Portland Wedding Coordinator

{ Portland Wedding Venues } "Under the Radar" with the Portland Wedding Coordinator

Under the Radar is a weekly blog series on Portland Wedding Coordinator, showcasing cool new or little-known Portland wedding venues that I've stumbled across recently. Many of our Under the Radar wedding ceremony and reception venues are ones you won't yet find in the popular wedding guides. If you use one of these sites, please let them know you heard it here first!

Photo by EJP Events via Instagram

Today we’re pleased to present the historic estate at Lewis and Clark College. Lewis & Clark College has been located on the historic Fir Acres estate in Portland’s southwest hills for more than 60 years. The Great Lawn and Reflecting Pool Gardens are the showcase of the campus.

Weddings at Lewis and Clark have true indoor-outdoor capabilities up to 162 guests – the Great Platt lawn can be used for an outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour, paired with Stamm Dining Hall, an indoor banquet facility complete with tables and chairs – just add catering from one of the four exclusive caterers on the Lewis and Clark list.

For outdoor-only events with tenting or tent-for-backup, the Great Platt Lawn can accommodate into the hundreds of guests.

Or, if you would like an indoor ceremony and outdoor reception, you may pair the Agnes Flanagan Chapel with any of the outdoor locations. The chapel accommodates up to 500 people, featuring a magnificent Casavant pipe organ, and stained glass windows. The chapel renovations include a new, elevated stage, a sophisticated sound and lighting system, and ADA accessible restrooms.

Finally, an important detail for outdoor weddings: the nearby Miller Building classrooms provide ample indoor, air-conditioned amenities for your getting-ready period, as well as modern restrooms for your guests’ comfort.

EJP Events is happy to be recognized by Weddings at Lewis and Clark as a preferred planner. You can download the official brochure here. Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] to begin your process of exploring the possibilities at this historic and elegant location. Additional indoor and outdoor wedding and rehearsal dinner sites are available – just let me know and I can give you the full tour!

Next week on Under the Radar: Mazamas Lodge, Government Camp - stay tuned...

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{ Real Portland Wedding } Vintage Wedding Details at DeArmond Gardens in Hillsboro

The sweet and lovely, vintage wedding look is still a big hit with weddings in Portland. I was looking back through the files (sooo many un-blogged weddings!) and I thought I'd share some of this wonderful wedding, which was also featured on Style Me Pretty. My favorite part about this wedding was that the bride and groom got to put their mark on so many aspects by DIY'ing almost everything -- before the event.

But the day of the event (actually, starting months before), they had turned all the goodies over to us to place and style. We loved helping them (and I got to drive a huge U-Haul)! Except for the first photo, photos by Daniel Stark via Style Me Pretty.

 

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The hottest day of the year...

I know, you probably think I'm crazy for talking about summer weddings. I can't help it! This time of year when our fingers and toes are freezing just from walking to the mailbox and back, it's almost impossible to remember what the kiss of the sun is like. Thank goodness for photographs. This beauty sent to me by Evrim Icoz shows a wedding we coordinated last year for Heather and Joe.

And what a day it was! Evrim goes in to more detail on his blog (and you can see all the great pictures there), but in a nutshell:

11:am Wedding ceremony in the urban forest

12:00 Brunch in the park

1:00 Pedicab and trolley rides around Portland

2:45 Jet boat rides on the river

4:00 Change clothes for the reception

6:00 Super glam/boho reception at Castaway with Simpatica Catering; and dancing 'til socks were worn through.

A few tips for your own summer outdoor wedding in Portland and how you can be ready:

- Make sure cold beverages are plentiful upon arrival. For an informal wedding, tubs or deep trays filled with ice can surround bottled drinks or heavy glasses.

- Have a plan for shade. Too often, brides and grooms only plan for a rain back up. But a sun plan should also be in effect. Parasols, extra tents, mist fans, and table umbrellas can all help.

- If you have an indoor venue, check out the A/C options and rent fans or swamp coolers if the venue doesn't have any.

Thank you again, Heather and Joe, for sharing the sun with me!

via www.evrimgallery.com

A little sunshine on a cloudy day {Portland Indian Wedding by JOS Photographers)

Going through our photo files from last fall, found this very lovely and sunny photo taken by JOS Photographers at a wedding we did at The Foundry at Oswego Lake. I am looking very longingly at this sunshine!

Click on the link above to go to JOS Photographers blog and see all the gorgeousness. Thank you so much!

via www.josphotographers.com

 

Summer weddings and bugs!

A version of this article ran on Portland Wedding Coordinator in August 2011.

 Can you believe, it's the end of May and the outdoor summer weddings in Portland and Lake Oswego are here. If you are getting married at one of the outdoor gardens, waterfront or riverfront parks or venues you are probably wondering what to do about the possibility of bugs.

Bug-off spray is a must at outdoor weddings, but here are a few  tips to make you the perfect wedding host:

- Avoid DEET-based sprays that can irritate skin. Lemongrass and geranium oil-based repellents are available and they smell much nicer.

- Transfer the insect repellent spray into nicer glass bottles before setting them out at your event. Empty glass spray bottles can usually be found in the bulk beauty aisle (lotions and soaps) of natural grocery stores such as Whole Foods and New Seasons. Wrap the bottle in a ribbon to match your scheme, and then it will be guest-book-table worthy.

(Vintage atomizers could be fun too!)

image from Polyvore

- Burning lemongrass torches or candles can keep bugs down in the immediate vicinity. Having gently-blowing oscillating fans can also help.

- If the area seems to be uncontrollably buggy, consider applying non-toxic lawn or yard insect treatments (some examples here and here) several hours or days prior to the wedding (get the permission of the venue owner first).

 

Debugging your wedding (Keeping insects away from the ceremony and reception)

This cool Portland summer has been lovely, but in some places, the dampness has led to an excess of bugs. Bug-off spray is a must at outdoor weddings, but here are a few  tips to make you the perfect wedding host:

- Avoid DEET-based sprays that can irritate skin. Lemongrass and geranium oil-based repellents are available and they smell much nicer.

- Transfer the insect repellent spray into nicer glass bottles before setting them out at your event. Empty glass spray bottles can usually be found in the bulk beauty aisle (lotions and soaps) of natural grocery stores such as Whole Foods and New Seasons. Wrap the bottle in a ribbon to match your scheme, and then it will be guest-book-table worthy.

(Vintage atomizers could be fun too!)

image from Polyvore

- Burning lemongrass torches or candles can keep bugs down in the immediate vicinity. Having gently-blowing oscillating fans can also help.

- If the area seems to be uncontrollably buggy, consider applying non-toxic lawn or yard insect treatments (some examples here and here) several hours or days prior to the wedding (get the permission of the venue owner first).

Indie venues for your Portland (Portlandian) wedding {Friday Five}

The dream of a 90's wedding is alive in Portland! Oh yes, I'm inspired by Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen's sketch comedy show, Portlandia. Where would a Portlandian be likely to marry? These five sites came to mind:

The Woods

You go there to see your favorite bands, now you can get married in this Sellwood-area music venue that was once a funeral parlor. Can't get much more offbeat than that.

Holocene

Photo source: Cabel Sasser's blog, photo by Robert McNary

When your Double Down date decides to up the ante, don't worry -- you can get hitched in the club where you first met. Awwwww.

Secret Society Ballroom

I can't believe I'm even telling you about this site!

Bossanova Ballroom

If you need lots of space for lots of different amusements during your event, take a look at Bossanova Ballroom, which boasts an 11,000sqft. (750 person capacity) two level facility equipped with full kitchen, multiple bars, large performance stage, dressing rooms, billiard and game room.

Wonder Ballroom

One more music venue, The Wonder Ballroom is in NE Portland and holds 350 at capacity. A music venue bonus: most have ceiling rigging points and focusable lighting to amplify your decor.

Curtis and Sarah, A Portland Wedding at Mt. Tabor Park and the Ace Hotel

We recently received these lovely pictures from David Barss, one of our favorite photographers who always without fail sends us a disk and a link after the wedding (hint, hint ;-)

Curtis and Sarah married at the Mt. Tabor Summit, a Portland Parks site. Often folks are wary of public parks sites and wonder if they are safe, if strangers will interrupt the wedding, if the facility will be clean. All I can tell you is about my experience as a coordinator, and that is, with good pre-planning, a public parks site can be a wonderful and affordable venue; and that members of the public in the overwhelming number of cases are respectful of a wedding.  I personally have not encountered any problems at the weddngs I have had in public parks sites such as Mt. Tabor, Council Crest Park, Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, and many others.

So consider that public parks site: it may save you money which you can use at the reception!

Thanks again to David Barss Photographer for the photographs.

 

 

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Rooftop weddings and wedding venues in Portland

Want an outdoor venue but don't want to stray too far from the Portland city center? Consider a rooftop venue as your very own urban serenity. Rooftop venues serve as your private panorama to a breathtaking view of Rose City. Portland's rooftop venues offer your guests a first hand glimpse of the visual treasures of Portland. Rooftop venues provide a modern, romantic atmosphere for your wedding and Portland's rooftop venues are among the best! Three Portland rooftop locations include Hotel deLuxe, Embassy Suites Portland Downtown and DeSoto Rooftop Terrace.

Hotel deLuxe is known for its old Hollywood style elegance. While they have an indoor meeting facility, they also have a rooftop space available for your outdoor wedding. This venue is perfect for any glamorous bride!

Photo credit: Kate Kelly Photography

Embassy Suites Portland Downtown is located in the heart of Rose City. This historic venue is surrounded by Portland's city lights and an excellent choice for a night time wedding. 

Photo courtesy Embassy Suites Portland on Facebook

DeSoto Rooftop Terrace is an intimate venue nestled in Portland's ambiance of the Pearl District. This modern venue has rustic elements which creates a fashionable urban style.

Photo credit Evrim Icoz Photography

Rooftop venues are a fun and trendy place to tie the knot. However, they are much more rare than other outdoor venues, therefore be sure to book your ideal venue in advance. Additional logistics to consider; most rooftop venues need tenting and additional decor in order to create your wedding vision. In some cases, they do not have an indoor component or have very limited indoor amenities. 

We like rooftop venues because they can be a "blank slate" for design, meaning that they can transform to fit your ideal wedding style. Additionally, if the rooftop belongs to a hotel, then you have the added convenience of hotel amenities. Specifically in Portland, you can enjoy city attractions, outdoor views and be within close proximity to lodging. Hotel rooftop venues are a great option if your guest list consists of a large amount of out of town guests. 

Booking the perfect rooftop venue is the first step in planning your unique wedding. A rooftop wedding is a chic alternative to the ordinary outdoor wedding. Imagine yourself surrounded by the beautiful Portland skyline as you dance beneath the stars and toast among the clouds. Cheers!

- Lauren Gilbertson, edited by Emee Pumarega

Love Mexico - Part 2: 5 important factors to consider when planning a destination wedding

We hope you enjoyed yesterday's post about our experiences at the LoveMexico destination wedding summit in Playa Del Carmen. Here are five important points we took away from the event:

1. A beach wedding doesn't have to be a casual, barefoot affair if you don't want it to be. The availability of vendors in Mexico beach destinations is such that you can create the wedding vision, theme and color story of your wishes, including ones with high style and custom designs.

Photo courtesy Westin Cancun

2. Mexico isn't just about beach weddings. The strong Spanish and European influence during colonial times means that old-world palaces and piazzas are just as available as palm trees and sand for a wedding backdrop -- and without the 15-hour flight or Euro exchange rate.

Photo: Elizabeth Medina Photography

3. Check to see how many weddings may be held at the resort of your choice. We talked to some in-house resort wedding planners who handle anywhere from 5 to 20 weddings per day. (Click here to read a great article about the difference between in-house catering managers and the wedding coordinator that you hire to work for you only.) If you have chosen a larger resort, consider bringing your own personal wedding coordinator along with you so that you can get personal service on this most important of days. Or, consider working with a personal wedding coordinator who is familiar with the area during site selection, who can direct you to smaller, more exclusive properties and venues that might be off the beaten path.

Photo: Rosewood Mayakoba

4. Find out if the site or beach you have selected is a private location. If you picture exchanging vows in a secluded setting, you don't want any surprises. Visit the location beforehand, or make sure you're working with a representative who has been there.

Photo: Las Mañanitas

5. A destination wedding can be just as affordable as a wedding you might plan in your home location.  Most couples we work with in Portland have a $300-600 per guest overall budget for a midsize wedding with ceremony/reception sites, catering and bar, music, flowers and decor, invitations, photographer/videographer, and coordinator. For the same budget, we've seen all-inclusive affairs in Mexico at excellent resorts such as Westin and Rosewood. If you're having a hard time finding a location you love at home, and most people are flying in anyway, consider a Mexico destination wedding for something totally different.

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