New 5 Star Wedding Review just in. Thanks, Jessica and Nathan!: “Jane is a wonderful officiant and we would definitely recommend her to others! She is kind, professional, knowledgeable, sincere, and spiritual. We were looking for someone who accepted both my husband and my different spiritual backgrounds and Jane was a great fit because she is accepting of all beliefs systems. She had great ideas and suggested several unity ritual ceremony options that were unique and we chose a tree planting ceremony that fit our personalities and venue making it a very personal and special ceremony. In addition, she offers life coaching classes as an option which was something we were looking for. She really helped us gain valuable insight about each other and our relationship. We were also able to get to know Jane better through those classes and it made having her officiate our ceremony feel that much more special. Jane we can’t thank you enough for filling such an important role at our wedding and excelling at it!” Click here to see review and read others on Wedding Wire.
Category: Services
Sunny Wedding for High School Sweeties
Best friends for almost 15 years, Kris and Nicole exchanged vows this morning in the lovely Abigail’s Garden at the Abernethy Center in SE PDX. Yellow roses, clear skies and smiles from friends and family made for a sunny start for their big day. Nicole’s parents (in town from Gearhart) walked her down the aisle and readings were given by both the Mother of the Bride and the Mother of the Groom. The couple created a keepsake box for their unity ritual complete with love letters, champagne and a beloved Yankee’s baseball. Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed a delicious brunch, photo booth fun and dancing under the big top. Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Saalfeld. All your efforts and planning came shining through and resulted in a wonderful celebration for all. Wishing you much joy in the years ahead. 
A Grand Garden Wedding
Everything about yesterday’s wedding at The Oregon Garden was heartfelt fun! Almost 200 guests watched as the bride descended the grand staircase and strolled down the grassy green aisle to her beaming groom. Other than a few sprinkles, the rain graciously subsided for the ceremony which included a rose presentation to both sets of moms and grandmothers; and a tree planting unity ritual. Dinner and dancing followed in the Grand Hall which was decked out in shades of blue and a thousand twinkle lights. Lawn games were provided by the groom’s dad who crafted wooden bean toss sets in green and yellow (bride and groom are both U of O grads). Sets were also gifted to the groomsmen in their team colors. The newlyweds are planning a honeymoon to the tropics in the Fall and meanwhile are enjoying being new homeowners in Tualatin. First on the “to do” list: plant their ceremony pine tree. Congratulations, Jessica and Nathan! May the smiles from your wedding day warm your hearts and bless your home for years and years.
Barn Wedding is a Family Affair
Transforming a barn into a wedding wonderland is no small task. But Scott and Valerie pulled it off with flying colors thanks to family members rolling up their creative sleeves. Every inch of space was utilized with no detail unattended. Twinkle light rafters, ceremony riser, hanging flowers, DJ station, photo booth corner and even a golf cart shuttle service. After the ceremony, refreshments were served in the “saloon” while the tables were set up for dining. Heaters and porch seating kept guests dry and cozy while allowing for sweeping views of the Premore family farm in Eagle Creek. Jars of homemade preserves were provided as the “thank you” to attendees who also enjoyed music and dancing into the night. After a honeymoon in the tropics, the newlyweds return to their PDX home to continue growing their business in aquaphonics. Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Wright – may the love that swelled our hearts yesterday be with you always. Fun: I was listed in the program as the “Premore Family Officiant” – I married the bride’s twin sister, Kim, last summer; and her brother, Owen, in 2010. No siblings left … maybe a cousin or two?
Wedding in the Woods
Surrounded by warm hearts and rich woods, Rachael and Zack exchanged vows this morning at the World Forestry Center in Southwest PDX. The intimate ceremony included acoustic guitar, a reading selection from Winnie the Pooh and a glass breaking ritual with a twist. Glass ornaments were enclosed in silk bags and stomped on by both the bride and groom as well as their young children, Rohan and Roxanna. Friends and family applauded throughout the service – so much love and enthusiasm. With a bow to the past, the bride wore a vintage gown and jewelry and sapphire blue satin pumps. Immediately following the ceremony, guests enjoyed refreshments catered by Elephants and were free to explore the wonderful exhibits at the center. Dinner was held in the evening at Andina’s in NW Portland. Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Radick, and may the joy of today’s celebration fill your hearts always.
Note to Brides: Consider venues like this if you have little ones in your wedding party or attending with guests. It’s a great way to keep them entertained.
Connecting Brides to a Mission
A Festive Heart is proud to partner with Adorned in Grace and their new Grace Note$ program. Every bride that makes a wedding purchase at the shop receives a Grace Note$ card with exclusive discounts from select wedding vendors. There are 16 categories offering a wide range of services from beauty products to venues. Best of all, Grace Note$ supports the efforts to promote prevention and raise awareness of human trafficking in Portland and beyond. Did you know that human sex trafficking is the largest growing organized crime on the planet? And it’s happening in our neighborhoods. Adorned in Grace provides a simple yet powerful way to help the cause. The store is staffed and managed by volunteers. The lease is provided for by Fred Meyer. All the gowns are donated. (And we’re talking exquisite designs, sizes 2 to 22, starting at $100). All donations are accepted with gratitude and what can’t be sold goes to their Design Studio where at-risk teens are taught valuable repurposing skills. Gowns worn with love … donated with love … supporting a mission of love. Make it your first place to shop and make a difference! Click here for store information.
Bling is IN for Brides
According to Portland area seamstress, Krysti Emerson, 2014 brides will be showing a lot of bling. In addition, lace will be making a resurgence in popularity. Krysti specializes in wedding gown alterations and design and has seen the trends come and go over the years. One thing that never goes out of style is making each bride feel special. Custom orders, adding a corset back, putting in a sweetheart neckline … whatever it takes to create the perfect look. Kristi’s motto would seem to be “Anything is doable.” And I love how she takes the mystery out of alterations by including a detailed price list on her website, Behind The Seams. NOTE: Kristi is also committed to causes. Find her newest bling sashes (shown here) at Adorned in Grace, the nonprofit bridal shop promoting prevention and awareness of human trafficking.
Home Sweet Home Wedding
At the heart of every wedding is the love between the bride and groom. When Danny and Sara exchanged vows on Sunday, that love was reflected in the eyes of everyone who had gathered at the home of the bride’s father. Love … and gratitude that Sara’s dad was making a successful recovery following his heart surgery (necessitating a change in wedding date and location) and was able to be present for the celebration. The intimate setting truly demonstrated the words from their first reading, “Marriage … is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.” Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed a luncheon buffet including apple pie cookies-on-a-stick that Sara’s grandmother made for the first time ever just for the occasion. After a honeymoon in the San Juan Islands, the newlyweds return to their home in Oregon City. Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. White! May your life together continue to be as sweet and special as your love.
Romantic Vista for Summer Wedding
Black, white and peridot were the colors chosen to create the sophisticated fun of yesterday’s wedding at the Oregon Golf Club in West Linn. The ceremony was held in the scenic rose garden under sunny skies. Romantic violins provided the program music as Natalie and Jonah became husband and wife. As a symbol of unity, the newlyweds placed their vows in a keepsake box and locked it with a key. Both the key and the box will have a place of honor in their home. After the ceremony, guests enjoyed drinks on the veranda before dining on grilled salmon, beef sirloin, asparagus and wedges of butter leaf lettuce dressed with gorgonzola and bacon. A cold seafood bar featured crab legs, jumbo shrimp and oysters on the half shell. A highlight of the reception menu was the elaborate sweets table that included handmade truffles, fruit tarts and white chocolate skeleton keys. Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Nelson. May life hold nothing but beautiful vistas for you both!
Sweet Vineyard Wedding
Sunny skies and lush landscape added to a perfect wedding yesterday for Hana and KC. The Camas couple exchanged vows and hosted their reception in Aurora, OR at the Aurora Colony Vineyards. Guests kept cool with straw hand fans as temperatures climbed into the 80’s. Stephanie and the staff of Petalos made sure that everything went smoothly from start to finish. Congratulations, Hana and KC. May your married life be filled with laughter and loving moments as sweet as your hearts!
A FESTIVE HEART 