10 Unusual Wedding Venues in the West

Nature takes care of the decor for you at Bear Flag Farm in Winters, CA. Say “I do” in a field of lavender before slipping into the Syrah vineyard or the orchard flush with vibrant apricots for intimate photos. When you’re ready to rejoin your guests, meet them on the blissfully tree-shaded lawn for an elegant yet relaxed wine country reception.

“Hotel wedding” is enough to make most couples cringe, but modern boutique properties throughout the West are as far from gaudy, impersonal ballrooms as you can get. The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs offers cool retro vibes and a stunning desert setting. Ride a vintage bike up the aisle, dance barefoot in the grass in a boho dress, or deck the place out for an elegant affair. The reception area—complete with a vintage teardrop trailer and cozy lounge seating—looks out on the pool and the desert hills beyond.

Escape into a fairytale at this lush tropical paradise. Hidden away off the famous Road to Hana on Maui’s north shore, the vine-draped ruins of an old sugar mill provide an idyllic backdrop for celebrating your love. Haiku Mill combines old European charm, Hawaiian history, and show-stopping native plants to create an enchanting venue to start your happily ever after.

Sneak away for an intimate ceremony at a property that’s home to six whimsical treehouses. Just 30 minutes east of Seattle, TreeHouse Point gives you exclusive use of the four-acre forest and lodging for up to 18 people so you can celebrate in blissful peace.

Share your mutual love of the outdoors with a national park wedding. While you can get married at any national park in the West for a seriously affordable permit fee, it’s hard to beat the majesty and raw beauty of Yosemite. Choose between sites with views of Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, Half Dome, or the appropriately-named Bridalveil Fall for a budget wedding that feels anything but. Or head indoors to one of the numerous historic buildings in the park, such as the Yosemite Valley Chapel, which has hosted nuptials for over a century.

Celebratory drinks are a no-brainer at Coopers Hall, a winery near downtown Portland. Dine in the barrel room surrounded by aging wines or sip the latest releases overlooking the winery and taproom.

Fremont Foundry, an industrial space in Seattle, once housed an artist enclave that produced multiple well-known statues that can still be seen around the city (including Daryl Smith’s Jimi Hendrix statue in Capitol Hill). Now the massive building has morphed into an unconventional event space with a gorgeous rooftop deck for a big ceremony overlooking Fremont and Queen Anne across the canal. A back patio and a skylit atrium with a towering 20-foot ceiling also provide stunning settings for bubbly under the stars.

Tie the knot at Saanichton, B.C.’s Sea Cider Farm and Ciderhouse, surrounded by a flowering or fruiting apple orchard with views of the Salish Sea and the San Juan Islands. When the ceremony is over, head to the charming ciderhouse to savor the farm’s bounty and revel with your guests.

Get all of the benefits of a city ceremony—easy transportation, plenty of places for friends and family to stay, top-notch catering—with the open spaces and gorgeous landscaping of the de Young Museum’s grounds in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. The observation tower offers panoramic views of the city and the bay beyond for gorgeous photos and an unbeatable backdrop.

It’s safe to say that the barn wedding is back in style, and this weathered gem located an hour outside of Portland has everything you can hope for. Built in 1915, Tin Roof Barn has modern amenities including charming vintage lights and a comfortable lounge area to match its natural rustic elegance, so you can kick up the hay deep into the night.