Welcome back to our regular Under the Radar feature on Portland Wedding Coordinator, showcasing a cool new Portland wedding venue. Each time, I'll be sharing a site with you that I've stumbled across recently. Most of our Under the Radar wedding ceremony and reception venues are ones you won't yet find in the glossy wedding guides. If you use one of these sites, please let them know you heard it here first! - See more at: http://weddingcoordinator.typepad.com/my_weblog/page/2/#sthash.ZEPUb00V.dpuf
Welcome back to our regular Under the Radar feature on Portland Wedding Coordinator, showcasing a cool new Portland wedding venue. Each time, I'll be sharing a site with you that I've stumbled across recently. Most of our Under the Radar wedding ceremony and reception venues are ones you won't yet find in the glossy wedding guides. If you use one of these sites, please let them know you heard it here first! - See more at: http://weddingcoordinator.typepad.com/my_weblog/page/2/#sthash.ZEPUb00V.dpuf
Welcome back to our regular Under the Radar feature on Portland Wedding Coordinator, showcasing a cool new Portland wedding venue. Each time, I'll be sharing a site with you that I've stumbled across recently. Most of our Under the Radar wedding ceremony and reception venues are ones you won't yet find in the glossy wedding guides. If you use one of these sites, please let them know you heard it here first! - See more at: http://weddingcoordinator.typepad.com/my_weblog/page/2/#sthash.ZEPUb00V.dpuf
Welcome back to our regular Under the Radar feature on Portland Wedding Coordinator, showcasing a cool new Portland wedding venue. Each time, I'll be sharing a site with you that I've stumbled across recently. Most of our Under the Radar wedding ceremony and reception venues are ones you won't yet find in the glossy wedding guides. If you use one of these sites, please let them know you heard it here first!
via Vibrant Table's Facebook page
We are SUPER EXCITED about this week's feature: The Exchange Ballroom and Cascade Rooftop located at the Eastside Exchange building, the much-trumpeted new development at the Burnside Bridgehead location. Eastsiders like myself have been waiting for YEARS to see what the development would turn out to be, and of course, with every new development, I kept my fingers crossed that there would be a cool new event venue to explore. The Eastside Exchange delivers.
The Exchange Ballroom has a capcacity of 450: holding 350 for banquets and 450 for standing receptions. Catering and bar are provided exclusively by Vibrant Table Group. Events can go as late as needed indoors, and 10 pm outdoors on the rooftop. The rooftop capacity is 125 seated/250 standing and can be tented.
Photo by Evrim Icoz via The Exchange Ballroom Facebook Page
Lots more details are available from the folks at Vibrant Table.
Welcome back to our regular Under the Radar feature on Portland Wedding Coordinator, showcasing a cool new Portland wedding venue. Each time, I'll be sharing a site with you that I've stumbled across recently. Most of our Under the Radar wedding ceremony and reception venues are ones you won't yet find in the glossy wedding guides. If you use one of these sites, please let them know you heard it here first!
Today we're featuring Villa Catalana at Rare Plant Research, a gorgeous outdoor garden venue located right in the middle of Oregon farmlands and vineyards. I was invited to tour last fall, and even in chilly November, the unique beauty of the site was undeniable. In addition to the many varieties of rare and tropical plants, olive trees and wine grapes are grown on the property.
The wedding sites begin with a terraced lawn area with a cupola as focal point, facing a pond and the backdrop of the Romanesque-inspired architecture of the main house.
While the main house interior is not available for the event, its lower terrace (shown in the first picture) can be used for mingling or cocktails. A smaller outbuilding can be used as a bar setup or bridal party room.
After ceremony and cocktails, the party can move to the grape arbor, which is covered for shade and makes most tenting unnecessary. (This photo from summer 2013 shows the location of the newly-installed grape arbor. Sorry we don't have a picture yet but soon!)
In addition to the beauty of the site, and its convenient location within 30 minutes of Portland, Villa Catalana currently allows you to use the caterer and rental company of your choice, so the potential for customization is unlimited.
At the end our of our tour, owner Burl Mostul hinted at the next project; Villa Catalana Cellars, whose wines would be ready in summer 2014 for release, and a new wine tasting facility at the rear of the main house that would be open on weekends.
As with most outdoor wedding facilities, available dates are limited. To request more information you may email Rare Plant Research at [email protected].
For so many couples, the food is the THE most important part of the wedding celebration. I often hear from them: "The food HAS to be good"..."We like the Portland food scene and want to integrate it into our wedding"..."We want to give our guests a taste of Portland and the Pacific Northwest". Often, they already have a caterer in mind when they start their venue search, and are challenged when they keep running into venues that have strict exclusive lists.
That got me to thinking. What Portland wedding and event venues allow outside catering? Here are just a few. Know any others? Please share in the comments below!
The Eliot Center - The Eliot Center is the "fellowship hall" aspect of the downtown First Unitarian Church. Not only are they able to seat up to 160 in their conference center for a reception, the adjoining Historic Eliot Chapel can seat up to 250 in a beautiful, elegant chapel setting for a wedding ceremony. They allow self-catering, outside caterers, and alcohol service in accordance with their policies.
Multnomah Arts Center - Located in SW Portland just a few minutes from downtown, the MAC is a Portland Parks and Recreation community center venue with a large auditorium and stage for indoor wedding ceremonies that can be changed over to a reception during a cocktail hour. Mingle areas include a dance studio and an outdoor plaza, which can also be used for ceremonies. All rental rooms, including the auditorium stage, and bathrooms are ADA-accessible and air-conditioned. In addition, most spaces have free Wi-Fi access.
The Glenn and Viola Walters Arts and Cultural Center is near and dear to our hearts, as one of our favorite recent weddings just took place there. The site features a large auditorium for ceremony and reception, downstairs classrooms to use as changing areas, a ground-floor lobby and an upstairs art gallery where guests can mingle during a room changeover. The kitchen facility is well-appointed and convenient for self-catering or your own caterer. The outdoor plaza can also be used for ceremonies.
The Laurelhurst Club - A 100-year-old property adjoining Laurelhurst park in SE Portland, this venue features an historic ballroom, mezzanine bar, kitchen facilities, bride's and grooms rooms, and outdoor ceremony lawn.
NW Events & Environments - By far the largest open catering venue we have seen, NW Events & Environments can accommodate 650 in a banquet setting and over 1000 if using multiple rooms in a reception-style flow. They do not allow outside alcohol, and kitchen facilities may have limitations.
Thanks for reading - if you found this post about Portland wedding and event venues helpful, you might also like:
Under the Radar is a 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!
This week, we're pleased to present to you Mazamas Lodge. The lodge has a maximum capacity for 120 for indoor events, and a large outdoor space for additional seating, or for ceremonies. Located right in Government Camp, with convenient access to the main strip of shops and restaurants, as well as Ski Bowl, Timberline Lodge, and Collins Lake Resort. This lovely rustic lodge offers a wonderful level of privacy and seclusion, and a 24-hour rental period, rather than a typical 4-6 hour period at many event venues. They do have exclusive on-site, in-house catering, but with an exclusive-use contract weddings are welcome to bring their own alcohol. It's a lovely place for a summer mountain wedding. In winter, access is hike-in, so usage would be very limited. Finally, the upstairs sleeps 76 guests in (non-private) dormitory-style bunk beds, along with three private rooms.
Sounds great, doesn't it? Their office is only open Friday through Monday, so send an email or give them a call at 503-272-9214 if you're working on your Mt. Hood-area wedding this weekend!
Next up on Under the Radar: Villa Catalana at Rare Plant Research. This one is really great, so stay tuned!
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!
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...
Contact Us
mail only: 3439 NE Sandy Blvd #110
Portland, Oregon 97232
Hours: By appt.
(503) 284-6756
Toll Free: 1(888) 682-0040 [email protected]
