The Ultimate Guide to Planning Your PNW Wedding

Describing Your PNW Wedding: A Vision Planning Process

Hey, friends! Welcome to one of the most exciting seasons of your life. First, let us say CONGRATULATIONS!!! We may not have met but we know you two are already a fabulous couple and we can’t wait to see where your marriage adventure takes you!

Take it from someone who’s been married twice (and eloped once): Planning your PNW wedding can be both exciting and overwhelming at the same time. So, before you dive headfirst into color swatches, cake samples, and choosing the dress, let’s take a deep breath and zoom out for a second. Trust me, you don’t have to plan it all at once, and we’re here to guide you step by step in planning your dream PNW wedding!

We’ve helped countless couples in the Pacific Northwest navigate their photography and wedding planning, so we know how easy it is to get lost in Pinterest rabbit holes or bogged down by everyone else’s opinions. That’s the exact reason we’ve written this post, to shake off the stress and focus on the fun part: dreaming about your wedding day.

So, grab your favorite drink (and maybe a snack), then let us walk you through crafting a clear vision for your PNW wedding day by answering key questions about your wedding style, season, size, and overall vibe. Ready? Let’s make that dream wedding come to life!

Step One: Close Your Eyes (Yes, Right Now!)

Before you Google another thing in relation to planning your wedding, take a deep breath, grab your partner and spend a few quiet moments envisioning your wedding day together. Close your eyes and let’s imagine your perfect PNW wedding day, ignoring the trends and everyone else’s opinions. This moment is all about the two of you, together.

A few questions to get the ball rolling:

  • What do you see? Are you surrounded by towering evergreens, with beautifully twinkling fairy lights? Or are you gazing out at the waves on a warm beach?
  • How does it feel? Can you feel a light breeze on your skin, or is the sun warming your face? Are you surrounded by a few cherished people who love you or is there an excited buzz through a crowd of your besties?
  • What scents, sounds, and sights stand out? Maybe it’s fresh mountain air, laughter over clinking glasses, or the glow of fairy lights as dusk falls.

Grab a notebook or napkin and write it all down—every detail, big or small. Don’t overthink it; this is just to get you started! You don’t have to stick to this list. Below is a list of our favorite “descriptive” words to help inspire you:

  • Grand
  • Formal
  • Refined
  • Elegant
  • Romantic
  • Classic
  • Timeless
  • Glam
  • Modern
  • Vintage
  • Boho
  • Relaxed
  • Intimate
  • Cozy
  • Casual
  • Offbeat
  • Themed
  • Rustic
  • Seasonal
  • Cultural
  • Religious

Once you have your list, circle your top 3-5 details or descriptive words you want to incorporate into your wedding day. This is going to be your guide throughout planning your PNW wedding.

Finding Your PNW Wedding Vibe

We put a lot of thought into the vibe of your wedding because it’s the heartbeat of your big day. Long after the guests have returned home, they’ll remember the feeling of your wedding day. A lot of elements play into this feeling, including the venue, decor and attire you choose.

PNW Wedding Photographer Pro Tip:

In the Pacific Northwest, your wedding vibe often connects to the natural surroundings. The PNW offers a wide variety of stunning backdrops, including moody coastal cliffs, sun-drenched fields and snowy mountain tops. The possibilities are endless, and your location is going to be a major deciding factor in your wedding vibe.

This also means you want a vibe that will mesh with your location. For example: bringing rustic wine barrels into a high-end hotel ballroom would feel extremely out of place. But those same barrels would be gorgeous in an open grass field or vintage barn. And the hotel ballroom would shine with some black glass high top tables. Catch my drift?

Here are a few ideas to help you along the way, with our venue type recommendations as well!

  • Romantic & Timeless: You find yourself drawn to soft, classic florals like white roses and hydrangeas with lots of greenery dispersed throughout the venue. Your color palette is filled with pretty pastels and neutrals. This wedding vibe is perfect for historic venues, vineyards and most rustic barn venues. Our favorite romantic venues include Avidity Wines, Lord Hill Farms and Laurel Creek Manor.
  • Boho & Free-Spirited: When you’re the type to strap on a pair of hiking boots or consider going barefoot with your flowy floral dress. You prefer wildflowers over roses, and your color palette reflects that. Bright colors interspersed with a few neutral elements allow you the flexibility to get married on a mountain top, in a tree house or on the beach. Check out this Crystal Mountain Elopement for inspiration.
  • Modern & Minimalist: If the big city calls to you, and you love the simple beauty of an urban area. Classic shades of all colors draw your eye, as long as they don’t compete with the city skyline. You dream of a timeless red rose bouquet, and bud vases with single stems as your escort cards. You’d be most at home on a skyscraper rooftop, hotel ballroom or golf and country club.
  • Rustic & Cozy: Whether you’re dreaming of wide-open spaces or binge-watching Chip + Jo on fixer upper, the rustic & cozy vibe is calling you. You find yourself most at home with your chickens and can’t imagine your day without your pup by your side. You’ll do best at a beautiful barn venue or rustic lodge where your guests can crash after the party.

Once you’ve zeroed in on a vibe, it’s time to consider when and where to bring it to life. Need more vibe ideas? Check out our guide on wedding moods and how to achieve them.

Choosing the Perfect Timing

One of the lovely things about the Pacific Northwest is each season has brings it’s own unique charm. The major differences mean you’ll have to consider various aspects for guests comfort (and your own!) plus have a weather-related backup plan and be sure to check the sunset!

  • Spring Weddings: Spring always brings a feeling of new beginnings, making it the perfect time to begin your life together. You’ll want to make sure you’ve chosen a venue with both indoor and outdoor options as rain showers are likely. Snag a bunch of cute or clear umbrellas too, so you can still get those outdoor photos under the cherry blossom trees. Romantic and Timeless wedding vibes thrive during the spring season. Check out our favorite Spring PNW Wedding!
  • Summer Weddings: Long, warm days go hand in hand with light flowy layers and garden party dresses making the summer months perfect for your dream outdoor celebration! While this is the most popular season in the Pacific Northwest, it’s also the most flexible. Almost every wedding vibe (only excluding those that lean towards select holidays) will pair wonderfully with the summer season. Summer is also a must if you’re dreaming of those beautiful golden hour photos. This intimate summer wedding was magical!
  • Fall Weddings: In the Pacific Northwest, the Fall season tends to be the most coveted time of year. The ladies of the PNW love this sweater season and not just because of the pumpkin spice and apple cider that rule the cooler months. Rich warm tones, strings of fairy lights and beautiful brightly colored fall leaves, make this timeframe magical. Our favorite fall weddings are almost always the rustic and cozy vibes. A fall Copper Gables Barn Wedding is perfection.
  • Winter Weddings: They weren’t kidding when the Pentatonics wrote “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”. The winter holidays lend to cozy “Christmassy” vibes and couples can choose to save on decor when they book a venue that already decorates for Christmas. It’s a season bringing it’s own vibe with both modern and cozy elements. Bright reds and greens combined with a cozy indoor venue create a fairytale atmosphere. Snow capped mountains also make a stunning backdrop if you’re brave enough to weather the cold. Bonus: vendors and venues may be more flexible with availability. A Christmas Elopement made the most of the holidays.

When choosing a specific date for your PNW wedding, consider your guest list. Are most of your loved ones local, or will they travel? Avoid holiday weekends if you want to keep things budget-friendly for guests as holiday travel tends to be the most expensive.

Ceremony Times: Light, Love, and Logistics

Over the past several years, we’ve seen the majority of ceremonies being planned for the 3:00 to 5:00 hours. While your ceremony time impacts your entire day, from the flow of events to the lighting in your photos, you shouldn’t feel constrained by this “timeframe”. Ceremonies can happen at any time during the day and we’ve put together a quick guide for ideas on how to fit it into your dream wedding.

  • Morning Ceremonies: 8:00 am to 11:30 am. This seems to be the least utilized timeframe for wedding ceremonies, but it leaves the rest of the day for celebrating! Consider scheduling your ceremony early, then heading to a lovely family style brunch at your favorite cafe. Or hosting a waffle and mimosa bar before being whisked away on your honeymoon. Morning ceremonies are also a more budget friendly way to celebrate.
  • Afternoon Ceremonies: 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Afternoons are the most popular timeframes for ceremonies especially during the 2:00 to 4:00 hours. If you’re looking for a classic timeline with a cocktail hour and partying into the night, this is the choice for you. Consider if you’ll want to host dinner or just late night snacks as it will impact the time you choose for your ceremony.
  • Golden Hour Ceremonies: Times vary based on the season. Golden hour is a favorite time for photographers to love photographing couples because the light literally glows as the sun sinks behind the skyline. During the summer, these ceremonies are typically scheduled between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm. Winter months are harder to schedule for golden hour, because some days we get sunset at 2:00 pm and others we don’t see the sun at all, much less see it set. When you hit the right day and right time, the magic is literally golden.

PNW Wedding Photographer Pro Tip:

In the Pacific Northwest, lighting changes dramatically by season. Winter ceremonies may need to start earlier to catch daylight, while summer weddings can take advantage of long evenings.

PNW Wedding Sunset

Ideal Wedding Size

Next, let’s talk numbers. The size of your wedding influences everything—from your budget to your venue options to how intimate the day feels.

  • Intimate Weddings (50 guests or fewer): Perfect for couples who value quality time with each guest. Ideal for small venues or unique locations like private estates or Airbnb rentals. Some of our favorite intimate wedding ideas can be found here.
  • Average Weddings (50-150 guests): The sweet spot for most couples, balancing an inclusive guest list with a manageable size.
  • Large Weddings (150+ guests): For those who want a big celebration! Make sure your venue can comfortably accommodate everyone.

It’s also worth considering guest age limits. For example, some couples choose to have an adults-only event or offer childcare options for families with young kids.

Decided against kids at your wedding? Check out our ways to navigate explaining this decision to your guests!

Wedding Party Size: The More, the Merrier?

Your wedding party can range from just the two of you to a squad of 12 or more. Think about how much time you want to spend coordinating outfits, photos, and logistics. A smaller party is often more relaxed, while a larger one can bring a big energy boost to your day.

Tip: Choose people who genuinely support your relationship and are excited to celebrate with you. Wedding planning should be fun—not a source of drama!

What’s Next?

Now that you’ve started envisioning your wedding style, it’s time to start building your dream team of vendors. We’d love to meet you at one of the wedding shows happening between January and February! Catch us at:

Stop by our booth, say hi, and let’s chat about your vision. As a trusted PNW Wedding Photographer, we specialize in capturing weddings of all styles, sizes, and vibes across Washington. Plus, we’ll have some exciting giveaways and special offers, so don’t miss out!

Final Thoughts

Wedding planning doesn’t have to be stressful when you start with a clear vision. By focusing on what matters most to you and your partner, you’ll create a day that feels authentic, beautiful, and unforgettable.

Want a photographer who’s willing to lend a hand on your wedding planning journey? Reach out today, and let’s capture those once-in-a-lifetime moments together! You’ve got this, and we’ve got you.

For more tips, inspiration, and updates, follow us on Instagram at @markiejonesphotographyllc and Facebook at www.facebook.com/mjpllc.

Your dream wedding awaits—let’s make it happen!

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