#gray bridge

The Old Bridge

Artist: André Derain (French, 1880-1954)

Date: 1910

Medium: Oil on canvas

Gray Bridge is a 16-acre outdoor garden, forest, and waterfront wedding venue in Sultan, Washington — about an hour east of Seattle in Snohomish County. It is not a barn venue. It’s an intentionally designed outdoor estate with a waterfront ceremony amphitheater, a 2,700 sq ft white reception tent, spring-fed ponds, a namesake footbridge, evergreen forest, fountains, open meadows and Cascade…

Hawaiian Infused Gray Bridge Wedding

Gray Bridge Wedding Vendor TeamVenue:Gray BridgeMakeup:CeliaW BeautyFloral:Pollen in LoveDJ: Play DJ USAPhotography: GSquared Weddings Photography Gray Bridge Wedding Vendor TeamVenue:Gray BridgeMakeup:CeliaW BeautyFloral:Pollen in LoveDJ: Play DJ USAPhotography: GSquared Weddings Photography

Through ups and downs and good and bad, their friendship lasted through the decades – until finally they decided that maybe this whole forever thing would be a good idea for them. When they brought up the idea of going to the site of the old Alderwood Middle, where it all begin, I knew this was going to be fun. They showed up dressed just like they did in middle school, and we actually spent most of the time there with them sharing memories about their school days and telling me their love story. It was pretty much perfect. Also, they are definitely going to be our lifelong friends, the kind we have over for bonfire and barbecue.

After a quick dinner break, we headed over to their wedding venue, Gray Bridge, in Sultan. The timing was perfect as the evening sun danced across the tops of the trees and created a beautiful hazy glow. We are SO excited for their wedding in a few short weeks, and can’t wait to go back to Gray Bridge and create more magic together.

See their wedding venue here.

As you approach the venue, the road is lined with trees that create a natural tunnel. Obviously, I visited in June, but I can just imagine how incredible this must look in the fall when the leaves turn color.

Then, as you walk through the geometric tunnel onto the main part of the grounds, you realize that “hidden gem” is truly what this venue is. From stunning  private ponds complete with fountains (yes plural) – one of which is powered by a natural spring – a ceremony space with amphitheater and dock, and a modern romantically lit reception space that the owners have created specifically with ambiance in mind, this venue has it all. Their getting ready spaces are also designed well, with the bridal suite even set for in-suite boudoir sessions.  There is a trail through the backwoods behind the ceremony pond that they’ve recently re-done with a wooden walkway. The landscaping is impeccable.  When I visited, the iconic bridge was under construction, but should be finished in just a few days.

I definitely plan on visiting again soon and will update this post with photos from that trip, as these were just a few that I took during an engagement session on the property.  Keep an eye out for that update!

Bottom line – if you’re venue hunting in Snohomish County or the Seattle area, add this one to your list.

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  From Gray Bridge: “Imagine your wedding at the edge of a pond–with a fountain and gray bridge behind you. The forest rises up behind your guests while the Cascade foothills rise up behind you and your partner. You are about to officially begin your lives together in the most beautiful, sophisticated, private, and uniquely-you location you can imagine. Welcome to Gray Bridge.

We want to be a part of the story of your lives together. A little bit of story-book fantasy, a bit of glamour, a lot of nature, and a focus and reflection of you and how special this day is–that is what we are at Gray Bridge. Our venue is unique–like you are–and we strive to Gray Bridge into a space that is unlike any other where your unique specialness and the importance of your commitment together is reflected in a space that is also special and important. Come celebrate with us!

Castle Island In the late 70’s, the Baldridge family purchased 40 acres in Sultan and started building their dream house. The site was pristine: private, full of natural beauty, an ideal setting to raise a family and build a dream. Dick Baldridge was a visionary in how he created his homesite. He located the house so that it is essentially surrounded by a moat. Behind the house is the toe of a hill with the dense forest rising high above, a wetland and stream at the base of the hill lines the rear of the house with water. In front of the homesite, he carved out ponds from some existing depressions, he built a driveway between the ponds and between the ponds and the wetland an island was made. Architect Michael Gemza designed the house for Dick, Lola and their girls Pam and Sue.

Dick Baldridge had a vision and heavy equipment. After he carved out the ponds, he tapped a natural spring about 250 feet up the forested hillside. He built a weir, buried a culvert and collected water bubbling out of the mountainside and sent it into the west pond. The fountain in the west pond is coming from that culvert about 250’ up the hill. The drop pushes the water through the pipe at a continuous rate year round. The water in the ponds is crystal clear because it is continually being circulated from the spring into the west pond, overflows into the east pond, and then into the wetland behind the house. The ponds are about 55 degrees and full of breeding trout, otter, muskrat, seasonal waterfowl, and feeding birds.

We’ve named locations on the property for their original design. The “pool deck” had a huge, deep, and frog-filled swimming pool when we bought the property. The paved area under the tent is “the helipad” where, according to the real estate listing, the property is only 15 minutes by helicopter to Seattle! The area above the amphitheater is the “putting green”. The Baldridge property had a 3 hole golf course where our horse pastures are now located.

We bought the property, now 15 acres, in 2017. It had been sold a few times since the original owner and had been neglected for a number of years. We gutted, cleaned, pruned, planted and painted. We built a barn, filled in the pool, repaired the ponds, patched the driveway, and fell in love with this place. We feel like caretakers of the most beautiful space in the world.

As a wedding venue, we get to share the uniqueness and beauty of our gorgeous setting with wedding couples as they begin their married life together! We want to share our space with others who love the mountain views, the sound of running water, the shade of the forest, and the magnificent architecture and backdrop that makes up the Gray Bridge Venue! Do you want to get married in a place that is sophisticated while full of natural beauty? Do you want a wedding venue that is unique and as special as you are? Are you looking to marry at a place that says “my wedding is important”? Gray Bridge is the place where those memories are made. Please join us!”

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