This coming Sunday, February 27th, we will be at Portland Bride & Groom Magazine and Bridgeport Village‘s Very Engaging Bridal Event! For more details visit Bridgeport Village’s website! We will be in Saks Fifth Avenue off Fifth!

At the beginning of February, we were asked to put together a window display promoting the event! Annelie of Anne Adams Photography stopped by the window and took a few pictures for us! Take a peak below and if you get a chance, stop by Bridgeport Village to see the display! It’ll be up til next Tuesday!

Photos by Anne Adams Photography

Design and Coordination: Champagne Wedding & Event Coordination
Paper flowers and signage: Champagne Wedding & Event Coordination
Tables, lamps, glassware, table settings: Crate & Barrel
Wedding Dress: Anna’s Bridal
Candy: Sweet Factory

We look forward to seeing you Sunday!

Cheers,

Mandi, Rachelle & the Champagne team

P.S. Just a few more days to vote for Oregon Bride Magazine’s “Best Of” issue. Make sure to go vote for your favorite wedding vendors!! We appreciate you all helping us win “Best New Wedding Vendor” last year! We’d love to win best planner this year- one can dream! : )

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more information about our first Ask the Experts event on Sunday, March 13th!

Day 23, get gorgeous with Nicole Wagner of Nicole Wagner Make up!

Champagne:  When/how did you decide you wanted to be a hair/make up artist?

Nicole Wagner Make up: When I was a teenager, but I never pursued it until after I had my first daughter. I have always loved drawing faces and have always had artistic talent…doing makeup is like painting on a 3D canvas. I was bout 15yrs old when I discovered what a difference it made on myself….I was addicted.

Photo by Honeysuckle Photography

Photo by Artistique Photography

Champagne: What’s your favorite part about your job?

Nicole Wagner Make up: hmm…that’s a tough one. I love SO many things about my job. I love helping women feel beautiful. Seeing the joy on their faces, it is so rewarding. 

Champagne:  I do my hair and make up every day, why do I need it done professionally?

Nicole Wagner Make up: Well. Most women can do a decent job for their everyday makeup but until they come for their trial run with me, they don’t fully understand all the steps and layers that go into creating a beautiful, flawless, camera ready makeup that doesn’t look cakey or overdone. There are primers and blending (LOTS OF BLENDING), and contouring and highlighting to shape the face…not to mention individual lashes, delicately placed. You have to know and understand lighting and the time of day you will be taking your pictures….I could go on an on : )
There are a few exceptions but most women are just not familiar with all these important steps and techniques and it makes a world of difference in your pictures and that is why it is so important.

Photo by Becerra Photography

Champagne: I want to get my make up done, but I don’t want to look like a clown. What would your response be?

Nicole Wagner Make up: Lucky for you I don’t specialize in ‘clown makeup! LOL!!  I will make you look like the most beautiful version of yourself. : ) I ask LOTS of questions to make sure I don’t step over any boundaries or do anything you’re not comfortable with or is not your personal style.



Photo by Anne Adams Photography

Champagne: How would you explain your style?

Nicole Wagner Make up: I would say my style is Red Carpet. I love the look that is glamorous, sexy, beautiful but not gaudy or overdone. The kind that when people look at you they think “Holy Cow she looks amazing!”. We have this joke that my style is called “Naturally dramatic” (which is kind of a an oxi-moron right?) but everyone tells me that they love how “natural” the makeup looks on my website but the truth is that most of the brides on my website are wearing A LOT of makeup. The trick is doing it right! If you do it right, and choose the right colors you will look amazing and photograph amazing and not look like you have too much makeup on : )

Photo by Becerra Photography

Champagne: Let’s say a bride uses Bare Minerals, do you have something that would work for them?

Nicole Wagner Make up:  In MY opinion, Bare Minerals is GREAT for EVERY DAY makeup but not for weddings. I personally would never use it for a wedding. I like to use a long wearing matte liquid makeup for your big day. If you want a glowy look, we’ll do that with some powders but you want to make sure that makeup stays for a good 18hrs! I only use a small drop on your whole face so you honestly cannot even feel it and you will look flawless : )

Photo by Ray Hendricks

Champagne: What do you do, when you’re not doing, what you do?

Nicole Wagner Make up: Well, I stay busy that’s for sure! I take care of my 2 daughters who are 3 and 6 and my wonderful husband, hold trainings for my new team of artists and run a lot. My life gets pretty hectic. I will be starting my official training for a full marathon soon. It’s going to be a juggling act but I’m up for the challenge! : )

Photo by Lauren Brooks Photography

Champagne: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

Nicole Wagner Make up: Don’t cut yourself short on good hair/makeup. When it’s all said and done, all you have are your memories and your photos…and how you LOOK in those photos-you want to look the very best you’ve ever looked in your life.

Photo by Powers Studios

Champagne: Thank you, Nicole [Nicole Wagner Make up], for telling us more about your company! Make sure to check out their website!

Day 22 of 30: Alesia Zorn Calligraphy and more
Day 21 of 30: Bass is Loaded! Mobile DJ
Day 20 of 30: Effesenden Music
Day 19 of 30: Anne Adams Photography
Day 18 of 30: Paparazzi Tonight Photo Booth
Day 17 of 30: Timberline Lodge
Day 16 of 30: hi, friend.
Day 15 of 30: Byron Roe Photography
Day 14 of 30: Francoise Weeks
Day 13 of 30: phresh catering
Day 12 of 30: Carroll Myers
Day 11 of 30: Ryan Ricketts Photography
Day 10 of 30: Floral Designs by Alicia
Day 9 of 30: Domaine Margelle
Day 8 of 30: Crave Catering
Day 7 of 30: Pro Djs Oregon
Day 6 of 30: O’Brien Event Rentals
Day 5 of 30: Lauren Brook Photography
Day 4 of 30: Fleur:ology Wedding + Event Floral Design
Day 3 of 30: Pure Space
Day 2 of 30: Celebrate Life Photography
Day 1 of 30: Paper Bloom
Last year’s 30 days of vendors
What is 30 days of Vendors?

We look forward to seeing you again tomorrow! Thank you for stopping by our blog! Happy Planning!

Cheers,

Mandi, Rachelle & the Champagne team

P.S. Oregon Bride Magazine just opened up the voting for this years “Best Of” issue. Make sure to go vote for your favorite wedding vendors!! We appreciate you all helping us win “Best New Wedding Vendor” last year! We’d love to win best planner this year- one can dream! : )

Day 22, get to know Alesia, of Alesia Zorn Calligraphy and More!

Champagne: How did you get into calligraphy?

Alesia Zorn Calligraphy: I’ve always loved pens & paper.  I went to Catholic school and LOVED when we would be “punished” by writing something 100 times.  I’d do mine and volunteer to do it for the kid next to me.  Funny enough, no one ever turned me down.  Flash forward through years of playing with lettering, I was on sabbatical from my other career and took an official calligraphy class and I was HOOKED.  After 10 years of classes, conferences & workshops and occasional jobs, I quit my other career in 2006 and picked up my pens full time.

Photo by Paul Rich Studio

Champagne: What different styles do you offer?

Alesia Zorn Calligraphy: I offer traditional, historic European scripts such as Uncial and half-Uncial, Italic, Carolingian, Batarde, Gothic; American historic Copperplate, Spencerian and other ornamental penmanship; more modern lettering such as Pointed Italic, Informal Script and Brush Lettering.  Except for brush lettering, each lettering style is offered with traditional dip pen and ink or a more economical monoline option, the same calligraphic style but done with a “regular” pen (I use imported Japanese gel pens that come in a wide array of colors.)  In certain cases, I also offer font-matching.

Photo by Paul Rich Studio

Photo by Paul Rich Studio

Champagne: What would you say is something someone should look for when looking for a calligrapher?

Alesia Zorn Calligraphy: As with any vendor, ask for references and a sample of one or two of your favorite styles they offer.  Ask what the artist does to continue their professional development.  There are many calligraphy guilds - local, national & international - that offer workshops and classes, as well as several annual international conferences and conventions.  There’s a big difference between the amateur who’s taken one 4-week class or picked up a book and decided they’re a “professional” and the person who spends years perfecting their craft AND network with other professionals, some as distinguished as White House calligraphers or scribes to Queen Elizabeth.  Speaking of networking, there are also a number of wedding and special events networking groups of which any of your vendors should be members.  By moving in that sphere the chances are great they’ve been to meetings at your venue where they’ve met, and probably worked with, your consultant and other vendors you’ve hired.  It’s great when people already have experience working on what really is YOUR team.

Photo by Paul Rich Studio

Champagne: What’s your favorite part of your job?

Alesia Zorn Calligraphy: It’s hard to pick just one thing!  I am truly honored when someone chooses me to be a part of one of the biggest days of their life.  It’s so wonderful helping brides make their dreams come true.  As with any artist, I adore working with color!  I do love a challenge, I’ve written on bark, stones, drumsticks, glass, chalkboards… even toast.  There’s really no limit to ways brides can make their special day unique to themselves!

Photo by Paul Rich Studio

Photo by Paul Rich Studio

Champagne: Do you have a minimum order?

Alesia Zorn Calligraphy: Not at all.  In fact, I remind brides whose guest list is bigger than their calligraphy budget allows, not everyone needs to have a calligraphed envelope.  You can reserve that honor for family, wedding party and special guests.

Photo by Paul Rich Studio

Champagne: What do you do when you’re not doing what you do?

Alesia Zorn Calligraphy: I’m also a mixed media artist and love to incorporate lettering into painting and collage.  I love to travel, which leads back to lettering as I’ve visited ancient manuscripts in Europe, a brush museum in Japan and even squeezed in a calligraphy class on a vacation in Australia.  I’ve given up trying to draw a line between “work” and “play” - I love it all and am so fortunate I get to do some part of what I love every day!



Photo by Paul Rich Studio

Champagne: Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know?

Alesia Zorn Calligraphy: When you’re planning your wedding day, don’t rule out anything that piques your interest until you’ve really investigated it.  The next piece of advice is, not just schmoozing because Champagne asked me to be a vendor during the month of vendors, this is something I wholeheartedly believe and frequently sends me jumping on my soap box- give SERIOUS thought to hiring a professional wedding coordinator.  It’s an incredible investment in your wedding; they handle all the details while you and your guests can fully enjoy each other’s company and the beginning of your brand new life!

Photo by Paul Rich Studio

Champagne: Thank you, Alesia [Alesia Zorn Calligraphy and More], for telling us more about your company! Make sure to check out her website and follow her on twitter!

Day 21 of 30: Bass is Loaded! Mobile DJ
Day 20 of 30: Effesenden Music
Day 19 of 30: Anne Adams Photography
Day 18 of 30: Paparazzi Tonight Photo Booth
Day 17 of 30: Timberline Lodge
Day 16 of 30: hi, friend.
Day 15 of 30: Byron Roe Photography
Day 14 of 30: Francoise Weeks
Day 13 of 30: phresh catering
Day 12 of 30: Carroll Myers
Day 11 of 30: Ryan Ricketts Photography
Day 10 of 30: Floral Designs by Alicia
Day 9 of 30: Domaine Margelle
Day 8 of 30: Crave Catering
Day 7 of 30: Pro Djs Oregon
Day 6 of 30: O’Brien Event Rentals
Day 5 of 30: Lauren Brook Photography
Day 4 of 30: Fleur:ology Wedding + Event Floral Design
Day 3 of 30: Pure Space
Day 2 of 30: Celebrate Life Photography
Day 1 of 30: Paper Bloom
Last year’s 30 days of vendors
What is 30 days of Vendors?

We look forward to seeing you again tomorrow! Thank you for stopping by our blog! Happy Planning!

Cheers,

Mandi, Rachelle & the Champagne team

P.S. Oregon Bride Magazine just opened up the voting for this years “Best Of” issue. Make sure to go vote for your favorite wedding vendors!! We appreciate you all helping us win “Best New Wedding Vendor” last year! We’d love to win best planner this year- one can dream! : )

I really can’t believe we are already to day 19! Meet Annelie with Anne Adams Photography!

Champagne: How did you decide to get into photography?

Anne Adams Photography: I wish I could say that its in my genes and my great grandfather is Ansel Adams, haha!  I’m not sure if I found photography, or if photography found me, but ironically it was through my own wedding.  Something caught my attention about the role of a photographer to communicate an emotion that led me to want to pursue the path of photography.  My background is in business, so when I put two and two together, it clicked (no pun intended)

Champagne: How would you describe your style?

Anne Adams Photography: Artful wedding imagery.  My style has a timeless quality, yet it’s contemporary.  I photograph from my heart.

Champagne: What would be your dream person/event to photograph?

Anne Adams Photography: One of the greatest things about photography is the endless opportunities to give back.  Wish Upon a Wedding is an amazing organization that recently opened a Portland chapter- I would be honored to photograph a couple in need that has been gifted with a wedding through this organization.  On a broader scale- in the latest issue of Grace Ormonde, 15 photographers were selected to go to Tanzania for a photo shoot to raise awareness for the need for clean drinking water.  It would be a dream of mine to participate as a photographer for one of these campaigns!

Champagne: What’s your favorite part about your job?

Anne Adams Photography: I heard a statistic once (which I’m not sure is true, but feels true) that 20% of having a photography business is taking pictures and 80% is running the business - marketing, accounting, editing, etc.  So by far, my favorite part is photographing the wedding day.  Every couple is different, every wedding is unique, and each couple has entrusted me to tell their love story, which is the greatest honor.  I love getting to know the couple and sometimes even their family before their weddings, so that on their wedding day I know their story, and I am aware of what is important to them- the details, the people, a song, etc.  If those aspects are translated in pictures, the day will pass, but the feelings will be preserved.  By the wedding day, as excited as they are to be married, I’m as excited to capture it.  I have been known to literally jump out of bed with excitement on my way to a wedding : ) 

Another thing I love is being apart of the creative, artistic wedding community in Portland.  I love the people I have had the opportunity to work with and the amazing talent I am surrounded by.

Champagne: To you, what is key to creating a successful event?

Anne Adams Photography: For me, a successful event is when the couple has had FUN, felt comfortable being photographed, and are happy with the end results.  Being aware and and a listener to both my couples needs and my surroundings can be my greatest asset, so that I’m able to immerse myself and capture the day’s moments while being respectful and discreet.

Champagne: What do you do when you’re not doing what you do?

Anne Adams Photography: I love being spontaneous and I love trying new things.  When nothing is on the calendar, grabbing a pair of flip flops and heading to the beach, or grabbing our snow shoes and heading to the mountain.  My husband and I recently traveled to Europe and only bought our flights and first 2 nights accommodations prior to leaving.  Some people thought we were crazy, and maybe we were, ha- but it kind of forced us to step outside the norm and embrace the days adventure not really knowing what the day would hold!  I also can’t get enough of coffee dates with friends, taking an art class, eating Ben’s amazing cooking, and hitting the gym for TKB after all those dinners and lattes, sheesh!

Champagne: What sets you apart from other photographers?

Anne Adams Photography: The experience they have with me.  What I mean is that, I’m going to offer a couple an experience, different from other photographers because we are different people.  For this reason, I choose to share on my blog candidlyabout who I am, what I enjoy, experiences I’ve gone through, what I’m excited about, etc.  Since so much about the experience is about the connection between me and the couple, I believe most couples know before contacting me whether they would feel comfortable or enjoy working together.  Some people are more comfortable than others being photographed, and how you feel translates to your pictures, not even an amazing photoshop wizard can change that and make it look natural.  Okay- maybe they could, but that would be a lot of work ; )

I also believe that behind the artist is a business, and with so much of this business being what happens behind the scenes, I want to provide each couple with an amazing experience. “Under promise and OVER deliver” is something I strive to deliver in the experience, I want to exceed my couple’s expectations!

Champagne: Thank you, Annelie [Anne Adams Photography], for telling us more about your company! Make sure to check out their website, become a fan on facebook and follow them on twitter!

Day 18 of 30: Paparazzi Tonight Photo Booth
Day 17 of 30: Timberline Lodge
Day 16 of 30: hi, friend.
Day 15 of 30: Byron Roe Photography
Day 14 of 30: Francoise Weeks
Day 13 of 30: phresh catering
Day 12 of 30: Carroll Myers
Day 11 of 30: Ryan Ricketts Photography
Day 10 of 30: Floral Designs by Alicia
Day 9 of 30: Domaine Margelle
Day 8 of 30: Crave Catering
Day 7 of 30: Pro Djs Oregon
Day 6 of 30: O’Brien Event Rentals
Day 5 of 30: Lauren Brook Photography
Day 4 of 30: Fleur:ology Wedding + Event Floral Design
Day 3 of 30: Pure Space
Day 2 of 30: Celebrate Life Photography
Day 1 of 30: Paper Bloom
Last year’s 30 days of vendors
What is 30 days of Vendors?

We look forward to seeing you again tomorrow! Thank you for stopping by our blog! Happy Planning!

Cheers,

Mandi, Rachelle & the Champagne team

P.S. Oregon Bride Magazine just opened up the voting for this years “Best Of” issue. Make sure to go vote for your favorite wedding vendors!! We appreciate you all helping us win “Best New Wedding Vendor” last year! We’d love to win best planner this year- one can dream! : )

We are so excited to share with you what we’ve been up to over the summer months or as we call it “Wedding Season”! Rachelle coordinated this gorgeous vineyard wedding a few months ago… enjoy!

I first met with Jen and Ben over 18 months before their wedding. At the time we met, I knew their wedding would be the dreamy, fairytale type, and I was very excited to be a part of it! Jen and Ben have such a strong relationship, and they do most of it from a distance! It’s absolute true love, and they are living proof that love can conquer any challenge!

Their wedding day was full of romantic and personal touches, with all the right amounts of fun and celebration thrown in as well!!  With a line up of top-notch vendors, the day was absolutely wonderful. Their beautiful and romantic wedding was so much fun to be involved in, and the guests had a blast dancing the night away as the sun set over a beautiful vineyard setting.

Enjoy the photos from the ever-so-lovely Maggie of Honeysuckle Photography:

Vendors:

Photography: Honeysuckle Photography
Videography: Shields Films
Floral: Blum, Design in Flowers
Venue: Zenith Vineyard in Salem, OR
Bride’s Hair & Makeup: Nicole Wagner
Music: Mobile Music Entertainment
Catering: Vibrant Table Catering
Stationery: Designs by Renee
Transportation: English Classic Limousine & Premiere Tours
Bakery: Lamb’s Thriftway
Rehearsal Dinner: The Riverplace Hotel

Cheers,

Mandi, Rachelle & the Champagne team