Finding the perfect wedding location can be time consuming and frustrating. Couples may want to have their wedding outdoors or indoors, in a traditional setting or in a more innovative place. Here in Eugene, there are numerous venues to hold what many might consider the perfect wedding ceremony.
Built in 1874, the Country Inn Bed and Breakfast holds all the charm and elegance of the past combined with the comforts of today. Just minutes from Downtown Eugene, this cozy bed and breakfast is located at 4100 County Farm Road. This country setting is covered in more than 10 acres of beautiful gardens.
“Our gardens are just unbeatable, with over 3,000 roses, streams that run into waterfalls, ponds with swans and gazebos that look like works of art; everyone just needs to come by and see them,” owner John VanSlyke said.
According to VanSlyke, just looking at pictures of the wedding location may be misleading. He said it is important for couples to make the time to visit all the locations in person.
“Just looking online can be deceiving — even our online brochure is outdated,” he said.
At the inn, couples can choose from two wedding packages, each providing a space of five acres for the occasion. Catering and beverages, chairs, tables, choice of linen, china and silverware and labor for setup and clean up are all included in the packages. The inn can hold up to 300 guests for both indoor and outdoor ceremonies, and costs run at about $37.50 plus 18 percent gratuity per guest.
The Silvan Ridge/Hinman Vineyards, located at 27012 Briggs Hill Road, is another scenic place for a wedding, with its panoramic views of rolling hills.
“The vineyard is one of Oregon’s first wineries,” event manager Cynthia Nickle said. “For a special occasion, a lot of people come out here and this place always reminds them of a number of different places around the world. You’re actually not very far away from town, but it feels like you’re somewhere else.”
The facilities are newly remodeled and elegantly decorated for a romantic wedding ceremony. All arrangements, including catering, audio and visual can be taken care of with the Silvan Ridge staff.
Capable of holding up to 250 guests, this German monastery vineyard has facilities for both indoor and outdoor weddings.
Costs for the ceremony range from $2,000 to $2,500 from May through September and $1,500 or $1,250 between October and May, depending on whether catering is done in-house.
For a wedding by the river, the Valley River Inn, located on the banks of the Willamette River at 1000 Valley River Way, is an ideal place. The hotel is only minutes away from the Eugene Airport. It is perfect for larger weddings, with a capacity for 600 people. A large banquet room can be transformed into a chapel while another room is prepared for a reception, with costs ranging from $25 to $30 per guest.
“I think our service here at Valley River Inn is impeccable,” director of catering Theresa Greco said, “We really do pride ourselves in our service and in making the guests feel welcome.”