Gold River Lodge

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Sunday Brunch

We are thrilled to share this special place and day with you all! We love you!

Our Wedding

Our Epic Love Story

The first time Lauren and Drew met, it was in the summer of 2017 in the hills of Humboldt. They were working on neighboring farms, sharing occasional group dinners, sipping tequila, and harvesting under the moonlight. Lauren took note of Drew right away — he spoke Spanish (which she loved), played music (which she also loved), and had a quiet, thoughtful way about him. But their paths barely brushed before life carried them in separate directions. Then, in the summer of 2020, their paths crossed again at Ruth Lake where a group of friends had gathered for the 4th of July. The two spent the weekend getting to know each other better, completely unaware of the significance the place would later hold. At the time, they were seeing other people, so again, they went their separate ways. Then came spring. Humboldt winters can be long, and by then, Lauren was craving something new. She missed speaking Spanish and, when she ran into Drew at a friend's bbq she asked if he would be interested in a Spanish conversational gathering. Drew agreed, and their language meetups at the local cider bar began. They’d sit for hours, speaking only in Spanish, uncovering layers of each other through stories and looking up Spanish words in the dictionary. Then, one day, Drew asked Lauren to go on a hike.“Are we speaking Spanish?” she asked.“No,” he said.That’s when Lauren realized this wasn’t just about Spanish anymore. By summer, they were back at Ruth Lake for the annual 4th of July camping trip. A year after their first reunion at the same lake, with the same friends, under the same summer sun, the two had made their relationship official. Only five months later, Drew joined Lauren’s family on a trip to Mexico, signifying a brave, unspoken, but, certain sign that they were building something lasting. What started as a passing connection turned into something profound. Now, 4 years later, they are building a life together— grounded in love, teamwork, and the deep knowing that they will always push to bring out the best versions of each other. Thank you to everyone who has been part of Drew and Lauren's lives. You have all played pivotal roles in the development of their relationship and for that they are eternally grateful.

Our Story

Flying 

If you are flying from LA, the best option would be to fly out of the Burbank Airport. There is a cheap, direct flight from BUR (Burbank) - ACV (Arcata, Eureka). It is a quick 1.5 hour flight. From here, you may rent a car at the airport, but plan to reserve ahead of time as stock is limited. If you are flying out of San Francisco, look at United Airlines flights from SFO - ACV. The flight is under 1 hour. You may rent a car at the airport, but plan to reserve ahead of time as stock is limited. If you are flying from out of the state, we recommend you fly into San Francisco airport and purchase a separate flight to the Arcata/Eureka airport. NOTE: Humboldt County does not have reliable Ubers or Lifts. We recommend you rent a car.

Driving

We are located 5 hours north of San Francisco. The wedding venue is another hour north from Arcata. That's a lot of driving! But, it is the most scenic and peaceful drive in California. When leaving San Francisco you have two options. You may take the scenic PCH, which is windy, coastal, slow driving and eventually links up with the 101. Or you may take the 101 all the way through (still beautiful and a lot faster). There are plenty of hikes and scenic points to take driving breaks along both routes.

Rent a car at the Arcata Airport 

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

If you are flying from LA, look at flights out of the Burbank Airport to Arcata.

Avelo Airlines

We have a room block at this hotel. Call Amanda (number above) and let her know you are reserving a room for our wedding. Our reservation code is DLW. We suggest you reserve a room for just Saturday night. If you arrive on Friday or before, we advise that you stay in Arcata or Trinidad, as there are more options for restaurants and areas to explore. Look at the "Things to Do" tab for our some of our favorite activities in this area!

Holiday Inn Express Klamath

Travel

Q + A

3:30pm  - Arrive at Venue

4:00-4:30pm - Ceremony

4:30-5:30pm - Apéritif

5:30-7:00pm - Dinner + Speeches

7:00pm-12:00am - Dancing!

Schedule

Scenic PCH 

Driving the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) from San Francisco to Humboldt County (Eureka) offers a scenic route along the California coast, with opportunities to stop at&nbsp;iconic landmarks, charming towns, and natural wonders.&nbsp;Our favorite places to stop: Point Reyes, Bodega Bay, Mendocino, and Fort Bragg.

Avenue of the Giants

The Avenue of the Giants is&nbsp;a scenic 31-mile drive through Humboldt Redwoods State Park in northern California, offering a route through towering coast redwoods.&nbsp;

River & Camping Spots

Standish Hickey, Richardson Grove, Benbow, Humboldt Redwood State Park, Prairie Creek, Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park + Smith River, and Stout Grove

Arcata & Trinidad

We recommend you spend some time in Arcata and Trinidad during your visit. The wedding venue is an hour north from Arcata. Things to do in this area: Arcata Community Forest, Arcata Saturday Farmer's Market, Cafe Mokka Finnish Saunas &amp; Tubs, visit the peninsula/jetty and go for a beach walk, Septentrio Winery, Blue Lake + the Mad River, Moonstone Beach (this is a must), Trinidad, and Sue-Meg. There are a lot of great hikes and beaches to visit in Trinidad.

Lauren & Drew

Lauren & Drew

Registry