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Coastal Wedding Complete with Whales and Supermoon

ocean weddingGorgeous weather for whale watching and viewing the full moon set a perfect stage for Saturday’s wedding of Erika and Ruben. The Portland couple rented a spacious beach house in Seal Rock and invited their closest friends and family members to join them for a 3-day celebration. The intimate ceremony featured a poem composed by the groom’s father and a sand exchange ritual using sand collected by the couple earlier in the day. The altar was decorated with flowers, a handcrafted photo mobile and colorful stones painted by the guests. After the celebratory toasts and hugs, the wedding party traveled seven miles up the coast to enjoy dinner at the popular Local Ocean seafood restaurant on the Newport Bay marina. This was such an interesting mix of global influence. The groom’s father was from Argentina, his mother was from France. He was born in California. The bride’s mother was from New York. She was born in Canada. Is it any wonder that these two LOVE to travel? They plan a tropical honeymoon in November. Meanwhile, they reside and work in PDX where Ruben is a physician with Providence and Erika is a project manager. Congratulations, Dr. & Mrs. Halperin! May laughter and love be constant companions wherever your travels lead.

Brides, ceremonies, chapel wedding, Downtown Portland Wedding, Event Venue

LA Glitz Meets Historic Romance

wedding Alex and MeganHe 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.

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Fisherman Weds Best Friend

melissa and kyle 1The 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.” melissa and kyle 2

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Garden Wedding for Carpenter and His Princess Bride

Brit and RemyThe 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.

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Wedding Unites Cultures at World Foresty Center

Javid and SonjaFamily 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.

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Wedding Outshines the Rain at Reserve Vineyards

ashley and ryanRain delayed the start but not the smiles at yesterday’s wedding for longtime sweethearts, Ashley and Ryan. Vows were exchanged in front of friends and four generations of family in the Pavilion at the Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club in Aloha, OR. The couple included a sand ritual in the celebration and presented gratitude roses to their moms and grandmas.   Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed a cocktail reception, dinner, dancing and the always popular sweets table. The newlyweds will honeymoon in Maui before returning back to work and their home in Beaverton. Ryan is in the field of microbiology and Ashley is an admin assistant at Nike. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Osborne. May the sun always shine in your hearts!

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Celtic Wedding at Bell Tower Chapel

Don and LauraIt 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.

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Wedding Venue Deal

OldChurch_SpecialWeddingDiscount2015-300x300Book your 2015 wedding by April 1st at the Historic Old Church in downtown PDX and get a 25% discount! The venue blends urban convenience with Victorian charm. Brides get a private dressing parlor, full use of the lower level kitchen, reception hall and, of course, the beautiful church featuring stained glass windows and famous pipe organ dating from 1883. View a real wedding. Get details on deal.

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Best Day Ever for Jessica and Doug

Jessica and DougSeven year sweethearts, Jessica and Doug, exchanged vows yesterday at the West End Theater in downtown PDX. The bride walked down the aisle to Christina Perri’s A Thousand Years and the newlyweds marched out to One Republic’s Good Life.  Navy, tangerine and ivory were the colors of the day. Bridesmaids wore variations of gowns in navy satin and the groomsmen looked sharp in charcoal gray suits, dark blue shirts and navy ties. Following the candlelight ceremony, guests were invited to the upstairs ballroom for cocktail hour and dinner. Special touches for the reception included a large framed seating chart hung on the brick wall outside the ballroom and custom labeled wine bottles indicating table numbers.

After a honeymoon in the Dominican Republic next week, the couple returns to their Portland home on Hayden Island. Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Smedley! May the spirit of your “Best Day Ever” remain in your hearts forever.

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Carpenter Weds His Lady

Gary and SarahThe sun shone, the bell rang out and guests cheered as Gary and Sarah said their “I Do”s last Saturday. Hymns from the score of True Grit provided the processional and recessional music and a giant redwood sequoia (the tallest on our planet) was selected for the couple’s unity ritual tree planting – a perfect choice for this carpenter and his gardener bride. The historic Newell House Museum with its spreading chestnut trees and views of rolling hills was an ideal setting for this down home country wedding. Following the ceremony, family and friends enjoyed a barbeque buffet with all the fixins and dancing under twinkle lights to the music of The SlimJims all-star band. The celebration continued as the newlyweds and their guests camped out in tents, cabins and yurts at the neighboring Champoeg State Park. Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Smith! May your marriage be as strong and beautiful as your new sequoia.