Here’s a list of some questions you might have about our wedding weekend.
Last updated: April 8, 2024
- What is your plan around COVID?
- What is the dress code?
- Is this a child-friendly event?
- Do I have to stay the whole weekend?
- Will I need to rent a car?
- When should I arrive?
- When should I arrive if I’m not staying at Grand Lodge?
- Will there be vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free food?
- What are the food/drink options at Grand Lodge?
- What are the food options by Grand Lodge?
- What is there to do at Grand Lodge?
- Where will the ceremony be held at Grand Lodge?
- What kind of hotel room should I book?
- Is Grand Lodge ADA accessible?
- What is there to do nearby?
- Where are your wedding registries?
- Don’t see your questions answered here?
What is your plan around COVID?
COVID is still a concern for us and our community, though it is not as dangerous for most of us these days. Nonetheless, COVID, like all other respiratory viruses, has the ability to seriously impact and sideline anyone, even healthy folks. For this reason, we ask that if you are feeling actively ill to please wear a mask when in crowded/indoor areas.
We know this might be less than ideal, but please ask yourself: do you want to be remembered as the person who got the bride and groom (or their community) sick at their wedding? Thank you for your consideration.
What is the dress code?
McMenamins is a fun and funky place, but the ceremony on Friday will be a formal event. Think “cocktail attire”. You don’t need to wear a tuxedo or anything crazy, but if you look good, you feel good, and we want you to feel great!
The rest of the weekend will be totally casual.
Is this a child-friendly event?
Children are of course welcome at our ceremony, reception, and other events throughout the weekend. That said, we won’t have any specific child-focused spaces at any of our events. Furthermore, McMenamins has a lot of 21+ only spaces (such as the Doctor’s Office Bar), so please check with Grand Lodge to make sure that children are allowed in the places you wish to attend.
Also note that, for our ceremony on Friday, the Children’s Cottage is only a short walk away from the hotel, so if you need to return to your room for any reason, you won’t be far away.
Do I have to stay the whole weekend?
We hope you will! The ceremony and reception are on Friday, and we will be hosting informal events on Saturday too, though all of these are optional.
We do suggest that if you are staying at the hotel that you arrive on Thursday, as the ceremony on Friday will be happening during check-in time at the hotel.
If you do plan to check in on Friday, we ask that you wait to check in until after the ceremony ends. Otherwise you’ll miss it!
Will I need to rent a car?
Grand Lodge is about an hour outside of Portland, on the opposite side of the city from the airport. Because of this, we recommend renting a car or carpooling, as opposed to a very expensive car share ride or a punishing (2+ hours) public transit journey.
If renting a car is not an option, and you can’t find someone to carpool with, please reach out and we’ll see if we can match you with someone.
The nice thing is that once you’re on the Grand Lodge property, you won’t need a car to go anywhere. Everything you need is right there.
When should I arrive?
We suggest that for maximum fun and flexibility, that you arrive on Thursday. We don’t recommend arriving on Friday, as check-in will conflict with the ceremony (and checking in late means you’ll miss some of the reception).
If you do plan to check in on Friday, we ask that you wait to check in until after the ceremony ends.
When should I arrive if I’m not staying at Grand Lodge?
We plan the events to start around 3 PM on Friday. There will be food and drink available starting right at 3 PM. We look forward to seeing you then!
Will there be vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free food?
Yes. For our reception, food will be served buffet-style, and all food will accommodate one or more of these food styles.
As for other food on the property, McMenamins has made very good strides in recent years to improve their veg/GF options. All dietary options are labeled on every menu, so you shouldn’t have problems finding something that will work for you.
What are the food/drink options at Grand Lodge?
There are plenty of food and drink options at Grand Lodge. It’s a whole campus, with multiple restaurants and bars, including some no larger than your living room!
Here is a list of all the restaurants and bars at Grand Lodge. Our favorites are:
- Pat’s Corner – A quick walk from the main building, has a roaring fireplace, vinyl record jackets on the ceiling, and great outdoor seating.
- Billy Scott Bar – A tiny bar with craft cocktails and jazz on the turntable.
Also notable is Ironwork Grill, the main restaurant, which is a little bit fancier than the other options, but has the benefit of having the most flexible hours.
Please check open times! Not every place is open all the time.
What are the food options by Grand Lodge?
Grand Lodge is right by the center of the town of Forest Grove, home to Pacific University. Because of this, there are a number of food options less than a mile away.
Here is a good listing of local eateries. Note that there is also a food cart pod a short walk or even shorter drive away.
What is there to do at Grand Lodge?
Grand Lodge is a lovely place, designed to be both cozy and exciting. You are encouraged to wander, drink in hand, and explore the building and grounds.
At its heart, Grand Lodge is a collection of restaurants and bars, all in a hotel, but there is much more. On the property you’ll find a soaking pool, movie theater, spa, gardens, and game room with pool table and shuffleboard. Live music happens most nights too.
It’s also a historical building, having once been the Masonic & Eastern Star, a rest home for Masonic members and their families. It’s definitely worth wandering the property and finding the unexpected, such as a cozy reading nook, or artwork on the basement pipes. And there are hidden rooms too, so try pushing on the walls for a surprise!
Where will the ceremony be held at Grand Lodge?
The ceremony will be at the Children’s Cottage, a separate building from the main hotel building, but right next door.
To get there from the main building:
From inside the hotel, exit the front doors and walk down to the driveway. Make a right and walk along and past the building. The Children’s Cottage will be the next building on your right.
If weather permits, the ceremony itself will be in the Sequoia Grove in between the Children’s Cottage and the main hotel building. Otherwise, it will be inside the Children’s Cottage. The reception will take place inside the Children’s Cottage.
What kind of hotel room should I book?
Grand Lodge is a funky place, so the rooms aren’t always standard hotel rooms. Some rooms have shared bathrooms (down the hall), and some have private bathrooms.
“Foundation” rooms are on the bottom floor, which are the cheapest but can get loud, as there is live music on that floor, as well as a few bars.
The best rooms are in the attic, on the 3rd floor. They are newly renovated, all have private baths, and in general are like a whole different hotel. (In pictures, they are the rooms with the blue walls.) You can’t always select them, but you can request attic rooms in the special instructions for your reservation.
When booking, be sure to use our group code, 2404SAVELL. This will give you access to many more room options when booking. Note that the code is only valid for stays from April 11-14.
Is Grand Lodge ADA accessible?
Grand Lodge offers wheelchair access and elevators in its main building. However, the Children’s Cottage, where the reception will be held, has a number of steps to its front door and is not ADA accessible. If you think this may be an issue for you, please contact Grand Lodge and see what arrangements can be made.
What is there to do nearby?
Grand Lodge is right on the edge of the Oregon Coast Range, a mountain range that separates the Willamette Valley from the Oregon Coast. There is a lot to do in the area.
Most obvious to visitors is that the Willamette Valley wineries are just a short drive away. There are so many that we can’t recommend any one of them, but here’s a list of all the wineries you can visit.
If you like hiking, there are great hiking trails nearby. Mike specifically can recommend any of the short hikes along the Wilson River Trail, which range from 1-2 miles to a lot longer. Also of note is the Tillamook Forest Center which has great exhibits and is kid-friendly.
If the name “Tillamook” rings a bell, you’re not that far from the Tillamook Cheese Factory, a world-renowned destination for cheese and ice cream, which includes a self-guided tour of the factory too! If you’ve never been, it’s worth it. (We specifically recommend the grilled cheese and tomato soup. Mmm.)
And when you’re that close to the coast, you’d be crazy not to drive scenic US 101 from Tillamook north to the coastal towns of Seaside and Cannon Beach. Seaside has lots of fun attractions like mini-golf and bumper cars, while Cannon Beach has the famous Haystack Rock.
Finally, there is Portland, the second largest city in the Pacific Northwest, home to Powell’s Books, Voodoo Doughnut, Saturday Market, and a limitless array of food and drink options.
Where are your wedding registries?
Information on gifts can be found on our Gifts page.
Don’t see your questions answered here?
Please reach out to us and ask. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about the events or the surrounding areas.
Learn more about the weekend schedule.