I’ve never been on tv before, I never really thought I would be. Everyone gets their 15 minutes of fame they say, is this mine? If this is my 15 minutes, then I better tell everyone I know! Well, this last Monday, I recorded a short segment on Weddings Portland Style about Darren and I’s wedding. I’m scared to see what it looks like and will be seeing it for the first time- along with you, if you tune in! It will air this Saturday, January 15th at 9am on Koin 6.
Here’s a list of the vendors that made our wedding day perfect! Thank you all for being so wonderful to work with!
Wedding Consultant: Champagne Wedding & Event Coordination [Danielle]
Flowers: Blum Design in Flowers
Reception Site: Pure Space
Ceremony: Pure Space
Brides Rings: Shane Company
Grooms Ring: Fred Meyer Jewelers
Jewelry: Fred Meyer Jewelers and The Wedding Cottage
Hair piece: Nicole Couture- AniA Bridal
Gown designer and boutique: Jim Hjelm at AniA Bridal
Formal Wear: Men’s Wearhouse
Hotel: The Heathman Hotel
Rehearsal Dinner: Old Town Pizza
Cake: Dreamcakes
Honeymoon: Oahu, Hawaii
Alterations: AniA Bridal
Caterer: Crave Catering
Photographer: Yasmin Khajavi and Laura Marchbanks
DJ: Event Team Entertainment
Hair & Make-up: Nicole Wagner Make up & Face Body Beauty
Videography: Focal Point Digital Media
Officiant: Carroll Myers
Veil and Accessories: The Wedding Cottage
Rental: West Coast Event Productions
Invitations: Paper Bloom
Favors: Studio Olivine
Bridal Portraits: Anne Adams Photography
Boudoir Portraits: Yasmin Khajavi Photography

On to day 12 of 30! Meet Pastor Carroll Myers!

Champagne:  How did you decide you wanted to become a pastor?

Carroll Myers:  Certainly a combination of influences when I was young contributed to my decision early on, to pursue serving individuals and families through the church.  It’s important to note that I was privileged to be a young person in a church where the pastor was a respected, positive persona.  I observed as they and associate pastors were available to provide care and encouragement to many families.  I so often thought I could see myself enjoying a fulfilling life in much the same manner.  Even as a teenager, I loved finding ways to be of service to others and making a difference for them.  Being third-born of six boys. .  . I learned quite early the value of being dependable in word and performance. 

Photo by Soul Mates Photo

Champagne:  Do you perform weddings that are non-denominational?

Carroll Myers:  The short answer is, yes….probably my preference actually.  One of the joys I’ve known over the years in working with wedding couples particularly, is that there is honestly much we have in common.  Couples come from every possible background and want to join their hearts and lives together as they form a family.  I take great delight in assisting them to put together the ceremony that will represent them, and that their families will thoroughly enjoy. 

Champagne:  How do you guide your couples through the ceremony planning?

Carroll Myers: Early on, I provide every couple with a packet of ‘sample ceremony wordings.’  This simply is a compilation of many options that have been used by previous couples.  Each couple spends time together going over this material.  We’ll then begin meeting to discuss their thoughts and wishes.  Never is a couple confined to utilizing the materials from the provided packet.  It’s of utmost importance for the ceremony to reflect that particular couple.  I make lots of notes and I “listen” to both bride and groom as we discuss what’s important to them.  I encourage couples to ‘personalize’ their ceremony so it ‘feels’ like them.

Champagne:  Why do you love performing weddings?

Carroll Myers: A wedding celebration is clearly one of the pinnacle days of any couple’s life.  It is as well for their families and loved ones.  It’s a wonderful joy to participate with couples and families as they gather to celebrate and “make a big deal of family.”  I’ve been asked many times if I get nervous just prior to a ceremony.  Honestly, I don’t.  But I do tend to become fairly focused on that particular couple.  I thoroughly enjoy being available to help every couple as their many hours of preparation come to fruition.  So much emotion and anxiety are flowing. . . I strive to be a “calming” influence as much as possible.  I enjoy maintaining contact with couples beyond the celebration.  It’s very rewarding to bump into couples I’ve married eight, fourteen, twenty years ago.

Champagne: How do you get to know your clients before the wedding?

Carroll Myers: When we connect initially, I provide each couple with a questionnaire that has evolved over a number of years.  It serves a couple purposes.  I ask the couple to complete their set of questions separately then sit down together and go through them.  Hopefully this will provide a basis for some positive dialogue.  Secondly, they will return them to me….and it’s a simple tool that helps me know them a bit as we begin to meet.  Typically, I will meet with a couple several times in the process of planning.  I’ve never ‘required’ counseling with couples.  But I do find that couples are very open to discussing aspects that can benefit them as they are about to join their lives together.  And once again. . . I try to do a lot of listening to them.

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

Carroll Myers: Wedding “season” typically becomes very busy for me, with the busiest months being July, August and September.  Many of those weeks I’ll participate with three to five couples per weekend.  In recent years there’s been a definite increase in the number of ‘mid-week’ wedding celebrations.

In addition to working with couples, I do some work at a senior living complex here in Vancouver.  This, I’ve come to love immensely.  I get to spend time with some the most enjoyable and interesting senior citizens….we become very close friends.  It is so rewarding to be available for them and find ways to be of help.  It honestly doesn’t feel like ‘going to work’ at all. 

Our home has a pretty good sized yard and I love investing time and energy into the ongoing challenge that comes with that.  One of these days a ‘condo’ may be attractive… but for now. . . I love the ‘never-ending-story’ of home ownership.

Did I mention the grand-kids?  I humbly submit that they are simply highly intelligent and possibly gifted.  When they show up….at “Gampa’s” whatever was going on suddenly has it’s priority adjusted. 

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

Carroll Myers: Over the last sixteen years it’s been my pleasure to work with well over seventeen hundred couples as they celebrated their marriage.

With warmth, dignity and sincerity the celebrations have taken on every level of expression.  From the very simplest gathering of the Bride, Groom, witnesses and myself to groups of several hundred. . . we celebrated their deeply personal commitment.

I look forward to meeting every new couple and the privilege of participating with them at such a wonderful time in their lives.

Champagne: Thank you, Carroll [Carroll R. Myers, Pastor] for telling us more about what you do! Make sure to check out his website!

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! : )