5 Beautiful Outdoor Wedding Venues Near Portland, OR
Outdoor ceremony site at Clackamas River Farms
Time and again, couples choose Oregon as their wedding location for one reason: to celebrate their big day while communing with nature. Portland and its surrounding areas offer numerous outdoor wedding venues that combine the convenience of city access with the beauty of the great Pacific Northwest.
Tucked off Hwy 69 in Oregon City, Abernathy Center offers a lush, scenic outdoor ceremony site while providing all the amenities of a fully functional wedding venue. The site has guest suites, an outdoor reception space, the elegant Abernathy Center ballroom across the street, and even a full chapel for indoor ceremonies.
2. World Forestry Center
For those of you who didn’t grow up here, the World Forestry Center in Portland’s Forest Park was one of my favorite places to visit as a kid. The nearby Oregon Zoo and Portland Children’s Museum were also childhood favorites. Now as an adult, I’ve come to appreciate this venue for its octagonal ballroom, outdoor ceremony space, and Oregon wilderness vibes. This is a great area to explore if you have lots of family visiting the area for your wedding. You’ll also have access to Forest Park and Hoyt Arboretum, which have some of my favorite spots to photograph couples portraits.
3. Clackamas River Farms
Clackamas River Farms is the kind of venue that reminds me why I love Oregon so much. The farm’s crown jewel is an 1890’s Victorian house that sits atop 45 acres of farmland and old-growth forest. The property also includes two barns, river access, and an open-air dance floor next to a massive grain silo. Clackamas River Farms showcases the best of Oregon’s great outdoors.
4. McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse
McMenamins have always had unique, memorable venues, both in the heart of the city and all over Oregon and Washington. Their venues feel whimsical, quirky, and almost always include an outdoor element. Just outside of Hillsboro [just off Hwy 26 roughly 15 minutes from Portland] you’ll find McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse. This venue offers a one-of-a-kind experience with lush gardens, vine-covered archways, and an octagonal barn, perfect for rustic receptions.
5. Thunder Island + Skamania Lodge
Located about 40 miles from downtown Portland, Thunder Island was carved out of the mainland to provide a canal for ships to safely travel through the Columbia River Gorge. Thanks to its spectacular views of the Gorge, the island is the perfect location for your wedding ceremony. But with limited amenities, you’ll want to head over the Bridge Of The Gods to Skamania Lodge as both your getting ready and reception site. The Lodge also offers ziplining, golfing, and other fun activities for your guests to enjoy. You can even rent a treehouse (yeah, you heard me right, a freakin’ treehouse).
Thunder Island
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(541) 374-8619 - Google Maps
Skamania Lodge
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(509) 314-4177 - 1131 SW Skamania Lodge Way, Stevenson, WA
