And the Biggest Expense of Your Wedding is…
Of all the expenses weddings entail, the venue (along with food/catering) is usually the biggest expense, by far! Read just about any article out there about cutting costs for your wedding and they’ll invariably say that trimming your guest list is the easiest way to save money. While that may be true, what if you can’t? What if you’ve trimmed your list as best you can, but are still over budget…? All may not be lost because there may be one thing you have not yet considered. What if there was an absolutely gorgeous location available the entire day for practically free? Ummm, yes please!!! In my last post, I promised you one more money-saving idea for your wedding – one more idea that just might be the best of all… If you love nature, consider ditching the whole standard venue thing and have your wedding at one of the most beautiful locations on Earth: National Parks and National Forests! And of course, state and local parks can be included too. Yes! I’m saying forget parking lot views, landscaping punctuated with unsightly buildings sticking out of them, and above all, fences! Seriously, don’t even get me started on how much I hate having fences in the photographs! Say goodbye to tiny patches of garden and foliage, and instead let pure nature be your backdrop!
I know, having a wedding in a relatively remote location can sound a bit daunting at first. But before the logistical considerations start making your head spin, take a deep breath and then take a few minutes to read on about having your wedding outside of a traditional venue. You may just realize that it really is doable and of course, if you need help with logistics, that is where a good wedding planner comes in handy!
It is hard to find a more stunning backdrop than nature. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we have so much natural beauty, all within a short drive. Gorgeous mountains, lakes, forests, rivers, waterfalls, and alpine meadows await anyone up for a little adventure. Permits of course are required, but most of the time, they are less than $200 and can be applied for and purchased at your local Ranger Station. Then you’ll need parking or a transportation service, access to restroom facilities (this could even mean a shuttle to a nearby restroom facility), and possibly some chairs brought in. Also, all of these parks require that you treat the natural environment with the utmost care. National Parks (like Mount Rainier or Mount St. Helens) have a “leave no footprint” policy and tend to have far more restrictions than National Forests and State Parks when it comes to holding events. Many areas will allow tables and chairs to be brought in to hold your reception there as well.
Nevertheless, if your chosen ceremony location has too many restrictions or doesn’t allow tables, etc. to be brought in, you could have your reception at a nearby restaurant or lodge. For Mount Rainier, there is the Paradise Lodge in Paradise, various lodges and restaurants in and around Longmire & Ashford, and also Crystal Mountain Resort, where you can take the gondola for amazing views of Rainier! For Mount Rainier, you can find a list of venues and more information here: https://visitrainier.com/weddings/
Yes, it may require some planning, but since you’re not going with a traditional venue, you’re also probably saving tons of money, so why not apply some of your savings on a great wedding planner too! Let them handle the logistics and you can relax and get excited about how gorgeous your wedding will be.
Don’t get me wrong; there are tons of beautiful traditional venues out there. I’ve photographed weddings at quite a number of them. And there’s no arguing that traditional venues are more convenient and less complicated. But they are also more expensive and perhaps most importantly, when it comes to choosing a scenic place for a wedding ceremony and wedding photographs, it is hard for traditional venues to compete with the raw, dramatic, gorgeous splendor of nature! After all, there is a reason why people travel thousands of miles to visit National Parks, but they don’t travel thousands of miles to look at the manicured gardens or grove of trees in front of a typical wedding venue… Again, don’t get me wrong – I love garden weddings too and I’ve created countless beautiful wedding images at all kinds of wedding venues, but if you love nature, want to save money, or you are looking for something truly epic, consider having your wedding at a National Park, National Forest, or State Park. The possibilities for a unique and gorgeous wedding are endless!
If you’d like help finding the perfect location for your mountain or forest wedding or elopement, please feel free to reach out! I love scouting locations and would be happy to help you find that spot you’ve been dreaming about!