by Scott Johnson

Here we are at the end of the first category in our Favorites of 2019 Countdown. With our Favorite Outdoor Weddings we have revisited some fabulous celebrations that took place in the open air. We have seen a fair share of golf courses, a few lakes, a winter wonderland and much more. Now, more than ever, we wish we were back outside doing the same thing! Alas, this crazy pandemic has us mostly planted indoors, but at least we have the memories! Our Final Four is no less astonishing than the rest of the list; farms, nature retreats and heart soaring sunsets are coming at you. Ready to take a look?

Pethick - Paul-Hayter - Red Cedar Farm

Who doesn’t love a trip to a farm to embrace the good ol’ rustic lifestyle. There is a certain quality to farms that just makes them so darned charming. Take Red Cedar Farm for example, it has just about everything. Big open spaces for outdoor dancing, a quaint little ceremony space amongst the trees, and still all of the modern updates that allow for a great party. The first look was beyond romantic Alex and Jake met outside the barn, and were overflowing with emotion.

Venturing around the venue, there were a plethora of spots to get the two looking all cozy. Our favorite was down by the road with the stone fence; simply romantic! But what about the ceremony? As mentioned above, the location was perfect. Flowers strewn across the grass and light breaking through the foliage was an amazing sight! Since this is a farm, you can surely expect some adorable animals...but also pinball, a big dance space and plenty of other surprises.

Mosley Wedding - Mountain View Venue

Jumping across the Sound to the Mountain View Venue in Port Angeles, our day with the Mosleys was blessed with clear skies and warm weather. Back in early May of 2019, we hopped on a ferry and got to witness a stunning afternoon full of love and natural beauty. Once all the lovely blue dresses were on and ties fixed, Marie and Jason met for one of the most gorgeous first looks we have seen in a while. Underneath a tree, blasted with light from above and creating tangled shadows underneath, it was every bit of the word perfect.

Of course, that would all change with the ceremony. We weren’t expecting the marvelous view that stretched out behind the altar. A farm land with a few buildings dotting the hillside, and a whole forest, it felt so freeing to be far from a major city. While the reception took place indoors, there were tire swings around the area that kids could play on. It wouldn’t be a Pacific Northwest night without a walk along the hills during golden hour.

Stotts Wedding - Olympic View Estates

A lot of people don’t know that superstar Chris Pratt once resided in Lake Stevens, but a lot of people also don’t know just how amazing the area is for weddings. Olympic View Estates adds to this fact, with its lovely rolling hills and scenic altar. Shelby and Paul had an absolute blast during their first look and photo session. The excellent views gave us good backdrops for the lovebirds, while they proceeded to have a little more “raunchy” fun with their first look than most people would ever be willing to do. It was the best!

We could have spent the whole day watching these two have fun taking photos, but we were here for one very important thing: to see them get hitched. The ceremony space was filled with white chairs matched by the altar. Red dresses punctuated the aisles, and the ladies themselves wore red. It was hard to deny the beauty of all aspects of this wedding. Dinner was eaten outdoors, undercover from open-air tents, and we spent the rest of the evening weaving in and out, capturing all the happy moments.

Boyar Wedding - Semiahmoo Resort

Well, here we are at our last Favorite Outdoor Wedding of 2019. We do not believe in ranking weddings against each other as they are all special and terrific in their own regard, so there is no extra weight given to this one being our last. It’s just the way it shapes out!

The Boyars' big day was spent right up near the border to Canada in Blaine. Right up on the water, looking out across the big blue ocean, is the Semiahmoo Resort. We had been there before, and hope more than anything to be there again for another wedding. The morning zipped by as the bride and groom got dressed, along with their entourages, until it was ready for the waterfront first look.

Against the Pacific Ocean, Carrie and Phil looked lovely during their first look. We made our way up and down the beach, capturing the picturesque coastline while the sun grew higher in the sky. Once the massive armies of a bridal party were assembled, and the dapper dog was dressed up, we had to find bigger areas to fit them all into the frame.

This may be one of the few times that you should turn your back on the ocean as the altar peered out over the Sound with waves crashing beyond. Don’t worry, we were plenty far away to not get pulled into the water. Cocktail hour was held on the docks but soon the reception was held under a tent. To cap all things off, a jaw-dropping sunset up at the edge of our state and country. Perfection!

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There you have it for our Favorite Outdoor Weddings of 2019. We hope you have been entertained, informed and possibly inspired to hold your wedding at one of these venues. Here in the Pacific Northwest it can be pretty iffy when it comes to the weather, so be sure to check back soon for our Favorite Indoor Weddings.

Have a question or comment? Want to share your own outdoor wedding? Let us know below!