Whether it’s five months or two weeks before the big day, if you are having one or multiple, your bridal shower should fit your personality and be as unique as you are!  It doesn’t have to be iced tea and cucumber sandwiches (although you could definitely modernize the tea party idea!).

If you are having trouble planning a bridal shower here are a few ideas to get those creative juices flowing:

• Bridal Shower meets Cocktail Class – Appreciate a good drink? Hire a professional bartender to come in and give a tasting of wine, champagne or spirit. Have them teach guests how to make some popular cocktails with what you have just tasted.

Photos by Aralani Photography

• Cooking/Baking Theme – Does the couple love to cook? Have the kitchen be the theme of the party! There are so many directions to go with this theme in mind. Decorate cupcakes, have a professional come in a teach guests how to cook or bake a favorite dish, or simply have the favorite comfort food on the menu.
• Bridal Shower Pampering – Who doesn’t love to get pampered? Of course, everyone does! Nails, hair,  face, waxing? The possibilities are really endless!
• Get her ready for the Honeymoon – Whether it’s lingerie, a bathing suit, or a sassy sun hat, base the shower theme on where the couple is going for their honeymoon. Have guests bring gifts surrounding that theme.
• Enjoy the great outdoors! – Who says that a shower has to be inside?! If the couple is adventurous and the group is smaller take it outside. Go skydiving or white water rafting, embrace your inner adventurer! Great idea if you are involving the guys too!

Get Creative!

You are now prepared to meet a florist, but with so many to choose from, where do you go first? Call Floral Designs by Alicia! A member of The Wedding Lounge since March, Alicia has wowed us with her gorgeous designs and one-of-a-kind botanical creations.

Top Photo by Mosca Photo
Above Photos by Erica Ann Photography
Floral by Floral Designs by Alicia

Alicia’s love for horticulture blossomed at a young age and she began working at a local floral shop before she was even out of high school! Twelve years later with thousands of floral arrangements under her belt, Alicia’s designs are more beautiful than ever. Integrating fruit, vegetables, and unique types of horticulture into many of her arrangements, Alicia loves a challenge

So if you are really looking for that “WOW” factor to put your wedding above the rest (or at least above your friends’ weddings) checking out Floral Designs by Alicia. You can be sure that YOUR wedding floral will be stunning and unique to you and your wedding!

Make a floral statement!

Website after website, photo after photo of floral arrangements and you still have no idea what type of flowers, or even the style, you are looking for. That is okay! When you meet with a professional florist, they will be able to help you find a floral style that fits your wedding, taste, and budget.

Here are just a few things to think about when preparing to meet with a florist:

• Know your budget. How much of your total wedding budget do you want to spend on floral? Flowers such as orchids are more costly than something like carnations. If you have your heart set on a bouquet of orchids, be prepared for a higher price tag.
• Know approximate guest count. Know size of bridal party and family members needing boutonnieres or corsages.

Top Photo by Aralani Photography
Above Photo by Atelier Pictures
Floral by Floral Designs by Alicia

•  Bring some of your wedding inspirations. Bring color swatches bridesmaids dresses as well as photos (don’t forget a picture of the dress!) so the florist can get an idea of your overall wedding vision.
• Know your venue. Where and when you are getting married has a huge impact of the flowers that can be used. If your wedding is outside in August, you most likely aren’t going to use delicate flowers that will quickly wilt in the heat.
• Keep an open mind. Not all flowers are available at all times throughout the year so your favorite flower may not be in season. Your professional florist will know what flowers are in season and show you which flowers could be comparable to your out of season favorite.

Let the blooms begin!

After reading Wedding Insurance – Are You Covered, you realized this little detail had been overlooked. It is easy to overlook components such as Wedding Insurance, but realizing it now can make a huge difference on your big day.

Something that is often forgotten is transportation. No, not for you and your Honey to drive away into the sunset, but to give your guests a safe ride to and from your wedding. Consider providing transportation if:

• Your wedding venue is a good distance from the city
• You have many out of town guests
• Parking at the wedding venue is limited or costly
• The wedding and reception are not at the same venue
• You are anticipating guests to drink

Photos by Matching Hats Photography
Transportation by PDX Pedicab

Have your guests meet at a common area, such as the hotel many are staying at, and have a company like ecoShuttle, VIP PDX or PDX Pedicab transport them to the venue. When the night is over, the vehicle may make multiple trips (at times known to guests) shuttling your guests safely from venue to venue or venue to hotel.

Providing transportation is a nice touch for any wedding. It can make your guests feel a little pampered and put everyone at ease knowing they will all get home safely.

Buckle up, it’s going to be a great ride!

It is fast approaching your wedding day and everything is falling into place. We all picture our wedding day flowing smoothly without a hitch. However, though it is not something we would like to necessarily think about, unexpected problems may arise during the planning process or on the actual wedding day. Unfortunately, it is difficult to prevent or even predict these problems, so it would be wise to prepare and protect against the unexpected.

After reading a blog from Nationwide Insurance Company, it may put your mind at ease to see it can be quite simple to insure your wedding day. With two different types of coverage from this particular insurance company, not only your wedding day, but also problematic circumstances that arise during planning may be covered!

Photos by Atelier Pictures

Wedding Cancellation Insurance –Depending upon the reason for cancellation, this plan may include reimbursements of lost deposits or retainers you have paid to your hired wedding professionals. Through Nationwide, you can purchase this insurance up to 15 days before your wedding date.

Wedding Liability Insurance – Just in case the party gets out of hand or Mom sprains her wrist getting tackled by ladies scrambling for that bouquet you threw just a little too far. A variety of accidents can happen. They may not, but just in case they do, wouldn’t you rather be safe than sorry?

Check with your insurance company and see what your options are and work one or both of these into your wedding budget. Professionals like your bartender and caterer should have their own insurance, covering food and alcohol, but there are so many other areas that need covering.  Be prepared for that unexpected strong bouquet toss!

Now relax, you got it covered!

It may be too early for you to start thinking about Thank You notes if you haven’t even figured out your invitations yet. Whatever stage you are in, whether you’re searching for invites or it’s time for Thank You notes, this blog is for you!

Paper Goods Created by 1st Comes Love…

If you want wedding stationery that is unique to your personality and taste, then you should check out 1^st Comes Love…  Did you put off the invitation search for too long? There is also the option to choose from a current 1^st Comes Love… design. Change the color or font and voila you have your invitations! Outsourcing less than many other Custom Stationers, 1^st Comes Love prints much of their product in house.

Invitations, Thank You notes, or wedding day paper goods, 1^st Comes Love… can create something perfect and unique to you!

Don’t forget the Thank You notes!

We are always taught to say “please” and “thank you”, but too often does the “thank you” get over looked in the hustle and bustle of wedding planning. Hopefully you saved your list of names and addresses from sending out your invites because you are not done with them until the Thank You notes are sent!

Don’t worry about spending a lot of time on each; all you need to do is write a few sentences thanking them for their attendance and gift in a relatively personal way.

“Thank you Aunt Beth and Uncle Bob for flying out from Denver to be at our wedding, it was great to see you! We love the stainless steel Crockpot you gave us, now I can make an attempt at Grandma’s famous clam chowder!”

It’s as simple as that! Short, sweet, and personal. Even if it was the fifth blender you received or it is a frog sculpture Aunt Marge made in her beginners sculpting class, a Thank You note is still a must!

Stationery by 1st Comes Love…

Trying to figure out how you are going to squeeze in the time to write all these Thank You notes? Even though they don’t have a lot of writing in each, there are still a lot of notes to write. It’s okay if you don’t get all of them done in one sitting, in fact you should take a little break! Write part of your Thank You notes on the flight to your Hawaiian honeymoon and part on the way back. Break it up into groups of 25 notes and it will seem more manageable.

Whether they drove across town or flew across the country, you guests took the time to be at your wedding AND pick out a gift or write a check. Show them your appreciation by sending them a Thank You. This small gesture can mean a great deal!

Mamma would be so proud!

You’ve read the Reasons Why a Professional Photographer is Worth the Dough so you have ditched the Craigslist photographer and have begun your search for a true pro. With so many photographers claiming to be professionals in the Portland area, you are overwhelmed with where to go next.

Here at the Wedding Lounge we have some fantastic photographers to choose from. Aralani Photography, one of our members, is definitely worth checking out. As our newest photographer, Ara, owner and lead photographer, has wasted no time captivating us with her stunning photos.

Photography by Aralani Photography

Because of her love for the outdoors, Ara began as a landscape photographer. She took this talent and love for Mother Nature and has incorporated into her wedding photography. Capturing both the beauty of the natural surroundings with the love and personality of each couple, Ara creates a truly breathtaking collection of photos.

So as you are trying to figure out which professional photographer to choose, make sure and check out Aralani Photography!

Beautiful wedding photos start here!

You spend a lot of time and money in preparation for your big day. Whether to have a planner helping you bring your vision to life or you are spending countless hours assembling all your DIY Pinterest projects one by one, it’s a big job. But what is all that effort for if you hire an amateur photographer off of Craigslist?

Though every professional photographer has been an amateur at some point in their career, is it really worth the risk of having less than desirable photos in order to save a few hundred dollars?

Photography by Aralani Photography

Here are just a few reasons why hiring a professional wedding photographer is worth forking over the extra dough:

• A professional has done this before. Quite a few times actually. By this time they have figured out how to get the flower girl and ring bearer, and the groomsmen (the big kids) to all cooperate at the same time.
• They know how to work quickly and efficiently to get the group poses you want as well as those candid shots of those special and sometimes unexpected moments you will look back on and smile.
• They remember to get the all shots of that beautiful décor you spent so much time and/or money on.
• They know which lenses, angles, and lighting work the best for each shot, a skill that is learnt over time and time again of shooting weddings.
• When the wedding is over, a professional photographer’s job is not. They spend countless hours sifting through the hundreds of photos and editing and enhancing making sure the photos look as beautiful as you remember it.

Photography by Aralani Photography

Keep in mind that on average in the Portland area, a professional photographer costs anywhere from 2.5k-3.5k for a day’s coverage. This usually includes a second photographer and, depending on the photographer, some photo credit (use it towards an album or other prints). If this price has got you in a panic, don’t worry! Read our cost saving tips in order to make your budget stretch further so you CAN afford that perfect professional photographer.

Picture that!

In search of a caterer for your wedding who has just the right amount of seasonings? Check out the delicious morsels at Wild Currant. A catering company you won’t be able to get enough of, no salt, pepper, or additional spices needed, it’s all cooked to perfection!

Top Photo by Peak Light Studio
Above Photos: Mosca Photo (left), Evrim Icoz Photography (right)

From beautiful fruit and breakfast displays for the couples’ suites the morning of, scrumptious hors d’oeuvres for cocktail hour, and hearty entrees for the reception, Wild Currant has mastered it all! As a member of the Wedding Lounge, Wild Currant has created many delicious bites for other members to enjoy.

What are some of the Lounge favorites?

• Gougére – puff pastry with cheese and other goodies wrapped inside
• Lobster Risotto Cakes
• Crab Rangoons – a Botanica favorite
• Bacon and Thyme Shortbread Cookies (sweet and savory)
• Housemade Apricot Salad Dressing – though it is quite delicious on salad greens I am sure there are many of us who would (or have) eaten it with a spoon.
• Chicken Parmesan

Grab a fork and napkin, it’s time to dive in!