Clouds hid the full moon rising but not the smiles as the couple danced up the aisle. Family and friends gathered from as far as Washington D.C. to witness the wedding of Sandy and Terry last Friday evening in Sedro Woolley, WA. The backyard ceremony featured readings by the bride’s daughter and the groom’s sister; a unity plant ritual and messages of love written and shared by the couple. Afterwards, guests were treated to a large screen presentation crafted by the couple showing their favorite video scenes and top tunes. The backyard reception also featured a buffet of diverse menu items like teriyaki chicken, chili, chicken satay and the groom’s “must-have” cheeseburgers from McDonald’s. The dessert buffet included all kinds of goodies from brownies and cheesecake to cookies and trail mix (gluten free and sugar free options, too). Guests were invited to take home their pick from the large collection of teacups collected by the bride. The couple will enjoy a relaxing visit to Oceanshores, WA before returning to their home in beautiful Skagit Valley. Congratulations, Sand and Terry! May your married life be filled with magical moon beams.
Tag: A Festive Heart. weddings
Childhood Friends Marry in Mt. Vernon
Loved ones gathered under sunny skies last Saturday to witness the wedding of Michelle and Rudy. Friends in Anacortes when they were ten years old, fate took them in different directions until they reunited in 2003. The couple exchanged vows on the gazebo deck of their new home which is nested in a beautiful old growth green space in Mt. Vernon. The bride entered to Mendelssohn’s Wedding March escorted by her twin sons and was presented to the groom by both the boys and the couple’s two daughters. The ceremony featured a tree planting ritual and tribute roses presented to both moms. DJ Keenan provided music for both the ceremony and the reception. Guests enjoyed a backyard banquet topped off by an elaborate wedding cake with fountain and stairs; and hand dipped strawberries. The newlyweds are relaxing at home this week enjoying visiting family from New Mexico. Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Diaz! May your married life be filled with health, happiness and all the laughter your hearts can hold.
Beach Wedding Bliss
Despite misty, grey skies, Saturday’s wedding in Oceanside, OR was all smiles and happy hearts. Greta and Neil exchanged vows in front of friends and family with ocean waves providing a stunning backdrop. The bride’s father walked her down the sandy aisle accompanied by live string music. The couple’s son, Oliver – age 8, was the dutiful ring bearer and their daughter, Ruby – age 4, the princess flower girl. The ceremony featured a unity salt ritual and a gratitude rose exchange for the moms. Guests and family traveling from as far as MN enjoyed oceanfront lodging and, following the ceremony, dinner at a local cafe. The newlyweds spent a relaxing weekend at the coast before returning to their home in SW Portland. Congratulations, Greta and Neil! May your marriage be filled with waves of heartfelt laughter and flavored with sweet memories of your joyful wedding celebration.
Couples Choice Award 2016
The WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards® 2016 recognizes the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism. The esteemed awards are given to the top local wedding vendors in more than 20 service categories based on their professional achievements from the previous year. Thanks to my wonderful couples who took the time to write reviews and made this award possible. I look forward to another year of joyful celebrations!
LA Glitz Meets Historic Romance
He hails from England, she’s a native Oregonian. They met eleven years ago in sunny San Diego and have been together ever since. Last Saturday, after months in the making, Megan had the wedding of her dreams. The LA couple enjoyed posh accommodations at The Nines, as did Alex’s family who flew in from London for the event. The candlelight ceremony was held at the Historic Old Church and featured acclaimed cellist Hamilton Cheifetz. The groom had requested selections from Master and Commander and the bride walked down the aisle to Mendelssohn’s Wedding March. Following the ceremony, guests strolled down the street to the Portland Art Museum for a glamorous cocktail hour, dinner and dancing. The newlyweds hope to honeymoon in Italy in the near future. For now, after the celebratory weekend with friends and family in PDX, they returned to their home in Los Angeles where they run iFace, a digital mirror company. Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Grange. May the sunny skies that brought you together continue to brighten your hearts and your new adventures as husband and wife.
Fisherman Weds Best Friend
The groom proposed during a trip to Hawaii, she said yes and the next day he landed a 500 lb marlin. A good sign indeed that the skies were smiling on the union. Ten months later, guests traveled from near and far for the wedding of Kyle and Melissa at the Columbia Edgewater Country Club. Saturday’s celebration carried out the tropical fishing theme including wedding rings suspended on a fishing pole; take home Pirate’s Booty and a color pallet of turquoise and coral. Three generations of family members enjoyed the casual and fun atmosphere and a delicious dinner served family style. DJ Neil from Event Team Entertainment kept the music flowing from ceremony to dance floor while photographer Sarah Williams captured all the magical moments. The newlyweds will spend time at the coast with visiting family and honeymoon in the tropics in November. Melissa, a radiology tech at the VA hospital and Kyle, an avid fisherman and engineer in the Merchant Marine, created a wedding day keepsake box which they will open on their 5th Wedding Anniversary. Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Meyer! I have no doubt that the words engraved on your wine box will hold true: “In high tide or in low tide I’ll be by your side.” 
Garden Wedding for Carpenter and His Princess Bride
The sun came out on cue for Remy and Brittany as they exchanged vows on Sunday. The ceremony featured a Pink Velour Crepe Myrtle for the tree planting unity ritual and a favorite passage from The Princess Bride. Brittany showcased her peacock tattoo with a simple yet stunning backless lace and tulle gown. Attendants wore turquoise and gray. After the ceremony, guests enjoyed the Abernathy Center‘s winning appetizers including coconut shrimp and crab cakes. A full salmon buffet and a cupcake tower from St. Cupcake completed the event menu. Photographer, Kieran Morgan, captured beautiful moments in the garden setting and fun times on the dance floor. The newlyweds will honeymoon in Mexico before returning to their Portland home where Remy works as a commercial carpenter and Brit is a makeup artist. Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Renwick! The world is enriched by your true love.
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.
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!
A FESTIVE HEART 