Oregon Wedding Ideas and Inspiration

Stunning Cinderella-Inspired Oregon Castle Wedding

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A classic European fairytale but make it happen in Oregon! This Cinderella inspired celebration took place in one of the most luxurious new venues on the west coast, Château de Michellia. The couple traveled all the way from Seattle for this intimate celebration of a lifetime, and this upscale French-style castle venue ended up being the perfect backdrop for their romantic wedding vision. With a color palette boasting serene blues, delicate whites, and lavish golds, the entire wedding design radiated a sense of enchantment and grandeur. The day was sprinkled with royal fairytale-inspired elements that felt like a nod to our bride’s cherished childhood dream. From the grand chandeliers of the ballroom to the dreamy castle backdrop of the ceremony, every detail was meticulously curated to transport our guests into a world of enchantment, with the couple radiating the essence of a true prince and princess on their momentous day.

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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]Our bride opted for 4 gorgeous couture gowns throughout the wedding day – First a white traditional Aodai as a nod to her Vietnamese heritage, then a stunning royal ballgown as her princess ceremony dress, to a timeless white pearl-adorned cocktail dress to greet her guests, and lastly a dreamy blue ruffled gown (as seen on Cinderella) for sunset photos to truly tie together this magical fairytale affair.[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]All bridesmaids soft chiffon blue dresses echoed the “Cinderella Blue” theme that is seen throughout the wedding design, and made for a stunning contrast with the bride’s royal white gown.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]The groomsmen all wore navy vests and suits pants, which still complimented the “Cinderella blue” theme beautifully yet added depth and contrast to the soft pastel blue of the bridesmaids dresses.[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]For the grand ballroom reception, our couple chose a combination of western and eastern options. Signature dishes included baked salmon, crispy Asian pork, grilled steak, stir-fried chow-mien amongst others. The diversity of dishes ensured that the guests were able to taste delicacies from both the western and eastern culture as embodied by our Asian American couple’s ethnic background.[/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Our couple chose the soft blue as their predominant floral color, complimented by other in-season white and blush floral accents. The bridal and bridesmaids bouquets were kept strictly white and blue, while the grand full floral arch included more blush accents and stood beautifully against the majestic backdrop of the fairytale Château. The reception florals also incorporated hints of blush pink into the white and blue palette to give the ballroom a greater sense of romance and dreaminess.[/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]The couple opted for an all white wedding cake adorned with delicate all white butterflies, which echoed the butterfly detail on the tip of the glass slipper detail in the bridal flatlay pictures. A circle of white, blue, and blush floral meadow surrounds the cake and sprinkled a sense of magic to this ethereal celebration.[/field]
[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]The bridal entrance song to the ceremony was “Who is She?” By Patrick Doyel, which was played when Cinderella stepped into the ballroom and stunned everyone with her beauty in the original motion picture. The processional (La Valse De L’amoure by Patrick Doyel) and the recessional music (Cinderella chorus from Cinderella finale) were also both taken directly from the adapted movie version of this classic fairytale.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #1″]The blue ruffle dress worn by the bride during sunset photos is a direct nod to the dress worn by Cinderella at the royal ball.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]The bride included a miniature glass slipper with a blue bowtie in her bridal detail pictures, which featured a butterfly on the tip that was later seen in the wedding cake design. The blue bowtie on the glass slipper was also later seen as the bride’s hair accessory with her blue ruffle gown. [/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #3″]The stunning venue Château de Michellia features over 100 antique oil paintings, one of which happens to be a Cinderella-inspired “lady in blue” portrait and it was a dream-come-true when the bride took getting-ready pictures with the Cinderella oil painting.[/field]
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BBJ La Tavola

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Château de Michellia

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Blue & White ‘Ginger Jar’ Inspired Summer Soirée

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[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]A ‘something blue point of view’ was thoughtfully crafted around inspiration from the bride’s personal collection of beautiful blue and white pottery, also known as ‘ginger jars’. Each shade of blue was represented with intention whether it be the hand painted watercolor designs or soft hydrangea blue envelopes in the stationery suite; blue sapphires were incorporated on the Bride’s wedding band and the groom and groomsmen wore navy blue suites.
Bows were also thoughtfully incorporated in the details of the day. White linen bridesmaid dresses complemented with bows on the shoulders effortlessly matched the white bows on the ceremony booklets. The flower girl dresses had big bow sashes, the Bride’s second ‘dancing’ dress made a statement with a bow in the back and there were even bows on the brides heels![/field]
[field title=”Proposal Story”]Max and Claire grew up in the same hometown. With Claire’s childhood home at the bottom of the local Oswego Lake County Club golf course and Max’s at the top, their mutual family friend circles and close vicinity brought them together at a young age. When Max left private school and began attending the Junior High in town, their parents were reconnected at back-to-school night and scheming on how they could get the two together in the future. Fast forward to their freshman year of high school, Max and Claire officially ‘met’ through their mutual friends. What started as an innocent high school relationship ultimately withstood the test of time & change and lead to marriage 10 years later! The two share many mutual hobbies such as Summers spent boating on their local lake or winters skiing in the Oregon mountains. In January of 2021, Max proposed during their annual trip to Timberline lodge on Mount Hood with the perfect backdrop of blue skies and a white snowy mountain top. Just 18 months later they would tie the knot at the very Country Club golf course that connected their childhood homes all these years.[/field]
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[field title=”Wedding Gown”]The bride wore a strapless silk Monique Lhuillier ballgown – Bliss BL20119.[/field]
[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]The bridesmaids wore summery white linen dresses with bows on the shoulders from Diish.[/field]
[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]The groom and groomsmen wore navy blue suits tying in with the overall color palette.[/field]
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[field title=”Food & Drink”]Dinner was a fresh Oregon Summer inspired meal with vegetables from the Country Club garden. And drinks included ice cold lavender lemonade upon arrival to the ceremony and customized couple’s cocktails later in the evening – Hers: an Aperol Spritz with a blue and white stripe straw, an ode to the upcoming honeymoon. His: a Gin & Tonic with extra lime (the Groom’s go-to cocktail) or Theirs: Ginger Yuzu Margaritas![/field]
[field title=”Florals & Decor”]Blue delphiniums lined the ceremony aisle, vibrant hydrangeas cascaded down the wedding cake, head table and staircase banister. There were also unexpected ‘pink moments’ with a table of pink florals in the reception entry and a pink bridal bouquet. [/field]
[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Classic Swiss dot 3 tiered cake from local favorite, Papa Haydn, adorned with cascading blue hydrangeas [/field]
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[field title=”Special Detail #1″]The Bride has an impressive collection of blue and white ginger jars. The beautiful pottery was the décor focal point of the day, utilized as inspiration in the details suite, event décor accents and floral vases.[/field]
[field title=”Special Detail #2″]The bride’s younger sister (& MOH) is an extremely talented artist. It was important to the couple to incorporate her watercolor work in the details. From the customized venue painting on the invitation cover, to the envelope liner in the save the date and the wedding party place cards… her hand painted designs were one of a kind.
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Preppy East Coast Inspired Garden Party in the PNW

From the fashion to the floral design… every inch of this preppy east coast-inspired PNW wedding is the definition of timeless. These are the bridesmaids dresses that will spark an uncontrollable slew of “omg WHERE are those dresses from” comments in our DM’s – and it’s no surprise why when you see them! BLC Events brought the bride’s classic garden party vision to life, while Haute Flowers kept the blooms elegant and understated. See all the pretty at the full gallery – captured perfectly by Sweetlife Photography!

From Sweetlife Photography… Harrison and Morgan met in seventh grade at Lake Oswego Jr. High. They were good friends in high school but became especially close during their senior year. They were freshman orientation leaders together and shared a similar class schedule. While Harrison still saw Morgan as one of his best friends, Morgan started realizing that there might be more to their friendship. She looked forward to their classes together and she started getting butterflies when he would run up to her in his baseball uniform and say hi while she was at tennis practice. She liked the way he was around her family and she loved how close he was to his own parents and siblings. They laugh about it now, but Morgan and Harrison’s sister were also friends, and Morgan would ask Madeline to do reconnaissance on whether or not Harrison might like her back. Something must have clicked because, finally, a few weeks before graduation, Harrison admitted that he had been holding back feelings. Morgan still remembers how amazing she felt in that moment!

What they thought would be a summer fling turned into four years of long distance while Harrison attended Oregon State and Morgan went off to the University of Colorado at Boulder. They stayed committed to one another all four years and supported each other through the highs and lows of college. Following graduation, they moved back to Portland where they were relieved to find that the distance had absolutely been worth it! Two years later, after six years of dating, Harrison got down on one knee at Alloro Vineyard in August of 2020. Harrison had laid out a beautiful picnic in a private location and popped the question over two of Morgan’s favorite things: wine and cheese. She was completely caught off guard but so incredibly excited! They ended the day celebrating with their closest family and friends. It was the perfect start to their 22 month long engagement!

Morgan couldn’t wait to start the wedding planning process! Even though they had picked a date that was 22 months away from their engagement, Morgan didn’t waste any time booking vendors. She started with their planner, BLC Events, and then immediately booked Waverley Country Club as their venue. Since Morgan loves photography and named that element as one of her non-negotiables, she reached out to Sweetlife Photography the same day she booked their venue. They ended up being one of the couple’s favorite vendors because they were extremely helpful, responsive and enthusiastic about their different creative ideas. They felt like a partner in the planning process and Morgan and Harrison appreciated how organized and thorough they were leading up to the big day.

Morgan and Harrison wanted their wedding to feel like an elegant garden party; sophisticated but casual. The bride drew inspiration from classic East Coast events, chic, preppy style boards and sleek black-tie parties. She also drew inspiration from a beautiful set of Richard Ginori dishes, which she incorporated into menus, bar signs and the mother-of-the-bride dress. Morgan thought up many different wedding looks over the course of their 22-month long engagement but settled on a simple black and white color palette. It’s timeless! For a small pop of color, she opted for light blue, tiered, lace bridesmaids dresses from Self-Portrait. The beautiful grounds of the Waverley Country Club provided the perfect setting to execute their vision. The club is very classic and the green space was the perfect backdrop for their cocktail lounge and sailcloth tent; two things that spoke to their vision of an East Coast garden party.

Their wedding design reflects the couple’s simple, timeless, and classic style. More significantly, Waverley Country Club backs up to the Willamette River. The bride’s childhood home also sits on the Willamette River so Morgan and Harrison have many memories boating with friends and passing the Waverley while wake surfing, wakeboarding or cocktail cruising. The groom is also a golf fanatic, so having their wedding on a golf course was extra fun and meaningful to him!

One small but meaningful detail is Morgan wore her mom’s wedding shoes down the aisle! Her mom had preserved them so well and they fit perfectly. It was a special moment when she helped Morgan put them while they were getting ready.

Harrison also had his grandfather’s wedding ring tied into his tuxedo jacket. It meant so much to Harrison, his grandmother, and his parents to have him incorporate it into the day. Harrison’s cufflinks were also meaningful as they had been gifted to him at birth by that same grandfather, who passed days later.

Morgan and Harrison flew a custom flag on the Waverley flag pole! The flag was printed with their wedding monogram and it tied into menus and signage used throughout the day. The flag pole on the property is iconic and they received so many compliments on that custom detail!

During the wedding planning process in 2021, Harrison and Morgan temporarily moved to Las Vegas for Harrison’s job. They had such a fun year and they knew they wanted to incorporate that memorable time into their special day. To add a touch of Vegas to their reception, they thought it would be cool to do casino tables and print play money with their wedding monogram. Guests who didn’t care to dance enjoyed sitting around the poker tables and guests who spent a lot of time on the dance floor appreciated a space to “take a breather” while still participating. They made the room feel like a high roller lounge and it was close enough to the dance floor that people could easily flow between dancing, taking photos at the photo booth and trying their luck at a casino table. It was a huge hit and a unique activity that added an extra fun element to the night.

Something Morgan learned during the planning process is “if you can’t buy it, print it!” She fell in love with plates from the Richard Ginori Catene Nero collection many years ago and she always knew she wanted them as part of her wedding tablescape. When she began the wedding planning process, she searched far and wide but couldn’t find the plates or chargers in any local inventory. She could have had them shipped from a rental company in California but that would have been half of her wedding budget. Hard no! She felt defeated but she couldn’t stop thinking about the design. After a number of table setting iterations, she decided to play around with the idea of printing a similar chain decoration on the menu cards and bar signs instead. In the end, it achieved the unique visual element that she was hoping to incorporate and she saved a lot of money by adding the design that way instead of renting or buying physical product!

Morgan also had a unique journey to find her wedding dress. She found her original wedding dress on a mother-daughter shopping trip in LA. It was such a fun and special weekend looking for the perfect dress! Over the next few months, Morgan went through many alterations and, 3 weeks before the wedding, she did a final fitting and the dress was too tight. Morgan made the heartbreaking decision to completely scrap the dress and she started looking online and visiting consignment stores a few days later. She found the dress she wore online and had it rush-shipped to her house. Morgan found a seamstress who was willing to work with her on such short notice and it all worked out with 5 days to spare. Everything happens for a reason and she ended up loving the dress she wore even more than the original!

It truly was the best day ever! The couple had put so much time and energy into planning and the day went off without a hitch. They’re so grateful to their vendors for such a seamless wedding weekend! Some of their fondest memories were taking bride and groom portraits during sunset. The nerves from the beginning of the day were gone and all that was left was pure joy. It definitely came through in those photos! Morgan & Harrison loved posing together, kissing, and feeling like we were the only two people there. It was a lot of fun and a special time to relax, focus on each other and capture some wonderful memories.

Towards the end of the evening, another highlight was their outfit change! It brought new energy into the reception space and they were both more comfortable for late night dancing. The poker tables were also a huge hit! Guests loved having another activity option in addition to dancing and a photo booth.

When they got into the limo at the end of the night, they were beyond happy. Everything had gone so well! They had just finished an epic dance party surrounded by their closest family and friends and the love and enthusiasm put them both on cloud nine. They’ll never forget that feeling driving away from the venue that night! Pure bliss.

Morgan & Harrison left for their honeymoon the day after the wedding and spent 14 beautiful days in Greece and Italy. They visited Santorini, Mykonos, Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre and Venice. Santorini was definitely a highlight! It was romantic and peaceful and the food and views were equally exquisite. They can’t wait to go back one day! Morgan studied abroad in Italy and had so much fun showing Harrison where she had lived and traveled. They ate their way through each city, explored little alleyways and toasted to the beginning of their marriage with house wines. It was so much fun and they were very much riding the wedding high throughout the entire trip!

A Small Town Love Story Set on an Expansive Southern Oregon 100-Acre Estate

Unbeknownst to them, Alysia and Austin grew up just 2 miles down the road from each other in a small town in Southern Oregon. When it came down to choosing their dream wedding venue, nothing could compare to the bride’s parents’ very own backyard – on a sprawling 100-acre estate complete with the perfect reception-worthy barn! Marry they did, in front of their closest friends and family on a warm summer day. J29 Events brought the couple’s timeless wedding vision to life, with blooms by The Perfect Occasion (you have to see the ceremony floral installation climbing up the giant madrone tree – heaven!) Check out the full gallery by Sweetlife Photography to see every last detail from their special day.

From the bride… We grew up in the same small town together, attended the same high school, and shared mutual friends, but our paths never really crossed. After high school, Austin joined the US Navy where he spent 6 years as a Navy Diver, and I studied pre-medicine at the University of Oregon. Upon my graduating and Austin’s completion of his service in the Navy, we both moved back to our hometown (2 miles down the road from each other, unbeknownst to us at the time!). We met for the first time at the fire station where Austin was volunteering. We shared an extremely awkward hello, and the rest was history! We were attached at the hip everyday thereafter…He fell in love with my strength and drive, and me with his goofiness and impeccable jawline.

We dated for 2.5 years, and in the Spring of 2019 Austin got down on one knee in an intimate setting on a mountain riverbank, a place he fished as a kid. Funny enough, we almost ran out of gas on our drive out there because Austin was so nervous about the proposal that he forgot to check his tank! We were in the middle of nowhere, and had to turn around halfway to get gas before continuing our journey!

Soon after the engagement, we began searching for a wedding venue. We were initially drawn to the idea of a ceremony in front of the giant madrone tree on my parents’ 100 acre estate in the Umpqua Valley, but had some hesitation about the amount of work it would take. We were skeptical about whether it would be feasible to transform a former logging site, overridden with blackberries and stumps, into the beautiful wedding venue that we envisioned over a relatively short period of time. After weeks of looking at multiple other venue options, it became clear that none of the other locations felt quite right. We wanted to have our wedding in a place that was meaningful to us, and kept feeling drawn back to the idea of a ceremony by the tree on my parents’ property. My parents were touched by the sentiment and supportive of the idea so we decided to go for it, despite the landscaping challenges. Over the next year and a half, my dad, Austin and I, and nearly every other member of the family, poured our hearts into the soil, and it was ultimately transformed into everything we ever could’ve hoped for/envisioned.

Aside from the venue, I had a strong vision for a romantic, elegant, and timeless wedding with classic white florals, greenery, an abundance of candles, and dark wood tones throughout. I sought to hire a design team and quickly landed on Shauna Karver with J29 Events and Andrew Calvert with The Perfect Occasion to help execute the details.

Additionally, it was important to us that our photos feel as classic and timeless as the wedding design itself. After interviewing several photographers, we knew Jake and Anna Tenney of Sweetlife Photography would be a perfect fit. We fell in love, not only with the light and airy beauty of their photos, but with their unique hearts for marriage and the idea that it’s intended to last a lifetime.

When we think back on our wedding now, our fondest memories are related to the sentimental value that came from having it on my parents’ estate. Getting the property “wedding ready” was a labor of family love, with countless hours being spent landscaping, etc. Just knowing the amount of work that had been poured into that soil brought me to tears, and made seeing the finished product on our wedding day that much sweeter and more special.

With COVID travel restrictions, we were somewhat limited with where we could go for our honeymoon. BUT…immediately after the wedding we headed off to the Oregon Coast for a few days. And then a couple of weeks after that, we were relocated to Hawaii for several months by the Navy, so we sometimes consider that our extended honeymoon!

Historic Willamette Valley Farmhouse Hosts Romantic Alfresco Wedding Celebration!

This summertime Oregon wedding at the Barn Kestrel will take your breath away. Set on 1o incredible acres, Beckon Events planned and designed a day most brides could only dream of. Britlyn Simone Floral created romantic arrangements that were equal parts sophisticated and sweet. Every magical moment was beautifully captured in the artful imagery by Sweetlife Photography. You can see every darling detail in the full gallery.

From Allie at Beckon Events… The Barn Kestrel was the perfect venue for this Oregon alfresco wedding in July. Heather and Dan celebrated their special day among close family and friends and exchanged their vows in an open field overlooking the mountains in the distance. The happy couple received an endearing welcome of well wishes from the gentle quarter horse that resided in the venue’s pasture.

A striking historic sequoia tree shadowed the cocktail hour, providing ample shade by the party barn. The venue in its rustic charm complimented Heather’s color palette beautifully in her mauve, blush, and soft cream tones. The barn was enveloped in the lush greenery of Pacific Northwest pine trees that allowed for a quiet, intimate ceremony. Heather’s gown featured a whimsical volume of tulle with daintily placed floral lace motifs throughout the bodice and skirt to match her delicate Bella Belle heels. This ensemble perfectly built upon the organic floral designs of the invitation suite, printed in soft taupe & accented with a satin ribbon & custom wax seal.

The best man (and brother) of the groom gave a lighthearted speech that had guests bursting with laughter and tearing up at tender moments. Dan was his brother’s best man at age 21 and his brother, just over a decade later, delightfully accepted the role in return. The outdoor dinner reception decor rang true to its bucolic essence with a linear farmhouse table layout. The head table sat the bride & groom as well as their bridal party with brown x-back chairs. Pale pink taper and pillar candles were scattered throughout the long table amongst organic smilax to provide a romantic warmth to the open-air dining experience. Guests of all ages soon after retired to the party barn for dessert and dancing. Heather’s two-tier cake was decorated with sweet roses that corresponded with the enchanting blooms of her bouquet. After cutting the petite cake bedecked with blooms and feasting on the variety of sweets at the dessert display, everyone eagerly took to the dance floor in earnest. The love was abundant between the newlyweds as they shared in celebration of this new season of their lives.

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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A Summer Private Estate Wedding In Beautiful Blue And White

For Kate and Kyle, the fifth time is the charm. This resilient and gracious couple had to reschedule their wedding day five times due to the pandemic, but once the special day finally came to fruition with the help of the planning team Bridal Bliss it was one for the books. The wedding was styled in tones of medium to dark blue and crisp clean white with greens mixed into the artful floral designs by Blum Floral. The love of the day shines in the elegant imagery by Amanda K. Photography, you can see every special detail unfold in the full gallery.

From Amanda K. Photography… The ceremony was held on an expansive lawn of a private estate, with one of the longest aisles I have ever seen. It was truly out of a storybook as Kate walked down with her emotional father, Mark! The bride’s brother, John, officiated the ceremony and was as sweet as he was humorous.

Post-ceremony guests were greeted to yet another English garden on the property with cocktails, a seafood station, and delicious appetizers. On the way to the reception they received table assignments from an escort wall and were seated for dinner.

A leafy print inspired by the bride’s Mira Zwillinger gown was used to create a custom monogram, and it was found on the bar facade, all printed items, and even the cake which was sitting on a table filled with florals. Tables were filled with lush florals, elegant La Tavola linens, and even personal crystal salt cellars. No detail was overlooked from a floral-filled stage facade to personalized menus, to branded water bottles.

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How One Beautifully Diverse Group of Vendors Joined Forces to Create This Inspiring, Must-See Editorial!

When it comes to a vineyard wedding, Portland, OR isn’t the first place that comes to mind, but after seeing today’s editorial, Villa Catalana Cellars will be at the top of your list! A diverse group of vendors came together to bring this styled shoot to life, working together to represent the BIPOC community, and have all of their voices heard on each and every detail! Photographed by Carlos Hernandez and planned by Indigo Event Design, you just have to keep scrolling to see it all, from the beautiful blooms by Jodi Iverson Florals to the romantic table design! Take a peek below and thank you ALL for this stunning editorial!

From Indigo Event Design…This inspirational shoot was birthed from a cry for more couples and wedding vendors of color, to be seen in the wedding industry. A cry for equal representation and a chance to be seen. It took place just outside of Portland which is unfortunately the whitest big city in America. While spouting liberal concepts, Portland‘s racist roots bear down hard on its minorities particularly BIPOC. Fueled by the black lives matter movement and the death of George Floyd; this diverse group of mostly vendors of color, came together wanting to push for representation, learn from each other, and provide a space to create beauty within our diversity. We worked collaboratively in almost every aspect of this styled shoot wanting to make sure that all of our voices were heard.

Our inspiration for the design of this shoot came from our mutual love of this breathtaking Vineyard, with its timeless elegance and old world charm. We wanted every detail from invitations to the floral to mimic it’s romantic, even ethereal, surroundings. We took our color cues from the Vineyard’s estate and gardens, using rich merlot, dusty travertine, pale peach, and cornflower blue. The perfect bridge between summer and fall. While these hues are an uncommon combination of both rich and light, muted and bright, we found this variation created great depth and interest.

The bride was crowned in full the beauty of her natural hair, and ever so lightly kissed with a touch of smoky taupe eye shadow, mauve lips, and flushed cheeks to add romance and tie in the warm accents in her bridal bouquet. The groom, sported a custom tailored gray suit with a bowtie that perfectly matched the brides bouquet ribbon.

We staged this small ceremony in front of the picturesque waterlily pond with the epic winery estate in the background. As they exchanged their vows the couple was perfectly framed by a foam-free, floral masterpiece. During the ceremony, we wanted to showcase different traditions, particularly African wedding traditions, starting with the tasting of the four elements. For couples not familiar with this tradition, it is a Yorùbá ritual where the couple gets a literal taste of the flavors that represent different stages within a marriage. Lemon represents sour, Cayenne represents spicy, vinegar represents bitter, and honey represents sweet. By tasting each of these flavors, the couple symbolically show their friends and family they’ll be able to stay together through it all… better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. At the end of the ceremony, the couple engaged in the jumping the broom tradition, which many take to be a symbol of sweeping away the old and welcoming the new.

The reception took place in arched walkway at the winery, with beautiful travertine stone columns. Natural light seeped in through the abundant grapevine greenery hanging from the wood beams above. The tablescape was set with a velvet cornflower blue tablecloth and a sheer sustainably harvested silk table runner. On each place setting had three mixed-matching porcelain plates with their own unique gold patterned accents. Also in mismatched fashion were the vintage gold candleholders and elegant gold pedestal vases. The stiletto thin glassware and flatware added just a hint of modernity to this primarily old-world classic tablescape. Each of the centerpieces appeared to almost float on the tablescape with it’s paper-thin Italian poppies, delicate sweet peas, cloud like cotinus branches, elegant lisianthus, stately garden roses, ocean pearls, and digitalis. While the centerpiece floral definitely gave off strong European vibes, 90% of these beauties were locally grown.

To finish off the night, was a decadent five tiered wedding cake with elaborate cascading floral made entirely out of hand-crafted editable sugar flowers. While COVID might limit the number of guests you can have, that doesn’t mean you can’t go big when it comes to your cake. After all, that just means more cake left over for you.

An Empowering Editorial at Easton Broad Inspired by Butterflies

The gorgeous gallery of images is almost as beautiful as the meaning and inspiration behind today’s shoot, dreamed up and captured by RTFaith Photography, with planning assistance from Shantilly Gatherings. This talented duo decided to create a shoot reflective of the transformation and growth our industry and our world is going through right now, elegantly embracing positive and necessary change. Please read the beautiful words from Shantel and Rithy to learn more about the creative process behind this empowering shoot – we couldn’t be more in love.

Vision Behind the Shoot

From the planner, Shantel Dix, and photographer, Rithy Tamba… “Change does Not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.” -MLK
The inspiration behind the Empowerment Bridal shoot came to us in three stages and the shoot itself went through a transformation while it was in the developmental phase. As artists, we observe what is going on in the world around us and use art to reflect the change that we wish to see.

METAMORPHOSIS “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” -Maya Angelou
Shantel: I originally created the idea of a butterfly shoot as a fantasy shoot in a desire to reflect my own individual growth as an artist and a lover. Butterflies are gorgeous fragile creatures who undergo a full body transformation that requires strength in both body and mind. This is something people also endure in a metaphorical sense while journeying down the path of love with their spouse.

Adapting to change is necessary if you really want to be able to merge as a couple. Often your relationship will be put to the test many times causing your love to continuously transform. At the heart of my inspiration, my own relationship had endured many changes over the last year and our growth was truly worth representation, little did I know that the world around us was about to experience change as well.

PANDEMIC “Change is never easy, but always possible.” -Barack Obama Just as we had begun to cultivate this gorgeous vision, the world was hit with an unforeseen force that rocked the status quo. During this time of pandemic, many have been and continue to contemplate the state of normal we once accepted. I witnessed couples planning their weddings struggle with the pressure to postpone their weddings. As people have adjusted to our new normal, they began to embrace smaller ceremonies, micro weddings and elopements. It has been truly beautiful watching love continue to transform to conquer all adversities.

BLACK LIVES MATTER “I am No Longer accepting the things I cannot change. I Am changing the things I cannot accept.” -Angela Davis At this point I was beginning to call into question whether a butterfly shoot was the way to go, as we didn’t even know if we would be able to do a shoot at all. But this was my form of self expression where I could show the world the change that I wanted to see come about. Growing up I’d been to countless romance filled BIPOC weddings and as an adult I’ve helped beautify many brides and yet I still see very few represented in magazines and blogs. As much as I have always desired to see a face that reflects mine on the cover, I also wanted to see fellow vendors owned by individuals of color cited in these very same publications. I knew that this had to be where I began.

The Inspiration

What can I do to start the change I want to see? Change that is needed now. I realized that this shoot needed to become about more than just me as a Black woman, a Black mother, and a Black bride. This project reflects what I’ve always felt was missing from the wedding advertising industry: representation for the love and beauty of all Black brides. Now more than ever is the time to embrace positive change. Old ideas of what is considered desirable have often not embraced the beauty that is the Black woman. Just like the huge variety of butterflies, diversity is also a display of breathtaking beauty that should be shared with the word. I hope that you will assist us in our endeavor to show the diversity that true love encourages.

Vision in the Details

Butterfly veil It is said that when a butterfly flies in front of you that it symbolizes a change is coming and that you need to leave your past behind to embrace it. We chose four Black models to show the beauty, strength and diversity of the Black bride. There is not a huge diversity amongst wedding vendors in Oregon but this is changing rapidly and I am happy to say we had a group of very talented individuals. I suggest to not feel any qualms about reaching out and asking companies if they are BIPOC owned.

Rithy (Photographer)- styled the tablescape and the cake bar. The shoot reminded me of a modern romance, which we don’t often see featuring brides or people of color. So I wanted to keep the aesthetic modern, but have flowy drapes to create a romantic feel. The vision I had was a strong, but delicate table where the brides can sit and converse about all things near and dear to their hearts.

Advice for those planning:

Spring/summer wedding This is definitely a spring and/or summer wedding as butterflies respond much better to warm weather, also be sure to order butterflies native to where you’re getting married. We used fake butterflies ordered from a small company on Etsy that were made from recycled materials. I highly recommend this unless you can get butterflies locally so as to avoid any cruel treatment towards the butterfly in cross country shipping. Thrift give We thrifted a few background pieces where we could like pillows, throws and shoes adding into the sustainability of the shoot. I highly recommend thrifting for little decor and accent pieces not only is it good for the environment but it can cut down on costs and help you get unique pieces. Of course this is easier to do if you give yourself plenty of time leading up to your special day. Hiring an event planner can help you organize all of this and help you get your vision nailed down from day one.

All of our vendors were absolutely amazing and contributed so much. RTFaith Photography is POC owned and her beautiful photography lended to the soft and romantic feel while capturing the models strength. She also handled all of the details with perfect precision, from dress details, to table and cake setup. Her vision behind her film camera brought the shoot to life. Her cues and precision with the models brought chills to the room and we couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.

Easton Broad was the venue we chose, this female owned venue has urban appeal that gave us a modern twist that helped emphasize the strength behind the shoot. Finding a venue that fits your vision and will work with you towards your wedding is so important. Stephanie Mai is a POC Bridal designer which as it stands is hard to find and her work is absolutely ethereal. She helped us choose the dresses that would help bring both a modern and romantic feel on our Brides. Our florist was Knot and Fern, she pulled together a strong arch of feminine florals that perfectly framed our Brides.

Our models Shantel, Decontee, Mikaela and Karrin were all chosen for their strength during these trying times and their own unique beauty as Black women. Decontee told me that despite being a successful model even having walked in NY Fashion week she had never been asked to model as a bride and never expected to have this opportunity again because of the color of her skin. Our models had their natural beauty accentuated by Shantilly Artistry overseen by Shantel Dix with Hair and Makeup by Marissa Nwerem who is a multitalented Black Cosmetologist. They went for a rosey look to compliment the setting and bring out that Bridal flush. Vintage Meets Modern was kind enough to add in her sophisticated rental pieces that helped complete the overall aesthetic. This is a BIPOC owned company. Fat Cupcake created a sleek and modern all white cake with a white chocolate drip, white roses and white pearls. Those pearls matched the gorgeous gold earring accented with freshwater pearls from Amaree and Reese Jewelry a WOC owned jeweler. Adding into our sustainability we also enlisted Emma Brooke Jewelry who creates beautiful, modern pieces including the rings and necklaces from vintage or damaged pieces. Our crown and hair pieces were from Stem and Stone and Taimani Emerald Creative. Coordination by WOC owned Shantilly Gatherings.

From the florist… In a quest to expand my community I have been involving myself + my business in various collaborations with other wedding industry vendors. I met Rithy of RT Faith Photography while working on a styled shoot last year. We instantly connected and kept each other in mind for future projects, so I was delighted that she reached out to me to about working on a collaborative shoot based on a vision of make-up artist Shantel of Shantilly Make Up Artistry. I had not yet met Shantel but was excited to bring flowers to a photoshoot with butterflies as the main inspiration. So dreamy! During planning the photoshoot direction went through its own metamorphosis as the world around us was changing daily. This sweet and feminine photoshoot that would include a veil of butterflies became something much more profound, and Empowerment Bridal shoot. An opportunity to highlight some amazing Portland local BIPOC owned businesses while showing Portland a more diverse bride.

The day of the shoot was similar to the set-up of many other shoots I’ve been to. Everyone set up their hair and make-up tools, we began to set the scene by setting the table with gorgeous flatware and glassware, fun music played in the background and I started to build the floral installation that would be the backdrop. Golden hour was approaching and there was a clear moment that, in my opinion, set this shoot apart from others I have participated in. The energy pivoted, and everyone’s chemistry aligned. As we were finding perfect lighting and Rithy began to position the models she asked them to close their eyes, directing each model to embody a different vibe. She counted to three and these beautiful women opened their eyes with the some truly fierce looks. We all stopped and commented on how bold + beautiful it was. We all got the feels, jaws dropping, looking at one another and truly feeling the MAGIC. Shantel, Decontee, Mikaela and Karrin all posed with such confidence and poise. Their bold looks were just as beautiful as their smiles.

I am truly grateful that I was invited to collaborate with these women and proud of the images that came from this day. The message comes across so authentically in Rithy’s images, not only because of her talent but because the women shown in the images are truly beautiful Black empowered individuals.

Horse Lovers Will Fall Head Over Hooves for This Upscale Rustic Ranch Wedding

My country girl heart is swoooooning over today’s ranch wedding from Ashley Cook Photography! Cheerful blooms by Wildflower Portland and Summer Robbins Flowers, a tented reception, and the sweetest floral adorned, four legged friends – I mean, what more could a girl really ask for, are we right?! Gallop on over to the full gallery to see all the beauty of the day.

From Ashley Cook Photography… Ransom and Brandice were married overlooking the beautiful mountains of Tumalo, Oregon on a private estate. The couple focused on celebrating with friends and family and their four-legged family. From the family dog to Ransom and Brandice’s horses who watched over the whole ceremony from their field. When Brandice told me how she wanted her wedding to feel, she said she wanted an upscale cowboy wedding. Horses and country music, but also chandeliers, lush blooms and tuxedos for the men.

From the Bride and Groom… We were high school sweethearts who first started dating in the fall of 2008. It only seemed fitting to choose the first Saturday in October for our wedding day, as it was just a few days after our 11 year anniversary of dating. It was risky to choose a fall outdoor wedding in Central Oregon, but the day ended up being everything we could have hoped for and more. The week leading up to our wedding left the Cascade mountain range covered in a fresh coat of snow, making the most beautiful backdrop for our sunny and 65 degree outdoor ceremony. We were married in the hay-field of my childhood home as my horses watched and grazed on the same grass they grew up on. As my father and I walked down the aisle, we heard the horses whinnying in approval behind us. The weather, and the whole day, ended up being nothing short of perfection. To the best of our abilities, we added sweet surprises to every detail of our wedding day. My husband wore golden tiger’s eye cuff-links that belonged to my paternal grandfather, who passed away at the beginning of our relationship. I wore one of the first diamond rings my father ever gave my mother, and my mother wore my paternal grandmother’s wedding ring. Each bridesmaid wore hand-tooled leather earrings, made by one of my friends from high-school – the same friend was also hired to make beautiful leather-tooled wedding gifts for my husband and I from our best man, my husband’s brother. My mother hand-made every linen napkin as a favor for the 300 guests, and the menus and venue were adorned with our agricultural brand “B H R” signifying our first names joining with our last name in marriage.

Outside of all the planned details, we also had some serendipitous surprises. We were introduced for the first time and “Mr. And Mrs. Hayden” as our dog joined us on the grand entrance, bounding across the dance-floor with as much enthusiasm as anyone else attending the reception. She stayed for dinner, shifting back and forth between the sweetheart’s table and the bride’s family table – absolutely making herself at home among the guests. We also had a surprised arrival of our florist’s first-born child a day before the wedding – a beautiful surprise that taught us a lot about love, friendship, and trusting that everything works out in the end. Even with a few last-minute changes of plan, our wedding florals were the perfect, stunning bow-on-top of our wedding day decor.

From the Florist… As a Florist I often get asked by fellow vendors, “What event are you looking forward to the most this year?” Last year the answer to that question was always top of mind- Ransom & Brandice’s wedding on October 5th. Somewhere along the planning process Brandice became much more (!) of a friend than a client and I jokingly dubbed myself her fairy godmother. I was so smitten with this couple, with their love story, and I could not wait for their big day! I got busy planting flowers I would use at their wedding, sourcing leather to wrap their bouquets (etc, etc, etc) and then I got pregnant with my husband and my first child- due in October! The week of their wedding I shopped early- I was just so excited, and good thing because hours after leaving the flower market I was induced at the hospital! I remember asking the doctor if it would be alright to leave (go home and arrange, I thought) and come back. No such luck. So I thought, “If I have this baby today, it still gives me time to make it to the wedding;” that was Wednesday, and by Friday reality was setting in, I would miss the wedding of the year- that I had spent all this loving energy dreaming and planning. From the hospital bed, in labor, I coordinated with my Floral Designer friend- Summer Robbins. She and her team would take my vision and all of the flowers I had sourced, and they would deliver Ransom and Brandice’s wedding flowers. It was a collaborative effort I’m so proud of, eternally grateful for, and will never forget. Our baby girl was born one day before the Hayden wedding and yay- I’ll never forget their anniversary!

A Cheery Fall “Grazing-Food” Party

Inside a little blue cottage surrounded by lush gardens and golden light, this girl gang got together to host a beautiful fall soiree. Using the season and their surroundings for inspiration, they whipped up Spiced Honey Pear Margaritas, a delicious spread of homegrown “grazing food,” and topped the whole scene all off with personalized details. Take a look, take notes and take in all of the inspiration for your upcoming holiday festivities!

Dripping with ivory pumpkins, foraged florals, and autumn-inspired foods we gathered for an inspired luncheon with good friends. Laughter filled the cozy cottage as we worked together to create a grazing table of goodness of homemade foods.

We took our favorite wooden crate to our local florist and asked them to create a “foraged” looking centerpiece for the table. We also shopped small vendors on Etsy for aprons, leather name tags, and ribbon. We then purchased dusty blue tea towels which served as our napkins.

For the beverage, we opted to hire Roam the Bar to create a custom cocktail for us and then shared the recipe with our guests.

Spiced Honey Pear Margarita

+ 1. 5 oz cinnamon infused Golden Tequila (1 cinnamon stick to 1 750 ML bottle of Tequila. Infused for 24 hours and beyond)
+ 1 oz fresh-squeezed lime juice
+ 2 oz Hone simple syrup (liquify Hone into hot water)
+ 5 oz + fresh pear juice
+ shaken & served over ice

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Classic & Clean Indoor Spring Wedding Inspiration at Portland’s Sentinel Hotel

We feature a fair share of al fresco fetes, but that doesn’t mean that indoor soirees aren’t the cat’s meow. According to this slice of inspiration from Carlos Hernandez, Vanity Affair Events and Kaleb Norman James Design, they are. Natural light covers the stunningly set scene at Portland’s Sentinel Hotel for indoor intrigue. Layer on the candlelight and you won’t think twice if it happens to rain on your wedding day.

From Carlos Hernandez… Spring in Portland is all too often overlooked as an ideal wedding season, as showers force couples indoors. We desperately wanted to showcase a classic, clean, yet glamorous wedding with spring blooms and the seasons most coveted color: pink! Our focus for this shoot was transforming the iconic Sentinel Hotel into a warm, inviting and floral forward setting for guests to feel glamorous in even the years most rainy months.

In order to lighten the grand ballroom, we kept our tablescape monochromatic pink on pink velvet by La Tavola. We wanted to design a table that was both luxurious, traditional and showcased the use of color, especially with Pantone releasing Living Coral as 2019’s color of the year. We captured this intention with Kaleb Norman James’ off-centered abstract floral arrangement and acrylic menu cards, paired with traditional elements of a silver napkin ring, blush wine glasses, and hand calligraphy name cards.

The 3 tier white Italian buttercream cake perfectly fit our juxtaposition, with an abundance of white beading and a right aligned structure. However, the Galia LaHav gown from Dress Theory Seattle stole the show, with an oversized skirt, plunging neckline and glittered stars throughout. This inspirational shoot proves that April showers may bring your guests inside, but your day certainly won’t suffer because of it.

A Modern Tuscan Style Wedding with Cambodian Flair at Ponzi Vineyards

Subtle pops of Cambodian culture, stunning Tuscan-inspired designs and one seriously crazy-in-love couple! This gorgeous wedding planned by J29 Events and captured by Sweetlife Photography truly has it all. Seventh Stem Floral Design Co. created the most heavenly arrangements of rose-latte colored blooms and silver dollar eucalyptus. Believe it or not, this is actually the couple’s 3rd wedding ceremony (how amazing is that?!) Keep on reading to see all the romantic details of the day unfold!

From Sweetlife Photography… David and Melissa’s love story has taken them around the globe! They met in New York City, have traveled to 16 countries together, moved to Singapore (and back again), and have had wedding ceremonies in 3 different countries! Their marriage is recognized in Singapore, Peru, and the U. S. They understand the importance of celebrating a good love story, and they’ve celebrated theirs BIG! They were first introduced by mutual friends in NYC and began to fall in love on their first date when David attempted to fit a whole summer’s worth of activities into one day in Montauk. David has about 25 visas to Cambodia in his passport from dating Melissa long distance. Melissa, originally from Oregon, knew David was the one (or really just fell in love with him all over again) when they were in Cambodia with her late-grandmother.

David never complained about being in the countryside with no electricity or the comforts that you would usually have while traveling. He didn’t have an issue with not speaking English for more than 42 hours, and he ate everything which all of Melissa’s distant family loved. He was probably the only Caucasian person many of the villagers had ever seen. When her grandmother expressed her love for him, it was game-over. David loves Melissa for everything she is and supports her love for her heritage. “He has a Cambodian heart”, Melissa often jokes, and he now eats more Khmer signature dishes than she does! They were engaged in Tuscany in 2016. After moving to Singapore, David planned a romantic trip to Italy, sharing with Melissa the best of what Italy has to offer: wine, food and a surprise engagement at Castiglion Del Bosco overlooking the rolling hills of Tuscany. As Melissa’s girlfriends prepared for her bachelorette party, they gave David a series of fill-in-the-blank questions to answer including, “I knew I had found the love of my life when she…”. He answered, “No one moment but many times when I realized that all strangers love her.”

David and Melissa planned their Oregon wedding while living in Singapore and assembled the perfect local team to help them plan from abroad. Melissa is from the Portland area and has a couple of good friends in the wedding industry there: Kelley Kenyon of Seventh Stem Floral Design Co. And Paige Thammavong of Hey Halle. They joined David and Melissa’s team and were amazing resources for vendor recommendations. The first priority was finding a planner. Melissa and David interviewed several over Skype, but Shauna at J29 Events was the one. She always made time for the couple and went to bat for them on a variety of wedding planning fiascos. For other vendors it was a matter of choosing the best of the best. Melissa calls it ‘the dream team’. Photography was Jake & Anna Tenney, the husband and wife team behind Sweetlife Photography! David and Melissa met them initially over Skype and again in person during a planning trip to Portland. The couple considers it a blessing to have had Laura and her team at Hunt & Gather Catering for their special day (the food was amazing and working with Laura was a level of professionalism that is award-worthy).

For entertainment Jesse and his team at Event Team Entertainment did an extraordinary job rolling with the punches. Planning was a challenge given the differing time zones. Weekly calls with Shauna at J29 Events, along with the design board she created, guided them along and kept things moving forward. David and Melissa shared stories with Shauna of their travels and their love for life. Shauna knew that their celebration and party would be a fun one with lots of love and a great, positive energy. They were stuck between venues at the beginning, but once they were finally able to hone in on Ponzi Vineyards, it was easy to have the venue serve as the foundation for the wedding design: clean lines, various textures and surfaces, the beautiful view, etc. From there, they discussed (over many 6am PST Skype calls) their ideal color palette and favorite accent tones. David really wanted to incorporate natural elements such as wood or slate, while Melissa really wanted a roaming peacock (perfectly characteristic of her joyful personality, but sadly didn’t pan out) and really pretty flowers. Together, with Melissa’s rockstar friends, Seventh Stem and Hey Halle, and the rest of the amazing vendor lineup, their beautiful vision of nature + travel + good food/wine was brought to life, all with an elegant touch.

The wedding design was a blend of rustic Tuscany and Cambodian flair (what a unique blend!). So as to not create too much chaos by blending the two, they kept the fun pops of Cambodian color to cocktail hour held in a separate space and maintained the elegant, Tuscan feel for the ceremony and reception held on the great lawn. They were, however, able to add subtle Cambodian touches in signage and rattan baskets that also provided an extra element of texture in the overall design. The color palette was natural with elements of wood, and the florals were mostly greens and rose-latte for the accents (yes that is a color). It had a lot of style, and when the couple looks back at the solemnization they had previously in Singapore (again one of their 3 weddings they’ve had together!), they love that it had similar elements with eucalyptus and karaoke after-party vibes. A perfect mix of class and fun. Overall, the wedding vibe was fun and the feel was classy yet casual – perfect for their guests who traveled far and wide to celebrate such a special day in their lives. Melissa and David really wanted their guests to enjoy themselves and to be comfortable, a true nod to who they are as a couple. Their wedding reception took an unexpected turn just as Melissa and David were cutting their cake. David’s father suffered a sudden health scare. The couple handled the situation with grace and compassion, comforting David’s father until help arrived. The events brought an unexpected early end to the evening festivities, but once his health stabilized and he was recovering well in the hospital, David and Melissa enjoyed their first dance during their wedding after-party on the rooftop of Departure Restaurant & Lounge overlooking the city of Portland. There is no end in sight for David and Melissa’s globetrotting! The couple is currently planning a Patagonia honeymoon for 2019. They’re also considering plans for their 4th wedding ceremony, a traditional Cambodian celebration. Date TBD! Stay tuned.

Expert Decorating Tips for Your Lunar New Year Dinner Party

It’s the beginning of a new year on the Chinese calendar and we’re celebrating with our friends Joy Proctor, Carlos Hernandez and Heather from Myrtle et Olive! If you’re getting together with your loved ones tonight to celebrate the holiday, read on to find out a few tips from the expert herself, Joy Proctor Design, on decorating your table with meaningful decor moments that are perfect for Lunar New Year – from citrus fruits to bright hues that symbolize luck and happiness. Last but not least, don’t miss her recipe for Longevity Noodles that you have to try out!

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From Joy Proctor Design… 2019. Year of the pig. I invited some close friends to my home in Portland in celebration the lunar new year; a time to sweep away the difficulties of the past and make way for luck, happiness and longevity. I set the table with China and crystal from my cabinet, citrus to symbolize luck and beautiful menus and place cards by Steady Hands Creative. My good friend Heather of Myrtle et Olive arranged beautiful flowers for the table in colors corresponding to luck and happiness. My sister Elise assisted her boyfriend Andy, an incredible chef, in preparation of a lucky menu for our guests, each dish symbolizing a wish for the new year. Dumplings for wealth. Noodles for long life. Fish for a surplus of food, and sweet sticky rice balls to symbolize the togetherness of family. I invite you to celebrate life, luck and happiness in a celebration of your own using my recipes and tips for decor. From my home to yours, Happy New Year!

Decor tips from Joy Proctor Design:

1. For the table, choose a neutral linen so that the bright lucky colors pop. In Chinese culture candles are used for the dead, so don’t use any candles on the table as it will not bring good luck. Add fruit and citrus to the flowers and decor. Overflowing bowls of citrus symbolize luck. Break out your best crystal and neutral China to set place seatings. Rest wooden chopsticks on citrus fruits for added detail.

2. Remember that colors symbolize many things and shades of red, pink, purple and orange are more lucky. Avoid white, black and dark colors as dark colors are associated with death.

3. Don’t forget envelopes of money for good luck. These envelopes are often red or gold and traditionally list the families name on the outside. Heathers maiden name was on our envelopes which we used as beautiful favors.

4. Invite guests to get into the spirit by offering them hand embroidered fans to accessorize. The fans by Luneville were exquisite and added a conversation topic the history of embroidery which began in China and made its way to Europe much later.

5. Offer guests delicate sweets to take home like the gorgeous year of the pig and florals cookies made by Cake by Nicole.

6. Choose and use China that have patterns with meaning. The pieces we chose had the following meaning: Bird Crane present in Fans & Vases – Longevity. The pattern on gourd bottle – blessings & longevity. Floral & Bird Plate – Full Harvest.

Longevity Noodles Recipe

What you’ll need:

12 oz fresh thin, long noodles (chow mein or low mein. Tagliarini works really well too, but way less traditional)
3-4 T sesame oil (to coat cooked noodles)
1/4 c sesame oil (for cooking)
6 oz dried mushrooms (shitake, maitake, or whatever sounds good)
4 c water
1/2 c cornstarch
1/2 c fresh ginger, small dice
1/4 c garlic, chopped fine
1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced on a bias, keep the whites and greens seperate
1 1/2 t white pepper, ground fine
1 T mushroom powder
3/4 c shaoxing cooking wine
1 c carrots, peeled and cut matchstick style
2 c snap peas, cleaned and de-stringed
4 c chicken and/or seafood stock
3 T soy sauce
Black+White sesame seeds and Togarashi to garnish

To Cook The Noodles:

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
2. Add fresh noodles and cook for 3-4 minutes (5-6 minutes if dried)
3. Strain the noodles and rinse them with cold water. Put them in a bowl, toss them with the 3-4 T sesame oil. Set aside

Mushrooms:

1. Put dried mushrooms in a small pot with the water. Bring them to a boil, then turn off the heat and let them steep until they’re tender.
2. Strain the mushrooms. Save the water! Put aside 2 c of that mushroom water in a small bowl. Slowly whisk in the cornstarch to make a loose paste. Set aside.
3. Slice the mushrooms. Set aside.

To Finish:

1. In a large saute pan or wok, heat up the 1/4 c sesame oil on high heat.
2. Cook the shrimp for 2-3 min. Remove them and set aside.
3. Add the carrots and ginger to the shrimp oil and cook for 4-5 min, constantly stirring.
4. Add the whites of the scallion and cook for another 2 min. Then add the garlic and cook for 2 more minutes.
5. Add the snap peas and sliced mushrooms, cook for 3 minutes.
6. Season with white pepper and mushroom powder.
7. Add cooking wine and cook just until the smell of alcohol is gone from the pan
8. Add stock and soy sauce, and bring to a simmer.
9. Once its at a simmer, stir in a small amount of the mushroom broth/cornstarch mixture ****If it sits, the cornstarch settles at the bottom, so it needs to be mixed up again before adding it.**
10. Adding that mixture will thicken up the sauce more, so depending on the consistency you’re going for, you may want to use more or less.
11. Add your noodles, make sure they’re hot, toss them with everything else and ready to serve.
12. Garnish with sesame seed, togarashi and the green tops of the scallions

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Dare to Go Bare With This Modern + Neutral Inspiration

Working with classic wedding blooms like stephanotis and gardenias, Hart Floral Design transformed traditional bridal inspiration into all out modern romance. A neutral color palette infused with the palest pastels is paired with layers upon layers of gorgeous texture and modern details like lucite chairs. From the linens, to the invitations by Jenny Sanders, to that stunning gown by Claire La Faye, not a surface is left un-embroidered or adorned. Get inspired to put a modern romantic spin on your wedding day with all the pretty imagery captured by Maria Lamb.

From Hart Floral… After digging deep into an old Martha Stewart Weddings book from the 90’s I fell in love with her use of a classic bridal flowers stephanotis and gardenias. I wanted to combine old school floristry techniques of hand wiring with a more modern approach. This shoot is really about redefining what modern can look like and combing luxurious elements like Vietri Plates, La Tavola embroidered linens and full elegant flowers. We focused mostly on layering textures together of white, creams and beiges to really over emphasize and exaggerate the bridal moment.

This Mountaintop Wedding is the Definition of Rustic Romance

Here’s the thing about Michaela and Dave – they’re awesome. This is a duo that loves to ski and travel and when it came time to choose a wedding destination, they decided on one of their fave ski resorts, Kirkwood. A little bit laid-back, a little bit rustic and all sorts of gorgeous, it was the perfect, secluded venue for their stunning celebration that included some DIY details, a taco bar and an epic after party. So beautiful… and fun.

Kirkwood is Michaela and Dave’s favorite mountain to ski. They love the laid-back vibe, the awesome terrain and the seclusion from the rest of Tahoe. They kicked the wedding off with a rehearsal dinner and welcome party for all guests at Red Cliffs Lodge, complete with a full taco bar and games. In the morning, they prepared for the day in one of the many condos available to rent at the base of Kirkwood, then Michaela and David (along with their photographer) rode the lift up to the lower corral for First Look photos below the Cirque in the wildflowers and on the mountain trails.

The Ceremony took place in the Meadow at Kirkwood, followed by a reception in the Village Plaza and Wall Bar. Michaela’s cousins made the signs, cake and cake topper. They had their first dance to Adam Sandler’s “I Want to Grow Old With You” from The Wedding Singer. The guests kept warm by the fire with blankets provided by the bride and groom and they danced under the stars.

The after party was a hit at the Cornice Bar & Grill, followed by bagels and coffee the morning after. One of their favorite parts of the weekend was having the whole resort all to themselves and their guests. Walking around the village seeing all of the people they love was so much fun. Guests enjoyed hiking, mountain biking and swimming throughout the weekend, and many reported back that it was the best wedding they had been to!

Saying “I do” against a High Sierra backdrop is never a bad idea and Kirkwood makes it so, so easy with two gorgeous venue options and packages that are perfect for everything from those smaller affairs to those those larger celebrations – they can even accommodate up to 200 guests! We love the idea of tying the knot in their beautiful meadow or village, then dancing under the stars like Michaela and Dave at The Wall Bar & Grill… OR taking advantage of the panoramic views and fireplace at the Red Cliffs Lodge. Either way, you AND your guests will definitely enjoy the breathtaking scenery and cozy accommodations.

From your welcome dinner to your going away brunch, Kirkwood has you totally covered with everything from an on-site venue coordinator to village games like giant chess and Jenga to indoor and outdoor cafe lights. Contact their amazing staff today to get planning and be sure to ask about special lodging discounts, because you and your friends are going to want to hang out awhile.

Photography: Lauren Lindley Photography | Catering: Off The Wall Bar and Grill | DJ: Lake Tahoe DJ | Wedding Venue: Off The Wall Bar and Grill | Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Off The Wall Bar and Grill

30 Years From Now, You’ll Still Love This Wedding

Be it 10, 20, or even 30 years from now, Sam and Alexis’s wedding day captured by Sposto Photography and filmed by Moving Pictures will never go out of style. And while I love a good wedding trend, BLC Events planned this one to be traditional elegance at its finest – from the all white florals designed by Blum against the verdant, green grounds of the Waverly Country Club to the bride’s simply gorgeous gown.

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Classic Weddings

From Sposto Photography… There’s nothing quite like a classic black and white wedding. Weddings like these stand the test of time and are gorgeous through the ages. Alexis and Sam’s special day was no exception. Their romantic day revolved around the very country club the bride grew up near. With family roots that run deep in Portland Oregon’s community, this wedding offered nothing but class and elegance for the happy couple and their guests. Alexis walked down the aisle to the melodious sounds of a live string quartet while Sam anxiously waited to see her face for the first time. It was truly magical.

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This Wedding is the Most Beautiful Fusion of Garden and Sea

I’d imagine if you took a classic garden wedding and transplanted onto the beaches of Oregon, it would look just like this gem. Infusing the best of both worlds, fresh garden blooms by Hart intermingle with the prettiest seaside views and a tented celebration under the stars coordinated by Bridal Bliss. Have at the insanely stunning images from Maria Lamb and get lost in this beach wedding with a twist.

From the Bride… In planning our wedding one thing we knew straight off the bat was that we wanted to get married in Gearhart, OR. Marie’s family had grown up going down to the beach for years and when we started dating our first couple of vacations, which later became annual trips/traditions, were going down to Gearhart. From there the rest of the planning just fell into place based off of the venues recommendations, Pinterest and Instagram discovery and family friend referrals. We went on our first date nearly 7 years ago and had this instant connection, it was almost as if we had known one another for years. As Walt Whitman famously said, “We were together, I forget the rest.”

This Portland Bridal Editorial Captures the Effortless Style of Paris

There’s something especially Parisian about this Portland bridal inspiration session, dreamed up and photographed by Silvius James. Perhaps its Tendue’s walls which boast picture frame molding, the large windows that let in the most gorgeous natural lighting, the bride;s effortlessly chic bridal jumpsuit by Lena Medoyeff, or the purple hued palette (hello, Pantone color of the year!). Whatever it is, it strikes that balance between modern and romantic the French have absolutely mastered.

From Silvius James… Editorial, modern, fresh – all words that describe this inspiration shoot. A new venue opened up in Portland, Oregon, and when I saw the simplicity of the white walls detailed with trim, I knew it was an opportunity to do something different and new. I pulled together an A-list of wedding vendors in the area and styled what I can only describe as a modern day victorian style.

Selva Floral created some unique, new-age florals in muted pastel tones and accented with lavender spray paint. She foraged the flowers and botanicals and created something truly unique and beautiful. My model, Kim, wore a stunning bridal jumpsuit from Lena Medoyeff Bridal, which was the perfect modern look for our bride. We also photographed a velvet gown from her new collection as well for the more traditional bride. Kelsey Malie Calligraphy created a custom suite with a mix of lavender and cream cotton papers and lavender ink. My favorite part was introducing some charcuterie boards by Lena Gladstone of Lena’s Kitchen. Her styling is amazing, and I had to have her be part of the shoot. I think it added another dimension to the shoot.

7 Honeymoon Locales You Have To See To Believe

We’re true believers that honeymoons are an absolute necessity – whether that means taking a weekend excursion to your fave city or jetting off for a 14-day stay in paradise, that post-wedding relaxation basically needs to happen. But if you’ve found yourself at a loss on just where to celebrate, we’re making it easy. Check out seven of our favorite locales for the best kind of newlywed vacationing.

SHERATON MAUI RESORT & SPA

Why we love it: Other than the fact that it’s totally convenient (read: no passport or foreign currency required), the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa is the perfect combo of laid-back, post-wedding relaxation and fun activities that will keep you and your love basking in the sun. Take a scuba lesson or two, attend the nightly cliff dive ceremonies at sunset or spend your days golfing the Ka’anapali’s Royal and Kai courses.

What you can’t miss: SPG Weddings’ Honeymoon Wishes. It’s a honeymoon registry service that allows your family and friends to gift amazing entertainment and activities for you and yours, like beachside luaus, snorkel cruises and sunset cocktails on a sailboat. You’ll love the awesome itinerary, and your guests will love knowing they contributed to all of the fun.

W PUNTA DE MITA

Why we love it: Located right on the beach in Mexico’s IT city, W Punta de Mita will blow you away with their gorgeous decor that is one part modern chic and one part cultural artistry. Trust us: the design alone makes for one amazing stay with vibrant colors and unique decor dotting literally every inch of space. Oh, and the rooms? The views will have you never wanting to leave.

What you can’t miss: The world-famous restaurants. Think Southeast Asian cuisine at Spice Market, live cooking stations at Venazu, adult ice cream (!) at WET Deck’s poolside restaurant and signature ceviche at Chevicheria, a converted 1950’s Chevy truck. And if you want to keep thing ultra-private, make reservations at the exclusive MESA1 with your very own personal chef that will design a seven-course tasting menu just for you.

THE ST. REGIS BORA BORA RESORT

Why we love it: Honeymoons are for relaxing and escaping it all, and if you’re looking for the perfect spot to lay back on the beach and do just that, The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort is IT. This French Polynesian hot spot is all about soaking in the sun… AND partaking in some of the most unique activities on the planet. We’re all for renting an Aquabike Underwater Scooter, visiting a Pearl Farm or checking out the resort’s private Lagoonarium when you’re not lazying it up in paradise.

What you can’t miss: Their overwater villas. You can literally sleep, eat and relax in luxurious amenities perched right above the crystal clear waters of the lagoon. It’s awesome.

LE MERIDIEN TAMPA

Why we love it: This boutique hotel used to be a federal courthouse, so you know the architecture is awesome. On top of that, the Le Meridien Tampa’s Unlock Art™ program gives guests FREE access to some of Tampa’s best galleries and museums by just showing your room card. Which means you can spend your day soaking in the creativity and culture, then head back to the hotel for an amazing meal at one of their yummy restaurants.

What you can’t miss: Their Bicycle Programme. With an entire city to explore (and a list of amazing museums to visit), you can rent a bike, helmet and lock for just $8/hour.

THE WESTIN NEW ORLEANS CANAL PLACE

Why we love it: The French Quarter is just steps away, but that isn’t the only reason we adore this gorgeous hotel in the heart of New Orleans. From the stunning architecture to the awesome Mississippi River locale to their Make a Green Choice program, you’ll love all of the fab amenities of The Westin New Orleans Canal Place, plus their proximity to Bourbon Street. Not to mention all of the amazing restaurants New Orleans has to offer… there’s a reason it was named the top food and wine destination in the United States.

What you can’t miss: If you love to get your fitness on, you honestly couldn’t pick a better location. With a WestinWORKOUT® Fitness Studio located right on property and state-of-the-art equipment, you don’t have to miss your daily sessions. Plus, their RunWESTIN™ program allows you to soak in all of the sights New Orleans has to offer with custom running maps of the area, plus a towel and bottle of water for cool down.

SLS LAS VEGAS, A TRIBUTE PORTFOLIO RESORT

Why we love it: Anyone who has ever been to Vegas knows that it’s a city that literally never stops, so the list of fun-filled activities? Basically endless. The SLS Las Vegas, A Tribute Porfolio Resort puts you smack-dab in the center of it all with an amazing locale on The Strip and access to all of the gourmet restaurants, theaters and sightseeing you’ll want to take it. Get ready to go, go, go, then head back to your seriously stylish room for some rest and relaxation.

What you can’t miss: The Foundry. Vegas’ most talked about venue, this unique space hosts some of the greatest entertainers in the world – from comedians to bands you can’t wait to see. Plan your honeymoon around their awesome lineup and you’ll be SO happy.

THE WESTIN GOLF RESORT & SPA, PLAYA CONCHAL

Why we love it: If your dream honeymoon description includes the words seclusion and tranquility, then The Westin Golf Resort & Spa, Playa Conchal is right up your alley. We never turn down a chance to spend a romantic evening seaside with a glass of bubbly in hand, and this resort takes it to an entirely new level with all-inclusive benefits. Plus, with a plethora of water sports, the championship Robert Trent Jones Golf Course and the easy access to Costa Rican National Parks, you can mix in some much-needed adventure.

What you can’t miss: The Royal Beach Club. Newly renovated and for adults only, the Royal Beach Club is all about above and beyond service with everything from premium cocktails to exclusive breakfast + lunch service to access to a private pool and super luxe accommodations. You’ll even get preferential reservations to all of the resort’s fabulous restaurants, spa, tennis and golf.

Contact SPG Weddings (@SPGWeddings) to start planning your dream getaway with your loved one… and don’t forget to ask about how you can earn FREE honeymoon nights when you host your wedding at one of their fab locations.

This Minimalist Wedding Proves Less Is more

A great wedding doesn’t have to be overly complicated. This intimate, Portland wedding crafted by Vanity Affair Event Planning & Design is chock full of two of my favorite things – good food and understated beauty. The couple kept the decor minimal and romantic, letting the unique indoor outdoor space of Han Oak be the focal point. Dig into the beautiful gallery by Jenny Losee Photography and get inspired for a simple and sweet wedding of your own.

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From Jenny Losee Photography… Jisu and Sal are world travelers, and it is amazing they crossed paths one fine day to find each other. Jisu grew up in South Korea, and Sal grew up in New York. They met during graduate school in Los Angeles in 2010. Jisu moved to New Jersey for a year and a half, but they stayed together and did the long distance thing. Now they reside in a happy little cottage home in Portland both creating and designing for their careers. It is obvious they are creatives – just look at the style and elegance of this wedding! PS. Yes, the food was amazing.

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Spiced Honey Pear Margarita

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Spiced Honey Pear Margarita

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Decor tips from Joy Proctor Design:

Longevity Noodles Recipe

What you’ll need:

To Cook The Noodles:

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Bend

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