The Willamette Valley remains a broad plain swept with green vegetation, crystal-like rivers, and endless views of gorgeous scenery. Last week, two Bravo! colleagues traveled up and down Interstate 5 on a site tour of Willamette Valley venues.

First stop, Chemeketa Eola. This facility is enveloped by a framework of trees, offering spectacular panoramic views of their vineyard and the rest of the Willamette Valley. Chemeketa Eola can accommodate up to 225 seated guests inside, and host many others on their expansive patio outdoors (weather permitting). They can also divide a particular room into four different areas for meeting and event spaces. The staff ads to the ambiance with their warm and welcoming demeanor. The Mission Mill Museum was the next stop,  offering a venue with a rich history, and unique spaces for special events and celebrations. This venue was established in 1834, and still displays the original woolen mills that have been preserved over the years. A quaint church sits on this settlement, offering couples a site for intimate weddings and vow renewals.

Next stop, The Oregon State Fair Grounds & Expo Center. Stretching 185 acres, this establishment has a variety of amazing buildings, such as the historic Old Brick Horse Arena, which has been used for decades as a prize jumping and showing area. This venue is more than just a fair grounds, but rather a place to hold concerts, road shows, Quincenera parties, wine tastings, tradeshows and more. There is a building for any event or purpose! The Grand Hotel Salem, located in the heart of downtown Salem, offers luxurious business class accommodations and guest amenities. It can be used as a high-end conference center as well as an elegant location for weddings & receptions. If land isn’t your thing, then be sure to check out The Willamette Queen Sternwheeler. This boat turns back the hands of time when a sternwheeler was the main mode of transportation down the river. It is a perfect venue for small parties or weddings. The captain of the Willamette Queen said that he just married a 78 year old woman and an 84 year old man. They loved the small intimate setting the sternwheeler had to offer. They have recently helped plan a wedding in two weeks with a budget of $500, showing that this option is affordable and memorable. Right next to the dock, stands a bronze statue by our new client Rip Caswell, from Rip Caswell’s Gallery.

Once back on land, the Oregon Electric Station is a romantic setting to dine in a historic train depot. This depot was built in 1912 and contains three lounges adorned with train cars and railroad paraphernalia. Located on the banks of the Willamette River, the Vally River Inn has 15,000 square feet of meeting space, three ballrooms, scenic river views,  outdoor decks, and more. The event coordinators at the Valley River Inn, ensure that things run flawlessly on any given event or wedding day. If these amenities were not enough, they also host their own vegetable and herb garden that the chefs use when preparing meals.

Next stop, the Hilton Eugene & Conference Center. The hospitality given at the Hilton Eugene is unsurpassed, offering appetizers, drinks, and complimentary tours of the entire facility, guest rooms, meeting areas, and the ballroom. Their ballroom can accommodate up to 800 people, and before booking an event here, a bride can use the new “Design Lounge” as an area that can feature a full table set-up and decoration of what a bride might picture on her wedding day. This new room is so beneficial when planning your special event. If an individual wanted to host their event outside, then the Ogren Gardens would be a perfect fit. Tucked behind ornate gates, sits this beautiful venue, home to flower gardens and a romantic outdoor gazebo. A Victorian house is being built to accommodate small receptions, and a quaint barn is a perfect venue for parties.

If Italy has been your dream setting for a wedding, but your budget won’t allow it, then look no further than King Estate Winery. It’s been called the “Italy [of] Oregon” by Bella Vista. This spectacular venue is right in Portland’s backyard, accommodating both indoor and outdoor facilities that can meet any bride’s dreams. Guests can indulge in delicious food and wine while overlooking the rolling hills, olive trees, and grape vines. Perhaps a homey country estate fits your fancy. The Red Rooster Bed & Breakfast in Eugene is a rustic outdoor farm area that makes the perfect venue for a country style event. Geese roam in front of the classic 1898 barn, which opens up to an amazing dance floor and venue, while inside the inn, there are quaint hand painted murals and cozy guest rooms. Another great B & B along the Valley is the Campbell House. It was built in the 1800′s with classic architectural elements in its unique curved windows. The Campbell House will be featured on A & E soon in a paranormal episode, featuring the 18 newly renovated guest rooms and quaint parlor. Our Bravo! colleagues were welcomed with open arms to a tour, and later, a relaxing game of Scrabble with wine and hors’ de vours.

From the Campbell House to Chateau Lorane. The best words to describe the Chateau Lorane are calm and serene. This venue is encompassed by trees that reflect in the calm mirror lake with an outdoor gazebo nearby. This venue has stunning views that are picture perfect for any event. The owners say that deer and wildlife regularly visit the Chateau and grace their presence to those visiting. Next was the Historic Deepwood Estate in Salem, a house with Victorian spindles leading up to the ornate door and original screen shutters. Impeccably manicured gardens showcase this home, creating an elegant backdrop to special events. Log House Gardens is another venue with a gorgeous setting for weddings and special events. Log House Gardens is a family owned venue in Keizer, Oregon, with well-manicured gardens and a grand log structure that acts as an alter for any marriage ceremony.

Finally, the epicenter of the Willamette Valley is the Travel Salem/ Travel Oregon company. Travel Salem has a wealth of knowledge about venues and services in the Salem area. They can answer all your questions, and find the perfect location for you and your special event! The Willamette Valley has so much to offer, and these are just a few of their hidden treasures. Be sure to keep them all in mind when planning your next event.

Pictures From Left to Right: (Above) Chemeketa Eola, Mission Mill Museum, Oregon State Fair Grounds & Expo Center, King Estate, Campbell House, & the Hilton Eugene. (Below) Willamette Queen Sternwheeler, Bronze Statue by Rip Caswell by the WQ Sternwheeler, The Grand Hotel Salem, Vally River Inn, Ogren Gardens, Historic Deepwood Estate, & Log House.

September & October are more than just months when school begins, the leaves begin to change colors, and your anxiety rises about what you want to dress up for Halloween; it is a month of remembrance, love, and support for those who are dealing with or who have dealt with breast cancer. Thousands are touched my this disease directly and indirectly every year. We as a nation have gathered together to raise money for the efforts in finding a cure for this disease.

Although the 19th Annual Oregon Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure has come and gone, Oregonians are still mindful of fund raising efforts & want to do all they can in helping find a cure. On Friday October 1, 2010, the Portland Spirit will be hosting a fundraiser called “Get On Board For Breast Cancer.” This event will not only to raise money for the prevention of this disease, but it will also be in memory of one of their longtime co-workers, Lori Miller. Miller was the Director of Sales for the Portland Spirit, and unfortunately lost her battle with inflammatory breast cancer. Inflammatory Breast Cancer is not a well-known type of cancer, since it is so rare, and the Portland Spirit wants to bring awareness to this disease and others that affect thousands of people year-round through this event.

With the “Get on Board For Breast Cancer” fundraiser, it will help keep Lori Miller’s spirit alive, and help raise money for ‘Breast Friends,’ a local non-profit organization, and a scholarship which has been set up in Miller’s name. Tickets are on sale for $20.00 per person, which includes a 2 hour cruise, live entertainment from Tall Jazz, and food, beverages and raffle tickets for purchase on board. The ship will be boarding passengers from the Salmon Street Springs dock at 2:45 p.m. and the cruise will go from 3:00-5:00 p.m.

We have all been touched in some way by breast cancer. Our mothers, our sisters, our aunts, our best friends, or maybe ourselves. Come join the Portland Spirit in their efforts to raise money for a great cause and to keep Lori Miller’s name and spirit alive and well in our thoughts and in our hearts.

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Mark your calendars for the Bridgeport Village Wedding Show this Sunday September 12th from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. at Bridgeport Village in Tigard. We will be in Border’s Bookstore handing out our 2010 Wedding Guides and Wedding Planners. Bring your mom, your sister, your best friend, or anyone else who know who is newly engaged and planning their wedding! Our guides have been described as the “Bible of Wedding Planning,” so don’t miss out on this great opportunity to get one of your very own!

For 18 years, hosts across America have opened their homes and kitchens for “Dinner at My House” for Our House to raise money for Our House of Portland in support of their mission to “inspire people with HIV/AIDS to live well.” Over 67 dinners will be hosted this year alone!

Charles Stilwell, from Devil’s Food Catering, has been directly involved with Dinner at My House for Our House for the past several years. This year, Charles is happy to be the honorary chair for their 18th Dinner Series that’s already in full swing. You can sign up to join Portland’s best chefs and top hosts as they produce an array of unique and delicious dinners to support this great local cause.

These dinner parties are so much fun! Simply pick a dinner (or three or four), buy tickets online, get all dressed up (or not), and arrive at the appointed hour. You’ll make new friends, eat amazing food, drink amazing drinks, all prepared just for you by some of Portland’s best cooks. Plus, you’ll have a blast knowing you helped Our House. Be a part of this great event!

** Upcoming dinners are described online: Dinner Series **

Visit OurHouseofPortland.org or call 503.736.9276 to request a full catalogue,  where you can learn about this cause, make reservations, and support all those who are participating in these amazing events. For volunteer information, be sure to check out the requirements online.

You’re Invited!!

Come to the Rip Caswell Gallery located in Troutdale, OR on Friday September 3, 2010,  from 5:30 p.m.- 9:00 p.m., for an Open House.

Visit and tour this beautiful venue site, enjoy appetizers and wine tastings, listen to live music, view beautiful artwork from local NW artists, and meet gallery owner and sculptor Rip Caswell himself.