September is usually a beautiful month in the Gorge. The evenings start to cool off, but the days can still be in the 70s and 80s. Trout Lake about 2,000 ft elevation, so expect it to be about 5-7 degrees cooler where the wedding venue is located. While rain is unlikely, we do live in the PNW, so please check the weather before you arrive in case a raincoat is needed.
It depends on your goals for your trip! There are a few amazing places to stay near our venue. Please don't hesitate to reach out to myself or Chris if you have questions about where to stay! Hood River, OR - a vibrant small-town with more accommodations, two major grocery stores, and lots of restaurants. 30 minutes from the venue. Lots of access to wineries and outdoor activities on the OR side. // White Salmon, WA - a smaller, but still vibrant little town across the river. Amazing views of Mt. Hood from this side! 25 minutes from the venue. Lots of access to wineries and hiking on the WA side. // Husum or BZ Corner, WA - Small woodsy/county towns along highway 141. Not much for amenities, but very beautiful. More the cabin-in-the-woods experience. 15-20 minutes from the venue. // Trout Lake, WA - The town where our venue is located. Small, beautiful town at the end of the road and base of Mt. Adams. Mostly homes, but there is a general store, gas station, a few places to get coffee and breakfast, and a few spots for dinner depending on the time and day. We're talking small town! Lots of hiking options in Trout Lake and beautiful lakes within driving distance where you can spend the day.
We highly recommend renting a car to explore the Gorge during your stay. With that being said, we can also organize ride shares for people who are visiting and deciding not to rent a car. You do not need to rent a 4WD drive car - all roads for our events are accessible by 2WD vehicles (as much as Chris wanted to have a ceremony deep in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest).
We are unfortunately not able to offer transportation to and from the venue. We have scheduled our wedding to end a bit earlier to encourage a more casual Sunday afternoon wedding vibe vs. a late night party. We also encourage folks to carpool from Stevenson, White Salmon, and Hood River to Trout Lake to decrease the number of drivers!
A BBQ buffet with sides, salads, and cornbread (yum!). There will be vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options available. If you have a more sensitive food allergy, please let us know so that we can accommodate.
Whatever you feel comfortable in! We are asking folks to wear cocktail/casual cocktail attire. And of course, we'll be in the country in a rustic setting, so if western cocktail speaks to you, then go for it. Please still feel free to dress up, as we all love an excuse to dress up every once in awhile :) We are also requesting a fragrance-free wedding to support our sensitive guests, so no synthetic perfumes or colognes please. Plan on bringing a jacket, because Trout Lake can get a bit chilly in the evenings in September. As long as weather cooperates, we are hoping to have a mostly outdoor wedding.