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.

Throughout the years Oregon has maintained and cherished the rich history of its past. Philip Foster Farm does just that, by capturing and enhancing the historical elements this site has to offer. Located in Estacada, OR, this historic property has a beautiful rustic barn and great outdoor space, perfect for weddings, receptions, corporate events, reunions, etc. Cedar Springs Country Estate, located in Sandy, OR, has been a client of Bravo!’s since 1991! They offer beautiful grounds with a picturesque gazebo, perfect for romantic wedding ceremonies, as well as a tree house, playhouse and sandbox to keep kids occupied during a celebration. Cedar Springs is a great fit for both weddings and corporate events.

History in Oregon however, is not just about the Oregon Trail and Lewis & Clark, it comes in all shapes and sizes, and it is beautifully preserved in the historic Columbia Gorge Hotel built in 1904. It boasts both fabulous food and drinks, amazing views, and cozy rooms. This is a wonderful place to relax and lay your head after a long day of work and/or play! The Columbia Gorge Hotel is definitely a must-see when visiting the gorge and abides by its slogan, truly being “a legacy of luxury.”

Another hidden gem in Skamania County is Woodard Creek Landing. They have multiple buildings on site, including the newly renovated Old Cape Horn Grange building which can hold up to 200 guests. This building has been refurbished with hardwood floors, a full stage for musicians or DJ’s, a vintage kitchen,  and rooms upstairs for the bridal party to get ready in. Another facility they offer is The Bar and Grill which can host up to 50 guests indoors and 100 guests for indoor/outdoor celebrations.

Carson Ridge Private Luxury Cabins offers stunning unobstructed views of the gorge and cascade mountain range. Their cabins include amenities such as: jetted tubs, fireplaces, log beds, private decks, and so much more. For more sweeping views of the gorge, including Mt. Hood and the White Salmon River Valley, check out the elegantly furnished Victorian farmhouse of Husum Highlands Bed & Breakfast. This B & B can accommodate private parties, retreats, meetings and weddings.

Maryhill Winery, located in Goldendale, WA, offers their tasting room, patio, stage, recreation area and more, for those wanting to host an event at this gorgeous location. The scenic area is perched on a bluff overlooking the Columbia River, capturing every sunset perfectly, and enticing more individuals to come back again to experience the beauty and sit back and relax with a glass of award-winning wine.

Bigfoot Lodge is placed on 64 acres of private forested land, enabling most activities a non constrained curfew. This breathtaking location is in the heart of the Hood River Valley and has been preferred by those hosting receptions, retreats, family reunions, weddings, and business meetings.

One of the closer treasures to Portland is The View Point Inn, located in Corbett, OR. This establishment is located near Crown Point and can be used solely for the purpose of your private event, closed off to the public entirely. Make this historical Inn your very own for your very special event.

Cathedral Ridge Winery is the perfect setting for your outdoor wedding, reception, family gathering, or business retreat. It is nestled in a beautiful vineyard looking out over Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams, catering up to 200 guests.

If catering is what you are looking for, then look no further than Cork & Bottle Catering, who is licensed in both Oregon and Washington. They offer off-site catering to many venues in the gorge and are flexible with their packages to fit any budget. Cork & Bottle Catering strives to offer the best seasonal produce and meats to their clients from relaxed affairs to upscale extravaganzas.

Now it’s your turn! Take a trip to the Columbia River Gorge and experience these hidden treasures for all they are worth!

(Pictures from Top to Bottom/ Left to Right: (Top) Bigfoot Lodge, Philip Foster Farms, Columbia Gorge Hotel, Husum Highlands Bed & Breakfast, & The View Point Inn. (Bottom) Cathedral Ridge Winery, Maryhill Winery, Cork & Bottle Catering, Woodard Creek Landing, Cedar Springs Estate, & Carson Ridge Cabins. )

Who says you can’t have a party on wheels? Both VIP PDX and Double Decker PDX are offering their services, encouraging the greater Portland area to celebrate in style on their tricked out sets of wheels!

VIP PDX is happy to announce their new Fall Events. Peanut Butter has Jelly, Burt has Ernie, and Football has Beer! No matter if you’re a die-hard Duck fan or a die-hard Beaver fan, you and your friends can sit back, relax, and enjoy traveling to college games without dealing with traffic or parking! The weekend of the CIVIL WAR is still open and a few other hot dates too, so check out VIP PDX’s schedule and book your next event with groups ranging from 13-30 guests.

If football isn’t your thing, then kick off your shoes and head to Willamette Valley Vineyards for their Grape Stomping Championship. If getting your toes all purple doesn’t interest you either, then feel free to build your own fabulous wine event with VIP PDX. They provide all-inclusive weekday wine packages and can offer you a variety of vineyards if you don’t already have some in mind.

New to the Bravo! family, and to the Portland area, is another transportation service called Double Decker PDX. Highlighted in today’s Oregonian, the revamped British Bristol Lodekka bus was launched in early July as something more than a party bus, but rather a “lounge on wheels.” This luxury Double Decker charter/limousine can travel in style for weddings, corporate functions, proms, birthdays, pub-crawls, etc. You name it, they’ll do it! If that wasn’t enough… they also execute sustainable practices by being a part of “Plant A Tree Partner”, which plants a tree for every mile driven by Double Decker PDX. They also use Biodiesel to reduce their carbon footprint.

So now that you know all about these two great charter services, be sure to check out each of our vendors online to receive information about important dates, deals, and booking info. Everyone should experience a party on wheels once in their life… right?!

VIP PDX & Double Decker PDX

Many woman who become engaged are so excited about their future nuptials, that they have absolutely no idea where to begin! Although there are dozens of things to think about before your big day, here are a few important ideas and tips to keep in mind when deciding the attire for the wedding. Thanks to Charlotte’s Bridal: Weddings and More, here is a time-line/checklist for you to consider when planning all the attire.

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Six to Twelve Months Before the Wedding:

• Find and order the perfect gown
• Start to look at Bridesmaid gowns and Mother of the Bride gowns

Four to Five Months Before the Wedding:

• Order Flower Girl gowns
• Order Bridesmaid gowns
• Order Mother of the Bride and Mother of the Groom gowns
• Call for estimated delivery date of wedding gown

Three to Four Months Before Wedding:

• Order invitations
• Choose and order bra and petticoat
• Order shoes

Two to Three Months Before the Wedding:

• The wedding gown should be in soon, so be sure to set-up an appointment to try it on
• Book an appointment with seamstress for wedding gown and Bridesmaid alterations
• Choose veil and jewelery

One to Two Months Before the Wedding:

• Have wedding gown and Bridesmaid gowns altered
• Set up an appointment to have all gowns pressed
• Finalize men’s formal wear – Tuxedo Rentals

One Week Before the Wedding:

• Drop gowns off to be pressed

The Week of the Wedding:

• Pick up the pressed wedding gown on the scheduled date
• Pick up tuxedo rentals

After the Wedding:

• Think about finding a company who can preserve your gown (Charlotte’s Bridal can preserve gowns)

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Over a dozen vendors in the ‘Bridal Attire’ category, both in Bravo!’s Wedding Guide & online at www.bravowedding.com, offer their services ranging from custom dress design, alterations, accessories and more. For full service bridal salons in the Portland/Tigard area check out Ania Collection Couture Bridal Boutique, Anna’s Bridal, Charlotte’s Weddings & More, Magnifique Boutique, or Rosewood Bridal. For those of you looking for more destination shops, be sure to check out Bella Brides in Bend, OR, or The Hostess House in Vancouver, WA.

After selecting the dress, be sure to finish your look with accessories, shoes, and/or a veil. Custom veils can be designed at August Veils located in The Bridal Loft in N.E. Portland, or Love, June. And for all those things in between, The Wedding Cottage can provide you with guest books, toasting flutes, candles, cake serving sets and more, while Enchanted Custom Corsets & Fine Apparel can give you that stunning silhouette who’ve always wanted.

Now that you are all set, be sure to not forget the men involved! A Formal Affair Tuxedo, Duchess Clothier, and Mr. Formal can make all the men in your bridal party look like a million bucks! Each establishment offers a range of suits, tuxedos, ties, vests and more to match the style of any wedding.

Skamania Lodge, located in Stevenson, Washington, is an all-season mountain resort in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. They are now inviting couples to plan their all-inclusive dream wedding with it’s “Winter Wedding Package.” As part of the package, couples who hold their wedding ceremony at Skamania Lodge between November 1, 2010 and Febrary 28, 2011 will receive $1,000 towards their honeymoon from the property.

Scott Spannn, the general manager of Skamania Lodge, said that the magnificent views and intimate accommodations allow the newlyweds to create dozens of memories on their special day. “[By] giving the bride and groom a gift towards their honeymoon, it is our way of ensuring that their exceptional wedding experience continues after they leave the lodge.”

Skamania Lodge’s Winter Wedding Package

(Available with the purchase of the Skamania Dinner Wedding Package for 100 guests or more and includes….)

• Ceremony site with white wood chairs
• Cocktail reception with an assortment of hors d’oeuvres
• Private ballroom for dinner and dancing
• Meal selection (buffet and plated menus are available)
• House linen, china, glassware, and votive candles
• Chair covers
• Wood parquet dance floor
• Cake cutting and service
• Champagne and sparkling cider toast
• Three hour hosted beer and wine package
• One complimentary king guestroom for the bride and groom
• Raz Transportation to and from Portland International Airport for guests
• $1,000 gift towards honeymoon

(Rates for the “Winter Wedding Packages” carry per-person charge based on menu selection and are subject to a 20% service charge and 7% Washington State sales tax. $1,000 honeymoon gift is available with purchase of Skamania Dinner Wedding Package for 100 guests and only when wedding ceremony occurs between November 1, 2010 and February 28, 2011. Package rates do not include Lodge fees, taxes or gratuities. All reservations are subject to availability. For more information about weddings at Skamania Lodge please visit www.skamania.com or contact the Catering Sales Department at (800) 376-9116)

This Friday, August 13th, Richard Arnold and the Groove Swingers will be playing a variety of old-school blues music at Garden Vineyards located in Hillsboro, OR. Doors will be opening at 4 p.m. for lawn games and ping-pong, and music will begin at 6:30 p.m. and go until 9 p.m. Anyone who would like to attend is more than welcome to bring their own food and have a picnic, or if you’d prefer, you can munch on some treats provided by Garden Vineyards themselves.

Garden Vineyards has been picturing their wine bottles lately and are now serving their event wines by the carafe. Each person will receive an extra glass for the same bottle price, so as to avoid the treacherous and monstrous trip to the recycling center. By filling kegs, instead of wine bottles, Garden Vineyards has made the wines happy and avoided the significant packaging requirements that wine typically requires. Not only does Garden Vineyards practice an organic method when crafting their wines, they also use a dry-farming technique as well as have on-site sales for all to enjoy.

To contact this local friendly winery for more information, please select the link provided. Click here for driving directions.

While most little girls spend their days in carefree play, Phoebe Mattera was focused on breathing and surviving; hospitals were her home. Diagnosed at an early age with Cystic Fibrosis, 18 month old Phoebe was left fatherless by a terrible accident. Phoebe and her mother, Amy, have been each other’s entire world. But even sick young girls fall in love , and Phoebe fell in love with Morgan. With her disease progressing, Morgan proposed and Phoebe accepted. With no funds for the nuptials, a call was made to the Children’s Cancer Association to see if a final wish for a young girl with Cystic Fibrosis would be an option.

Related to Jon Garrow of CCA, a call was made to his mother Kerry Garrow of Signature Weddings & Events. Ms. Garrow, an accredited wedding and event planner, was thrilled to have an opportunity to make Phoebe’s dream wedding a reality.

Signature Weddings & Events is a member of the newly-formed Wedding Lounge, a group of 15 wedding-related business that share a space on MLK Blvd. in North Portland. A few phone calls later, Phoebe’s wedding planning was in full swing. What would normally take months to plan has been accomplished in only a matter of days, with vendors calling to offer their good and services for little to no cost.

Phoebe and Morgan will tie the knot on Monday, August 9th in front of their family and friends lakeside at the newly-renovated Alderbrook Park, graciously donated by the new owners. Barclay Event Rentals is providing everything necessary to make the day comfortable and beautiful. Premiere Catering is providing the requested menu of BBQ Beef Brisket, BBQ Chicken, corn on the cob, potato salad, fresh fruit, and cornbread. Cherie Ronning of Uncommon Invites is reprinting the wedding invitations, now that the wedding has been moved from Phoebe’s mother’s backyard, as well as menus, programs and place cards. Kevan Inouye Private Florist is providing the flowers for the ceremony, poolside cocktail reception and guest tables. Amber Darrington of Le Cookie Monkey is making the red velvet wedding cake that Phoebe has always dreamed of. Eric Wright of All Wright Music, a nationally-rated DJ, will be on site to provide all the sound and music needs for a memorable dance party. JP and Amy Prutch of AJ’s Studio will be photographing the entire event, beginning to end. Calligrapher Alesia Zorn will be creating the chalkboard menu that Phoebe saw in a bridal magazine and fell in love with. Matthew Foreman of Klassic Gems Cuisine heard what was going on and asked if they could provide pre-wedding “bites,” both sweet and savory, for the family and bridal party. Finally, Eric Newland, videographer and owner of Hybrid Moon, will be filming every moment so that Phoebe can relive her wedding day over and over.

Congratulations to the happy couple, and thank you to the many who were involved in making one little girl’s dream come true!

( Photos from left to right: Kevan Inouye Private Florist, Alesia Zorn Calligraphy, Premiere Catering, and the Wedding Lounge)

For the month of August, Portland Spa & Boutique is offering a variety of specials that will pamper you from head to toe.

Cool It Down! ($260 value)

Includes: 1 Hour Deep Tissue Massage with Bio Freeze Gel, a “Calm Down!” Facial, and a “Take a Load Off!” Foot Treatment

Tree Lover’s – $225 per person ($300 value)

Includes: 1 Body Sculpting Treatment, “Going Green! Facial, Green Tea Pedicure, & Organic Airbrush Tan

Tone It! & Bronze It! – $370 ($670 value)

Includes: 1 Body Sculpting Treatment (for fat and cellulite reduction), an Organic Airbrush Tan, Herbal Cellulite Treatment, & Solo Slim (herbal weight loss supplement)

* * MID-WEEK Specials (Mon.-Thurs) * *

* 20% off any service

* Buy a Message, get a FREE “Simply Manicure”

* Buy a Facial, get a FREE Brow Wax

* Medi Spa Specials

* Fillers – $100 Botox/  $10 Units / Buy 25 Units, get a FREE Mini-Microderm.

* Skin 360 = 30% off

* Laser Hair Removal, Accent Body Sculpting, Harmony for Sun Spots & Broken Capillaries (20% off 1 Series, 30% off 2 Series, 40% off 3 Series & 60% off 4 Series)

* Medical Weight Loss Program – 10% off

These offers expire on 8/31/2010. Offers cannot be combined.

Portland Spa & Boutique

0315 SW Montgomery Street

Suite 390

Portland, OR 97201

p. 503.222.0105

Françoise Weeks was born in Belgium, where flowers were an integral part of her everyday life. She started her business venture in 1996 and has translated her passion for nature and the garden into a distinctive, lush and textural style. In her garden studio, she has tied bouquets, woven garlands and composed original centerpieces for over six hundred weddings! Through the imaginative use of flowers, herbs, fruits, and foliage, Françoise is highly skilled at translating fresh ideas into exquisite reality. Her portfolio runs the gamut from elegant natural simplicity to the abundant and bountiful; she consistently delivers the unexpected. Françoise’s first priority is to realize the ideas and needs of her clients and bring attention to detail and extraordinary creativity to your wedding.

The photographs within this blog showcase the bouquets Françoise created earlier this year. She first called them “whimsical bouquets,” but as time passed, many mentioned that they resembled bird nests, and the name stuck and she has producing them ever since. Although her work is time consuming and tedious, Françoise loves the results that come from her imagination and hard work.

Check out Françoise Weeks’ website and browse through her blog and portfolio to see which pieces are your favorite. There are so many to choose from, you might not be able to pick just one!

Françoise’s wedding design work has been published in Portland Bride and Groom Magazine, Oregon Bride Magazine, and Portland Spaces.

Oregon Bride Magazine (Photo by: Kevin Focht)

Sweet Dreams Wedding & Events published an article on Oregon’s Women Report last week, listing the top 10 mistakes that can occur among the guests before, during and after a wedding. Be sure to keep this list in mind when you are inviting, hosting, and entertaining your guests.

Your guests may not remember what flowers were in your bouquet, or in the centerpieces, but they will remember if they had a good time. Here are 10 ways to ensure your celebration is as memorable for your guests as it is for you.

1. Give Them Plenty of Notice: As soon as you choose the date, set up a wedding website and send out save the dates. There is no such thing as being too early on this, as your guests will need time to ask for vacation time and budget for the trip, this is especially true if it is a destination wedding.

2. Know Your Guests: When choosing a wedding location and hotel, think about the people your inviting and whether they’ll enjoy your destination as much as you do, and if they can afford your location.

3. Consider Your Guests Finances: Right now, the dollar is weak compared to many currencies, and with the soaring gas prices flying can be pricey. Consider whether your guests will have enough disposable income for flight, hotel, and entertainment.

4. Lock in Discounts Early. Make sure to ask about group rate discounts for the hotel and lock them in. Check airlines for group rates, most major airlines give discounts for parties of 10 or more. Make sure when you setup your discounts, that you put all the information on your wedding website for your guests.

5. Do the Research: Sometimes when a trip centers around a wedding, the guests don’t do as much research as they would if they were planning a vacation of their own. Help them out by doing it for them by making a destination information letter. Include websites and contact info for the tourism board, airlines, and host hotels. A list of the activities in the area, public transportation, driving directions, hospitals and pharmacies, and weather conditions for the time of year you are marrying.

6. When Planning Your Event: Consider all your guests and their points of view, looking for any details that may need tweaking. Such as, if you have lots of elderly guests you may want to reconsider getting married on the sand at the beach instead maybe try moving the ceremony to the boardwalk next to the beach.

7. Enlist A Point Person: Even if you’ve overloaded your guests with plenty of information before the wedding, you should still expect some issues once people arrive. You will be busy with last minute details of your own, so make sure you have your wedding planner available or you will need to enlist someone as their point of contact for questions.

8. Welcome your Guests: Make sure to give your guests a warm welcome, by arranging a special greeting when they arrive. If you have a large group arriving consider arranging a bus or minivan to pick them up at the airport and have a cold beverage on hand for the ride. Make sure to let the hotel know when your group will be arriving so that they are ready for your guests. Make sure to have your welcome baskets delivered before your guest’s arrival to the hotel.

9. Rethink the Welcome basket: Couples can spend a lot of money putting together elaborate welcome baskets with souvenirs, t-shirts, favors. But loading up your guests with lots of take home treats may not be the best thing. Instead, include things such as bottled water, snacks, sunscreen, bug spray, aspirin, hand-held fan for the ceremony, a disposable camera, a map of the area. An itinerary just in case they forgot theirs.

10. Entertaining Your Guests: Entertain your guests but don’t go overboard, of course you want to show off your locale and the group activities like golf outings, sunset cruises, wine tastings. Leave your guests some down time to just relax too. Experts recommend planning only one or two events per day during the trip to avoid schedule overload. This will leave your guests time for a little R&R or to do some exploring on their own.

Happy Planning!