How many guests are you planning on inviting? If you have always dreamed of a large wedding, look for a location which can accommodate all your friends and family. Larger cities such as Spokane, Seattle or Bellingham will have many locations which might be perfect. The Pacific Coast, with its impressive shorelines and endless horizons, is dotted with smaller towns. Look for a larger resort or hotel in this area if your plans include lots of people. If a more intimate wedding is your style, smaller inns, local attractions or chapels might be a good choice. Look for places which have special meaning for you as a couple.
What is your wedding theme? You can either plan a wedding theme around your dream site or use the theme to narrow down your site choices. A mountain theme wedding can send you to the Cascades or the Olympic National Forrest for ideas. A drive through the countryside will help you find the perfect wildflower-filled park. Research the web for sites such as the Washington State Parks website for ideas. This site describes all of the different public venues available, such as historic chapels and lighthouses, and includes descriptions and seating capacities.
What time of year do you plan to be married? The season of your wedding will dictate some of your choices. If you plan for an outdoor ceremony, look for a location which has inclement weather alternatives. If you plan a snow capped winter wedding, will you and your guests be able to handle the roads to the mountain lodge? If at all possible, visit your dream location during the season of your wedding. Those carpets of spring wild flowers might be dried grasses for an August wedding. The coastal areas and northern Washington are notorious for cloudy, damp weather in the winter. The eastern parts can be hot and dusty in the summer. Weather patterns and natural landscapes will not change because it is your wedding day.
What is your budget? Renting ceremony sites can be expensive and usually require deposit money up front. Carefully consider your options as deposits are rarely refundable. Consider how many decorations will be required in a particular location to create your perfect wedding atmosphere. Choosing a site with a natural bent toward the tone and theme of your wedding will help with the bottom line. That said, a beach wedding can certainly be held in Pasco with some creative decorating, catering and planning.
Bridal fairs, travel magazines, and wedding planners are great places to start the search for your dream ceremony site. Your own imagination is a great source of inspiration as well. When you dream of your trip down the aisle, what do you see? Is everyone formally dressed or decked out in cowboy hats and bolo ties? Is the prairie breeze swaying the sunflowers or is the cathedral draped in tulle and roses? Answering these questions will help you find the perfect place to pledge your life together.