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Here at Adventure Instead, we are big fans of creative wedding venues. We’re especially intrigued when those venues come in the form of dreamy, unique Airbnbs.
For couples who are looking for something a little “out of the box”, you may consider an Airbnb as the perfect solution. By renting an Airbnb somewhere special, you could access private beaches, hiking trails, secluded forests, and more. Continue the celebration of your marriage by turning your wedding day into a multi-day getaway in your dream home-away-from-home! Depending on the rental itself, it could even be a great place to host a ceremony or post-elopement dinner with friends – the perks of incorporating an Airbnb into your day are limitless!
Reasons We Love Airbnb Wedding Venues
- You can stay someplace unique! Why the hell not? You’re already making your day special by choosing to elope, so there’s no stopping you now!
- For elopements and intimate weddings, an Airbnb could house all of your guests in one place – spend a whole weekend with your dearest friends & family.
- If your host allows it, an Airbnb can even be the place you say, “I do!” No need to search for another location – Venue? Check! Elopement ceremony location? Check!
- A rental can act as an event-saving Plan B! Unfortunately, there is a chance for rain (or snow, sleet, tropical storms, etc…) on your wedding day. If you’ve rented an Airbnb that can host your small gathering, you’ve already got your backup indoor location secured.
- “Feels like home!” Well, maybe not entirely. But with an Airbnb, you do get all the amenities of a home. Rather than staying in a hotel or other temporary housing with less space, you can rent an Airbnb with literally acres all to yourself! Who doesn’t want a secluded, cozy home to live in during their wedding weekend? Cue the #stressfree “ahhhhhhs”.
Questions to Ask Before Booking aN AIRBNB wEDDING VENUE
Is there natural light?
When reviewing properties online, be sure to keep an eye out for natural light! Natural light will be great for your photos & create a gorgeous setting for getting ready in the morning. Also, natural light is the result of many windows, which simply means more opportunities to soak in your gorgeous surroundings! When considering the aesthetic of your Airbnb, think about what you want to do there – do you want to host the ceremony indoors if there’s a chance of inclement weather? Do you want to host a get together after your ceremony on the property? Will you be coming back late at night after the sun has set and any photos in the rental won’t be until it’s dark anyway? How you want to use the space will determine what benefits you get from choosing a location that is photo-friendly!
Where is it located?
Location, location, location. Yep – you want to choose a place that’s conveniently nearby where you plan to have your ceremony, while also picking a place you’ll enjoy being! Be aware of what is around the property – does it have a good view? Are the neighbors super close? Here are a few other questions you may want to ask:
- How much of the property will be yours to use?
- Where are the views located?
- Is there enough parking for your friends & family?
- How close is it to restaurants, bars, activities, and other things that are important to the two of you?
- And, most important of all — what is the distance from your actual elopement ceremony location? We recommend checking this out on Google Maps before making things official.
Is the host or house event-friendly?
Ensure that your chosen property is event-friendly. Airbnb has listings all over the world that are perfect for hosting events, but not every listing is. If you aren’t finding what you need on Airbnb, we have a few other places we recommend looking: VRBO, GlampingHub, HomeAway, Boutique Homes, Under Canvas and Book a Treehouse. For a more local vibe, we recommend searching for location-specific rental companies like The Redwoods in Yosemite in California for example.
Do they allow pets?
We’ve basically written the “guide” on How to Include Your Dog in You Wedding, so you better believe we’re recommending that you double-check on the pet-friendliness of your Airbnb. Take note that some rentals, while being pet-friendly, don’t like pets being left alone on the property at any time. If you plan on only having your four-legged companion with you for part of the day, ensure you’ve enlisted a friend to watch them the rest of the time.
How do the reviews look?
Be sure to check the reviews! The last thing you and your partner need during your special wedding weekend is an unexpected surprise. Airbnb is great about noting experienced rentals as “superhosts” but the reviews can also give you recent insight into the state of the property, how the space feels at different times of the year, and whether anything in the listing is spectacular or inaccurate.
Does it fit the vibe of your elopement?
Do the home and location match your personality? Will you feel comfortable and at ease inside? We can’t really answer these questions for you, but if you’re one of our couples we are more than happy to be an Airbnb matchmaker! One of the benefits of traveling all over the world for elopements is that we’ve gotten to witness or stay in many different rentals! Need a suggestion for somewhere to stay in Ireland? We got you! Looking for a cozy place in Patagonia? I know just the one! We’re also experts at scoping out a place based on the listing, so we’re more than happy to help you find the perfect place, even if it’s somewhere newer to us!
Colorado Airbnb Wedding Venues
- Million Dollar Views – Durango, Colorado
- 9 guests · 3 bedrooms · 6 beds · 2 baths
- Access to skiing, hiking and a hot tub with amazing views? You couldn’t ask for a more unique venue to get ready for your small wedding or elopement. This Airbnb is just minutes from Purgatory resort.
- Ouray Airbnb
- Check out this Airbnb wedding in Ouray, CO featuring an adventure on 4×4 roads near Ouray & Silverton. Katie & Logan explored the San Juan Mountains, which are one of the most unique mountain ranges in the US – steep jagged cliffs & dramatic ridgelines make this one of the best places to elope in Colorado!
- Alpenglow Cabin – Twin Lakes, Colorado
- This cabin has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. Located just two hours from Denver, it’s the perfect getaway for your elopement. Curl up by the wood-burning stove or sip your morning coffee in the hot tub–all while soaking up panoramic views of snow-capped peaks.
- This 3-bedroom homestead where Jessica & Kevin stayed during their Colorado elopement has all the log cabin vibes you could want from a mountain home! Located in the White River National Forest, this would be the perfect place to rent if you wanted to get out and explore the waters, hike through the pasturelands, and come home to sit by the fire. If you wanted an unforgettable view – hike one of the surrounding peaks in the summer for a view of Colorado you can only get from a ridgeline.
Oregon Airbnb Wedding Venues
- Treehouse Library Guest Suite – Eugene, Oregon
- We were so obsessed with this library treehouse in Oregon, we spent over an hour with Lindsay and David taking photos and exploring this little slice of paradise. This 1-bedroom rental is ideal for an Oregon coast or mountain elopement – it has a fireplace and a hot tub. Situated amongst the lush green hills, it’s a cozy place to begin and/or end an adventurous Oregon elopement.
- The Hideaway at Neskowin by the Sea – Oregon
- This 3-bedroom home we discovered during Laci & David’s Oregon coast elopement is perfectly situated right at Neskowin beach – take a walk down to the romantically named Proposal Rock, or explore amongst the ghost forest at low tide. This is the perfect place to home-base from for an Oregon beach wedding!
- The Foody Farmhouse – Portland, OR
- This cozy converted farmhouse is right in the heart of Portland’s incredible foodie scene! Stay here during a chic urban elopement, or come back to this rental to enjoy the city life after an adventurous outdoor wedding in the Columbia River Gorge, or up on Mt. Hood! We fell in love with this 2-bedroom house after photographing Jen & Michael’s Portland wedding.
- Glamping Yurt – Springfield, OR
- Devlin & Colton stayed at this darling glamping yurt during their Oregon getaway celebration. Enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Northwest without giving up the luxury of a warm bed to sleep in – this place would be perfect for a summer elopement! The yurt is located on a property right next to a horse pasture, and the rustic amenities include an outdoor shower.
- Columbia River Gorge Views – Oregon
- This stunning home rests in the hills above the Columbia River. You can have your first look in the lush backyard with views of the gorge and then entertain friends and family in this dog-friendly rental. Complete with a private sauna and hot tub!
Washington Airbnb Wedding Venues
- Rustic 70’s A-frame – Washington
- Fiona & Seth had cake and their first dance back at their adorable rustic A-frame Airbnb after a long hiking Washington elopement.
- Country Estate – Washington
- Chelsea & Sam stayed at this gorgeous property in Port Angeles during their elopement on the Olympic Peninsula. The massive 6-bedroom home might be the perfect place to host a small get-together and home-base during an adventurous weekend exploring Washington’s Olympic mountains – the 10-acre property is right by Olympic National Park. (Always check with your rental’s host before planning an event on the grounds).
- The Little Ranger House – Packwood, WA
- This pet-friendly yellow ranger house is where Bethany & Cory stayed during their Washington elopement and we fell in love with it! The 2-bedroom mountain getaway is right next to Mt. Rainier National Park, and has both an indoor fireplace & an outdoor firepit. Feel close to nature as you explore the property – there is a hike to a waterfall right there within walking distance!
CALIFORNIA AIRBNB WEDDING VENUES
- Stargazing Cabin – Twentynine Palms, CA
- This pet-friendly yellow ranger house is where Bethany & Cory stayed during their Washington elopement and we fell in love with it! The 2-bedroom mountain getaway is right next to Mt. Rainier National Park, and has both an indoor fireplace & an outdoor firepit. Feel close to nature as you explore the property – there is a hike to a waterfall right there within walking distance!
Faroe Island Airbnb Wedding Venues
We met Elaura & Daryn for the first time outside their Airbnb — a location so epic pictures don’t do it justice. To read more about their elopement story & see photos of their gorgeous rental, click HERE. The owner of the rental said he often sees whales in the fjord outside his window while he’s doing dishes, which is just about the wildest thing we can imagine! This 2-bedroom restored home by the sea is the perfect place to elope if you love a foggy morning walk with views of lush green cliffsides.