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Valentine’s Day Elopement Inspiration

From the Bride… Our wedding took place at a historical Farm in Southern Oregon. I was going for a beautiful rustic romantic blush wedding. We incorporated blush and ivory as our primary colors. We used vintage and romantic decor to create the perfectly beautiful pallet for our romantic wedding.

The morning of the wedding it was pouring down rain. My wedding stylist called and notified me to my horror that we had to put up tents. I had dreamt of my beautiful reception area under the large oak trees with cafe lights strung about in a huge canopy. I was devastated by the weather. By the time I got in the model to to be driven down to my groom for our first look at the farm the weather had changed. The day was so romantic because of the rain in the morning and the sun came out right before the ceremony. It was as if God was shining down on us!

The ceremony was the most romantic piece of the entire wedding. We built free standing doors for the ceremony which took place underneath a beautiful canopy of trees at the end of the farm. A model T escorted my and my dad down to the ceremony and Jason Mraz’s song “I wont’ give up” played as the doors opened and I walked down the aisle to my future husband. The aisle was decorated with ivory flower petals. After we said I do, we ran away to our getaway car, the model T. My husband had a secret surprise for me!

My new husband surprised me by taking me to another location a beautiful gazebo away from the farm. As our guest enjoyed the cocktail hour we enjoyed a quite moment alone after our I do’s. He had written a letter to me that was so beautifully written I couldn’t believe he came up with it! We enjoyed a quite moment and celebrated with a glass of champagne.

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Maggie Sottero

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Maggie Sottero Fall 2019

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On the eve of our favorite day of the year, we knew only super special events could grace the blog – and this elopement inspiration? Well, let’s just say it was made for this time of year. We couldn’t agree more with Brittany Lauren Photography when she says that elopements are the most romantic, and obviously, we couldn’t think of a better way to spend the day than in this gallery!

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Winter Weddings

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From the photographer… Inspired by the recent engagement season and the holiday that celebrates love, a couple of us Portland wedding professionals decided to get together and put together a stylish and chic Valentine’s Day Elopement to inspire brides who are romantics at heart because let’s face it, nothing says romance like eloping with just the person you love and your closest loved ones.

We kept with a color scheme of deep red, pinks, and gold to keep things modern and chic. Our bride wore a short dress slightly remnant of Jackie O with a gold belt and deep red floral crown and our groom sported a tux with a shirt decorated with the tiniest of hearts in honor of the holiday to update and liven up his suit.

We wanted to inspire an elopement because we believe they truly focus only on your significant other, romance, and the kind of teenage joy we all get when we’re with the one we love.

Photography: Brittany Lauren Photography | Coordination: Champagne Wedding & Event Coordination | Floral Design: Liz Rusnac Floral Design | Hair And Make Up: Cassandra Kennedy Beauty | Rentals: West Coast Event Productions

Rustic Wedding at House On Metolius

There are roughly one million reasons Oregon is awesome, but sitting high atop the list is just how darn gorgeous every inch of this northern state really is. It’s the kind of place where rustic, DIY weddings flourish and this beautiful day captured by FS Photography is a shining example. It’s breathtaking scenery meets crafty details meets yummy baked goods. Don’t miss a minute right here.

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Hotels + Resorts Weddings Outdoor Weddings

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Classic Weddings Rustic

From Ryan Flood of FS Photography… Margaret and Jeremiah crafted a wedding celebration that was unique to them, and stands out in my mind as one of the most meaningful and generally fabulous weddings I have photographed over the past decade.

To start, the setting was in the heart of Oregon’s Cascade Mountains, along a river that literally starts out of the ground a few miles from the venue, and then disappears again into the earth. It also home to some of the finest fly fishing in the Northwest. The House on the Metolius is a historic vacation property that has been owned by a various regional society families over the years. It has only recently been run as a boutique hotel & guest ranch. Given this, and it’s relatively remote location, it is a stunning Northwest mountain venue that stays off the radar ( a search for “metolius” on SMP did not return any results).

The wedding party and all guests stayed on the property for the entire wedding weekend. The actual ceremony and dinner were just a final celebration to a festive weekend. This was one of the most personal weddings I have witnessed, which is exactly what the bride and groom had in mind.

Margaret had her hand in most of the details, adding her own DIY touches. She sewed pennants & flags, as well as quilted felt table-numbers for the decor. Her father baked a dozen pies THE MORNING OF THE WEDDING (with berries that he picked)! Apparently, he had been working on perfecting the recipe all summer. It did not disappoint. The bride and bridesmaids collected all the flowers for the day themselves.

The meal was a mid-summer dinner served family style full of fresh, local, seasonal offerings. Guests enjoyed the food and great wine on the deck of the original cabin on the property, which jutted, somewhat perilously, over the river canyon. (The couple had done their homework, and made sure the structure could support the party.)

I hope you enjoy this wedding as much as I did. I feel it really captures the essence not only of this couple, but also of the joys of an Oregon Summer.

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Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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Hood River Orchard Wedding

I think we can all agree that whenever a wedding pro ties the knot, the bar is set a tad bit higher. We brace ourselves for something extra beautiful to unfold, and that’s precisely what happened when this floral designer-turned-bride said “I do.” She elevated homespun love to a whole other level, and we’ve got the full gallery of Zoe Lonergan’s captures just waiting to be swooned.

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From the Bride… As a florist who has spent many years working in the wedding industry, the most important insight I had in planning my own wedding was that I wanted it to feel, and truly be, homespun. I wanted it to be beautiful and classic, but also warm and welcoming. I wanted to have the freedom to create a timeline free of venue restrictions, and allow the party to last into the night. I wanted to do most of the work myself, getting the people I love involved in the process.

For all these reasons and more, my husband and I decided to get married on my family farm, an apple orchard outside of Hood River, Oregon, with stunning views of Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams and the surrounding rolling green hills and big, blue sky.

My husband said that the first time he visited the farm with me, he knew that we would one day be married there—it was the perfect, most romantic setting, and I am so grateful that we get to return to it often and that it will be in our family for many generations to come.

To me, nothing feels more like summertime bliss than fragrant peach and butter-toned garden roses, a perfectly sunset-colored dahlia, tree-ripened cherries from the farm, old silver teapots and pitchers, trailing ribbons, depression-era glass votives, old wooden fruit crates, Pimms cups, family-style meals, strawberry cake, and abundant, wildly arranged flowers. As we were married, the bees buzzed all around the bouquets and the sunflowers that my father, sisters, and I had planted all stood to salute us—it was heavenly.

I think the one element that set our wedding apart from others was the wedding camp we created in the barn and surrounding meadow and orchards. Because all of our guests would be traveling from out-of-state, we wanted to create a gathering place where people could come enjoy the farm and actually stay on the land. We transformed the second story of the barn into a dressing room, installed makeshift showers in a farm out-building, brought in teepees for daytime lounging, and made sure there was plenty of good music and beer.

Because everyone was at the wedding site all weekend, we had no trouble getting our friends and family involved in the work required to pull the whole thing off. Not to mention our photographer, officiant, ceremony musician, and florists were all close friends. Pete and I wrote our own vows and much of the ceremony. Every part of the weekend felt intensely personal, and I can imagine no happier feeling than watching all of my friends and family come together to throw us the most beautiful and perfect wedding imaginable.

Rustic Winter Wedding

It really doesn’t get any more romantic than two stunning high school sweethearts saying “I do”… unless, of course, those two sweeties are saying “I do” in a rustic meets glamorous wedding in the breathtaking winter wonderland known as Mt. Hood, Oregon. That’s the type of affair that just screams romance and you can see it all captured by Kimberly Kay Photography right here.

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Winter Weddings

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Orange + Blue Cubanisimo Vineyard Wedding

From Kimberly Kay Photography… Leife and Lyndsey are high school sweethearts who wed at the historic Timberline Lodge on Oregon’s Mount Hood on January 19, 2014. Their romance started like many high school sweethearts with outdoor adventure, dates and dances. Together, they have shared some of their most significant developmental milestones. As best friends and sweethearts they graduated high school, moved into their first place, struggled through employment, completed undergraduate and graduate school. Each have witnessed the other’s unique journey to become the people they are today.

When selecting a venue and style for their wedding the couple decided to do what they love most… a ski weekend! At a historic venue with an intimate gathering of friends and family they became husband and wife. After much hard work they are looking forward to celebrating the next chapter in their lives! Lyndsey and Leife tied the knot at Timberline Lodge, a National Historic Landmark on Oregon’s Mount Hood. After thirteen years of working together towards their shared goals they became one. The lodge itself provides a stunning romantic setting for wedding photography. Just a few months ago we were in Sunriver shooting their engagement photos where we had great weather and beautiful lighting. Thankfully, we had gorgeous spring like weather conditions for their wedding day… the mountain light was amazing, too. Shifting clouds in the winter sky of the Pacific Northwest provided us with numerous lighting effects.

The guests were all treated to a wonderful dinner. The bride and groom shared a small intimate gathering of family and friends in the Raven’s Nest at the lodge. One lovely winter wedding.

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Lazaro

Spring 2016

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Spring 2017

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There is nothing quite like an al fresco wedding at a vineyard. They are in a league of their own, and I haven’t met one yet that I haven’t loved. Oh to be able to rely on the predictably perfect West Coast weather. This particular wedding, though, is beyond words. The perfection that is ever-present, elevated by their love, and all captured by Turn Loose The Art.

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Outdoor Weddings Weddings in Wineries

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Portland Wedding at Jupiter Hotel

From the photographer… When Maurice was a teenager, he dreaded the days his father made him mow the lawns surrounding the budding vineyards near their home. Little did he know he’d come back to Oregon many years later to marry his bride on the same property. Cubanisimo Vineyards is in his blood, and he and his now wife Casey agreed it was the ideal place to get married!

They hired a good team of vendors, most on referral from the coordinator helping them plan their Oregon wedding from afar while they worked in NYC. Nadia of Creations by Ly led the way to a perfect summer wedding in Oregon wine country’s Willamette Valley. Colors of orange and blue made for a springboard of late summer inspiration. Casey also hired a stylist to add quite a few custom accents and details, something that really added to the rustic vineyard atmosphere. All these things together made a for a perfect wedding at a vineyard without relying on the often used wine cork theme!

Turn Loose The Art is responsible for the big, goofy grin on my face this morning, and it’s all thanks to this uber fabulous wedding they captured at the Jupiter Hotel. It’s overflowing with style and love, making this gallery one smile-inducing place to be today. See even more here.

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Hotels + Resorts Weddings

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From Turn Loose The Art …Two Portland transplants fall in love with their new city and marry there rather than heading back home. The Jupiter Hotel provided the perfect backdrop for their gay wedding. The hotel’s bamboo fit in perfectly with their green and navy wedding colors, the kitschy atmosphere perfectly accented their reception emceed by a drag queen.

They chose wedding gifts from local Portland artisans, ditched a typical wedding cake in favor of pie. Bryan danced into the wedding ceremony. Really, what’s not to love about this couple?

Couple Meets, Falls in Love on Instagram

It all started with a simple hashtag on Instagram. That’s how this dashing groom found the woman of his dreams, and that’s how their love story began. A few double taps, a mutual follow and their simple social media interaction turned out to be life changing. It ultimately led to a wedding captured by Alexandra Grace Photography so beautiful we think it should be trending, and you can see why right here.

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Whimsical Woodland Bridal Inspiration

From Alexandra Grace Photography…One day, Sammy was searching the hashtag “Jesus” on instagram. Crystal had posted a photo of someone giving shoes to a orphan, and tagged it “#Jesus”. Sammy found it, and liked it. Crystal got the notification and went to his page and liked one of his photos, too. They started talking online and getting to know each other. Since he was located in Melbourne, Australia, and she was located in Southern Oregon, they continued communicating online and eventually fell in love, long-distance.

Eventually, Sammy visited Crystal in Oregon and had a chance to meet her family and friends. They all saw what Crystal saw in him: genuine joy, a friendly spirit, and a catchy sense of humor. These traits also happen to describe Crystal perfectly. She later visited Australia to spend time with Sammy and meet his family and friends. In Australia, Sammy proposed with a gorgeous ring on a ferris wheel overlooking the city lights on one side and the beach on the other. They began planning their wedding, and Sammy then applied for a Visa to live in the US. Once he was approved, he moved to Oregon and they moved forward with their wedding plans.

I feel so incredibly blessed to have been invited by Sammy and Crystal into such a gorgeous, fun-filled, meaningful weekend with their family and friends. I met some wonderful people (including their family and friends that flew out from Australia!) and had the time of my life photographing their beautiful wedding day at Rogue Valley Country club in Medford. Oregon wine country set a stunning backdrop for their portraits and ceremony, and I hope these photos give you a sense of the joy and peace that define Sammy and Crystal – and shaped their wedding into such a cherished memory.

Ivy & Gold Photography is giving us a heaping serving of winter inspiration with this simple yet stunning woodland shoot at Pioneer Park. With a little bit of whimsy and a whole lot of lovely, this gallery is overflowing wit pure pretty. See even more right here.

From Ivy & Gold Photography…I had been dreaming up and thinking about how badly I wanted to do some sort of styled bridal shoot for such a long time, and when I asked her, my lovely friend McKenzie was willing to model for me! At first, I had only a tiny idea of what I wanted this shoot to become, but I was given extra time to plan & scheme due to our repeat planning struggles. (Which was for the best, really.) Between everyday life & Oregon’s unpredictable weather, I almost thought the timing would never work out. But it did! We didn’t let the fact that it was 38 degrees outside, or that the park I originally was planning this shoot for was randomly closed when we got there get us down, and I’m so happy about it. I love the results. Kenzie was so perfect for this simple, vintage, & slightly boho bridal shoot.

As much as I LOVE summer weddings, there’s also something so beautiful about Winter weather. The lighting is soft and moody, and everything is so quiet and calm.

I know it can be crazy to think about taking bridal or couple portraits in freezing cold weather, but Winter brides-let this be proof to you that taking some photos outside at your wedding is SO worth it! Even if you’re freezing while it’s happening, you can end up with some seriously lovely images to document a beautiful love and a beautiful event. Once it’s over, you won’t even remember being cold.

Photographer: Ivy And Gold | Covered Bridge & Wooded Area: Pioneer Park

Classic Fall Wedding in Oregon

Fall weddings are pure genius to me. Nature puts on the prettiest of shows, allowing couples to play off the pretty autumn palette. This beauty is the perfect example. Classic, beautiful and captured in a stunning fashion by Marina Koslow every image is pure fall perfection. See it all here.

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Portland, Oregon Wedding at Leftbank Annex

From the Bride…What was the most important part when planning your day? This is so hard to pick! I would say there were two big things, the ceremony at the Historic St. Francis church, its the church I grew up in and couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere else. The other must have was October, Bend in October is my favorite time/place. The royal blue color I choose was inspired by the deep blue October sky.

How did you choose the venue? I wanted a place (for the reception) that would be a great way to show off Bend to all of our friends and family who were mostly from out of the state-even some from England. Will and I love the mountains and wanted them to be part of the wedding decoration. The Mountain room was the only place we checked out because we knew it was the perfect place the second we walked in.

What is your favorite memory from your wedding? I think it was the overwhelming feeling of love and happiness that comes with having so many of our friends and family in the same spot! I wasn’t expecting it, that was what hit me the most when I walked though the church doors. That and the fact that Will had a tear in his eye when I walked it, he told me he wasn’t going to cry!

Personality packed and filled with style, this stunning Portland wedding at the Leftbank Annex captured by Lauren Brooks Photography and coordinated by Bridal Bliss is one you’ll want to spend time with today. Because it’s layered with love and thoughtful details, starting early with the paper from Press Engaged, making this gallery one inspiring place to be today.

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DIY Backyard Oregon Wedding

From Bridal Bliss…What a wonderful experience working with Sarah & Matt. It is refreshing to work with clients that have an idea of what they want, but are open to ideas from the wedding professionals they have hired. We loved the soft, clean palette and the juxtaposition of the exposed brick and raw space. There were so many personal aspects to this wedding, my favorite being the huppa Talit designed by all the guests. From the GORGEOUS wedding gown, to bringing in Portland’s hottest ice cream cart, Salt and Straw to renting gorgeous furniture to create lounge spaces, this wedding was one to remember.

From the Bride…When Matt and I met he was truly East Coast – he had not spent any significant time in the Pacific Northwest or even visited Portland. Portland (and I) quickly grew on him, and when we became engaged he advocated strongly for a Portland wedding. I cherished the opportunity to share Portland with all our friends and family for a weekend, and we both knew a Portland wedding would provide an interesting, relaxed and unique backdrop for our wedding.

From the beginning we knew this was going to be a big wedding. We could not imagine a day without all our friends and family. Despite the size, I wanted the wedding to feel intimate, like the dinner parties I enjoy hosting. Matt, meanwhile, hoped for a big band and fantastic party that lasted all night. Luckily, neither of us had to compromise.

We wanted the wedding to reflect our personalities, both as individuals and as a couple. I love the piano, so as guests entered we had some of our favorite songs playing on the piano, and we also used it for the ceremony. I walked down the aisle to an acoustic version of Adele’s “make you feel my love,” which was also playing when Matt proposed. And we recessed to the Beatles “Good day sunshine,” which set the tone for the rest of the party. To incorporate the love of all our guests, as well as the many East Coasters who couldn’t make the trip, we included a square of cloth in each invitation. In lieu of a guest book at the wedding, our guests were asked to inscribe their memories, hopes and wishes on the square. I sewed the squares together to create the chuppah that was used during our reform Jewish ceremony.

We currently live in Brooklyn but travel frequently to see friends and family scattered around the country. To incorporate all those stops, instead of table numbers we used the airport codes of all our common destinations and layovers (e.g., my dad was at table “SAN” because he’s originally from San Diego). One of Matt’s favorite details ended up being the place cards, which were the names we actually call our friends and family, rather than their formal names (e.g., “Uncle Bobby” instead of Robert). Some of our guests didn’t even look twice; it was natural for them to see their nickname.

One of the things Matt has come to love about Portland is the food. We were both excited to create the local menu, and we had the good fortune of working with James Fowler and the team at Devil’s Food Catering. Initially, we sent them a list of our favorite foods, and they ran from there in designing a menu that perfectly reflected our interests. We both love challah but you never get enough at Jewish weddings, so instead of bread we had loaves of challah at each table. To reflect the warm, intimate wedding I was hoping for, we served dinner family style. The menu also included late-night snacks in case anyone got hungry from all the dancing!

But we couldn’t forget the sweets. Neither Matt nor I like cake very much, so our favorite local ice cream shop, Salt & Straw, offered four flavors from their cart. Everyone on the dance floor soon transitioned to the ice cream line. My father requested that we have a cake, which turned out to be wonderful. We are looking forward to eating the carrot cake layer with homemade toffee filling on our first anniversary. But, when we cut the cake, we only ate the buttercream icing.

A dear friend of the family owns and operates a local winery. We knew we wanted to offer only Oregon wine and beer, and it was a perfect match when he offered to help us out. As a special treat, friends and family joined us for lunch at the winery earlier in the week. I also love creative cocktails, so we offered four unique drinks throughout the night. And at the end of dinner “Matt’s Scotch Bar” opened in an elevated lounge area. We offered some of his old world favorites but also some local selections from up-and-coming Portland distilleries. It was a fun way to add variety to the night and allowed Matt to celebrate with everyone in his own special way.

Our first dance was to Sam Cook’s “You Send Me.” I then danced with my father to Danny Kaye’s “Inch Worm,” a song we often danced to when I was a child, with my feet on his as we circled around the living room. Matt’s mom surprised him with a dance to “My Guy,” which bought tears to all our eyes. Both of our sisters gave beautifully personal speeches; my father very poignantly explained my personality in his toast; and Matt’s parents did a wonderful David Lettermen impersonation listing “the top ten reasons why Sarah and Matt should be married,” which included that they finally learned to correctly pronounce “Oregon” and “Willamette.”

We had expected the crowed to dwindle over the course of the evening, but we were excited to see that the buses returning to the hotel were overcrowded and everyone wanted to continue the celebration in our hotel suite. We woke up the next morning lamenting it was over and wishing we could do it all over again. And now back to writing our thank you notes…

Handmade weddings will always hold a special place in my heart. There’s just a certain kind of love pored into a DIY day that stands out in every detail. And from the handcrafted ceremony altar to the backyard reception, this wedding radiates love from the inside out. Have a looksy loo at the gallery from Anna Jaye Photography, and go pull up those pin boards right this second!

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DIY Oregon Wedding at Camp Lane

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Outdoor Weddings

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Al Fresco Whimsical

From Anna Jaye Photography… AnaMaria & Rick got married at a family home in Oregon City. They made the alter. They planted the grass at their ceremony site. AnaMaria’s mom did all of the reception decor and florals – some really beautiful work. Rick and AnaMaria’s brother laid bricks for the patio, prepped the yard and according to AnaMaria “built anything I asked them to” : ) You could feel all of the love and effort that went into this day and helped to make it absolutely beautiful.

This Bride is officially my hero. She is a DIY genius, and with the help of family and friends, she crafted the loveliest of parties packed to the gills with details so pretty you’ll want to pin each one. It’s summer camp meets rustic elegance, and it was all captured so beautifully I could cry by Laura Nelson Photography. Lucky for all of us, you can catch every moment here.

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Outdoor Weddings Rustic Weddings

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Casual Rustic

From Laura Nelson Photography…Peter & Kaite’s wedding lovely! She is one of the most creative people I know and created every detail of her wedding with love. It was a true DIY beauty, starting with the mini pies made by her grandmother and mother to the wooden flower boxes that graced every picnic table, put together by the bride and groom. There was so much love put into this day and being able to witness and photograph that was wonderful!

The setting couldn’t have been more perfect…well, we could have done with out the rain, but it made for sweet umbrella photos. This venue was a dream, surrounded by giant pine trees and lush forest. It was a beautiful day!

Photography: Laura Nelson | Wedding Dress: Vintage | Centerpieces: DIY By Bride & Groom | Mini Pies: Made By Her Grandmother & Mother | Rustic: Camp Lane

Rustic Elegance at Youngberg Hill

I just want to crawl in this wedding and live in it forever. Because not only is if overflowing with love, but it’s also styled in a way that is making my heart do leaps this morning. Every single detail dreamt up by Rose Bean Events & Design and captured by Yasmin Khajavi Photography couldn’t be more perfect if they tried, and there is even more to swoon over right here.

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Tented Weddings in Wineries

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Classic Weddings Rustic

From the Bride…The most memorable part of the day was the knowledge that everyone was there for us. It was very special to have that many people we love all in the same spot at the same time, having a great time together. It was a bit overwhelming, actually. There are not many times in life that it is a possibility to have that many people together, and for me, that was the most special part of the day.

We knew that we wanted to get married outdoors, and Oregon has the most beautiful wine country, so it wasn’t hard to settle on a gorgeous winery on a hilltop overlooking McMinnville, OR. We wanted the natural beauty of the setting to speak for itself, so we tried to stick with clean, modern, yet classic designs that enhanced the setting, without detracting from the amazing views.

We wanted the guests to feel comfortable, and to have multiple locations to steal way to share a glass of wine, and relax, so decided to set up an outdoor lounge area complete with blankets and pillows. It was fun to see people kick off their shoes and curl up on the sofa throughout the night!

I had my heart set on a lace gown with keyhole back, but when I tried it on, I felt like I was wearing someone’s tablecloth. It was the process of trying on dresses that really helped me to focus my love for clean lines. When I tried on the gorgeous blush Monique Lhuillier dress, I was sold. Not only did it fit in all the right places, it was comfortable and easy to walk in.

The colors of the wedding where set in motion years ago when my mom and I spotted a gorgeous arrangement in a department store. The flowers and colors were so stunning, we stopped to take pictures, and joked that some day they would be my wedding flowers. Having lost my mom 4 years ago, I missed having her hand in the planning, but felt that her presence and opinion were being honored by using the same flowers and colors we had chosen so many years ago. To top it off, the original bouquet in the department store had wine grapes incorporated — a sure sign the wedding was to be at a winery.

Neither of us was sold on a traditional wedding cake, so we opted instead for individual cheesecakes. Zoe Ann’s Cheesecakes, a local artisan baker, indulged us with delicious flavors ranging from key lime to peanut butter chocolate.

Yasmin Khajavi, our photographer, was recommended to us by multiple vendors, not only for her keen artistic eye, but also for her cheerful upbeat personality. It was hard not to be at ease with Yasmin, and have fun experimenting with different shots, and locations. Our photos perfectly captured not only the happiness of our day, but also the beauty of the location in a way I could have only hoped for. She is a true professional, and a beautiful person.

Sunriver Resort Wedding

DIY weddings will always hold a special place in my heart. They’re crafted from a true place of love and this Sunriver Resort affair is the prime example. Complete with handmade details from beginning to end, you can bet the gallery from Marina Koslow will be filled with one pretty capture after another.

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Spring Weddings

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Silverton, OR White Christmas Tree Farm Engagement

From Marina Koslow…Megan and Chris married at a lovely rustic venue in Central Oregon just minutes from the Cascade Mountains. It was truly a DIY wedding from start to finish. Megan worked with an artist on the invitation and did everything down to the font selection, color, material, all copy, buying the rights to photos and sourcing the printer. The designer did a great job of putting the vision together in her program and she created their logo. The bride also designed the welcome bags & notes, and the place cards and printed them all on her own printer. Chris handmade all of the signs and the altar from scrap wood he reclaimed from a work-site. Table centerpieces were named after runs at Mt Hood and two of the bridesmaids helped paint them, log rounds were provided by bride’s uncle who cut them at his ranch. Bride’s mom and aunts potted the flowers along the aisle. Vintage skis that guests signed were bought off Ebay. The music for the ceremony began with bride’s brother brother playing guitar to Pachabel’s Cannon in D, and morphed into a unique version of same song, followed by a special Kenny Chesney song, all of this put together by Megan’s Emmy-award winning uncle. He also ran the whole processional, as he’d designed the whole processional to walk perfectly to the music. It was incredibly timed. The band finished off the night with tons of dancing!

A Christmas tree farm engagement is pure genius. Honestly, I’ve been smiling since the moment I opened these images from Joanna Traeger Photography and it’s basically impossible to not be in the holiday spirit after spending some time with these beauties. It’s heartwarming, darling and filled to the brim with sweet details, and there is even more of this adorable shoot waiting for your right here.

From Joanna Traeger Photography…When I asked Esther about Kevin and herself she told me they were a fun and goofy couple and she wanted me to capture this during their session. Esther and Kevin love biking together, scrabble and just laughing and having fun. While they tend toward the silly side Esther still really wanted sweet and romantic shots that would show the tender side of their love.

To start the session off we incorporated this gorgeous 1920’s vintage bike. We added some cozy blankets from Vintage Mingle that this cute couple could cozy up in. The red chair is also from Vintage Mingle, it gave us a nice pop of Christmas red and provided a whole bunch of style. The theme of this shoot was winter meets stylish meets, sweet and fun. Esther and Kevin brought so much natural charisma to the shoot. It was not at all difficult to capture them being romantic or sweet.

To show the casual and fun-loving side of the couple, a cozy holiday winter picnic scene was created. This particular scene drew inspiration from the spirit of winter, the warmth of the holidays, and traditions new and old. Details of the cozy setup incorporated classic décor such as an antique shirred wool rug, vintage sled, cozy blankets, hot cocoa in mugs with knitted warmers, and ginger and short bread cookies. In reference to the holidays the tree was accented with lightly decorated red Christmas ornaments. Pilar wanted to reference the holidays without overshadowing the winter sophistication provided by the mostly neutral color palette.

I had a talented group of artist who helped make this shoot oh so pretty. Jacki Moore of Jacki Moore Photography assisted me during the shoot. Pilar of Vintage Mingle provided the decor, Urbaca Salon did a beautiful job on Esther’s hair and makeup, and Reds Creations put together the floral arrangements. Yummy vegan cookies were from Sweetpea Baking Co. and Bakeshop. The uber talented Emily Suidikas of Whichgoose made the veil and flower crown. And last but not least a nice local guy let me borrow his cool bike and White Christmas Tree farm generously allowed me to shoot on their property.

The Historic Balch Hotel Wedding

Is it just me, or is Oregon one of those states quickly climbing up on the “cool meter?” It seems every day more and more style-driven wedding are emerging from this unsung state, and truth be told, I kind of love it. My best guess as to why are the ah-mazing vendors like Jon Duenas and Lucy’s Informal Flowers coming on the scene. They helped pull together this gorgeous outdoor affair, and you can have a look at the whole shebang right over here.

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Hotels + Resorts Weddings Outdoor Weddings

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From the Bride… I was never someone who dreamed about my wedding day. So, being a 32 year old bride gave me no advantage of years of planning and scrapbooks. Instead, I started with a few things I knew Ezra and I wanted. We both wanted it to be outside. And we wanted it to be somewhere in the Pacific Northwest so we could show off our part of the country to our family and friends from New York and Texas. I also wanted to go somewhere just far enough away that it would feel like a destination wedding, without forcing locals to pay for flights. We wanted this to be a “weekend” not just something they’d go to for a couple of hours and then meet up with friends later.

The Balch Hotel ended up being the perfect venue for that. It was so fun to be able to have the majority of our friends and family stay in the hotel together that was completely just for us. We got to hang out the night before, have breakfast together, go on a walk the day of… it was like a weekend getaway with a wedding. And while I hadn’t really thought of all the details I wanted, luckily, my twin sister had. She and I brainstormed on a few things. I knew I wanted something romantic, vintage, rustic and with personal, thoughtful touches in the design. I knew I wanted a seated dinner with long tables and romantic lights hanging from the trees and live music. Between my sister, brother-in-law, and the work of all the vendors involved, what came together blew me away.

The day seemed like a blur (as I was warned it would) but my favorite parts that I remember:
-Ezra and I danced to “I Only Have Eyes for You” as our first dance, which was the same song his parents danced to at their wedding. So they joined us dancing to the song, which was really special.
-We had the most amazing sunset ever on our wedding day…so good, in fact, that all the festivities stopped for people to go across the street and take photos of the sunset over Mt. Hood.
-My twin sister and I are extremely competitive, so we had quite a few dancing competitions between she and her husband, and Ezra and me. I have to admit, their extra years of dancing together definitely gave them an advantage…but we have a lifetime of competition ahead!

My advice for other brides: Pulling everything together in 5 months was no easy task. If I had to give any sort of helpful hint to another bride I’d highly recommend using marthastewartweddings.com planning tools. Seriously, let Martha’s OCD and detail-oriented way be your guide. It tells you every week what you should be doing and keeps you on track. The budget tool is very helpful, as well. My other piece of advice is to make getting a really good photographer a priority. The day flies by and you want to have the memories documented well!

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DIY Oregon Wedding

To say I love this wedding would be the understatement of the century. It’s DIY done oh-so-right and oh-so-stylishly. With a vibrant color palette and adorable details, this gorgeous couple had a wedding day I’m sure their guests are all still talking about. See all the gorgeous images from Marina Koslow right here in the full gallery of images.

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Estate Weddings Outdoor Weddings

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DIY Inspired Whimsical

From Marina Koslow Photography…Rissa and Stephen planned a perfect getaway celebration at a private estate of Central Oregon. Living in California the bride and groom wanted an intimate celebration away from the hustle of the city. A true hidden oasis with stunning mountain views belongs to Rissa’s uncle, who has built the house from the ground up. The bride put in an incredible amount of creativity with tons of DIY details and ideas to make her day perfect. Her shoes were bought at a flea market for $2.50. Rissa’s mom found vinatge earrings at an antique store that were used to embellish them. Flowers and boutonnieres were made by the girls the day before and Rissa’s brother designed the invitations while she handmade all the envelopes and printed the stationary at home. Nomandic Tipi Makers provided the teepees set up around the property, one of which the couple used as their wedding night quarters. Nomandic also made leather teepees for Kevin Costner’s movie Dancing with the Wolves.

The wedding ceremony took place in front of the house and the reception was set in the neighboring meadow among juniper trees facing a summer sunset. All plates and silverware were mismatched and collected by the bride with much thought and care throughout the previous months. She creatively used old bed sheets for tablecloths and the reception setting could not have turned out more inviting.

Rissa and Stephen’s was a joyful celebration of love and friendship with those closest to the couple. Everyone had a lovely time in spite of colder than usual August temperatures and a few drops of rain. A colorful sunset was a sweet salute for the newlyweds who danced well into the night.

Photographer: Marina Koslow Photography | Cake: LaMagie Bakery | Catering: Tate And Tate | Bride's Dress: Bella Brides Bend | Tipis: Nomandic Tipi Makers

Rustic Oregon Wedding at Aspen Lakes

I took my very first trip to Oregon over the summer, and I immediately fell head over heels in love with every inch of that stunning state. So it’s no surprise to me when couples can’t think of a prettier place to say I do. This darling duo brought their nearest and dearest to Aspen Lakes for their rustic yet elegant nuptials, and I am sure their guests are still talking about it to this very day. See why here.

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Oregon Winery Wedding from Colleen Kerns

From Emily at Karson Butler Events…Jessica and Bryan were married in Sisters, Oregon at Aspen Lakes on July 6, 2013. Sisters is a special place to Jessica and Bryan, who moved to Oregon a few years ago and now call it home. The couple reunited after first meeting in middle school (both grew up in neighboring small farm towns in Northern California) and we designed a festive celebration that combined their love for all things country paired with romantic blooms and a touch of glam.

Guests were wowed with our grand entrance to the ceremony which was made with reclaimed barn wood and adorned with two beautiful wreaths. Mix-matched seating including vintage chairs and benches made the outdoor ceremony space cozy and relaxed. At the end of the aisle stood a custom altar we designed which was inspired by the local ranches in Oregon. An iron chandelier adorned with a bit of bling and single blooms finished the look. We loved the bridesmaids attire – festive dresses from Anthropologie paired with brown belts and boots! This wedding was truly a celebration of family – with everyone pitching in to help. The wood signs were crafted by friends, the dessert display included a collection of cake plates from the mothers, and the groom even made the seating assignment board!

We couldn’t have asked for a sweeter couple and wish these two all the best!

From the Bride Jessica…We chose Oregon for a few different reasons, the main one being that Oregon is always going to hold a special place in our hearts. Even if we don’t end up staying here, it is where we broke off from our friends and family, learned to rely on only one another and became a little family of our own. We also wanted to show all of our friends and family where we live and how beautiful Oregon is. My favorite part of the day was walking down the aisle with my dad, listening to a song that Bry and I love (Look At You Girl by Chris Laedoux), and seeing the most important people in my life standing up there and sitting on the cute benches and farm chairs. What an unforgettable moment I’ll cherish forever!

The pretty little state also known as Oregon happens to be one of my all-time favorite places in the world to visit, and I’ve often caught myself daydreaming about a lovely destination wedding of my very own in the land of fabulous wineries and amazing scenery. So this beautiful affair captured by Colleen Kerns is awesome…and filled to the brim with vibrant colors, fab DIY details (hello crafty bride) and enough love to last a lifetime. See it all here.

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