If there is any wedding venue in Oregon where you want to feel like you are surrounded by family and friends it’s this epic Mt Hood Organic Farms wedding in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge. The staff is seriously one giant family that works as a team of homestead specialists who welcomes you with smiles and grace that make you want to laugh and almost cry right from the moment you meet them. What better place to be knowing you are about to have one of the most meaningful celebrations of your life. Everything about the Mt. Hood Organic Farms is perfectly poetic for a wedding. The cottages, gardens, flower meadows, and pathways make you feel like you are “at home.” The ever-changing view of Mt. Hood in the distance is like a shape-shifting painting that Nature is constantly inspiring us to open up to and “see.” The gorgeous spectrum of pinks, purples, blues, and red-orange is no exaggeration. And when you taste the most delicious fresh farm to table gourmet food they serve, you will fall in love with life all over again. It’s Ahhhmazing.
Checkout how Lindsay and Bob enjoyed their epic Mt Hood Organic Farms wedding this past September. They invited some of the most fun and interesting characters we’ve ever seen from Colorado and Chicago to the beautiful Columbia River Gorge. They perfectly started their celebration with a “Welcome Gathering” at the Hood River Hotel with some of the most comical toasts we’ve heard. Wow, these people know how to love and laugh. We couldn’t get enough of them and took over 12 thousand photos over 12 hours of absolute joyous celebration. When Lindsay walked into the ceremony to Bob Marley’s “Could You Be Loved” it just about made everyone’s heart stop. And their bluegrass band Dance Hall Days sang Fleetwood Mac cover songs all throughout the cocktail hour and late into the night, among many other epic all-time favorites. This band is THE BEST, and we’ve seen many. We’ll let the photos tell the story.
Be sure to read the Insider Guide to Planning a Mt. Hood Organic Farms Wedding at the bottom of this post.
Insider Guide to Planning a Mt. Hood Organic Farms Wedding
As Portland wedding photographers we have captured over 25 weddings at this intimate property, we know that getting married here is an unforgettable experience. The venue seamlessly blends manicured European-style gardens with rugged Pacific Northwest beauty. If you are envisioning your own celebration at this beautiful farm, here are our top insider photography and planning tips:
1. Capturing the Ultimate Mt. Hood Sunset Portrait
The orchard and upper flower meadows offer an unobstructed, majestic view of Mount Hood. However, the mountain acts like a massive canvas for changing light:
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The Photography Tip: Don’t just slip away for photos at golden hour. Capture all of the golden light, then wait. The real magic happens during “alpine glow”, about 10 to 15 minutes after the sun officially dips below the horizon. The mountain turns a brilliant shade of pink and red-orange that looks absolutely surreal in portraits.
2. Seamless Logistical Flow: From Cottages to Ceremony
One of the best features of a Mt Hood Organic Farms wedding is that everything can happen right on-site. Its as if you are being ushered from one unique experience to the next.
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Getting Ready: The on-property cottages provide a luminous, relaxed space for getting ready shots. Because the light pouring through the windows is soft and organic, it’s perfect for intimate, authentic prep photos.
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Guest Arrival: Consider setting up a welcome refreshment station near the pathways as guests walk in. It leans into that signature “homestead hospitality” the farm’s incredible staff is known for.
3. Embracing the Hood River Climate
Located in the spectacular Columbia River Gorge region, weather can shift quickly from warm afternoon sun to cool mountain breezes in the evening.
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Planning Tip: Advise your guests to bring a light jacket or wrap for the outdoor reception. For entertainment, choosing an energetic live band—like the incredible Dance Hall Days featured in Lindsay and Bob’s wedding above, keeps everyone moving, dancing, and warm under the stars late into the night.
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The Welcome Party: Many couples turn their celebration into a destination weekend by hosting a day-before welcome gathering down the mountain at the historic Hood River Hotel, making it easy for out-of-town guests to transition into the weekend.
Explore More Hood River & Pacific Northwest Venues
If you are still searching for the perfect backdrop for your day, explore our definitive guide to the Best Portland Wedding Venues or check out our curated list of top Columbia River Gorge Weddings to compare mountain views, vineyard estates, and forest retreats across Oregon.
Want to chat about your Mt. Hood wedding photography? Inquire with JOS & TREE – we’d love to help you tell your story.
Keep an eye on our blog, we just photographed another great wedding here this June with Beni & Sean. Coming soon. Also be sure to also checkout Beni & Seans lifestyle engagement photos we captured of them in an intimate cabin at the base of Mt. Hood. It was the perfect way to build relationship with them before their wedding while capturing great moments of them.
Accolades:
Tree captured a comical photo of a guest with a glass in his mouth for an international award-winning photo on Fearless Photographers and first place for the International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers.
Photographers: Jos & Tree | Welcome Gathering: Hood River Hotel
Venue: Mt Hood Organic Farms | Coordinator: Cassandra Cass | Food: Cultivate Catering
Florist: Lucys Informal Flowers
Band: Dance Hall Days | Cake: Wind Flower Cake
Dress: Thea | Suit: Bonobos