Table of Contents:

• What is a Multi-Day Wedding?
• Why Have a Multi-Day Wedding?
• Best PNW Venues for Multi-Day Weddings
• Multi-Day Wedding Activity Ideas
• Sample Multi-Day Wedding Itinerary
• Why Hire Your Photographer for Multi-Day Wedding Coverage?
• Multi-Day Wedding Photography Packages in the PNW

This is my attempt to convince you to turn your wedding into an extended, multi-day celebration—and to bring your photographer along for the whole adventure! Let’s dive into what a multi-day wedding even is, why they’re so incredible, venue recommendations, activity ideas, timeline inspo, and more.

What is a Multi-Day Wedding?

Don’t overthink it: multi-day weddings are weddings that last for multiple days, instead of just one. Multi-day weddings are actually the norm in many cultural traditions, including Indian, Jewish, and South Asian, so these aren’t a new thing by any means! They’re just becoming more popular as couples continue branching out from typical wedding customs, and realizing that they have the freedom to curate a celebration that feels true to them—not just true to tradition.

Why Have a Multi-Day Wedding?

Simply put, one day is not enough for the once-in-a-lifetime celebration you deserve—and that you’re putting so much time + energy into. I’m not sure who started the whole “let’s have a full wedding in one 24-hour period” thing, but I truly don’t believe this is how weddings were meant to be experienced.

You should have a multi-day wedding if…

• You value presence, slowing down, and going with the flow
• You want to plan activities + experiences with your guests
• You want time alone with each other AND time with family/friends
• You’re having a destination wedding and want to make the most of your trip/spend time exploring the area
• You want your day to be more than just taking pictures in a pretty place
• You value the in-between moments just as much as the big ones
• You want to honor and celebrate your journey with intention + authenticity
• You don’t want to worry about following a strict, rushed timeline or falling behind

Best PNW Venues for Multi-Day Weddings

When planning a multi-day wedding, it’s important to book a venue that offers all the essentials you’ll need, including:

• Multi-day use (ideally, a full property buyout exclusive to your group)
• Overnight accommodations
• On-site dining (restaurant, private chef, bar, etc.)

A few extras that aren’t technically needed, but could be killer additions to your wedding experience:

• In-house planner and/or coordinator
• On-site spa and/or salon services
• On and off-site excursions/activities
• Pools, hot tubs, saunas
• Firepits and outdoor seating areas
• Access to trails for hiking, biking, or horseback riding
• Trusted vendor recommendations

I recommend hosting your multi-day wedding at either a campground, a large Airbnb, a traditional venue, or private property of someone you know.

Here are a few of my top reccs for multi-day wedding venues in the PNW!

Griffin House | Columbia River Gorge, OR

Guest Capacity: 175

Overnight Accommodations? Yes

Exclusive Access/Full Buyout Available? Yes

Extra Inclusions: Access to rentals, venue manager/day-of coordinator, connections with local chefs

The Griffin House is the most breathtaking, 120-year-old home set on a cliffside property in the Columbia River Gorge. With on-site lodging for both you and your guests and exclusive access for your group only, this stunning property provides everything you need for an unforgettable weekend wedding!

Wind Mountain Ranch | Columbia River Gorge, WA

Guest Capacity: 175 wedding / 35 overnight

Overnight Accommodations? Yes

Exclusive Access/Full Buyout Available? Yes 

Extra Inclusions: Furniture collection, personal venue coordinator, nature trails, lawn games

Wind Mountain Ranch was made for multi-day weddings: it’s rustic, it’s charming, and it’s the ultimate cozy place to spend a meaningful weekend hanging with your favorite people. The ranch has 7 Timber Cabins that can fit up to 30 guests for a full wedding weekend, spread across 22 insanely beautiful acres of fields, forests, and river views. It’s a literal dream come true if you’re envisioning a picturesque, private retreat into the mountains with your favorite people

Suttle Lake Lodge | Sisters, OR

Guest Capacity:

Overnight Accommodations? Yes

Exclusive Access/Full Buyout Available? Yes 

Extra Inclusions: Boat rentals, walking trails, specialty cocktails, chef dinners

Suttle Lake Lodge is truly one of my favorite venues in the entire state, located on 200 acres in the Cascade Range. They’ve got spaces for any kind of event, from intimate indoor gatherings to large outdoor celebrations—you name it and they’ll have the perfect setting for your celebration. And with the main lodge + a variety of rustic and deluxe cabins, you and all of your guests will enjoy a peaceful, private stay by the river. Depending on the size of your group, you can either do a full Lakefront Buyout (150 people) or a Lodge Buyout (up to 60 people) and have your space all to yourselves.

House on Metolius | Camp Sherman, OR

Guest Capacity: 180 wedding / 42 overnight

Overnight Accommodations? Yes

Exclusive Access/Full Buyout Available? Yes

Extra Inclusions: Fully-equipped kitchens, spacious lawns, fishing, hiking trails

House on Metolius is truly a hidden gem in Central Oregon, offering the dreamiest setting to head into the mountains + meadows with your people. Set on 200 acres of private land, you’ll get access to hiking trails, stunning mountain views, expansive lawns, and spacious houses + cabins—some of which feature private sitting areas and whirlpool tubs! They even offer a special micro wedding package if you’re having 25 or fewer guests. No matter how many guests you’re celebrating with, the team at House on Metolius will bring alllll your multi-day wedding visions to life.

Fivepine Lodge | Sisters, OR

Guest Capacity: 200

Overnight Accommodations? Yes

Exclusive Access/Full Buyout Available? Yes 

Extra Inclusions: In-house spa services, guest access to the Sisters Athletic Club, mountain bike and snowshoe rentals, heated pool, lawn games, in-house catering

I swear y’all, Sisters is SUCH an underrated town in Oregon with so many phenomenal spots to get married! FivePine Lodge is the epitome of Central Oregon life, surrounded by massive ponderosa pines, colorful wildflowers, and the epic scenery of the Bend + Redmond areas. With 30 different cabins on site (ranging from romantic couples suites to spa-inspired luxury cabins), there’s plenty of space for all your loved ones to have a tranquil, memorable getaway—especially if you take advantage of their in-house spa services, outdoor gear rentals, and more.

Timberline Lodge | Mt. Hood, OR

Guest Capacity: 180

Overnight Accommodations? Yes

Exclusive Access/Full Buyout Available? Yes

Extra Inclusions: Dedicated wedding specialists, 4-season pool, spa, sauna, gym, multiple venue options, in-house culinary team, winter activities

If you’re dreaming of a multi-day escape into the mountains, Timberline Lodge is the place for you—literally located 6,000 feet above sea level on Mt. Hood itself. With 70 guest rooms, an outdoor pool, spa, sauna, and gym, and an in-house culinary team, this lodge has everything you need for an unforgettable mountain weekend with your guests—whether you have 20 or upwards of 200. Timberline Lodge actually has two separate venue options: the lodge itself (with many different rooms/settings inside of it), and Silcox Hut, which is located a mile above the main lodge on Mt. Hood!

Camp Lane | Walton, OR

Guest Capacity: 160 wedding / ~98 overnight

Overnight Accommodations? Yes

Exclusive Access/Full Buyout Available? Yes

Extra Inclusions: River access, walking trails, firepit, beach area, outdoor amphitheater 

Camping wedding, anyone? For couples who feel most at peace out in the woods, surrounded by trees, rushing water, and bird sound, Camp Lane is an incredible venue option for a multi-day wedding. This campground along the Siuslaw River is about 40 miles west of Eugene, nestled in a lush woodland forest that features a variety of lovely amenities for weddings: outdoor firepits, an amphitheater, walking trails, river access, a historic lodge, a two-story A-frame, upscale treehouses, and even a cute little yurt. You truly get the best of both worlds by getting married at Camp Lane: the rustic, adventurous feel of a camping trip, plus luxurious overnight stays and modern comfort!

Multi-Day Wedding Activity Ideas

There are SO many amazing ways you can fill your time if you host a multi-day wedding—and there are no rules whatsoever. 

This is your time to spend with your people however you want, whether that looks like going on excursions and exploring the area, chilling at your Airbnb and cooking meals together, nightly s’mores and beers around the fire, going for a run on a scenic mountain trail with your BFFs… you decide. 

But if you need a little inspiration to get started, here are 10 activity ideas for a multi-day wedding!

1. Host a welcome party with cocktails, dinner, and games
2. Spend a day exploring the area + going on outdoor adventures
3. Have a spa day for you + your wedding party
4. Have a pool day (or late-night poolside snacks + a moonlight swim)
5. Say your vows in private the day before, and have a simple ceremony on your wedding day
6. Host a farewell brunch to send your guests off
7. Get matching tattoos of your wedding date
8. Have a private candlelit dinner in the forest (see an example at the top of this blog!)
9. Have a scrapbooking party with Polaroids taken on your wedding day
10. Do a yoga class on the beach to get in the right headspace
11. Go shopping for last-minute decor/accessories at an antique store
12. Get creative with your newlywed portraits—go to an aquarium, charter private boat, or visit a unique location nearby!
13. Go on a romantic horseback ride to admire the scenery + landscapes

Sample Multi-Day Wedding Itinerary

Need to see an example of what all of this could look like in action? I got you—here’s a sample itinerary for a rustic lodge wedding, with 16 hours of photo coverage split across 3 days:

DAY 1: WELCOME DINNER + BONFIRE

Photo coverage: 6:30pm–10:00pm

6:30pm – Luxury picnic welcome dinner in the meadow with a full tablescape setup

8:30pm – S’mores bar opens and bonfire begins

8:30pm–10:00pm – Bonfire with s’mores, drinks, and late-night snacks

DAY 2: WEDDING DAY

Photo coverage: 1:00pm–10:00pm

1:00pm – Make lunch together in your cabin

1:30pm – Getting ready, details, venue shots

3:00pm – First look + couples portraits by the river

3:30pm – Wedding party + family portraits

4:30pm – Woodland ceremony in the trees

5:00pm – Cozy cocktail hour back in the lodge

6:00pm – Sunset portraits by the river

7:00pm – Family-style dinner cooked by a private chef

8:30pm–10:00pm – First dances, dessert, and an evening trail walk under the stars

DAY 3: BOAT PORTRAITS + BRUNCH SENDOFF

Photo coverage: 10:00am–1:30pm

10:00am – Meet at dock + board boat

10:15-11:30am – Couples portraits out on the water

12:00pm–1:30pm – Brunch buffet back at lodge, guest goodbyes

Why Hire Your Photographer for Multi-Day Wedding Coverage?

The answer to this one is simple, y’all: because you deserve to have your entire experience documented—not just the legal, official parts. 

The story of your wedding wouldn’t be complete without all the little moments that happen in-between the bigger ones; without the memories you made with your friends and family before the wedding even began. You’d be doing yourselves—and your future memories—a disservice by only having a photographer there to capture your vow exchange, your first dance, portraits with everyone you love… all things that are important, of course, but don’t tell the full story of your amazing celebration.

After all, your memories of your special day wouldn’t be complete without…

The excited hugs you shared with loved ones as they arrived at your venue, and the gratitude of finally having everyone in one place

The teary-eyed toasts you made at dinner the night before the wedding, surrounded by all your favorite people 

The sunny day you spent on the lake the first day of your trip, paddleboarding and kayaking with your best friends

The sunrise hike you took the morning before your wedding to ground yourselves + admire the stunning landscapes around you

The emotional sendoff the next day, saying heartfelt goodbyes to family over a delicious brunch buffet

These are the moments you will look back on 50 years from now; the ones you’ll cherish just as much as the vows you exchanged; the ones that fill your photo album with wonderful memories you never want to forget.

Multi-Day Wedding Photography Packages in the PNW

Hi y’all, I’m Dawn, a PNW-based micro wedding and elopement photographer who thrives documenting multi-day weddings. Celebrations that allow you to slow down, memorize every moment, and be fully present with your people in beautiful places… that’s what I live for—whether it takes place at an upscale campground, a spacious guest ranch, or a cozy lodge in the middle of the woods.

Get in touch for details about multi-day wedding coverage, and we’ll customize the perfect package for you. 🤍

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Find more inspiration and ideas to help plan your dream day below:

Why You Should Add Film Photography to Your Elopement

How to Plan A Meaningful Elopement: My Top 10 Tips

10 Ways to Slow Down + Be Present on Your Wedding Day