Julianna & Brent
Locals to the Gorge, Julianna and Brent met while mingling at Rack and Cloth, a boutique cidery located just a few miles east of Hood River in the quaint town of Mosier. After that initial meeting, their relationship moved swiftly. “On our first date, we took a walk along the sandbar in Hood River. Next thing we knew, we had lost track of time and a giant full moon rose above us. It was so romantic! We have celebrated every full moon since as our ‘anniversary’. Brent proposed to me in California seven months later at a tiny, beautiful, and remote beach on Catalina Island.” It was natural for these locals to share their day with friends and family by celebrating at Tin Roof Barn.
There’s something about old barns… “To be honest, Tin Roof Barn was the first and only wedding venue we looked at. From the moment I saw photos of it, I think I knew it was the one. After going on a tour and meeting with Kelly, we both felt that it was the perfect place to celebrate our love and commitment. Growing up around horses in the foothills of California, I have always been in love with the timeless romanticism of old barns. Tin Roof Barn embodies that in the most magical way.”
“We wanted things to be elegant while not feeling overdone. The venue is so beautiful on its own that not a whole lot needs to be added. Since we had a fall wedding, I chose warm autumnal colors for florals and attire. Brent has always been passionate about native plants so we incorporated that by naming each table after a local species. I have always loved the look of vintage botanical illustrations, so a college friend made some beautiful numbered cards for the tables. On the day-of, it all just fell into place seamlessly with the help of (our wedding coordinator) Union Event Co.”
“I actually found the belt for my wedding dress first, and fell so in love with it that I had to find the perfect gown to go with it! It seemed like it not only fit my personal style but also paired well with the venue’s wild and vintage aesthetic. I knew I had to find a simple wedding gown to pair with it, which proved to be a bit of a challenge! I was into the idea of long sleeves so when I found a photo of that Pronovias gown, I had to have it. It was a design from a couple years back so it wasn’t easy to track down but eventually I did and had the perfect ensemble. Since Brent, my fiancé at the time, refused to wear a tuxedo or suit, I had to look outside the box for something fitting to the occasion. I finally found the perfect look for both Brent and our son, Cooper, at Hovden Formal Farmwear. I love how classic and timeless their style is – and it fit in so perfectly at the barn”
Choosing to have a “first look” is a choice unique to each couple and for different reasons. Sometimes it’s to help with the wedding day timeline and sometimes it’s to ease the wedding day jitters, but mostly, we’ve found that engaged couples need to be together as soon as possible on this one incredibly special day. “We couldn’t wait to see each other. We had our first look outside the Bridal Suite under the giant walnut tree. We were both pretty much speechless when we first saw each other. After we finally composed ourselves, we actually practiced reading our vows to each other and it was a very special, very sweet moment.”
“Our ceremony was extremely relaxed and somewhat untraditional. We both had our parents walk us down the aisle, which I loved. And because our son, Cooper, was only 14 months at the time of our wedding, we didn’t really know what kind of role he would play in it. We just ended up incorporating him when he wanted to be part of it. Brent had a baby bottle in his back pocket and there were times that I was bouncing Cooper on my shoulders or Brent was keeping him occupied during our ceremony. For days after our wedding, guests told us that seeing our family make this commitment to each other in such a ‘real’ way was the most special part of the whole day. I think it truly reflected who we are as people, as a couple, and as a family. And that part I couldn’t have planned; it was something really special.”
Sometimes, our favorite memories in life tend to be concentrated on when things didn’t go “perfectly,” or even according to plan… “Our reception was such a fun mixture of mishaps. My dad dropped me when he dipped me during our father-daughter dance! How often does that happen at a wedding? And during our first dance, Brent and I were confused on what kind of dance we were doing… I thought we were dancing separately and he assumed slow dancing so we awkwardly ended up somewhere between the two. It was a bit of a mess, but in the end, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I think one of my favorite moments was later in the evening when my sister and I got to really get down on the dance floor… she was wearing her youngest baby, Beau, who was asleep in his pouch, but she was rocking out regardless. She’s awesome and we had so, so much fun.”
“The only advice I have for future Tin Roof Barn couples is to make sure and do all the planning, stressing, and worrying well beforehand, so that during the week leading up to your wedding you can be relaxed and present. I can see how it’s easy to get wrapped up in the millions of small details… I definitely did. But on the day-of, I handed the reins over to my close girlfriends and the ladies of Union Event Co. The finished product was an incredibly magical wedding that my husband and our whole family got to enjoy and will remember for the rest of our lives.”
Catering: Ahi’s Ohana Catering
Floral: Trellis Fresh Flowers
Photography: Bella Birdy Photography
Coordination: Union Event Co
Venue: Tin Roof Barn
At Tin Roof Barn, we specialize in creating a bespoke Gorge wedding experience for you and your guests. Our beautiful Gorge wedding venue includes many standard amenities such as the graceful vintage wood dining tables and mismatched vintage chairs, antique rugs, and furnishings. For your ceremony, we provide ceremony seating for up to 150 of your favorite people in our ceremony patio as well as an optional covered ceremony location, because, at a Gorge wedding, it’s good to have a Plan B, just in case! Our modern restroom facility, the beautifully appointed Bridal Suite and Groom’s Room, the rustic tin covered Pavilion and massive stone fireplace are all part of the indoor/outdoor Gorge wedding experience. Scenic views of the mountains, forests, orchards, and valleys of the Columbia River Gorge are the background to this stunning Gorge wedding venue and will leave your guests celebrating late into the evening.
The award-winning Tin Roof Barn has been featured on Harper’s Bazaar, The Knot, Green Wedding Shoes, Sunset, The Venue Report, PopSugar, Oregon Bride, 100 Layer Cake, Borrowed and Blue, and Pendleton. If you’d like more details on how to have your dream Gorge wedding at Tin Roof Barn, or if you’d like to schedule a tour of our gorge wedding venue located near Hood River, in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge, please don’t hesitate to contact us here!