Holocene

A former auto parts warehouse turned music and event space, Holocene is the perfect wedding venue for offbeat and alternative couples looking to eschew traditional wedding aesthetics for a modern industrial atmosphere. With 5,000 square feet divided between two spacious rooms often used for concerts and DJ sets, Holocene offers various layout opportunities for your ceremony and reception. The venue can host up to 300 people, though a range of 40–275 is recommended for optimal comfort.

Despite its stark, cavernous, gray interior, the south-facing, curtained windows allow an impressive amount of beautiful, soft natural light during the day that floods the space. The minimalist yet stylish decor breaks up the gray tones, providing a clean canvas to bring your wedding vision to life.

Ceremony and Reception Areas

Holocene offers two primary options for hosting your ceremony and reception:

Front Lower Lounge Room: Near the entrance, this open area below the bar features high ceilings and is illuminated during the day by a long bank of windows, creating a bright, evenly lit atmosphere. This option is ideal if you’re seeking a lighter, airier vibe.

Back Performance Room: For a dramatic, theatrical ambiance, the performance room offers a large area with a stage. However, the uneven flooring might make some setups impractical. This space is darker, and the stage is typically lit with event lighting, providing a more striking and dramatic effect compared to the lounge room.

Each room has its own unique vibe, so you can get creative with how your wedding transitions between ceremony and reception. Visiting Holocene in person is highly recommended to determine which arrangement best suits your vision.

Getting Ready Rooms

Holocene provides two rooms for getting ready:

The Lounge Jr: Located in the hallway near the bar, this cozy space has a glamping-tent vibe. While a bit tight and dark for photos, it can suffice for a couple people.

The Green Room: Situated in the back corner of the performance room, the green room is more spacious with better lighting, though it may still feel cramped for larger wedding parties.

For larger groups, consider reserving a hotel room at The Jupiter Hotel or Jupiter Next, both within half a mile of Holocene, offering more spacious accommodations.

Nearby Attractions

Holocene is located in Portland’s industrial southeast area, which offers several entertainment options. A few options include:
Hopscotch: An immersive, interactive art gallery that comes highly recommended.
Hawthorne Asylum Food Cart Pod and Cartopia Food Carts: Both offer a variety of delicious cuisine.
Eastbank Esplanade: A beautiful riverside walkway with docks to lounge while enjoying cityscape views, especially stunning at sunset.

Parking

Holocene unfortunately does not offer onsite parking. Your best bet would be to reserve parking at a nearby lot, as street parking can be tight and most often has a two hour limit.

Venue Perks

Two large rooms for ceremony and reception
2 complete PA systems
Acoustically treated stage
DJ Booth
Stage lighting and dance floor effects
Video projectors
A/V Engineers
Two small getting ready rooms
Lounge seating
Sit down dining space for 160
Photo booth
Coat check options
Complimentary Rentals

Lodging

Holocene does not have on-site lodging, but there are many fantastic options nearby, including the Jupiter Hotel and Jupiter Next.

Price Range

Please inquire with Holocene directly.

Photo Opportunities

Holocene has beautiful diffused window light in the daytime that’s wonderful for portraits. The bar also faces these windows, which provides a visually interesting background with the large extensive shelves of liquor bottles lining the walls. The photo booth also offers the opportunity for some laidback, playful photo opportunities.

The surrounding neighborhood has a variety of murals and businesses with an urban, industrial aesthetic that can be nice for portraits. While in the spring and autumn, some curbside trees and vines can add a pop of color.

However, sometimes a more natural setting can pair nicely with Holocene and offer a bit of variety. For couples who find this appealing, a jaunt up to Forest park or Washington Park on the west side of the river might be in order. Keep in mind though that this will add some additional logistics and time to your schedule that can be prohibitive depending on your plans.

Seasonal Availability

Holocene is available to rent all year long, however, they only host about 30 weddings a year, as they are primarily a concert and dance club. Weekends book up quickly with their busy show schedule, so be sure to inquiry well in advance to secure your date.