by Scott Johnson
Favorite Wedding Venues Part 1:
One of the best things about getting to film dozens of weddings per year is being able to visit the far corners of the beautiful state of Washington–as well as others–and witness all of the many kinds of wedding venues clients have chosen for their big day.
From lavish hotels to tranquil forests and idyllic orchards to ritzy golf courses, there is an almost overwhelming amount of venues we have shot at. Ultimately, the site of your wedding is one of the most crucial decisions you have to make in the wedding planning process. After all, venues can book up years in advance, so be sure to double and triple check right now if you already have places and dates in mind!
A recent article from Weddingwire does offer some helpful advice on why choosing a hotel is one of the best decisions you can make for your venue. For example, depending on the hotels in question, most will have different event spaces to hold your ceremony and reception. In addition, most hotels that offer wedding accommodations will also have a wedding planner on staff and you’ll be able to take care of just about everything all at once on-site. Most importantly--it provides convenience. You, your guests, and the wedding will all be located within the same building, preventing the need to worry about transportation to and from the ceremony.
You also don’t have to worry about your guests getting home safely
As always, this got us thinking: what have been our favorite venues over the past few years? Well we’ve boiled them down to our seven favorites and are splitting them up into a double feature!! The first set is below--and be sure to check out the rest tomorrow!
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The Edgewater House, Olalla WA
Just north of Gig Harbor, The Edgewater House is an absolute delight. Right on the waterfront, with the altar peaking across the bay, there simply is no beating this venue for a summer wedding. Providing staff and service that always exceeds expectations, the venue will do just about anything in its power to ensure your perfect day. From a greeting service, parking attendants, a shuttle service to the parking lot, and enough tables and chairs for over 200 people, there’s simply no way you can be disappointed by the amenities and customer service.
For those with money they’re just aching to get rid of, you can even arrive by seaplane, helicopter or boat and be greeted by champaign! Bonfires, s’mores packages and more are also available, though showing up to your wedding by seaplane sounds pretty freaking rad. Depending on the weather, you can even request your own firework show for your guests to view from the beach below!
We’ve shot several weddings there, but the Duprel and Staggs weddings both highlight just how gorgeous the venue really is. Both weddings, which were massive in size, had more than enough space to dance and party into the golden hours of the evening. The scenic location also offers endless spots to do stunning photoshoots and poses against a variety of backdrops. There’s just so much to love about this place!
You don’t need to be Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson to enjoy getting married at the utterly scenic and undeniably breathtaking Golf Club at Newcastle. Sure it might be all the way up on a hill, but one look at the view and you’ll realize it was all worth it. With a panoramic view that sweeps all across the region, encompassing Seattle, Lake Washington, and the majestic Olympics way out in the distance, it’s worth it alone just to drive up to see it for yourself.
But for your big day, the staff is ready to...caddy...to your needs with multiple settings for the ceremony, outdoor patios (with heaters for those chilly evenings) and even a Scottish bagpiper! Bridal suites are also available to those who want to get ready on site--and they even provide a Bridal Attendant to guarantee your complete satisfaction.
While the Schroder wedding is one of the most stunning weddings we’ve shot, the proposal of Connor and Addie also showcases much of what makes the Golf Club so darn spectacular. We just love the views so much, and even the interiors are as formidably beautiful. It’s certainly a hole-in-one in our books!
Don’t be fooled by the name, you won’t be taking any polar bear plunges or chilling out on blocks of ice as this venue. Rather, the Arctic Club is one of Seattle’s finest hotels and boasts an exceptionally gorgeous event space called the Northern Lights Dome Room with an unforgettable ceiling that rivals ones you’d find in Europe. Formally a social club for men returning from the Yukon Gold Rush, the building is now part of the National Register of Historic Places!
Able to host up to 320 guests, the Arctic Club comes ready with a full china service, dance floors, silver service, and you even get a complimentary night’s stay if you book your wedding there! Also available is valet parking, custom decorations, floral arrangements and more. Plus, you get to pick from a prepared list of vendors and musicians to perform! To top it all off, their catering team is prepared to serve anything from a traditional dinner with menus to a buffet. Just one look at their menu–which includes such mouthwatering options as Scallops Nage, roasted pork, chicken, or sirloin, and even a “late night snack” of kobe beef sliders–will make your stomach growl.
The Cone wedding, back in September of 2016, showcases the immenseness of the dome and the sheer size of the event space. Speckled with gold and white, nothing says “royalty” like the literally-dazzling wallpaper seen during the photoshoots. If you want a luxurious wedding, you really can’t go wrong with the Arctic Club.
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That’s it for today! Do check back in later this week to find out even more of our favorite venues including a church and a winery!