JOURNAL
How to Plan a Last-Minute 2025 Wedding: Venues, Budgets & Timeline Tips
If you’re newly engaged and dreaming of a 2025 wedding but worried you’ve missed your chance, take a deep breath—you still have options. Many stunning venues in the Pacific Northwest still have availability, particularly in August, late October, and early winter—which just so happens to be one of the most romantic (and cost-effective) times of year to say "I do."
We get it—life is expensive, and life feels unsteady right now. That doesn’t mean you have to wait until 2026 to get married. Many couples are taking their time to thoughtfully consider their options and weigh all considerations right now.
That said, do not fret. There are still plenty of venues with an abundance of open dates—even summer dates. It’s a bit of a push to bring it all together, but it can be done. Later dates are more ideal to allow for a longer planning time frame, with fall and early winter dates being ideal for us planners.
1. Choose a Venue with Open Dates (Yes, There Are Plenty!)
While prime summer Saturdays may be booked, late summer, fall, and early winter offer incredible opportunities—often with more flexibility and lower price tags. August still has availability in many wine country venues, while late October brings crisp air, golden leaves, and the magic of autumn. If you’re open to a winter wedding, early 2026 dates come with a cozy, intimate atmosphere and significant savings on venue fees.
2. Opt for a More Intimate Guest List
A smaller wedding allows for more personalized touches, a refined dining experience, and flexibility in securing vendors. Microweddings and intimate celebrations are a beautiful way to create a high-end experience without the extended timeline of a 200-person event—or the extended budget. By focusing on what truly matters, couples can have a distinctive, luxurious wedding with a more intentional investment.
3. Prioritize Key Vendors First
When working with a condensed timeline, securing an experienced planner is the first step—we streamline the entire process, leveraging our connections to find available vendors and ensuring every detail aligns seamlessly. From there, photographers, caterers, florists, and entertainment should be booked swiftly, focusing on those who can accommodate shorter lead times.
4. Consider a Weekday or Off-Peak Date
Flexibility with your date can open up premium venues and sought-after vendors. A Friday or Sunday wedding often offers more availability, while a weekday soirée can provide a truly intimate, relaxed experience—especially in scenic locations like Oregon’s wine country, the Columbia River Gorge, Central Oregon, or Hawaii.
Thursday microwedding overlooking the Columbia River Gorge
5. Embrace the Season
Each season in the Pacific Northwest offers its own kind of magic. Late summer is golden and sun-drenched, fall is rich and moody, and winter weddings are filled with candlelight, warm textiles, and a cozy, sophisticated atmosphere. Plus, winter weddings often come with lower price points for venues and vendors, allowing you to maximize your budget.
6. Say Yes to a Streamlined Planning Process
A last-minute wedding doesn’t have to feel rushed—it just requires a focused, strategic approach. Working with a planner means eliminating the overwhelm while still achieving an elegant, distinctive celebration. We handle the logistics, secure trusted vendors, and ensure everything comes together beautifully, even on a shorter timeline.
Winter Wedding at Maysara Winery that was planned in four months
Ready to Make It Happen? Let’s Talk.
If you’re dreaming of a late 2025 wedding but worried about timing, let’s connect. We specialize in bringing refined, high-touch celebrations to life—whether it’s an intimate wine country gathering, a lush Pacific Northwest estate affair, or a chic winter wedding glowing with candlelight.
There’s still time to plan something extraordinary. Let’s find your perfect date.
Photographers showcased:
First photo: Casi Yost
Second photo: Catherine Marie Taylor
Third photo: Emma and Tanner
Fourth photo: Indwell
Fifth photo: Wedding Photo House
A Dreamy October Wedding at Lachini Vineyards in Oregon Wine Country
As wedding planners in the heart of Oregon Wine Country, we’ve had the privilege of working with countless couples who choose this stunning region for their big day. And let us tell you, Lachini Vineyards is one of our absolute favorites—and not just because it’s practically in our backyard. Just four stop signs away from our office, this gem of a venue is part of our community, and we’re thrilled to share it with couples from around the world who appreciate great wine, incredible views, and an authentic sense of place.
The new Tuscan-inspired villa at Lachini Vineyards is quickly making waves as one of the most sought-after wedding venues in Oregon Wine Country. This October, the venue was the site of a truly magical wedding—a celebration that perfectly captured the beauty of the venue, the warmth of the couple’s love, and the unmatched charm of this wine country region.
On this picture-perfect fall day, the couple envisioned a celebration that was equal parts elegance and simplicity. They opted for a black-and-white color palette accented with soft greens, allowing the natural beauty of the vineyard and the surrounding Yamhill Valley to take center stage. With its sweeping views of the vineyard and surrounding hills, Lachini Vineyards couldn’t have been a more perfect setting for this romantic, intimate wedding.
Guests were greeted with a chilled splash of rosé, offering a refreshing start to the celebration as they took in the incredible views. The ceremony took place on the expansive lawn, where the couple exchanged vows with a panoramic view of the vineyard and Yamhill Valley as their backdrop. With the fall foliage in full color and the vineyard’s rows stretching endlessly behind them, the setting couldn’t have been more romantic. It was a beautiful reminder of why we love this area: the peace and beauty of nature surround you at every turn.
After the ceremony, guests made their way to the two-tiered outdoor patios of the new Tuscan villa for cocktail hour. This was the perfect opportunity to enjoy the stunning views while indulging in delicious bites. A standout moment of the evening came from the groom’s sister, who owns a charcuterie company in Missouri. She curated a beautiful and mouthwatering charcuterie display, which became the centerpiece of the cocktail hour. Not only was it a culinary treat, but also a work of art—vibrant cheeses, perfectly cured meats, and carefully selected accompaniments that reflected the couple’s love for family, food, and fine craftsmanship. It was a personal and special touch that added a warm, welcoming feel to the celebration and gave guests a taste of the couple’s unique story.
One of the highlights of the evening was the food, which was expertly catered by the couple’s favorite Portland-based restaurant, Gumba. Known for their exceptional Italian-inspired cuisine, Gumba went above and beyond, creating a meal that was both sophisticated and comforting. The couple's love for food was evident in every dish, and it wasn’t just the main courses that stole the show. Gumba also crafted a show-stopping cannoli tower, filled with homemade cannolis that added a decadent and delightful touch to the dessert spread. The cannoli tower was a true showpiece, and it became a fun centerpiece for guests to gather around and indulge in a sweet, traditional Italian treat.
As the evening went on, the couple’s beloved dog, Romeo, made another appearance—this time on the dance floor. After his adorable cameo during portraits, he took center stage once again, dancing alongside his mom and dad as they shared their first dance with their furry friend. Romeo brought an unexpected burst of joy and energy to the celebration, reminding everyone how meaningful and fun it can be to incorporate family—four-legged members included—into your wedding day. The dance floor quickly became his domain as guests couldn’t help but gather around to cheer him on.
At Lachini Vineyards, the blend of modern luxury and rustic charm offers the best of both worlds. As wedding planners who’ve worked with many venues in Oregon Wine Country, we can confidently say that Lachini Vineyards stands out for its combination of breathtaking natural beauty, exceptional service, and the most welcoming, community-driven atmosphere. It’s one of those places where the moment you step onto the property, you feel the magic of the vineyard surrounding you.
For couples looking to celebrate their love in Oregon Wine Country, Lachini Vineyards offers the perfect blend of elegance, intimacy, and local flavor. The venue’s brand-new Tuscan-inspired villa provides a stunning, modern space for your ceremony and reception, while the expansive vineyard views and surrounding Yamhill Valley landscape create the perfect backdrop for unforgettable photos and memories.
As local experts, we can tell you that Lachini Vineyards isn’t just a venue—it’s a place where your wedding day becomes part of the local community, where the wine flows freely, and where you and your guests will be treated like family. It’s a space that feels both luxurious and approachable, with a true sense of belonging to the wine country lifestyle.
We can’t wait to help couples from near and far plan their dream wedding at Lachini Vineyards. Whether you’re envisioning an intimate ceremony among the vines or a grand celebration in the beautiful villa, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Reach out today, and let us show you why Lachini Vineyards is the perfect place to say “I do” in Oregon Wine Country.
If you’re dreaming of a wedding surrounded by vineyards, breathtaking views, and an incredible sense of community, look no further. Lachini Vineyards is ready to welcome you with open arms—and we’re excited to be your local wedding planning experts every step of the way.
Vendors:
Planner: J29 Events
Photography: Taylor Struck
Venue: Lachini Vineyards
Flowers: Crowley House Flower Farm
Rentals: Arden Event Collective
Beauty: Lisa Boehm Beauty + The Wildflower Collective
Charcuterie: Procrastin’s Table
Catering: Gumba Catering
Musician: Lady and a Harp
Destination Boho Wedding at Horning's Hideout
What happens when a southern couple plans a destination woodsy wedding to the PNW? Perfection. From the burgundy/dusty mauve color palette to the magical boho florals, no detail was left unturned (especially in the desserts category).
From our Junebug Weddings Feature:
When Shannon and Ian were planning their fairytale forest wedding, they took to Google to search for inspiration and fell madly in love with Horning’s Hideout! Shannon has a natural love for the environment, so it was important that the natural beauty of the venue shine through with minimal decor. Selva Floral Design did a magical job creating arrangements for the ceremony arch and reception area that complimented the enchanting forest vibes. If you love all things whimsical, we think you’re going to swoon over these photos by The Soft Season!
We love seeing bridesmaids in a variety of dresses within a color palette. The different tones and textures create so much depth and gives your wedding extra personality. How do you plan on dressing your ladies?
When it comes to wedding details and ceremony backdrops, unexpected shapes and textures in the trees are kind of our jam.
Wedding planning advice from the bride: Pick your memorable moments, everything else will fade over time so only focus on the things you want yourself and your guests to remember and highlight them in a way which resonates with you to make them uniquely yours and so looking back those moments will always bring joy. Additionally, have a vision and stick with it, by having a vision from the beginning it helped cut down on the stress. Lastly, love your wedding photographer and their style. Highly recommend using social media to your advantage and looking at different photography styles to narrow down what you would like.
Here’s to an epic party in the woods! Clink!
A mixture of table shapes and surfaces help to create a beautiful and unique reception setup as well as helping to define your wedding style.
“We found it very important to maintain our vision for the wedding. We wanted to create a unique interpretation of traditional wedding elements done in a modern way which created a better atmosphere and flow through out the event. This wedding was our opportunity to thank everyone in our lives who had played an instrumental role in helping us get to where we are so we wanted to take some of the focus off of ourselves and instead create a memorable intimate wedding where each of our guests felt welcomed and appreciated.”.
When floral heaven lands on a dessert table, you know Selva Floral is in da house. Holy moly! This statement piece was designed for the ceremony altar, but we repurposed it for the dessert table. Wow is an understatement. Also, White Pepper Catering are dessert masters!
Vendors:
Photography: The Soft Season
Second Photographer: Courtney Meili Photography
Venue: Horning’s Hideout
Florals: Selva Floral Design
Catering: White Pepper Catering
Cake: Dream Cakes
Bar: Tiddly Trailer
DJ: Event Team Entertainment
Stationery: Polka Dot Paper
Makeup: Lauren Maher Makeup
Hair: The Beaty Briar
Wedding Dress: THEIA Couture, Louvienne va Lovely Bride
Groom Attire: Idlewood Bespoke
Rentals: Party Place, Classic Vintage Rentals
Featured on Junebug Weddings
5 Best Oregon Scenic Wedding Venues
There are so many gorgeous Scenic Wedding Venues in Oregon. As wedding planners, we feel so blessed that our job takes us to new and wonderful locations each year! We often get to feel like a tourist our daily lives!
Today we’re sharing 5 of our favorite wedding venues and a couple of wish list ones too! There are so many venues across the state, this short list was hard to narrow down.
Domaine de Broglie
“Domaine de Broglie ceremony space is surrounded by vines and a grove of oak trees, perched atop the Dundee Hills for picturesque views of the Willamette Valley. Your guests will enjoy meandering through the vineyards while sipping our estate-grown Pinot Noir, then bask in the ambiance of our rustic outdoor fireplace. Domaine de Broglie combines elegance and modern architectural details in a romantic vineyard setting, perfect for creating amazing photography and charming experiences to be remembered for a lifetime.”
What we love: the sweeping views and the oak trees. This property is stunning!
Maysara Winery
“Maysara Winery offers one of the largest indoor and outdoor venues in Oregon’s Willamette Valley wine country. The stone and wood winery has a rustically sophisticated and majestic feel surrounded by 532 acres of Momtazi Vineyard. Whether intimate or grand, have the wedding or event of your dreams with us here at Maysara.”
What we love: the huge winery doors. There are multiple ways to use their expansive property from their upper patio, lower patio, lawn area, inside the barn or under the trees. Sunsets here are divine with the BEST golden hour photos.
Photographer no longer in business
Bridal Veil Lakes
“At Bridal Veil Lakes we provide two covered areas for your use. Our open air pavilion and covered patio are situated on the lakeshore, allowing you and your guests to dine & dance in an amazing, romantic atmosphere.”
What we love: it’s no secret that Bridal Veil Lakes is one of our all time favorites. This family owned property is massive but thoughtfully landscaped with blooms for every season. Tucked into the trees, this private space feels magical…. oh and those canoes, they offer the perfect photo opportunity.
The Orchard
“Tucked deep in our family’s pear farm, you’ll find a lush secret garden with a meadow-like wedding lawn and reception barn with views of the scenic Hood River Valley’s pear orchards, snow-capped Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams, and the East Hills. Located 5 minutes from downtown Hood River and the best accommodations in the Columbia River Gorge, it is the perfect Oregon destination wedding location.”
What we love: the VIEW…. and the landscaping… and the reception barn. The list goes on and on here. We love sharing Hood River with our clients and this special place is the cherry on top. You won’t be disappointed.
Photo courtesy of The Orchard
Mt. Hood Organic Farms
“Mt. Hood Organic Farms is a unique, secluded, spectacular natural setting, both for growing fruit and for hosting events. A farm since the turn of the century, the spacious grounds include unique and historic architecture, spectacular mountain views of Hood, Adams, and Rainier, orchards, forests, fields and ponds, as well as luscious gardens. This award-winning venue is world renown and the near one hundred variety apple and pear orchard is the largest certified Biodynamic orchard in the country. ”
What we love: again, THE VIEW! Oh, the VIEW. It’s as if you can touch the mountain. This beautiful farm has many different pockets to create a custom layout. They have partnered with a fabulous caterer who will wow your guests with a fresh, NW inspired meal. But nothing beats concluding the evening on the lawn just outside their unique fruit processing barn - the sunset against the mountain is spectacular!
Wish list venues
These are venues that we have not worked at yet, but would love to!
Durant Vineyards
Surrounded by vines, the romantic vibes of growing vines and beautiful scenery are enough to make anyone swoon. A summer wedding’s ideal venue is a beautiful property with the sun and wine in abundance! And the wine…… oh so good!
Black Walnut
This serene nine-room villa is set above 100 acres of pinot noir and chardonnay vines, forests of Douglas Fir, and the Red Hills of Dundee.
They are perched at an elevation of 950 feet, offering spectacular views that are unmatched. Surrounding vineyards sit beneath an expansive horizon with views of Mount Hood and Mount Jefferson. Luxe accommodations create an unparalleled visit.
Black Walnut is the perfect romantic location for a small, private elopement ceremony for guests of the Inn. Elopements qualify as 6 or fewer total guests, including photographer and officiant.
*All descriptions are from the vendor’s websites.
Are you planning an Oregon wedding or elopement? I would love to connect with you!
Jedediah Smith Redwoods Oregon Coast Elopement
Adventurers in life and in their careers, Ali and Eli (even their names are perfectly paired together) knew that they wanted something intimate and memorable for their wedding. They both work in various environmental fields so being out in nature was their top priority. The Redwood Forest is especially dear to their hearts so it was an obvious choice when choosing their destination elopement location. Partnered with an epic destination elopement photographer, Sam Starns, their day was exactly as they imagined: fun, adventurous, silly, epic, and memorable.
With their Danner boots laced up, they hiked in with Sam and their officiant Blu (Your Humboldt Officiant). The ceremony was short, sweet, and breathtaking under the majestic giants.
PRO TIP: Lace dresses, while stunning, pick up ALL the redwood needles and they are a beast to remove. Opt for a dress that has a minimal train or fabric that isn’t lacy to avoid sweeping up the entire forest.
Ali and Eli loved the idea of getting married on summer solstice. They incorporated a fun pagan fire jump at the end of their evening, representative of nature and balance both of which are important in their lives.
Their photographer is extremely passionate about elopements and started the “Elope Your Life” movement for elopement couples to empower them to be unapologetically themselves and to create a wedding day (and life) that they can be uniquely proud of. This is exactly what Ali and Eli did on their special day and we couldn’t be happier for them!
Fabulous Vendor Team:
Photographer: Sam Starns Photography
Venue: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Bouquet: Barb’s Flowers
Dress: Grace Loves Lace
Boots: Danner
Officiant: Your Humboldt Officiant
How to incorporate unique traditions into your wedding
Weddings are full of traditions. From “something old, new, borrowed and blue,” tossing the bouquet, or being walked down the aisle. Many of these are a given, and will be incorporated into your modern wedding without a second thought. But other new traditions are popping up and our couples are thinking outside of the box and getting creative. Here are a few of the unique traditions we’ve had the privilege to witness at recent weddings.
UNITING THE GUESTS
During Alicia + Phillip’s ceremony, scarves tied together were passed across the aisle symbolizing the uniting of all the guests and the bonding of the two families. This beautiful gesture was a great way to make the guests feel included.
HANDFASTING
Lindsay + Andrew used a tradition that dates back to Celtic times. The bride and groom hold opposite hands (so their arms make a figure eight—representing eternity). Then, their hands are tied together with ribbon to symbolize a union.
SMOKE BOMBS
Shannon + Ian opted for a modern idea. Smoke bombs have become a favorite trend of Wedding Photographers. They used their wedding colors and surprised their guests with this dramatic effect.
FIRE JUMPING
Another Pagan ritual is to leap through the flames by jumping over a fire pit or bonfire. Ali + Eli were married on the Summer Solstice and wanted to incorporate a Pagan ritual into their coastal elopement. Midsummer has long been thought to be a time of magic. The purpose of jumping over the fire is to purify, also it’s believed to ward off evil spirits.
Do you have ideas for unique traditions you would like to incorporate into your upcoming nuptials? We’d love to hear all about them!
Remember it’s your wedding, feel free to get creative with it!
Cultural Bridal Veil Lakes Wedding
After a long wait, we’re FINALLY able to share this beautiful wedding that we did at Bridal Veil Lakes last August. The weather was perfect for a gorgeous day by the lake. We’re forever grateful to our rockstar vendor team who brought this vision to life for our sweet couple.
Lush. Moody. Ethereal. The florals were spectacular and Bramble Floral Design nailed it!
In their showcase of a venue, Jolei & Sameer treated guests to a progressive wedding, moving around the picturesque lake for various portions of the evening.
Text From the Feature by Oregon Bride Magazine
Upon arrival, those in attendance were treated to pre-ceremony appetizers and cocktails from Hunt and Gather, followed by a stroll around the lake to a flower splashed meadow for the ceremony.
Text From the Feature by Oregon Bride Magazine
Guests then meandered to the gorge overlook for cocktail hour and later landed at their dinner Destination, where they savored local delicacies under twinkling lights.
Text From the Feature by Oregon Bride Magazine
Sameer’s family is Pakistani, and Jolie grew up in New Zealand, with Irish and Filipino heritage, so it was important to them to represent both of their backgrounds in the celebration.
Text From the Feature by Oregon Bride Magazine
Their invitation suite included phrasing in English, Tagalog (Jolie’s family's language), and Urdu (Sameer’s family's language). To further customize the invitations and other decor used for the day, a custom logo was created, blending the New Zealand Silver fern and the Pakistani jasmine flower.
Text From the Feature by Oregon Bride Magazine
To end on a fun note, the couple and their guests danced the night away to an eclectic mix of music that included throwbacks to the 1990s and early 2000’s current top 40 hits and Bollywood/Pakistani tunes.
Text From the Feature by Oregon Bride Magazine
We absolutely loved working with this fun couple who put so much faith and trust in our design to bring their vision to life. A large scale event such as theirs required countless production hours, hundreds of emails, dozens of meetings, and a lot of hard work….. but it was SO WORTH IT. We did all of their planning remotely, without an in person meeting. Can you believe it? Congrats, you two!
Vendors:
Venue: Bridal Veil Lakes
Phtoographer: Christy Cassano
Videographer: Moving Pictures
Florist: Bramble Floral Design
Caterer: Hunt & Gather Catering
Rentals: Party Place, Classic Vintage Rentals
Dress: Trudy’s Bridal
Bridesmaid Dresses: Azzazie
Cake: Papa Hadyn
Donuts: Blue Star Donuts
Groom/Groomsmen attire: Sari Palace
HAMU: Olivia Hawthorne Beauty
Installation Crew: Flex PDX
Invitations/Signage/Programs: Letters & Dust
Music/DJ: John Ross Productions
Transportation: EcoShuttle