Join the Club : Sophisticated Venues for Socialite Couples

Published:

Spring/Summer 2017

With their stately interiors and manicured greens, these effortlessly elegant locales across Oregon provide a polished backdrop. By definition, these venues tend to be exclusive, but we’ve found the best country, golf and social clubs for the wedding of your dreams.

Country Clubs

For elegant graciousness, Portland’s Waverley Country Club sets the standard. The Dutch Colonial clubhouse dates to 1896 and exudes the kind of relaxed refinement born of a past era. From the stately portico to the signature silver coffee service, this luxurious setting is sure to impress guests. Although events must be sponsored by a member, the club can accommodate standing receptions for as many as 500 and seated events for 300. In addition to the terrace with a view of the Willamette River, smaller rooms are available for more intimate events, and there are a few suites on site for overnight guests.

With its stone facade, traditional interiors and greens ringed by tall firs, the Oswego Lake Country Club in Lake Oswego offers a club setting with a Pacific Northwest aesthetic. Whether it’s an outdoor ceremony with views of Mount Hood and cocktails under an illuminated gossamer white tent, or a seated reception by the fireplace, the club’s full-service catering can accommodate groups of as many as 300.

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Langdon Farms Golf Club; photography by: Steele Photography

The contemporary style and floor-to-ceiling windows at the Willamette Valley Country Club in Canby will suit the couple seeking a modern setting. Couples can take advantage of photo opportunities on a romantic footbridge arching over a reflective pond, or under the towering trees along the greens. Full-service catering is offered with an indoor event capacity of 220 or outside for as many as 300.

Farther afield, the updated Craftsman-style interiors of the Rogue Valley Country Club in Medford are only outshined by the views of Mount Ashland from expansive ballroom windows. Four year-round facility spaces make the venue flexible, with an event capacity of up to 250. “In Southern Oregon we are blessed with a really temperate climate, so most of the year it’s nice to have the ceremony outside,” says Demelza Quinn, director of membership and banquet sales.

Golf Clubs

For the couple seeking the perfect blend of golf club and charming country farm, Aurora’s Langdon Farms Golf Club is the ideal venue. Tree-lined lanes provide a relaxed counterpoint to the elegant greens, and couples can prepare for the day in separate areas of the sprawling farmhouse that serves as the course clubhouse. In addition to multiple outdoor ceremony sites, the spacious open-air Red Shed can accommodate 300 guests for receptions.

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Rogue Valley Country Club; photography by: Allie Harrington Photography

Couples will find a different kind of hybrid at The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club in Aloha, 15 miles from Portland. “Sunset photos on the course are just gorgeous,” says wedding coordinator Yelena King. Guests walk up a flower-lined stone path to the ceremony site overlooking a lake. Receptions follow at the Vintner’s Pavilion, which can accommodate as many as 300 under tall, exposed rafters, lending a somewhat rustic, open-air atmosphere to the event. Both sites book together, along with private spaces where the wedding party can prepare for the event.

For a traditional option located close to downtown Portland, The Oregon Golf Club in West Linn features manicured lawns edged with boxwood and roses for a classic golf club wedding experience. From the expansive views of the Cascade Mountains to the crystal chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling windows of the Rose Pavilion, the club has plenty of wow factors. Best suited for groups of up to 430, the club also has more intimate spaces in the clubhouse.

Social Clubs

For the couple seeking a club atmosphere in any season, social clubs provide beautiful interior spaces. One of the most elegant is downtown Portland’s Arlington Club, whose brick facade and luxurious interiors speak to its pedigree as one of the oldest and most prestigious social clubs in town. Available to members only, the venue offers an on-site event coordinator and experienced service staff that oversees the couple’s every need. Farm-to-table catering for as many as 200, and a limited number of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests make this rarified historic gem a truly full-service wedding venue.

Another downtown option is The University Club, with Tudor-style interiors dating back to 1913. “It’s a romantic, elegant and historic building. Guests are always excited to attend, as they’ve probably passed the building while downtown and never had a chance to go inside before,” says special events director Caity Benston. Couples may rent the entire club, taking advantage of the lobby space for cocktails, separate bride and groom spaces to get ready, and a romantic Juliet balcony overlooking the main dining room with a 150-person capacity.

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The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club; photography by: Bryan Rupp Photography

A more relaxed club ambiance prevails at the Portland Yacht Club, with its nautical decor and position overlooking the Columbia River. In addition to the outdoor ceremony lawn, there is a terrace that can accommodate parties of 250, or couples can move indoors for a reception of up to 150. Sizable windows in the dining room provide stunning views whatever the weather, and the facilities may be rented out to nonmembers on set days of the month.

Whether in an urban setting or located on expansive grounds in the countryside, what Oregon’s clubs have in common is a dedication to the very best service and on-site catering facilities. Newlyweds will enjoy an atmosphere of effortless sophistication and classic elegance when choosing one of these venues.