Summer Sent on 10/27/2018

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Perfect Romantic Venue

We had our ceremony and reception both in the Miller Hall at the World Forestry Center in Portland. Everything was perfect, and we are so grateful to them! Angie and Adara, the coordinators, are super helpful, very quick to respond to all of your questions, and I loved working with them! The space is perfect for someone looking for a romantic, PNW feel with moody lighting. We absolutely recommend!

Kristina Sent on 09/23/2017

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Angie and Allison answered every little question we had, valued our opinions after the wedding and had the venue set up perfectly! The venue and people were amazing- I couldn't say a single negative thing!

Tiffany Sent on 07/28/2017

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We had our wedding at Miller Hall and had a wonderful experience. The venue is beautiful, the staff are super friendly. We planned our wedding out-of-state, and everyone was very responsive and easy to work with. We have only great things to say about the World Forestry Center. Thank you so much!

Rachel Sent on 12/01/2016

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We held our early September wedding at Cheatham Hall and Plaza. We were looking for a truly "Oregon" feel to our wedding, while still being easily accessible to downtown Portland. We also loved being able to pick our own vendors from an extensive list. The fact that we could "be noisy" until after midnight was a huge plus. Overall it is clear why the World Forestry Center is such a popular choice in Portland wedding venues.

Allison Sent on 08/25/2016

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We used the Cheatham Hall/Plaza combo for our August wedding. The staff at World Forestry Center were very easy to work with and very, very helpful. We got so many compliments on our venue. There was a zoo concert going on at the same time as our wedding and we couldn't hear it at all, even out on the plaza. Very happy with our choice of venue!

Ellie Sent on 08/17/2016

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This venue is amazing and reasonably priced! We used Miller Hall for the reception, and the outside lawn area for the ceremony. I was so happy with how the space was very intimate and spacious at the same time both indoors and out. We ended up using the white lanterns inside, and I really think it added to that feeling! I know for some not having the actual space for the rehearsal (the venue is very popular!) is a downside, but I didn't feel as though it was a hindrance at all. Angie gave me a floorplan, and when we rehearsed at the Portland Grill the night before, no one was confused as to what was happening. One of the best features of this venue is how it is easily accessible to the city, while having a woodsy feel! It is walking distance to the Hoyt Arboretum. I would definitely recommend!

Alexandria Sent on 06/22/2016

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We had our wedding here a few weeks ago and LOVED IT! Staff there was absolutely amazing, always there when you needed them!! We rented Miller Hall and had our ceremony and reception in the same room, all at the same time. We wished that we could have had the rehearsal walk through in the same room but it was being used, so we had to find another place which still ended up working out. Overall we were so incredibly happy with our experience at the World Forestry Center! We loved the fact that our guests could also get into the World Forestry Center museum for free during the day of the wedding :) which really helped out with guests with kids.

User2403469 Sent on 11/01/2015

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We used the outdoor plaza outside Cheatham Hall for our ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. The venue was beautiful and the location was very convenient for our guests, especially those coming from out of town who were able to use the Max. Angie and the WFC staff were very helpful in the event design and making the most of the space, and were flexible with our last minute changes due to weather.

Emily Sent on 09/15/2015

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My husband and I held our reception at cheatham hall with the outdoor plaza. The space was excellent, particularly for the late summer date. Our wedding had around 150 attendees and it fit the bill perfectly. Angie was our contact and she was wonderful to work with; prompt, professional, and enthusiastic. I highly recommend the world forestry center! Oh and parking was easy for vendors and guests, even during an early saturday evening wedding with a zoo concert going on that night.

Carrie Sent on 05/30/2015

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This was the perfect venue!! I couldn't have asked for anything better for my ceremony/reception! The girls there were great to work with, and they were super flexible with everything! Thank you Forestry Center!!

Amelia Sent on 09/30/2014

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The WFC staff Amber and Jessica were so quick to respond to all of my emails. They addressed every concern I had right away, which made me feel very taken care of.

We used the Miller Hall Lawn for our ceremony and had the reception inside Miller Hall. We wanted to have a very 'Oregon' wedding and I think a large thing that helped us pull it off was the venue.

It is right next to the Hoyt Arboretum and the Vietnam Memorial, which are both beautiful for photos.

The only thing I will mention (that isn't their fault) is that parking on the weekends was a little hard for my guests. Because I had an evening wedding it was a little better, but I would tell your guests to come early to find parking.

When your guests bring their wedding invitation they get into the Forestry Center for free which is great for out of town guests and people with kids.

They ask you to pick from a list of preferred caterers, but the list is long and covers a large range of styles and prices. We picked Reedville Catering and were very happy with the service we received.

We went ahead and got the lantern package ($300) because it was really amazing, but you can hang your own lights and decorations if you want to.

I cannot recommend this venue enough. My husband and I had an amazing wedding and we would not have changed a thing.

Molly Sent on 09/14/2014

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The World Forestry Center is a hidden gem!

We had looked at so many different venues and nothing quite fit what we were envisioning. Finally, my mom and one of my bridesmaids recommended that we check out the WFC and I kind of shrugged it off at first (I didn't even know that they had spaces for weddings there). I'm so glad that curiosity got the best of me and I checked out their website. My husband and I were immediately drawn to the photos of Miller Hall, so we booked a walk through. Oh man, once we stepped foot in Miller Hall we were sold. We had another appointment at another venue later that afternoon, but we decided that we needed to look no further! The lanterns in the hall are breathtaking and the building is so beautiful (seriously, check it out online!). We got married outside on the lawn and it was perfect (we had about 160 guests + the bridal party).

I worked with Amber both in person and via email and she is such a sweetheart! She responded to all of my questions so quickly and was so helpful! Jessica was there on the day of and she helped make sure that everything ran smoothly and I am eternally grateful. She and everyone at the WFC were so accommodating, professional and easy to work with. I HIGHLY recommend choosing the WFC as your venue!!

A big thank you from Cyrus & Molly Cross :)

Natalie Sent on 11/02/2013

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We could not have been happier with the World Forestry Center. Amber was wonderful to work with! Any small change we needed got done and any question we had was answered quickly by either Amber or Reade. Highly recommend this venue, especially if your looking for something truly unique and special.

User1404798 Sent on 10/27/2013

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Love love love!

Amber was quick to respond and easy to work with. She helped me find vendors, suggested ideas for the layout of the hall and worked with me over email and the phone since I was in Canada! Sure, you have to be done by midnight and you're not allowed to use real candles but that didn't take away from our magical night one bit! Amber and Reade were very accommodating to our special requests and they worked wonderfully with our caterer (Claey's Catering). We had both the ceremony and reception in Miller Hall with the cocktail hour in the space outside the main hall. The room change happened without me even knowing about it! I must say, I was a rather unorganized and yet unstressed bride because the on site manager for the WFC and Claey's Catering worked together so well.

The surrounding areas are absolutely stunning and I cannot wait for our wedding photographs! All our guests remarked that they had never seen something like it before and were in awe of Miller Hall. I would recommend this to anyone looking for something different from the ordinary hotel banquet hall.

Ashley Sent on 07/20/2013

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We had our wedding at Miller Hall (they have 2 venues) and it was amazing! Amber and Reade were so easy to work with and they were very responsive to any questions or requests.

The Forestry Center has ample catering vendors to choose from, which was great, they also have very competitive pricing for Portland, especially in the summer. The location right off MAX was perfect for all of our out of town guests, meaning we did not have to book shuttles for our guests.

It was also fantastic that they only book one event per hall every day, so there is no rush or crunch time. Nearby Hoyt Arboretum was perfect for pictures. Overall, an absolute winner!

User1139976 Sent on 04/21/2013

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Beautiful setting, easy to work with. Both indoor and outdoor options and plenty of pretty places to take pictures. Be sure to reserve early!

Monica Sent on 10/14/2012

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Amber at the forestry center is very profession. She was very easy to work with during the planning stages of our wedding. We live on the east coast and only visited once before the big day. She worked around our schedule to make things work!! I have nothing but GREAT things to say about the venue and Amber!! A great value for your money!!!

Adrian Sent on 10/01/2012

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Beautiful venue and wonderful staff! We couldn't have asked for a better venue!

Josh Sent on 09/11/2012

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We just had our wedding at the Forestry Center and it exceeded our expectations! Amber was amazing at ensuring everything was in the right place at the right time, and the walkthrough and rehearsal went off without a hitch. We used the tent in Central Plaza for the ceremony and reception, and it was perfect. People from out of town were blown away with the scenery and it all came together flawlessly. I would highly recommend it and after much exploration I would say the value is hard to match!

Erin Sent on 04/15/2012

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I can not say enough wonderful things about our experience with the World Forestry Center. We rented Miller Hall for our event. They included many things in the rental that I would have needed to rent at other venues. We also liked the idea that the space is located along Portland's MAX line so that our out of town guests did not need to rent a car to get there. We toured the space prior to the event and they drew out a plan of how we wanted the tables set up. Any questions I had were answered promptly by phone or email. They only concern I had when I first toured the space was that they required you to use a caterer from a list they provided. We used Claey's Catering and in the end that also turned out amazing!
We asked to have paper lanterns, that we provided, hung from the beams in the space. It cost a set up fee but was worth it! The space looked wonderful when we arrived and was ready for us to set up the tables. It was very clean and all the items that had been agreed upon were provided. I am still getting comments from family about how wonderful the space and the food were almost a year later!

Rachael Sent on 09/20/2011

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I really don't need to say much more, than this venue is beautiful! The backdrop, and surroundings are amazing. Reade is great to work with, very friendly and super accommodating. We were allowed access to the venue two hours before we were supposed to have it. Everything was clean and ready for use.

Shannon Sent on 11/20/2010

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The World Forestry Center was a perfect venue for our ceremony and reception. We had about 170 guests, including nearly 30 children, and everyone enjoyed themselves immensely. The high ceiling and stone floors are beautiful, especially once it is set up for a ceremony. Amber worked with us and answered all of my emails and phone calls promptly. I really appreciated the fact that the cost included all the chairs and tables and setup.

Chelsea Sent on 09/14/2018

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The Forestry Center is a truly beautiful place to hold a wedding ceremony/reception pretty much year round. We rented Miller Hall for a 75 person event. The venue is great and the surrounding park area is awesome for photos! The only thing that was negative about this location is the Bridal room did not have working air conditioning. The Groom's room did, but it had a very intimidating wasp in the room! That's not the venues fault, more a funny situation. But Angie at the WFC was SUPER helpful throughout the entire process!

User1634855 Sent on 05/27/2014

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We had our wedding ceremony and reception inside Miller Hall at the WFC. It was a perfect venue for us as both my husband and I are from Portland, and most of our guests were in the Portland area. I loved the openness and high-vaulted ceilings of Miller Hall and how perfectly it lended itself to both the ceremony and reception. We chose to have the white lantern package which added so much to our decor! I was also pleased with the variety of caterers that we were able to choose from, because we were able to find a good fit for us among the whole bunch. The staff at WFC were easy to work with and promptly responded to my million emails I sent them over the planning process. There was a zoo concert the same evening as my wedding which really worried me in terms of parking for my guests. We encouraged everyone to take public transit, cabs, or carpool, but I don't think anyone had an issue finding parking. All in all a great venue for an awesome price!

Melissa Sent on 11/23/2011

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Chose this venue after looking at 10+ places. Mainly chose it for the fact that we could use the outdoor space and indoor space to do both ceremony and reception. And Amber (our contact person) was so helpful. Parking is ample and free, plus there is a MAX station right in the parking lot. Can't go wrong there! We used Miller Hall and had them set up a package decoration scheme for us with giant white lanterns. It was amazing! A little expensive, but the wedding after us (the following day) wanted them too, so the Forestry Center split the cost for us, so that helped. Great venue!

Laurel Sent on 10/22/2016

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We LOVED our wedding at the World Forestry Center's Miller Hall. The building and setting were perfect for an elegant, but outdoorsy feel. The octagonal shape makes for a cozy space and 150 people fit very well. The hall is a blank canvas for any decor style and does not need a lot to make it beautiful. In addition, the staff were very helpful and accommodating. We would recommend using twinkle lights in the bushes outside the hall to add a bit of magic to your indoor scene. Thank you to everyone at the WFC! -Laurel and Jake

User1303606 Sent on 07/31/2013

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We held our wedding reception at the World Forestry Center in Miller Hall. For us this venue was absolutely perfect, as it was very accessible from downtown Portland but also added a fun, picturesque, and out-of-the-way locale for our event. And since we had our ceremony in the Arboretum, it was that much more convenient.

Miller Hall and its grounds are really gorgeous. The main room has high ceilings and exposed beams that I loved, and with an extra charge the WFC will hang large white lanterns from above. Stonework in the floor is also gorgeous. And it's great to have the patio and lawn outside for extra mingling space. WFC also has some awesome photo opps nearby including the train, the Vietnam Memorial, and the wooded hill behind the building. Perfect for a woodsy and/or rustic event theme.

It is also very affordable. Rental fees are very low compared to most venues but you still get a beautiful setting, plenty of room for bar, gift tables, guest tables, etc., nice restrooms, nice patio/lawn and getting ready rooms. I also loved that the money went to a non-profit and not a golf course. Amber and Reade from WFC were very easy to work with, offered great recs on vendors, setup, etc., and were super patient with my endless questions.

Be aware of some limitations such as NO candles or sparklers (we used LED lights for everything) and not making marks on walls or affixing things, locking up when you're done, etc. But I didn't find things onerous at all. This is a beautiful, fun, and affordable venue that I highly recommend!

Nicole Sent on 04/06/2008

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We worked with Patti Nemer, she did a fantastic job in giving us tips on things to think of in preparing for the wedding, and is extremely organized. We rented the Miller hall room, which is beautiful. They do not allow pillar candles burning in the reception (We were able to have them burning during the ceremony though). They also do not allow confetti of any kind. We had planned to use Rose petals, so it worked out nicely. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. The lighting isn't the best in that room, we used lights on the stange, but some of the pictures came out a little fuzzy when taken from a distance. Great venue overall though, we were very impressed.

Kayla Sent on 11/30/2017

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We got married at Miller Hall at the World Forestry Center on 11/18/17. It was absolutely stunning and amazing. Angie was our go-to contact and she was very prompt with emails and answered the dozens of questions I had throughout the process. We booked the venue in January, with only one Saturday date left, so that tells you how quickly they are booked. Miller Hall is gorgeous and does not require a lot of decor. We had about 140 people attend and there was more than enough room for everyone.

It is important to note that they have very specific rules about what decor is allowed, so take note of that. The venue also does not allow anyone in until 1PM the day of, which will require some logistical planning for a wedding (i.e. where to get hair and makeup done, making sure there is time and resources to get the room set up, etc.). The other somewhat challenging piece was scheduling a rehearsal date. There were somewhat limited times and options, but Angie worked with us to allow us to have the space in the evening, the Thursday before.

I would recommend using Miller Hall without a doubt. The room was clean, the lanterns they hang are gorgeous, and they have plenty of tables and chairs (if you don't want to rent your own chairs). There are so many spaces nearby for gorgeous photos. The venue requires you to choose a caterer from their approved list of about 12 options. We went with Claey's Catering, who was also amazing. This ensures you don't have to worry about locking up at the end of the night - the caterer takes care of all of it. We had a walk-through with the venue and caterer about a month ahead of time, to plan the layout of the room. Everything went very smoothly, and everything was done exactly as requested. We couldn't have asked for a better experience! I would recommend the World Forestry Center, and especially Miller Hall, to anyone looking to get married in a beautiful and unique PNW venue.

Megan Sent on 07/05/2016

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We used Miller Hall for our wedding reception and absolutely loved it! We planned from across the country and Angie was great to work with. The setting is lovely and we got a lot of compliments on the location. I highly recommend using the lanterns that come with the hall.

Kim Sent on 09/01/2009

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I had a great experience with the Forestry Center. We actually got married at the Hoyt Arboretum (which was just beautiful) and had our reception at Miller Hall. We worked with Amber Morrison, who was very helpful and always responsive. She put up with my endless questions and made the hall available to us multiple times during our planning process. She went above and beyond, suggesting transportation options and informing me of nearby events/traffic problems far ahead of time.

Miller Hall, as someone else said, doesn't look like much when it is not set up, but it ended up being just a beautiful event site once the tables, flowers, and candles were there. They also provide most of the tables and chairs you will need, which saves a ton of money!

There is also a nice outdoor area that we enjoyed cocktails and cigars on throughout the night, and some gorgeous spots around the building for photo ops. I highly recommend it.

Katie Sent on 09/26/2021

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Awesome wedding venue

We had our wedding at the World Forestry Center's Miller Hall in September 2021. The venue was absolutely gorgeous, reasonably priced, and a great location. The staff (specifically Angie) at WFC are so easy to work with. Angie was very accommodating with all of our questions and changes. We were so happy we chose the World Forestry Center for our wedding!

Steven Sent on 09/30/2016

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We had an outstanding wedding on Sunday, July 31st, 2016. This venue provided us the best of all worlds: outdoor ceremony/cocktail hour; festive indoor reception in Miller Hall (including ALL-indoor "rainy day" peace-of-mind back-up plan); equally friendly to MAX train, Uber/Lyft, and paid self-parking... while still being tucked away in Oregonian trees and nature; perhaps most pivotally for us: they offered a choice of approximately 12 different approved caterers to choose from. (We chose Reedville Catering, plus a separate company--Merit Badge bar tending service for drinks... and BOTH made our day unbelievably delicious, creative, specialized, and less expensive than if we had gone in some other directions.)

Angie and Alison at World Forestry Center were very communicative and responsive the whole way through our planning. They had an on-site presence during the first couple hours of our evening event and gave us an emergency number if anything weird needed tending to (which it didn't).

The only drawbacks we can think of (which we did not directly experience): it seems they've raised their pricing notably since we booked them in fall 2015 for the summer of 2016, so we give 4 stars for value rather than 5. And for flexibility: we happened to be lucky enough to be able to hold a rehearsal at a planned time two days before our wedding, but we understand that is not always possible, given the multi-use nature of their facilities and WFC's need to defer to other planned events. We also got lucky in being able to have caterers and others pick up some of their residual things the next morning (since the WFC Miller Hall venue was not pre-booked that Monday AM). So we avoided a sometimes-WFC requirement to pick everything up late at night, which would have resulted in extra fees from several of our vendors. We did experience a $100 debit from our security deposit because certain WFC chairs and other items had been left outside unknown to us.

Lindsay Sent on 12/08/2015

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My husband and I loved Miller Hall from the moment we saw pictures online. We ultimately booked it for our wedding ceremony & reception in April 2015 because it had the feel we were looking for, could accommodate our 150 guest count, was decently priced, allowed us to choose our own caterer, and the event coordinators there were very responsive (very important for us since we live in Seattle). They were always pleasant and willing to answer the myriad questions we had.

Between WFC and our caterer Daltons (highly recommend!), we got a lot of ideas on how to set up the perfect floor plan and wedding day flow. There was no event scheduled the day before our wedding so we were lucky able to hold the rehearsal then, though we couldn’t schedule it until a couple weeks before the wedding. They also accommodated a request from our caterer to set up a little early on the day of the wedding.

After the wedding we had a lot of compliments on the venue. It was dry on the wedding day so during cocktail hour guests flowed between the lobby and outside where there were tall tables and lights strung under the awning. There was no problem changing over the room quickly. We used the larger “groom’s room” as a kids babysitting room and guests coat rack area. Our wedding photos in Miller Hall and at the Museum turned out beautiful! I would definitely recommend WFC as a wedding venue.

Layne Sent on 09/22/2013

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They worked through every detail with me for my wedding. So much so I even told them to do what they thought best. Hard working detailed oriented event coordinators work there (Amber and Reade). They were there and responded so quickly to everything we needed for our big day.

Lyndsey Sent on 10/22/2008

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Set against a beautiful back drop of the west hills, the World Forestry Center was the perfect venue for our indoor wedding ceremony and reception. The staff was so friendly and helpful, all of our requests were met, the venue held our guest list of 166 perfectly plus offered plenty of room for a cocktail/appetizer area separate from the reception/ceremony area. If there was a drawback, it would be that some people had a tough time finding Miller Hall as it was set back further then the other halls. I would suggest good signage for anyone considering this venue.

User1267698 Sent on 08/01/2013

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3.5 out of 5 rating

We recently had our wedding and reception at Cheatham Hall and the Plaza. We did the entire wedding outside, and it was a terrific venue for that. Amber is great to work with, very helpful. We only had a couple issues that I think would be useful for other brides to know. One, you cannot schedule your rehearsal date until a couple weeks out from the wedding, which is fine if you're not having a big rehearsal dinner, but nerve-wracking if you have something planned and can't nail down the date / time. Fortunately, everything worked out for us. Next, we had guests from the other wedding in Miller Hall coming into our venue to use the bathrooms and even a guest who took one of our place cards thinking she was at the other wedding. We had directive signage but the other wedding did not seem too. If you have a wedding scheduled the same day as another wedding, I would definitely make sure you have a way to ensure wedding guests that don't belong stay out of the venue. These are small things though - this venue was very reasonably priced and overall great to work with, and I would definitely recommend WFC for a wedding / reception. Plus, lots of beautiful backgrounds for your photos!

Craig Sent on 07/27/2012

4.5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
3.5 out of 5 rating

Great location and staff. A little pricey and you have to follow a lot of rules.

User1384415 Sent on 10/17/2013

4.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

Outdoor venue was beautiful in the summer when the large hanging baskets were in full bloom. Tent was spacious, allowing for a large dance floor, which was also used for wedding speeches.

User1096238 Sent on 02/22/2013

4.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
3.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

They were great! Amber was the person we spoke with and she was really helpful from start to finish, this was a great spot!

Cori Sent on 10/04/2011

4.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
3.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

The World Forestry Center is a great venue for a wedding. Washington Park, that surrounds the venue, provides a great backdrop for pre-wedding photos. We then held our ceremony on the grassy area in front of Miller Hall. This is in between the office building and Miller, which seems akward at first, but when you have it decorated and set up, you don't even notice the buildings. Our pictures came out great and did not include the buildings either. I highly suggest this if you are having a summer wedding so you can get a bit of Oregon outdoors in your wedding.

The reception room itself is underwhelming when viewed without setup. I suggest you view the room on a Friday afternoon or Saturday morning, if permitted, to see some table setup. I was lucky enough to see ceiling decor up which really sold it for me. The other pros of this venue is the large amount of guest parking, long rental hours (12 noon to midnight!), and the ability for an outdoor ceremony/indoor reception. The room has air conditioning which is great for dancing on summer nights. The dance floor is built in the center of the room which eliminates another rental fee. There are also rooms available for the bridal party to get ready in. They are nothing special, especially compared to the ones seen at other venues, but at least they were available! Bathrooms are also available, but are not up to date and resemble an elementary school bathroom. I hear they are improving these, but paint just isn't going to improve it enough.

Amber was wonderful to work with and is very knowledgeable about the venue. While on maternity leave, we worked with Reade who was also wonderful. They both allowed me to visit several times with no issues. I even had two walk throughs and a rehearsal the day before, which is not always guaranteed.

There are a few rules that were a bit of a bummer, but in general, they are flexible on. First, vendor pick ups in the early a.m. the next day is not permitted. I dont know why since the rental period starts again at noon the next day. Vendors charge an arm and leg to pick up the same night. Second, no candles are permitted. They must have had an issue in the past, but since we're required to have event insurance, I think it should be the renter's decision. And last, there is no one available during the evenings on the weekend, during the events. We didnt have an issue really, but the air conditioning didnt seem to be able to turn down from where it was set.

My only last complaint is the rental fee being high, but actually quite reasonable in comparison to other venues. However, this venue needs decor (ceiling, table, etc). You dont necessarily need the decor in other venues so make sure you compare the cost accordingly. It comes out about even in that case. Tables and chairs are included, but the chairs are very business meeting looking and not wedding looking. I got more fitting chairs elsewhere which made it look 10 times better. The costs just add up.

One other warning - with weddings occurring in both halls (Miller and Chatheam), and the zoo nearby, you get wanderers near your wedding. A couple times we found rude people near our patio area, who may or may not have taken advantage of our open bar. Another guy from Chatheam thought it was ok to talk on his cell phone in the patio of our wedding during the reception. Just make sure your gifts are taken inside the bridal room and watch out for wedding crashers. Price you pay for the location.

Overall, I had a great wedding at the World Forestry Center and would not have changed a bit. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a true Oregon wedding.

Irene Sent on 09/15/2015

4.3 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
3.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

They were a great vendor and were flexible with the changes made. We loved that Plaza area for the reception and Cheatham to host cocktail hour. Things worked out great and we were very happy with the service that Angie and Jessica provided.

Kellie Sent on 12/03/2013

4.2 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
3 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

The staff at the World Forestry Center were wonderful to work with - they were responsive, knowledgeable and provided a lot of direction in decision making when it came to our wedding. When we arrived at the World Forestry Center to take a tour, my husband and I knew it was the perfect venue for us. The price was reasonable (it's all relative...) and the service we received was great. They helped to connect us to caterers, rentals and gave us lots of flexibility when it came to our vision.

Would recommend (and already have recommended!) to anyone!

J'neil Sent on 10/03/2018

4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

The World Forestry Center is a beautiful venue. You definitely need to go visit it in person to get the full idea! The WFC was the last of our venue visits and we were mostly just going so we could see a variety of places - but we fell in love as soon as we walked into Miller Hall. The hall is beautiful, the location convenient and we loved the unique aspect! We also loved that it is so close to Hoyt Arboretum, we were able to do some photos up there! Angie was very helpful and responsive. Things to consider though - the Bride's room is very small with limited counter/mirror space, so we planned to get ready in a different location. The parking can possibly be an issue as the WFC shares parking with the zoo and other museums in Washington Park. You will need to provide (or have a caterer that provides) most decor items from any ceremony set up to linens, but that is easily do able with the caterer list they provide. We were so happy with our choice to use the World Forestry Center, we couldn't have found a better place to get married!

8279B531D0249Aeb58B09477421A34D4Bc835E0F Sent on 11/23/2015

4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

When we began discussing our wedding, one of the most important decisions for us was selecting the perfect venue. We really wanted to have an outdoor wedding with an inside reception area, that could also serve as a rain contingency. In addition, we wanted a location that would feel very "Oregon" to us. Initially, when we looked at photos of the venue, we were impressed with both the outdoor lawn area outside of Miller Hall, along with the gorgeous stone floors and wooden ceiling beams. After seeing the site in-person, we booked it immediately, because it was simply that breathtaking.

The only reason why didn't give this venue 5 stars is because it was a little bit pricier than other venues we considered and the response time wasn't as timely as we would have liked. However, we'd still recommend this venue to other couples out there, as those were minor issues compared to the value received in such a beautiful venue that we were able to celebrate our wedding day in.

Anne Sent on 10/18/2015

4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

My wedding ceremony was on the lawn in front of Miller Hall and the reception was inside. It was a really great experience working with the World Forestry Center! The event coordinators that I emailed with were always very responsive, helpful, and quick to address our questions. We booked the space about a year before the wedding, so it was a really long time between when we first saw it and when I had the walk through a few weeks beforehand. Angie from the World Forestry Center was really thorough during our walk through and really helped me visualize what the day would look like. Additionally, Stephanie (I think that's her name...) was invaluable on the wedding day, since we had a lot of set up to do and the backdrop for our arbor was very time consuming to put together. I wasn't aware of it at the time, but my mom told me afterwards that Stephanie asked if she could help and did a great job of getting the backdrop ready before the ceremony.

There were just a few dislikes from the experience. Primarily, every add on service was an additional fee, and it can really start to add up after a while. Also, we weren't able to schedule a rehearsal the day before because there was another event. It would have been great if we could have used the space in the morning, before that other event started setting up, but that wasn't an option. We ended up having the rehearsal two days before the wedding, which worked out fine, but almost all of the wedding party wasn't there.

Overall, it was a really beautiful setting for our wedding and our guests seemed to really like the venue. The wedding flowed from the lawn, to the patio for the cocktail hour, and then inside for the reception. The whole thing felt very seamless and I would definitely recommend this space to others! The venue is unique and is super convenient for out-of-town guests, since the max goes directly there.

User1845184 Sent on 09/17/2015

4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

We held our August wedding in Miller Hall at The World Forestry Center. The venue itself is beautiful in its simple elegance. We were unable to make much use of the outdoor space due to rain, but we were cozy and happy inside while still having the sense of being in a lovely natural setting. The location is especially fantastic for out of town guests, being situated in the heart of glorious Washington Park and right off the MAX light rail. All our dealings with site management were totally pleasant, and our questions were answered quickly and clearly. A lovely spot to get married.

Laura Sent on 10/08/2008

4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
3.5 out of 5 rating

Miller Hall at WFC doesn't look like much when it's set up for a professional event, but it transforms *beautifully* to a reception space. We couldn't have been happier with the result. We also had our ceremony outside the hall on the lawn & it worked out great (it held approximately 130 people). We got lots of positive feedback on the venue. The staff are professional and AV facilities are good, too.

Lauren Sent on 05/18/2008

3.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
3 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
3.5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
2 out of 5 rating

Beautiful site, but it was pretty expensive, and nothing aside from the rental was included. Also, they wedding coordinator was difficult to work with and rather abrupt. My husband had to DEMAND a rehearsal, because the coordinator refused to give us one, and even then it was on a Thursday morning which was very inconvenient. We also couldn't use candles in many areas, and there were man restrictions aside from those.

Sarah Sent on 11/26/2007

2.5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
3 out of 5 rating
Average response time
1.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
1.5 out of 5 rating
Value
3.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
3 out of 5 rating

The venue was nice -- we got married in Miller Hall which is octagonal, and allowed us to get married "in the round" with our guests around us. Unfortunately the World Forestry Center did not provide any personnel on site on the day of the event (e.g. an event coordinator) since we were married on a Sunday (they do provide this on other days). Also, I found it very difficult to get appointments scheduled to see the site.

Ariel Sent on 12/03/2010

2.1 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
1.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
1.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
2.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
1 out of 5 rating

PROS : This is a beautiful location for an indoor ceremony, the acoustics are great and there is no need for amplification.

CONS:
- The staff were difficult to get a hold of (also see below)
- We rented the smaller of the two main spaces for $1600. Though we used the space for 2 hours, they require that you rent it for the 10hrs (12-10)
- Rehearsals aren't generally permitted, though we negotiated a second walk-through beforehand - the space coordinator was pushy (I didn't need another person telling me how I SHOULD position doors and chairs, over and over and over again)
- You unlock, turn on lights/AV system, shut off lights and lock the place down yourself, depositing a key in a lock box inside the facility. There is no support staff on site on weekends - read: no security with keys, no staff in case of a technical problem or emergency, All doors lock automatically (scary? YES!)
- a bridesmaid shut the last open door as we were leaving for photos, locking all of my photographers evening equipment and power supplies in. Tried for two hours to reach someone, the zoo security came over and tried to help (but couldn't), and my groomsmen were left trying to break in (and basically failing) - so my photographer sent our reception waiters to grab batteries while her assistant tried to bribe locksmiths into breaking into a building we didn't own or lease (which is, stricktly speaking, a bit illegal). We NEVER heard back from anyone associated with the property - they were all home.
- requires event insurance even without drinks or food being served (approx $100 for two hours of ceremony)
- made the return of our $500 deposit out to the wrong person, and sent it to our former address even though we had given her our new one.

What exactly is the $1600 for if not security or an on-site coordinator? Lights, heat, and setting up chairs apparently. At least the proceeds went to a good organization (WFC), which I generally support.

World Forestry Center Reviews

Reviews

World Forestry Center