How time flies! We've been doing some really fun things over on our own website, ejpevents.com Photo: Evrim Icoz Come check it out! This is also where The Portland Wedding Coordinator Blog has found a permanent home. It's hard to believe we've been writing this blog for *gasp* 12 years! We've seen technologies, venues, and vendors come and go, and it's been so interesting to document how people wed in our area, the beautiful Pacific Northwest. We decided to combine all of our blog interests into one place, and cover Weddings, Destination Event Travel, Corporate Events, How-Tos, and Advice to... Continue reading

I often have the opportunity to work with some really fun public events around Portland. This year I've been involved with the Portland Tweed Ride organizers' group and had the opportunity to help them produce some promotional media for their event, starting with a Save the Date card. It seemed like a great way to do some vintage and tweed inspiration for a possible wedding style board. With the way velvet is trending for 2018, I thought it would fun to throw a bit of that in too. We were able to secure the wonderful Evrim Icoz Wedding Photography to... Continue reading

Going through old photos of site walks and I came upon this great one I took while venue sourcing for our dear client Kat. Even though she wound up choosing Castaway as her wedding venue, I still love Union Pine and can't wait to do another wedding here. There's just something about this space that I really love! Below, a photo of the venue all set up with our client Rachel and Justin's wedding (Photo by Bryan Aulick Photography): Isn't it gorgeous and also so simple? What wedding venues in Portland are you loving right now? Happy hunting this engagement/holiday... Continue reading

It's been a wild weather ride these past couple of weeks in Portland, Oregon. We've had a chilly and rainy early June 2017 and now as we approach July we're hitting 100-degree temperatures. This reminds me of the summer we did a wedding at Bridal Veil Lakes for almost 200 people that took us through the full complement of sun, overcast, and finally rain late in the evening. Thankfully, the couple had made weather plans: renting scores of white golf umbrellas from Barclay Event Rentals, providing tent heaters, using the site's two existing covered areas wisely, and checking the weather... Continue reading

Photo: Photobystinson.com Congratulations to Cassie and Brad on #brassie17! This wedding is extra special to me, as it involves many people who I'm lucky to know personally. It's always fun to get to do a wedding with friends. Cassie and Brad were married in the Ballroom at McMenamins Edgefield on a lovely spring April day in the Troutdale/Columbia River Gorge area, Oregon. Related articles { Design Roundup } 5 sites to help you choose a wedding color scheme {Destination Weddings 101} Traveling with a wedding gown When and how do we sign our Oregon marriage license? Continue reading

I was just glancing through the 2017 WeddingWire Newlywed Report - a market research report where recently-wed couples are polled for data. A couple of items really stood out to me: 40% of couples underestimate their wedding budget. This means almost half of people planning a wedding have a picture in their head of their wedding, but an incorrect estimation of what it will cost. To me, this is a recipe for heartache and stress, and could be easily solved if instead of picking a venue or a design vision first, couples first took their budget and evaluated it line... Continue reading

Image: FritzPhoto Due to the extreme weather at the beginning of the year, many of the annual wedding showcases in Portland were postponed to much later dates than usual. Tough for the vendor participants who have to re-plan for the new date, but great for you couples who are just getting started on your wedding planning for 2017 and 2018! Tonight kicks off at 6:00 pm with the grand re-opening of AniA Bridal in Downtown Portland. (This event is 21+) And then all this weekend, the Portland Bridal Show is at the Oregon Convention Center. Bigger trade shows not your... Continue reading

We are heading back to our old digs at The Creative Loft (formerly known as The Bridal Loft) for a special open house for past clients! Come drop off your wedding gown for cleaning, and enjoy light snacks, champagne, while browsing "Spring Cleaning" info that we'll have on hand from all kinds of helpful home services such as housecleaners, handymen, personal chefs, home organizing, Realtors, and mortgage lending. Get your gown cleaned and get items checked off your to-do list! No appointment necessary, just stop by Sunday, March 5, 2017 between noon and 4pm. Sunday, March 5, 2017 12 noon... Continue reading

I can't believe it was only a year ago we were at Oaks Pioneer Church and the Elysian Ballroom celebrating Kathleen and David's wedding reception. A little rain didn't dampen the happy couple's spirits! Photos by Once Like a Spark. Floral by An Affair To Remember. Related articles { Design Roundup } 5 sites to help you choose a wedding color scheme {Destination Weddings 101} Traveling with a wedding gown When and how do we sign our Oregon marriage license? { Portland Wedding Venues } Planner's Roundup - 5 sites that allow outside catering Continue reading

It's a bright fall November day in Portland, so I thought I would post something with a harvest vibe. Today's photo comes from David Barss, taken at Zenith Vineyard in 2012. Jeanne and Korash were married towards the end of the summer and I just love the interplay between light and shadow that makes for an atypical couples' photo. Related articles { Portland Wedding Venues } Planner's Roundup - 5 sites that allow outside catering { Local Love } Transport your out of towners Portland-style in a Tesla electric town car! Man dressed as tree arrested for blocking traffic {Destination... Continue reading

Today's photo comes is from the 2007 archives! Altura Studio captured this beautiful outdoor reception at the Portland Art Museum sculpture garden. I loved how the platinum lamour table linens contrasted with the bright colors of the fall flowers and the existing art. Very excited to read that the PAM will be adding a fantastic new art pavilion in this location in the next couple of years, but it's a little bittersweet to say farewell to this unique outdoor urban wedding location. Catering: Vibrant Table, Flowers, Geranium Lake. Continue reading

Today's photo comes from Scott McNamara, taken at a wedding we planned for Lauren and Kurt at Multnomah Falls in 2012. With this type of scenery you really don't need any other decor! Their ceremony was held on the patio surrounded by forest and the falls in the background; the reception was held inside the historic 1925 lodge Great Hall, with its soaring ceilings and crackling fireplace. Related articles Multnomah Falls, Oregon, 1918 { Design Roundup } 5 sites to help you choose a wedding color scheme {Destination Weddings 101} Traveling with a wedding gown Discover Waterfalls and Wonder Hiking... Continue reading

Today's photo that I'm loving comes from Evrim Icoz Photography - we recently did a wedding at The Nines Hotel where the client asked for modern, geometric centerpieces to go with the modern, glamorous look of the hotel and the reception. These were designed by Geranium Lake and I just love the mix of textural floral with the sharp lines of the container. Thank you to everyone who worked on this wedding with us! "Photo of the Day" is our regular blog feature where we pick a quick favorite photo and share it with you. It might be a behind-the-scenes,... Continue reading

Happy anniversary to these lovely grooms! We were thrilled to be a part of their wedding a private riverfront Wilsonville estate last year. Family and friends contributed flowers from their farm, and the grooms provided the wine from their Sherwood winery. A farm-to-table dinner buffet was created by Valley Commissary Catering, and the guests danced the night away to Pura Vida Orquestra, honoring the Cuban heritage of Mauro's family. Many happy returns to the couple! Related articles { Design Roundup } 5 sites to help you choose a wedding color scheme {Destination Weddings 101} Traveling with a wedding gown When... Continue reading

A harsh reality of planning a wedding is creating a budget. It may not be the most romantic aspect of your nuptials, but it’s crucial, in order to reduce stress and not overspend. Here are some helpful ways to plan your budget: Talk to all the contributors. Maybe the couple is paying for the entire wedding themselves, maybe one family is footing the bill, or maybe it is being split between many parties. Whatever your situation is, make it clear from the beginning how much (and on what aspects of the wedding) each group is willing to spend. Decide what... Continue reading

After the initial thrill of getting engaged subsides, you now realize that there's some planning to do! This time can easily feel overwhelming as friends and family barrage you with questions: Have you set a date? Where will the wedding be held? What's the theme? Where should I get a hotel room? !!! Fear not, there's actually a pretty organized system for thinking through the steps to planning a wedding that I can share with you in a few sentences. And no, it doesn't start with setting a date! Read on... Phase One - Design, Budget, and Team << START... Continue reading

Photo credit: Madeline Ball, licensed by Creative Commons Newly engaged? If you've started planning, that likely means heading to the computer. What you’ll come across are many websites that provide some of the same things a coordinator does: a to-do list, a list of vendors, and hundreds of articles about anything and everything wedding related. If you're not sure if wedding coordinator is in your budget, or you want to take on the planning yourself, these websites are amazing resources. However, there are several things a website can’t do: Tailor a plan unique to you and your partner. A coordinator... Continue reading

We're happy to share the news that two top review websites, Yelp.com and Thumbtack.com recently recognized EJP Events by putting us on their "best of" lists. Thanks to all of our brides and grooms, we love making your day special! Here are a few of the featured weddings and what they said: (Photo: Altura Studio) (Photo: Powers Studios) (Photo: Evrim Icoz) Wedding issues bugging you? Please contact us to set a time to chat about your wedding and how we can help. Continue reading

No, not the marriage license or rings, but still there are a few items that people always seem to forget. Take care of these now and make your life a lot easier. 1. A place to put cards that are given as gifts. Whether you use a customized cardbox, or just a nice glass fishbowl, have a secure place for guests to put their cards so they don't fall under the gift table or blow away. 2. A good guest book pen. Make sure it does not smear easily and has acid-free, archival quality ink. 3. Someone to handle final... Continue reading

You would never walk into a store, grab a dress off the rack, pay for it and walk out, would you? No, you would try it on first! Especially if it was for an important occasion. The same should apply for your wedding day! After witnessing a couple of "wardrobe malfunctions" this summer, bride and groom alike, I have to remind you all: Please try on your gown or tux before you take it home for the last time! Yes, you may have had several fittings. But things can happen between the last fitting and the final pickup. You could... Continue reading

Erika and Lionel came up to Portland from sunny LA to have a subtly-Hello Kitty-themed wedding at the The Grotto with reception at The Nines Hotel. As soon as she said "Hello Kitty" you know I was already SO THERE for everything. I was also super excited to help them combine Erika's Mexican cultural and family traditions with Lionel's Filipino heritage. Some of these traditions were expressed in the traditional Filipino Catholic ceremony, complete with veil, cord, and coins ceremonies; and in having a cumbia band at the reception. All in all, it was an exciting, whirlwind day with lots... Continue reading

Now that the holiday rush is dying down, it's time to send save-the-dates for your 2016 wedding! Normally, Save-the-Date cards or emails are sent about six months before the wedding, although they can go as early as one year in advance. This means you should design and order them about seven or eight months before the wedding to give you time to print, address, and send. Invitations are sent eight to twelve weeks before the wedding, so order four to six months out. Do you have to send save-the-dates? No, there is no etiquette requirement for these, but they are... Continue reading

(Yes, this is what your coordinators look like after about 12 hours on site :-)! Image courtesy Evrim Icoz Photography) The wedding photobooth used to be a fun novelty; now it seems like a wedding must-have, along with regular photography and mini-desserts. So common now, that we're often asked, "What can I add to my wedding to entertain guests along with, or instead of, a photobooth?" We are definitely still big fans of the photobooth because not only is it amusing, it serves as a different kind of wedding documentation and also as a party favor. But here are a... Continue reading

As the summer wanes, and our clients return from honeymoons, we receive a lot of inquiries about what to do with the wedding dress or sari. EJP Events is an authorized dealer for the Wedding Gown Preservation Company, and we have had great results with them. You don't have to have had your wedding coordinated by us to take advantage of this service. The gowns are expertly cleaned and wrinkles removed. Repairs can be done and additional items such as veil, train, and shoes can be cleaned and included in the box underneath a divider, in their own individual acid=free... Continue reading

Been meaning to blog about this one for a while! I was so pleased to pick up the most recent issue of Portland Bride and Groom magazine to find one of our weddings from last summer featured. Photos courtesy Stark Photography Erica and Rohan planned a traditional church ceremony at First Presbyterian Church, followed by a surprise Sri Lankan (Sinhalese) ceremony, called a poruwa, at their reception location of Castaway. They chose a multitude of wonderful details, from the vintage double decker bus to take guests from church to reception, to the modern geometric details of the wedding cake from... Continue reading