I’m curious as to how you all have been finding success in getting a great vendor team together for your wedding.
Please take this one-question poll! Once we start getting votes, the results will appear here in real-time.
Are you having any difficulties in finding the right people to work with? Please share in the comments – I’ll answer any questions that I can.
What is a wedding kick-off consultation? Sometimes the terms that are bounced around in the wedding planning process can be confusing.
In our {Wedding Planning Definitions} series, I’ll examine some different terms and products that come up often in discussions of wedding planning.
Today’s definition is:
This is a program for clients who would like assistance from a wedding planner in the early stages of their engagement, but perhaps have not committed fully to using a planner for full services. The “kick-off consult” usually includes a design component, where the planner talks with you about your overall vision for the wedding in everything from colors and sounds to the food and drink, all the way to what the attendants will be wearing. You can ask questions about the pros and cons of different sites, and also get ideas for sites you may not have thought of on your own. Budget will be discussed, and vendor matches will be suggested. You should also get a wedding planning checklist with a list of to-do items for wedding planning and the dates the tasks should be completed.
The wedding couple will leave this meeting armed with a great deal of information to make sound, educated decisions for the initial wedding planning process. Time involvement varies from planner to planner, and is usually around 90 minutes to 2 hours, often with an email follow-up included. There is usually a flat or hourly fee for this meeting.
So now you know what is a wedding kick-off consultation! If you are having a hard time getting your wedding planning process off the ground (perhaps you are stuck without a date or venue and getting stressed), a one-time, “kick-off” consult could be just the thing you need.
A version of this blog post appeared on The Portland Wedding Coordinator on May 9, 2009.
Photo: Oliver M. P. Miller
Here are six Portland wedding venue locations that we love that allow you and your guests to have music and dance way past the typical 10pm venue deadline.
The first venue is Castaway Portland, a historic warehouse turned event spot in NW Portland that can hold up to 400 guests. Castaway has a great patio; if more outdoor space is needed, their neighbors Pomarius Nursery and Versailles Gardens can be rented. This venue allows for indoor music and dancing until late, depending on your preference and the 12-hour total event time limit. Both garden areas can remain open late as well, allowing guests to have cocktails and continue celebrating in these outside locations, though outdoor amplified music must conform to City of Portland ordinances.
Our second venue is the World Forestry Center, located in Washington Park. They offer many different indoor and outdoor combination options at this venue, which is only one of the many reasons we love them. You can choose to have their beautiful tent and enjoy the outdoor plaza, right next to Cheatham Hall, a great option for an indoor space. You and your guests can enjoy the outdoor area until midnight with amplified music, which makes for great late night dancing – a rarity in Portland. There is also the option of moving to one of their inside spaces.
Under the Radar is a blog series on Portland Wedding Coordinator, showcasing cool new or little-known Portland wedding venues that I’ve stumbled across recently. Many of our Under the Radar wedding ceremony and reception venues are ones you won’t yet find in the popular wedding guides. If you use one of these sites, please let them know you heard it here first!
This week, we’re pleased to present to you Mazamas Lodge. The lodge has a maximum capacity for 120 for indoor events, and a large outdoor space for additional seating, or for ceremonies. Located right in Government Camp, with convenient access to the main strip of shops and restaurants, as well as Ski Bowl, Timberline Lodge, and Collins Lake Resort. This lovely rustic lodge offers a wonderful level of privacy and seclusion, and a 24-hour rental period, rather than a typical 4-6 hour period at many event venues. They do have exclusive on-site, in-house catering, but with an exclusive-use contract weddings are welcome to bring their own alcohol. It’s a lovely place for a summer mountain wedding. In winter, access is hike-in, so usage would be very limited. Finally, the upstairs sleeps 76 guests in (non-private) dormitory-style bunk beds, along with three private rooms.
Sounds great, doesn’t it? Their office is only open Friday through Monday, so send an email or give them a call at 503-272-9214 if you’re working on your Mt. Hood-area wedding this weekend!
Next up on Under the Radar: Villa Catalana at Rare Plant Research. This one is really great, so stay tuned!
For the environmentally-aware couple, finding a caterer who fits their expectations can be a challenge. Our friends at Crave Catering are concerned with sustainability and have provided a list of questions to ask a caterer when determining whether or not they will be the right fit for one’s wedding. You can find this list here!
If you are planning a wedding in Portland and need a caterer or any other vendor, EJP Events can help! Click here to email us for a consultation.
Finding the right transportation for your wedding is important. From bicycles, to pedicabs, to limousines, there are a wide variety of options! We found a great blog post from our friends at The Art of Weddings, that gives some great tips on how to make your wedding transportation personal and memorable. Read their full post on wedding transportation here!
“When it comes to organizing a wedding, many brides like to veer away from the lure of traditional and into something altogether more unique…”
Photo from Cycle Portland Bike Tours via Art of Weddings