5.28.2011 ~ Pure Paradise

This wedding is very dear to my heart - it was my best friend's wedding! I was SO honored to be Stacy's Matron of Honor and help with the wedding...it was SO much fun! The groom (Mike) is also a very close friend of my husband (yes, also named Mike) and me, so it was all around amazing! They might have met through us, but I give God all the credit! They definitely complete each other and I LOVE seeing them so in love! Okay, okay - about the wedding!

Where to begin!?! Let's start with the venue. Choosing where you get married is usually number one on the list of things to do when planning - and I was happy to be a part of this whole process with them. We spent a LOT of time going and visiting different venues...but the second we arrived at Paradise Springs it was obvious that this was the venue for them. No other venue before or after that would do...Paradise Springs it was! Talk about a truly breathtaking venue...from the moment you arrive you're in awe of how gorgeous it is. The romantic covered, lighted pathway to the ceremony and reception area...the stunning view from the gazebo...the serene pond and waterwheel...all the wood accents...and the reception hall? To die for. Not only is the venue itself amazing - but the family that runs it as well. Amy and her husband paid attention to every detail and made you feel like a part of their family. It honestly was one of the best venues I've ever had the pleasure of working with.

Another aspect I LOVE about this venue is that when you rent it, you get it for the ENTIRE weekend. PLUS they have a wonderful house that you can rent right next to the reception hall! We were all able to go to the rehearsal, have the rehearsal dinner on site, spend the night (they even have a hot tub), and start getting ready the next day without having to worry about traffic or getting there on time! Our day started with the talented ladies of Face Body Beauty. I've had the pleasure of working with them numerous times (including my own wedding) and they are flawless! They make you feel the way you should on your wedding day - radiant! It's also a fun, memorable time to get "dolled up" with all of you closest friends and family members...and the staff at Face Body Beauty fit right in and laugh along side you! You feel like you've known them for years!


The stunning dress was provided by The Bridal Gallery in Salem. Angie (the owner) will literally go to any length to make sure your dress is perfect for you! She cares for her brides more than I can express - and I LOVE sending my brides to her! The Bridal Gallery also provided the veil, hair accessories, bridesmaid dresses, and the tuxes for the guys! It was a one-stop-shop with impeccable service and quality! Shopping for the dress was a total blast - and let me tell you...when you "know"...you know! Once she put "her" dress on - it was like the venue - she just knew it was the one.


Now, on a personal note...the "getting ready" part of the day was really meaningful to me. Watching the excitement on Stacy's face (I could hear it in her voice too) was priceless. So many things had led to this day, this moment...and I couldn't WAIT for her to see her groom for the first time. One of the most important things for Stacy was that "first moment" that Mike would see her. And let me tell you what - she was STUNNING! Every time I look at these pictures I can't help but smile. I remember walking with her to help her with her dress...and then "letting go" so she could walk to her groom, her best friend, her soon to be husband. I'm pretty sure she literally took his breathe away. Mike sure is one lucky man!

During all of these events, Brittany of 5th and 59th Photography was right by our side, documenting all the special moments. She truly has an eye for "catching the moment" as well as making sure to catch all the little details along the way as well. Her pictures speak for themselves! Not only does she have amazing talent, but she's really easy to work with as well!

Now, I'm a pretty sentimental person for those of you that know me...and the ceremony was one of the most heartfelt and sincere ceremonies I've ever heard. I shed a tear a time or two...the first was when Stacy and her father walked through the glass double doors of the reception hall to begin her walk down the aisle. As I mentioned before, she was simply stunning. She instantly made eye contact with Mike...and their eyes were locked on each other the whole time (with the biggest smiles I'd ever seen)! I was bursting with overwhelming joy for Stacy and Mike! When it came time for the vows, Mike had written a special vow to their (at the time) 16 month old son. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house (I know mine weren't)! The rings were exchanged, the "I do's" were said, and now it was time to party!

After the ceremony, the guests entered the reception hall and found their name on a cut-out leaf (all made by an amazing bridesmaid) that corresponded to a specific table. The table linens were provided by SHE Designs in Salem. She has great quality rentals and makes the whole process a breeze by separating all linens by table instead of size...it makes setting up much easier! Stacy really loved the "pin-tuck" look - and so did I! I love something different, and it looked so elegant and really pulled together the whole look she was going for.


As a wedding favor, Mike and Stacy had ordered crayons from Twigs and More - but they weren't just any crayons! They were made out of little twigs! They were a HUGE hit with the guests - they were such a hit that there wasn't a SINGLE ONE left at the end of the night. I loved this unique, fun favor! All of the centerpieces were filled with espresso beans - which provided a rich brown color and a great aroma!


A VERY talented family friend, Collin, did all of the flowers! He definitely went above and beyond and the colors were perfect! Our Daily Bread did the catering and it was yummy! It was my first time working with them, and I was impressed! They always made sure the food was stocked and were very attentive to the details. Music and announcing was by BMAC Productions, yet another great vendor I had the pleasure of working with for the first time! Everything was announced on time, names were pronounced correctly, and music always started at the right time with perfect transition.


And that gorgeous cake? That was made by the talented team at Haute Cakes and Confections. And yes, it tasted as good as it looks! One of my favorite parts of the whole day was the special "groom's cake" that Stacy had made for Mike. If you couldn't tell...he's a firefighter / paramedic...and Haute Cakes did an AMAZING job of making a 3D fire truck! It was made even more special because Mike had NO idea about this...we all cleared the reception room so Stacy could surprise him with it - he was stunned! I love, love sweet moments like this!


This wedding was SO spectacular, that it even got published on an online wedding inspiration blog, Le Magnifique! I'm a huge fan of this blog - there's giveaways, photos, and all things wedding! The blog is always posting new things for all styles! Here's their writeup about Mike and Stacy's wedding!

I was pretty busy this day...so I wanted to give a huge thank you to Melissa, who ran most of the "day of" coordination for me so I could be by Stacy's side and soak in all the memories of the day with her. I could look at these pictures again, and again, and again...and never get tired of looking at them - there are endless amazing memories from the day! I could probably write a blog twice as long too, going over all the memories! Mike and Stacy - "my Mike" and I couldn't be happier for you and we're honored to be a part of sharing in so many parts of not only your wedding, but in your lives as well. We have lots, lots more memories to make in the future! We love you!

5.7.2011 ~ Little Church, Big City

I am SO excited to finally share the details of this wedding! This couple was referred to us by a 2010 couple (remember Anna and Matt?) - and I can't thank them enough for sending Mike and Crystal our way - they were SO much fun to work with and their wedding is one of my favorites!

Mike and Crystal were married back in May at Brooks Hill Historic Church in Portland. Although this church was tiny, the setting was gorgeous and it made for a very sweet, intimate, and memorable ceremony. There were lots of open fields, cherry blossom trees, and other great spots to take pictures - and the weather (aka Oregon rain) held off so they got lots of amazing shots! This was my first opportunity to work with Amy and Eddie of Lyfe Photography - and they were wonderful (plus their photos speak of their talent)!

The beautiful dress was provided by The Bridal Gallery (the BEST place in the Willamette Valley to get your dress by the way). Angie at The Bridal Gallery truly loves what she does and will help you find the perfect dress on your budget, whatever that might be! They also recently won not one, not two, but FOUR awards for Oregon Bride Magazine's "Best of 2011."

The stunning flowers (and I mean stunning - look at that color) were provided by Gina of Bohemian Bouquets. She was also amazing to work with, and did a great job of setting up all the floral arrangements at both the ceremony and reception sites!

The officiant, Anthony The Wedding Judge, did a great job of working with them to write a ceremony just for them. My favorite part of the ceremony? Mike and Crystal wrote love letters to each other, but kept them sealed and secret and put them in a wooden box with a bottle of wine. Then they each took a nail, and nailed the box shut. The purpose behind this was to serve as a reminder why they married each other (if they ever needed a reminder) or they could open the bottle and read the letters at their 20 year wedding anniversary. I loved this idea!

After the ceremony, the bride and groom headed to the city for some more pictures while the guests headed to Wilf's at the Portland Train Station for the reception. Wilf's offers a great space for receptions with great lighting and amazing food! Their staff (especially Candace) was on top of everything and it flowed so smoothly! As the guests arrived, they were welcomed by a seating chart board where they would find their name and a number, which corresponded with a table number. The tables weren't simply numbered 1-15....they were random numbers that had a special meaning for them and their relationship. Then, when the guest got to their specific table, there was a table number card with the story about that number on the back! The guests LOVED it, and they were all walking around to read all of the different stories.

The cake and all the mini cupcakes were provided by Sweetest Thing Cupcakes. They were very tasty - and the bride and groom had little take-out boxes for left over cupcakes so their guests could take them home...there wasn't a SINGLE cupcake left after the guests were gone! That shows you how yummy they were! One of my other favorite parts of this wedding was their cake topper. They had it custom made to represent their favorite college mascots. Mike went to OSU, so Benny the Beaver was the groom, and Crystal is a huge Boise State fan, so the lady version of Buster Bronco was the bride! It was made out of clay, so it will last a long time and they planned on making it a focal point in their living room.





There was LOTS of dancing at the reception, and there was even a limbo competition with two guests tying their ties together to make the "bar." The party went right up until it was time to go...and the transportation for the bride and groom? A pedi-cab!

I can't emphasize enough how much I loved working with Mike and Crystal and all the superb vendors that they chose to work with. I wish you two (and your adorable bunnies) all the best and a lifetime of happiness, laughter, and love!

All photos copyright of Lyfe Photography

5.15.2010 Wedding - Surprises, Starbucks, & Smiles

I don't even know where to begin with Jenn and Steven and their wedding...It's couples like them that truly make me love what I do! Let's start off with a little bit of the couple's history. They knew each other back in high school, went their separate ways for numerous years (+/-20 years actually), and then found each other and fell in love instantly! I'm amazed at their story and how true love knows no amount of time and confirms my belief in everyone finding their soul mate! Jenn was such a pleasure to work with through every step of the way, and being apart of her joy and excitement during the planning process was an honor! She was very organized and chose AMAZING vendors, none of which I had had the pleasure of working with before their wedding!

When it was time for Jenn and Steven to see each other for the first time, he had a little white box with a red bow. He had it hidden behind his back until she was by his side, and then he had her open it. He surprised her with a BEAUTIFUL pair of diamond earrings! She was just glowing with smiles!

They got married at the very charming Bethany Bible Church in Portland with the reception being held at the Claremont Golf Course just a few miles down the road. They are huge Starbucks fans, so they had to stop by and grab their favorite drinks (yes, in the suit and wedding dress) before arriving at the reception. The food and bartending services were provided by Claeys Catering, and the food was superb! They were so easy to work with, were always prepared for the next "event" of the wedding, and all of the guests were raving about how wonderful the food, presentation, and drinks were! I would highly recommend them if you're still looking for a caterer! The beautiful flowers were provided by Diana of Flowers by Diana, bride's hair and make-up was by Austie Eckley, and the cake was by Wrightberry's Custom Wedding Cake Designs.

Last (and definitely not least) is the photographer, Fritz Photo. I can't say enough amazing things about them! They had an eye for detail, truly captured all of the special moments, and were great to work with! We were always on the same page, they were always prepared for the next "event" at the wedding, and were just a joy to work with! When I originally contacted them about getting some pictures for the website and blog...I think there was about 60+ (and that was even narrowing it down)! It was hard, but I got it down to about 25, but please check out their website for more of the amazing pictures from Jenn and Steven's wedding and all their other clients!

The reception was a total blast...people were up dancing and they even did the locomotion song with a people train! Jenn and Steven's families were honestly one of the best sets of families I've ever had the privilege of working with. I was actually sad when the wedding was over because I thought about probably not seeing them again! They were so warm and loving and shared in all of the happiness with Jenn and Steven that day.

There were lots of small details that Jenn had for the reception, from little bags of pink M&M's (using their family crystal dishes), custom napkins, fun custom "perfect match" matches, personalized votive candles through the whole reception, and it all came together so beautifully!

To Jenn and Steven - thank you so much for allowing me to share this experience with you! I am blessed to have you as clients and I wish you a lifetime of endless love and laughs! I'd also like to thank my new and amazing co-coordinator, Trish. You were a huge asset to have and I look forward to working on many more weddings together in the future!

Photos by Fritz Photo