Wedding Planning Guide for Oregon Couples
Planning a wedding in Oregon and not sure where to start? I created this wedding planning guide to help couples like you feel more confident, organized, and excited about the process. From timelines to vendor tips, budgeting advice, and photo-friendly insights, this guide is packed with everything I’ve learned as a professional wedding photographer working with couples across Portland and beyond.
Check out part two of this guide here
WHERE TO START – A HELPFUL WEDDING PLANNING GUIDE FOR THE NEWLY ENGAGED
Not sure what to do first? You’re not alone — most couples feel overwhelmed at the start. The good news? With a little direction, planning a wedding in Oregon can actually be enjoyable. I recommend starting with your venue, date, and guest list — those key details help shape everything else.
TIMELINE
Having photographed over 100 weddings, I’ve seen what works and what adds unnecessary stress. Here’s a general timeline most couples follow when planning a wedding in Oregon — from booking vendors to sending invites:
- 12+ Months Out: Book your venue and photographer
- 10–11 Months: Start shopping for attire, hire priority vendors
- 6–9 Months: Send save-the-dates, book rentals/florals
- 4–5 Months: Finalize guest list, plan ceremony details
- 2-3 Months: Send invitations, confirm timeline
- 1 Week Out: Final walkthroughs and timeline confirmations
BUDGET & PRIORITIES
Let’s talk budget. Every couple has different priorities — some care most about photography and food, others about florals and music. Think about what matters most to you, and build your budget around those elements.
OPTIONS TO FACTOR INTO YOUR BUDGET
- Venue (or lack of venue; parks, personal property etc)
- Vendors – Officiant, Planners, Photographers, Videographers, Catering, DJ, Florists
- Dresses, tux, shoes, jewelry, Decor,
- Linens, furniture/reception rentals
- Travel, Airbnbs or getting ready spaces
- Number of guests you’d like in attendance
- If you plan on hosting a full dinner; family style, buffet or plated
- If you plan on having pre wedding events; such as bachelor or bachelorette parties/trips
- If you plan on having a wedding party, and how involved you’d like them to be during your planning/celebrations
If you’re not sure what wedding photography usually costs, check out this guide to the average wedding photographer cost.
FINDING A VENUE
While you’re likely to pay more for a venue’s space, some of that cost does include items such as: tables, chairs, silverware and sometimes a simple linen option.
If you’re having your wedding in Oregon, you may choose to get married in the outdoors (backyard, in a forest etc) This will definitely appear budget friendly at the get go, but you’ll need to consider the costs of furniture rental and delivery as well as how a delivery timeline affects your day. Here is a list of the top wedding venues around Portland, Oregon.
Many venues do offer day of coordinators with their packages, however I highly suggest hiring an offsite planner/coordinator to help you on your day. This ensures support in the weeks/days leading up to your wedding. They get to know you on a deeper level and learn more about your needs/wants, rather than just the typical timeline of what works best for the venue.
WEDDING VENDORS
Before you go on the hunt for the perfect vendors, think realistically about what vendors you need for your wedding day.
Here is a sample list of wedding vendors to consider hiring for your wedding:
- Coordinator/Planner
- Photographer
- Videographer
- Officient
- Florist
- DJ/Band
- Catering/Food/Drink Options
- Makeup & Hair Stylist
- Guest list: This is an important factor early in your planning process. You need to know what type of space you’ll require before you can consider the venue/location of your celebration. Consider what feels best to both of you. Do you prefer something intimate, or a lavish style of party. Understanding your guest list allows you to understand how big of a space you’ll need. Alternatively, choosing a venue which dictates the guest count is also a possibility. More on that below!
- Pick a season to get married: Considering the elements when you’re planning your wedding is high on the list of importance. Summer sun is consistently a goal for couples getting married in Oregon. Do consider how the heat and sun impacts sweat, makeup, hair, etc. Fall weddings in Oregon are stunning – be sure to consider the weather, and have a back up plan for rain if you’re getting married outdoors.
- Choose a date: Once you’ve decided on a season, choose a date (or a few) that seem acceptable. Once you begin looking at venues, or researching permits for parks, you may need to have a bit of leeway with your date. This will allow you to pick a location that you love!
- Begin looking at venues/location options: Once you have your date(s), it’s time to reach out to venues, or find a location for your elopement. Whether big or small, all venues/locations have pros and cons. What things matter most to you? If you care about having an outdoor wedding, you’re going to want to make sure the grounds appear well kept from all angles. Indoor spaces may have low light which is going to affect your photos. Consider the flow from the ceremony to reception. Is the area easy for elders or those in wheelchairs to get around? No matter the stipulations, it’s helpful to think about things like this so when your wedding day arrives, there are no surprises.
- Hire your photographer: If you don’t have a photographer in mind, I recommend reaching out to multiple wedding photographers and setting up a phone call to chat and learn about what they offer. Your photographer is with you throughout the whole wedding day – more than anyone else. It’s industry standard for photographers to share their work processes, share examples of their work and talk about a plan B if something goes wrong. My goal as is to get to know my clients before their wedding day, so they feel comfortable when it arrives. Everyone works differently.
- Hire a seasoned wedding planner: When it comes to your day, if you’re planning on hosting a traditional wedding, a professional wedding planner is key. They’re going to streamline the big moments, as well as the small. The things you don’t consider when you’re planning, and little flare ups throughout the day that you don’t want to worry about. I suggest looking into many planners, reading reviews and interviewing them on the phone or in person. An experienced planner will help you with important factors such as timelines, client desires, vendor communications, and dealing with family issues that may arise.
*A quick note: When planning your day, as easy as it may seem to have family or friends help with day of coordination or planning – I strongly urge you to steer clear of this. Your wedding day has many moving parts, many of which go unseen by everyone outside of a planner and photographer. If your budget doesn’t allow for a planner, chat with your photographer so they can assist with preparing you in the best manner possible. - Decide what other vendors you need to curate the day that suits you: This can be as simple as an officiant, or as detailed as all of the vendors listed above. Once you’ve hired your planner and photographer, chat with both of them about your day and enlist their referral lists for vendors that will work with your needs.