Wedding Venue: Chateau Schafer

The gorgeous Chateau Schafer sits on Washington State’s Hood Canal, where at high tide the water laps right at the edge of the property. Affectionately dubbed “The Castle,” this stand-out venue was built in 1927 as an elegant family home; today, though still a full-time home, the property and the house are one show-stopper of a wedding venue.

The property can accommodate up to 75 guests using the inside area and the outdoor lawns from June to September. You’ll have access to the private beach and dock, so this is a great opportunity to get creative and arrive or depart via floatplane or boat. You can charter the Lady Alderbrook, for example, which fits 80 people, or a seaplane through Kenmore Air.

The carefully manicured lawns and gardens make for outstanding photos as well as stunning spots to get married, with the Hood Canal’s dramatic scenery at your back. Inside the home, there’s a fully stocked catering kitchen run by Hood Canal Events and well preserved Germanic architecture, soaring ceilings with exposed beams, antique furniture and wall-mounted hunting trophies.

Booking information and photos can be found online at Hood Canal Events.