Category: Wedding Favors

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Cupcakes For A Cause

Jane Green

56806657_2261129590795829_1075094970626473984_nIntroducing THE perfect dessert treat for your celebration. Sarah Bellum’s Bakery & Workshop offers delectable sweet and savory cupcakes that look adorable and taste amazing. Even better, they do it with a purpose. Since opening in SW Portland six months ago, the not-for-profit bakery has provided return-to-work opportunities for adults with acquired brain injury. Small but mighty, the team at Sarah Bellum’s hopes to raise awareness about brain injury while delivering a scrumptious product. The ingenious name – a nod to the cerebellum in the brain – will give you some idea of the heart and humor at work here. With advance notice, the bakery can delivery a variety of mini or full sized cupcakes for your wedding shower, rehearsal dinner, celebration of life and receptions of all sizes. Check out the full range of flavors on their menu page. It’s hard to pick favorites but the cheddar chive savory is always a hit, as is the salted caramel. And the lemon-blueberry. And the chocolate-raspberry. And … okay you get the idea. Organic, bargain priced, delicious, gluten-free/vegan options and all for a fabulous cause. This is a love story that everyone can celebrate. TIP: You can also send guests home with a treat for fido – exclusive PUPcake gourmet dog treats.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Bellum’s Bakery & Workshop. 

custom wedding gifts, Green Weddings, local wedding gifts, PDX wedding, Wedding Favors, Wedding Gifts

Lover’s Leap to Give or Keep

Jane Green

Processed with VSCOcam with n1 presetIt’s that time of year again. Every Valentine’s Day, Steve Smith, a favorite Portland tea blender, releases its signature Lover’s Leap tea. Now in its eight year of popularity, this fragrant black tea blended with rose petals and chamomile makes a perfect gift for the love in your life. Serving tea at your wedding? Lover’s Leap is an ideal choice served hot or cold. And the attractive packaging makes for handsome favors for guests to take home. Gift sets are also available starting at only $30 and are an excellent choice for wedding showers or bridal party thank you’s. Be sure to order a box for yourself!

Brides, ceremonies, Downtown Portland Wedding, Event Venue, local business, officiant, PDX wedding, portland brides, summer wedding, Wedding Favors, wedding venues, weddings

Delightful Wedding at Double Tree

Jane Green

PhotoGrid_1499632553394Guests from as far away as New York and Illinois gathered Saturday evening for the wedding of Alice and Kevin. Both the ceremony and reception were hosted at the Double Tree by Hilton Portland hotel. Glittery gold accented the color pallet of ivory, peach and black which was carried out in gowns, bouquets, decor and a sparkling candy station. The ceremony featured a glass sand unity ritual – the blended sand to be used by the groom to craft a signature piece of art. After the ceremony, guests were invited to enjoy an open bar and hors d’oeuvres buffet which included mouth watering treats such as crab cakes and corn fritters. A lavish dinner buffet followed featuring Northwest salads, stuffed pasta, chicken, roast pork and a prime rib carving station. Entertainment included a photo booth and DJ tunes. In addition to the build-your-own candy box, each guest selected a succulent to take home (complete with “how to care for” instructions) courtesy of the family succulent farm. After a honeymoon in Cancun, the newlyweds return to Portland where Alice works in retail management and Kevin is a glass artist. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Murray! May your marriage be blessed with light and laughter.

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It’s All About The Blend

Jane Green

lovers-leapMarriage is all about blending. Ideals, perspectives, personalities, lifestyles … leaning into each other and complimenting each other’s unique attributes. And speaking of blending, I’ve always loved the idea of using special tea blends as wedding favors. It’s easy to create an attractive gift package to place at each setting or display in a “take one home” basket. Caution: Be sure to gift a tea that’s trusted and not from an import warehouse. Lover’s Leap, from Portland favorite, Smith Tea, is a perfect choice. Fragrant rose petals in black Ceylon accented with chamomile and citrus. You get 15 sachets per box individually sealed in a large (4″ x 2.5″), decorative foil lined wrapper. Want to take your wedding tea to the next level? Read my post about having Smith do your packaging and/or custom blend your wedding day tea. Here’s to happy blends everywhere!

Brides, celebrations, ceremonies, custom wedding gifts, Event Venue, Flowers, garden wedding, local business, Lodging, officiant, outdoor weddings, PDX wedding, portland brides, wedding ceremonies, Wedding Ceremony, Wedding Favors, Wedding Reception, weddings

Sweet Success for DYI Wedding

Jane Green

Jeromie 1From the invites to the centerpieces; from the gold painted signage to the 7 dozen chocolate chip, lemon and coconut biscotti she baked for guest favors; this bride’s attention to detail was a wonder to behold. The groom agreed citing her “magic touch” that made it all happen. And what fun for everyone! Nona and Jeromie chose McMenamins Edgefield Estate for their destination wedding held yesterday in Portland. Family and friends from HI, WI, TX and GA were on hand to enjoy the weekend celebration, many of them staying on site. The garden setting was perfect for the ‘Northwest country meets tropical isle’ theme. The palette carried out in straw fans; shades of peach, pink and coral for the bridesmaids and floral bouquets; and the men in tan linen suits. Vintage Hawaiian postcards were placed in a fishing basket after guests wrote their well wishes. Bubble guns and mini-bubbles for the guests added smiles to the ceremony as did the tree planting ritual. Guitarist and DJ, Michael Blake (a local favorite), provided the music for the event. After the ceremony, guests enjoyed cocktails and brews in the courtyard (along with a cigar bar) followed by a lavish buffet dinner featuring barbequed chicken and coffee barbequed brisket. Reception highlights included a serenade of At Last by the bride’s cousin and the newlyweds showing off their dance moves (those classes really do work). The couple will honeymoon in Maui before returning to their new home in Seattle where Nona starts nursing school in the fall and Jeromie is a surveyor for the State of Washington (squeezing in flying lessons when possible). Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Hunter. May the sweetness of your wedding day remain in your hearts forever. Mahalo!

Jeromie 2

Jeromie 3

Brides, celebrations, ceremonies, chapel wedding, Event Venue, Events, Flowers, PDX wedding, portland brides, wedding ceremonies, Wedding Ceremony, wedding chapel, Wedding Favors, Wedding Reception, weddings, winter wedding

Wedding Rings in the New Year

Jane Green

PhotoGrid_1451960874666Angela and Ryan planned on this New Year’s Eve being their most joyful one so far – and it was! The evening wedding ceremony was held at the McMenamin’s Old Church & Pub in Wilsonville which set a romantic yet fun atmosphere for the festivities. The color pallet of cobalt blue, purple and charcoal was showcased in bridal party attire as well as the decor. Satin rose bouquets were adorned with blue and white bling. Lighthearted touches included a trivia enhanced program and a take home s’mores kit for favors. After the ceremony, guests enjoyed happy hour followed by an elaborate appetizer buffet. The newlyweds, who met while working at Intel, are enjoying a tropical honeymoon before returning to their home in Beaverton. Congratulations & Happy New Year, Mr. & Mrs. Royce! May your marriage be sweetened by the memory of all the laughter shared on your wedding day.

Brides, ceremonies, custom wedding gifts, Green Weddings, Helpful Hints, local wedding gifts, new products, portland brides, Repurpose, wedding ceremonies, Wedding Ceremony, Wedding Favors, Wedding Gifts, Wedding Reception, weddings

Keeping Kids Happy at Your Wedding

Jane Green

gift bagsThe biggest challenge with having little ones in or at your wedding is keeping them entertained. Kids get understandably antsy – all that hurry up and wait! Being seen and not heard while the bridal party gets dressed, photographs get taken, guests arrive … that’s a LOT of being on your best behavior. I’ve seen all kinds of attempted “wedding kid control” over the years. The BEST solution? Keep them occupied. If you don’t have the luxury of a relative or friend who can be a Mary Poppins on site; provide age appropriate activities so they can entertain themselves. Books, puzzles, hand-held games, disposable camera, mini-water bottle, clear gummy worms … items that are noise and mess free. Putting it all in a customized tote makes it portable and special. MyLovingTree from Portland, OR makes adorable canvas bags with lots of custom features. In addition to personalized names, you can select skin tone, hair color and outfit. Lots of options for bridal party gifts, too. Check them out on Etsy.

custom wedding gifts, local wedding gifts, new products, Wedding Favors, weddings

NEW Wedding Teas from Steve Smith

Jane Green

HoneymoonTea is one of life’s purest delights and even though I’ve been out of the tea blending business for years; it remains forever on my radar. I’m delighted to share the news that Smith Tea (a local Portland favorite) is now offering custom tea favors for your big day. Options include a keepsake tin or popular string-tie carton with your choice of six special blends. You can even add a custom label displaying your name, wedding date and wedding location. A great idea for bridal party and guest thank you’s, the packaging is stylish and the small batch tea is top shelf. And don’t forget to order some for yourself … perfect for sipping while viewing those wedding photos! PLUS: Shipping is now only $2.99 on all domestic orders. View ordering information.

Read my earlier review on unique wedding teas by Tea Forte.

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A Grand Garden Wedding

Jane Green

garden weddingEverything 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.

Bridal Gowns, Brides, Flowers, Food, Green Weddings, Services, Wedding Ceremony, Wedding Favors, Wedding Reception, weddings

Barn Wedding is a Family Affair

Jane Green

scott and valTransforming 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?