Get Married
Under the Bridge.
Wedding permits beneath the St. Johns Bridge have been unavailable since 2022. Higher Love Event Co. and Weddinglandia found a way around it — and we handle the permitting that is required. An intimate elopement beneath it, portraits in the park, and a picnic feast waiting when you return.
A Cathedral Park wedding experience.
A collaboration of St. Johns creatives.
Higher Love Event Co. and Weddinglandia both call St. Johns home. We are neighbors who love this community — the people, the St. Johns Bridge, the parks, the small town feel that has somehow survived in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the Pacific Northwest. This package is what happens when local businesses choose collaboration and community over competition.
Weddinglandia coordinates the elopement: just the couple, two witnesses, and the officiant. Higher Love coordinates the picnic reception for you and your favorite people, the vendor team, and all logistics. Wedding permits beneath the St. Johns Bridge are currently unavailable while repairs wrap up, but between the two of us we found a way to help you get Married Under the Bridge.
The rest of the day belongs to our neighbors. The photography, the florals, the charcuterie, the desserts, the wine and the beer all come from St. Johns and North Portland businesses — people we know by name and have worked with directly. One neighborhood, showing up for your wedding day.
Vows, Portraits, and a Picnic.
The structure of this package was designed so both of you can be completely present for every part of it. Vows in the afternoon, portraits in the golden light, then a picnic waiting when you return. The day is built to give you time alone together before the celebration begins.
The first hour and a half belongs to the two of you. Everyone else arrives at 4:30, to a table already set.
Ceremony at Cathedral Park
A legal ceremony beneath the St. Johns Bridge with an ordained officiant, ceremony recording, and marriage license filing, coordinated by Weddinglandia. You apply for your Oregon marriage license in advance at any county clerk's office in the state and bring it with you — we complete the paperwork afterward. The ceremony beneath the St. Johns Bridge is limited to five: the two of you, your officiant, and two witnesses — the number a marriage legally requires. Everyone else joins you at the picnic.
Portraits in the park
While the picnic is being set, you and your photographer walk Cathedral Park. Time alone together, just the two of you, before anyone else arrives.
The picnic awaits
The picnic opens when your portraits are done. Linen-draped tables, blankets and cushions, florals, candles, a full spread from She Serves and desserts from Flower & Flour. For The Garden Party and The Soirée, your guests arrive at 4:30 to welcome you as newlyweds. You sit down and enjoy it.
Two studios, four blocks apart.
Weddinglandia handles the ceremony. Higher Love handles the reception. Two studios, one neighborhood, one day.
Weddinglandia
Jasmine and her team coordinate the ceremony: officiant, marriage license filing, ceremony recording, and gift bags for the couple.
Higher Love Event Co.
Kylie coordinates the reception: photographer, florals, charcuterie, and beverages, along with all decor, linens, setup, and styling on the day.
Weddinglandia was named Portland’s Best Wedding Planner in the 2025 Willamette Week Best of Portland Awards.
The people behind the day.
Portland local, with most of our partners based right here in St. Johns. People we know, trust, and have worked with directly. Higher Love is woman-owned. We're proud to marry LGBTQIA+ couples, and we welcome couples of all backgrounds and orientations.
Three ways to do it.
Every package includes a legal ceremony and a fully coordinated picnic reception. Food, beverages, florals, photography, and setup are all included. You show up and enjoy it.
- Legal ceremony at Cathedral Park, 3:00 PM
- Ordained officiant & marriage license filing
- Two witnesses provided by Weddinglandia
- Gift bags for the couple courtesy of Weddinglandia
- Ceremony recording
- 1 hour of photography: 30 min ceremony, 30 min couple portraits
- 48-hour sneak peek, full gallery in four to six weeks
- Styled picnic for two: your choice of a traditional ground spread with blankets & cushions or a picnic table setting
- Linens, place settings & votives
- Charcuterie & grazing spread from She Serves (vegan options available)
- Dessert spread from Flower & Flour
- Fresh floral table arrangements from Still City Flowers
- $60 beverage allowance — Oregon wine, local craft beer, or a mix of both from our neighborhood partners
- Seasonally infused water
- Bluetooth speaker set to your playlist
- Legal ceremony at Cathedral Park, 3:00 PM
- Ordained officiant & marriage license filing
- Ceremony attendance is limited to five — the couple, officiant & two witnesses, the number a marriage legally requires
- Two of your guests serve as witnesses, or Weddinglandia can provide them
- Guests arrive at 4:30 PM, after portraits
- Gift bags for the couple courtesy of Weddinglandia
- Ceremony recording
- 2 hours of photography: 30 min ceremony, 1 hr couple portraits, 30 min guest candids
- 48-hour sneak peek, full gallery in four to six weeks
- Styled picnic for up to 10 with blankets & cushions
- Both reserved picnic tables, plus a separate styled dessert table
- Linens, place settings & votives
- Charcuterie & grazing spread from She Serves (vegan options available)
- Dessert spread from Flower & Flour
- Fresh floral table arrangements from Still City Flowers
- $200 beverage allowance — Oregon wine, local craft beer, or a mix of both from our neighborhood partners
- Seasonally infused water
- Bluetooth speaker set to your playlist
- Bocce and cornhole
- Bubble send-off
- Legal ceremony at Cathedral Park, 3:00 PM
- Ordained officiant & marriage license filing
- Ceremony attendance is limited to five — the couple, officiant & two witnesses, the number a marriage legally requires
- Two of your guests serve as witnesses, or Weddinglandia can provide them
- Guests arrive at 4:30 PM, after portraits
- Gift bags for the couple courtesy of Weddinglandia
- Ceremony recording
- 2 hours of photography: 30 min ceremony, 1 hr couple portraits, 30 min guest candids
- 48-hour sneak peek, full gallery in four to six weeks
- Styled picnic for up to 20 with blankets & cushions
- Both reserved picnic tables, plus a separate styled dessert table
- Linens, place settings & votives
- Expanded charcuterie & grazing spread from She Serves (vegan options available)
- Dessert spread from Flower & Flour
- Fresh floral table arrangements from Still City Flowers
- $400 beverage allowance — Oregon wine, local craft beer, or a mix of both from our neighborhood partners
- Seasonally infused water
- Bluetooth speaker set to your playlist
- Bocce and cornhole
- Bubble send-off
- Your marriage license and its county fee
- Hair, makeup, and attire
- Rings
- Personal florals — bouquets and boutonnieres are available as add-ons
- Transportation and lodging for you and your guests
- A rehearsal — the ceremony is short and your officiant walks you through it on the day
A deposit reserves your date — $1,000 for Just the Two of Us, $1,500 for The Garden Party, $2,100 for The Soirée. The balance is due 7 days before your event.
Deposits and payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. Rescheduling is available only where conditions make travel or outdoor activity genuinely unsafe.
Guest count, dietary needs, add-ons, and personal florals are all confirmed 10 days before your date. Full terms are provided at booking, and we're happy to send them ahead of time — just email us.
Introductory pricing for our inaugural season. Rates will increase after our first bookings. Book now to lock in this rate.
Looking for a different date? Email hello@higherloveeventco.com with your preferred date and we will check availability with our team.
These dates are available right now.
We release a small number of dates each season for Married Under the Bridge. Each one is instantly bookable — no back and forth, no waiting. When a date books, it's gone. If you don't see a date that works for you, email us and we'll do our best to find something that does.
Friday, August 21
Ceremony 3:00 PM · Guests 4:30 PMSaturday, September 5
Ceremony 3:00 PM · Guests 4:30 PMSaturday, September 26
Ceremony 3:00 PM · Guests 4:30 PMFriday, October 16
Ceremony 3:00 PM · Guests 4:30 PMWinter dates are coming soon. Beginning in November the ceremony still takes place beneath the St. Johns Bridge and the reception moves indoors to Weddinglandia. Looking for a different date, or planning a winter wedding? Email us and we will be in touch.
Reception at 4:30 PM
Cathedral Park, St. Johns
Make a weekend of it in St. Johns.
St. Johns is a small town that happens to sit inside Portland — a main street of breweries, wine bars, bakeries, and shops, a few minutes from the park. Your wedding is one afternoon, but the neighborhood is worth more than that.
Gather everyone early.
A rehearsal dinner, drinks, or just a table big enough for whoever made the trip. St. Johns has room for a group without the reservation gymnastics of downtown, and it puts your people in the neighborhood before the day begins.
The neighborhood comes to you.
Wine from 45th Parallel. Beer from StormBreaker Brewing and Occidental Brewing Company, brewed within a few minutes of the park. The flowers, the grazing spread, the desserts, the photography — all from businesses in St. Johns and North Portland. Every part of your table has a name and an address attached to it.
Keep the night going.
The park closes out in the early evening, but St. Johns doesn't. Walk up for dinner or a nightcap with whoever's still with you. Plenty of couples make it a tradition and come back on their anniversary.
Tell us where your guests are coming from and we'll send a short neighborhood guide with our recommendations — where to eat, where to stay, and where to gather the night before.
A few things to add to your Cathedral Park wedding day.
Each package is complete on its own. These are available for couples who want a little more.
Digital Videography
Short-form ceremony and reception coverage from Lost Fox Creative, edited and delivered digitally.
$500–$600Super 8 Videography
Your day shot on Super 8 film by Hummingbird Films. Grainy, warm, and unmistakably nostalgic, delivered as a short digital transfer you can keep and share.
$1,000–$1,500Film Photography
A roll of 35mm shot by Megan Moore alongside your digital coverage. Warmer color, softer grain, and a handful of frames worth printing.
$50Ceremony Livestream
For guests who cannot be there in person. Weddinglandia streams the ceremony with a custom link to share, a virtual guest book, and a digital download within 24 hours.
$75Bouquet + Boutonniere
One bouquet and one boutonniere from Still City Flowers.
$195Two Bouquets
Two bouquets from Still City Flowers.
$295Two Boutonnieres
Two boutonnieres from Still City Flowers.
$95Polaroid Camera
A Polaroid camera loaded with film so your guests can document the afternoon as it happens. You leave with the prints.
$50Cutting Cake
A cutting cake from Flower & Flour, with slices enough to share around the table. The dessert spread already includes individual sweets like cookies, brownies, and cupcakes.
Pricing on requestLive Event Painting
Yoonie Mae sets up at the reception and guides your guests through making a painting together over the course of the afternoon. Everyone contributes something. You leave with an original piece made by the people who came — the only thing from the day that nobody can order a second copy of.
$1,800Add-ons are arranged after booking. Email hello@higherloveeventco.com to add any of these to your package.
How the picnic is set up.
Cathedral Park has two picnic tables set close together, each seating up to 10. Both tables are yours for the afternoon. Those anchor the whole setup — florals, charcuterie, candles, and place settings share the surface. For The Garden Party and The Soirée, a third vintage-style table is styled separately for the dessert spread, so sweets have a home of their own and the main tables stay comfortable.
A generous spread from two St. Johns kitchens.
Charcuterie, fruits, nuts, and breads, all sourced and arranged by She Serves, with a dessert spread from Flower & Flour. Vegan options available.
Beverages come from our neighborhood partners: your choice of Oregon wine, local craft beer, or a mix of both, alongside seasonally infused water from a drink dispenser. Everything is laid out and ready before you return from portraits.
Abundant, leisurely, celebratory.
Linen runners, candlelight, and perfectly mismatched place settings. Florals from Still City Flowers woven in among the food and candles. Fruits, nuts, and breads nestled between arrangements. The kind of table that looks like it took no effort at all.
Tables for everyone, lawn for those who want it.
We use picnic tables rather than a ground spread because we believe every guest should be comfortable and included. Blankets and cushions are on the lawn for those who want to settle in closer to the ground. If you have any accessibility needs, please let us know and we will do everything we can to accommodate.
Music, games, and a send-off.
A Bluetooth speaker set to your playlist. Bocce and cornhole set up and ready for your guests. A bubble send-off to close out the celebration. Included in The Garden Party and The Soirée.
Cathedral Park is a public park, and we treat it like one.
Your picnic reception is fully permitted, and the permit fee is included in your package. Because the permit has to be held in your name as host, there's one short application only you can submit — we send you everything you need and remind you well ahead of the deadline. If it isn't submitted in time, your reception moves indoors to the Weddinglandia chapel instead, so it's worth doing early.
Because the permit is in your name, you are the host and the alcohol is yours. Your package includes a beverage allowance, and we buy your beer and wine for you at cost with no markup — a straight pass-through, receipts available. It arrives sealed for you to serve. The park allows no glass, so cans or plastic only, and no hard alcohol or spirits.
Cathedral Park stays open to the public throughout, so expect a little life around you — walkers, dogs, someone else admiring the St. Johns Bridge. When the afternoon is over, we pack out everything we brought in and leave the park exactly as we found it.
We plan for Portland weather so you don't have to.
This package is designed for Portland's temperate seasons. A little rain or an overcast sky is not a reason to cancel. We have a clear rain plan in place and you will always know what is happening early on your wedding day.
A light rain or overcast sky is part of the experience, not a problem to solve.
If conditions call for it, the decision to move indoors is made by Higher Love Event Co. by 10:00am. You will be notified right away.
Your picnic moves to Weddinglandia.
If it rains, the picnic reception moves indoors to the Weddinglandia chapel on N. Burlington Avenue, a few minutes from the park. Your ceremony, florals, food, and everything included in your package stays exactly the same.
Available for genuine safety concerns.
Packages are non-refundable and non-transferable. Rescheduling is available if conditions make travel or outdoor activity genuinely unsafe, such as a declared weather emergency or road closures.
Rain, clouds, or cooler temperatures on their own are not grounds for rescheduling.
Questions couples ask us.
How many people can come to the ceremony?
Five: the two of you, your officiant, and two witnesses.
The deck and staircase beneath the St. Johns Bridge can normally hold a much larger wedding — but the permits for that have been unavailable since 2022. Until they come back, an elopement is the only way to marry beneath the bridge, and an elopement is limited to the people a marriage legally requires. That's five, and it isn't something we can flex, even by one.
The picnic area is separate, and that we can reserve. So everyone you love is still there. They're waiting at 4:30 with a table already set, and the first thing they see is the two of you walking up married.
When should we tell our guests to arrive?
4:30 PM. Not 3:00 — that's your ceremony time, and it's just for the five of you.
We'd suggest putting Reception at 4:30 PM, Cathedral Park on your invitations and leaving the ceremony time off entirely. It saves a lot of explaining, and it means nobody turns up early hoping to watch.
What do we need to do about a marriage license?
Apply at any county clerk's office in Oregon — it doesn't have to be Multnomah. Licenses can be secured three days ahead, and same-day licenses are sometimes available depending on timing and courthouse availability. Bring it with you on the day and we complete the paperwork afterward.
If you arrive without a valid license we can still hold the ceremony, but the marriage won't be legal and the package is non-refundable — so please build this into your timeline.
Is there anything we have to do after we book?
One short phone call, shortly after you book. It takes about ten minutes, and it's the only piece of the permitting that needs your voice rather than ours.
We send you everything you need beforehand and remind you when it's time. Everything after that is handled on our end.
Ready to get married under the bridge?
We would love to hear from you.
Questions? Email hello@higherloveeventco.com and we will get back to you within one business day.