A Destination Weekend Wedding Celebration at Del Mar Villa, Dundee, Oregon
An immersive wine country wedding weekend designed by a luxury Oregon wedding planner specializing in multi-day celebrations and elevated guest experiences.
Some wedding weekends feel less like an event and more like a beautifully choreographed retreat—where every gathering builds on the last and guests leave feeling truly connected. As a wine country luxury wedding planner specializing in weekend event planning and immersive guest experiences, this is exactly the type of celebration we love to design. Learn more about our full-service wedding planning in Oregon wine country and how we approach multi-day celebrations. George and Mel’s four-day destination celebration at Del Mar Villa in Dundee, Oregon was exactly that: intentional, joy-filled, and layered with distinctive details that reflected who they are and the community they cherish.
From Whitworth to Wine Country
George and Mel met at Whitworth University, a beginning rooted in shared values, friendships, and a deep sense of togetherness. Now living in Seattle, they envisioned their wedding not as a single day, but as a destination weekend—an excuse to bring their favorite people together in Oregon wine country and savor unhurried time under the summer sun.
Del Mar Villa offered the perfect canvas: expansive lawns, a European-inspired estate feel, and the flexibility to host an entire weekend of celebrations in one unforgettable setting. Located in the heart of Oregon wine country, it is ideal for couples envisioning a destination-style wedding weekend without leaving the Pacific Northwest. Explore more of our expertise and venues we love.
Thursday: A Warm Welcome
The festivities began on Thursday evening with a relaxed backyard-style BBQ for friends and family. It set the tone immediately—easy, welcoming, and full of laughter. Guests arrived, glasses in hand, settling into the rhythm of the weekend ahead.
Friday: Movement, Meaning, and Magic
Friday morning kicked off with one of the most joyful moments of the weekend: Jazzercise on the tennis courts, led by the groom’s mom—an actual Jazzercise instructor. Moments like these are a hallmark of our weekend wedding planning approach, where guest experience is thoughtfully layered into every day.
Adding an extra layer of personality, the guys showed up in custom basketball jerseys—a nod to the groom’s deep love of the game and his time playing college basketball (yes, a true hall-of-famer). Each jersey featured a graphic of Del Mar Villa on the front alongside the couple’s monogram, blending playful nostalgia with thoughtful design. In perhaps the sweetest detail of all, a matching jersey was made for his baby niece.
Guests of all ages joined in, laughing, stretching, and dancing beneath the crisp blue Oregon sky. It was personal, playful, and entirely unforgettable.
Midday brought the rehearsal, grounding everyone ahead of the main event, before the evening unfolded in layers.
The rehearsal dinner embraced a classic Italian theme—warm, communal, and deeply satisfying—setting the stage for the night ahead. From there, guests flowed seamlessly into a welcome party open to all, complete with a surprise illusionist who wandered through the crowd, leaving jaws dropped and conversations buzzing late into the night.
Saturday: The Wedding Day
Saturday arrived with that unmistakable energy—equal parts anticipation and calm. Before the pace of the day picked up, George and Mel were intentional about carving out a quiet moment just for themselves, sharing a morning coffee date together. It was a simple pause, but a deeply meaningful one—an intentional choice to ground the day in connection before the celebration unfolded.
That devotion to protecting their time together felt like a true reflection of their partnership, and it was incredibly special to witness how important it was for them to begin the wedding day side by side, fully present with one another.
The Ceremony
The ceremony took place on the back lawn, framed by rolling greens and soft summer light. Guests arrived by shuttle and entered through the grand foyer, where they were greeted with passed bubbles beside a statement floral installation cascading down the grand staircase and a thoughtfully styled welcome table.
From there, guests made their way to the back lawn, where a custom wood welcome sign—lovingly made by the groom’s father—offered a meaningful, handcrafted moment before they were seated on the grand lawn for the ceremony.
Florals framed the entrance to the aisle, drawing the eye toward a grounded half-moon arch filled with lush green and white florals. Pottery vessels and woven baskets added organic texture, while light wood rattan chairs completed the refined yet relaxed aesthetic. The result was timeless, natural, and quietly stunning.
Cocktail Hour
Cocktail hour unfolded on the great lawn, where guests mingled among thoughtfully curated details, including a wedding photo table honoring loved ones through family wedding photographs—a beautiful and tender moment woven into the celebration. A custom seating display guided guests with ease, while exquisite linens from BBJ La Tavola elevated every surface.
The Reception
As the sun dipped, guests transitioned into the grand Sperry tent—never before used on the Del Mar Villa property. A lush floral installation framed the entrance, creating a breathtaking moment of arrival.
Inside, oak wood and white checkerboard dance flooring anchored the space as a live band launched the evening, keeping the dance floor packed from the very first note.
The tabletop design carried the weekend’s palette of creams, soft whites, layered greens, and subtle accents of gold. The couple collaborated with their Seattle-based stationer and dear friend, Fresh Squeezed Design, to develop beautiful custom stationery, paper goods, and signage that felt timeless yet personal.
Adding an especially meaningful detail, the bride hand-crafted custom green linen table numbers—an element that became a recurring (and much-loved) topic throughout the planning process. While sourcing linens, we landed on sage green striped napkins that leaned into the verdant palette while still evoking a hint of Tuscan charm. With the help of our rental partners, these linens were sourced to perfectly complement the tablescape and elevate the overall reception design. To keep the mood intentionally vibe‑y and conversation focused, we layered in small gold table lamps—adding a warm glow that stayed low on the table and encouraged connection as guests settled in.
George and Mel made a grand re-entrance—complete with an outfit change—that flowed directly into a champagne tower moment. The groom popped a bottle of Veuve Clicquot with so much excitement that champagne sprayed joyfully across the dance floor before the two of them topped off the tower together, laughter and cheers echoing all around.
Just outside the tent, a semi-circle bar was tucked beneath a striking focal-point tree, serving custom signature cocktails and offering guests a moment to step out and enjoy the breathtaking sunset over the Dundee Hills.
Dinner was served family-style, featuring incredible Italian cuisine by local favorite Gumba. Passed platters, generous portions, and exceptional flavors made the meal feel both elevated and deeply communal.
First dances and toasts followed—so emotional, in fact, that even I found myself giving my very first toast in 19 years of planning weddings. There wasn’t a dry eye in the tent.
Dessert brought yet another heartfelt layer: the cutting cake and cupcakes were lovingly made by a close friend of the couple, who arrived with her newborn in tow—an extraordinary labor of love.
Late Night: Where the Party Really Began
Just when guests thought the night might wind down, espresso martinis appeared and the celebration shifted into the ballroom for late-night festivities.
Green tea shots flowed. A custom chip bar paid homage to the groom’s love of spicy chips. Late-night pizza—delivered by Domino’s—arrived in custom-designed pizza boxes created just for the occasion (because George and Mel really love pizza).
The couple made one final grand re-entrance, this time armed with sequin dance energy and LED light sticks. The dance floor stayed packed well into the wee hours, pulsing with joy and pure celebration.
Sunday: One Last Gathering
Sunday morning wrapped the weekend beautifully with brunch for the house guests, followed by a wine-country off-site pool party for the couple’s inner circle—one last chance to soak up the sunshine before heading home.
Vendor Team
A weekend of this scale and intention is only possible with an extraordinary creative team. George and Mel were surrounded by vendors who executed every detail with care, artistry, and professionalism:
Planning & Design: J29 Events
Venue: Del Mar Villa
Photography: Casi Yost
Videography: A Beautiful Union
Floral Design: Selva Design House
Rentals: Magnolia Rentals & Arden Event Collective
Linens: BBJ LaTavola
Beauty: Sister Golden Bridal, Olivia Meredith Group, Kirstie Wight
Entertainment: Blue Wave Band
Signage & Stationery: Fresh Squeezed Design
Catering: Gumba PDX
Bar Services: The Simple Bar
Transportation: Aspen Limo Tours
Luxury Restrooms: PNW Luxury Restrooms
Friday Night Catering: Wooden Heart
Friday Night Illusionist: Rudy Tinoco
A Weekend to Remember
This was a full four-day celebration—rich with laughter, warmth, and love at every turn. Designed as a true destination wedding weekend, it reflected what is possible when couples prioritize time, connection, and guest experience.
From hand-drawn stationery featuring custom venue illustrations to deeply personal moments layered throughout the schedule, George and Mel’s wedding embodied the heart of immersive weekend event planning in Oregon wine country. This philosophy is central to our approach to immersive wedding guest experiences.
For couples seeking a luxury wedding planner in Oregon who specializes in refined, high-touch, multi-day celebrations with unexpected elegance, weekends like this are where memories are made—and where love is truly felt. We invite you to get in touch to begin planning your wedding weekend.
Love, love, love—George and Mel. What an honor to help bring this unforgettable weekend to life.