Portland Parks Wedding Reservation Day 2027: how to book your park wedding.

I’m Kylie, and I founded Higher Love Event Co., a full service planning studio in St. Johns. Park weddings are close to my heart, and Reservation Day is one of the most important mornings of the year for couples hoping to marry in one. Below is everything I think is worth knowing before you go.

What is Wedding Reservation Day?

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) manages more than 200 parks, gardens, and natural settings that can be reserved for weddings and receptions. Reservations for each new year open on the first business day of January, and in-person requests are processed first.

For weddings between April 1 and December 31, 2027, Reservation Day is Monday, January 4, 2027, at the Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Avenue. Requests are accepted beginning at 8:00 AM and processed in the order couples arrive. Phone, online, and mail requests begin on Tuesday, January 5, so showing up in person gives you the best shot at your first-choice date and location. Online requests are accepted through February 15, 2027; after that, reservations are made by phone.

Getting married between January and March 2027? You can skip the line. Reservations for those dates can be made now by calling 503-823-2525.

PP&R also invites local wedding vendors to set up booths at the event. In past years, they’ve been there from 8:00 AM to noon, along with light refreshments for couples waiting, so it’s a great chance to meet the people who might help bring your day to life.

Who needs to be there

The two of you, or at least one of you. PP&R has required couples to work directly with them for their permit, rather than issuing permits to wedding planners or coordinators, so the person holding the permit needs to wait in line and apply. Your planner can’t hold your spot, but a good one will make sure you walk in prepared.

If you’re planning from out of town, it’s worth building a Portland trip around January 4 so one of you can be there in person.

What to bring

• A completed wedding application. PP&R recommends filling it out before you arrive. You’ll find it, along with the current wedding brochure, at portland.gov/parks/wedding.
• Your top three choices. List alternate dates, times, and locations. Popular sites can fill up, and PP&R doesn’t keep a waitlist, so backups matter.
• Payment. Fees are due in full when you book, unless you set up a payment plan with PP&R, in which case full payment is due within 60 days. PP&R accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, cash, and checks or money orders payable to the City of Portland.

When to arrive

Requests are accepted starting at 8:00 AM, but couples line up well before then. In past years, some started waiting as early as 3:00 AM, and a few have camped overnight for the most popular spots. How early you go depends on how set you are on a particular location and date.

A few tips for the wait:

• Dress for the weather. You’ll be waiting outdoors in January, so bring rain gear, warm layers, and boots.
• Plan for no restrooms before 8:00 AM. In past years, there wasn’t one available until the doors opened.
• Bring snacks and something to pass the time. In past years, couples received a number once inside, and processing took a few hours depending on their place in line.

Portland’s most popular park wedding spots

In recent years, PP&R’s most requested wedding locations have included the ones below. Fees shown are 2027 facility usage fees and don’t include the application fee or deposits.

• Hoyt Arboretum: Redwood Deck ($330, up to 40 standing or 25 seated), Wedding Meadow ($313.50, up to 100), or both together for $533.50, plus Stevens Pavilion ($655.25, up to 100). A $275 refundable security deposit applies.
• Mt. Tabor Summit: $436.25, up to 100 guests.
• Cathedral Park Amphitheater: $740.75, up to 500 guests, right under the St. Johns Bridge.
• Peninsula Park Gazebo: $224.50, up to 100 guests.
• Washington Park: Shakespeare Garden ($826.25, up to 75) and Secret Garden ($224.50, up to 50).

If one of these is your dream spot, that’s your sign to arrive early and come with backups.

A few 2027 notes for Hoyt Arboretum: the Stone Circle is unavailable into 2027 due to a nearby trail project, and Stevens Pavilion is available on weekends only starting May 1, 2027. The Redwood Deck and Wedding Meadow remain available, though construction sound may occasionally be audible on weekdays.

Good to know before you choose a park

Every park has its own guidelines, and a few can shape your whole day. Here are the ones worth knowing before you apply:

• Gardens are for ceremonies only. Receptions aren’t allowed in PP&R’s wedding gardens. If you’d like a reception in a park too, you’ll reserve a separate picnic site.
• Simple ceremony sites are just that: simple. They allow limited or no setup, a two-hour window, no food or drinks, and non-amplified ceremony music only. Check your site’s category in the brochure if decor or a reception matters to you.
• Music has limits. Small speakers and quiet acoustic music are fine, but DJs, bands, and amplified sound need a special use permit and noise variance. Sound is limited to three consecutive hours between 11:00 AM and 8:00 PM in all parks.
• Power is limited. Electricity is only available at certain sites, and usually from a single outlet. Generators aren’t allowed, so battery backups are a smart idea.
• Alcohol is beer and wine only, and only with a permit. Proof of insurance is required if you’re hosting or serving alcohol, or if 50 or more people attend. PP&R offers an affordable option called TULIP (Tenant User Liability Insurance Program) designed for city venues.
• Food carts and caterers need approval. No on-site sales are allowed, vehicles have to park in designated areas, and driving onto a park path requires a vehicle access pass ($74 each, up to two per permit).
• A few classic sendoffs aren’t allowed. Rice is never permitted, and birdseed isn’t allowed at Hoyt Arboretum or the Rose Garden. Drones aren’t allowed in any city park.
• Bring your permit on the day. Your permit arrives by email and must be on-site, printed or digital, during your event to be valid.
• Nothing attached to trees or staked in the ground. That includes signs, so sandwich boards are the way to go. PP&R doesn’t provide chairs or rentals.

Some well-known spots, including the Portland Japanese Garden, Pittock Mansion and its grounds, and Portland International Raceway, don’t allow weddings through PP&R at all.

What it costs

Park weddings are one of the most budget-friendly venue options in Portland. Every permit includes two fees: the facility usage fee for your location, and a non-refundable application processing fee.

• Application fee: $133.50 if booked more than 45 days ahead, $200.25 inside 45 days, and $266.75 inside 15 days.
• Facility usage fee: from $224.50 at many smaller sites, up to $826.25 for the Shakespeare Garden.
• Refundable deposits apply at some sites, including $275 at Hoyt Arboretum and $275 to $550 at amphitheaters, plus a $110 key deposit where a key is needed for access or electricity.

For example, the Hoyt Arboretum Redwood Deck and Wedding Meadow together come to $533.50, plus the $133.50 application fee and the $275 refundable security deposit. All fees are from the 2027 Portland Parks wedding brochure.

For a full picture of what the rest of a Portland wedding costs, from catering to photography, see my Portland wedding budget guide.

If plans change

You can cancel your permit before your event, or reschedule or relocate once, without paying another application fee. If you cancel at least five business days before your event, your usage fees are fully refunded; within four business days, you’ll get 50% back. Deposits are refundable, but the application processing fee is not.

Come say hello on Reservation Day

I’ll be at the Portland Building on January 4 with a vendor booth from 8:00 AM to noon. Whether you’re still deciding between parks or you’ve already secured your date, stop by. I’d love to answer your questions about park ceremonies, permits, and planning the rest of your day.

As a St. Johns wedding planner, I’m especially fond of Cathedral Park. It’s in my neighborhood, and I co-created Married Under the Bridge, an elopement package at Cathedral Park for celebrations of up to 20 guests.

Information in this post is based on Portland Parks & Recreation’s 2027 wedding brochure and website, plus their guidance from past Reservation Days. Policies and fees can change, so always confirm details at portland.gov/parks/wedding or by calling the PP&R Customer Service Center at 503-823-2525.