Backcountry Bohemians | Washington Wedding Photographer

View Original

Top 5 Best Hood River Wedding Venues

Well, first of all, congratulations on your engagement!! Now that you are engaged, one of the first steps to planning your wedding is finding the perfect venue! Whether you live near Portland or want to have a destination wedding in Oregon, the Hood River has some of the best venues! 

The Hood River is by far one of the most beautiful places in Oregon! With panoramic views of the Columbia River Gorge and the Cascade Mountain Range, you are surrounded by jaw-dropping scenery perfect for a wedding! And if you’re here then you already appreciate the beauty that the Hood River has to offer and you are searching for your dream wedding venue. Well, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! In this blog, I share the top 5 best Hood River Wedding Venues for you to consider for your big day! 

5 Best Wedding Venues in Hood River 

The Griffin House

The Griffin House is by far one of the most spectacular venues in Hood River. Its vintage charm, stunning outdoor space, and 180-degree views of the Columbia River Gorge truly set this venue apart! The ceremony space overlooks the Columbia River Gorge and is the most picture-perfect backdrop for an Oregon wedding! With views of the river and lush greenery, the wedding photos here are STUNNING! 

The reception space takes place in their massive clear tent located on the lawn and it is the perfect canvas to bring your dream wedding aesthetic to life! The venue also has two getting-ready spaces, the most amazing staff, and you have full access to their furniture collection ( some pieces are even vintage).

Because I loved this venue so much, I wrote a whole blog on everything you need to know about getting married at The Griffin House. Check it out here! 

Columbia River Gorge Discovery Center

The Columbia River Gorge Discovery Center is not only a wedding venue but also a museum and non-profit. What makes this property so special is that its unique architecture brings the outdoors inside. It has large 30ft floor-to-ceiling windows covering a whole side of the venue and the walls are constructed of basalt rocks and Douglas fir timber columns. Its large windows provide the most breathtaking view of the rolling Klickitat Hills and the Columbia River.

This venue has the perfect blend of rustic charm and elegance and is a great venue option if you want to get married in the colder months as your entire wedding can be hosted inside. 

The Ruins

Located in downtown Hood River, The Ruins is a super unique and beautiful wedding venue! The venue is actually located within the remains of a 100+ year-old fruit cannery so it holds lots of history and character. The Ruins make this venue feel very European and timeless which I love.

It can host up to 220 guests and has both indoor and outdoor options for your wedding! 

The Orchard

About 5 minutes from downtown, located on a family’s pear farm, is a stunning venue known as The Orchard. This venue is nestled away in a lush secret garden with a massive grass lawn and reception barn. It offers picturesque views of the scenic Hood River Valley’s pear orchards, snow-capped Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams, and the East Hills. 

The ceremony space is located on the grass lawn with Mt.Hood as the backdrop! In the spring and early summer months, the flowers in the garden around the lawn are in full bloom making the ceremony space even more beautiful. The reception space is a large barn strung with string lights that is open on two sides so you get that indoor-outdoor flow while also blocking the wind to keep the space a bit warmer. This venue can host up to 175 guests, has in-house catering, and provides the perfect blank space to bring your dream wedding to life! 

Columbia Gorge Hotel

Located on the cliffs of the Hood River, The Columbia River Gorge Hotel is a historic wedding venue with the best views! With perfectly manicured lawns, gardens, ponds, and a creek that runs through the property, it is a stunning venue! It has several indoor and outdoor ceremony reception spaces depending on the background you want and the time of year you are getting married. 

Other Options for a Micro-Wedding or Elopement in Hood River

While the wedding venues I mentioned above are all absolutely stunning, some of them are not ideal for smaller, more intimate weddings. And traditional wedding venues can be a lot more expensive. So, I wanted to share some more options with you that are perfect for micro-weddings or elopements! 

One of my favorite types of weddings to capture is when my clients have their micro-wedding or elopement ceremony in an epic location surrounded by nature and then in the evening, they head to an Airbnb for a dinner party with their closest friends and families. Below, I have shared the best locations for a ceremony and then some beautiful Airbnbs for your dinner! 

Micro-Wedding & Elopement Ceremony Locations in Hood River

The Waterfall Corridor

  • Latourell Falls

  • Bridal Veil Falls

  • Wahclella Falls

Rowena Crest Viewpoint

Government Cove

Hood River  Airbnbs

Additional Wedding & Elopement Resources