JOURNAL
Ethereal Wedding at Skokomish Park
We started working with Lindsay + Andrew two years ago. They are a sweet couple from Chicago. He’s a HUGE Cubs fan and she loves all things vintage, ethereal, fox, and styled. They saw a beautiful ethereal woodsy wedding on a blog in the PNW and knew that they had to be married in the woods.
They had a vision and surprisingly, it never wavered. An ethereal wedding in the trees, nestled into the mountains, and a few steps away from stunning Lake Cushman. Every vendor trucked in and there was no cell service but everything was flawless and our vendor team couldn’t have been more incredible. We have so much love for these two! All of our best to you!
We planned their fairytale/ethereal wedding at the base of the Olympic National Peninsula in Skokomish Park on Lake Cushman. It was an amazing location. Every single item was brought in from either Chicago, Seattle or Portland… vendors included. Lights were strung and ran off of a generator, toilets brought in, every table, chair, decor item and all of the food. It was a huge team effort to bring this wedding together in the middle of nowhere…… and without cell phone service.
If you haven’t dreamt of walking over a flower-covered bridge in the woods, are you really dreaming? We’re still swooning over this ethereal day and Lindsay’s amazing blue/green skirt. She looked like a real-life fairy bride!
Lindsay, ever the detail-oriented gal, styled everything to a tee beforehand on photoshop! EVERY LITTLE DETAIL was planned out and thought of. It was a dream to work with a couple that could keep up with the check-lists!
The weather was beautiful and the guests (who hailed from Chicago) were blown away with this wedding in the middle of the woods. Many had never been to the Pacific Northwest and were completely smitten with the tall trees, mountains, and stunning views.
LIndsay + Andrew had a handfasting ceremony as part of their nuptials.
Handfasting is an ancient Celtic ritual in which the hands are tied together to symbolize the binding of two lives. While it is most often included in Wiccan or Pagan ceremonies, it has become more mainstream and pops up in both religious and secular vows and readings. ~ Brides.com
There were so many amazing details for this destination wedding in the woods.
This cake has a story: picked up in Seattle, driven to Hoodsport, WA (2 hours on a lap), and stored in a fridge in a cabin on top of a hill. Finally, two days later, it was carefully carried down the hill by Sabrina (no pressure). This cute cake made its final stop on top of this bar before being gobbled up. People have no idea what some cakes go through before their untimely demise. 😂
These two, this lighting, her dress, his suit, and this location. Need I say more? Everything was magical. Their destination woodsy wedding was perfection
I’ll always remember their wedding as later in the evening, one of their guests passed out mid-laugh and fell face-first on to the gravel. He gashed his ear and forehead open. Thankfully, we had plenty of vodka (to clean his wounds) and superglue in our planners’ kit to glue his forehead and ear back together. Remember the no cell service thing? Yea, hire a wedding planner that used to be a nurse. We made him rest for the rest remainder of the evening as guests danced the night away under the stars and cafe lights.
Vendor Team:
Venue: Lake Cushman Skokomish Park, WA
Photographer: Kristen Marie Parker
Floral: Vanessa Schmidt
Caterer: Herban Feast
Cake: Sweet Side Seattle
Beauty: Bridal Beauty Agency
Dress: English Dept. Portland
Cinema: Northwest Wedding Films
Entertainment: Puget Sound Entertainment
DJ - Alan Chitlik
Rentals: Archive Rentals, Classic Vintage Rentals, Formal Flush
Officiant: Dan Anastasia
Travel/Accomodations: Red Lion Hotel
Spanish Festival Themed Private Resident Wedding in Ashland, OR
Phillip + Alicia, who were introduced by two of their best friends (who happen to be married to each other) have come a long way from their first date. Phillip was a third wheel to Alicia + her mother at a music event at a winery in Napa.
Philip is of Spanish descent and his family throws big parties. Their wedding was hosted at Alicia’s family home (this is the home she grew up in that her sister now owns).
For their engagement, they went canoeing down the Russian River and Phillip hung a giant proposal sign off a bridge and had family + friends on the shore to witness the momentous event.
In Spanish weddings, the bride traditionally wears a dress with lace details. Alicia also wore her hair in a Spanish style to complete the look.
During the ceremony, scarves tied together were passed across the aisle symbolizing the uniting of all the guests and the bonding of the two families.
Alicia’s mom collected all of the colorful glassware and bird cages over the course of a year.
The guests greeted the new couple by shaking colorful Spanish maracas.
They wanted a fun and light hearted vibe. They even ended the night with a silent disco!
Fabulous Vendor Team:
Photographer: Emily Hary
Florist: Petal & Seed
Rentals: Motif, Encore
Bartender: Bar Nomadic
Dress: Grace Loves Lace
DJ/Lighting/Dance floor: Sights & Sounds
Catering: Sheild Catering, The Melt Food Truck, Daddy Ramen Food Cart
Cake: Peace Love & Little Donuts
Linens: La Tavola
Trolley: Allaboard Trolley Tours
Tips For Choosing Wedding Day Suits for You and Your Groomsmen
I’m not going to lie, the focus of a wedding always seems to be on the dress. There are several shows on TLC that involve entire families sitting in a store, waiting for her to try on the dress while the mother has a fight with the sisters and then everyone finally makes up when she comes out in the perfect couture gown. They gasp, they cry. It’s the one. They pull out their credit card, and everyone goes home happy.
SCENE.
This is not what groom shopping looks like. Sometimes it’s a few weeks of googling pictures of men, mysteriously looking off into the distance, posing in a suit without socks, like this guy:
And then trying to figure out if your fiancée doesn’t want you to wear socks? And possibly lose 20 pounds and wear makeup? It’s all pretty confusing.
There are a few step-by-step guides out there, that have a more detailed approach. One of the best guides I’ve found is this one from The Knot, which provides everything from fabric to cut. However, let’s find a place to start! Take a breath. A lot of this is logical, and you’ve been dressing yourself for years at this point. Hopefully.
Let’s discuss the main THREE things to start with when you’re thinking about dressing yourself and the men in your party.
Thing One: How formal is your wedding?
Ok, so although this might be a no-brainer for those who frequently wear suits, I will tell you a story. When I got married, my wife and I planned a wedding in July, in the summer, at 11am. Every wedding I’d ever been to had a groom (and groomsmen) in a tux, so I fought for my tux! It was my time for that bow tie! Well--she won, and I ended up in a suit.
Now that I look at those pictures I realize I would have looked weird at 11:00am in a tux, so I’m grateful she won that fight. Please don’t tell her that, though.
If you don’t trust me, ask Martha Stewart. Tuxes are for evening, and for more formal weddings. So rule number one, if your wedding is in the morning, outside and casual, go for the suit. If you’re not sure what the difference is between a suit and a tux is, read the article.
Now, there are all sorts of suits, so you can choose something that fits your body type specifically. You may be thinking that it’s all about her dress, but you want to look as good as you can. We’ve all seen these two fits, right?
This image is taken from a great article, by the art of manliness. This article goes through each and every thing to think about with fit. How do you know if a sleeve is too long? How do you know if the shoulders are just right? You may think you know, but it’s great to look in pictures and see if you can figure out whether your suit might need to be altered.
This site, as well as many others, suggests that buying a suit and having it altered is far superior to renting a suit. So that leads you to thing two.
Thing Two: Who Are Your Groomsmen?
Something that I think gets forgotten while dressing the men in your wedding party is, “who is standing up there with you?” I mean, you know what you look good in, but it’s a great idea to make sure that you’re working with a suit that will look good on your party.
As long as your fabrics and colors match, you can be a little flexible in terms of the cut of the suit, and the jacket. In fact, I’m not against the whole “mismatched” groomsmen look, so I recommend checking that out as well, but make sure you stay within the rules.
If your groomsmen are your best friends, certainly have them help you look and get their input--see what their thoughts are on the suits, and if possible, do a little bit of a guys’ weekend where you shop together, and pick something everybody likes. After all, unlike a bridesmaid’s dress, a groomsman may wear this a few times.
You may want to bundle in the whole “suit-shopping” thing with a chance to thank each groomsman for helping with the wedding. I bought each of my groomsmen a jersey from our favorite team. But of course, you can search around and find personalized gifts, in person or at a good site for groomsmen. Having something handy to thank them avoids that last minute “oh crap” dash for something before the big day (trust me, there will be enough of that already).
Thing Three: What is Your Budget?
Budget, budget, budget! If you’re planning a wedding, this word basically flies over your head every time you close your eyes. But of course it’s true, make sure that your budget is determined before you start your suit journey.
Buying a suit (one you like well enough already) and then having it altered is a great way to save some money. If money is no object, of course, you can have a suit built for you, but off-the-rack is always a saving, and that gives you the possibility of buying suits for all your groomsmen as well, and then leaving their own alterations to them.
In a perfect world with none of that budget stuff, you could probably just buy suits for all of them, pay for the alterations, and look like the cast of entourage walking slo-mo down the aisle.
Steve Granitz/WireImage via Getty Images
I bet they’re all wearing socks.
But chances are, you have some sort of budget and so do they. This leads me back to buying some off-the-rack stuff, preferably with or for your groomsmen, and asking them to pay for some alterations, so they will look their best. They can do that at home (in case they’re traveling to you, which face it, they often are). Here’s Esquire’s take on finding a good suit that won’t kill your budget.
Elegant Black Tie Northern California Wedding | The Historic Benbow Inn
On a perfect fall October day, the clouds parted and the rain stopped, making way for a sunny and elegant wedding along the Eel River at The Historic Benbow Inn. Guests traveled to Northern California for a classic, yet modern, white on white affair to celebrate the marriage of Cortney and Michael.
Cortney and Michael. These two are the real deal. They met while attending Humboldt State University, and had an instant spark on their first date when they dined on artisan pizza and fine wine (as college students). They are deeply rooted in their faith, are extremely close to their family and friends, share a love of travel, and enjoy helping others and giving back. On paper they sound incredible but then you meet these super models, and feel their warmth; they are such good people with huge hearts - they far exceed anything on paper. It’s easy to see why so many people made the journey to the middle of NOWHERE for a weekend of fun in Northern California. It was our honor to help them bring their vision to life and to work alongside them and their lovely families on their special day.
Clad in dapper black tuxedos by The Black Tux, Michael and his FOURTEEN groomsmen (many were also former athletes at HSU) looked almost as good as Bronson, their bulldog. A true case of “who wore it better?”
Can you handle the cuteness? Bronson, you’re such a stud and you definitely set the bar high for all other wedding dogs.
“White on white on white.” This is how Cortney described her wedding vision last year when we first started chatting. The Benbow Inn provided the perfect backdrop for their stunning white on white color palette. Bridesmaids wore gorgeous Katie May off the shoulder floor length gowns while Cortney wore the most incredible Pronovias bridal gown. All white bouquets by Flora Organica Designs completed their elegant bridal look.
Before attending the wedding ceremony, guests were treated to a “pre-ceremony mingle” on the lawn adjacent to the ceremony. Escort cards affixed to each champagne glass directed guests to their seats for the wedding reception.
Flora Organica Designs built a subtle arc of pampas grass, white hydrangeas, white roses, and lush greens to frame the ceremony space and altar. The back of the aisle was flanked with similar pieces - all of these florals were later repurposed for the reception.
Have you ever seen a more beautiful couple? #NewlywedGoals
The James Zeller Trio band serenaded guests during cocktail hour with a variety of jazz and Americana tunes.
The Historic Benbow Inn has a spacious terrace overlooking the lawn and The Eel River. The white exterior and detailed Tudor design set the backdrop for their white on white wedding vision. Minimal and clean, the settings were refined, with a very modern table number that blended well with their overall style.
The most adorable sweetheart setup overlooking all of their guests with the sunset and river behind them. It was gorgeous.
After cutting their cake, guests transitioned indoors where we were all delighted to an endearing first dance by the newlyweds. Cortney’s glamorous gown was made for twirling; they looked like movie stars. Guests immediately got their dance game on and the party was hoppin’ thanks to the Accurate Productions team.
Before it got too late, guests joined Cortney and Michael along the rivers’ edge for their sparkler “send off.” Ken and Nicole of CKC Image captured the day perfectly but really flexed their muscles with these jaw dropping starry night shots.
Cortney and Michael’s wedding day was perfection on all levels. Cheers to you two! Thank you for letting us witness your love.
Vendor team:
Photography: CKC Image
Videography: Christie Seaverns
Venue: The Benbow Historic Inn
Florist: Flora Organica Designs
Hair: The Linden & Company Salon & Spa
Makeup: Two Beauties
Dress: Pronovias
Bridesmaid Dresses: Katie May
Groom/groomsmen Tuxes: The Black Tux
Band: The James Zeller Trio
Linens: La Tavola Fine Linens
Cake: Ramones Bakery & Cafe
Officiant: Matt Messner
Table Numbers: Minted
Southern Oregon Coast Destination Elopement | Brookings, OR
When you have a shared love for adventure, planning an adventure-themed destination elopement is the perfect way to start married life. Before journeying to Oregon for their destination mini wedding, Amanda and Steve started their relationship over a mutual passion for hiking and climbing. Shortly after they started dating, they planned a summer road trip to the Pacific Northwest…. fast forward 6 years and they would make the same journey from Utah to Oregon to be married!
Our incredible photographer Sam Starns is known for adventure and elopement photography but she should also be known as a mini tour guide as she has a slew of incredible locations up her sleeve…complete with fun nature facts for each location. When she suggested this stunning ceremony site in Brookings, Oregon, we immediately trusted her guidance and jumped at the opportunity to plan their day on the southern Oregon coast. She failed to let me know that this “easy” walk in from the parking lot was anything but easy. HA! I was the only one without hiking boots making the trek down a very steep trail from the parking lot to the beach. A killer quad workout was well worth it for this breathtaking view. Sadly, Sam didn’t capture any shots of me hiking this trail in my always trusty booties.
Amanda and Steve couldn’t have dreamt a better day to be married on the Southern Oregon coast. The weather was PERFECT (as I had promised them it would be) and almost too, dare I say, hot? It seems crazy to even say that but the sun shone bright and strong that early October day. It was in the mid-70’s with clear blue skies. We watched a whale swim up the coast as we set up their reception dinner, catching it spout several times just off shore.
Their intimate wedding overlooked the ocean as the sun set. Officiant Blu with Your Humboldt Officiant, designed the most beautiful ceremony for them, rich with meaningful passages that spoke deep to their relationship. Family overlooked and surprised them with bubbles after they said “I do.”
Post ceremony, Sam took them down to the beach for some adventurous sunset photos. Always up for an adventure, Amanda and Steve planned ahead by packing extra shoes so they could brave the water and scale their way up and down to the beach below. Her dress was filthy but these shots are priceless.
We started their elopement planning process with a pretty blank canvas. Sam Starns and Brookings, Oregon for 15-18 people. Okay, easy…. except that Brookings doesn’t have a ton of local options for wedding vendors or at least vendors that are easy to source. Not a problem, just a little challenge but one that wouldn’t stop us from putting together an epic styled elopement or mini wedding.
While hunting for possible post-ceremony dinner locations, we always search through traditional venues as well as private residences’/vrbo. One of the homes that we selected as a possible option is owned by Crook Point Vacations. The perfectly designed cottage (the interior screams amazing design) sits on the edge of the ocean and has views that stop you dead in your tracks. The Crook Point owners went out of their way to accommodate our special requests and to help bring our vision to life. We brought in tables, chairs, linens, and all tableware. Crook Point set up string lighting overhead and allowed us to bring in some heaters for what would surely be a chilly October evening.
Our vendor team really brought our (collective) vision to life. We worked closely with Flora Organica Designs to develop a jewel toned color palette that would blend well together. La Tavola velvet mustard napkins popped against the navy base linen and rose gold flatware. To set the mood, we used a combination of hurricane candles and rose gold votives that were scattered between lush floral centerpieces abundant with dahlias - Amanda’s favorite.
Guests dined under the stars to an exquisite meal by Black Trumpet Bistro (based out of Brookings). Steve’s parents picked out various PNW wines that paired perfectly with each course. Following dinner, they were treated to a delicious red velvet mini wedding cake and hot air balloon cookies (a nod to Steve’s proposal) courtesy of Verbena Cakes.
And they lived happily ever after…
Vendor team:
Photography: Sam Starns
Venue: Crook Point Vacations
Florist: Flora Organica Designs
Rentals: Motif Rentals
Linens: La Tavola Fine Linens
Catering: Black Trumpet Bistro
Desserts: Verbena Cakes
Officiant: Your Humboldt Officiant
Paper Goods: Minted
A Wedding Planner’s Guide for a Successful Black Friday
Everyone has their own traditions to kick off the holiday season. For some, it’s seeing a movie after Thanksgiving dinner, or eating leftover pumpkin pie for breakfast the day after the big feast. For Cambry and Sabrina, it’s shopping on Black Friday.
Black Friday has never actually been about getting good deals. They both started the tradition of going out with their moms on Black Friday and it became a Thanksgiving ritual that they both looked forward to every year. Not to mention, it’s a great way to get in the holiday spirit, and be surrounded by all the other crazy people who consider themselves part elf.
They’ve spent years perfecting the Black Friday process, and they’re here to share their insider tips & tricks for getting the most out of your day.
1. Dress for success. The stores are warm so dress lightly, and leave your coat in the car. We promise you won’t be cold. Also, opt for running shoes over flats. Your feet will thank you.
2. Do your homework. Nothing is worse than driving around at 5 am only to find that the store you’re going to doesn’t open for another 45 minutes. Plan your route (it’s all about time management).
3. Make a list and check it twice. While you will inevitably buy a few things here and there as you come across the perfect gifts, come prepared for the day with a gift list (we recommend an excel spreadsheet). Prioritize buying the high-dollar, good deal tech items, as those tend to go first.
4. Bring Snacks. A lot of stores offer snacks throughout the day, but they’re mostly sugar or coffee. Bring Kind bars, water and some sort of protein to keep you going.
5. Catalog your loot. When you get home, be sure to write the recipients' names on each of the gift receipts while it’s still fresh in your mind. Keep an excel spreadsheet of your gifts, so you know what you’ve purchased and what you still have left to buy.
6. Eat a giant early dinner. After a long day of shopping and being on your feet, Sabrina always opts for a burrito from La Sirenita, and Cambry always craves Thai food. Treat yo’ self. You deserve it.
Happy Holidays from our families to yours!
Classic & Modern Styled Shoot | Mac Market
Are you looking for a wedding style that’s both classic & modern, but filled with tons of texture and warm detail? Get inspired by our latest styled shoot at Mac Market, the newest industrial venue in Oregon wine country.
We had the opportunity to lead a styled shoot and event within the Art of Weddings Wine Country Venue Crawl this past October. We were thrilled to get the chance to work at Mac Market, located in the heart of McMinnville’s Greenery District. Once a shoe grease factory, this 10,000 sq. ft. industrial warehouse has been reimagined for gathering, eating, and drinking. If you’re looking for a unique venue, filled with architectural detail and modern touches, look no further.
We really wanted to paint the picture of how the space at Mac Market could be transformed into the perfect wedding venue. With so much masculine and industrial detail, we knew we wanted to bring in softer, warmer elements, that complemented but didn’t overshadow the building’s design.
We wanted the overall tone to be classic and refined, but with a ton of texture. We hand-picked every element to curate the look we were hoping to achieve – at the end of the day, it’s all in the details.
The color palette was filled with notes of caramel, cool aqua undertones, and pops of Bordeaux. The reception tables were adorned with classic white linens, gold floral columns, iron candle holders, and marbled chargers. The floral bouquets and centerpieces were filled with dip-painted roses, soft white anemones, various greens and a mix of tropicals, such as Banksia, which complemented this non-traditional autumn palette beautifully.
We included a full six-person bridal party to help event attendees truly envision how the design could be incorporated into their own wedding day. From the groom’s ruby velvet jacket and live floral pocket square, to the eclectic mix of patterned and beaded bridesmaid dresses, every detail was intended to be rich, luxe and aesthetically-pleasing.
The attention to detail didn’t just stop at the design – one element of wedding planning that we know all too well is how important is it to pick the right team of vendors. A vision is just a collection of thoughts and ideas, until you pick the right partners to help you bring it to life.
We collaborated with each vendor to weave our vision and design into the artistry of their craft, which made for a truly engaging experience for each attendee. From a hands-on truffle making station, to a sugar flower making demonstration led by our cake artist, every element of the day gave attendees the chance to get involved.
This day was one for the books – not only was it wonderful to meet all the engaged couples who attended the crawl, but it also gave us the opportunity to truly collaborate with this dream team of partners, getting to know them each as individuals and the incredibly talented professionals they all are.
Vendor Team:
Photographer: Lady & Gent Photography
Venue: Mac Market
Planner: J29 Events
Caterer: Reedville Catering
Florist: Thistle + Pine
Bridal Gown: The White Dress
Menswear: The Black Tux
Photo Booth: Stumptown Booth
Videographer: Long Light Productions
Cake: Sewell Sweets
Chocolatier: Creo Chocolate
Wine: Maysara Winery
Hair & Makeup Artist: Lisa Boehm Beauty
Rentals: The Party Place
Signage: Crave Design
Band: Catch & Release