The Ruins Hood River Wedding: a Luxury Micro Wedding

If you’re dreaming of a luxury micro wedding in Oregon, a wedding at The Ruins Hood River might just be for you.

Exploring The Ruins Hood River

The Ruins Hood River is a lovely gem in Hood River, Oregon. I love this venue for my couples who are seeking a micro wedding experience but don’t necessarily need to be out in a forest or on the beach. The space is flexible and creates a quiet, intimate setting for a micro wedding, which is so desirable for an elopement! 

You can check out the venue here.

Why Luxury Micro Weddings Are The Best

Micro weddings are becoming more and more popular, because you and your guests can have more of a luxury experience than you might be able to afford with a standard wedding size. With more of us paying for our own weddings, or prioritizing other financial goals in addition to a wedding, a micro wedding makes it possible to have the best of both worlds. By narrowing down your guest list, you can cut costs majorly.

Some of the biggest costs when planning a wedding are food, alcohol, florals, invitations, and decor. These details only get more spendy when you increase your guest count, so by having a smaller group, you can be really intentional about the details you spend your money on.

Why get married at The Ruins Hood River?

The aesthetic of this venue provides a backdrop unlike any other in the Portland area. It feels very European, which is a more rare aesthetic in this area. While you’re still about an hour away from Portland, which is great for out-of-town guests, you’re also in close proximity to stunning nature backdrops. You’re about 50-60 minutes away from Mount Hood so can even add an adventure trip or mini moon to the end of your celebration! 

There’s a unique opportunity for pictures at this space too – the train! I got some stunning photos of this couple during our styled shoot. These would be so lovely to frame and save for years to come. 
If you want to get a feel for The Ruins’ space, check out their upcoming events!

Styled Session at The Ruins Hood River

This was a fun session with a couple at The Ruins, where we brought a micro luxury wedding to life. I’m obsessed with how the details of this turned out!

What to consider for your luxury micro wedding

What kind of overall feel do you want for your micro wedding?

This is important, as it will influence how you book the rest of these items. Think about what you and your partner want most and what you don’t care so much about.

For example, here are some questions to ask yourself as you’re dreaming up celebration:

• How much money do you want to spend in total?
• What feeling do you want your photos to have? Rustic? Whimsical? Outdoorsy?
• Do you want to ditch most of the age-old traditions? 
• Do you still want a small dance floor, and can you forego dancing and a DJ/band?

Catering and bar

You’ll want to consider how you’ll feed your guests, even if it is a smaller group! There are tons of great vendors to add some unique flare to your wedding, from Pip’s Doughnuts Mobile Catering to Cobblestone Catering for comfort food and tacos.

The Ruins Hood River venue serves locally sourced beer, wine, cider, and an assortment of non-alcoholic beverages. The Ruins Hood River staffs and operates the bar, so that’s one cost included in your venue fee!

Photography and videography

My husband Stephen and I offer micro wedding photography and videography packages that give you different options for your day. You can view our packages here! Whether you’re looking for a few hours or a full day of coverage, we’ll document your micro wedding so you can save the memories for years to come!

Attire

Your dress, suit, and other items can be so flexible! Some of my couples love to spend a higher amount on their wedding attire, while others like to stick to a smaller budget. There’s really no going wrong here! For ideas on where to buy your dress, check out my Elopement Bridal Dress Ideas blog post here.

The venue space

You’ll want to get pricing for the venue you plan to book, as pricing can vary vastly. If The Ruins isn’t in your budget, you can certainly look into areas such as nature parks, state parks, or gardens to find a place that suits yours and your partner’s vision.

If you’re dreaming up a luxury micro wedding, there are plenty of unique areas that are perfect for creating a romantic, intimate experience. When you book with me, I’ll help you find a place that speaks to your soul and love story. 

Contact me here if you’re ready to book your elopement!