Want to nab one of Portland’s cheapest, most sought-after wedding venues for 2024? Get in line: Portland Parks and Recreation opens applications for this year’s nuptials at 8 a.m. on Monday, January 8, at the Portland Building's customer service center at 1120 SW 5th Avenue, where refreshments will be served. The staff expect couples to lineup hours earlier. 

You’ll probably want to get there earlier than that, especially if you’re aiming for a popular spot like the Peninsula Park Rose Garden ($717 facility usage fee) or the oft-photographed Stevens Pavilion at Hoyt Arboretum ($595.75). But more obscure sites make great backdrops, too. “They’re all public spaces we are proud of,” says Mark Ross, public information officer for Portland Parks and Recreation, who recommends Council Crest Park ($330) as an “underrated gem” with great views. Prices are listed here.

When Kylie Root and Hudson Rumbaugh picked the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum ($300) for their December 28 wedding, “a lot of the motivation was price,” Root says. “But it was also just the scenery. It’s super beautiful where we got married.” Given the winter date, availability was plentiful when the couple booked in August, and just a handful of respectful onlookers wandered by the small crowd of guests. “It felt a lot less formal” than typical weddings, Rumbaugh says. “It’s the only one we’ve ever heard of that started early.”

Lest a Parks and Rec wedding conjure up images of a frantic Leslie Knope searching for rice to throw in a municipal government building (rice tossing is not allowed at any Parks and Rec venues, for the record, but bubbles or birdseed are condoned), Portland’s city-granted ceremonies give far pricier locations a run for their money. More than a dozen spots allow food and—with the proper permits—amplified sound and alcohol service. The Washington Park Amphitheatre offers space for 2,000 for less than $1 per person, though application and special use fees will add a little extra.

Other park locations accommodate only a simple ceremony with no food, no amplified music, and limited-to-no setup—ideal for couples looking to put their union, and Portland’s natural beauty, in the spotlight.

Visit the Portland Parks and Recreation website for a complete list of venues and their prices and information about making a reservation.