Six months of the year Portland is a rainy, down right gloomy place but when summer time hits the sunshine lights up the city and warms my soul. I’ll take any chance to be outside and as a wedding photographer there’s nothing I love more than natural light and beautiful spaces. With so much rain, the wedding scene is well prepared for indoor wedding ceremonies and there are so many beautiful halls to get married in. If you’re like me though and you love sunshine, here’s a list of some of the best outdoor wedding venues (and places that have outdoor ceremony options) in the Portland, Oregon area (updated for 2024).
Exchange Ballroom
Eastside Exchange, 123, NE 3rd Ave.
Portland, OR 97232
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 9 minutes.
The Eastside Ballroom is located on the east side of the Willamette River and it’s Cascade Rooftop over looks the Downtown Portland skyline. If the weather is right, the rooftop makes for the perfect setting for your Portland wedding. The rooftop can accommodate 150 people and works great for smaller ceremonies or cocktail hours. Afterwards you and your guests can transition into the Exchange Ballroom for an evening of fun.
Ecotrust Rooftop Terrace
721 NW 9th Ave. Suite 20
Portland, OR 97209
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 9 minutes.
Another rooftop wedding venue because who doesn't love a rooftop? The Eco Trust Rooftop Terrace is a beautiful setting for smaller events but can also accommodate up to 150 people for a ceremony and dinner or 225 for a cocktail style reception. There's a wood burning fireplace, a wet bar, and an indoor atrium. On top of all that you will also be supporting a wedding venue with a social and environmental mission.
Blockhouse
1988 NW 18th Ave.
Portland, OR 97209
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 10 minutes.
Blockhouse is an intimate event space somewhere between secret garden and private greenhouse. If you’re planning on a smaller wedding, depending on your event style, Blockhouse can accommodate 48 people but can increase to 60 people for fully seated events and 75 for cocktail style. There is also the option of adding more space by renting the beautiful Pomarius Nursery next door. If you love plants and want a wedding focused on intimately connecting with your guests, Blockhouse is for you.
Crystal Springs Rhododenron Garden
5801 SE 28th Ave.
Portland, OR 97202
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 12 minutes.
Crystal Springs is a favorite place of mine. In the Spring my niece and I walk to feed the ducks and look for cute little ducklings. The gardens also make for a lovely wedding venue. Ceremonies at the garden can take place on the meadow overlooking Crystal Lake or in the woodland site surrounded by old growth rhododendrons.
Check out photos from a Crystal Springs Rhododendron wedding here.
Lewis and Clark College
0615 SW Palatine Hill Rd.
Portland, OR 97219
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 12 minutes.
Named one of America’s most beautiful campuses, Lewis and Clark College is an incredible Portland wedding venue. The Fir Acres Estate Gardens, with it’s wisteria arbor terrace and reflection pool, are beautifully landscaped and remind me of something right out of a 20th century period piece.
Peninsula Park
700 N Rosa Parks Way
Portland, OR 97217
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 13 minutes.
Peninsula Park is Portland's oldest rose garden and with it's historic gazebo makes a beautiful location for a simple outdoor wedding ceremony Portland. Both the rose garden and the gazebo are available for a 2 hour rental through the Parks & Recreation Department. Following your ceremony, have your reception at one of the park's picnic sites or take your reception to one of Portland's many tasty restaurants.
Check out photos from a Peninsula Park Wedding here.
Waverley Country Club
1100 SE Waverly Dr.
Portland, OR 97222
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 14 minutes.
I've never wanted to take up golf more than when I first saw the grounds at Waverley Country Club. The club has one of the nicest stretches of riverfront property there is in Portland and what better place to enjoy it than by celebrating your wedding there on a warm summer evening. Waverley offers a classic, elegant aesthetic with a crisp-white clubhouse, stunning interiors, and professional club-level service.
Photo Credit: Waverley Country Club
Rossi Farms
3839 NE 122nd Ave
Portland, OR 97230
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 15 minutes.
Rossi Farms is a fifth generation working farm located within Portland city limits. The farm features a beautiful barn that doubles as a reception hall and indoor ceremony site, as well as a large lawn, and vintage homestead homes.
Cathedral Park
6635 N Baltimore Ave.
Portland, OR 97203
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 16 minutes.
What better way to get married in Bridge City than under one of it’s most iconic spans. Cathedral City Park is located on the eastern banks of the Willamette River underneath the St. John’s Bridge. Named after the gothic cathedral-like arches, the park is a unique and popular wedding location. Couples have their choice of exchanging vows on the steps below the bridge or in the amphitheater on the edge of park.
Unfortunately the staircase and deck at Cathedral Park are unavailable in 2024 due to bridge construction.
Leach Botanical Garden
6704 SE 122nd Ave.
Portland, OR 97236
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 23 minutes.
Once the residence of a local botanist and pharmacist couple, this 16 acre property was left to the City of Portland. Today the garden is home to many northwest native plants and is the perfect place for your garden wedding. Outdoor ceremonies take place on the East Terrace next to the beautiful Carriage House.
Outdoor Wedding Venues near Portland
If you’re open to traveling outside of the immediate Portland metro area the options for wedding venues with outdoor ceremony setups are wide open. You can pretty much take your pick of Oregon landscapes within an hour drive of the city. Whether you’re looking to tie the knot under a canopy of trees, say I do in front of Mt. Hood, or exchange vows on a farm the possibilities are endless. These are my favorite wedding venues outside of Portland with beautiful outdoor setups.
Langdon Farms
24377 Airport Rd. NE #3
Aurora, OR 97002
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 23 minutes.
I don’t often think of golf courses when I consider wedding venues but Langdon Farms is so much more than the location for your next tee time. As a wedding venue, Langdon Farms has multiple outdoor ceremony locations to pick from. Their Orchard location has an old Sycamore tree to provide shade on a summer day and features a rustic, white barn. Langdon Farms is a bit of countryside just outside of the city.
Abernethy Center
606 15th St.
Oregon City, OR 97045
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 24 minutes.
Abernethy Center has it all. The venue has two beautiful garden spaces for outdoor weddings, a classic white wedding chapel, and an elegant ballroom to boot. Abigail’s Garden features a white gazebo underneath a beautiful weeping willow and a spacious reception tent. The Veiled Garden and Abernethy Chapel are great options to consider as well.
Check out photos from an Abernethy Center wedding here.
Vernonia Springs
54658 Nehalem Hwy S
Vernonia, OR 97064
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 40 minutes.
Vernonia Springs is a private park, glamping campground, and beautiful wedding venue all in one. It’s the perfect setting for a wedding weekend with friends and family. The large property has hiking trails, a small lake, plenty of yurts, and of course all you need to have a wedding ceremony and reception.
Check out photos from a Vernonia Springs wedding here.
Bridal Veil Lakes
Henderson Rd.
Corbett, OR 97019
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 40 minutes.
Old growth forests, lush greenery, wildflowers, and a spring fed lake. Bridal Veil Lakes is a serene, dreamy, wedding venue that feels like a summer getaway in the countryside. Your guests are going to love this enchanting spot. Oh, did I mention there are canoes?!
Wonser Woods Estate
24250 S Raney Ln
Estacada, OR 97023
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 43 minutes.
Wonser Woods Estate is 622 acres of Oregon natural beauty. The venue can do it all from intimate indoor weddings to large outdoor celebrations. The estate has several outdoor ceremony options from beautiful lawns, rose gardens, or acres of Christmas Trees and wine grapes. Take advantage of their massive outdoor tent and their outdoor fire pit for your evening reception under the starry sky.
Clackamas River Farm
26700 SE Samuels Rd.
Eagle Creek, OR 97022
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 44 minutes.
Clackamas River Farm is, you guessed it, on the banks of the Clackamas River. The 45 acres of peaceful property has a 130 year old Victorian Farmhouse, a big red barn, and a garden full of flowers. The venue only books one event per weekend leaving couples ample time to setup and enjoy the property.
Cape Horn Estate
81 Woodard Creek Rd.
Stevenson, WA 98648
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 45 minutes.
Ceremonies at Cape Horn Estate take place beneath a beautiful stone arch that frames the dramatic cliffs of the Columbia River Gorge. Receptions take place on their lush lawn surrounded by colorful hydrangeas and greenery. The venue has both indoor and outdoor options available in the event of weather.
See more wedding photos from Cape Horn Estate here.
The Oregon Garden
879 W Main St.
Silverton, OR 97381
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 55 minutes.
The Oregon Garden is an 80 acre botanical garden with 20 themed specialty gardens sure to provide beautiful backdrops for your outdoor wedding. Beyond the manicured gardens, the venue features a classic white gazebo, a beautiful refurbished barn, and ballroom. The Bosque and Market Garden spaces perfect for summer ceremonies and magical evening receptions.
The Griffin House
The Griffin House, Westcliff Dr.
Hood River, OR 97031
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 58 minutes.
Noble Ridge Tree Deck
1212 Snag Mountain Rd.
Washougal, WA 98671
Drive time from Downtown Portland: 1 hour and 9 minutes.
Holy smokes this place is cool! If you love the Redwood Deck at the Hoyt Arboretum but were hoping to have a ceremony with more guests, this is your spot. Following your forest ceremony, you and your guests can enjoy the view from the wedding lawn before transitioning back to the deck for an evening in the treetops. Since the the deck is at 2500’ elevation their event season is mostly limited to July through September.
Additional Wedding Resources
About Chris Brodell
I’m a wedding and portrait photographer based in Portland, Oregon. I’ve been photographing weddings for over a decade and I love what I do. Documenting milestone moments in my client’s lives is such a rewarding job and I love sharing my experience and resources whether it’s about wedding venues, timeline tips, or fun things to do in Portland.
My wedding coverage starts at $3600. Check out my wedding packages here.
Mention this article and receive $200 off your photography at any Portland wedding venue.
Check out more of my wedding photos or learn more about me here.
