Cape Horn Estate | Columbia Gorge Wedding Venues

Featured, Weddings

Summer weddings at Cape Horn Estate are nothing short of beautiful. Nestled in the Columbia River Gorge, this wedding venue offers unbeatable views of the gorge and a property lined with hydrangeas. Its iconic stone arch at the ceremony space is its defining feature. If you’re hoping for a fully outdoor wedding ceremony and reception, this is the perfect space for it! Depending on your guest count, there are still indoor options as well, pending weather conditions.

Cape Horn Estate is an easy drive from Portland. You’ll get the full Columbia River Gorge feel without having to drive over an hour to some deeper locations like Hood River (which I also love)! It’s only about 40 minutes from Portland International Airport, making it a breeze to get to.

Keep scrolling to see what a GORGEOUS space this is for a wedding celebration.

Bride and groom exchange letters in a private moment before the ceremony, surrounded by hydrangeas.

Close up of a couple sharing a slice of wedding cake with their "last name" cake topper in front of them.

Getting Ready at Cape Horn Estate

The bridal suite and groom’s room are located inside the white building on-site at the venue. There is a good amount of space for the ladies to get ready upstairs including room to sit and a few vanities. I like that all of the spaces at Cape Horn Estate are pretty close together, making it easier (as a vendor) to run back and forth between locations.

Bride relaxes in the bridal suite at Cape Horn Estate before wedding festivities begin.

Photo in the mirror of a bride putting in her earrings.

While Kylie and Jordan opted not to see each other before their ceremony, they still had some special moments early in the day. Kylie had a first look with her father and her brothers, then the bride and groom had a “first touch” with letters to one another. This is a great option to be able to talk to your partner and feel their touch, which can ease nerves before reading vows in front of all the guests.

Still before the ceremony, we took some individual photos of the bride and groom and their families to limit the amount of time needed for after-ceremony photos. As mentioned, Cape Horn Estate’s main feature is the stone arch. We took most of our portraits in this area and along the hydrangeas on the side.

Groom wearing a light tan suit, adjusting his tie as he looks over the vast Columbia Gorge.

Groom's boutonniere pinned on his tan suit jacket.

Cape Horn Estate Wedding Ceremony

For the ceremony, guests were seated along the curved aisle. Jordan waited to see Kylie for the first time as she made her way with her dad. These two shared their own written vows in front of everyone, triggering laughter and tears. One thing I loved, that I’ve been seeing more and more of, is that the wedding party sat down for the ceremony. For one, it keeps the space at the altar clean, with less distractions in your ceremony photos. It’s also great so your best friends and family can see your face during the ceremony rather than standing behind you.

Groom sees his bride walking down the aisle for the first time.

Bride and her father linking arms as they walk down the aisle at Cape Horn Estate.

Bridal Party & Couples Portraits

This wedding party was SO much fun! Everyone was having a blast all day long. The men wore light tan, with Jordan in a suit jacket to differentiate him from the groomsmen, who wore vests-only. The ladies wore neutral, champagne-colored dresses that looked amazing among the greenery at Cape Horn Estate. After the ceremony, the group celebrated with a cheers and a shot all together.

Groom stands in front of his groomsmen, smiling with their hands held in front of them.

The bride and bridesmaids walk through the reception space at Cape Horn Estate.

Bride grabs groom's suit jacket as they share a kiss.

Close up of bride's rings resting on the groom's chest.

Outdoor Reception in the Columbia River Gorge

The weather was perfect for an outdoor wedding reception in August. Round tables were spread among the grass, with a stone aisle down the middle. The bride and groom opted for a sweetheart table, where they listened to words shared by their friends and family during toasts. The details for this wedding were carefully thought out and personalized. The seating chart was an arch shape that matched the theme of the day, and their welcome sign was a mirror with vinyl words. One of my favorite touches was the personalized drink stirrers, featuring Kylie and Jordan’s pup.

Between dancing, chatting, and the photo booth bus, guests were entertained all night until it was time for the grand exit. Everyone lined the pathway to the parking lot while the bride and groom ran through bubbles. The final moment of the night was a private last dance under the string lights at the arch.

Outdoor wedding reception layout at Cape Horn Estate.

Bride and groom laugh during father of the bride's speech.

To round out this post, I’ll leave you with all of the vendors who brought this event together below! Cape Horn Estate is also a great venue to consider if you live in the Vancouver/Camas/Washougal areas, being an easy drive down SR-14! It would be a pleasure to be back at this Columbia Gorge wedding venue, so if you’re on the hunt for a photographer who is familiar with the location, reach out using my link below!