Why We Love Outdoor Weddings in Central Oregon
Here at Ponderosa Planning, it’s no secret that we love outdoor weddings. The majority of the weddings we plan are outdoor affairs, and our couples tend to be nature-loving folk who’d sooner sleep in a tent under the stars than a hotel bed. And, while we love a forested ceremony or mountaintop reception anywhere, we think there’s something truly special about outdoor weddings in Central Oregon. With its wealth of natural beauty, it’s no surprise that couples travel from all across the country to get married here!
If you’re on the fence about an outdoor wedding, we’re guessing it’s because of the countless details involved. The good news is that with proper planning, not even rain or pesky mosquitoes have the power to ruin your wedding day. If you and your partner are already game to take a little risk in exchange for the incredible payoff of an outdoor wedding in Central Oregon, hit us up! But, if you need a bit more convincing, keep reading to find out what makes these weddings so great.
The Values They Represent
Many of our couples simply enjoy quality time outside, so it only makes sense to spend the happiest day of their life in the great outdoors! What’s more, they tend to feel that experiences are more important than things. They would trade the comforts and luxuries of a traditional wedding venue for a chilly mountainside with no cell service and jaw-dropping views any day.
Because nature is so essential to them, sustainability is another factor for them. We understand this since sustainability is so important to us as well. Having a wedding that is friendly to the environment is key, especially when you’re having that wedding outdoors. So, we work with our couples to ensure that we’re doing what we can!
The Diversity and Beauty of Central Oregon
Having an outdoor wedding in Central Oregon allows you to take full advantage of the incredible natural backdrops here. And, there couldn’t be a more gorgeous variety to choose from! The high deserts covered in sagebrush and juniper are just as lovely as the mountain skylines, alpine lakes, and forests full of ponderosa pine trees (our namesake!). Where you choose to have your outdoor wedding is only dependent on which of these environments speaks to your soul the most.
Many of our couples choose to incorporate natural elements into their day in celebration of the beauty around them. They might use trees to frame their ceremony rather than a traditional arbor. Or, they might sneak away from their reception for a bit to take some stunning landscape-style portraits at golden hour.
No matter what, there’s no doubt that with 8,000 square miles of unique landscape, Central Oregon is a prime destination for outdoor weddings. Summer is considered the “peak” season here, but we love to plan these celebrations all year long. Oh, and have we mentioned that we get 300 days of sun per year?
Non-Traditional Venues
In the absence of a conventional venue or facilities, outdoor weddings often take place in unique locations. In fact, one of our favorite things to do is turn a campground, backyard, historic lodge, or cabin in the woods into a wedding venue! It takes a breadth of knowledge and experience to pull this off, so we don’t recommend taking the DIY approach here. You’ll need a planner’s help to figure out communication without cell service, electricity for food and lights, the bathroom situation, and how to create shade if needed—and that’s without considering the rest of the wedding components!
We don’t want all of that to scare you. What we do want to emphasize is that you can have a beautifully designed and one-of-a-kind wedding in the location of your dreams without sacrificing your guests’ comfort or your own. The assistance of a planner will make that possible!
The Most Beautiful Portraits
If you’ve seen any amount of wedding photos, you know that outdoor weddings produce the best ones, hands down. It’s true: nothing beats natural light! Plus, you won’t have to worry about any pesky exit signs ruining your ceremony photos, or parking meters sneaking into your portraits.
Uniqueness and Memorability
An outdoor wedding in Central Oregon is something that you and your guests will remember for the rest of your lives. Not only that, but your photos will uniquely signify where your wedding took place! A wedding in a ballroom, for example, could be taking place anywhere. But an outdoor ceremony in the forest or beside an alpine lake really center’s the event’s location as a memorable part of the day.
Why the Risks Shouldn’t Deter You
So you’ve heard all about why outdoor weddings are our favorite, but what about the risks? It’s true that weather, bugs, heat, and cold are all unpredictable factors that come with planning any kind of event outdoors, not just weddings! However, with proper planning, these risk factors can be mitigated. And, we like to think that we’re also experts at problem-solving on the fly!
What it really comes down to is deciding that YOUR wedding day is going to be special and unique, come hell or high water. You and your partner are celebrating the love of a lifetime, and there’s nothing that can get in the way of that! If you’d like to know more about planning an outdoor wedding in Central Oregon—and how we can help you avoid the risks as much as possible—we would love to chat with you! Just fill out our quick form, and we’ll be in touch ASAP.