My husband and I are from Seattle and Hood River is one of our favorite weekend getaways. Sweeping mountain and gorge views, wineries, artists, waterfalls, train rides, orchards and vineyards- it’s a romantic’s dream getaway. On our first visit we decided we wanted to get married here and started searching for venues.

It was love at first sight when we found The Griffin House, beyond the natural aesthetics and landscape views (which are one of the best in the PNW) it also carried with it an authentic, natural, bohemian charm that made it feel both elegant and like a Disney fairy tale cottage. Lovers of industrial and vintage decor mixed with the woodsy PNW and modern touches will fall in love with the antique furniture, the amalgam of colorful rugs, tapestries and lighting fixtures.

There are so many hidden gems as you get to the walk property- secret benches for couples to sneak off and take a moment to relax while soaking in the views, cobblestone walls overlooking the gorge perfect for sunset views and background to your ceremony, vintage trucks, fountains and chandeliers curated around the property that are imperfectly perfect in placement without over design. If you are lucky you may even have some eagles fly by while you are having your cocktail reception on the lawn. Floral and decor minimalists will adore the venue because there is very little to do to add to the magic as the settings speak and show-off themselves. Outside of renting dishes for our dinner- we didn’t feel the need to spend anymore money on any other furniture or accessories because TGH’s inventory was not only everything we needed, but, in most cases, far surpassed the quality and catalogs of other wedding rental companies.

Living in Seattle, we were a little worried about coordinating a long distance wedding. Outside of scouring photos from the internet, social media and dozens of videos, we weren’t able to find the right time to walk the venue in advance, given the amount of bookings on the calendar. We had to rely on the feedback from others, the venue’s maps and photos and trust our hearts and instincts. Working with Amy Kaefer, the on-site coordinator made us feel safe as she patiently navigated us step by step, gave recommendations based on our vision and went out of her way to get to know us as a customer and not just a couple.

The most important thing to us was finding a venue and vendors that understood Inclusion, equity and diversity. As a gay interracial couple, half our guests were queer and the other half Venezuelan. We wanted vendors and staff that would feel like a larger part of our chosen family and help create the right energy of love and belonging. The Griffin House stood out among the rest in helping us to feel welcome, curating a list of vendors choices that would support the energy we were striving for, as well as vendors that had familiarity and experience with the venue.

I know many people look back on their wedding as the perfect day and we were warned 100x over that something will not go according to plan. We had a few flexes the day of (ie.we moved our cocktail reception from the cliff lawn to front of house- given the high winds the day of our wedding), but, none of it was felt or an issue. Every detail we imagined and laid out was brought to life more beautifully than we could have imagined. Transitions and flexes happened seamlessly behind the scenes without any demands of attention from us. The staff was warm, welcoming and personal - blending right in to our community. Not once did I feel rushed, panicked or concerned- I was able to be in the present and soak in everything that day which should be every groom or bride’s goal.

Finally, the location of the venue as a destination wedding was a huge win for everyone. Our guests absolutely loved it. With the majority of our guests in their late thirties up through their fifties- they relished the time with their loved ones to have a longer weekend of hiking, wine tasting, shopping and breweries. We took a train ride and waterfall tour with our wedding party and housed them at the gorgeous chalets right next to the property.

I’d recommend this venue to anyone and everyone- and when we renew our vows we’ll absolutely do it again here.

Our son and his fiancée chose the Griffin House for their wedding venue. They had an option of a date in October and normally this is not great weather in the Columbia Gorge. Well, everyone was amazed because the wedding day was actually warm and 83 degrees! The venue and space is incredible and they provide a lot of options so that you don’t have to rent additional things to pull the wedding together. The staff were warm and welcoming and the view is worth the rental price for the 6 hours you have to host your wedding! All the guests were enthralled with the experience!

Where do i start….. to say this venue is the best in the world wouldn’t be an understatement but i of course haven’t been to many wedding venues!

The view, the ambiance the feeling… it’s flawless there. Our guests were blown away. The view is stunning and when people come here for the first time, they just assume you spent 1/4 of a million dollars on a wedding based on the property itself.

Having our wedding 9/10 was the perfect decision for us. I only wish we could relive this day over and over and over again!!!!!!!