

October Wedding Feature by Anna Nichol Photography
A SEASONAL GUIDE
a month by month look into Grand Pend Oreille
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April Wedding Feature by Cheyanne Walters Photography
April
If you are thinking about a spring wedding, don’t count April out! April is a month filled with the promise of new blooms, crisp air, and the start of the wedding season! Think of vibrant spring colors, or pastels, fresh greenery, wildflowers and warmer options for wedding themes as this month ushers in spring.
The first official day of spring arrives in March but April brings the warmth of spring with average highs of upper 50’s-70’s later in the month.. After the long cold months of winter, those warmer temperatures are calling people outside. With around 13 hours of daylight, more sunlight also means the sun is closer and feels warmer.
If you are thinking of the saying “April showers bring May flowers”, you will be happy to know that on average there is only a 29% chance of rain. But worries of a rainy day are why most people are hesitant to book an April wedding. For this reason, we typically book smaller wedding this month (100 max) so that you and your guests can all stay out of the weather for both the ceremony and the reception. The barn can be set up for the ceremony if needed, and then quickly changed over for the reception, all while still having that outside connection of waterfront and woods.
Most of our brides insist that they have their ceremony outdoors, even if there is a light rain. Keep in mind that your ceremony is the most important part of the day, but it is also typically only 20-30 minutes long. We have you and your guests covered with our clear venue umbrellas to keep you all dry.
April brings some of The BEST waterfront views and photos with warmer temps and spring melt in the mountains bringing the water levels right up to the top of the shoreline. Fresh blooming wildflowers bring color everywhere and new growth on the trees bring a vibrant green to the venue.
Chance of Showers? …a tent provides a beautiful aesthetic addition to the venue, gives your guests more room to gather for the ceremony, and extra space for your reception. Or have your guests bring or grab an umbrella and keep your ceremony outside in the woods, then off to barn and tent for the celebration.
Some of our most beautiful weddings have taken place in the month of April, as you can see in this month’s showcase.
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May Wedding Feature by Kali Hylton Photography
May
May is typically the start of our wedding season - yay! This month also brings some of the highest water levels of the season for even more breathtaking waterfront photos.
Our venue is in full bloom with a carpet of blue camas lilies and other natural wild flowers all throughout. Fresh greenery is everywhere with new growth on the pine trees and shrubs.
People are anxious and excited to get outside and breathe in all the beauty of the great outdoors again after winter. Temperatures in May are typically in the upper 60’s or even 70’s. Evenings are still a little cooler so remember to bring a light jacket or offer your guests some cozy blankets to wrap up in. If you're thinking about a campfire, so sorry, no open flames at the venue.
Days are finally getting longer with sunsets around 8:00-8:30pm. This will give you and your guests enough time to enjoy the beautiful lighting we have all throughout the venue, as well as not feeling rushed for your send off before it gets too dark.
Your sunset pictures on the walkway are the very best during this month. The water levels are almost always right up to the boardwalk. It is important to note that sometimes we experience higher than normal spring run offs depending on the mountain snow pack. This can send the water soaring over the boardwalk making in inaccessible. This may be a bummer for the boardwalk, but it makes for a truly majestic waterfront experience everywhere else & you'll still get those incredible golden hour photos don't even worry about that one!
If you are worried about a Chance of Showers … a tent provides a beautiful aesthetic addition to the venue, gives your guests more room to gather for the ceremony, and extra space for your reception. Keep in mind that while your ceremony is the most important part of your wedding day, it’s also the quickest (15-30 minutes) so have your guests bring or grab an umbrella and keep your ceremony outside in the woods, then off to the barn and tent for the celebration.
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June Wedding Feature by Brooke Duclos Photography
June
June is considered one of the more perfect months for weddings... and our availability typically reflects that as being the first month typically to fill. The days truly are warmer, mid to upper 70’s, and comfortable evenings in the 50’s. There's less chance of rain in June compared to earlier spring months too. With the longest days of the year in June, you will have up to 15 hours of daylight so no reason to end the day any sooner than you need to.
Keep in mind that even with the milder temperatures, the sun is definitely giving off summertime heat. Remember to bring some sunscreen for those wearing strapless or sun dresses. The brides retreat is air conditioned but please remember to have lots of cold water and other non alcohol drinks available for all of the wedding party and family who are at the venue early to decorate, as well as food & snacks. It’s an exciting day and sometimes it’s easy to forget to keep your energy level up.
You may want to start your ceremony at around 5 or 6 instead of 4, which is typically the warmest part of the day. The pine trees provide lots of shade for the ceremony and welcome area as your guests arrive. If you are concerned about a warmer than normal day for June, a tent will provide additional shade and shelter from the sun and allows guests to still enjoy being outside to enjoy the beautiful views of the waterfront. A tent also adds an additional beautiful aesthetic for your wedding.
June evenings are normally very pleasant, upper to lower 50’s, so even though you might have a few warmer hours in the afternoon, it cools off quickly to more comfortable temperatures for your reception and celebration.
Water levels are still high during June with the spring run off and April/May seasonal rain. You will find beautiful waterfront photo areas everywhere you look. The grounds are in prime condition in June with green grass everywhere, flowers in full bloom, shrubs and trees looking their best before the summer heat arrives.
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July Wedding Feature by Emma Grimes Photography
July
July temperatures are normally in the low 80’s at the start of the month and then upper 80’s to an occasional day of 90’s toward the end of the month. But keep in mind that we are normally about 5-10 degrees cooler than other areas (Spokane/Coeur d’Alene) and the breeze coming off of the water provides a cool relief.
The pine trees also provide lots of shade for the ceremony area and of course, the reception barn keeps you and your guests out of the heat.
Important things to consider:
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Water!: Please make sure you have lots and lots of cold bottled water available to your guests as they arrive. Set out a couple of coolers or metal buckets full of ice and cold water by the gift table so it’s easy to find before and after the ceremony.
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Tent ~ A tent will provide additional shade and shelter from the sun, and allows guests to still enjoy being outside to enjoy the beautiful views of the waterfront. A tent also adds an additional beautiful aesthetic for your wedding.
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Fans & Misters ~ These are the perfect solution for a warm day and will help keep your guests nice and cool on your big day!
July has only a 6% chance of rain on an average day, compared to June which is considerably higher, even if it is an occasional shower passing through.
July is also the month with the most clear and sunny days of the entire year. If you are looking for clear blue skies and sunshine, this is the month for you.
The water level in July starts to fluctuate as the spring rain and winter run off from the mountains is over. Normally the first half of the month is higher than the last with the end of the month being the lowest of the summer. The good news is it is still absolutely beautiful with waterfront views in the background. The shoreline extends into more natural beautiful green and wildlife abounds with geese, ducks, and eagles calling this their summer home.
Just imagine your guests raving about the eagles flying overhead during your wedding day, which is also a sign of good luck by the way!
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August Wedding Feature by Katya Higgins Photography
August
While August is thought of by most as the hottest month of the year, the average temperature is actually 85 degrees. The start of the month has an occasional day of 90’s, but the heat is not an all day affair. The days start to shorten with earlier evenings which means the cooler air is making its way to the venue sooner. By the end of the month, temps are typically dipping back into the upper 70’s. There are signs of fall as early as the middle of the month with cooler winds and a change of color in shrubs.
There is an 8% chance of rain during August so typically not much of a concern. August has the second most days of sunshine and clear skies (next to July). The winds of change from summer to fall start to arrive as well and by the end of the month when you start to feel the difference from summer to fall in a big way…cooler mornings and pleasant late afternoon evenings.
The sun starts to move north and sets earlier every day. The start of the month has sunsets around 8:45 at the beginning of the month and 7:54 by the end of the month, a big change from June and July where it typically sets as late as 9:15. This means you get to experience more magical evenings with all of the beautiful lighting we have throughout the venue.
While the water levels are lower during this month, you will still find breathtaking waterfront views for photos throughout the venue. Ducks, and geese are normally seen more often as they are feeding on the grass throughout the extended shoreline and beginning to gather for the coming fall. You’ll also see eagles soaring overhead or diving along the water for fish.
Important things to consider:
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Heat ~ July & August are normally warmer, but keep in mind that we are normally about 5-10 degrees cooler than other areas (Spokane/Coeur d’Alene) and the breeze coming off of the water provides a cool relief. The pine trees also provide lots of shade for the ceremony area and of course, the reception barn keeps you and your guests out of the heat.
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Water! Water! Water!: Please make sure you have lots and lots of cold bottled water available to your guests as they arrive. Set out a couple of coolers or metal buckets full of ice and cold water by the gift table so it’s easy to find before and after the ceremony.
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A tent will provide additional shade and shelter from the sun, and allows guests to still enjoy being outside to enjoy the beautiful views of the waterfront. A tent also adds an additional beautiful aesthetic for your wedding and a place to hook up misters if you wanted to provide that added comfort for your guests.
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Fans & misters are the perfect solution for a warm day and will help keep your guests nice and cool on your big day!
What about wildfire smoke you might ask? We all know that there’s a chance of smoke during the hottest and driest part of summer. That’s the bad news…but the good news is photographers LOVE the overcast of smoke to help with lighting and can actually capture incredibly rare & beautiful photos from the soft haze. And sunsets.... my goodness... some of the most breathtaking golden hours we've seen came as a result of the beautiful colors that smoke can create!
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September Wedding Feature by Amy Kluttz Photography
September
September…Aaaahhhh…the start of the autumn season... and the start of our second most popular wedding month and for many good reasons!
The crisp and cool after the hot days of July and August are a welcome change. The average temperature for September is in the mid 70’s, with cooler evenings in the upper 40’s. The leaves on the trees are definitely starting to show more beautiful colors of gold, red, and orange…which makes for stunning photos.
The days are still long enough for plenty of sun for the day (12 hours) with earlier evenings to enjoy the romantic lights we have throughout the venue. (Sunset around 7:00pm). If you plan to do a Grand Exit via boat or seaplane, you will need to think about an earlier time due to the shorter days. The water begins to come up to more normal levels for stunning sunset photos on the walkway or along the shoreline.
Temperatures can be perfect during the day but can cool off quickly once the sun starts to go the other way.
Things to think about to keep your guests from leaving too early if they get chilly:
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Patio heaters are a great way to keep your guests from leaving early
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Keepsake blankets are a wonderful gift for your guests as well as keep warm once the cool air moves in for the evening.
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Encourage your guests to dress according to the weather: With the warm pleasant temps during the day, it’s easy for your guests to forget to bring a sweater or jacket for the evening. Just a sweet & simple reminder is easy to send to your guests with your personal wedding website that we provide for our couples to stay in touch with their guests and vendors.
If you are considering a September date for your wedding, we encourage you to book sooner rather than later since this month fills up quickly.
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October Wedding Feature by Anna Nichol Photography
October
October is an amazing month to end the wedding season! If you are in love with the beauty of fall, orange, red, and yellow leaves falling, crisp days filled with sunshine and cool evenings, you are an October bride! Colors surround the venue and you will find some of the most spectacular sunsets during this month!
Decor for an October wedding are the best! Shades of greenery, fall foilage, pumpkins, sunflowers, candles & twinkle lights will make your wedding day magical. Use a carpet of leaves for your aisle down your ceremony or mini pumpkins for place cards for tables. There’s so much you can do with fall colors and decor to make your wedding beautiful and budget friendly.
Temperatures for the month start with 70’s but every day brings cooler temps, with the end of the month cooling down to the 50’s. This is why we say the first two weeks are the best time for an October wedding. There are about 10 hours of sunlight each day and you will find as many days of sunshine and clear skies in October as there are in May. Evenings are earlier with sunset around 6:30pm which means you have the most magical evenings in October when the venue truly sparkles with romantic lights!
If you want the celebration to last all the way through the cooler evenings here are some great ways to keep warm and make sure your guests don’t make an early exit:
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Rent a few Patio heaters. As long as your guests have a place to gather together and stay warm, they will be happy. We have a great local rental company who will deliver them the day of and pick them up the day after.
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Keepsake blankets or shoulder wraps are a wonderful gift for your guests as well as keep warm once the cool air moves in for the evening.
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Encourage your guests to dress according to the weather: With the warm pleasant temps during the day, it’s easy for your guests to forget to bring a sweater or jacket for the evening. Just a sweet & simple reminder is easy to send to your guests with your personal wedding website that we provide for our couples to stay in touch with their guests.
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Hot cocoa bar: Have a choice of hot beverages to keep guests warm. Hot chocolate, coffee, and a choice of herbal teas are always popular. Hot spiced apple cider is always a fall favorite, Your guests will be grateful and will stay through the evening with a warm drink in their hand.
October is a one of our favorites & always an incredible month to end our wedding season!
