Thinking of choosing a non-traditional setting for your wedding? There are many fabulous locations throughout California, Oregon and Washington to host your special day.
Naturally, the further away your wedding location is from your home base and the more sophisticated the ceremony, the more expensive and logistically complicated it will be for you, your wedding party and guests. Fortunately, there are wedding planners and services in almost every town to help with preparations, and your attendants and guests may be willing to think of the occasion as an opportunity for a get-a-way or vacation at their own expense.
As with any kind of wedding arrangements, it will be necessary to plan ahead – in some cases reserving locations months or a year in advance, communicate clearly with everyone involved, carefully read contracts before signing them, follow-up on even the smallest details, and perhaps most key, practice patience and flexibility.
It will also be important to consider any physical challenges your wedding party or guests may have, as well as your preferred style of wedding attire when deciding on a location. If you are planning an outdoor event, weather is always a factor regardless of season so you should plan for shelters or have a back-up plan that can be sprung into action at the last moment.
OK, so what do the West Coast states have to offer the bride and groom for non-traditional wedding locations? Here are a few ideas.
Beaches
If you are partial to sea breezes, the entire West Coast is edged with breath-taking seascapes – a few with lighthouses - that make dramatic backdrops for wedding photographs. To keep expenses low, choose your favorite isolated spot on a public beach or reserve space at a state park like the Crystal Cove State Park in Laguna Beach, California or the Ecola State Park near famous Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach, or at a city or county park like Point Defiance Park on the shores of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. If you want island beaches, check out the San Juan Islands in Washington State, the Channel Islands in California, or Sauvie Island near Portland on the Oregon side of the Columbia River.
Castles
If you were thinking more of a fairy tale wedding, at Disneyland California you can arrive in Cinderella’s coach for your ceremony in Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. If a real castle is more to your liking check out the 117 year old Victorian-style Manresa Castle in Port Townsend, Washington or the Enchanted Forests Wedding Castle in the Valley in north San Diego County, California.
Mountains and Rivers
If you are outdoor enthusiasts, a mountain retreat can be a tranquil venue for tying the knot. Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State would be a magnificent location. For an adventure theme, a lodge on the Rogue River in southern Oregon could be fun.
Wineries, Vineyards, Gardens
Wine and garden enthusiasts might like to celebrate their love in a romantic vineyard setting. There’s an abundance of wineries in all three west coast states, but not all allow weddings on site. Those that do include the Hans Fahden Winery in Calistoga, California, the Nehalem Bay Winery in Nehalem Bay, Oregon, and the Chateau Faire Le Pont Winery in Wenatchee, Washington.
If you prefer the flowers without the winery, the Portland Rose Garden, the Belle Victorian Gardens in Spokane, the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco or one of many others may provide your perfect setting. Flower growers in our states some times permit weddings and other events to take place on their lovely grounds among lavender, lilacs and other blooming flowers. I think a wedding in a blooming lavender field would be especially lovely, but be sure to discuss possible allergies with your wedding party before committing.
Theme Parks
Wedding destinations in the theme park category run the gamut from zoos, aquariums, wildlife preserves and museums to water parks, amusement parks, casino resorts, sports arenas, golf courses, ski lodges, renaissance festival sites and more.
Happy Travels!
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