For 18 years, Portland Spirit has helped couples cruise toward happily ever after. Couples fall for stunning settings and yachts, flawless service and a range of affordable options. Our experienced wedding specialists guide couples through all their big-day decisions. What people may not know about the Portland Spirit is the number of options that are available.

Our name is the Portland Spirit and yes, that is our flagship yacht, but we also have smaller vessels that can be privately rented and make the perfect fit for any size group. The Willamette Star is our medium size yacht and is great for parties up to about 140 guests. It has that classic nautical feel with brass trims and stunning woodwork. The Crystal Dolphin is great for parties up to 100 passengers, has three levels including the Starlight Deck which is he place to be when the sun is shining! Finally, in the Gorge we have our Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler. That classic feel of a paddlewheeler with the Columbia River Gorge as your backdrop. Makes for some beautiful pictures! Thunder Island makes the perfect riverside setting for your ceremony and the Gorge Pavilion, our fully enclosed, riverside event space, for your reception.

Finally, for smaller groups from 2-40 passengers you can bring your group on board any of our public cruise offerings on the Portland Spirit or the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler and have one of our Captain’s perform the ceremony. A public cruise ceremony is ideal for the bride and groom looking for easy planning, a unique, affordable experience and not concerned with the formality of a private event.

Reserve your special day with us and take advantage of our entertainment special exclusive to Bravo Blog readers! You book your private wedding package, and we will book your entertainment. You will receive a $500 credit to put toward a DJ, band or other entertainment of your choice. Fine Print: Must book by May 31 to take advantage of this incredible deal! Only valid for private charters and events. Not valid for public wedding reservations. Contact our Group and Charter Sales Department at 503-224-3900 or sales@portlandspirit.com.

* Guest Blog By Portland Sprit *

Take $300 off any wedding package booked with Yasmin Khajavi Photography. Her style is comfortable, fun, and personal, backed up by exceptional artistry and skill. Her goal is to create images that you absolutely love!

Don’t delay – this special closes on April 24th! Meet with her at the Ford Building, and check out her work online at http://ykvision.com and her blog for all the latest, http://ykvision.com/blog.

Yasmin Khajavi Photography
Ford Building 2505 SE 11th Ave. Ste 352,
Portland, Oregon 97202
503.915.9281
yasmin@ykvision.com

WOW! Urban Studio is offering a fantastic special on the few remaining weekend dates this summer! If you still need a venue for your wedding, rehearsal dinner, or event, make sure you don’t miss this special offer – If you book now, Urban Studio will waive the catering minimum OR you can receive 50% off the room rental fee with a minimum catering purchase.

Contact Via for more information! via@urban-restaurants.com - 503.860.0203

Urban Studio, located in the heart of the Pearl District, is your wedding ceremony and reception venue. Contemporary and chic, Urban Studio is the ideal location for your special day.

With two spacious areas, including a sunken grand floor and cocktail reception area, Urban Studio can accommodate up to 300 people standing, and 200 for a seated reception. Both areas are separated by a stunning wrap around bar dressed in dark bamboo and sparkling white granite. Vaulted ceilings, soaring windows and natural light create a light and airy ambiance, bringing a quiet elegance to your wedding.

Located on the Portland Streetcar line, and in the hub for restaurants, bars, shopping, and steps from downtown hotels, Urban Studio is the perfect spot for out of town guests. With a flexible floor plan, Urban Studio can accommodate your guests in a variety of ways including ceremonies, dinner receptions and cocktail parties.

Contact Urban Studio today, and let them plan a remarkable wedding you’ll never forget.

BRIDES AND BASKETBALL™ WITH THE PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS™!

SUNDAY, APRIL 1, 2012 – 4:00 p.m.

BRING YOUR FIANCÉ TO THE BRIDAL SHOW ‘PARTY’ AND GO TO THE TRAIL BLAZERS GAME AFTERWARDS IT’S A GREAT DATE NIGHT!

$12 PER PERSON (includes ticket to the game!)

Bring your partner to the bridal show and meet with local professionals, then take your seats for the high intensity Trail Blazers game!  Each ticket to the bridal show gets you a ticket to the game!  You must attend the bridal show to get your ticket to the game, and you will be glad you did!

The best professionals in the business have some FANTASTIC GIVEAWAYS for you and your partner.  Check out SOME of our show specials, available ONLY at the bridal show party!

BUST A MOVE DJS:  “DJ GIVEAWAY” where one bride will be drawn and will receive our 3 hour basic package “FREE”!  And, $100 off our Ultimate Package and $50 off our Premier and Deluxe Packages.

EL GAUCHO PORTLAND:  “You’re in” Giveaway!

ESTE’S MENS CLOTHING: Grooms tux rental is FREE for parties of 5 or more!

GENTLE DENTAL: Drawing for a Sonicare gift basket!

HELIUM COMEDY CLUB: Two ticket giveaways (4:45 pm and 5:30 pm), and also some fun chances to win passes!

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE: $100 gift card raffle, and a complimentary champagne toast to every couple who books their rehearsal dinner at the show!

PURE ROMANCE: $100 goody raffle, and anyone who books a party gets to spin the prize wheel!

THE BEATTY GROUP: Drawing for a round trip flight from Portland to Las Vegas!

THE TAPROOM, HOME OF MACTARNAHAN’S BREWING CO. & PYRAMID BREWING CO.: $100 gift card raffle!

UNVEILED PRODUCTIONS: Raffle of one videographer for the ceremony (up to 3 hours), OR $500 off a Your Day Basic videography.

WILD DESTINATIONS:  SuperClubs drawing Jamaica basket (coffee, Appleton Rum and other goodies);  Portland Swim Wear Discount Coupon;  Portland Luggage Discount Coupons; $50 savings on booking bridal show special; $100 Off stays of 7-nights or more;  $50 Off stays of 4-6 nights with Breezes resorts; get a 6th room FREE for wedding couples doing a destination wedding, and MORE!

BRIDES AND BASKETBALL:  Raffle of 3 Day/2 Night hotel stay in Puerto Vallarta, MX, Honolulu, HI, Las Vegas, NV or Pocono Mountains, PA …your choice! (4:15 pm)

Bring your fiancé and watch him smile when he discovers the beer samples provided by The Taproom, or the putting green set up by Salishan Spa & Golf Resort!

WE ARE THE BRIDAL SHOW WITH BENEFITS! TICKETS ARE LIMITED, SO GET YOURS RIGHT NOW AT BRIDESANDBASKETBALL.COM!

We’re looking forward to another great wedding season this summer. Weekends are booking fast, but it’s not too late to secure Catering At Its Best as your caterer.

Our all inclusive wedding packages are a great value. In addition to wonderful food, our packages include dinnerware, flatware, table linens and wait staff. We also offer bar service packages with Northwest Wines and Local Microbrews. Let us take care of care of any rental needs,including tables, chairs, tents and dance floors.

Need help finding the perfect venue for your reception? Our event planners can help you. We are a preferred caterer at several of Portland’s best wedding venues.

Contact us today to set up an appointment with one of our event planners. We will handle of all the details so you can enjoy your wedding day!

Please join The Bridal Loft on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 from 4pm to 8pm and enjoy a fun evening out with the Bridal Loft wedding professionals, Portland’s original bridal collective. Light hors d’oeuvres and wine will be served as you view the 2012 collections from August Veils and beadALEX, as well as getting your opportunity to meet in person with:

Bridal beauty educator Katherine Sealy of Event Cosmetics

Wedding planner Emee Pumarega of EJP Events

Photographer Paul Rich

Calligrapher Alesia Zorn

The cinematography team of Scott and Amanda Shama of Ambient Sky Couture Wedding Films

Master seamstress Kim Trickey of Sewing Solutions

and designer Andrea Hoyt of August Veils

Bring your wedding questions and be ready to enjoy the camaraderie of The Bridal Loft. See you there!

Photo credits, clockwise from top left: Holland Studios, Holland Studios, Holland Studios, Craig Strong, The Bridal Loft, Craig Strong

The Bridal Loft
2808 NE MLK Blvd. Suite #3, Portland, Oregon 97212

NW Wedding Scoop – This bridal event is about YOU!! Come hang out in a hip & relaxed environment where local wedding experts share their secrets, you get to ask questions without the sales pitches, brides get pampered and grooms have their own Man Cave! Incredible Swag Bags for the first 100 Brides to PreRegister.

NW Wedding Scoop offers you a solution to having a stress-free wedding. This is not an event for vendors to sell you their services, with the traditional sales pitch.  This is where you come to get all your questions answered, solutions to the challenges you have, and find out how to have the wedding of your dreams YOUR way. . .
Panels of Bridal Experts will be sharing their best industry advice, timeline tips and budget tricks with you.  There will be plenty of opportunities to hear about all the facets of the wedding planning process as well as the opportunity to talk one-on-one with the vendors and ask any questions you have without the pressure.

Guys, they even have a Man Cave for you!!  March Madness will be playing on the big screen, complimentary whiskey tasting, Texas hold’em, black-jack and a cash bar! You don’t want to miss out on the fun!

NW Wedding Scoop
March 10 & 11 at The Governor Hotel
Purchase Tickets

Plan your wedding with a notable collection of the area’s best bridal resources at the ultimate high-end bridal event of the year - LUXE BRIDAL EVENT – designed for today’s most contemporary and style-obsessed couples!

Hosted by Luxe Event Productions at the Historic Tiffany Center and decorated by Barclay Event Rentals the night will start with the Luxe Ultra Lounge experience for VIP ticket holders 5-6pm, and general admission to open at 6pm.

The LUXE BRIDAL EVENT is a luxury and boutique bridal showcase with a style-savvy and contemporary lounge-like atmosphere. The design of this lounge-like bridal event is fun for all, there is a cash bar, live DJ with dimmed lighting and a chill and modern luxury feel. The setting is relaxed, swanky, boutique and ultra lush with details and style.

You don’t want to miss this fabulous event!

DATE | March 8th, 2012
LOCATION | Historic Tiffany Center
VIP ENTRY | $35 includes the ultra luxe VIP SWAG BAG -LOADED- with discounts and freebies from exhibitors, local wedding pros and area businesses!
GENERAL ADMISSION | $12
REGISTER to Attend

Join Charlotte’s Weddings & More for their Open House this Wednesday, March 7th, from 5pm to 8pm. You’re in for a fabulous evening! RSVP here.

Charlotte’s will be showcasing a variety of preferred vendors, from catering and cosmetics, to music and photography. And the best part? There will be a drawing every 15 minutes for giveaways from select vendors (Must be present to win). Plus, you could win $1000 towards any wedding gown in the store (new purchases only).

In addition, the first 50 brides to attend the Open House evening will receive a gift bag compliments of Charlotte’s. Be sure to stop by on March 7th – you won’t want to miss all the fun and excitement of Charlotte’s Open House bridal extravaganza!

Preferred Vendors at Charlotte’s Open House:
All Wright Music - Paparazzi Tonight - Cupcake Jones - Soiree Event Planning - Soiree Boutique - David Barss Photography - Hybrid Moon - Best Car in Town - The Wedding Lounge - Crave Catering - Le Cookie Monkey - Event Cosmetics - Bravo! Wedding - West Coast Event Productions - The Wedding Cottage - August Veils - Hotel Vintage Plaza - And many More!

Come tour Oregon’s Newest Wedding Venue!

Abernethy Chapel Open House
Saturday, March 17th 10am to 2pm

The Chapel – Your Picture Perfect Ceremony

The Abernethy Chapel is a classic white ceremony chapel tucked within a grove of trees, with a working, 65 foot bell tower, dedicated bridal and groom’s suites, and the capacity to hold 220 guests for ceremonies. The lower floor of the chapel will have an intimate reception space for parties of 100 guests or less. Larger parties will enjoy the convenience of our ballroom across the street.

Abernethy Center is also running a 50% off the site rental special (gardens only) for 2012 weddings through September (Friday – Sunday events) – weddings must be booked by the end of March!