes a wedding planner and day-of coordinator. They also have the most beautiful handcrafted chairs and tables and you get a credit for lavender that you can use for decor, tossing, or gifts! 

Pricing for this venue varies from $7,000 to $11,000 (peak bloom season is more expensive). They do have a covered greenhouse space if the weather doesn’t cooperate, and you get 10 hours of venue use! Woodinville Lavender has an open catering policy, but they only allow beer, wine, and champagne for alcoholic beverages.

VENUE NINE | FOX CANYON VINEYARDS

Fox Canyon Vineyards sits on a cliff overlooking the Snake River, it’s a classy vineyard location with a water feature and an ivy wall! 

The views are spectacular and it is about 50 minutes from downtown Boise. It accommodates 50-300 guests and your rental of the space includes dinnerware, silverware, tables, and chairs for up to 200 guests.

Things to note about this venue is they do require you to have a wedding planner or day-of coordinator. They also require a licensed caterer and there is no outside alcohol permitted. Late summer months would be a great time for you to host your wedding here if you want the vines in the vineyard to be lush and green!

VENUE TEN | SCANDIA INN

This modern Scandinavian-style mountain venue is less than 5 minutes from downtown McCall, Idaho, and about 2 hours from downtown Boise. It is perfect for intimate elegant weddings! I absolutely love shooting at this sweet little venue.

The Scandia Inn has beautiful modern rooms with plenty of natural light for amazing getting ready photos. They offer indoor and outdoor locations for both your ceremony and reception so your options are open!

The Scandia Inn is perfect for a weekend wedding because you can reserve up to 17 rooms for family and guests. Pricing starts at $2,900 and goes up to $5,100 depending on the season! 

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT VENUE FOR YOUR WEDDING

TIP ONE | READ THE CONTRACT

Always ask for a copy of the venue’s contract and if they require you to use their preferred venue list. You want to know every hidden fee, policy, and charge before you decide to book with them.

They may also require you to get wedding liability insurance so again, make sure you ask. 

TIP TWO | PLAN ON HIDDEN COSTS + FEES

Speaking of hidden costs and fees, always make sure to factor the price of taxes into your budget if applicable.

You don’t want to price out your wedding only to realize you don’t have enough for taxes.  

TIP THREE | LIGHTING INDOORS VS. OUTDOORS

Take into consideration that if you are getting married indoors you want as much natural light as possible.

Ensure that you are choosing between PNW Wedding Venues that have plenty of windows. Lighting is so important when it comes to the quality of your photos. Natural light will give your photographer the best conditions to work in!

TIP FOUR | NATURAL BEAUTY

Many of the venues I recommended here are naturally beautiful with trees and flowers that can be your decor, if you choose a place that doesn’t have natural beauty you will most likely be spending more money and time finding decor and florals to make the blank canvas wedding-worthy.

---