According to the latest issue of Vows Magazine – “going green is one of the hottest new wedding trends”. Some common ways to make your special day more eco-friendly is:

• Using paper products, like invitations, made of recycled materials.
• Offer group transportation, preferably in a hybrid vehicle to your guests.
• Serve locally grown produce and organic foods at your reception.
• Donate leftover food and materials rather than throwing them out.
• Use flowers that haven’t been treated with pesticides or herbicides.
• Recycle family jewelry and/or wedding attire.
• Select local vendors and/or those stores committed to green business practices.*

*Bravo! is helping you by listing our “green” clients with green sidebars, these are certified or award winners, in our 2009 Wedding Resource Guide. If you don’t have your copy yet – click here for a list of locations.

Be sure and ask questions of all the vendors you are working with. Questions such as “how green is your business/store currently?” or “what do you do to make your company eco-friendly”.

Remember you can recycle your wedding gown too – there are several organizations that resell donated bridal gowns to support charitable efforts, such as Brides Against Breast Cancer (next show is Mar. 27-29 in Seattle at the Quest Field Event Center) and the I Do Foundation, which allows you to make a donation (instead of party favors) in their honor or you can create a “charitable registry” in addition to your standard registry giving your guests the option to donate to your favorite charity.

From the words of our exhibitors, like Cherie Ronning from Uncommon Invites (she worked with Linda from Barclay Events on those fabulous Tablescapes on Mezzanine) – “Thank you all for another fabulous Bravo Wedding Affair – it has to have been the biggest turn out ever! Great Brides, great set-ups, lots of new Vendors!” AND our brides, like Julia Thomas “This was by far the best show I have been to! You guys did a really good job putting it all together ” – the 6th Annual Bravo Wedding Affair at the Embassy Suites rocked!

There are tons of beautiful pictures coming in daily – so I’ll start with Emee from EJP Events – click here to see her pics from the Colonel Lindbergh Ballroom where their theme “Bling’s the Thing” looked absolutely beautiful.

Eric from Holland Studios sent us these beautiful pics from the Queen Marie Ballroom’s “Dusk Before Sunset” themed room – coordinated by Molli from Soiree Special Event Planning.

Also – check out Paparazzi Tonight’s photo booth pics by clicking here – very fun!  They took the pic above of our child models, Dominic, Ty, Jackson & Camryn.

Experience the most beautiful bridal event of the year!

The 6th Annual Bravo Wedding Affair, is THIS SUNDAY, February 22nd, 11am – 4pm

at the Embassy Suites Hotel in downtown Portland.

We’ve transformed two floors into a variety of themed vignettes, such as “Bling’s The Thing”, “Renaissance Romance”, “Champagne de Noir”, “Dusk Before Sunset”, “Enchanted”, “Spring Garden” and “An Oregon Vineyard Wedding”. There’s live music, roaming models wearing the latest bridal fashions by Charlotte’s Weddings, A Beautiful Bride and A Formal Affair Tuxedos, photo booths, espresso, delicious cakes and desserts, hors d’ouerves, specialty beverages, giveaways, pampering by salons and spas, a fashion show presented by The Bridal Loft and August Veils, “Art of the Table” Tablescapes on the Mezzanine – featuring themed, decorated tables that are “inspired globally, designed locally”.

Gather the latest trends and tips in our expert seminars with topics ranging from All Wright Music’s “the Ins and Outs of a Perfect Reception” to Crave Catering’s “20 Great Cost Effective Tips for Weddings on Any Budget”.

Thinking of a destination wedding – perhaps central Oregon? Check out two rooms dedicated to this beautiful part of Oregon!

Need some reading materials? Every bride that attends receives a complimentary copy of the 2009 Bravo! Resource Guide – our 550 page resume-style, side-by-side comparison book – in our 20th year!

Whew! Bring your fiance and experience a bridal event like none other! There are two sessions, 11a-130p and 130p-4p. Click here for tickets.

Need another reason? Click here to see Nicolle Camaretta with KPTV-Better TV explain it further!

Sponsored by 105.1 the buzz, Barclay Events, the Embassy Suites Hotel, Hybrid Moon Video Productions and Uncommon Invites.

Heidi Berkman with Friends with Flowers has been overwhelmed with generosity from events in central Oregon recently.  She let Bravo! know that she delivered 95 bouquets to hospitals and hospices in and around Bend the other day.  A big thank you to Trader Joe’s, Ray’s Food Place and many others for their donations.

Friends with Flowers of Bend is a non-profit organization that provides beautiful, fresh arrangements to hospice patients.  Volunteers collect and re-arrange flowers donated from weddings, events, florists and more.  The flowers are distributed free of charge, “adding compassion and beauty to the lives of patients and their caregivers.

To donate – contact Heidi at 541.480.8700

Just read a great tip from David A. Barss in the Association of Bridal Consultants newsletter  – he recommends to all brides & grooms “to choose the photographer that best suits your needs.”  He advocates you meeting with at least three photographers and hire the BEST service (photographer) you can afford.  Don’t choose by service and included albums, etc.  You can always add the products, but if you choose a photographer based solely on what their package includes and the photos don’t make you happy – then it doesn’t matter how many albums you get.

Saturday, January 31, 2009 – The sky was clear, the sun was out and the brides were heading to the Deschutes Country Fairgrounds for the Central Oregon Wedding Showcase.  Brides had the opportunity to visit 100 wedding vendors from Central Oregon. The show featured two fashion shows courtesy of Bella Brides and Flowers by Deanna.

Brides could sample food, cake and drinks while walking from booth to booth to see all that the wedding vendors had to offer. Photographers had beautiful displays of their work for brides to admire, while decor companies had beautiful table settings to please any bride.

Many thanks to our sponsors: Elegant Images, West Coast Event Productions, Rays Food Place and Bella Brides.

A big hit at at many weddings and events are the new crystal trees. They illuminated the back drop of the fashion and and can be found at West Coast Event Productions.  For more wedding planning resources visit our website.