Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

What is the rental fee for Pine River Ranch and what does it include?

• Please see the details found here for complete pricing and included items.

What is the building capacity?

• 150 guests including the bridal party for May-October weddings.
• 100 guests including bridal party for November-April weddings and Sunday weddings.

What dates are available?

• Please see the available dates information here.

When are the payments due? Do you offer a payment plan?

• When the contract is signed, to continue holding the date, we require a 50% deposit. The final installment will be required 180 days prior to the event. You are welcome to send smaller, partial payments of any amount prior to the specified due date, so in effect creating your own payment plan on your own schedule. Please include the last names of the couple and the wedding date in the memo line if you are mailing a check. Full payment is due by the specified due date. We also reserve the right to request a credit card on file for any damages to the facility or grounds. Tax is applied to each payment.

How do I reserve a date?

• To reserve a date email us here saying you are ready to book XYZ date if it is still available. We suggest you send a backup date in case your preferred date is unavailable as well. Prior to booking a date, we hope you are able to come out in person to visit the the ranch. You can request a tour (or a Facetime or Zoom tour if you live out of the area) on our tour request page, but an in person tour is not required prior to booking a date. Dates are reserved on a first requested basis. Whomever has requested to start the contract process from us by email first for a specific date will be first in line.

Do I need to schedule a tour or can I just stop by?

• We request that all tours are by appointment only. You can request a tour here.

What is the average budget of a couple getting married at Pine River Ranch?

• Great question! On average a couple getting married at Pine River Ranch is between $20,000-$30,000 for all wedding expenses (venue, food, dress, DJ, photographer, etc.). We have had smaller guests lists host beautiful weddings in the $10,000 – $15,000 range, and we have had several events spending considerably more by the time they were finished.

Will there be another wedding the same day?

• At Pine River Ranch we only host one wedding each day to ensure that each couple’s event is special and receives our full attention.

Is there a guest count minimum?

• We do not have a guest count minimum at our venue.

Do we have to rent your accommodations?

• It is required that you rent all available suites at Pine River Ranch the night of your event.  We can also hold rooms prior to or after the event as needed. There is also nearby lodging available that we can recommend to you for additional space.

How many cars will your parking lot accommodate?

• We have a large, lighted, professional event parking area on site that we staff with parking attendants to direct parking for your guests at no additional charge. It can hold between 75-85 cars. Vehicles can be left overnight but must be removed before 10 AM the following day.

We plan to have our ceremony offsite, or only plan to have our ceremony at Pine River Ranch.  Does your fee change?

• Because we only host one event per day, our fee structure remains the same whether you hold your ceremony, reception, or both onsite.

Do you have any backup plans for rain or other inclement weather?

• Yes. With our historic barn we always have an inside option if the weather turns bad. We can set up the ceremony inside with one-day advance notice. We will also contact you in advance if we think the weather is turning bad the day before the event. To flip from a ceremony to a reception usually takes around a half-hour to accomplish and our staff does all the work. The bride and groom always have the option of having an inside service anytime.

Do you allow dogs onsite during our wedding day?

• We are dog friendly, with some specific stipulations. Dogs are allowed pre-ceremony, at the ceremony, and during cocktail hour. After that time we ask that they are returned to a pet friendly accommodation. Dogs must be on a leash and someone must be responsible for them other than the bride and groom. We do not allow any other animals on-site, except service animals, and that includes in cars in the parking lot.

What form of payment does Pine River Ranch accept?

• Cash or check are preferred. We do allow credit cards but do charge a 3% fee.

Do you allow smoking?

• There is a designated smoking area outside the barn where guests can smoke tobacco products only. Marijuana or other drugs are not allowed on-site.

Is the wedding venue wheelchair accessible? How close is the parking to the venue?

• Yes, we have an ADA approved ramp up to the reception area and the bathrooms are ADA compliant. The weddings grounds are grass but are fairly flat.  Parking is very close to the venue as well and we will park people that may need a little extra help close to the ramp if needed to enter or exit the reception space.

Food and Drink questions

Is there a food minimum?

• No. We have great vendors you can choose from on our vendor list that have done an exceptional job at Pine River Ranch or you can bring in your own at no extra cost.

Is there a beverage minimum?

• Yes. We do have a $1500 minimum. This enables all groups to have licensed bartenders, glassware, service vessels and an assortment of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options during their wedding day.

Do we have to utilize your drink package?

• Yes, and here are the reason(s) why. Initially we allowed outside alcohol to be brought into our venue, because honestly most venues don’t and we didn’t understand why! It seems like a great benefit to allow that model. The truth is, after two years of allowing our couples to bring what they wanted, we realized that this was not a workable model if a quality drink experience is important to our couples and their guests. Couples would not have any non-alcoholic options for guests, beer kegs would be rolling around in hot trunks for days and guests would wonder why the beer wasn’t good, bartenders weren’t licensed which put our liquor license in jeopardy, and other issues occurred. The drink package has been a great way for our couples to both budget and have a great product for their guests during their special day.

What kind of alcohol do you allow at Pine River Ranch?

• We are a beer and wine venue only.

Do we have to buy additional insurance or get any other permits or licenses?

• You are not required to buy additional insurance though it is not a bad idea for your own protection. You do have to supply a banquet permit that can be obtained through the Washington State Department of Alcohol for $10.

Are outside snacks and trays permitted?

• Outside food is permitted for the bridal party prior to the ceremony while they are getting ready. It is not allowed after the start of the event. All drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) in the dressing rooms prior to the ceremony will be placed there by Pine River Ranch.

Decorations

Do you offer straight tables instead of round? 

• We have a limited number of straight tables on-site that are used for your gift table, head table, etc. Usually we have a few extras that can be mixed in with reception seating depending on guest number, but the majority of your guests will be seated at round tables.

How many people can sit at a round table?

• Our tables are 72″ and can accommodate 10 adults.

Do you provided table linens, glassware, silverware, etc? 

• Yes. Pine River Ranch prides itself on helping you take care of as many of your wedding day needs as possible. We do order our linens through a 3rd company so colors can change. You can see all that we provide as part of your venue fee here.

What time will I have access to the venue to decorate?

• You will have access to the venue at the time listed on your contract, not earlier. Please plan accordingly with your vendors!

Where can I find pictures of the decor?

• You can find pictures of all our available decor here.

Do you include a “wedding day coordinator?”

• No. However, we do have a Team Leader and staff on-site who stays with you throughout the duration of your big day. The team leader is there to help answer any questions you may have as you arrive and get ready for the ceremony. The rest of the staff will arrive one-hour prior to your ceremony and will finish set-up of our items both inside and outside. They will not set-up any of the items that you brought in to the venue but certainly can give tips/tricks on placement if needed. Their goal is to do everything possible to help your day go smoothly and ensure your day is as stress-free as possible! (But we don’t consider them a day-of wedding coordinator.)

Are there limitations on decorations?

• Just two, no open flames and nothing that makes holes or sticks to the surface. You are welcome to decorate the barn to fit your needs with any decorations that can be removed without any harm to the venue.

Who is responsible for setting up and tearing down the decor, and when will it be completed?

• You are responsible for setting up any decorations that you bring onto the site. Our staff will take them down following the event and have them ready for you to pick up between 8-10 a.m. the following morning. You are responsible for making sure that everything you bring to Pine River Ranch leaves with you the next morning.

Are candles allowed?

• No candles are allowed, except for battery powered candles, at Pine River Ranch.

Can we have fireworks on the property?

• Fireworks, other than sparklers, are not permitted. We do allow sparklers for spectacular exits when there is no fire ban in place which is generally June-October.

Where can photographs be taken?

• We have 23 acres of beautiful scenery for your wedding photography. There are breathtaking views with mountains, meadows, trees, wildflowers, creeks, ponds, and more to fit any style of photography, as well as a beautiful corral, silo, and the restored 1944 dairy barn. We do not allow pictures to be taken in our overnight suites, the bottom of the barn, or our garage. Just ask us if you would like some recommendations.

Planning Questions

When is the next open house? 

• Our open house events are designed for couples who have already had a private tour of Pine River Ranch and have booked a wedding date with us. If we have already had the chance to meet we welcome you out to one of our open house events so you can see the area, ask questions, and plan for your event. Open house dates and the RSVP form can be found here.

How will the tables, chairs, etc. be arranged for my sized event? 

• We supply all of our couples with a detail sheet (about 5 pages!) that we will use to set-up prior to you arriving on-site. We will also use this during your open house times and/or with questions during phone calls or emails. After we receive your final headcount we will make sure the set-up meets your expectations. Remember that any changes after you arrive, if they are different than what we planned for, does have a change fee.

What times do the wedding ceremonies take place?

• Typically, weddings will start around 4 PM but you can let us know when you would like it to start.  The only limitations are music must be off by 10 PM and guests not staying in the suites must be off the grounds by 10:30 PM.

At what time will my guests have to leave the facility?

• The reception and/or rehearsal dinner must be completed by 10 PM. All guests not staying on-site must be off property by 10:30 PM. Only guests that are registered in our suites are allowed in the suite area.

How far in advance do you need our final headcount?

• We ask for all final details and headcount two weeks prior to your event.