Skamania Lodge Wedding

January 27, 2023

Madison + Tyler
Skamania Lodge Resort Wedding in Stevenson, Washington

Madison and Tyler's Skamania Lodge wedding had the CRAZIEST day of weather we've ever experienced. It had it all! Sunshine, moody clouds, rain, hail, DOUBLE RAINBOWS, and to top it all off, the power went out. While that may sound stressful to have such uncertainty and constant change for your outdoor fall wedding it was exactly the opposite. Madison and Tyler took it all in stride, with every shift in the weather they rolled with it, laughing and smiling every step of the way. Nothing was going to stop them from being present and having the fun wedding day they had been planning for so long.
Skamania Lodge Resort is an incredible Columbia River Gorge wedding venue. It's located on the Washington side of the Gorge just across the river from Cascade Locks, Oregon and about one hour from Portland. With their 300 person capacity it's an ideal venue for large weddings and has the added perk that all of your guests can stay on site making it a perfect location for weddings with a lot of out of town guests. This also allows for it to be a weekend long event where you can really spend time with all of your friends and family who've come to celebrate with you. On top of all of that, it's beautiful!! You get big views of the Gorge and Cascade mountains, a cozy cabin vibe, open golden fields, dense forest, and you're just a short drive to the river front and the Bridge of the Gods. All of this made Skamania Lodge the perfect choice for this outdoor October wedding.
In addition to the wonderful team at the resort that helped put together this event, Madison and Tyler assembled a great group of vendors that brought their vision to life. Along with capturing their wedding photos we also provided the videography for the day (be sure to check out their wedding video at the bottom of this blog)! Amy at Amore Coordination was an absolute dream to work with. She was on top of it all! Pivoting last minute when the weather took a turn, making sure everyone (not just the couple and guests but all of the vendors too) had what they needed, and supported us throughout the day. Bloomsbury of Kanaka Creek Farm created the most beautiful florals and Ryan at Gorge Wedding Music went above and beyond, literally serenading everyone with his guitar when the power went out. We couldn't have asked for a better team to work with.
The day started with getting ready in the treehouses (yeah, they have treehouses you can rent! The perks are endless!) and then we took a short 10 minute drive down to Stevenson Landing for the couples first look. The historic pier provided a quintessential Pacific Northwest backdrop with mountain views and waterfront access. Now for one of our favorite parts of the day - The Bridge of the Gods! Arguably one of the most beautiful bridges along the river, we've been dreaming of getting the chance to take some wedding photos there and Madison and Tyler were down for anything. Up until this point it had been pretty cloudy with on and off rain but the second we stepped foot on that bridge the sun came out, there was a break in the cars crossing, and it was like we had the whole Gorge to ourselves. It was so fun!! After running around the bridge we headed back to the lodge to continue taking advantage of the sun and all the wonderful photo locations Skamania has to offer with the couple and their wedding party.
Onto the ceremony! Throughout the day it seriously felt like mother nature was working with us, bringing in the clouds when we wanted them and the sun at the perfect moment. Just before the ceremony began the clouds parted and the eastern view of the Gorge opened up creating the setting this Washington wedding venue is known for. The sun lasted for just enough time to finish up the ceremony and get everyone moved over to the pavilion for the reception. This space is ideal for a fall wedding in the Pacific Northwest as it gives you all the advantages of being outside while being covered from the rain and staying warm with overhead heating and fire pits. And it was at this exact moment that it started pouring rain and hailing, just in time for Madison and Tyler to make their grand entrance! Shortly after that, mother nature decided to do her thing again and give us a double rainbow! A DOUBLE RAINBOW!! It was magical. As the light faded away everyone wrapped themselves up in blankets and gathered around the open flame patio heaters to toast the couple. It was at this exact moment that the storm rolled back in, taking out power to the entire resort. When we said the craziest day of weather, we meant it! The team at Skamania didn't miss a beat. They powered up the generators, moved us inside, and the night carried on without a hitch. Being inside created a sort of lock in vibe with guests breaking off into groups, playing games, and dancing. It was truly perfect and such a fitting end to an incredibly fun day.