Cape Horn Estate Wedding Photography & Videography
Where Columbia Gorge Romance Meets Rustic Elegance
As a Pacific Northwest wedding photographer, I fell in love with Cape Horn Estate the moment I arrived. This Stevenson, WA wedding venue is nestled in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge and offers panoramic mountain views that feel straight out of a dream. Towering evergreens, dramatic cliffs, and the winding Columbia River all serve as a breathtaking backdrop – the kind of picturesque scenery that Columbia River Gorge wedding venue dreams are made of. There’s a special magic here: you get the wild beauty of the Pacific Northwest without giving up modern comforts or accessibility (it’s only about 45 minutes from Portland and just 25 minutes from Vancouver, WA.
Most of the estate’s charm lies in its layout and features. Imagine saying “I do” on a manicured lawn with a stone archway framing the dramatic Gorge cliffs behind you. In the late summer sun, the grounds glow with blooming hydrangeas and romantic string lights swaying overhead. The outdoor reception space is expansive – large enough for 300+ guests to dine and dance comfortably beneath the open sky. For indoor celebrations, Cape Horn Estate boasts a beautifully restored, century-old Grange hall with original hardwood floors and a built-in stage for live music. Whether you envision a live band jamming on the stage or an outdoor DJ by the lawn, this venue is equipped for an unforgettable night of music and dancing. And with multiple terraces and patios (plus even a cozy fire pit), there are plenty of places for your guests to mingle and soak in the view.
Beyond its natural beauty, Cape Horn Estate offers thoughtful amenities to keep everyone comfortable. The venue’s main indoor hall includes an upstairs bridal suite that’s air-conditioned – a much-appreciated retreat for you to get ready in cool comfort on warm Gorge afternoons.(There’s a separate space for your partner to prep as well, so everyone has room to breathe.)
Despite feeling like a private paradise, the estate is surprisingly convenient for guests, with ample parking on-site and easy accessibility from the city. Your family and friends can enjoy the regional charm of the Columbia Gorge by day – think nearby hiking trails and waterfalls – and still be back at their hotels in Portland or Vancouver by late evening. It’s the best of both worlds: a destination wedding atmosphere with hometown convenience.
Over the years, we’ve captured weddings here that truly showcase what makes Cape Horn Estate special. From golden-hour portraits with the Gorge sunset peeking through the pines, to candid dance floor moments under twinkling string lights, every corner of this venue is a photographer’s playground. There’s a unique blend of grandeur and intimacy – one moment you’re photographing a couple against a sweeping mountain panorama, and the next you’re snapping their tearful smiles inside a cozy, lantern-lit hall.
If you’re dreaming of a celebration that marries Pacific Northwest natural beauty with heartfelt, rustic charm, Cape Horn Estate might be the perfect canvas for your day. I invite you to explore some of our favorite Cape Horn Estate wedding moments below and see for yourself how magical a Columbia Gorge wedding can be. Your adventure in one of Washington’s most stunning venues awaits!
Megan & Josh
Megan & Josh’s ceremony felt like a promise years in the making—rooted in growth, love, and teamwork. They pledged to choose one another every day, to speak openly and honestly, and to be steadfast teammates and best friends. Around them, family and friends shared stories of devotion and adventure, even vowing to travel any distance to be together, before the two were pronounced husband and wife. The way they looked at one another—grateful, steady, utterly certain—made the future feel bright and beautifully ordinary: shared traditions, gentle challenges, and a love that keeps deepening.
Set against the Columbia River Gorge, Cape Horn Estate in Stevenson frames moments like these with evergreen ridgelines and open sky. Couples can exchange vows on the expansive lawn and celebrate indoors at The Skamania Bar—an intimate setting with an 18‑foot custom bar and twin patios gathered around a fire pit—then flow into outdoor spaces that welcome up to 350 guests (150 indoors) with ample onsite parking. Located at 81 Woodard Creek Rd, it’s an easy drive—about 25 minutes from Vancouver along SR‑14 and roughly half an hour from the Portland area—close enough for convenience, and just far enough to feel like a romantic escape.