Wedding Celebration

Ceremony

Our Wedding

Like many modern love stories, ours began with a swipe. We met on Tinder, and after a few chats back and forth, we decided to meet in person for a date. Little did we know that one of our first dates would be a hike through Oneonta Gorge. That day wasn’t just a date—it was the beginning of something much bigger. The challenge of navigating slippery rocks and slipping down a small snowy embankment brought us closer, but it was our shared love for the outdoors that truly connected us. That hike led to discovering just how much we both love the great outdoors. From hiking and camping trips to paddle boarding on serene lakes and snowshoeing through quiet, snowy landscapes, exploring nature together became one of our favorite things. Now, we make it a goal to head to the mountains and the beach at least once a month to reconnect with each other and the beauty around us. On the morning of July 5th, 2024, we were camping in North Cascades National Park. After breakfast, we started hiking the Thunder Knob trail, excited to see the view at the top. The trail led us to an overlook of Diablo Lake with the mountains rising behind it. While at the top, we enjoyed a quiet moment together. As the other hikers started to leave, Ben got up and set up his camera on a rock. Madison didn’t think much of it until Ben came back, knelt down in front of her, and asked her to marry him. It was just the two of us, the lake, and the mountains when Madison said yes. That moment marked the start of our next adventure together. We can't wait to keep adventuring together and are excited to share this next chapter of our lives with you!

Our Story

Our elopement at Trillium Lake will be a personal and intimate moment for us, set against the backdrop of the Mt. Hood National Forest. We chose this spot because it perfectly represents the heart of our relationship—our love for the outdoors and the many weekends we have spent hiking, camping, and exploring together. Trillium Lake, with its views of Mt. Hood, holds a special place in our hearts, making it the ideal location for our vows. The ceremony itself will be a small, intimate affair, attended only by our immediate family. Surrounded by the beauty of the lake and the forest, we will exchange our vows in a setting that feels both personal and meaningful. The natural beauty of the location will echo our love for nature and our shared adventures. We are looking forward to celebrating with everyone at our upcoming reception, where we will share the joy of our elopement and create new memories with all our loved ones. The reception will be a celebration, bringing together friends and family to honor our commitment and revel in the joy of the start of our new chapter.

Elopement at Trillium Lake

Elopement

Photos

Wedding Party

Q + A

To book your hotel rooms at the discounted rate, please use the provided link. If you prefer to call, be sure to mention that your reservation is for Madison and Ben's wedding. You are welcome to reserve a room between these dates or stay the whole time. The deadline to book at the group rate is June 24, 2025. Copy and paste this website below to book reservations: https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotel-rooms.38161.html?groupId=9I5RI6R5

Best Western Plus Rivershore Hotel

Travel

The Coast

If you are looking to explore the famous Oregon coast line, we recommend visiting some of our favorite places. - Ecola State Park/Cannon Beach/Haystack Rock- Pelican Brewing Co.- Astoria- Cape Kiwanda-Short Sand Beach-Cape Lookout-Rockaway Beach-Tillamook Creamery

Mt. Hood

If you would like to travel an hour East for mountain views and hikes, we recommend these places: -Timberline Lodge-Trillium Lake-Ramona Falls-White River Sno Park-Hood River Fruit Loop (wineries/cider houses)-Lost Lake-Frog Lake-Lookout Mountain-Mirror Lake-Ski Bowl Adventure Park-Tamanawas Falls-Cloud Cap Inn

Columbia River Gorge

If you'd like to travel around closer and see the Columbia River that separates Oregon and Washington, we suggest visiting these places in the Gorge: -Multnomah Falls-Vista House-Wahclella Falls-Angel's Rest-Latourell Falls-McMenamins Edgefield-Bridge of the Gods-Dog Mountain-Beacon Rock-Oneonta Trail

Portland Metro

Wanting to stay closer to Portland and surrounding cities? Here's some things to do that we have loved: - Hoyt Arboretum- Portland Beer Tours-Tom McCall Waterfront-Oregon Zoo-Pittock Mansion-Underground Shanghai Tunnel Tour-Top Golf-Vancouver Waterfront

Places to Eat

Looking to grab some breakfast, lunch, or dinner? Here's a list of some of our favorite places to go: -Corner 14/OC Brewing Food Carts-McMenamins-De Fuego-Biscuits Cafe-Margarita Factory-Lil' Cooperstown-PDX Sliders-Watershed Cafe-Ranee's on Main-Mighty Munch Mtn Curry Pizza-Don Chuys

Things to Do

Registry 3

Food & Drink

Registry Info

Dear Friends and Family, As we begin our new chapter together, we’ve decided to focus on building our future home. In lieu of traditional gifts, we would be grateful for any contributions to our house fund. Your generosity will help us create a space filled with love and memories. Additionally, we are planning a special honeymoon to celebrate this exciting time in our lives. If you’d like to help us make it unforgettable, we would appreciate any contributions towards our trip. Contributions can be made via Venmo to:<a href="https://venmo.com/u/richards2025" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://venmo.com/u/richards2025</a> If you are interested in shopping our Amazon Wedding Registry, here is the link: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/wedding/share/richards25" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/wedding/share/richards25</a> Thank you so much for your love and support! We can't wait to celebrate with you. With love,Madison &amp; Ben

Madison & Benjamin

Madison & Benjamin

M&B

Wedding Celebration