Hilary and Tommy honored their love of the outdoors with not one but two outdoor wedding venues in Bend, Oregon. Their ceremony took place at Skyliner Lodge, against the backdrop of towering pine trees and Tumalo creek. The historic lodge on site provided the ideal getting ready location for final touches and a rustic setting for photos. Skyliner Lodge is about a 30 minute drive from Bend and is one of the most iconic Central Oregon rustic outdoor venues that we have the pleasure of working at. The bride Hilary wore a stunning Made With Love gown from Bespoke Bride; it looked like it was custom made for her. After the ceremony, Hilary and Tommy were able to enjoy a private moment together taking photos and basking in the post-ceremony glow, while their guests transitioned to the reception to grab a drink.

The cocktail hour and reception took place in Bend at Aspen Hall on a sprawling lawn next to the pond. We used long wood farmhouse tables to create a sense of community, where their guests shared a family style meal. The toasts were the perfect combination of hilarious and heartfelt, and much to the couples delight, everyone danced their faces off (especially Hilary). Ice cream sandwiches from Bonta Gelato were passed around; just the best summer wedding dessert. Hilary and Tommy had a big crew of Wedding VIPs, made up of family and friends that were cheering them on, getting ready with them, walking down the aisle, giving toasts, and being the greatest hype crew.

This DIY Bend wedding was brought to life by a team of stellar vendors (vendor credits at the bottom). Planning a DIY wedding is not for the faint of heart, but Hilary and Tommy (with help from their family) approached it with so much excitement and creativity that they planned a day that perfectly suited them. Being able to Hand Off responsibility to our team for Wedding Management enabled them to enjoy their day as guests. Hilary said, “by the time our wedding day arrived, I felt a sense of ease because I knew Ponderosa Planning was handling it […] we TRULY got to just BE in the day. I honestly did not think about one logistic.” We feel so lucky to now call this couple friends!

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