The temperature was frosty but the fog lifted and the sun shone for today’s intimate wedding along the Willamette. Chie (chee-a), lead singer with Japanese pop band, CICCAROLL, wore a crown of red roses to match her dress (brides wear red at traditional Japanese weddings). Bridegroom, Casey, arranged for family and friends to gather at the Oaks Park dog park for the ceremony which was followed by toasts to the newlyweds at The Lucky Lab Brew Pub. Raised in Japan, Casey, who is in the insurance business, speaks the language fluently. The couple is looking forward to making their permanent home in Japan. Their English Bulldog, Matilda Mae, will be making the journey, too. Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Shelton. May happiness be with you and love surround you here and in the land of the rising sun. Yoi ryokō o!
Tag: Portland weddings
Couples Choice Award for 2014 from WeddingWire!
Exciting news! A Festive Heart has won the WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award for 2014! The award recognizes the top 5% of wedding professionals nationwide. Thanks to all my brides and everyone who had a part in making this happen.
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.
Summer Wedding Season Ends on a Sweet Note
The only thing better than having sweet people in your life is having the honor of officiating their wedding. My friend, Amy, exchanged vows with longtime boyfriend, Jared, at Council Crest Park today. The simple and sweet ceremony took place in the shade of an old growth cedar in front of family members (including the couple’s dog, Bonsai). Amy’s Mom, Nancy, surprised her and flew in from Kentucky last night to be on hand for the celebration. The groom’s family drove up from Eugene and brought the champagne to toast the newlyweds. The last wedding of the summer couldn’t have been more special. And it was a perfect example of simplistic and heartfelt vs. elaborate and chaotic. At the end of the day, what matters most is the love. Congratulations, Amy and Jared! May the sweetness of today be in your hearts forever.
Council Crest Wedding
Five majestic mountains provided the backdrop as Jeff and Jaimee exchanged vows yesterday afternoon. Sunny skies afforded distant views of Mt. Hood, Mt. Rainer, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams and Mt. Jefferson. The wedding was held at historic Council Crest Park, said to be the highest elevation point in Portland. Jaimee’s 6-yr old daughter, Isabella, was all smiles as she escorted her Mom down the rose petal aisle. Jeff’s buddies wore their Timber fan scarves and both the bride and groom referenced their devotion to the team in their vows. A picnic in the park followed the ceremony. After a honeymoon in California, the couple will return to their Tigard home. Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Johnson! May you continue to view each other as “infinimates” and create a lasting marriage of joy.
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!
Ceremony Labyrinth
The Pin of the Week is a creative seating arrangement for your ceremony. This labyrinth style layout holds significance in the tradition of finding your answer as you walk the path AND allows the bride to walk past every guest. A lovely way to include everyone in a personal way. Works for both large and small weddings. Check it out and find other inspirations on my Pinterest boards.
Contact me for information on officiating your ceremony.
Here Comes the Bride – 13k of them!
There were 13,960 weddings in the PDX metro area in 2012.* That’s a wow of vows! Since June is the official kick-off of wedding season, I thought I’d share a few numbers on what is being spent on nuptials. You don’t need to see the charts to guess the number one expense: food. There’s no shortage of ways to spend the bucks for reception menus. Based on the average size reception of 140 guests; simple, appetizers only average about $4k with full dinners going upwards of $10k. Tack on the bar, the cake and the rehearsal dinner and you can see how the dollars add up. After how it tastes, brides care about how it looks. Diamonds truly do appear to be a girl’s best friend. No. 2: the engagement ring (wedding band is extra). Average starting price was $3k with higher end bling going for upwards of $9k. Reception venue came in at No. 3 with a price tag average of $2500 up to $6k depending on location and package. The wedding dress and photographer round out the top five expenses.
So, is anything going DOWN in spending? Well, music for one. Only 25% of couples now choose to use a live band resulting in a savings of between $1500 to $3k. DJ’s provide favorite tunes starting at less than half of that. And it’s not in the report, but I know more brides are on the DIY track opting to be creative with invites, favors and decor. My take on all of this? I’ve yet to hear a bride say “I wish we had spent more money on our wedding.” And how many times does this come up in conversation? “That basil chicken rice pilaf at Jan’s wedding was the best I’ve ever had!” Enjoy your day but spend wisely. It doesn’t take a bank roll to create magic. Speaking of curbing expenses, watch here for announcement on NEW package deals for savvy brides.
*Source for numbers: Proprietary Surveys; The Wedding Report Inc.2013
Top Tips for Florist Picks
April showers bring May flowers and florists all over the country are getting ready to stock up their coolers as wedding season gets underway. If you’re shopping for a florist, here are three top tips to help make the process easier: 1) Bring a budget. Nothing frustrates a florist more than a bride who wants a $1500 centerpiece but can only spend $300. 2) Bring photos of what you have in mind. Florists have albums of their work but you’ll save time if you come prepared with color and combinations that illustrate your style. 3) Bring an open mind. Be prepared to flex a little or a lot with flower choices. That Lily of the Valley bouquet you want may be cost prohibitive or unavailable. Let the florist make suggestions and trust their expertise when it comes to knowing what works. Click here to see preferred Portland area florists.
Victorian Dream Wedding
What a perfect choice for a summer wedding! 
Linda and Chuck exchanged vows yesterday in the formal gardens of The Queen Anne Victorian Mansion in NE PDX. Filled with charm inside and out, this 1884 national landmark was built for the great-granddaughter of Daniel Boone as a wedding gift from her groom. Romantic treasures grace the mansion which is now a popular event site complete with in-house catering and event coordinator. Congratulations to the newlyweds … enjoy your honeymoon in Italy!
A FESTIVE HEART 