It was perfect weather on Saturday as Kathleen and Auston exchanged vows in Abigail’s Garden at Abernathy Center. Sweethearts for seven years, the couple were cheered by friends, family, coworkers and their ten member bridal party. The ceremony, held in the garden gazebo, included a wine goblet ritual and heartfelt vows written by the couple. Tiffany blue was the dominant color of the day showcased in every lovely way from gowns to wedding cake (five layers of different flavors from Beaverton Bakery). The fabulous DIY centerpieces featured giant pompoms crafted from coffee filters and dyed what else? Tiffany blue. Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed a specialty soda bar and scrumptious appetizers including caprese skewers, crab cakes and strawberry/cheese/balsamic pastry puffs. Dinner was served under the big top followed by fun on the dance floor courtesy of the DJ from Bust A Move. The newlyweds will honeymoon in Cabo before returning to their Gresham home. Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Haskins! May your marriage be graced with love and laughter.
Category: PDX wedding
Relaxed Elegance at Garden Wedding
Yesterday’s wedding was the perfect blend of elements for sweethearts Danny and Shannon. Held at a private home in the Irvington area of Portland, the celebration combined a lush garden with lawn games, DIY flowers with jeweled dresses and catered cuisine with s’mores by the fire pit. A dining room table at Restoration Hardware brought the couple together (she was buying, he was selling) so it was fitting that they include a salt ritual during the ceremony. The blended salt will be used in their cooking as a reminder of the zest of their wedding day. The bride’s three sisters, two-year old niece and newborn nephew were in attendance as vows were exchanged under the backyard trellis. Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and beverages on the patio. The chefs from Art de Cuisine worked their magic in the kitchen creating a lavish dinner that included cedar planked salmon, tri-tip beef and roasted market veggies. In lieu of wedding cake, the couple served triple blackberry cheesecake with a chocolate crust from Papa Haydn. Yum! After a honeymoon in Belize, the newlyweds return to their Sellwood home and life in PDX where Shannon works in marketing research and Danny is completing his masters in statistics at PSU. Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Duncan! May your life be forever flavored with joy and laughter.
Hot Fun at a Farm Wedding
Yesterday’s outdoor wedding for Sam and Anna took place at Lolich Farm and was one of the hottest on record: 102 degrees! The only thing higher than the temperature was the spirit of fun among the guests. Everyone was smiling despite the heat. The groom’s Mom gifted the couple with the planning services of Allison Sims who, along with her trusted Reverie team, turned the blueberry gardens into an even more charming and colorful party venue. The ceremony was enhanced by gorgeous floral arrangements, acoustic fiddle and guitar and a processional across a wooden bridge. Bridesmaids wore varying pastel shades with groomsmen in matching pastel ties accenting their gray tuxes. The bride glowed in her champagne and ivory lace sweetheart gown. For their unity ritual, the couple created a keepsake box which included love letters and a bottle of Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir. Following the ceremony, guests cooled off with iced drinks including a mojito punch made by Anna that morning. Appetizers (scrumptious caprese skewers with the largest basil leaves ever) and a barbeque buffet were provided by Divine Catering. Following a honeymoon in the Dominican Republic, the newlyweds return to their home in Austin, TX. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Elsass! May each day of married life enrich the love and joy that you hold in your hearts today.
Wedding Unites Cultures at World Foresty Center
Family members with roots in three continents celebrated the marriage of Sonja and Javid yesterday at the beautiful World Forestry Center in Portland, OR. The groom’s father was born in Iran and the bride’s father was born in France. The mother of the bride hails from Connecticut and Javid’s mom was born in Louisiana. Alumni friends and family made up the fourteen member bridal party which featured the girls in hunter green chiffon with pink rose bouquets. The guys wore elegant black tuxes with champagne ties and vests. Gifted pianist, Andrew Ross, enhanced the ceremony with heartfelt music. Afterward, guests enjoyed happy hour on the patio followed by a lavish buffet dinner served by Dalton’s NW Catering. The newlyweds will spend the weekend in Portland before returning to their home in Renton, WA. They plan to honeymoon in Iceland next year. Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Yamin! May the joyful energy of your wedding day fill your hearts forever.
Wedded Bliss in Cathedral Park
Towering Gothic arches of the St. Johns Bridge provided a dramatic backdrop for Saturday’s wedding at Cathedral Park. Sweethearts, Rachael and John, said their vows beneath the iconic bridge as family and guests shared the sweeping view. The bridal party arrived in style and kept cool in the limo bus as temperatures reached to the mid-80’s. Gray and ivory were the predominant wedding colors and the gorgeous flowers (hand crafted by the girls) included soft shades of ivory, gray, pink and green. For their tree planting unity ritual, the couple chose a gingko tree – the oldest tree on the planet – representing endurance, adaptability and harmony. A reception was held at the North Star Ballroom. After the weekend celebration, the newlyweds returned to their Seattle home (the groom proposed on the giant Ferris wheel at Pier 57) and plan to honeymoon in South America next year. Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Prieto! May the memory of your wedding day sweeten your love for a lifetime.
Rustic Wedding at Historic State Park
Perfect weather and acres of old growth trees awaited guests at yesterday’s wedding celebration for Emily and David. Held in the Pavilion at Historic Champoeg Park, the ceremony blended old and new traditions under the huppah including a Jewish circling, the seven blessings and breaking of the glass. The unity sand ritual featured a mason jar belonging to the groom’s grandmother. Following the ceremony, family and friends feasted on a buffet of homemade vegetarian specialties including three kinds of lasagna baked by the bride. The newlyweds will relax for two nights in a cozy park cabin before returning to their home in SE PDX. The groom works for UPS and the bride is completing her degree in psychology. They are planning a destination honeymoon in the fall. Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Quinton … mazel tov!
3 Continents Unite at Joyful PDX Wedding
Family members literally gathered from far and wide to celebrate the big day for Tony and Maria. The wedding was held yesterday at the luxurious Sentinel Hotel in downtown PDX. Tony’s African roots were well represented by loved ones who crossed the ocean for the big event including his Mom who lives in England and his Grandmother who traveled from Zimbabwe. Born in So. CA, Maria was happy to have her Grandmother attend from Los Angeles; as well as local family members and friends. The spirit of harmony was felt throughout the ceremony and reception … so much joy filled the room it was palpable. And you gotta love it when guests dance before, during and after dinner. That’s my kind of party. The newlyweds will honeymoon in Cancun before returning to PDX where the bride is an esthetician and the groom is a software engineer for Nike. Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Tonderai Nemarundwe. May the love and harmony that graced your wedding day remain with you always!
Celtic Wedding at Bell Tower Chapel
It wasn’t just the Irish eyes that were smiling on Saturday. Everyone was glowing as Laura and Don exchanged wedding vows at the historic Bell Tower Chapel in Boring, OR. The bride’s mother lovingly adorned both the sanctuary and the reception area with touches of the Emerald Isle including shamrocks, a Celtic cross and a tapestry which she gifted to the newlyweds. The ceremony included the Braided Cord ritual and heartfelt Irish blessings. The husband and wife duo known as Innisfree provided joyful Celtic music for both the ceremony and the reception. As a special surprise, the groom (whose kilt was custom designed for the wedding) serenaded his new bride with Bonnie Irish Girl to kick off the reception. The couple who reside in Tacoma where they work with autistic children, left for a 4-day honeymoon on the slopes in Jackson Hole, WY. They hope to make a trip to Ireland later this year. Congratulations, Laura and Don! May the love in your hearts continue to shine and your blessings be many.

