I love “meant-to-be” stories and that is what I think about when I read Mandy and Alex’s story.  Friends for years before  fate brought them back to the same city again.

At their gorgeous outdoor wedding, the weather cleared just in time and the sun popped out during their vows. How totally perfect…..

Mandy & Alex | September 5, 2009 | The View Point Inn in Corbett, Oregon

How he proposed
Alex and I met back in 1999 while we were both students at The Ohio State University.  We We never dated, but had mutual friends and a common love of music that had us hanging out on a regular basis. Alex moved to Portland in 2001, looking for a change.  We didn’t have much contact after that, but as fate would have it, I moved to Portland in 2005 to attend graduate school.  Alex was the only person I knew in the state of Oregon, so we reconnected.  We had been friends so long that it never occurred to me to think of him in any other way. But, it wasn’t too long after I arrived in Portland that we started dating.

The proposal happened on May 23, 2008 after a dinner cruise on The Portland Spirit, which was the site of our first “real” date a few years prior.  He told me that he won the dinner package from a charity event at work, and since he gets free stuff through work a lot, I didn’t suspect a thing.  After dinner we were on the upper deck of the boat drinking champagne and watching the Portland skyline pass by as we sailed the Willamette River.  It was a cool and rainy night, so we were virtually alone up there.  I was actually making a toast when Alex pulled out the ring and dropped to one knee. I was so shocked that he had to ask me twice before I said yes!

The ceremony & reception
We were married at a beautiful little inn/restaurant with a gorgeous view of the Columbia River Gorge.  We had the entire property to ourselves for the night and celebrated with about 100 of our family and friends. Traditionally, September in Oregon has the most spectacular weather, but the day before, and morning of the wedding were cool with a lot of rain.  I was sure we were going to have to move our outdoor ceremony inside, and I was really disappointed since we picked the venue specifically for the view.  Fortunately, the rain stopped and the weather cleared a couple of hours prior to the ceremony, and we were able to continue as planned.

A close friend of ours married us, and Alex and I wrote the whole ceremony so it was wonderfully intimate and really special.  Guests roamed the property during the cocktail hour sipping on one of our two signature drinks, and taking in the view.  They were a margarita on the rocks and a Gorge Sunset, which is a specialty drink of the restaurant, a citrus flavored vodka martini.  We also had beer and local wines.

The prom scene from the movie Twilight was filmed at our venue, and the Monte Carlo arch used during filming is still on the property, so many guests recreated prom pose photos there throughout the night!

We moved indoors for the reception, and since the venue is so beautiful, we kept decor pretty simple.  The inn was built in the 1920’s and has a casual elegance with a vintage feel, that I love.  Our colors were dark brown and ivory with green accents, which worked well with the dark wood of the inn and the natural ceremony setting.  I told the florist that I wanted white, seasonal, and locally grown flowers, and they included orchids, roses, dahlias, lilies, and others that I can’t name.  There were a variety of arrangements mixed on the tables in different shape and size vases, along with some green and brown ribbon that my aunt found and arranged on all the tables.

Our cake was a delicious 3 tiered chocolate lovers dream.  Two layers of chocolate cake with chocolate ganache and fresh whole raspberries, and one orange sponge cake with chocolate ganache.

We had a friend DJ and everyone danced the night away.  It was such a lovely and surreal day, and it was over much too quickly!

The moment Mandy will never forget
There were two.  Though the rain had stopped, it was still a little overcast during the ceremony, but during our vows the sun burst through the clouds.  You can’t script something like that!  And it was especially fitting since our recessional was an acoustic version of “Sunshine of Your Love.”

The other was during the reception when there was an impromptu sing along during Al Green’s “Lets Stay Together” on the dance floor.

How she knew her dress was “The One”
I probably tried on a dozen different dresses before I settled on Monique Lhuillier’s Scarlet.  It was more than I wanted to spend initially, but it was worth every penny!  I wanted a simple (i.e. no sequins and beading) lace gown, with a lean silhouette – the Scarlet was perfect for me.  It was that amazing keyhole back that really sold me on this dress.

Her advice for other brides
Decide which details are the most important for you to splurge on, and cut corners, or DIY elsewhere.  For us, the location and photography were really important, but we skipped doing programs, a guest book, favors, and my husband’s sister made us our invitations for free as a wedding gift.  If possible, invest in, or designate a friend or family member as a “day of coordinator”, so you don’t have to stress about details or logistics on your big day.  Don’t sweat the small stuff – there will be things that go wrong, but don’t let it ruin your whole day.  Relax, breathe, and try to be present in the moment – it really will be over before you know it!

Mandy’s Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier Scarlet
Wedding Photography: Mitchelldyer Photography

Jimin and John’s wedding was planned to feel like an intimate backyard dinner party with friends.   Handmade invitations. Fresh picked flowers in vintage mason jars.  Abundant candles and a very relaxed bride made for a perfect evening set in a Virginia winery.  What a perfect start to a long and happy marriage.

Jimin & John | August 1, 2009 | Hillsborough Vineyards, Purcellville, Virginia

How he proposed
Approaching our one year anniversary of dating, I knew John and I would have to spend this day separately since I was in California visiting my parents for Thanksgiving, and John had to stay in DC for work, where we are currently from. Meanwhile, I had decided to hang out with a friend from LA and go check out The Getty Villa in Malibu, CA. Not knowing that John had been planning every moment of this day’s events.  My friend Jenn and I were walking around The Getty Villa until she left me alone to go to the bathroom, or so I thought. John literally came out of no where, surprised me not only with his visit, but with a very very surprising proposal!

The ceremony
Who ever knew there were beautiful vineyards in Virginia? We were married in a serene Tuscan-looking vineyard in Purcellville, Virginia called Hillsborough Vineyards on a late Summer afternoon. Our outdoor ceremony was on the deck of an original barn house, overlooking the vineyards and a beautiful view. We got lucky with the weather.

The moment Jimin will never forget
Seeing John for the first time on our wedding day! We saw each other all dolled up, and I instantly cried a mess.

My second favorite moment is captured best in some of the photographs. My sister (MOH) and bridesmaids running in with a hello kitty napkin to stop my “face” from melting on me.

The reception
Our reception of 100 guests was held in the intimate and barn-like indoor reception area of Hillsborough Vineyards. The atmosphere of the night was romantic, intimate and relaxed. We wanted our guests to feel as if they were spending a fun night at someone’s backyard barn, with yummy organic food, wine and good friends.

The wedding theme
While I never had a color theme, all I wanted was a barn-like relaxed vintage atmosphere. The winery was so beautiful to begin with, that we didn’t have to do much for the decorations. I handmade and printed all the invitations, decorations and signs myself, with the help of my incredibly talented artist friend Dan-ah Kim (www.dkim-art.com). I used lots of different shades of gray, green and beige (talk about no color theme). Flowers were picked by whatever was most fresh that day and placed into vintage mason jars. Candles and lanterns were placed everywhere. I think the entire wedding was carried not by one color or one centerpiece, but by the personal and vintage touch I tried to add to everything. It was fun and easy planning a wedding where not everything needed to look perfect and match!

What made her wedding dress “The One”
I wanted a dress that was simple, comfortable and a bit Grecian goddess looking. I picked out my dress from the David’s Bridal catalog, went into the store, tried it on along with other similar styles, and came out with it. I wasn’t emotional at all about this process, but felt that this dress fit the rest of my vintage romantic wedding perfectly well. I loved the dress!

Her advice for other brides
It is the biggest day of your life, but then again, it’s just one day of your life. Decide on what’s most important for you, your groom, and your guests. As long as you keep reminding yourself of those things, you won’t have nights of panic and hopefully you won’t become a bridezilla! After everything, you, your husband and your guests won’t remember how expensive and elaborate the centerpieces and wedding venue were, but will remember the love and good times everyone shared that night.

Jimin’s Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal 9ST9637

Wedding Photography: Brian Lusby

Think about adding additional lighting to your reception for your wedding day!  Even a small amount of lighting can pack a punch and make a big impact on a bare or outdoor space at a modest cost.

If you are able to hang from the ceiling or if you have an outdoor wedding, you might consider paper lanterns (the cheaper alternative to the crystal chandelier).

In an outdoor space, the lanterns will feel like you have created a ceiling and will not only create an amazing glow over your guests tables but also make the space feel more intimate.  In this wedding, we chose paper lanterns that matched the decor for the wedding (ivory and different shades of orange) to enhance the color and when day turned to night, the lighting all took on a glow in different shades of Amber.  A gorgeous compliment to your wedding without a big expenditure!

Alexandra Kolendrianos

The Look For Less is a regular PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com blog feature.  We’ve reached out to leading wedding planners to get their expert advice on how to get a great look at your wedding, without breaking the bank.

Today’s feature was written by Alexandra Kolendrianos, a Southern California Wedding Planner, who specializes in weddings on both an intimate and grande scale.  Her experience and creative, detail-oriented professional approach provides all of her clients with a joyful process and a priceless and unique dream of a wedding day.

Event photos courtesy of Megan Sorel Photography

What could be more beautiful or natural than an outdoor wedding reception? With mother-nature as your backdrop, a mountain, beach or garden setting can make for stunning scenery when you say “I do.” Many eco-conscious couples are naturalists at heart, so an outdoor ceremony seems only fitting.  However, outdoor events always require some extra planning, and often, extra resources (think about bringing in chairs, tables, electrical equipment for band/dj, caterers needs, etc). So what starts out as a natural event, can quickly become anything but green. If you think an outdoor reception is your style, check out these helpful hints for planning an eco-friendly outdoor wedding.

What makes a venue “green”?

Maybe you’ve always dreamed of getting married at your family home. All the wonderful memories of your childhood combined with a beautiful but casual backyard setting can make for a dream wedding. You’re envisioning “Father of the Bride,” right? Outdoor weddings use less energy for things such as lighting and air conditioning.  But after you bring in the necessary equipment for food, seating and entertainment, would you consider it green? Most often it will cost more as well. Think about alternative outdoor locations such as local gardens, historic homes or vineyards. These locations are adept at hosting weddings and will often have all the equipment needed or have relationships with vendors who can provide you with a competitive price. Consider a location that allows you to have your ceremony outside and your reception in.  That way you can enjoy the best of both worlds, the natural setting you love and the convenience and comforts of an indoor reception. If you chose a non-traditional setting such as a park or personal residence make sure to check rules on smoking, drinking, noise, crowds and parking. You may need to secure permits. Whatever location you chose, make sure to keep in mind the three R’s when planning the details: how to reduce your consumption, reuse resources and recycle waste that is generated.

Photo via: affordableutahweddings.com

Catering

Will the venue you choose provide the food? Or will you hire your own caterer? Many outdoor locations will require you to make your own arrangements for food. Will you be serving an organic menu? Locally grown organic foods are fresher, pesticide-free and less fuel is burned transporting them. Lighter fare and organic menus are a natural fit for outdoor receptions, especially if it the tempertature is warm. Serve organic wine and spirits as well. Check out this article for more tips on planning a green wedding menu, as well as this article on fresh, organic cocktails. Organic Blueberry Mojito, anyone?

Photo via: Back To Earth Catering

Recycling

Setting up recycling bins may take a bit of planning, but it is well worth the effort. When scouting outdoor venues, ask if they can coordinate the recycling effort. Whether your reception is held at home, at a park or at a more traditional site, make sure that recycling bins will be placed next to all trash recepticles. Also, don’t let leftover food or flowers go to waste. Make sure to-go boxes are handy, and send leftover food home with friends and family, or donate to those in need. Designate a close friend (or wedding planner) to be in charge of giving away flowers and/or other decorations. Same goes for leftover wedding favors. Check out this article for more ideas about recycling and reinventing leftover wedding supplies.

Transportation

Is your transportation eco-friendly?  You’ve already taken one step in the green direction if you’ve chosen to host your wedding and reception at the same location. It’s simple, the more guests driving to and from your wedding means the more carbon dioxide released in to the atmosphere. For an eco-friendly wedding, you want to reduce the amount of driving that your guests have to do. If you’ve decided on a beautiful (but remote) mountaintop (or beach, or farm) location, you may consider renting a bus to shuttle guests to and from one centralized location. Or simply suggest, either on your invitation or wedding website, that guests make arrangements to carpool.

Photo via: the Daily Green

Expect the unexpected

Outdoor weddings can be incredibly beautiful. And, incredibly unpredictable. So, if you are planning an outdoor ceremony or reception, make sure you have a back up plan. Even if wind and rain are not in the forecast the week before, you never know what the weather might be once your big day arrives. Don’t let all your hard work and planning be ruined by an unexpected thunderstorm. I highly recommend either securing tents or choosing a venue that offers outdoor as well as indoor space. Even if the weather is dry, wind can be a factor. Make sure centerpieces are weighted and tablecloths are secured. Help your guests stay comfortable as well. Help them cool off when the mercury is rising by renting fans or providing hand held paper fans (cute wedding favor!). Seat guests with their backs to the sun, and make sure to provide plenty of cool drinks, including water. Provide bug spray (look for all natural eco-friendly repellants) and citronella candles to ward off pesky insects. Take care of all the little details and the “what ifs” before your wedding day. Then let mother nature take center stage as you celebrate your marriage with family and friends.

First image via: onewed.com