JOURNAL
Classy Elopement Reception at Stillwater in McMinnville, Oregon
Extra! Extra! WE Eloped!
Some wedding moments are unforgettable, and for one incredible couple, their wedding reception was just that—a delightful, unexpected twist that had guests buzzing with excitement.
Long before their guests arrived at Stillwater Venue in McMinnville, Oregon, this couple had already exchanged vows in an intimate elopement in the stunning landscape of Joshua Tree, one of the most picturesque and sought-after elopement destinations. With their little girl by their side, they celebrated their love in a way that felt deeply personal and true to them. But they weren’t done celebrating just yet!
When guests arrived at what they thought was a wedding ceremony, they were handed a custom wedding newspaper with a bold headline: Extra! Extra! We Eloped! Some guests caught on immediately, while others took a moment for the surprise to settle in. The initial shock quickly turned into pure joy as the realization set in—this was going to be an unforgettable celebration of love and adventure!
With the secret revealed, the newlyweds made their grand entrance as husband and wife, ready to toast and mingle during a lively cocktail hour featuring signature wedding cocktails. The energy was electric, and the excitement carried into dinner, held in the beautifully dimly lit barrel room at Stillwater Venue, a premier Oregon wedding venue known for its romantic ambiance. Before everyone began dinner, the couple played their elopement video for their guests, adding an emotional and personal touch to the evening. Guests indulged in an exquisite meal, savoring every bite in the warm and intimate setting.
The evening was intimate, special, and truly personal to our sweet couple. Design elements were modern, minimal, and featured a palette of black, white, and neutral tones—romantic and elegant, just like our couple. Thoughtfully curated wedding décor and floral arrangements added to the sophisticated aesthetic, making this a dream wedding reception for those who love a refined, contemporary style.
As the night continued, the dance floor beckoned, and guests celebrated with the couple late into the night. A delectable wedding dessert spread added the perfect finishing touch to an already magical evening. Our favorite part of the night? When guests circled the couple for their last song and serenaded them with With Somebody Who Loves Me while holding candles. It was a breathtaking and emotional moment that captured the essence of their love story.
This unforgettable wedding reception was a perfect blend of romance, surprise, and heartfelt celebration—an inspiration for couples planning a unique elopement followed by a grand reception. Whether you’re dreaming of an intimate elopement in a scenic destination like Joshua Tree or a luxurious wedding reception at one of Oregon’s top venues, this celebration proves that love, above all, is meant to be celebrated in the most meaningful way possible.
Vendors:
Venue: Stillwater Events
Photographer: Tessa Tadlock
Beauty: Megan Blake Bridal
DJ: NW Mobile DJs
Florist: Crowley House Flower Farm
Catering: Humble Spirit
Dessert: Alexandra Hospitality
Stationery + Signage: Letters & Dust
Candles: Yummi Candles
5 Must Have Items for a Wedding During a Heat Wave
Historically, the Pacific Northwest has been known to have mild summers that begin after the 4th of July. However, with global warming, we’re seeing much warmer summers that extend beyond July-August. Now more than ever, it’s critical to prepare for heat and a lot of sun. We’re here to share five must have items for a wedding during a heat wave (and a few more that are tucked in for good measure).
SHADE
When booking a venue, it’s important to consider your rain plan and shade/heat plan. Does the venue have an indoor space that can be utilized? If not, where is the best location for a tent and or shade umbrellas? When considering heat plans, shade is important but air conditioning may also be crucial when temperatures approach the 90’s or 100 degree mark. Some tents have the capacity to add a thermostat for air conditioning or heat. While clear top tents are absolutely stunning, they serve as a greenhouse and will roast your unsuspecting guests. White tops or a Sperry tent are a much better option. We also add tents for catering so this will need to be factored in to your budget.
Market umbrellas are another great option when wind isn’t an element. We can stage these in a space that doesn’t need complete shade for guests who need a little reprieve from the heat. One note to remember, market umbrellas will tip over easily, even with a weighted base. If there is any breeze what so ever, a market umbrella should not be considered; Shade Sails are an excellent alternative.
Parasols are fun and photo friendly shade detail. We like to make these available for guests as they arrive. These photograph well and add an ere of charm. Just as we think of all guests with umbrellas, please consider all guests when purchasing or renting parasols.
WATER
“Hydrate or diedrate” is the token phrase in the athletic training world but can also be applied to the events world on a hot day. Make water and non-alcoholic beverages available to guests upon arrival. We like to offer guests chilled cucumber water or lavender lemonade on those extra hot days. Be prepared for guests to go through water and ice quickly; provide extra water carafes for each table so water is within reach.
Please also consider your vendors. We are working extra hard to keep your guests cool and comfortable and often forget to take care of ourselves. We provide our team with Liquid IV to ensure that we are well hydrated throughout your wedding day.
COOLING
Sometimes, despite our best attempts, cooling a tent and providing shade just won’t cut it at a venue without air conditioning. Thankfully, we can bring in industrial fans and misters if need be. We can also bring in industrial air conditioning to cool a venue but this comes with a price tag and some last minute hustle.
Hand held fans can be a cute addition for cooling guests and can pull double duty as a program or fun wedding detail.
Don’t forget about your bridal party members in suits. They will be out in the sun/heat far longer than guests and usually during the heat of the day. We like to include cooling neck wraps and gel ice packs during those pre-ceremony hours in case it gets really hot. Another thing to consider during the planning process is attire. Please, please, please do not put your bridal party or family members in wool suits or silk dresses (hello, sweat marks!). Consider lighter weight, wicking, or light colored attire if there is any chance that you will be getting married on a hot day.
COOL TREATS
What could be a better than a chilly treat? Hand scooped ice cream courtesy of Salt & Staw or boozy popsicles from Sloshy Pops make a fun addition that will leave your guests cooled off and talking long after your special day is over. Again, don’t forget about non-alcoholic options.
PATIENCE
Heat makes all of us a little grumpy. We get it. Above all, have patience and grace. Your planner and vendor team will be working in overdrive to ensure that you and your guests are as comfortable as can be (all while roasting themselves) so please extend a little extra understanding. Rushing to plan for a heat plan can be stressful so plan ahead, just as you would if planning ahead for a rain plan. And remember, at the end of the day - your guests just want to celebrate you and have a good time.
Photography credits (from top to bottom):
How to Navigate Catering a Micro Wedding
The definition of a micro wedding can vary depending on who you talk to, but it typically includes anywhere from 5 to 50 guests. And with the Pandemic, 2020 saw a radical shift towards smaller events. Those who didn’t want to cancel or postpone their larger weddings leaned into the idea of a more intimate scaled-back event.
The wedding industry followed suit and started educating themselves about how to scale up a sized-down event. What resulted were some of the most amazing elopements and micro weddings we’ve helped plan to date!
Moving into the 2021 wedding season, we are anticipating being able to hold larger events, but want to make sure to follow safety protocols as well.
Splurge on your table decor
Quality wins over quantity and you can stretch your budget for the tabletop of your dreams. Unique china, monogrammed linens, personalized paper goods. Let your imagination run wild and get that Pinterest board started!
Reimagine Appetizers
Instead of hundreds of the same small bites, have your caterer, prepare more options for fewer guests. This can even be the main meal in some cases. In essence, turn your bites into a tapas-style meal.
Cocktails
Statistically, 50% of wedding guests will drink wine throughout the evening, and the remaining 50% is split between liquor beverages and beer. But the advantage of a smaller guest list means you will likely know what everyone prefers and can cater accordingly. Be sure to add a signature drink to the menu or hire a mixologist to create works of wonder for your guests.
Make the Meal the Main Event
For some couples, saving money isn’t the reason for opting for a smaller event and can be an opportunity to push for quality over quantity. In this instant embrace the idea of hiring a private chef to cater your wedding or reserve a private room at a favorite fancy restaurant. Consider having a themed dinner such as a Roman style dinner party or have fresh sushi prepared on-site. Let your imagination go wild and imaging the dinner of your dreams.
Dessert
A smaller guest list means fewer tiers on your cake right? Not necessarily. Work with your baker to make Individual mini 3-tiered wedding cakes or fill a tiered cake stand with gourmet desserts such as creme brulee, mini pies, baklava cups, and cupcakes.
Whatever you decide, It is of the utmost importance to talk to your catering vendors about the logistics of bringing food into a non-traditional venue setting. If you choose to get married on the edge of a cliff (a very popular idea on the Oregon Coast) make sure you are working with a caterer that is comfortable setting up and bringing in a portable kitchen that includes water, and electricity.
Modern Portland Styled Elopement Shoot at Tendue
This year has been tough. The world at large has had its ups and downs, challenges and disappointments, and plenty of curveballs. Wedding industry professionals have rapidly been forced to change our ways, shifting our primary focus to keeping our clients and staff safe in these trying times. While we take pride in making sure we stay educated and informed in order to protect those around us, sometimes it feels heavy on our hearts and makes us dream of the days of wedding planning before this all started.
So, when Lisa of Lisa Boehm Beauty came to us and said, “I just want to play,” we jumped at the chance to make it happen.
This styled shoot, while inspirational in its form, featured a real couple. Jasmine and Tynesha are the owners of a fantastic cookie company, Cookiegasm, in Portland, Oregon and are friends of ours. It’s incredible how two people with such beautiful hearts managed to find each other. Their love is truly inspiring, and we feel so lucky to know them both.
With everything going on in the world, we wanted to create something that spoke to people. Something that captured what's going on in the world and celebrates love in every form that it takes. Most importantly, we wanted this shoot to carry a message we all could use right now - Everything Will Be Alright.
Our vision was to turn a traditional wedding setting on its head. We used the models as a blank canvas (dressed in all white and nude), then used florals, furniture, jewelry, and crystals to bring that vision to life. We wanted it to feel rich and luxe, while modern and elegant. The result was a perfect juxtaposition of 1940s old Hollywood glam, paired with modern texture and light.
Instead of cake, we chose cocktails. Instead of a traditional veil on the "bride," we adorned a hydrangea leaf birdcage veil on our model, dressed in a sophisticated ivory pant suit. We used colorful and vibrant vintage cocktail rings instead of traditional wedding bands – one amethyst bauble?! Why not make it two!
The bold color palette of cobalt blue, emerald and amethyst seemed downright regal once executed. The tablescape was littered with crystals of all kinds, which added a striking layer of depth and texture to the overall design. The florals for the table were simple - we wanted it to feel like shoots growing out of the crystals, representing a fresh start and new beginnings.
It was an honor to plan and style this shoot. The team was fire from top to bottom. Every vendor brought creativity, open-minded collaboration, and hustle. Each individual was essential in bringing this vision to life, and we couldn’t be prouder of the art that was created.
See more of this shoot featured on Wedding Chicks.
Vendor Team:
Planning & Styling: J29 Events
Photography: Marcela Pulido Photography
Videography: Lovebug Pictures
Hair and Makeup: Lisa Boehm Beauty
Dress & Pant Suit: A&Bé Bridal Shop for Alexandra Grecco
Cape: Claire La Faye
Venue: Tendue
Rentals: The Party Place
Florals: Blooms and Twine Floral Design
Crystals: Forest, Stone & Sea
Cocktails: Stirred Bartending
Rings: Maloy’s Jewelry Workshop
Masks: Anthropologie
Real life model couple: Jasmine Gibbs-Brown & Tynesha Parnell
Jedediah Smith Redwoods Oregon Coast Elopement
Adventurers in life and in their careers, Ali and Eli (even their names are perfectly paired together) knew that they wanted something intimate and memorable for their wedding. They both work in various environmental fields so being out in nature was their top priority. The Redwood Forest is especially dear to their hearts so it was an obvious choice when choosing their destination elopement location. Partnered with an epic destination elopement photographer, Sam Starns, their day was exactly as they imagined: fun, adventurous, silly, epic, and memorable.
With their Danner boots laced up, they hiked in with Sam and their officiant Blu (Your Humboldt Officiant). The ceremony was short, sweet, and breathtaking under the majestic giants.
PRO TIP: Lace dresses, while stunning, pick up ALL the redwood needles and they are a beast to remove. Opt for a dress that has a minimal train or fabric that isn’t lacy to avoid sweeping up the entire forest.
Ali and Eli loved the idea of getting married on summer solstice. They incorporated a fun pagan fire jump at the end of their evening, representative of nature and balance both of which are important in their lives.
Their photographer is extremely passionate about elopements and started the “Elope Your Life” movement for elopement couples to empower them to be unapologetically themselves and to create a wedding day (and life) that they can be uniquely proud of. This is exactly what Ali and Eli did on their special day and we couldn’t be happier for them!
Fabulous Vendor Team:
Photographer: Sam Starns Photography
Venue: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Bouquet: Barb’s Flowers
Dress: Grace Loves Lace
Boots: Danner
Officiant: Your Humboldt Officiant