JOURNAL
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.
The logistics of planning a micro wedding
We are in an unprecedented era for weddings with the Pandemic where couples are embracing smaller gatherings. Call them Intimate Elopements, Micro Weddings, Minimonies or what have you, these smaller, more intimate gatherings come with many benefits and challenges.
It is truly possible to have your minimony look like the styled shoots you see on your favorite wedding blogs and we are here to make it happen.
Small weddings don't mean you have to sacrifice great style
Designing your wedding decor is a key element of a wedding planner’s job, and one of the benefits of styling a smaller wedding is that budgets can now be reallocated into decor and details, or destinations. We love the challenge of setting up an intimate elopement on a rocky overlook or bringing in all the decor for a micro wedding in the woods.
Photography: Leon Villagomez
Personalized touches are a fun way to pamper guests
Smaller weddings mean you have only invited the most important guests. Take this opportunity to show them how much you care by adding special touches that give your guests the VIP treatment.
Go all-in on your wedding theme
Getting married in the woods? Make it a fairytale forest woodland theme. On an island? Deck your decor out with nautical touches. You get the gist. Have fun designing all the extra touches that make your wedding unique.
Photography: Kristen Marie Parker
Challenges & Logistics
There are certainly logistical challenges to veering off the beaten path when you choose a destination outside of a major city or even on the edge of a cliff.
Finding a space to host a small gathering without booking an entire venue. Most couples want a remote location with a cool view. You will have to do your research to find the space that works best for you.
Competing with postponements for key Saturdays. Consider holding your event mid-week, Sundays, or during the off season.
Hire extra hands to transport the elements. You likely won’t have all the vendors bringing things in if your destination is hard to reach. But you don’t want to have to make 20 trips to the truck to move everything yourself. Hire some muscle and save your back.
Planning with the same vendor teams but are frequently omitting the dance party or cocktail hour, instead focusing on a longer dinner with multiple courses or some special dances and great background music.
10 Questions you should ask your portland wedding cake baker
One of the vendors you’ve surely been excited about interviewing is your cake bakeries! I get it, as a planner, sampling cakes is one of the perks of my job I’ll never take for granted.
Before setting up tastings ask your friends who they used and if they were happy with them. Check out potential bakers and read google reviews.
Once you’ve narrowed your list down to a few, set up some tastings. this will be a fun day and worth celebrating, but remember you’re interviewing a vendor and you should come prepared with a list of questions.
We’ve compiled a list for you to bring along to your tasting:
What flavors and fillings do you offer?
Do you create custom designs or do we need to choose from a selection of designs?
Can you make sugar flowers?
Do you work in Fondant or Buttercream?
Is our tasting included in our fee?
What size of a cake do we need to feed our guests?
How do you price your cakes?
When do we need to order our cake, how far in advance of our wedding day?
Do you also provide cake stands or do we need to provide our own?
Do you deliver?
Do you offer anniversary cakes in place of freezing our cake?
In the Portland area, we have worked with many experienced bakeries that we love. Click on the images below to learn more:
Happy Tasting!
What to do if it rains on your wedding day
Photography: Sweetlife Photography
We live in the PNW so it’s likely that you’ve already considered this possibility. It’s essential to always have a rain plan in place, no matter what the season. Rain on your special day is not always bad either. You may need to take a few extra precautions, but there are some benefits to including weather in your wedding memories.
With rain comes rainbows both the literal and the figurative kind. You will be surprised to find there are actually many advantages to having a rainy wedding day, plus it’s romantic AF!
In some cultures, rain on your wedding day is considered good luck, symbolizing fertility and cleansing.
Photography: Benjamin Edwards Photography
Plan Ahead
RENT A TENT
Tents are always a good idea for outdoor weddings, they protect from rain as well as sun on hot days. If you are marrying in a cooler season, a clear tent provides a beautiful option. Tents can be adorned with lights, chandeliers, and flowers to provide a beautiful ambiance.
PROTECT YOUR DRESS
Plan ahead and protect your dress by having the hem sprayed with Scotchguard. Other options include renting a petticoat that will lift the hem of your dress up slightly to keep it from dragging or choose a short wedding dress.
PROTECT YOUR GUESTS
Rent white golf umbrellas, Pashminas, or throw blankets in bulk to keep your guests warm and dry. It’s likely your guest have not planned ahead and may not have thought to bring these items. They will thank you profusely for thinking of their comfort! A few places to rent:
Weather or Not
The Party Place
Bridgewood Events
UP YOUR FOOTWEAR GAME
Every bride likes the opportunity to purchase an extra pair of shoes. Get a sturdy pair to go along with your wedding pumps like Hunter Rain Boots or L.L.Bean Boots. Your photographer can capture a shoe shot and your tootsies will be warm and dry.
Photography: Amanda K Photography
Benefits
Believe it or not, there are some benefits to having weather on your wedding day!
PHOTOGRAPHY
Your pictures will be uniquely amazing. From dramatic clouds to romantic kiss under the umbrella shots, to flash off the rain drops, some of the most stunning photographs can come from some of the most dramatic weather. Embrace it and play with your photographer!
FLOWERS
Your wedding flowers will appreciate the extra moisture and cooler temperatures. You can take worrying about your flowers wilting off of your worry list on a rainy PNW day.
VENDORS
Your vendors will take extra precautions to keep you happy. Ask your bartender to whip up a special cocktail and give it a clever name like “The Stormy Weather”.
STORIES TO TELL
Rain gives your guests something to talk about and provides you with a good story to tell.
Photography: Leon Villagomez
See some more of our expert wedding tips:
Elevate your wedding with a lounge seating area
7 things to do AFTER your wedding
How to incorporate unique traditions into your wedding
Elevate Your Wedding With a Lounge Seating Area
Get Cozy
Wedding lounges are one wedding trend we can definitely get cozy with! Think of these as a little living room for your guests. A place to relax, mingle, and connect with old friends!
As well as bringing your unique style to your wedding, lounges show guests how thoughtful you are as hosts to go above and beyond to provide special touches to the day.
Your venue may provide a lounge area but if not, rentals of unique, sofas and arm chairs to create a special space.
Here are a few of the lounges we’ve designed for our most stylish brides and grooms:
No matter you wedding style or location, there is furniture that will fit your aesthetic, decor, and details.
Say Thank You to Your Squad with a Bridal Party Gift
I don’t know about you but gifting is my love language. One of my favorite parts of wedding planning is helping the couple say “thank you” to their bridal squad with fun and clever gifts.
Your bridesmaids and groomsmen are not only some of your oldest friends, they have been with you through all the stages of your wedding planning. You have made many amazing memories together, it is with this in mind that I recommend giving them a thoughtful and unique gift. When in doubt, shop local to wherever you’re hosting your wedding.
Today I’m sharing some of the fun ideas that our couples have given to their best folks.
Personalized jackets will keep your bridesmaids warm and in style late into the evening. Are you over the denim look? Try leather (faux) or an embroidered teddy jacket. <—— This is something that we haven’t seen yet but would love to snag!
Appeal to your groomsmen’s classy side with silver engraved pocket watches, a hammered money clip, or monogrammed cuff links.
She will always think of your special day over her morning cup of joe with personalized floral letter and gold handled mugs.
Fun and festive socks for grooms are always a hit at weddings and make for a great photo op.
Matching robes can be worn on your wedding day and for years to come. PRO TIP: Do not have bridesmaids names embroidered on the robe, they know their own name. Opt for a monogram or go without.
Flip flops, snacks, and energy drinks will get your girls through the day. Stash these goodies into cute custom travel totes.
WHERE TO SHOP
Bridesmaid’s World
Zazzle
Etsy
Things Remembered
SHOP LOCAL (we have plenty of wholesale accounts to suggest)
CUSTOM GIFT BASKETS
With Love, From PDX
Evergreen Custom Gifting
Happy Baskets
Modern Boho Wedding at Bridal Veil Lakes
This is a classic. What happens when a girl walks in to a bar? They flirt, date, move across the country, then he asks her to marry him with an epic proposal, and they get married. Done done, and done.
Okay, rewind. Rosalia and Jorge met in Chicago when she was a new host and he was a server. Their love quickly escalated and their proposal story is one for the books:
She worked at The Violet Hour (a cocktail bar) in Portland. At the time she was a server. Her friend and manager (their officiant) asked her to step in the back to talk about something quickly. She was taken aback and told him that she didn't have time as it was a busy Saturday and she couldn't leave the floor. He assured her that someone else would watch the floor for her and urged her to go and talk to him. When they got to the back of the building, there were other staff members there, so he said, "Let's go up and talk in the office." There were people in the office, so he said, "Let's step out on the roof for a second so we can speak privately." Meanwhile, she was racking her brain for anything that she had done wrong as she was sure she was getting fired. When they stepped out on the roof, there was a table full of candles, flowers, and champagne, and her friend/manager left and Jorge appeared to propose. They enjoyed the champagne on the roof, and when they went downstairs, their Al Green song was playing, the entire bar (including guests) had glasses of bubbles, her mom and best friend were there, and everyone cheers'd them. ❤️
The guys were dressed to the nines; sporting fun floral ties, stylish specks, and a top hat that only Jorge could pull off on his wedding day.
This less traditional couple wanted pops of color with a boho flare. Bridal Veil Lakes is a stunning property but it’s lush greens can make it hard to see neutral palettes. We love it when our couples opt for bright colors that contrast all the greens. Bridesmaids picked their own dresses in a variety of shades of pinks and burgundy. SELVA Floral tied these colors together with her FABULOUS floral creations.
Their lakeside wedding ceremony was made even better as their two perfect dogs (a King Charles Cavalier and an Australian Cattle dog) stood by their sides, baring witness to their love and waiting for a treat.
We loved getting to share in this special day. The fun colors, texture, laid back vibes, yummy cocktails, dogs….. and the love. So much love! Congrats, Rosalia + Jorge!
Vendors
Venue: Bridal Veil Lakes
Photography: True Grace
Florals: SELVA Floral Design
Catering: White Pepper
Cake: Back to Eden Bakery
Beauty: Kirstie Wight
Dress: Grace Loves Lace
Entertainment: MK Productions
Bar: The Violet Hour
Rentals: The Party Place + Something Borrowed (no longer in business)
Stationery: Rachel Street Press
Transportation: Lucky Limousine
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
7 Things To Do After Your Wedding
With so much planning going into your wedding day, the weeks after your wedding may leave you feeling a little disjointed. But it is important to remember that your wedding tasks are not all complete. there are things you need to do after you return from your honeymoon to preserve your memories and honor your guests and family. We’ve compiled a list of the 7 tasks you need to take care of the weeks following your wedding.
Your Dress
There are a few options for what to do with your dress after your “I dos”. You can sell it, donate it, and even “trash it” with a fun photo shoot. But if you have decided to keep your dress, find a trusted cleaner to clean and preserve your dress. Wedding dress preservation and standard dry cleaning are not the same so be sure to do your research and find an experienced specialist who can treat your most precious garment with the care that it deserves. The sooner the better. There may be invisible stains that will start to damage the fabric so we recommend getting your dress to the cleaner as soon as possible.
Your Bouquet
When it comes to preserving your bouquet, there are more ideas than ever floating around.
Traditional drying and pressing are beautiful options, but you can also have your flowers turned into a gift or keepsake to display around your home. Flowers can be turned into paperweights, resin letters, or even wearable lockets. Small gifts made from your florals can be a nice way to say thank you to family members as holiday gifts.
Your Cake
Traditionally the top tier of your wedding cake can be frozen and eaten on your first anniversary. In fact 49% of 2019 brides and grooms made this plan. While this is a fun tradition, frozen cakes are less than fabulous. Now days, bakers are happy to make you a FRESH anniversary cake (a smaller version of your wedding cake) to commemorate the event.
Thank You Notes
It’s important to remember that even in this day and age of digital communication, thank you notes should still be handwritten. According to the Emily Post Institute “contrary to popular myth, the happy couple does not have a year’s grace period in which to write their notes. All thank-you notes should be written within three months of the receipt of the gift.” Write early - Thank you’s can and should be drafted AS your gift arrives. Additionally, share the load with your new spouse over a bottle of your favorite wine while listening to a mix of your wedding songs, and make writing these notes a fun event.
Review your Vendors (Yelp, Wedding Wire, The Knot, Google)
Remember back when you were choosing your vendors? You may have read reviews from their previous clients. From venues to florists, to photographers, to caterers, to planners… most of your vendors will have accounts with major wedding sites such as The Knot, Wedding Wire, and other business sites such as Google and Yelp. Giving them a 5-star rating and review will help them to book more amazing clients like you. Think of this as a thank you note to your vendors. They will GREATLY appreciate your review.
Order your Wedding Album and PRINT your Photos
You’ve likely purchased a wedding package through your photographer that includes prints and an album. But if you just received the digital files, make sure printing photos is a priority as well as backing up the files in a few places. We recommend a combination of an external hard drive as well as cloud storage. You and your children will enjoy these for years to come so make sure to have prints in your home as well as a beautiful album to remember your day.
Take your Parents out to Dinner
Your parents want nothing more than to spend time with you, and what better way to say thank you for all the help and support they gave your during your wedding planning than to take them out for a nice dinner.
Destination Boho Wedding at Horning's Hideout
What happens when a southern couple plans a destination woodsy wedding to the PNW? Perfection. From the burgundy/dusty mauve color palette to the magical boho florals, no detail was left unturned (especially in the desserts category).
From our Junebug Weddings Feature:
When Shannon and Ian were planning their fairytale forest wedding, they took to Google to search for inspiration and fell madly in love with Horning’s Hideout! Shannon has a natural love for the environment, so it was important that the natural beauty of the venue shine through with minimal decor. Selva Floral Design did a magical job creating arrangements for the ceremony arch and reception area that complimented the enchanting forest vibes. If you love all things whimsical, we think you’re going to swoon over these photos by The Soft Season!
We love seeing bridesmaids in a variety of dresses within a color palette. The different tones and textures create so much depth and gives your wedding extra personality. How do you plan on dressing your ladies?
When it comes to wedding details and ceremony backdrops, unexpected shapes and textures in the trees are kind of our jam.
Wedding planning advice from the bride: Pick your memorable moments, everything else will fade over time so only focus on the things you want yourself and your guests to remember and highlight them in a way which resonates with you to make them uniquely yours and so looking back those moments will always bring joy. Additionally, have a vision and stick with it, by having a vision from the beginning it helped cut down on the stress. Lastly, love your wedding photographer and their style. Highly recommend using social media to your advantage and looking at different photography styles to narrow down what you would like.
Here’s to an epic party in the woods! Clink!
A mixture of table shapes and surfaces help to create a beautiful and unique reception setup as well as helping to define your wedding style.
“We found it very important to maintain our vision for the wedding. We wanted to create a unique interpretation of traditional wedding elements done in a modern way which created a better atmosphere and flow through out the event. This wedding was our opportunity to thank everyone in our lives who had played an instrumental role in helping us get to where we are so we wanted to take some of the focus off of ourselves and instead create a memorable intimate wedding where each of our guests felt welcomed and appreciated.”.
When floral heaven lands on a dessert table, you know Selva Floral is in da house. Holy moly! This statement piece was designed for the ceremony altar, but we repurposed it for the dessert table. Wow is an understatement. Also, White Pepper Catering are dessert masters!
Vendors:
Photography: The Soft Season
Second Photographer: Courtney Meili Photography
Venue: Horning’s Hideout
Florals: Selva Floral Design
Catering: White Pepper Catering
Cake: Dream Cakes
Bar: Tiddly Trailer
DJ: Event Team Entertainment
Stationery: Polka Dot Paper
Makeup: Lauren Maher Makeup
Hair: The Beaty Briar
Wedding Dress: THEIA Couture, Louvienne va Lovely Bride
Groom Attire: Idlewood Bespoke
Rentals: Party Place, Classic Vintage Rentals
Featured on Junebug Weddings
Step Up Your Wedding Signage to Suit Your Style
While most wedding decor is purely decorative, wedding signage has the added bonus of being utilitarian. It serves to tell your guests what is coming up throughout the day. Wedding signs can help to add to the aesthetic as well as set the tone for the day.
When having our design meeting, we discuss color palette, metal tones, and alternative textures/surfaces. Guests like to know where to go and what to expect and choosing signs that fit the style of your wedding serves as a twofer!
What Type of Signage do you want at your wedding?
One way to approach your signage is like a road map through the day. Use signs to let guests know if you desire to have an unplugged ceremony, or if you want them to share photos of your day with a unique hashtag. You can also let them know what’s coming up with signs pointing to lawn games during the cocktail hour, or sparklers during the sendoff.
Sparkler Send off
Quote
Unplugged Ceremony
What materials do you want your signs made out of?
Which materials you use say a lot about your style. Our current favorite is frosted acrylic but that style is often paired with our more modern couples. We want to celebrate your style! Some of our favorite material options are:
Wood
Chalkboard
Poster
Metal
Acrylic
Mirror/Glass
Wood
Acrylic
Chalkboard
What is your wedding style?
Do you define your style as rustic, modern, boho, or vintage? What types of signs you display can help show your guests what your style inspiration is.
Here are 4 bar signs, 4 different ways:
Where to source your wedding signs
A quick Pinterest search will show you how many vendors there are making wedding signs. The beauty is, there are sign vendors to fit any budget. Having worked with many professionals in the industry, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorites:
Etsy
Hey Halle
Letters & Dust
Fest Paper & Design
Crave Design
We would love to speak with you, learn your vision of your wedding and help you design your day!
How to coordinate mismatched bridesmaids dresses
“You can wear it again”
OK, so this may be a myth, but let’s take a new view of bridesmaids dresses and see their purpose. The purpose is to support the bride and her vision of her wedding. The colors, the fabrics, and the style all serve that common purpose. The wedding party is a painting and the bridesmaids are part of the palette. But there are many ways to achieve this.
It might be a misnomer to call these dresses mismatched when each one was carefully selected for each lady while considering the overall effect. Within each group, there are consistent elements that create a cohesive look.
Let’s discuss the main THREE things to start with when you’re thinking about dressing the ladies in your party.
Thing One: How formal is your wedding?
Thing Two: Who Are Your Bridesmaids?
Thing Three: What is Your Budget?
Same Color/Different Style
Same Color Family/Different Style
Color Pairings
All Unique Within a Color Scheme
We’ve been so lucky to work with such stylish brides who effortlessly rock this look!
Now check out some looks for grooms!
5 Best Oregon Scenic Wedding Venues
There are so many gorgeous Scenic Wedding Venues in Oregon. As wedding planners, we feel so blessed that our job takes us to new and wonderful locations each year! We often get to feel like a tourist our daily lives!
Today we’re sharing 5 of our favorite wedding venues and a couple of wish list ones too! There are so many venues across the state, this short list was hard to narrow down.
Domaine de Broglie
“Domaine de Broglie ceremony space is surrounded by vines and a grove of oak trees, perched atop the Dundee Hills for picturesque views of the Willamette Valley. Your guests will enjoy meandering through the vineyards while sipping our estate-grown Pinot Noir, then bask in the ambiance of our rustic outdoor fireplace. Domaine de Broglie combines elegance and modern architectural details in a romantic vineyard setting, perfect for creating amazing photography and charming experiences to be remembered for a lifetime.”
What we love: the sweeping views and the oak trees. This property is stunning!
Maysara Winery
“Maysara Winery offers one of the largest indoor and outdoor venues in Oregon’s Willamette Valley wine country. The stone and wood winery has a rustically sophisticated and majestic feel surrounded by 532 acres of Momtazi Vineyard. Whether intimate or grand, have the wedding or event of your dreams with us here at Maysara.”
What we love: the huge winery doors. There are multiple ways to use their expansive property from their upper patio, lower patio, lawn area, inside the barn or under the trees. Sunsets here are divine with the BEST golden hour photos.
Photographer no longer in business
Bridal Veil Lakes
“At Bridal Veil Lakes we provide two covered areas for your use. Our open air pavilion and covered patio are situated on the lakeshore, allowing you and your guests to dine & dance in an amazing, romantic atmosphere.”
What we love: it’s no secret that Bridal Veil Lakes is one of our all time favorites. This family owned property is massive but thoughtfully landscaped with blooms for every season. Tucked into the trees, this private space feels magical…. oh and those canoes, they offer the perfect photo opportunity.
The Orchard
“Tucked deep in our family’s pear farm, you’ll find a lush secret garden with a meadow-like wedding lawn and reception barn with views of the scenic Hood River Valley’s pear orchards, snow-capped Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams, and the East Hills. Located 5 minutes from downtown Hood River and the best accommodations in the Columbia River Gorge, it is the perfect Oregon destination wedding location.”
What we love: the VIEW…. and the landscaping… and the reception barn. The list goes on and on here. We love sharing Hood River with our clients and this special place is the cherry on top. You won’t be disappointed.
Photo courtesy of The Orchard
Mt. Hood Organic Farms
“Mt. Hood Organic Farms is a unique, secluded, spectacular natural setting, both for growing fruit and for hosting events. A farm since the turn of the century, the spacious grounds include unique and historic architecture, spectacular mountain views of Hood, Adams, and Rainier, orchards, forests, fields and ponds, as well as luscious gardens. This award-winning venue is world renown and the near one hundred variety apple and pear orchard is the largest certified Biodynamic orchard in the country. ”
What we love: again, THE VIEW! Oh, the VIEW. It’s as if you can touch the mountain. This beautiful farm has many different pockets to create a custom layout. They have partnered with a fabulous caterer who will wow your guests with a fresh, NW inspired meal. But nothing beats concluding the evening on the lawn just outside their unique fruit processing barn - the sunset against the mountain is spectacular!
Wish list venues
These are venues that we have not worked at yet, but would love to!
Durant Vineyards
Surrounded by vines, the romantic vibes of growing vines and beautiful scenery are enough to make anyone swoon. A summer wedding’s ideal venue is a beautiful property with the sun and wine in abundance! And the wine…… oh so good!
Black Walnut
This serene nine-room villa is set above 100 acres of pinot noir and chardonnay vines, forests of Douglas Fir, and the Red Hills of Dundee.
They are perched at an elevation of 950 feet, offering spectacular views that are unmatched. Surrounding vineyards sit beneath an expansive horizon with views of Mount Hood and Mount Jefferson. Luxe accommodations create an unparalleled visit.
Black Walnut is the perfect romantic location for a small, private elopement ceremony for guests of the Inn. Elopements qualify as 6 or fewer total guests, including photographer and officiant.
*All descriptions are from the vendor’s websites.
Are you planning an Oregon wedding or elopement? I would love to connect with you!
Thinking About Hiring a Food Truck to Cater Your Wedding?
Plated dinner or a buffet used to be the only option when it came to how to cater your wedding dinner, but a newer option has popped up in the last couple of years. With the rise in popularity of food trucks, especially in the Portland Area, many savvy brides and grooms have been opting for a third, trendier option. Here are a few things to consider when deciding if you should hire a food truck to cater your wedding.
Food trucks:
Have the ability to offer unique fare at an affordable price
Have more menu options
Are less formal than traditional options
Look cool, make you feel cool
Can be brought in for a late-night snack
Provide easy cleanup
There are a few things to consider though before making your final decision:
Logistics/flexibility of the venue
Size of your guest list- you don’t want lines to get too long if you have a larger guest list (over 75 opp) consider hiring 2 trucks or stick to limited menu options.
Portion sizes, factor in 2nds
We HIGHLY recommend hiring a service to assist with food carts for ease of serving/bussing and all of the extra logistics that come in to play. Our favorite group Portland group is The Wait Staff Team. They can literally do it all.
Pro Tip: let guests pre-order their meals upon arrival for the ceremony as well as submit their order for each table at the beginning of the cocktail hour.
All in all, we think hiring a food truck is a fresh, fun option for our more laid back couples. Here are some of our favorite Portland trucks:
Solstice Wood Fire Pizza (delicious pizza!)
Koi Fusion (excellent food and quick service)
808 Grinds (food is great, very fast, and lots of leftovers)
PBJ Grill (YUM!)
PDX Sliders
The Whole Bowl
Rip City Grill (If you lose track of any guests, it’s likely that you’ll find them congregated around the grill)
The Mobile Scoop Shop
1927’s Smores
Creative Backdrops for Your Wedding Ceremony
As your guests take their seats and wait for the wedding to start, they are all taking in the same view, your ceremony backdrop. When you are at an outdoor venue or in a blank canvas indoor space, the options are endless for what type of altar to provide.
A few tips when choosing your Ceremony Backdrop:
It should be memorable
It should fit your style or theme
It should blend seamlessly with your venue or setting
Here are some of the creative backdrop we’ve dreamed up with the help of our amazing brides and grooms!
Square 2 Post Arch with Floral Garland
Photographer: Sweetlife Photography, Floral: Swoon Floral Design / Heirbloom Floral Design
Square 2 Post Arch with Floral Garland
Photography: Grace Helen Photo, Floral: Heirbloom Floral Design
Double Triangular Arch with Boho Floral Accents
Boho styles are very much still on trend in the PNW. When elevating your wood or metal arch, decorate with pampas grass, feathers and lots of greenery and foliage.
Photography: The Soft Season, Florals: Selva Floral Design
Circular Arch with Full Floral
Phtoographer: Christy Cassano, Florist: Bramble Floral Design
Hexagonal Arch With Floral Accents
Didn’t your geometry teacher tell you you would learn useful lessons for the future in her class?
Photography: Sweetlife Photography, Florals: Distinctive Designs by Denice
Chuppah - 4 Post Square Arch with Floral Over Top
Traditionally Chuppah’s are used for Jewish ceremonies, but modern brides of all religions have discovered their beauty.
Photographer: Kristen Marie Parker, Floral: Vanessa Schmidt
Natural Backdrop - Majestic Redwood Tree
Maybe you are eloping to the forest this summer due to COVID-19 and don’t want to bring in a large ceremony backdrop. Let nature provide this for you.
Photography: The Soft Season, Florals: Selva Floral Design
Natural Backdrop - Magnificent Oak Tree
Many Venues have a standout natural element that will double as a gorgeous ceremony backdrop.
Whatever you decide for your ceremony backdrop, choose something that goes with your theme and decor, and don’t be afraid to think outside the box!
Romantic Summer Wedding at Barn Kestrel
Take us back to Shauna + Armando’s perfect September wedding at Barn Kestrel. This Romantic Farm Wedding was one for the ages. Full of vintage rustic glamour, complete with modern touches.
Sometimes we get so lucky with our Brides and Grooms that they put their words and feelings about their wedding in writing. Shauna + Armando were one of those amazing couples. Throughout this post, I’ll share their words with you!
Pretty, pretty, pretty invitation suite by Crave Design! We love how this set perfectly matched the details and florals from their beautiful day.
"First look! It was so emotional and such a loving moment. Armando has never cried in front of me and his eyes started to and it was one of the most emotionally happy moments we’ve had together. “
“Vows: waiting to hear each other vows made it so much more heart felt. Armando’s vows made me laugh out loud and made me cry tears of happiness.”
We set up a cozy lounge seating area for guest in the reception barn. It was the perfect place for guests to escape the heat and to enjoy watching all of their fun dances.
Perks of wedding at a Farm? Sunset Bridal Horse Portraits!! The four resident “cowboy horses” love hamming it up for photos which worked out well for our equestrian bride, Shauna, who loved being able to snap some pics with these beauties since she couldn’t have her own horse with her on their special day.
“Favorite moment of our day: our first dance. We had ours choreographed and the song was a reference to our video game nerdiness. We also had so much fun with our dance and the crowd went wild!”
“Advice as a newlywed: Make time to continue “dating” each other. Surprise each other and keep communication open! Do random acts of kindness…. and remember, just because the wedding is over doesn’t mean that the foundations of your relationship don’t need as much love and care as you gave before getting hitched.
Thanks, Shauna and your team for making our day so stellar!" ~Shauna + Armando
Vendors:
Photography: Sweetlife Photography
Venue: Barn Kestrel
Catering: Verde Cocina
Florals: Distinctive Designs by Denice
Hair: Ambrosia Carey
Makeup: Hair Mettle
Dress: Allure Bridals
Dress Shop: Ania Bridal
Bridesmaids Dresses: Show Me Your Mumu
Invitations: Crave Design
Rentals: Party Place, Bridge Wood Events
Dessert: Churros Locos
DJ: NW Mobile DJ Service
Bar: Bar Truck PDX
Photo Booth: Smirk Booth Photo Co.
Top 5 Best Portland Wedding Venues
Portland is such a rich and diverse city that I am lucky to be able to work in. When helping my clients choose their wedding venue, I’m able to offer them choices from urban to rural, with vibes that are industrial, rustic, or chic to suit their personality and style.
Today I’m sharing 5 of my favorite Portland wedding venues!
Castaway
Located at the edge of the Pearl District nestled near the Willamette River, this 1929 warehouse was home to the makers of yellow strand rope used in the original Portland Street Car. In 2007, it was painstakingly restored to its original glory and today serves as one of Portland's most awarded venue spaces.
This space is ideal for large gatherings year round. It can accommodate a wedding ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception dinner all in one large space. Some couples opt to rent their private parking lot to host their outdoor cocktail hour.
Blockhouse
Adjacent to Castaway, Blockhouse is an intimate gathering locale where meals are shared, connections are made and life is celebrated. This quaint and private venue is tucked away inside of Pomarius Nursery. Built around a chef-inspired open kitchen, you can host an intimate gathering, lavish party and everything in-between thanks to their extended patio space that can be covered with a tent or left open air. We LOVE all of the plants and nature that surrounds this urban space.
Anna Jaye Photography
Coopers Hall
Weddings at this urban winery, whether intimate or boisterous, understated or elaborate, are always beautiful celebrations to remember. Their team of highly skilled service industry professionals will ensure that the venue lives up to the occasion and exceeds your expectations. Conveniently located in Portland’s central eastside, Coopers Hall is only a short drive from many of the city’s most popular hotels. We love the proximity to downtown, the versatile space, and their excellent food!
Barn Kestrel
This historic property with a working barn, built in 1900, is one of the best-preserved barns in Clackamas County and one of America's finest. It is a ramp style barn featured on county historical tours and a tribute to Oregon's old-growth fir trees of the late 1800s. We love that Barn Kestrel has a space for everyone - the wide open field and large oak tree, the intimate lawn that can serve as your reception space, or their large barn.
Exchange Ballroom
An Urban Event Space with Stunning Rooftop Views. The Exchange Ballroom and Cascade Rooftop is located in on the east bank of the Willamette River within the historic Eastside Exchange Building. Our Ballroom boasts dramatic views of the downtown Portland skyline. We absolutely LOVE their rooftop with stunning views of Portland’s west side and the west hills. The ballroom is open and spacious, allowing for any vision to come to life. The Vibrant Table team operates an exquisite venue and delivers exceptional service.
I would love to connect with you and hear what type of a wedding venue suits your personal style!
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
How to incorporate unique traditions into your wedding
Weddings are full of traditions. From “something old, new, borrowed and blue,” tossing the bouquet, or being walked down the aisle. Many of these are a given, and will be incorporated into your modern wedding without a second thought. But other new traditions are popping up and our couples are thinking outside of the box and getting creative. Here are a few of the unique traditions we’ve had the privilege to witness at recent weddings.
UNITING THE GUESTS
During Alicia + Phillip’s ceremony, scarves tied together were passed across the aisle symbolizing the uniting of all the guests and the bonding of the two families. This beautiful gesture was a great way to make the guests feel included.
HANDFASTING
Lindsay + Andrew used a tradition that dates back to Celtic times. The bride and groom hold opposite hands (so their arms make a figure eight—representing eternity). Then, their hands are tied together with ribbon to symbolize a union.
SMOKE BOMBS
Shannon + Ian opted for a modern idea. Smoke bombs have become a favorite trend of Wedding Photographers. They used their wedding colors and surprised their guests with this dramatic effect.
FIRE JUMPING
Another Pagan ritual is to leap through the flames by jumping over a fire pit or bonfire. Ali + Eli were married on the Summer Solstice and wanted to incorporate a Pagan ritual into their coastal elopement. Midsummer has long been thought to be a time of magic. The purpose of jumping over the fire is to purify, also it’s believed to ward off evil spirits.
Do you have ideas for unique traditions you would like to incorporate into your upcoming nuptials? We’d love to hear all about them!
Remember it’s your wedding, feel free to get creative with it!
Cultural Bridal Veil Lakes Wedding
After a long wait, we’re FINALLY able to share this beautiful wedding that we did at Bridal Veil Lakes last August. The weather was perfect for a gorgeous day by the lake. We’re forever grateful to our rockstar vendor team who brought this vision to life for our sweet couple.
Lush. Moody. Ethereal. The florals were spectacular and Bramble Floral Design nailed it!
In their showcase of a venue, Jolei & Sameer treated guests to a progressive wedding, moving around the picturesque lake for various portions of the evening.
Text From the Feature by Oregon Bride Magazine
Upon arrival, those in attendance were treated to pre-ceremony appetizers and cocktails from Hunt and Gather, followed by a stroll around the lake to a flower splashed meadow for the ceremony.
Text From the Feature by Oregon Bride Magazine
Guests then meandered to the gorge overlook for cocktail hour and later landed at their dinner Destination, where they savored local delicacies under twinkling lights.
Text From the Feature by Oregon Bride Magazine
Sameer’s family is Pakistani, and Jolie grew up in New Zealand, with Irish and Filipino heritage, so it was important to them to represent both of their backgrounds in the celebration.
Text From the Feature by Oregon Bride Magazine
Their invitation suite included phrasing in English, Tagalog (Jolie’s family's language), and Urdu (Sameer’s family's language). To further customize the invitations and other decor used for the day, a custom logo was created, blending the New Zealand Silver fern and the Pakistani jasmine flower.
Text From the Feature by Oregon Bride Magazine
To end on a fun note, the couple and their guests danced the night away to an eclectic mix of music that included throwbacks to the 1990s and early 2000’s current top 40 hits and Bollywood/Pakistani tunes.
Text From the Feature by Oregon Bride Magazine
We absolutely loved working with this fun couple who put so much faith and trust in our design to bring their vision to life. A large scale event such as theirs required countless production hours, hundreds of emails, dozens of meetings, and a lot of hard work….. but it was SO WORTH IT. We did all of their planning remotely, without an in person meeting. Can you believe it? Congrats, you two!
Vendors:
Venue: Bridal Veil Lakes
Phtoographer: Christy Cassano
Videographer: Moving Pictures
Florist: Bramble Floral Design
Caterer: Hunt & Gather Catering
Rentals: Party Place, Classic Vintage Rentals
Dress: Trudy’s Bridal
Bridesmaid Dresses: Azzazie
Cake: Papa Hadyn
Donuts: Blue Star Donuts
Groom/Groomsmen attire: Sari Palace
HAMU: Olivia Hawthorne Beauty
Installation Crew: Flex PDX
Invitations/Signage/Programs: Letters & Dust
Music/DJ: John Ross Productions
Transportation: EcoShuttle