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.
Tag: ceremonies
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!
Celebrate Love – Not the Wedding
I don’t celebrate wedding ceremonies. I celebrate the LOVE between two people. That is what lights my heart, the occasion and the world. Marriage is not the answer for everyone and can even be the wrong answer for some. If you are in a loving relationship and you and your partner choose not to get married, there are other ways to celebrate what is in your heart. An Affirmation of Love or a Commitment ceremony can be every bit as magical and meaningful as a wedding ceremony. The intention is the same – to bless your partnership and declare your love to each other and to everyone else. When your story is framed in love … marriage doesn’t have to be part of the picture. It’s empowering to make a decision that is right for you vs doing what is expected by others. Here’s a really good article about marriage as a cultural norm and the harm that norm can cause us.
Interested in celebrating your love but don’t want a wedding? Contact me to find out about other options and how to create a celebration that fits your lifestyle. “Love is the tie that binds their two lives together in one accord before this company. Through their love this couple promises to share one another’s lives, materially, emotionally and spiritually.”
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.
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.
Wedding Outshines the Rain at Reserve Vineyards
Rain 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!
Wedding Venue Deal
Book 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.
Best Day Ever for Jessica and Doug
Seven 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.
A FESTIVE HEART 