Wedding Planning Guide

Your reservation at Columbia River Ranch includes:

• Onsite - 3pm Day Prior to 11pm Day of Event: total time on-site to setup, decorate, host the wedding (if desired), host the reception, and clean up. Most venues don't provide this much time for wedding planning. We want your ceremony to be stress-free, that's why we give you so much time. 

• Rehearsal at Columbia River Ranch on the day before your wedding.  (Dinner is not included, but can be added for a fee). 

• Choice of Ceremony Locations - The River View (Outside); The Mountain View (Outside); The Silo View (Outside); The Vintage Barn Chapel (Inside); 

• Pre-Ceremony Bride & Groom Dressing Rooms - Includes private bathrooms, living room, kitchen, BBQ, private deck, and more.

• Ceremony Set Up - Arch, Ceremony Chairs, 

• Choice of Reception Locations - The Event Barn (up to 80 guests); The Dining Barn (up to 200 guests); The Lawn (up to 200 guests seated); New Space Available in Summer of 2024 (ask for more details)

• Reception Set Up - Tables (Round, 6' long, 8' long rectangular); Barrel Bistro Tables; Chairs; Benches; Dance Floor; Patio Heaters

• Full-sized Commercial Kitchen - Comes with 2 full-sized refrigerators & freezers; 2 commercial ovens; a 6 burner gas stovetop; a dishwasher; an ice machine; plenty of counter space; and more!

• Access to Kitchens for Storage of Food: 3pm Day Before Wedding. No cooking until the day of the wedding. 

• Photography Locations - The Waterfront Dock, Fields, Silos, Barns, and more.

• Recreation for Guests - Lawn games including corn hole, croquet, horseshoes, lawn chess.  (The fire pit is not available during wedding events, as it is reserved for Airbnb Guests).

More On-Site Perks Include: 

• ADA Compliant Bathrooms, Parking
• Beer Garden - Restrictions apply (see FAQs)
• Courtyard - Guests can relax while waiting for the event
• Lighted Parking - Guests will be able to see getting back to their cars. 
• Plumbed Restrooms -available in multiple buildings on-site.
• Laundry Access - available for the wedding party.
• Furniture, Rugs, Etc. - Use of various furniture is available (ask your host). 
• Microphone & Speaker - Available for ceremony if onsite and your DJ doesn't have one available. 

** Not Included:  Add-ons; Liability/Cancellation Insurance; WA State Banquet Permit; DJ or Band; Day of Coordinator; Officiant;  Caterer; Parking Attendants (2); Bartenders; Florists; and any other vendor.  

Hiring vendors for a wedding is crucial for ensuring a seamless and memorable celebration. Professional vendors bring expertise, experience, and specialized skills to various aspects of the event, such as catering, photography, and décor. Their involvement allows couples to focus on enjoying their special day, confident that each element is handled with precision, ultimately contributing to a stress-free and enchanting wedding experience.

Vendors you may want to hire include:

1. Venue - Columbia River Ranch! That's easy! 
2. Wedding Planner - Choose your own.
3. Day of Coordinator - Choose your own or hire us.
4. Decor - Choose your own or rent from us. 
5. Florist - Choose your own. 
6. Catering - Choose your own or use one of our trusted caterers. 
7. Photography - Choose your own or use one of our trusted photographers.
8. Entertainment - DJ or Band? Choose your own or use ask us about of our recommendations.  
9. Bakery/Cake Designer - Choose your own or use one of our trusted bakers. 
10. Attire and Bridal Shop - Choose your own.
11. Hair and Makeup Artists- Choose your own.
12. Transportation- Choose your own.
13. Invitations/Stationery- Choose your own.
14. Officiant- Choose your own.
15. Rental Services - We offer "Add-Ons" for rent. 
16. Jeweler- Choose your own.
17. Accommodations - We do offer Airbnb lodging for wedding parties/guests. 
18. Gift Registry Services - Choose your own.
19. Insurance (Required) - We recommend you use WedSafe or Eventsured
20. Favors and Gifts Supplier  - Choose your own.
21. Honeymoon Planner  - Choose your own.
22. Live Streaming Services  - Choose your own.
23. Dance Instructor  - Choose your own.
24. Travel Agent  - Choose your own.

We believe every wedding at Columbia River Ranch should be as special as possible without distractions.  For that reason on your wedding day, we know you wouldn’t want to be figuring out where the boutonniere pins went, let alone having to coordinate 8 different vendors who all need your attention right now!! 

That’s why we require you to bring or hire an Event Coordinator who will take the lead on your wedding day (you should ask them to get involved the month prior to make sure all the plans are in place, working with you to prepare for the big day). 

You can either invite a friend whom you trust with organizing or hire a coordinator.  

One Month Before: Meet with your Day of Coordinator no less than 1 month prior to your wedding to go over all the plans and the day of timeline. 

Hire Us: Check with us to see if one of our coordinators is available for hire during your event. If not, we may be able to point you in the direction of someone who would work well with you. 

For those who choose to serve alcohol, we recommend that you utilize your catering company’s professional bartenders or hire your own. Bartenders are required to be onsite anytime alcohol is being served to your guests and must possess a WA State Bartenders license/certification. 

We require you to provide no less than 2 Bartenders for parties over 100 people. 

At Columbia River Ranch, you can enjoy wine, beer, champagne and cider; we also allow your choice of mixed “signature drinks."

Your wedding is a private event on private property, so you will need to provide the venue with a WA State Banquet Permit ($11), which allows you to legally serve alcohol to your guests. As the responsible party and holder of the Banquet Permit, you are in charge of the purchase and provision of alcohol on site.  

** Please serve and drink responsibly. Our dock/waterfront is closed while serving alcohol. 

Book your wedding with us and stay with us too!  We have multiple guest lodging options available including our Barn House, The Cottage, Cabins, and more. 

Ask us about our rates for wedding parties. 

We recommend you book early in advance for guest rooms at our location and at the local hotels in the region if this is a destination wedding for you, your family, and friends. Ask for more information from our host, Beth. 

We have a large selection of optional add-ons for your wedding. For a complete list of our available add-ons, click here.