Oregon Wedding Showcase produces four great bridal shows each year – 2 in Salem & 2 in Eugene. Don’t miss your opportunity to attend the upcoming January shows!

From the traditional to the unique, The Oregon Wedding Showcase has something for every bride. Talk with experts, see the latest wedding trends, and discover new ideas as well as take advantage of money-saving show specials. Over 25 years of experience putting on the best bridal shows in the Willamette Valley!

The Eugene show is this weekend, January 14th and 15th at the Lane Events Center 796 W. 13th Avenue Eugene Oregon. Hours are Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 11am to 4:30pm. Over 100 vendors from cakes to formal wear to gowns to catering and venues. Two professional fashion shows each day featuring the latest gowns and formal wear.

The Salem Show is January 28th and 29th at the Oregon State Fairgrounds, 2330 17th St. NE in Salem Oregon. Hours are Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 11am to 4:30pm. (Different exhibitors – same features as Eugene with over 100 vendors, fashion shows etc.)!

Oregon Wedding Showcase

Advance tickets can be purchased at www.oregonweddingshowcase.com for $7. Admission at the door is $9 and $1 off coupons are available through most show vendors.

Check out their Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/oregonweddingshowcase for for contests to win tickets to the shows!

Finally, Oregon Wedding Showcase offers a fully interactive website with planning tools, ability to ask multiple vendors questions on services, availability or any other types of questions in just one email.

Guest blog from JOS Photographers.

From the bride (Nicole Darabi): “My husband Nima and I were married on May 14th, 2011 in Portland’s hip historic pearl district.  Many of the finest vendors in Portland helped support our modern twist on a traditional Catholic/Persian wedding. The day was magical, joyous, and emotional. We chose colors of plums, magenta’s, graphite grey, black and white along with orchids, peonies, roses, and anenomies in jewel tones themed the day along with modern damask print patterns. We had 15 people in our wedding party and 300 guests for a dynamic day filled with joyous activities. Nima and his guys gathered at our home while I got ready at The Nine’s Hotel with my girls, seeing each other for the first time at the progressive Indigo 12 West (both of these buildings Nima’s firm helped design and build), our first ceremony at the St. Mary’s Cathedral was an important part to me. The ceremony was accompanied by a choir. After our exit we had a 9 pedicab escapade for our wedding party through the Pearl District to Pure Space for yes, a second ceremony since Nima is Persian. One of the favorite details of the day was Nima’s Aunt Malekeh who put exquisite traditional touches on the Sofreh for the traditional Persian ceremony yet kept it modern enough for our reception. This ceremony was fun and playful with Nima dancing in with his parents to music. My maid of Honor and Nima’s Aunt read Rumi and Nima & I feeding each other honey, a fine Persian tradition. Afterward guests were open to explore, enjoy a drink or hang out in the lounge area. We also had a photo booth which was so much fun to play and get wild with various props. Everyone knows that we love to have a good time with family and friends so that was the main objective for our day. Because both the Catholic & Persian ceremonies were so traditional we wanted to make sure our guests were given the proper environment at their reception to let loose, eat, drink, and dance the night away. We equally showcased both of our cultures throughout the day and especially the reception.  Because I am Puerto Rican/Italian and Nima is Persian it definitely paved the way for a festive party and the amazing DJ to throw down some great dance music. We had everyone on the dance floor from the time we were announced as bride and groom and continued non-stop to the end of the night. We even had a surprise salsa dancing performance! People kept telling me months before my wedding to take it all in, so I made myself stop and look around numerous times throughout the evening saying “Honestly, this experience was the best day of my life and it makes me that much more excited for our journey ahead.”

From Molli Barrs – Soiree: “Working with Nicole and Nima was a wonderful experience.  As coordinators it was our job to understand their vision and help make it happen.  We not only managed their vendors and ensured the event ran smoothly but we also maintained a great relationship with the bride and groom throughout the process to make sure their vision was communicated to their vendors.  As we are working with clients we like to help them find ways to incorporate their personalities, style, and cultural traditions.  What was unique about Nicole and Nima’s wedding was that there were two ceremonies, the first a traditional Catholic ceremony and a second Persian ceremony to celebrate Nima’s heritage.  It was a lovely blend of two cultures and the guests really enjoyed the experience. There were a lot of moving pieces to this wedding.  We appreciated that Nicole and Nima hired us for our expertise and recommendations and trusted us to pull all the details together and make their dream wedding perfect.  It was a real treat to work with such a fantastic couple, not to mention their great team of vendors.

Also, please bring an unwrapped toy to be donated to a holiday toy drive. The Lounge Players look forward to celebrating a fun and festive evening with all of you brides and grooms to be, as well as those in the wedding industry! Please RSVP Here.

Wedding Lounge Holiday Open House

We’re beyond amazed at the level of talent in the local Wedding & Event industry! This past Sunday was the most successful Wedding Affair Bravo! has seen. Brides, Grooms & Guests were captivated by the gorgeous rooms decorated to impress, tasted delicious food, drinks & desserts and much more.

Winners: One fun element of the Wedding Affair is voting by Guests for those who inspired them at the show. Typically there are 3 categories & 3 winners… however there were a few ties and many honorable mentions! Congratulations to all.

Best Room Theme & Décor:
Colonel Lindbergh Ballroom – Theme: Town & Country and Fireside Room – Theme: Urban Chic – a Winter Wedding

Best Caterer: Premiere Catering and Delilah’s Catering

People’s Choice/Lasting Impression: Le Cookie Monkey

People’s Choice Honorable Mentions: August Veils, Barclay Event Rentals, Charlotte’s Weddings & More, Delilah’s Catering, Embassy Suites Hotel, Fred Astaire Dance Studio, Grand Papery, John Ross Music, Magnifique Boutique, Muse Wedding & Event Planning, Paparazzi Tonight, Premiere Catering, Seventy Seven Salon, Soiree – Special Event Planning, Star Productions, Stott Shots Photography, and Studio I Do.

The Bravo! Wedding Affair is easier to describe in photos as its truly awe-inspiring. For a complete list of all the amazing wedding & event professionals involved in the Wedding Affair, Click Here. To see more pictures from the show, click here.

Colonel Lindbergh Ballroom – Theme: Town & Country

Colonel Lindbergh Reception – Theme: Rustic Vineyard with a Touch of Tuscany

Fireside Room – Theme: Urban Chic – a Winter Wedding

Gevurtz Room – Theme: Decadence

Lobby & Destination Weddings – Central Oregon, Coast, Mt. Hood & Gorge, & Willamette Valley

Mezzanine – Theme: Tour of Elegance

Queen Marie Ballroom – Theme: Je t’Adore

Queen Marie Reception – Theme: So Now Vintage

* Thank you Andie Petkus Photography for capturing all the wonderful details!

We are so excited for the Bravo! Wedding Affair this Sunday! Every detail has been carefully thought out & meticulously taken care of – all to help simplify the task of planning your own wedding. Immerse yourself in a wealth of knowledge, get inspired with the latest bridal couture & savor delicious treats while fresh ideas will help you imagine your day.

Themes:
Decadence
Je t’Adore
Rustic Vineyard with a Touch of Tuscany
So Now Vintage
Town & Country
Tour of Elegance
Urban Chic – A Winter Wedding

Destination Weddings:
Central Oregon
Mt. Hood/Columbia River Gorge
Oregon Coast
Willamette Valley

Entertainment: Collage Trio & John Ross Music

Giveaways: Enter to win fantastic giveaways from, Columbia Cliff Villas, Martin’s Gorge Tours, Mt. Hood SkiBOWL, Star Productions DJ, The Party Scoop & more!

You don’t want to miss this show! Sunday, Nov. 6th, 2011 – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Embassy Suites Hotel Downtown Portland. Click Here to Purchase Tickets.

Bridal Show Tip: Avoid filling out multiple entry forms by hand – bring address labels with all your contact info. Be sure to include your email address & wedding date. This will save you time & your hand!

Urban Green Sustainable Wedding - February 2011 Wedding Affair. Images by AJ's - Art of Joy & Embassy Suites

Russian Tea Room - February 2011 Wedding Affair - Images by AJ's - Art of Joy

The Association of Bridal Consultants Oregon presents THE WEDDING EVENT sponsored by The Benson Hotel.

• Visit with over 25 vendors
• Tour The Benson Hotel
• Have a pre-wedding make-up session
• Taste great food
• and Much, much, more

October 29, 2011 - 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

The Benson Hotel - 309 SW Broadway, Portland

Free to brides, grooms, their parents, and their wedding parties.

Weddings at The Benson Hotel

Join The Portland Wedding Lounge Wednesday, October 26th from 6:30 – 8 pm, for a very unique open house. This time around attention will be focused on all of those lucky grooms.  My Bartender will be serving their delicious, signature Northwest Manhattans and catering will be provided by the exceptional Heathman Restaurant and Bar, a French inspired cuisine utilizing local and seasonal ingredients.

Grooms by Aj's - The Art of Joy

Wendy, of Flowers by Wendy will be showing a variety of boutineers, while Magnifique Boutique will be presenting the latest tuxedo styles.  The Lounge looks forward to having the Wedding Cottage back to display grooms and groomsmen gifts. They will also welcome Jeff Trinci, a special guest from the Groomslist who will be on hand to chat with all of the grooms. Ed Ryan, of Portland Cigar Company will also be in attendance showing his unique engraved cigars. Last, but certainly not lease, The Lounge  players will wrap up the evening with a raffle, giving away several fun door prizes. So grooms grab your brides, or vise versa, and come enjoy a lovely evening at the Wedding Lounge. REGISTER HERE

We’ve said this many times here at Bravo! but every bride is different and different is good. Committed! Portland’s Alternative Bridal Event is a fun and casual showcase of talented vendors for couples looking for something less along the lines of a traditional wedding. Curated by Luxe Event Productions, this bridal show is from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday October 21st at The Ambridge Event Center and will feature innovative Style Scenes, cool, unique ideas and plenty of amazing vendors.

Hey, even biker dudes and mamas need love too!

Style Scenes will includes themes like Moonshine Southern Wedding, Day of the Dead Wedding, Eco Friendly Wedding, Punk Rock Wedding, 80s Vintage Wedding plus more. Additionally, there will be two fashion shows at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. which are sure to be nothing close to ordinary. This show is sponsored by Le Coookie Monkey, Black Label Films, Ambridge Events Center, Mosco Photo, Oregon Bride Magazine, yours truly (Bravo! Publications) and many more.

We’re excited to be part of this event and encourage brides-t0-be to attend if they’re looking for something original, fun and alternative. Oh, and every couple that attends gets a sweet gift bag chock-full of goodies! Tickets are $12 online and $15 at the door (cash only).

Follow their Twitter account for more updates, tips and hints.

Check out their Facebook Page.

The Pacific Northwest has some of the most awe-inspiring sites on the west coast, from vast forests to rolling mountains and of course, the coast. Lewis and Clarke famously made their way to the Oregon coast, building Fort Clatstop where Astoria is now and it’s easy to see why they were transfixed by it. The Oregon coast spans more than 360 miles, looks like something from a postcard and is an extremely popular destination for weddings. Due to its broad range of terrains, the Oregon coast is divided into three sub sections- the North, Central and South, each uniquely different options for brides and grooms.

Cities near the coast are typically small and quaint yet still offer excellent resources for weddings. Tourism is a large part of the coastal economy and that includes weddings and ceremonies. For couples that choose the Oregon coast, here are some companies perfect for your big day by the ocean.

Located in Cannon Beach, Surfsand Resort Hotel has multiple options for the day of your wedding and more. Whether you’d like a barefoot wedding on the sand or an indoor ceremony in their Haystack Garden Retreat Center, Surfsand Resort Hotel has multiple luxury amenities to suit your needs and wants. Set against the world-famous Haystack Rock and Tillamook Lighthouse, the resort is blessed with a never-ending supply of sunsets. The resort’s roof top veranda is an excellent way to view said sunsets. Their staff can help you with everything else you need to get planned, from music, transportation, florists and photographers. The chefs and catering staff of Wayfarer Restaurant and Lounge can help you design the perfect menu, too.

Choosing Surfsand Resort comes with a view...or several

Debbie Nelson is a Cannon Beach local and owns Cannon Beach Florist. She offers complimentary floral consultation, giving the bride and groom the option of seeing her work before making any sort of commitment and her shop is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Cannon Beach.

One of the endless beautiful arrangements by Cannon Beach Florist

Pelican Brewpub is more than just a great place to grab a cold beer- in fact, it’s the perfect place to plan your wedding. It has three different lodging choices, an ocean front brewery and various floor plan arrangements to accommodate various sized parties. They have multiple catering options and of course, their own freshly brewed beer.

The Pelican Brew Pub overlooks sand, surf and sunsets

Don Frank Photography

Events such as weddings and fashion shows offer exceptional opportunities to capture the often unpredictable effects of light, movement, and celebration. Additionally, Don’s editorial style demonstrates his refined ability to portray personality and character. Don is an award winning professional photographer based on the Oregon Coast.  He describes his work as Creative Photojournalism. He likes to convey a story of what really happens (truth is stranger than fiction) in an artistic and interesting fashion.

Someone else described his work as this: “Don is very discreet, except when he is up in your face.”  He likes to work close to his subjects, interact, see and hear what is happening.  As such, he believes the photos have an intimate quality to them and place the viewer into the experience.

Contact Don at don@donfrankphotography.com or 503.738.5118.