Forest weddings in the pacific northwest are some of the best in my opinion. Oregon has many wonderful forest locations available and finding a wedding venue that fits the true pacific northwest vibe is always exciting. For Eric and Kaci, Hawk Lake had it all and allowed them to have the forest backdrop they truly wanted. The waterfall, lake and ample space at Hawk Lake were extra bonuses!

Although Eric & Kaci are from Northern California, they knew that Oregon was where they wanted to get married after they fell in love with Oregon during one of their many trips to the pacific northwest. Their first wedding venue choice was unfortunately impacted by the wildfires of 2020 but thankfully Kaci discovered the Hawk Lake Wedding Venue which allowed her forest wedding dreams to come to fruition.

During one of their trips back up to Oregon re-looking for their venue, I was able to catch up with them for appetizers and drinks. It was so great to chat in person before their wedding day even though it felt like we had already known each other for so long. You would never know this by looking at photos of their magical day, but about a month or so before, Kaci had a foot injury and was on crutches. Thankfully this persistent bride was able to recover fully and enjoyed her wedding day without foot pain – yay!

The Location

Hawk Lake Wedding Venue is a family-owned-and-operated tranquil outdoor wedding event venue located in Carlton, Oregon. Surrounded by thick woodlands, it gives off an intimate and cozy feel and is perfect for all nature lovers! This Oregon venue can accommodate up to 250 guests and is also a great option for intimate weddings too.

The venue was absolutely stunning, we were all surrounded by greenery and tall trees. Combined with the fact that they had smores ready to make at the reception (how cool is that) it felt absolutely magical.

Their Day

Kaci & Eric’s wedding day took place in early June and was one for the books! Even the little drizzle that threatened the reception for a short time could not dampen anyone’s spirits. It was a beautiful day from beginning to end.

I love all our couples and enjoy learning more about them and their wedding vision. Kaci was one of those brides who knew exactly what she wanted and I loved that about her. Even more, I loved being able to help in her wedding planning process, recommending vendors that specifically met her needs and that could work together well to bring their dreams to life. This vendor team did such an amazing job!

The Ceremony

The ceremony took place surrounded by gorgeous tall trees and their closest family and friends. Forest weddings are always so magical and intimate, I loved every minute of this one. After the ceremony, I whisked Eric and Kaci away for some portraits to soak in the moment away from everyone.

Reception

Their dream day included a relaxed and fun reception that included first dances, group dances and ended with roasting s’mores over the campfire. It was so perfect! The campfires were also a great way to keep off the chill of the evening and we were all fortunate that the weather only included a few sprinkles but stayed dry for all to enjoy.

Sparkler Send Off

Can we also just chat about how perfect their sparkler exit was? Such a great group, wonderful wedding day, and fun celebration of these two! It was a day full of so much laughter and love and the ending of it all was just as beautiful as every moment that came before.

If you liked this post and want to see more from this venue, be sure to check out Tynan + Halley’s wedding– another Hawk Lake wedding! Planning your own forest wedding day? I would love to be considered as your photographer! 🙂 Forest weddings are awesome!

Vendors

Venue: @hawklakevenue
Photographer: @myrtlecreativeco
Day of coordinators: @ad_designco
Florist: @mayflymanitou
HMUA: @mismoh_beautyco
Catering: @yourkitchenchef
Desserts: @tresbelledesserts
DJ: @litproductions503
Officiant: @ecmatrimonypdx
Rentals: @fortheloveofpeterentals
Bridal boutique: @davidsbridal

Review

“OH MY GOSH!!! PERFECTION!!! Ann Marie is beyond just a wedding photographer. She literally thinks of everything to make your day absolutely perfect. She built an awesome time line that we actually stuck to as well! hahha. She brought bride and groom kits with all of the things you don’t think you’ll need. She makes sure the bride and groom are taken care of the entire time. Now what we really hired her for … THE MOST PERFECT WEDDING PHOTOS I COULD EVER DREAM OF. Seriously though, she captured exactly what I had as my vision for our wedding and they are even more perfect. Ann Marie is hands down the most perfect photographer for the PNW.”

Eric + Kaci

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