Finally!

James and Paolo, heads together, in front of the Golden Gate Bridge in the fog
San Francisco — where the fog kept no secrets

James Eusepi&Paolo Custodio

October 10, 2026 · Hood River, Oregon

Columbia Gorge Hotel & Spa

days
hours
minutes

An Unexpected Story

Scruff? 'nuff said After-work beers and an impromptu sushi dinner…
A kiss shared…
The rest is history. — and now, the part where you come in.
James and Paolo cheek to cheek at a forest trailhead

Somewhere on a trail, ignoring a mountain lion warning

The Miles Before the Aisle

Some of the road that led to Hood River.

Selfie in front of a tall waterfall in Hawaii
Hawaiʻi
Photo booth strip of James and Paolo making faces, Boston Harbor
Boston — no notes
Selfie above Yosemite Valley
Yosemite
Selfie in the snow above Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe
Selfie in front of Stonehenge
Stonehenge
Selfie in rain gear in front of the Statue of Liberty
New York — in the rain

The Weekend

Saturday, October 10, 2026

Ceremony & Celebration

Columbia Gorge Hotel & Spa

4000 Westcliff Drive · Hood River, OR 97031

Times, attire, and the rest of the good stuff will arrive with your invitation.

Getting There

By air

Fly into PDX

Portland International — consistently ranked one of the best airports in the country, 15–20 minutes from downtown Portland.

Rental cars, light rail, and rideshares are all easy from the terminal.

The drive east

Portland → Hood River

About 60 miles east on I-84 — roughly an hour, following the Columbia the whole way.

Waterfalls, basalt cliffs, and river views. Leave early; you'll want to stop.

From the Bay

Making the road trip?

We'd generally recommend flying — but if you're up for adventure, it's 9.5–10 hours of gorgeous driving from the East Bay.

Ask us for the route. We have opinions.

Where to Stay

The venue itself

Columbia Gorge Hotel & Spa

4000 Westcliff Drive, Hood River

Stay where it all happens — a 1921 landmark on the cliffs above the river.

Next door

Columbia Cliff Villas Hotel

3880 Westcliff Drive, Hood River

Steps from the venue, same clifftop views.

In town

Best Western Plus Hood River Inn

1108 East Marina Drive, Hood River

Riverside, easygoing, close to downtown Hood River.

Rather base in Portland? The Canopy by Hilton (Pearl District — near our home), The Porter, and The Benson are all lovely, about an hour west.

Make a Weekend of It

Thirty ideas, lovingly curated by Paolo.

The Gorge & Hood River

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

Oregon

Multnomah Falls

Columbia River Gorge

Eagle Creek Trailhead: Eagle Creek to Punch Bowl Falls

Columbia River Gorge

An adventure into the canyons of the Columbia River Gorge, the world famous Eagle Creek Trail serves an entry point into forested landscapes with waterfalls. Though easy, it is not recommended for young children. If you dare, this trail beyond Punch Bowl and High Bridge progressively becomes more challenging with a difficulty level set at expert.

Vista House at Crown Point

Corbett, OR

Mitchell Point Tunnel

Cascade Locks, OR

Newly completed tunnel and trail that mimics the historic crossing at Mitchell Point and connects to the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail.

Bonneville Hatchery at Cascade Locks

Cascade Locks, OR

Feeling fishy? Check out the fish hatchery on your way to (or back from) Hood River, OR.

Beacon Rock State Park

Skamania, WA

Across the Columbia River — it’s a fun hike.

Hood River Pipeline Trail

Hood River, OR

Hood River RailBikes

Hood River, OR

Rail Bike at Hood River for the exercise prone!

Hood River Fruit Loop

Hood River Valley

How apropos. You’ll find fruit stands, orchards, lavender fields and farms here. Get those preserves and jams, apples and cider fresh here. Take a tour around the Mt. Hood and sample all the goodness the land can offer.

Columbia Gorge Getaways

The Gorge

Not an avid camper? Try glamping the Columbia Gorge!

Portland & Around

Washington Park including The Rose Garden, The Japanese Garden, Hoyt Arboretum, The Zoo and more

Portland, OR

From the International Rose Test Garden, and the renowned Portland Japanese Garden to the Oregon Zoo this is a whole day’s fun and then some.

OMSI

Portland, OR

OMSI — Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

Pittock Mansion at Forest Park

Portland, OR

Within Forest Park in Northwest (NW) Portland, this historic mansion offers a look of one of the most influential families that helped shape Portland from a pioneer town to a bustling modern city.

Portland Art Museum

Portland, OR

The newly renovated Portland Art Museum is sight to see for art lovers.

Oregon Rail Heritage Center

Portland, OR

Choo Choo Trains if you’re into them!

The Skeleton Key Odditorium

Portland, OR

Something mysterious, something peculiar for everyone! This little shop is quirky and interesting with a twist of spooky in the heart of Downtown.

Shanghai Tunnels — A Haunted Tour

Portland, OR

An Old Town (Portland) feature — go at your risk…

Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park

Portland, OR

Take a walk on the mild side. Enjoy a leisurely walk through the Waterfront Park at Downtown Portland. You’ll get a glimpse of the daily life in Portland, the waters and the bridges of the Willamette River and may be a view of Mt. Hood.

Willamette Jetboat Excursions

Portland, OR

Looking for a fast ride? Try this exhilarating adventure on the river!

Sauvie Island: From Farms, Corn Mazes to Pumpkin Patches

15 min from Downtown Portland

A must see and experience in autumn within this island community — just 15 minutes away from Downtown Portland! Visit farms, huge pumpkin patches, hay rides and elaborate corn mazes to capture the rural, farming and nostalgic vibes of fall and Halloween. Check out also the river beaches and historic point of interests in this island trek.

The Grotto

Portland, OR

The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother is a place for reflection and devotion. A neat place to find peace in the bustling city.

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site

Vancouver, WA

Exploring Portland

Portland, OR

Travel Portland’s main web page. Explore the City and its offerings.

Mt. Hood & Day Trips

Trillium Lake at Mt. Hood

Mt. Hood

October is perfect for a quick getaway to see and capture some pictures of the highest mountain in Oregon — that happens to be a stratovolcano, Mt. Hood! This lake is set against the southern flank of the volcano with easy trails, wildflowers and kayaking (weather permitting).

Silver Falls State Park

Silverton, OR

Milburn’s Haunted Manor

Hubbard, OR

For a scary and entertaining rural Halloween experience, the Milburn’s Haunted Manor is a treat for most everyone.

The Oregon Coast

Astoria, OR

Northern Oregon Coast

Goonies, Kindergarten Cop and other films were shot here. Historic Astoria offers a rugged look of the Northern Oregon Coast and the majestic view of the mighty Columbia River at river’s end.

Cannon Beach

Oregon Coast

Relaxed, laid back and memorable moments can be made in this charming picturesque beach town with sweeping views of Haystack Rock and Ecola State Park to name a few.

Tillamook Creamery

Tillamook, OR

Just south of Cannon Beach — and if you’re hungry for some dairy products, this Creamery in the rural town of Tillamook, offers tours, meals and a variety of products to enjoy on your coastal adventure.

Questions, Answered

How far is Hood River from Portland?

About 60 miles east — roughly an hour from downtown via I-84, following the Columbia River through the Gorge.

It's a beautiful drive through the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area: forests, waterfalls, rock formations, and river views with Washington State across the water. Take your time — and check our Things to Do section for ideas along the way.

Does it rain a lot in Portland?

Yes — about 157 days of measurable precipitation a year, mostly the persistent, light, drizzly kind, especially October through May.

For the record: Portland averages 36 inches a year. Seattle gets 37.49. So it rains less here than in Seattle, and we will be citing this statistic at the reception.

Flying in?

Portland International (PDX) is the one you want — 15–20 minutes from downtown, freshly renovated, and consistently ranked among the best airports in the US.

Rental cars, TriMet MAX light rail, buses, and rideshares are all available. Details at flypdx.com.

Driving up from the Bay Area?

We'd generally recommend flying. But if you have the time and the spirit of adventure, the drive north has its own rewards — beautiful landscapes and plenty of stops worth making.

Budget 9.5–10 hours of driving from the East Bay, or 11–12 with meals, breaks, and the occasional photo op. We're happy to share our favorite route.

Registry

Your being there is the real gift. For those who've asked anyway:

Zola

Where our main registry lives.

Visit registry

Honeyfund

Coming soon — we'll add the link the moment it's live.

Link on the way
James and Paolo in sweaters aboard a festive vintage train car

The part where you come in

Save us a dance.

RSVPs open when invitations arrive — one tap below and Zola takes care of the rest.

RSVP Registry

Burgundy for one of us, rust for the other. You'll see.