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The back table at The Mahonian, an events venue in southeast Portland. This table seats 26. Photo: John Valls Commercial Photography, courtesy of The Mahonian
Update (September 27, 2023): Unfortunately, The Mahonian is closing in late October 2023. For ideas on other venues in Portland, Oregon, please go here.
Original story (April 11, 2023): The Mahonian in Portland, Oregon, bills itself as a dining hall and gathering space but this place has a lot more to offer the local wedding industry than good food, draft cocktails, and cool vibes.
I toured the space, which opened in October 2022, to get a sense of what a wedding ceremony and reception could look like here, and I was pleasantly surprised by the options for a client who’s open to a smaller guest count.
That also includes folks who are in the market for a space to host a post-rehearsal meal, welcome event, or day-after gathering. Read on for my take as a professional wedding planner.
The basics
Address: 726 SE 6th Ave., Portland, OR 97214
Fits: Maximum capacity is 80 for a seated meal, 100 for standing though the “magic number” for the space is 38 guests in the front room, per The Mahonian events and marketing manager Natalia Toral.
To clarify this further*: The Mahonian can sit 38 guests at one long table for a seated dinner in the front room. They can also seat up to 52 guests at three tables in the same room.
More than 52 guests, and you’re looking at using both the front and back room. These are two distinct spaces separated by the open kitchen. The two rooms combined can sit 80 guests.Costs: $45 to $75 per person for one of The Mahonian’s multi-course meals. Example menus here.
A few examples: $45 per person for a selection of five items for a standing party buffet; $65 for a three-course family-style seated dinner party option; or $75 for a three-course individually plated dinner party option.
Appetizers range from $120 cheese plates (feeding 15 to 20 people) to $400 cured meats (feeding 40 to 50 people).
Drinks range from $4 bottled soda to $7 beer, $10 CBD beverages and something intriguing called a “shrub fizz,” $15 wine, and $15 draft cocktails. Corkage is $25 per 750 milliliters.
The Mahonian doesn’t have a venue rental fee, which means that you “only” have to cover a food and drink minimum. That’s notable as many venues that offer catering have both: a rental fee and a minimum so to get away with only one makes this spot one of the better high-end deals in town.
There are also no additional fees to use the venue’s sound system or A/V, which includes two TVs and Spotify. A tasting isn’t included.Timings: Bookings are for three and a half hours and can be extended at $300 per 30 minutes for up to five hours total. That includes set-up, which makes for a tight timeframe depending on how much set-up the event requires (more on this below).
Natalia at The Mahonian adds, “We’re flexible on our timeline for guests arriving early to make things their own but [that] would need to be planned and approved ahead of time.”Includes: All of the venue’s tables, chairs, furniture, plates, flatware, napkins, and (my fave) coat racks are included.
I counted 80 dark gray chairs, 12 light wood tables, a sofa, two black lounge chairs, and three additional light wood tables but that’s only what I saw in the space on the day I visited so check for specific inventory.
The venue’s tables are intended to not have tablecloths but if you want those, you’ll need to provide them. For A/V, there are two LED TVs with AirPlay or HDMI input and two wireless mics.
The open kitchen and main buffet serving area at The Mahonian, an events venue in southeast Portland. Family-style and plated options are also available if you don’t want a buffet. Photo: John Valls Commercial Photography, courtesy of The Mahonian
The pros
Low price, high quality
Very central location including to other wedding venues and fun activities
Non-gendered bathrooms
They compost!
Northwest chic at its finest
Availability this summer
For a place with this kind of Portland foodie cred, I’d expect the cost to be much higher than what it is. My guess: The Mahonian is banking on people who prioritize quality food and drinks to take advantage of all they offer without forcing their team to take on the higher costs of hosting larger guest count events.
It’s a good gamble, particularly in a world where rising prices are making more people ask themselves what, exactly, they want to get out of their wedding day. The Mahonian is the spot for the client who’s in a position to center quality over quantity.
Ask The Mahonian staff, however, and they’ll tell you that really, their focus is on all of the events that might bookend a wedding ceremony, not on the ceremony itself. This could lead to a few hiccups if you want to plan a ceremony here; I’ve noted those below in the “Cons” section but I believe this space has potential to be a one-stop destination for intimate weddings.
Speaking of destination, I first learned of The Mahonian because I did exactly what they hoped I’d do: I went to another event at neighboring wedding venue, The Evergreen. (The Mahonian isn’t shy about this connection; they list both The Evergreen and The Melody Event Center on their website.)
I saw “gathering space” on The Mahonian’s front door and thought, “What a good idea to open a space that size so close to two venues that likely have clients who need a spot for rehearsal meals and welcome events”
The front table at The Mahonian, an events venue in southeast Portland. This table can seat up to 38 though you’ll count 25 seats in this particular iteration. The garage door in the background can open to the outside. Photo: Me (Elisabeth Kramer)
The Mahonian also shares the same block with Voysey, a 50-person cocktail bar that’s popular as a post-wedding after-party destination, and karaoke company Voicebox’s southeast location, a likely option for any pre- or post-wedding activities. There’s also Loyal Legion, which often serves as a cocktail hour destination for those who rent The Evergreen and/or a late-night destination for party-goers (Loyal Legion is open to 2 a.m. Friday through Sunday).
Inside The Mahonian, you’ll find an open kitchen that composts and two non-gendered restrooms for guests. The space is one level with no stairs, and a garage door that can be opened to the outside, weather permitting.
As for the aesthetic, The Mahonian exudes what I think of as “Northwest chic.” A slate blue and gray mural of, what I’ll call, “wavy mountains” decorates the two largest walls while exposed beams and live plants fill the open floor plan. It’s clearly designed for the client who loves Portland and wants to introduce their guests to the city but wants something cozier than an industrial loft space or converted warehouse.
If these cool vibes make you think The Mahonian is booked solid, think again. Like many wedding vendors, including yours truly, our 2023 calendars are more open than during last year’s notorious wedding boom. That’s true for The Mahonian, too, which, as of publishing, had multiple available dates in June and July 2023, among other months this year.
The back table and main ceremony space at The Mahonian, an events venue in southeast Portland. For a ceremony, the options of the altar are either to the left where the TV is; the wall with the brick column; or a wall not pictured that’s to the right of the frame (and featured in the first photo of this post). Photo: John Valls Commercial Photography, courtesy of The Mahonian
The cons
Focuses on hosting non-ceremony events like post-rehearsal meals, welcome events, and/or day-after gatherings
Requires a wedding coordinator, if there’s a room flip
No dedicated getting-ready area
Exclusive catering
More guests mean fewer on-site options
Parking
Most of the cons of The Mahonian will, in a way, sound like backhanded compliments because, really, the space knows what it wants to be. It’s more about if the client agrees.
As noted above, The Mahonian does not position itself as a wedding venue. The staff is very open to the idea (and already has a 2023 wedding ceremony on the books) but for anyone who wants to host both a ceremony and a reception here, a few words of caution.
Events and marketing manager Natalia recommends the back of the venue for a ceremony (vs. the more open and central front with the garage door). The Mahonian’s team will move the tables and chairs at no additional fee, which means that the main space for the altar is either one of three walls.
One of those walls has a mounted TV. I faced a similar issue at my own wedding and the result was surprisingly simple and affordable: Make a light curtain using a pipe and drape system, fabric, and, as you like, fairy lights. Another idea: Budget for a florist to create a floral installation that hides the TV. (I’d recommend a free-standing installation though Natalia said her team is open to clients hanging items from the ceiling.)
The other two walls don’t have the TV but are tricky in terms of a processional. This is what we might think of as “the aisle” or the way the main VIPs enter the space for the ceremony.
The east wall is the best bet for a “traditional” aisle that’s a straighter shot from the venue’s main entrance. The south wall has the more fetching backdrop (one of those wavy mountain murals I mentioned earlier) but a 90-degree turn for the aisle.
Both are workable though be considerate of chairs, if you use them. The Mahonian is a space I’d more actively recommend a standing ceremony, or a ceremony where a limited number of chairs are offered for guests who need them while the remaining guests stand behind or in the round.
The ceiling above the back table at The Mahonian, an events venue in southeast Portland. As of publishing, the venue said they’d be OK with a client and/or their vendor team hanging items from the ceiling with permission. Photo: Me (Elisabeth Kramer)
If you do use The Mahonian for a ceremony and then want to also use that back space for a post-reception meal (i.e. you want to “flip” the room), you’ll be required to get a coordinator. I’ve written before about why this is a con (even though obviously, for me, a wedding coordinator, it’s a pro). Plan accordingly.
As noted under “The basics” section earlier in this article, the booking window of The Mahonian could be tight, depending on how much decor and/or floral set-up is needed by the client (and there might not be all that much since so much of The Mahonian is ready as is). For reference, I typically recommend two hours for set-up and an hour for clean-up; the remainder is for the party.
That said, if I was doing a ceremony and reception at The Mahonian (vs. “just” a reception or other event), I’d have conversations with the client about how much set-up we needed ahead of time. We might be able to make it 60 to 90 minutes, maximizing the booked hours for party time. This is a conversation I’d have before signing a contract as part of the list of questions I recommend for a venue tour.
As for other downsides of the space, there’s no dedicated getting-ready area. The Mahonian does offer a spacious back prep room for clients to relax or hide from guests ahead of the main event. It’s not a space you’d likely want to do professional hair or makeup or potentially even get dressed in but there are chairs and running water, which, believe it or not, is more than some getting-ready spaces I’ve seen in my seven years as a wedding planner.
The prep area that can also be used by clients at The Mahonian, an events venue in southeast Portland. Photo: Me (Elisabeth Kramer)
In terms of space, Natalia was upfront about the biggest con to the floor plan: If you have more than 52 people whom you want to seat for dinner, you’re looking at using two different spaces.**
A client might see that and think, “Oh no! I’m going to maroon half of my guests in the back.” That’s an understandable fear but, as someone who regularly goes to weddings, I don’t think it’s as big a downer as it sounds. That’s because, often, guest lists have a natural division of people who know each other.
One way I could see this looking: One area is where you sit family, chosen and/or biological, and the other is where you sit friends and/or folks less familiar with your family. As a host, chances are high you’re already going to be up and mingling quite a bit anyway.
Natalia also mentioned that in the scenario that a client is using both spaces, she advises a standing dessert to encourage guests to get up from their seats and interact more with one another. That’s also a good time to move into any dancing, which often happens where the sofa and chairs are usually set in the front entryway.
Lastly, The Mahonian is a space that centers around food and beverage so, while I didn’t ask, my overwhelming impression was you’re not going to be hiring in different catering. That’s not going to be a problem for the vast majority of people, particularly as The Mahonian is vocal about their commitment to accommodating dietary preferences and food allergies, but if you’re a person who had a very particular type of cuisine in mind for your event, I recommend you have those conversations before you book this particular venue.
As for parking, this is a common sticking point in my reviews of wedding venues in downtown Portland. There’s a parking lot directly across the street from The Mahonian where you can pay for a spot though previous clients’ attempts to rent the whole lot haven’t been successful, per Natalia. As such, Uber, Lyft or, if you prefer, shuttles that you hire are going to be your best bets for getting around with minimal hassle.
The bottom line
Selfishly, I’m thrilled The Mahonian exists. As someone who regularly works at The Evergreen and elsewhere in downtown Portland, I’m perpetually in need of affordable, well-equipped, and aesthetically pleasing places to send my clients as they consider any number of wedding-related gatherings.
Now I’ve got another to add to that (surprisingly short) list.
I’m also happy to have a space to send folks who have a guest count of fewer than 50 people. This isn’t as uncommon as many assume, and a choice that, for the right client, I encourage since inviting fewer guests is the most effective way to avoid the national average of $30,000 a wedding.
Unfortunately, the market hasn't quite caught up with that demand. That means spaces like The Mahonian —quality spots that celebrate smaller guest counts — are few and far between. Take advantage of it.
Learn more about The Mahonian: themahonian.com and @The.Mahonian
Check out the other wedding venues I’ve reviewed.
Do you know of a venue that I should visit? Tell me: elisabeth@elisabethkramer.com.
Got wedding planning questions? I rent my Virgo wedding planner brain by the hour. If you like what I wrote, an easy way to show me is to subscribe to my newsletter. Thanks for reading.
*Correction (2:10 p.m. PT, Tuesday 4/11/23): I’ve added additional details provided by The Mahonian on how many guests can be sit in the specific rooms.
**Correction (2:12 p.m. PT, Tuesday 4/11/23): An earlier version of this story said both rooms would be needed to sit more than 38 guests, not the correct number of 52. I regret the error.