7th August 2021 | Joseph, Oregon
We met at an entomology happy hour in Arizona. Aryn was already hanging out with these entomologists because she met them at the dog park. Marek had recently moved to Tempe with his lab and Aryn offered to show him some local hiking trails. We went for a hike at South Mountain and haven't stopped going on hikes together since.
We decided to get married in the Wallowa Mountains because they've become a special place since we moved to the Inland Northwest. Before moving to Idaho we visited the Wallowas and have returned several times since to backpack and enjoy the charming town of Joseph, Oregon. In November 2020, Marek organized a weekend getaway to Joseph and proposed on a (steep and snowy) hike up Dug Peak. We look forward to sharing this beautiful place with our friends and family!
Ceremony and reception:
The wedding ceremony and reception will take place outside at the Wallowa Lake Lodge, a historic lodge located at the south end of Wallowa Lake. The ceremony will begin at 3 pm, followed by a cocktail hour. The reception will take place at the same location from 5 - 10 pm.
Getting to Joseph by plane and car:
Joseph, OR is not really on the way to anywhere. The closest airport is Lewiston, ID, which is a connection for Delta flights. Travel time from Lewiston is 2.5 hours, Portland, OR is about 4 hours, Boise, ID is 4 hours, and Spokane, WA is 5.5 hours. We live about 45 minutes north of Lewiston and have a small local airport (Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport) which could also be an option if you want to pass through our little town of Moscow. All of these airports offer rental car services.
This destination is off the beaten trail, but don’t worry; it’s totally worth it. Read more about Joseph and the magnificent places to explore in the area here.
Lodging:
Especially in the summer, Joseph is a popular tourist destination. We recommend that you consider lodging options now and reserve earlier than you might think necessary. Due to the pandemic, most businesses continue to offer generous cancellation policies, and we do recommend checking on those just in case.
We have reserved a block of 20 rooms at the Wallowa Lake Lodge, which is also the wedding venue. These rooms will be held until June 11, so book soon if you plan to do so! Please call the lodge at (541) 432-9821 if you would like to claim one of these rooms. Let them know that you are coming for Aryn and Marek's wedding.
Eagle Cap Chalets is another option within walking distance from the Lodge and venue. Indian Lodge Motel is located in the nearby town of Joseph (8 min drive from the venue).
If you're having trouble finding anything that's available in Joseph, we have also reserved a block of rooms at the Ponderosa Motel in Enterprise, OR, which is less than a 20 minute drive from the wedding venue. If you would like to reserve one of these rooms, please contact the motel at (541) 426-3186 and let them know you are part of our party to receive a discount.
Camping is available at Wallowa Lake State Park (they also have some cabins and yurts). They start booking 6 months in advance, so they will start filling up for this timeframe early February. The campground is within walking distance from the Lodge and wedding venue.
Airbnb and VRBO also list many options in the area, though these will book more quickly. We have also found that some of the listings on these sites can also be booked through Wallowa Lake Vacation Rentals which seems to have lower fees and better cancellation policies. If you prefer this style of accommodation, please book soon!
Note that our wedding venue is at the south end of the lake which is a bustling resort area in August with a state park, lots of cabins, a few restaurants, lake access, and a marina. Just north of the lake (which is 3.5 miles long and surrounded by glacial moraines) is the town of Joseph which has a lovely assortment of shops and restaurants. Enterprise is just 6 miles away and is home to our favorite brewery in the area, Terminal Gravity. All of these places would be good options to stay.
The greatest gift we could ask for is your presence on our wedding day. We are sincerely grateful for your efforts to get to this beautiful but not easy to access place. If you would like to give us a gift from our registry, you can find it linked here. Please note that you have the option of gifting just a portion of the items or experiences listed.
Q: What is the dress code?
A: Wedding casual! High temperatures in August in Joseph are typically between 70 and 90 degrees F and it gets chilly once the sun sets (around 8pm). Lows are typically around 45 degrees. It's unlikely to rain: on average there are only 2 or 3 days of rain in August. The ceremony and reception (and dancing!) will be outside, so bring comfortable footwear.
Q: Are babies allowed?
A: Babies are allowed.
Q: What about my sweet pooch?
A: Unfortunately, the venue is not dog friendly :-( Lin Lee Kennels in Joseph is a place with dog and cat boarding.
Q: What is the history of this place?
A: Joseph and Wallowa Mountains are located on the homelands of the Nimi'ipuu (Nez Percé). We extend gratitude to the indigenous people that call this place home. You can read about the story of Chief Joseph here.
Q: What is a glacial moraine?
A: We're so glad you asked! It is a buildup of debris previously carried by a glacier. Wallowa Lake moraines are a textbook example!
