A few months ago, Rachelle and I went on a trip to visit some gorgeous venues in Sisters, Oregon. Our last stop was Black Butte Ranch and I instantly fell in love! The staff was so friendly, welcoming and helpful, giving us a tour of the whole ranch! It is the absolute perfect location for a weekend wedding! With many houses and condos for rent, your guests can stay in their own private house and with activities, from horseback riding to lounging by the pool to getting a massage at the spa, will surely keep your guests entertained! Planning a weekend wedding is great for your guests to be able to come celebrate your love and get away for a vacation! I invite you to fall in love…

Champagne: How would you describe your event space?
Aimee: The true Oregon experience: Breathtaking views, intimate outdoor setting and unhurried, personal service.  You can have it all: a backdrop of mountain lake and meadow views, surrounded by towering Junipers and quaking aspens pointing to a clear open sky bathed in moonlight and a sea of stars.  While taking this all in, our staff will be seamlessly tending to your guests every need and joyfully celebrating your special day with you. 

Champagne: Describe your ideal client.
Aimee: I love working with couples with a sense of humor.  The wedding planning process can be a stressful one with all the details involved, but if we are all laughing along with way it can actually be a really fun time (as it was meant to be!).  And we all know that a couple that laughs together, stays together! 

Champagne: Do you have weddings year round?
Aimee: Our primary event space showcases the natural outdoor splendor of the area, placing the majority of our weddings in the months of June through October. With that said, we do have many beautiful indoor options that can be utilized year-round. 

Champagne: How many guests can your event venue accommodate?
Aimee: We have hosted very intimate weddings of 20 up to parties of 200+.  There are really unique dynamics that occur in weddings of different sizes and we truly enjoy hosting them all. 

Champagne: How many people can you accommodate overnight?
Aimee: Our housing options include lodge rooms, cabins, condos and expansive homes that can accommodate parties of nearly any size.

Champagne: What amenities can you provide for the wedding guests?
Aimee: We have nearly endless amenities available here on the Ranch; one of the things that makes our venue so unique and amazing.  Most wedding guests choose to make a vacation out of their trip here to take advantage of our two 18-hole golf courses, 3 restaurants, 5 pools, full service spa, gym, sauna, miles and miles of bike and hiking trails, canoe and paddle-boating, the list goes on and on!

Champagne: Do you have an onsite spa?
Aimee: We have an amazing full-service spa that is perfect for a morning-of pampering for the bride, a relaxing start to the bachelorette party or even gift certificates as favors for the hard working members of the wedding party.

Champagne: What set your venue apart?
Aimee: Our service principles are set up to ensure the entire process is a seamless and stress-free experience.  That coupled with our unrivaled scenery makes for a truly unforgettable and extraordinary wedding. 

Champagne: Thank you, Aimee, for sharing more about Black Butte Ranch! We are so excited to work out there soon! Make sure to check out their website and follow them on twitter!

Check out previous posts from our 30 days of vendors:
Day 7 of 30: Cupcake Jones
Day 6 of 30: Mosca Photo
Day 5 of 30: Vibrant Table Flowers
Day 4 of 30: Premiere Catering
Day 3 of 30: Paul Rich Studio
Day 2 of 30: Bon Moment Inivitations
Day 1 of 30: Bryan Hoybook Photography
See what the 30 days of vendors is all about!

Cheers,
Mandi & Rachelle

Make sure you don’t miss our current promotion! Book your wedding or event coordination before January 30th, 2010 and receive 5% off your package!* Dates are booking quickly!

Don’t forget, we offer free consultations so you can learn if hiring a wedding planner would benefit you and if we’re the right match! We’d love to learn more about you, your fiance and your upcoming wedding plans!

*Not valid on previously booked packages. Contract and deposit must be returned by January 30th, 2010.

We are so excited for 2010 and all that is to come! We absolutely love what we do and feel so honored to be working with so many incredible couples and amazing vendors!

While we are taking it easy for a few weeks and spending time with our families for the holidays, we are starting out January by visiting some beautiful venues in wine country and then will be making our way over to Bend, Oregon to be a part of the Bravo! Central Oregon Wedding Showcase on Saturday, January 9th from 10am-5pm at Sunriver Resort. We hope to see you there!

Everyone loves gifts, so we wanted to give you a little something…
Receive 5% off any package you book between December 22nd, 2009 and January 30th, 2010*.
Don’t forget, we offer free consultations so you can learn if hiring a wedding planner would benefit you and if we’re the right match! We’d love to learn more about you, your fiance and your upcoming wedding plans!

We are looking forward to meeting you! Wishing you a very happy holiday season and a new year filled with love, laughter and happiness!

Photo by PDX Photo Lounge
Cheers,

Mandi & Rachelle

*Not valid on previously booked packages. Contract and deposit must be returned by January 30th, 2010.

Watch for upcoming contests on our blog in early 2010! We are teaming up with some fabulous vendors to giveaway some services and items you won’t want to miss!

Just over a month ago, Rachelle and I ventured to Sisters, Oregon to see some of the wedding/event venues in the area. We were blown away by not only the natural beauty, but the quality of customer service we received while visiting. With Sisters, Oregon being a little bit of a drive from Portland, we decided to stay the night at FivePine Lodge. Wow… that was my reaction when we walked in the doors. I had driven by FivePine Lodge on my way to Bend, Oregon numerous times the last few years and had always wanted to stop by. [I think Sisters, Oregon is one of the most beautiful places to get married in Oregon!] My expectations were reached and exceeded. [So much so that I’m taking my boyfriend back to visit and couldn’t be more excited!] Their onsite coordinator, Elena, is so sweet and helpful! We had so much fun getting to know her and learning all about the venue… and our favorite spot… the SPA! Aww, it’s absolutely a dream come true! After meeting Elena, we enjoyed a yummy happy hour at one of their onsite restaurants, Three Creeks Brewing Company, a glass of wine at their nightly lodge wine and beer reception and delicious dinner at their other onsite restaurant Chloe. Which was followed by complete relaxation back at our adorable luxurious cabin! So without further ado, here’s a little Q&A from Elena… who is newly engaged herself! [Congratulations, again, from Champagne Events! We are so happy for you and your husband to be!!] 

Mandi: How would you describe your ideal client?
Elena: I truly love working with brides- weddings are hands down my favorite part of my job. I don’t know if I have an ideal client because there are so many different types of brides and that’s what makes each experience fun and unique. It is so wonderful when the focus of the wedding for the bride and groom is the celebration of their love and sharing that with friends and family- because ultimately that is what’s most important. I do think it is ideal to have a wedding coordinator present on the wedding day [or at the very least a highly reliable friend or family member to take care of details] it just makes the day SO much better and more relaxed for the bride!

Lodge:

Mandi: Do you have weddings year round?
Elena: We do! Weddings are magical here in each season- the backdrop of the creek and wildflowers in the summer and early autumn are stunning, the snow outside and large crackling stone fireplaces inside in winter are majestic and fall and early spring are spectacular as well.

Event Spaces: [View their website for more pictures of their event space and make sure you always visit prospective venues in person before you make your decision. If live out of state and are unable to visit venues, make sure you enlist a coordinator, family or friend to scope out venues for you.]

Mandi: How many guests can your event venue accommodate? How many can you accommodate overnight?
Elena: We can accommodate up to 200 guests in the summer/early fall utilizing our creek side ceremony site, and 150 guests inside in the winter/spring. We have 32 rooms total at FivePine (24 Cabins and 8 Lodge Suites) At full capacity we can accommodate 44 couples.

Mandi: What amenities can you provide for the wedding guests?
Elena: All lodging guests receive a daily breakfast, nightly wine and beer reception, full use of the 19,000 sq. foot Sisters Athletic Club and in summer full use of our outdoor pool, lawn games and cruiser bikes. We also have ski passes to HooDoo in the winter and snowshoe excursions! On site we have a Movie House, Brew Pub, Fine Dining Restaurant, Athletic Club and gorgeous Spa…

Three Creeks Brewing Company:

Chloe Restaurant:

Mandi: Please tell us about your incredible spa!
Elena: Tranquil and restorative Shibui Spa is the ultimate spa experience! The moment you walk into the reception area and through the double doors to the treatment rooms the sight of Shibui’s beautiful water feature creates a feeling of instant relaxation. There is a full service menu of massage, facial, body and nail treatments, and bridal party packages are available. My favorite feature is the romantic and peaceful couple’s massage in the private room over the flowing water feature- it is just amazing… Shibui Spa

Mandi: Given your recent engagement, what’s your dream wedding?
Elena: I am having my dream wedding at FivePine next summer! I truly could not imagine having our wedding anywhere else. I was a bit nervous to hold our wedding at the venue where I work every day- I did not know if I can turn my brain off of ‘work mode’ the day of, but I truly feel that our ceremony and reception site is so romantic and incredible, so the choice was an easy one. Because our wedding is in summer I am excited to incorporate beautiful bright colors and gorgeous summer flowers. We have naturally growing wildflowers each summer season that look so gorgeous surrounding the creek… I just can’t wait!

Our Caboose Cottage:



The bath tub fills from the ceiling… Like something you’d see at Street of Dreams

Mandi: Is there anything else you’d like for our readers to know about your gorgeous venue?
Elena: One of the things we pride ourselves on at FivePine is that we only hold one wedding per day, so our brides and grooms have a feeling of complete intimacy and exclusivity on the property. The entire wedding venue is literally all theirs on their special day and we find that this means a lot to the couples who marry here. Everyone involved in the wedding process at FivePine is very committed and caring and we form a very close bond with our brides and grooms. Our team is so excited for each couple on their wedding day and the personal connection that is formed is one of the main reasons I love working here- and one of the main reasons I wanted to hold our wedding here as well.

Thank you, Elena for sharing more about FivePine Lodge! We look forward to seeing you soon!

Cheers,

Mandi & Rachelle

P.S. Have you heard about the Bravo! Central Oregon Wedding Show?? It is January 9th at Sunriver Resort from 10am- 5pm. We are so excited to be a part of the show and hope to see you there!

Last week Rachelle and I packed out bags and headed to Sisters, Oregon to visit some of the most beautiful wedding and event venues in Oregon. The Northwest is home to many beautiful destination wedding locations… perhaps a staycation is the perfect way to personalize your wedding and get your family and friends together for an unforgettable weekend! Although each of the venues we visited were different, they all shared the warm, cozy and peaceful feel. Looking for the perfect Winter wedding location? Spring? Summer? Fall? These locations are breath taking year round.

Cynthia greeted us at The Lodge at Suttle Lake instantly making us feel at home. The lodge is warm and inviting. As you walk out the back door you are greeted by the breathtaking view of Suttle Lake… We can’t wait to go back and check out their onsite spa and restaurant! Look for The Lodge at Suttle Lake’s blog feature later this month! For now, here are some of the beautiful pictures from our visit to The Lodge at Suttle Lake.

Next stop Five Pine Lodge, where we spent an amazingly relaxing night. The whole time we couldn’t stop talking about bringing our boys back to visit! Elena showed us around the beautiful venue… We can’t wait to feature them later this month to tell you more about the venue… from the onsite spa, movie theater, brewery and restaurant, you’ll be sure to fall in love with this destination! Until then… here are just a few pictures of our visit to Five Pine Lodge

Originally we had planned to visit many venues in the area, but as we are preparing for to wedding shows in the next two weeks, we cut our trip a little short. We were packing up and I couldn’t help, but check Twitter for an update before we left. I saw a message from @Blackbutteranch saying “What no love for Black Butte Ranch :( Come on over and check us out.” I messaged them back letting them know we had a little more time before we headed back. Next thing we knew, we were taking the grand tour with Katie. We have never felt so welcomed! Your guests would never get bored at Black Butte Ranch with bike paths, golf courses, snow shoeing, cross country skiing and most definitely not of the scenery! We can’t wait to feature them later this month, as well! Until then, here’s a few more pictures!

Each of the venues are the perfect northwest destination for a wedding or event during any season. They, also, make for the perfect romantic getaway. As we were looking through a guest book in the room at Five Pine Lodge we found this adorable proposal story.

We look forward to featuring The Lodge at Suttle Lake, Five Pine Lodge and Black Butte Ranch later this month! More venues you want to see here? Let us know!

Cheers,
Mandi & Rachelle

Looking for a wedding show? Check out The Bravo Wedding Affair this Sunday, November 15th at The Embassy Suites Downtown and The Perfect Wedding Guide Wedding Show on Saturday, November 21st at The Heathman.

From the first time I met Lydia and Burk this past February, I knew that I was going to love working with them. They are madly in love, which is so refreshing to see. They had a very clear focus on the ceremony and the purpose of marriage, and really just wanted the rest of the planning to be taken care of for them. Though we love working with our clients to bring their vision to life, it’s a wedding planner’s dream to be able to take an idea and run with it! I was so thrilled to be given the opportunity to design and create the perfect day for them. With just a few everyday life details and ideas, I was able to use the beautiful Oregon coast paired with the rich colors of Bohemian style to create a unique Oregon beach wedding.

Lydia’s dress was handmade by her mother Shan, as was the flower girl’s dress. The men wore something that reminded me of Huck Finn, it was so perfect for the setting.

Just to keep us on our toes… the sky produced a nasty misting rain all morning throughout set up. Thirty minutes before the ceremony the sun peeked out and the rest of the day was beautiful—complete with porpoises breaching in the waves during the ceremony!

The tent was set up in the middle of one of the prettiest beaches on the Oregon coast. To the North you can see mountains and the Nehalem Jetty. To the East majestic forested hills, and to the South a beautiful tributary entering the ocean and Twin Rocks in the distance.

On the menu—fresh local foods that reflected health and bounty: Marinated vegetables, local cheeses and hazelnuts, local smoked salmon, and hummus with crackers for appetizers. Dinner was served family style in a collection of different platters and bowls: Grilled chicken and fresh salmon, grilled vegetables, quinoa salad, and spinach salad with berries and nuts.

Keeping with a natural and bohemian style, there was no set color scheme, only rich and bold jewel tones paired with natural influences like willow balls and driftwood. No centerpiece was alike—every table was adorned with a different collection of vintage colored glasses filled with unique flower arrangements.

To finish out the evening, the bride and groom relaxed with their guests at a bonfire where Burk strummed the guitar. The favors were prepackaged S’mores.

Thank you to all of the fabulous people who helped make this day wonderful for Lydia and Burk…

Barclay Rentals—their team always impresses with their hard work and great customer service!
Passion Flower Floral—Teresa’s design is always so fresh and natural, and the quality of her flowers is always top-notch
Maggie’s Buns- PHENOMENAL food, hands down some of the yummiest food I’ve ever had!
James Moes Photography—the pictures speak for themselves, he’s such a talented artist!

Look for upcoming blog posts to learn more about these talented professionals!

Cheers,
Rachelle