Indoor Ceremony & Reception Sites.

I just returned from a mini vacation from Canada with my girlfriend. We headed up to Vancouver, B.C. to see the one, the only, Madonna. Before the concert on Thursday we spent time catching up on all the gossip going in with her. Every newspaper there had an article about her, her career, her drama with Guy Ritchie etc. The concert was a blast, we sang and danced to every song!

Now that I'm back in good ol' Portland it's time to get back to wedding talk. I thought with the weather turning to rain and the days getting darker sooner it would be good to chat about indoor locations for your ceremony or reception.

There are so many beautiful hotels to host your party at. Having your event downtown is also a great way to show off our fun and funky city to your guests. So let's look at some options. During this post we'll focus on three of the historic hotels that add beautiful architecture to our city.

The Heathman Hotel.
I always enjoy my visits to the Heathman. The modern artwork mixed with classic furniture gives it a regal feel. The mezzanine overlooks the tea court and has beautiful natural light coming in from sky lights. This site would be best for a smaller event of 50-125 guests so it doesn't fell crowded.

Picture of the tea room on the main level.

Image of the mezzanine with sky lights.


The Benson Hotel.
The Benson is another classic hotel downtown. You walk into the Benson and immediately feel warm and comfortable. The dark wood, fireplace and comfortable seating make you want to kick up your feet and have a cocktail. The crystal ballroom has tall ceilings with lovely gold and white detailing throughout. Its central location is great for your guests to walk to shopping and restaurants. Contact them for details about how many people their rooms can hold.



Hotel Vintage Plaza.
Right up the street from the Benson is the Hotel Vintage Plaza. If you love wine and a warm old world feel, then this hotel is for you. The decor is inspired by Oregon wines. They've dedicated each room to a local vineyard or winery. The Pazzo Cellar is a unique room that makes you feel as though you are in a tuscan wine cellar. The space is small and gets crowded quickly so keep your guest list under 75 for a comfortable ceremony. You can then head up to the Tuscany room for your reception where 130 fit well for dinner and dancing.

one of their unique rooms.

Those are three well known hotels downtown that will make your out of town guests feel pampered and welcomed. They will also make it convenient for them to get to your ceremony or reception if you host it at one of these hotels.

I now announce you husband and wife...

I had two really wonderful and different weddings this weekend. During one of the ceremonies I was really touched and started to cry when the groom began to read his vows. It was so heartfelt and full of emotion that it would be hard to walk away from it without feeling more alive and full of love. The ceremony is the most important part of the day, but also the shortest. With that in mind it's important to take some extra time to really think thru your options as to how you want it performed.

The current trend is having one of your close friends or family members become "instantly ordained" online so they can perform the ceremony. This is a great idea but can also lead to a bit more stress and confusion leading up to the service. If this is the option you are leaning toward be sure to think out carefully whom would do the best in front of a large group of people. You'll want someone who speaks clearly and slowly enough and is good under pressure. I've seen some friends pacing before the ceremony, nervous that they'll make a mistake or forget to say something. Practice, practice and practice if you are having a friend or family member perform the ceremony.

The other option is hiring a professional minister to marry the two of you. This is the obvious option if you belong to a church and your minister is available for your wedding date. The next option if you are getting married outside of the church is to find a non-denominational minister. I'll be honest, every ceremony I've been to where Marky Ann Kelly of Custom Ceremonies married the couple, I've cried. What I really enjoy about her is how she takes the time to meet with the two of you and gets to know you. You discuss what you'd like the ceremony to focus on and add personal touches. Your guests learn how the two of you fell in love and how you are committed to each other. It's beautiful, full of love and emotional. The other benefit to having a professional is they have been to a lot of weddings; they are calm, collected and there to help you relax before you say I do.