6.8.2012 ~ Deep Love at Historic Deepwood Estate

*Wedding by Ashley, Natalie, & Tristin*

This past June, Lisa and Andrew got married at the Historic Deepwood Estate in Salem.  This isn't too far from our loft...and I drive by this venue ALL the time.  I was thrilled when Lisa contacted me about helping with their wedding!  Such a gorgeous venue and so many options for ceremony and reception locations.  Plus they have lots of vintage, antique, and architectural items (which I love)!

The day started off with Lisa and her ladies getting ready at the loft with the talented team of Face Body Beauty.  We LOVE working with this amazing group of professional hair stylists and makeup artists.  They are phenomenal!

While the ladies were getting ready, our team was setting up and decorating the tent.  It happened to rain this day, so we went to "Plan B" under the tent.  SO thankful for venues with a Plan B option!  What I loved though was that this didn't phase Lisa or Andrew at all.  Lisa was so calm and collected throughout the day...and Andrew was overflowing with excitement.  I love to see a groom so excited on their wedding day! 

The bouquets and boutonnieres were delivered by a local flower shop, Heath Florist, and the colors were perfect!  The centerpiece flowers were actually arranged by a few friends of hers (some who were her host family from another country) and they did a fantastic job.  The rental items were delivered by A to Z Party Rentals, and that stunning cake was delivered by Cake Creations by Kirsten.  Now we were all set and ready for the guests! 

They had made fabric roses with each guest's name so they could reserve their seat, and they also had custom etched glass vases as wedding favors.  I hadn't seen these as a gift before, and I loved them.  There were tons of different sizes, shapes, heights, and the guests had fun picking out which one they wanted.  There was also a vase for guests to put some love notes in.

The ceremony was conducted by Anthony "The Wedding Judge," who always does a great job.  The ceremony was very sincere and heartfelt...and got me teary eyed.  Hearing the love proclaimed from each of them for the other was so moving.  I also loved their unique hand-washing ceremony.  Once it was official, Andrew gave a big "yahoo" gesture.  He was SO excited!  My other favorite part was when they stopped half way down the aisle and called out to their dog, JuJu, who came running up to meet them and walk out with them as a little family.

The guests enjoyed appetizers and drinks (including a bunch of mini-"mocktails") from Sassy Onion, who also provided dinner later on.  Their staff was so easy to work with!  There was LOTS and lots of dancing, with Kevin from NW Mobile DJ Service  keeping the party going throughout the night.  During the speeches, Lisa and Andrew were presented with some very sentimental gifts from their loved ones.  Her mom's toast brought me to tears (there was SO much deep love on this day). 

From the beginning of the day, there were two vendors that were present to capture all of the memories - Emily from Emily Hall Photography and Ryan from Focal Point Digital Media.  Talk about a dream team!  They worked SO well together (which was no surprise to me because they are some of my favorite people)...but on top of that their quality is top-notch.

I know I always have lots of favorite parts to each wedding that I do, but the horse-drawn carriage getaway was the best!  Andrew had been working on the perfect getaway for months before the wedding, and I'm so happy that he chose Horsepower Carriages.  They were prompt, on time, and their horses were stunning.  I mean, look at them!  Watching them ride off into the evening was so romantic...

Lisa and Andrew - thank you SO much for having us be a part of your day! It was such a pleasure getting to know you, your families, and your special guests!  Tell JuJu the Stargazer team says hello! 

Levi and Christine's Review ~ 8.14.2011

Stargazer Weddings provided day of planning and coordination. Although I planned the wedding, Stargazer provided valuable wedding planning input in the weeks before the wedding. The week before, when I needed a new plan for a cake, Stargazer was right there and saved me and my dessert debacle. The day of, they were in the forefront making sure each detail was how I wanted it so I could relax, be a bride, and enjoy my day! I would advise anyone to use Stargazer Weddings!

Photo by Steady State Studios

Jace and Lacey's Review ~ 7.23.2011

Ashley was super helpful when we were planning our wedding, even though I live in Wisconsin. She and I had emailed one another back and forth plenty of times sharing ideas, and we also had conversations over the phone. When it came time to actually meeting, two days before our wedding, she helped with everything I needed help with. She ran to the stores buying some last minute decorations for us, helped me with decorating, and also gave me advice for our wedding planning. Her ideas and advice became so comforting to me. When it came to the day-of, she became our life saver! She did everything for such as lacing my dress, driving me to my husband to get pictures taken, and even getting all the guys ready for the ceremony. I honestly don't know what I would have done without Ashley, especially on the day-of. I know I couldn't have done this alone. I would recommend Ashley to anyone!

Photo by James Stokes Photography

Ryan and Ruby's Review ~ 7.20.2011

Ashley of Stargazer Weddings was a true gem! Us brides and husbands-to-be spend so much time, money, and energy into planning the details we want, why not have Ashley deal with the things we don't want to deal with right? We kept hearing couples tell us they regret not hiring two types of vendors: a videographer and a rehearsal/wedding day-of coordinator. We did both! We are so grateful we did, no regrets! What I'm most grateful for is that we hired the right person, Ashley! I interviewed her and another team. I knew Ashley had the job after she spoke to me for about 5 minutes. She is detail oriented, responsive, organized, caring, and energetic! What I love most about Ashley is that she is reliable and not even close to burnt out. Her enthusiasm inspires me! Not only is she affordable, she offers top quality service!

 

Photo by Ambient Sky

8.14.2011 ~ Lots of Color, Lots of Love

*Wedding by Melissa*

Last August, Christine and Levi got married at Beckenridge Vineyards - which was beautiful as always.  This couple was so great to work with and were a joy to get to know - Christine and I hit it off right away! They wanted to make sure their guests had a great time at their wedding with good food, lots of dancing, plentiful drinks, and endless laughter - all of which was made possible by such amazing vendors. 

She bought her dress at the Bridal Gallery in Salem and fell in love with the staff there (who doesn't fall in love with the Bridal Gallery staff!?!). They helped with everything she needed, including extra ribbon she wanted to incorporate into her cake.   Her friend did her hair and makeup, Denice of Distinctive Designs did the stunning flowers (we LOVE working with her) to match their colorful theme perfectly, and all of the extra rental items were provided by Beckenridge. 

Now, as well all know, sometimes things don't go "according to plan," but that's what we're here for!  The prior hired baker was unable to follow through on their commitment - so we had 5 days to find a new cake decorator!  NutCakes was able to accommodate us, and she was SO great and easy to work with!  Plus - it was YUMMY!  The food?  Delicious as always, as Steve and his team from Capricorn Catering provided it all!  They work so seamlessly together and with the bartending staff at Beckenridge, which allowed Christine and Levi to keep their attention on their friends and family instead of what was happening behind the scenes. 

Valley Pro DJ and Sound kept the party going, and Jason Craig (503.930.8260) from Steady State Studios was there to capture all the special moments throughout the day! 

I think one of the sweetest memories I have of helping with this wedding was the tribute that Christine had to her sister when the guests walked in.  Her sister had passed away a few years prior, and it was such a beautiful way to honor and remember her. It was such a pleasure working with this great couple - a couple that has an amazing friendship as a base of their relationship.  Thanks for having me be a part of your lives you two!

7.23.2011 ~ Wisconsin Wedding

This wedding has a REALLY personal story to it - and I'm SO happy that I finally have some time to write about it!  Jace and Lacey were married back in July of 2011 (yes, we're still trying to catch up on our blog posts).  My husband and Jace first met back in 2006 when they both joined the National Guard and went to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.  They were assigned as "battle buddies," which means (whether they liked each other or not), they were stuck with each other through all of Basic Training.  They were to help each other, push each other when one would want to give up, and all around be a good support for each other.  Well, luckily it turns out these two got along pretty well, and had similar life values, morals, and life ambitions.  They stayed in touch through the years - and eventually both were deployed at near similar times.  My husband, Mike, deployed to Afghanistan, and Jace deployed to Iraq.  There was a few months of overlap, but they continued to stay in touch throughout their deployments.

This is where Lacey and I become more acquainted.  We had talked here and there over the years, but it was over the mutual life challenge of having our men deployed that really brought us together.  We'd write, message, text, call, and however else we could communicate - we would.  Since my husband had deployed sooner than her (at the time, fiance), she came to me for advice, guidance, and "reality."  For her, it was helpful to hear the truth from someone who had just gone through "this" or "that" stage of deployment.  For me, it was helpful to show strength and be there for someone, when I myself was leaning on her just as equally (although she probably didn't know it).  Through both deployments, challenges, late nights, lots of prayers, and God's grace - our  men came home....which meant it was time for Lacey and Jace to GET MARRIED!  They live in Wisconsin, so Mike and I flew to Wisconsin for the wedding!  It was my first time seeing this part of the world, and the first time ACTUALLY meeting Lacey!  I felt like we've known each other our whole lives - and I was so blessed to be a part of their day, and meet their amazing families and friends.  So....now time for wedding details!

As mentioned before, Lacey and I talked A LOT during the deployment - which was the time in which she was planning her wedding!  I learned that weddings in Wisconsin do things differently than on the west coast, but I loved learning about their traditions.  We'll get to this more later.  :)

They got married at the local little First Baptist Church in Medford, Wisconsin by a long time family friend and pastor, Luke Hatfield.  We had to drive 3 hours from the airport to get to this little town - but I loved the close community feel!  The ceremony was early afternoon, with the reception occurring later in the evening.  This is one of the differences about west coast weddings where they happen "all at once."  The afternoon ceremony allows for family to go home, change if they'd like, rest, and then come back a few hours later for dinner and dancing at the reception.  And I don't just mean 2 hours of dancing, I mean ALL NIGHT of dancing!  The reception went from 5 until well past midnight!  What was amazing was that everyone stays - the whole reception.  People just love hanging out, meeting the other guests, celebrating with the bride and groom - it was SO much fun!  We made some great friends too(yes, that's YOU Melissa & Luke). 

For this wedding, I was more of a "personal assistant."  I got to spend the whole day with Lacey, tending to her needs, making sure things ran on time, running errands, etc.  Considering our visit in general was so short, I loved the chance to get to spend so much time with Lacey, on such an important day.  Lacey did her own makeup, and got her hair done at Encore Hair Studio.  I remember seeing her for the first time in her wedding dress (helping her lace it up), and I started to get teary-eyed.  She looked so stunning, and I know how long they had been waiting for this day to come.  They'd been dating since Jace first entered the army YEARS ago...and "today" was finally here.  She had bought her dress from Charlotte's Bridal and it couldn't have been more perfect for her!  The flowers were from Thomas Floral.  My husband drove Jace, and I drove Lacey so they could have their "first look" at a local park.  It started to rain a little - but that wasn't going to stop us!  It was fun running this "errand" with my husband, texting back and forth, seeing where the other person was, making sure Jace was in position but couldn't see Lacey yet...

The photographer, James, of James Stokes Photography was great to work with! We emailed back and forth prior to the wedding, making sure that all of the important images (the special, non-typical ones) were captured by special request of Lacey and Jace.  Hanging out with James was like hanging out with family! 

After the sentimental ceremony with musicians (friends of the bride and groom, Kevin and Jessica), it was time for bridal party pictures!  Now, usually this can be just "something" that needs to get done - but the couple had picked out the most gorgeous farm I'd ever seen.  It was like out of a movie.  So much history, the rock foundations from 100's of years ago....it was breathtaking.  After a few pictures with Mike and I, we headed off to the reception to make sure it was all set before the guests would arrive.  I know Lacey had been working on a lot of personal details and her friend Julee was helping with all of the decor.  When I saw the reception hall at the Simek Center, I was blown away. When you first walk in, your entryway is lined with their love story.  A 3-D love story with stations, pictures, letters, personal items, you name it.  As you walk along, each "station" has a story about how they met, their first job together, the first date, the deployment, the proposal....the WHOLE story from when they met until today.  What a great way to greet your guests!  Then, as you enter the actual hall, they had white fabric draping the ceiling, lights everywhere, the most stunning birdcage for their cards, a "love notes" section instead of a guest book, and the list goes on and on.  I love details and this wedding was overflowing with personal touches!  The Simek Center not only was the reception site, but they also took care of the bartending, catering, cheesecake (yes, cheesecake - since that's how Jace proposed), rental items, and lots more!

Something else that was unique was that children are a big focus point at the reception.  The whole party starts off with an hour or so of events for kids.  The DJ, Dream Productions by Scott Woller, did such a great job of keeping the kids entertained with things from hula-hoop competitions to trivia to dance-offs.  It was hilarious!  He kept the party going all night, well past midnight!  Part of the reception is where the whole bridal party is announced, make a "tunnel," and then the bride and groom walk underneath the tunnel. 

Their wedding favors for their guests were mini bottles of homemade wine.  That's right - wine!  There were tons of flavors to choose from too: raspberry, blueberry, and lots more!  We got a few bottles to take home (and let me tell you...it was yummy)!  The best man (Luke, mentioned previously) had the best, best man speech - full with a plaque of the "story" for the groom!  There were so many great memories to the day, I simply can't write about them all - but I think you get the idea.

Jace and Lacey - Mike and I can't thank you enough for not only being a part of our lives, but allowing us to share your day with you.  It was a trip to remember forever, to celebrate the union of friends that we'll have for a lifetime.  We wish you two continued love and blessings - and can't wait to see you again! 

Love Story: Amanda & Andy

The Proposal

It was Christmas morning 2010 and I walked out into our front room and found a great big box waiting for me. I asked Andy what is was and he said I would have to open that one last. After opening our presents the only one left was the big box. On top there was a poem which lead me to open the box where I found another poem. While reading the poems I could feel my voice start to shake thinking in my head this couldn’t really be happening could it. I know that I had been asking for a very special present this year, but he had me convinced it wouldn’t happen for Christmas. I unwrapped four boxes to find a poem in every one. The last poem left me hanging until I looked up at Andy finding him on one knee asking me to marry him. I started crying and don’t tell anybody but so did he. To my surprise he had even snuck over to my parents house the day before to ask their permission. The best Christmas present I could have ever asked for was to spend the rest of my life with my bestest  friend. 

Photos by RJ's Studio 

7.20.2011 ~ Jenkins Estate Elegance

Ruby and Ryan were married last July at Jenkins Estate in Beaverton.  This venue was amazing and there are so many unique options for both ceremony and reception.  The bride and groom eventually want to start their own wedding venue, so they took the selection of their venue very seriously - and I LOVED their choice! 

Ruby started the day off by getting her hair and makeup done by Nicole of Powder, Inc.  Wow - did she look STUNNING!  I even got misty eyed when I saw her the first time.  And that breathtaking dress?  From AniA Collection!  It was one of my favorite dresses of the year, it fit her perfectly, and I felt like it had been designed just to fit her personality too!  It was perfect.  I also loved her custom hanger for her wedding dress - too cute! 

The ceremony was sweet, sincere, and complete with romantic, custom written vows and set in a gorgeous open grass field.  One of my favorite parts of the whole wedding day is during this silent time, when all the guests are giving their full attention.  The words they wrote for each other were so touching, and I'm so happy that they had Ambient Sky Studios there to capture it all on video.  Now they can re-live those precious moments, again and again, for years to come. 

Ruby and her bridesmaids spent hours (and I mean, a LOT of hours), making custom fabric DIY flower poms for the aisle - and they were SO fun!  We used them for extra decor inside the stable house for the reception as well.  They had Scott Head of Musica Melodia play some music, and it really helped set the mood.  At the end of the ceremony, the guests blew bubbles as they made their exit, and it looked fantastic!  Plus, it gave a really unique effect on their wedding video too! 

One of my favorite details to this wedding was their guest book table.  It was an actual table that people signed, and it was made out of a wine barrel table!  She had this custom made for the wedding, and after everyone signed it, she had it sealed with a glossy finish.  I loved this idea SO much that I'm working on trying to get Rob of Raw Woodworks to make some more! 

The reception was held in the stable house - which is literally a historic horse stable!  There's two levels, and you can actually seat your guests at a round table inside a stall!  It makes for fun conversation, and allows guests to flow through the whole building.  There is tons of wood-work, and was very rustic.  They hung pictures from the past TEN years (yes, they've been together a LONG time) all around the stable house, and even had asparagus centerpieces that the guests were able to take home.  They also had little name card holders made out of tree stumps and branches! 

Francoise Weeks was in charge of all things floral, and they were beautiful!  The tasty food was by Dalton's Northwest Catering - and they were such a joy to work with.  They helped setup chairs, were always available, kept the food plates full, and had great bartending service.  Plus, they were just plain fun to hang out with!  And cake?  Well, they had wedding PIE!  Lots and lots of yummy pie from Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery.  I heard numerous people say it was the best pie that they ever had! Ruby and Ryan had these adorable little "his and hers" owls for their topper too.  Plus all of these cakes were beautifully displayed on wood stump stands that Ryan made himself!  I loved them so much, I asked to borrow them for a recent inspiration photoshoot!  All of the amazing details for Ryan and Ruby's day were captured by Scott and Amanda of Ambient Sky Studios, who do photography as well!  I think these pictures speak for themselves!

There was a great concrete patio area, and Ruby even made pillows for her guests to sit on that matched the rest of the decor and wedding colors!  I could go on and on about all the things I loved about this wedding.  Ruby and Ryan - you were SUCH a joy to work with, and I'm so blessed to have gotten to know you! Congrats again, and I look forward to staying in touch and hopefully one day getting to bring our brides to YOUR wedding venue!

Here's their AMAZING short-version wedding film! I LOVE IT! I get emotional watching it, remembering all of the love and the joy of the day! There are so many reasons to have a videographer - just watch this and you'll see why!

Love Story: Melissa & Michael

"Michael and I met in high school when I was a freshman and he was a junior. Our town was small and he was in the same grade as my sister who I shared many friends with. It was almost inevitable that we would eventually meet.

This moment came in February of 2002. I was the sound technician for our school production of Godspell. After every show, we had a cast party. This particular cast party happened to be held at Ryan’s house.  Ryan, also a junior, was one of the actors in the play. He not only invited cast and crew to the party but his personal friend as well. Michael and Ryan had been friends since they were ten years old. Michael had come to see the play that night, so of course he was at the cast party.

At the party, my friends and I played board games, snacked, and eventually made our way out to the hot tub. It was filled with rowdy high school students -- there were probably more people in it than should have been, but we didn’t want to miss out on the fun. Despite the overcrowding, I hopped in and just so happened to sit next to Michael! It was very loud and hard to hear what everyone else was saying so I struck up a conversation with him. He was very quiet at first but so attentive and sincere.  I instantly felt a connection to him. Our conversation lasted the rest of the night and essentially has never stopped. 

After that night, Michael came to every production of Godspell and attended every cast party. He had found something amazing in life that he just couldn’t stay away from - me. We spent the next few months talking on the phone together almost every night. I found Michael to be charming, peaceful, and playful.  He found me to be open-minded, creative, and adventurous. We intrigued each other very much. We started spending every waking moment together and quickly fell in love. 

Since the summer of 2002, Michael and I have been inseparable.  A lot can happen in 10 years and it certainly has! We have had many challenges but have been able to get through every single one of them because of our deep understanding of each other and of our commitment to one another. We have cared so much about one another and stand together so firmly in our beliefs in being accountable, trustworthy, supportive, and most of all playful that it has allowed us to create a strong foundation and a bright future together.  Perhaps it was fate that led me to meeting my best friend and future husband at such a young age, but I am so incredibly grateful that I did. "

Engagement Pictures by 5th and 59th Photography