Help needed for wedding location

[PBinWA]

The columbia gorge (84 along the columbia river) is beautiful and there are some places that might be fun to stop. If you need to be in a town- then Hood River has a nice rennovated hotel- the town has become a bit touristy in the past decade or so - but is till a nice spot. For a more wacky idea- you could get married at the Stonehenge reproduction on the Washington side. Another beautiful spot outside of Portland is Multonomah falls. The last link is from a couple planning a wedding and has a bunch of links to the area.

http://www.hoodriverhotel.com/welcome.html
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/WA-Stonehenge.html
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/columbia/millennium2/welcome.htm
http://www.gorgewedding.com/laylaandbrad/GorgeGuide.cfm

I'll second the Columbia River Gorge. I proposed to my wife on top of Beacon Rock in the middle of the Gorge:

http://www.parks.wa.gov/parkpage.asp?selectedpark=Beacon+Rock&pageno=1

It's hard to find a time when there aren't any people around though.

Let me know if your going to do it in the Gorge and I can bring you a couple cute little flower girls (2 and 3 years old). I'll take some pictures for the TBN members.

Have fun! PB

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks everyone for the tips and ideas so far.

We both really love the look of big mountains with exposed rock and running water. Our ideal pictures would have this in the background. The actual state isn't as important as the backdrop.

Right now Estes State Park in Colorado is looking like a good area. We've never been there so it's all based on what we're seeing online.

Anybody know the area?

Eddie

 

[rox]

Eddie,
Yes I know a bit about Estes State Park. My son graduated form UC Boulder ane twice we took a trip to Estees Park. #1 there seems to be only oe road in and one road out. Therefor there can be traffic jams and of course it is very popular so there are a lot of people. It may not look very far on a map or on mapquest but in 2004 I can tell you the whole road into Estess park was under construction.

Being with the one road and the designated pull offs and vieweing ares I really can't see how you could have any privacy as there are always people in the "stop and look" areas. Perhaps someone in the area can give you better information, I was there twice but am not an expert of course.

I like Sigarms post about Utah, as more of a private area to get married. Estes Park jsut didn't make me feel all alone and private. Just my opinion though.

 

[DannyD]

Steph and Eddie,

I cant be any help on the trip or a place, but my first thought when I saw the title of this thread was DONT DO IT............

Now when I saw it was you 2, well, no one is more perfectly matched for a wonderful life together.

On our honeymoon, wife found this place in a creek/riverbed that was sort of dry etc. My first thought then was where is the bear, beings that we were in Gatlinburg and off the road a good ways.

We have been back to that very spot once, it was just as cool now as then. Point is, make it a special place. If we redid our vows, it would be on the rocks and down the river................

Good luck and God Bless you both!

 

[EddieWalker]

Rox,

Thanks for the info. The crowds aren't that big a deal for us, but the road might be. We'll be towing a very large trailer and it might cause more headaches than it's worth. I'll have to look into it and maybe put it down a few notches on our options.

Danny,

Good to hear from you!! We're still looking and checking out the ideas everyone's posted, plus other links that pop up and anything we can think of. Half the fun is in the search!!

Eddie

 

[mjarrels]

when in Washington driving north on I-5 take the time to drive across "deception pass" bridge to Whidbey Island (about a 30 min round trip west of Mount Vernon). Have a 1989 toyota corolla setting in my driveway that I bought new in Bellingham Wa.

mark

 

[mjarrels]

forgot to add... ride a Washington State ferry, set on the open top deck (weather permiting) sip a starbucks or SBC coffee.

mark

 

[rox]

Rox,

Thanks for the info. The crowds aren't that big a deal for us, but the road might be. We'll be towing a very large trailer and it might cause more headaches than it's worth. I'll have to look into it and maybe put it down a few notches on our options.

Eddie, I do think it would be more romantic and more memoriable to be married in a beautiful natural setting where it was quiet and no crowds. I don't think bystanders in shorts and the crying babies of the other park visitors add to the ambiance. Just my opinion though. The description of Danny D a beautiful dry creek bed in the woods now that seems romantic. Another idea might be to research being married next to a waterfall. Waterfalls are quite enchanting even if they are not huge waterfalls. A quiet river with a waterfall and no other people around except the ones you want, that would seem pretty appealing to me. But then I'm not the one getting married

 

[EddieWalker]

Rox,

Right now we're sending emails to ministers North and South of Denver to see what they can provide. The going price for a minister is for $165 to $300 for a simple wedding. Some will travel, some want extra gas money.

What's really amazing is the pictures they post on their websites. One has the most incredible deck overlooking an amazing valley with massive mountains in the background. Just incredible, but they never mention it anywhere and are focused on there chapel that is so cheesy, it's would stand out as tacky in Vegas!!!!

We're thinking July 31st for the date, so it's just a matter on putting it together.

So far Wyoming and Idaho haven't come up with anything we really like. Oregon and Washington are nice, but Colorado is our favorite so far. Utah might be an option too, but we really don't want to detour too far.

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[rox]

Eddie,
This sight might be helpful to you
http://www.localhikes.com/MSA/MSA_2082.asp
Check out the hike called Boulder Falls

You know Boulder is a wonderful wonderful little city as I mentioned my son graduated from UC Boulder. It is very easy to get into and out of Boulder from the expressways. Denver is really flat, it is when you hit Boulder that you get the mountains. Boulder has the famous Flat irons, and it also has some very nice hotles and restaurants to celebrate the occasion. Actually come to think of it I can probably get you a minister in Boulder. My son worked for an interfaith campus ministry that was supported by several mainstream local churches there. My hsuband and I flew out and my husband cooked a gourmet dinner as a fund raiser for the campus ministry. I'm sure all those ministers will remember us. If you would like to look at Boulder I can probably help you out. Boulder isn't Estees (Estes?) Park with the huge peaks and the tundra, but it is very mountainous non the less.

I bet I could connect you with a minister who would drive you to the ceremony loation and you can leave your truck and trailor parked at the church. Like I said my husband and I really did one heck of a dinner and then we provided our condo in Cannes France for a week as a raffel. With our donation they made their budget that they were needed. Most if not all of the church ministers who supported the campus ministry would remember my son and my hsuband and I. I wouldn't mind contacting them for you.

http://www.localhikes.com/HikeData.asp?DispType=0&ActiveHike=2&GetHikesStateID=1&ID=5590
On this webpage click on the link for the local hike reporter Joshua Friesema, he has a website and seems like a great guy. I bet he would relaly help you find the perfect spot. There you go Eddie, all the way over here in France I'm trying to give you a little helping hand for your wedding.

I won't feel bad if you find other alternatives.