in central oregon

Here’s all you need to know about getting married in Bend, Sunriver, Sisters, or surrounding Central Oregon Areas

Where is Bend, Oregon?

Bend is located smack-dab in the middle of the state of Oregon, roughly 170 miles southeast of Portland, Oregon. Central Oregon is east of the Cascade Mountain Range and at 3,600 feet of elevation, meaning the topography is far more high desert than the forest imagery that’s so common from photos in the valley (Portland, Salem, Eugene, etc). For those flying in, Bend is about a 3 hour drive from the Portland Airport, 6 hours from SeaTac, or a lovely 20 minute drive from the (albiet much smaller) Redmond Airport.

What’s the Weather like in Bend?

Being that Bend and the rest of Central Oregon is high desert, the weather is mainly sunny — no matter the season. However, the temperature can range from 100°F in the summer to below 30°F in winter. Snow is very common between November and March, and can even come around as late as April! The climate is very dry, meaning that the weather extremes are a little more tolerable than somewhere that’s more humid. You’re more likely to get a beautiful day on your wedding day here than most other places around the country.

What is the nightlife like in Bend?

Bend is a small town but rapidly growing. Because of the mountain resort and various other outdoor activities (see more on that below) the area attracts fun and hip bars, restaurants, and breweries. Most of the town shuts down around midnight on weekends and some earlier on the weekdays. Rideshare programs and taxi companies are active in Bend, and if you’re staying downtown, almost everything is within walking distance! Party responsibly, friends!

What is there to do in Bend?

Bend and Central Oregon attract so many people because there is so much to do! Netflix? Never heard of her.

According to our local paper, Central Oregon receives 4.5 million visitors per year — coming to play on the mountain, relax on the river, or get married!

• Bend is a hotspot for some of the most award-winning breweries in the country, so craft beer lovers, this one is for you. Deschutes Brewing + Bend Brewing Co. are a couple of my personal favorites. Bend has 22 breweries currently active in the area, though, so checkout the brewery tours and the Bend Ale Trail for other suggestions. Or try a CyclePub with your wedding party!

• The Deschutes River runs lazily through the center of town, and on the warmer days of the spring and summer, you’ll find hundreds of people floating the river on any float they can find (you’ll generally see tire inner tubes, mattresses, pink flamingos, and unicorns bobbing by on an average weekend). If you’re here in the summer months, a float is a must-do.

• Keep an eye on the Hayden Homes Amphitheater page — this outdoor amphitheater plays host to large and small acts and is a great way to absorb the Central Oregon vibes while listening to some amazing artists.

• Bend and Sunriver also both feed into the world-class Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort. In the winter, you can rent or bring your own gear for a day on the slopes. In the summer, the mountain turns into an extreme mountain bike park. It’s also a cool place to go grab dinner if you’re not the extreme sports type. You can grab a meal halfway up the hill at the Pine Marten Lodge!

• Central Oregon also has ENDLESS hiking and mountain biking trails! Trust me there is a trail for everyone, from beginner levels to backpackers. If you’re looking for something easy and outdoorsy, try the deschutes river trail. It’s centrally located and not too long, but still feels like you’re really getting out there. Looking for more? Checkout AllTrails!

Long story short, there are near-endless activities for you and your wedding party in Bend and Central Oregon.

 Analog Wedding Photography in Central Oregon

The Central Oregon aesthetic is near-perfect for analog photography. 

The smooth, warm tones and jaw-dropping landscape pair perfectly with the grain and grit of film photography. All of these come together to create instantly timeless collections that you and your family will cherish forever.

Curious about analog photography? Contact me and let me tell you all about it!

Why add analog to your Central Oregon wedding?

• Film captures landscapes and nature in a way that digital can’t replicate, making it perfect for the Bend area.

• All your film scans get digitized and added your wedding gallery, giving it a nostalgic, vintage flare.

• Imagine having polaroids like those to show your kids, grandkids, nieces or nephews?! Timeless.

• When all is said and done, it’s the photographs and the memories we keep. Analog is forever.

Want to learn more about my film offerings for your Central Oregon wedding?! Click the button below to read all about film, analog, Super8 video and more.

 Central Oregon Wedding Venues

Whether you’re looking for a desert landscape or a forested backdrop, Central Oregon has a variety of different locations that will work for your wedding aesthetic.

Here are some of my favorite wedding venues in Central Oregon:

• The House on Metolius

  House on the Metolius is one of my favorite venues of all time. It truly has it all - the mountain views, the Metolius river running through the property, the sprawling reception area, and plenty of space for guests to stay (they can accommodate up to 38 people! That’s like a whole wedding party, and your parents).

• Black Butte Ranch  

  Black Butte Ranch sits right outside of Sisters at the base of Black Butte itself. If the sweeping views of the Cascades isn’t enough, they have beautiful aspen groves, creeks, lakes, and ponderosa pines making it a truly serene outdoor setting. As for the reception space, they’re currently renovating their lodge to be finished in 2023 and just based on the website, it looks immaculate. They have lodging options available for everyone in your wedding party or the family, and they offer amazing meals for your reception dinner. Black Butte Ranch also has options for elopements or winter weddings if you’re looking for luxury but on a smaller scale.

• Mount Bachelor

  Easily the coolest place I’ve shot a wedding (I got to ride the chairlift for photos, um, amazing), Mt. Bachelor resort does a fantastic job of accommodating all kinds of weddings. They have options for little elopements or larger reception dinners at their Pine Marten or Sunrise Lodges. They have both indoor or outdoor spaces and no matter what you choose, you can’t beat the views.

• Long Hollow Ranch

  Located outside Sisters, OR (and about a 45-minute drive from Bend proper), this gorgeous expansive property is perfect if you want to have a huge wedding and a real party. The guest house is a beautiful old farmhouse and accommodates a wedding party or family for the whole weekend. They also allow camping on the property for an extra fee, so if you want an easy place for your drunk friends to crash after the party, it’s the perfect set up.

• Juniper preserve (formerly pronghorn resort)

  Juniper Preserve is a luxury resort just east of Bend that is perfect for those sage-brush, juniper-tree, high desert vibes. Bonus points? They have a lava tube that runs through the property, meaning you could literally get married or have your reception in A CAVE. It’s so cool (literally and figuratively hehe).

• Sunriver Resort

  With multiple different options for any size wedding, Sunriver Resort offers a more all-inclusive feel to their wedding packages. Sunriver Resort boasts both indoor and outdoor wedding venues dotted across a massive campus that also is host to activities, restaurants, and lodging.

• Five Pines Lodge

  It’s in their tag line - Central Oregon’s most romantic getaway. Five Pines Lodge is a breathtaking space, located in Sisters, Oregon. They accommodate weddings of all kinds from elopements to parties. Nestles amongst endless ponderosa pines and sweet little cabins, it feels so much more remote than it is. They offer wedding packages year round, and have plenty of lodging available for family and friends. And they have a spa on site for pre-wedding bliss.

•  White Aspen Creative   

  If you’re looking for something a little more customizable, White Aspen Creative is a perfect option. They can be as hands-on or as hands-off as you like, making it wonderful for bringing in your own decor and making the space your own, or letting the rental companies do it for ya. Located right outside downtown Bend off Century Drive, White Aspen is a great space that’s close by. Want to bail from the reception for some golden hour photos in the mountains? White Aspen is only 30 minutes drive from the top of the Cascade Lakes Highway. ;)

• Loloma Lodge

  If you’re looking for more foresty, woodsy vibes, Loloma Lodge is the perfect venue for you. Sitting along the Mackenzie River about 45 miles outside of Bend, it’s a little farther to get to than some of the venues listed above, but it is absolutely worth the drive. They have options for all sizes of weddings and all types of accommodation, from family cabins to camping. It’s private and quiet so it feels intimate even for the larger weddings, and the tall trees and lush ferns make it feel like you’re in a fairy tale. If you rent the whole space for a weekend, not only will you have lodging but you’ll also have unrestricted access to the whole property meaning the river, the garden, the forest and more.

Needless to say, Central Oregon has a lot of phenomenal venues to choose from (and believe me that isn’t even all of them)! No matter which venue you choose, you can’t go wrong. Looking for more wedding venue suggestions or have questions about the ones I listed above? Let’s chat!