Last September, we could have never anticipated the unfortunate event of The Eagle Creek Fire that affected miles of the Columbia River Gorge including Wind Mountain Ranch in Stevenson, WA.

Stephanie + Brian tied the knot two weeks after the fire started. Leading up to that September 16 date definitely made for a unique planning and communication experience, which I feel grateful to have worked with such a professional and stellar vendor team.

One special callout I want to make is to Molly, vendor coordinator at Wind Mountain Ranch, who went above and beyond providing daily photo updates to me and the couple as we worked through the stages of smoke, fire, and road closures. As you can see, the grounds looked amazing and the smoke (and fire at times) created a memorable backdrop at a one-of-a-kind venue located in the Gorge.

The words to describe Stephanie + Brian’s special day also reflect everything they stand for and represent as a couple: joyous, positive, understanding and loving.

As I reflect on this wedding, it puts all things planning into perspective and makes me appreciate the community we work in every day.

XO
Meghan

Vendor Team

Venue: Gorge-ous Weddings at Wind Mountain Ranch 
Photography: Ashley |  Powers Studio 
Floral Design: Artistic Flowers
Catering: White Pepper PDX
Music:  Event Team Entertainment
Hair + Makeup: ECHO NATURAL BEAUTY
Cake: Lamb’s Market
Rentals: The Party Place
Signage: Hey Halle
Linens: LaTavola Fine Linen

We are getting very close and have been very busy the past three months as we are under two months away from the big day!

Most of the wedding details and planning are set in stone and I would love to reflect and share some tips and learnings from our decisions along the way.

Know your Guests: It is definitely possible, depending on the size of your wedding, that you and/or your fiancé don’t know every single guest. The hope is to know the general vibe when the majority of your guests are altogether. We made a few choices knowing our friends were priority when creating our invite list. This is also important information to share with your planner to set expectations.

Open bar, cash bar or both: Catering, venue and budget will all be factors when deciding how you will keep your guests’ glasses full. There are no official rules of how to handle the bar and there are lots of appropriate options. We decided to go with hosted beer and wine and a cash bar to give our guests options while still maintaining within our budget.

Inspiration Photo: Styled Shoot with WW&Co and Ashley Cook Photography

Design Recommendations: When prioritizing what design elements fit into your aesthetic and budget, two recommendations I have: consider linens and don’t be afraid to incorporate things you love! Linens help bring a space together and also add color, depth and pattern especially in a larger venue space, like ours at the Oregon Golf Club. The addition of quality linens creates a polished and finished look to any event. I will admit I love balloons, especially letter balloons! I am sure I will look back 20 years from now and say “what was I thinking?!” but this décor item is one I am truly looking forward to (and can’t wait to share the final result!)

Now to some fun stuff!

Week-of Plans: Scott and I have decided to plan a few social activities the week-of the wedding for our bridal party, family and friends local and out of town to ensure we will take full advantage of this special time in our lives. Although, the week leading up can be stressful and busy, in some ways, having a schedule of things we want to do will help keep us in the moment and worry less about the big day.  This is also where having a wedding planner comes in handy!  Having someone experienced to execute your vision, at least starting the month-of, allows you to let go of the logistics and just be in the moment with your family and friends.

Looking forward to sharing my post wedding blog so stay tuned and be sure to follow @whitneywertsandco to see the behind the scenes.

XOXO
Meghan

Congratulations on your engagement!!  This is such an exciting time.  A new chapter is about to begin.  Now what? Often times when the adrenaline rush of this new adventure settles, the overwhelming feeling of next steps takes over.  Know that you are not alone! Take a deep breath and enjoy the moment.

Photo: Jen Schmidt Photography

Finding a venue is the first major decision in the planning process. This sets the tone for your entire wedding.  It sets your wedding date (which makes it feel very real). It is also one of the first major deposits you send out (which can also be overwhelming as a lot of wedding costs provide some sticker shock).  Once this decision is made, it does feel like the other major decisions begin to fall into place. We want to help you make that first major step in the planning process a little less overwhelming, so we’ve described the venue search process step-by-step.

Step 1: Setting the Tone for Your Wedding

The first thing you want to do is have a conversation with your fiancé(e) about what you want your wedding to be.  
     -Do you want an intimate gathering of a handful of family and friends or an all out bash with a few hundred people?
     -What type of setting do you envision for your day?
     -What are your must have’s for the day?  
          (Full bar? Band? Unique dining experience?)
     -What time of year do you want to tie the know?  Is this flexible?
          If you are wanting a summer wedding, are you open to any of the summer months or
          only wanting July? This will be one of the first questions a venue manager will ask you.

This doesn’t have to be a detailed vision, just a general sense of the feel you want created on the your day.  This will guide you in the venue selection process.

Step 2: The Budget Conversation

While this part is not the most fun part of planning, this is a conversation that needs to be had so you are both on the same page moving forward.  

The venue you select is also a major factor in setting your budget.  While some venues are all inclusive, others you will need to bring in a majority of the items required which will incur higher rental costs. (More about this in Step 4).

Step 3- The Search Begins

Now that you have a general vision and budget in mind you can begin researching venues.  While Google is a great resource, there are other sites that can help narrow the scope for you.  Oregon Bride Magazine has a great tool to enter specifications and generate a venue list. The Knot also has a list of top venues in various locations.

While looking through these websites, keep in mind your vision and how each of these meet your needs.  Is it large enough to accommodate my guest count?  Does it fit the esthetic I’m hoping to see on my day?  While searching, start a list of your top choices.

Step 4- Venue Tours

After you’ve created a list of your top four to five venues, call them and get their availability.  If they are available around your ideal time of year, set up tours at each of those places. While you are touring each of these spaces, keep in mind the following:  
     *What is included in the price? Do any rentals come with the rental? Or what rentals will need to be brought in? Is there a time frame that comes with your rental?
     *Is there a preferred vendors list that you will need to select from for other services?

Step 5- The Pro/Con List

After touring, create your pro/con list for each space. As cheesy as it sounds, follow your gut. While touring, there are usually moments when walking a space where you feel like “I can see myself getting married here!”

Photo: Scott Andrew Studio

If those steps seem overwhelming to you... We can help!

We often times get couples that feel overwhelmed by this part of the planning process and would love a bit of guidance in this area.  We saw a need and have created a Dream Venue Search service to help you!  In this service we will:

-Have a conversation with you to get a sense of the vision you are wanting.
-Provide you with a list of venues that fit your budget and vision
-Set up a day of tours at your top 4-5 venues.
-We will accompany you on tours and while walking the space, help you see what can be created to fit your vision.  We will also talk about what would need to be brought in, costs associated, and other logistical scenarios to think about.
-After the tours, we will create a budget analysis of your top 2 venues.  In this analysis, you will be provided with a comprehensive overview of what it would realistically cost to have your wedding at each space.  From there, we can help you book the venue of your choosing.

We wish you all the best in this venture!  Let us know if we can help you find your Dream Venue!

XO,
The WW&Co Team

Working with Hannah & Jeremy throughout their planning process has been a career highlight for me!  There is no hiding it… wedding planning can be stressful, and it is often times a learning process about yourself and your partner.  There are many emotions involved, lots of family members you want to please, and of course a lot of money involved.  These two had so much FUN throughout the processes.  There was a lot of love and thought that went into each decision made in the process.   Starting with surprising their guests with their favorite coffee packages mailed along with their Save the Date, to Hannah surprising Jeremy with a getaway car at the end of the night!  When tough decisions came up they were a unit always, and I don’t think there was any meeting that didn’t have lots of laughter. 

A big thanks to Maria Lamb who captured the emotions and details on this day so beautifully!!  Also make sure to read through the very end to see the incredible video created by Moving Pictures!  You don't want to miss this tear jerker.

After looking at many venues in Hood River, and the Colombia Gorge, Hannah and Jeremy fell in love with the special setting of Mt. Hood Organic Farms.  The gorgeous views, pristine grounds, and loving family atmosphere had them at hello!

Tiffany from Foraged Floral knocked it out of the park with her delicate and pastel toned blooms.

There were many thoughtful design details throughout the day.  We had a lot of fun bringing in texture and patterns through the linens from La Tavola Fine Linen Rental with this fun floral print for their cocktail hour and a sweet swiss dot linen for their dinner tables. 

For their table assignments, we incorporated coffee beans into the display tying in the coffee favor save the dates they sent out earlier in the year.  All of their paper goods from The Card Bar, including their invitation, incorporated a silhouette of Mt. Hood, a focal point of their view at Mt. Hood Organic Farms.

Their table numbers were hand painted onto a glass frame with dainty greens backing them.  This was incorporated throughout all of their signage and tied in the lush garden greens in their florals and in their surroundings.

Guests dined on locally sourced fresh food by Ginger of Cultivate Catering.

As mentioned, Hannah surprised Jeremy with a red convertible getaway car from Surperior Performance.  It was definitely a highlight and really fun moment!

Last, but definitely not least, guests ate yummy cake bites from Sweethearts Bakery, lounged on the beautiful lounge vignettes from Classic Vintage Rentals, and danced the night away in the green house!

Check out the full video below from Moving Pictures of the magical day, and see the full feature on Ruffled Blog!

Vendor Team

Venue: Mt. Hood Organic Farms
Catering: Cultivate Catering
Floral: Foraged Floral
Dessert: Sweetheart Bakery
Photography: Maria Lamb
Videography: Moving Pictures
Music: Zach Jones
Rentals: Classic Vintage Rentals  |  The Party Place
Linen Rental: La Tavola Fine Linen
Calligraphy: Katie Michelle Designs
Invitations + Paper Design: The Card Bar
Vintage Car: Superior Performance
Hair + Makeup: Portland Makeup and Hair

We are excited to share what inspired us from each of our weddings last year! As our team looks forward to 2018, here are the highlights from 2017 – Enjoy!

Anne-Marie & Wendell's | May 6 | Gorge Crest Vineyard 
First wedding of 2017, started off with amazing floral execution by Selva Floral.

Photo: Catalina Jean Photography

Irini + Athan | July 2 | Greek Orthodox Church + Double Tree Lloyd Center
Greek traditions created an emotional, memorable day that even got us dancing.

Photo: Paul Rich Studio

Ashley + George | July 22 | Gorge Crest Vineyard
There is nothing like a summer day in the gorge!

Photo: Velvet Owl Photography

Gianna + Tim | July 29 | Lewis & Clark
One of our favorite color palettes in 2017.  Incredible florals by Foraged Floral.

Photo: Mylyn Wood Photography

Renee + Sam | July 29 | The Colony
One of the best parts of the job is seeing how much love fills a room to celebrate a couple.  Celebration feast catered by Field Day Catering.

Photo: Nessa K Photography

Molly + Joel | August 5 | Roloff Farms
We were honored to be a part of Molly + Joel’s intimate and beautiful day at her family’s property.

Photo: Julia Green Photography

Abby + Matt | August 26 | Maysara Winery
Attention to detail was one of a kind with a custom monogram, which was carried out throughout their paper goods.

Photo: Amy Winningham Photography

Alea + Andy | September 9 | The Croft Farm
After a last-minute venue change due to the Eagle Creek Fire, we couldn’t have been happier to celebrate at The Croft Farm. 

Photo: Kim Smith Miller

Katie + Michael | September 15 | Coopers Hall
So much love and good times with Katie + Michael’s family and friends.

Photo: Bethany Small Photography

Stephanie + Brian | September 16 | Wind Mountain Ranch
Despite the smokey backdrop, everyone came to celebrate everything there is to love about weddings.  

Photo: Ashley from Powers Studios

Rachelle + Will | September 23 | Castaway
Sometimes we plan the lighting, other times we couldn’t have planned it better.

Photo: Bryan Rupp Photography

Laura + Owen | October 21 | Private Property in Tiburon, CA
We ended the year at one of the most unique and breathtaking venues.  

Photo: Yuliya M. Photography

2017 was a year of growth and challenging ourselves to create events that touched every guest that attended.  Our mission in all that we do is to connect with our clients and when the line begins to blur between working an event and feeling like a part of the family, we know we've accomplished our goal.  Cheers to 2017!  2018... We are coming for you!

XO,
The WW&Co. Team