We love this time of year! Not only because of the holidays and the season for giving, but this is the most popular time for engagements. Christmas time is also great to make memories with friends and family extra special. Thinking about planning a Christmas time wedding? Here is some great inspiration to keep your wedding with the season but also keeping it elegant and gorgeous. Don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest! ❤
To see more inspiration for a Christmas Wedding, follow the link here:
Posted by cloudnineweddingsportland on December 9, 2014
https://cloudnineweddingsportland.com/2014/12/09/christmas-wedding-inspiration/
Are you newly engaged or close to your wedding day? Have you and your fiancé found yourself asking, “Should we hire a planner?” Many couples debate the idea of investing part of their wedding budget to hire a professional wedding planner. Is it worth it? Well, despite your mother, sister, BFF, or anyone who will quickly run to your aid to get that chance to help with your wedding, they are not professionals. Sure, they planned their own wedding but do they do this for a living? Have they experienced all the behind the scenes knowledge that will save you time, money, and stress of the planning process or handling of issue that arise on the day of? Do you really want your friends and family “working” your wedding, or would you prefer they enjoy and actually be a part of your special day? These are many questions you need to ask yourself when deciding if you should hire a professional planner. Whether you want help planning the entire wedding, or just want help on the big day, this investment will prove to be one of the best decisions you will make. Take a look at our top 5 reasons why every couple needs to hire a wedding planner.
Here at Cloud Nine Events & Accessories, we offer complimentary consultations for our planning and coordinating services. Contact us at cloudnineweddingsportland@gmail.com or 360-521-5984.
Posted by cloudnineweddingsportland on November 20, 2014
https://cloudnineweddingsportland.com/2014/11/20/top-5-reasons-to-hire-a-wedding-planner/
We had the pleasure of welcoming Julie and her daughter Melissa to the Cloud Nine family for Melissa’s baby shower. Julie who was in need of someone to handle the design and logistics of Melissa’s baby boy shower approached me and I was so excited to accept. As this is to be the first grandchild, Julie wanted to create a simple but elegant event. Our goal was to design a woodland themed event with little details that the guests would enjoy. From moss and fern covered tables to the mushrooms and little woodland creatures scattered along the tables, we did just that and loved every minute of it!
One of our most favorite things to create was the guest signature tree. In lieu of a guest book, guests were asked to sign a wood slice and hang it on the tree. Once the shower was over, Melissa was able to take a smaller version of the tree home to use in the baby’s nursery. What a great and unique way to remember all who were there to celebrate, right? We could not have pulled it off perfectly with out Laura from Gifford’s Flowers. She did some amazing work with the floral.
Julie told me that their family had a special meaning for bumblebees and asked how I could incorporate this into the décor. We thought the bumblebee would be a perfect way to use as favors. Guests were greeted at their seats by this delicious cookie hand baked and decorated by Debbie from Sugar Shapes. Debbie is amazing, she took a picture I email to her and created her own template and went to work creating these tasty treats. The picture does not do the cookie justice, but Debbie is simply amazing.
If you follow us, you know that we love details. So, we handcrafted little stuffed felt animals to add to the décor and tie in the baby woodland creatures to the theme. They are adorable, right? Melissa was able to take some home and add to her nursery, but we have lots left over, so be on the look out for some amazing woodland baby items on our Etsy Store soon.
If you have an event you would like us to help plan/coordinate/design don’t hesitate to contact us for your complimentary consultation!
Posted by cloudnineweddingsportland on August 27, 2014
https://cloudnineweddingsportland.com/2014/08/27/woodland-baby-boy-shower/
As you plan your NW wedding, you may find you can easily get caught up with some of the tiniest of details. Some details are important, while others are a waste of time. So how do you know what’s really important and what ideas to throw out the window?
You want to have happy memories; you want your guests to have a wonderful and memorable time, so how do you make that happen? First, do not be one of those brides that make your bridesmaids count down as they are walking down the aisle. This will make your bridal party nervous and look ridiculous! Don’t worry if one little thing is out of order, your guests probably won’t even notice! The more relaxed you and your guests are, the better the pictures and video will look!
Modern Bride had a poll back in 2009 and asked wedding guests what they remember at a wedding. The number one thing people remember at a wedding is the entertainment! Second thing they remember is the wedding dress! Third, the food/venue, and fourth is the flowers and décor. Many common mistakes that couples make, is spending way too much money on the venue/food, flowers, and décor when guests don’t really remember the smaller details.
Many couples will have money “leftover” or too small of a budget for the wedding entertainment. In fact, most couples budget about $500 for a DJ! This is NOT enough money for a professional and reputable DJ! If entertainment is the number one thing that is remembered at your wedding, set aside anywhere from $800 to $2500 for your DJ/entertainment services in Portland, OR. If you are considering having a band entertain you and your guests budget ($1500-$7000) in Portland. If that is too much money, have a guitar player during your ceremony and cocktail hour. If you choose to have a band or live musicians, plan to pay each band member around $40-100 per hour. Give your guests a variety of entertainment. Some couples are incorporating fire dancers, comedians, and string quartets; this is an awesome alternative to your standard entertainment. You do not have to hire just a DJ, or just a band, hire both!
Most important, people will remember if they had fun or not. Number one reason people leave a wedding early is because they were not having fun! They won’t leave because there were not enough flowers, but they will leave if they don’t know what’s going on. A professional MC can help with that issue, so plan on hiring a professional that can keep the event flowing the entire time. Best investment you will make.
Call me and I can find the right entertainers for your wedding!
Posted by cloudnineweddingsportland on December 26, 2012
https://cloudnineweddingsportland.com/2012/12/26/wedding-guests-want-to-have-fun/
You said yes when the ring was placed on your finger and then the tears of happiness flowed, words of love were said to one another and you forgot where you were and what was going on! That’s right, you just got engaged! Congratulations!
Now what do you do?
This list can take a matter of a couple of weeks to months to accomplish. Move at the speed that you want to. Some couples choose to be engaged for a few weeks, while others choose to be engaged for a couple of years or more. There is no right or wrong, you and your fiancé make the rules!
Posted by cloudnineweddingsportland on December 26, 2012
https://cloudnineweddingsportland.com/2012/12/26/what-to-do-when-you-first-get-engaged-top-10-list/
Kick those heels off in style after you’ve partied into the late hours at your wedding reception! Now it’s time to settle in for the evening and have a romantic time with your spouse!
You finally did it; you walked down the aisle with all your friends and family in your presence. There were hours of picture taking, mingling, and feasting on amazing food, drinking tasty cocktails, laughing and even some tears of joy. You are feeling pretty darn tired, but still want to have a romantic evening with your new husband or wife!
You also want your guests to have a nice place to stay if they are from out of town. Price is usually the number one consideration, but this is a very special occasion, so price should only be part of equation. Consider the services that the hotel offers, location, and reviews! See what others are saying about these hotels, it’s important! Choose a hotel that is unique to Portland, this will make the stay that more special for your guests.
This list was compiled from Facebook + Twitter comments. After reading countless reviews and comments online the considerations taken into account were: price, uniqueness, location, nearby attractions, and most important, friendliness and helpfulness of the staff. One hotel includes a salt soaking tub underground, another hotel on this list recently turned 100 years old. Now, for the top 10 list!
10. Hotel Lucia – http://www.hotellucia.com/
9. Hotel Monaco – http://www.monaco-portland.com/
8. River’s Edge Hotel & Spa Portland – http://www.riversedgehotel.com/
7. Hotel Vintage Plaza – http://www.vintageplaza.com/
6. Paramount Hotel – http://www.portlandparamount.com/
5. Hotel Deluxe – http://www.hoteldeluxeportland.com/
4. The Nines Hotel – http://www.thenines.com/
3. The (new) Crystal Hotel – http://www.mcmenamins.com/CrystalHotel
2. The Benson Hotel – http://www.bensonhotel.com/
1. The Governor Hotel – http://www.governorhotel.com/
This list of Portland hotels should give you some variety to choose from, have fun choosing a place for your romantic wedding night! These are popular hotels, so you need to reserve hotel rooms for your guests far in advance. If your wedding date falls in June, don’t forget to see if it’s during Rose Festival, as it might be harder to find rooms during that week.
Quick Tip: Consider hiring a shuttle or coach service to transport your guests to and from the hotel and wedding site. You don’t want your guests drinking and driving, yet you want them to thoroughly enjoy the festivities.
Happy Planning!
Posted by cloudnineweddingsportland on December 26, 2012
https://cloudnineweddingsportland.com/2012/12/26/top-10-hotels-in-portland-for-your-wedding-night-and-out-of-town-wedding-guests/
Veils, Fascinators, Headbands, & Tiaras….
In part one of this four part series, we focused on how to create your wedding look by adding a bolero, belt, or wrap to your wedding gown. Adding one of these can make you look fabulous, but let’s face it your wedding ensemble can’t be complete with out a veil or hairpiece. Adding a veil or hairpiece creates the focal point for your guests to look at your whole wedding ensemble starting from the top!
As a bride, when you first start walking down the isle, the one thing that everyone wants to see is THE DRESS! But really what most of your guests will look at first is your face. They want to see how beautiful you look and to see how happy you are walking down the isle to marry the love of your life. Since they are already staring at your face, why not “WOW” them further by showing off a brilliantly chosen veil or hairpiece.
Veils….
There are many different types and styles of veils that you can chose to go with your wedding look. A few steps to consider when choosing are: the style of your wedding and your gown, any family or religious traditions that you want to honor, and your personality. Like your gown, the right one will make you feel amazing. There are so many different types of veils to choose from with different styles, lengths, colors, and edging. If you want to stay on the traditional side, veils are available in white, diamond white, and Ivory/Cream. Or if you like to be a trendsetter and step out of the box, there are retailers that offer colored veils and wild styles.
Some of the most traditional and popular veil styles are:
~ Fingertip Veil; This veil is the most popular style. It
consists of layers of veiling reaching the fingertips.
~ Ballerina Veil; This veil reaches down to the ankles.
~ Blusher veil; A shoulder-length veil, worn to obscure the
face until after the ceremony when it is pulled back.
~ Cathedral veil; Extends to the floor and should be worn
with a Cathedral length gown with a train.
~ Fountain veil; This is a shoulder length veil, gathered at
the crown and flowing over the head giving the
fountain-like appearance
~ Flyaway veil; This is a multi-layered veil that just
reaches the shoulders.
~ Mantilla veil; The mantilla veil is usually draped over a
decorative comb and secured with hair pins. Usually
worn without a headpiece, the mantilla is traditionally
made of lace or edged with lace. It is worn over the
head like a scarf.
~ Birdcage veil; Becoming increasingly popular, this
veil is made from netting, tulle, or sheer fabric
and is cut and worn to just barely drape over half
or the entire face. This veil mimics the vintage
look.
If you opt out of the traditional veil styles, there are still loads of hairpieces that you can choose from. Adding any of these accents to your hairstyle will be one more step in completing your wedding look. These can be worn with or without a veil and come in so many brilliant styles, colors, and textures. If you chose a big and bold piece for your modern wedding, a sparkling crystal studded piece for your formal wedding, or the soft but magnificently beautiful flower for your romantic wedding, you can’t go wrong. That’s one thing I love about hair fascinators, headbands, & tiaras….they are versatile and are gorgeous! You can make a bold or elegant statement that all will admire. You can find many of these pieces in most bridal salons or at online shops, of course my favorite being etsy.com, augustveils.com, & serephine.com
Keep an eye out, Cloud Nine Bridal will be creating some great hair pieces soon!!
Posted by cloudnineweddingsportland on November 11, 2012
https://cloudnineweddingsportland.com/2012/11/11/wedding-accessories-part-2/
“Boleros, Wraps, & Belts…Oh My!”
One of the most important and exciting experiences for a bride is finding THE dress. For some, it can be a daunting task, but once you have found it, you can make a big check mark on your to do list followed by a sigh of relief. I have to admit, shopping for a wedding gown is one of my most favorite parts, but I am partial to wedding gowns.
Now, finding the gown doesn’t mean that’s the end in finding your wedding look. There are oodles of accessories that can help complete your ensemble. If you want to personalize your look to reflect your style, even if it’s two steps out of the box, keep reading. This is part one in the four part blog series….”Complete your wedding look with accessories”
A fabulously fashionable accessory that is becoming more and more popular is the Bolero, Jacket, or Shrug. You can take the simplest dress and turn the heads of your guests and even get a few “Wow’s” while you’re at it. They range between sleek and chic, to floral and romantic, to funky and fun. The fun thing about these is that they come in many colors and textures and they are removable. So, if you want to change up your look from the ceremony to the reception, all you have to do is remove or put on your accessory and voila! You’ve created a different look without changing into another dress!
Wraps are just as good to add to your wedding look. They tend to add a more subtle detail and many are used for the fall/winter/early spring weddings.
The Bolero or wrap not really your style? Try an embellished belt! I love seeing how belts add sparkle to a simple dress or make lavish gown even more stunning. It gives you the illusion of a waist on those dresses that tend to hide it. If you like to show off your hour glass curves, or would like to add definition to your waist, the belt is the way to go. You can find belts in satin colors, laced, beaded, flowers, vintage, and many more embellishments. Belts can also be added or removed if you wish to switch your look through out your wedding. The price of belts generally can range in the hundreds and in some cases (mostly beaded), in the thousands. But don’t fret your pretty head, you can find a striking belt for a reasonable price on many online websites, and your local bridal salon should also have some on hand for you to try. You can find most of my favorites on etsy weddings.
So, which of these is your favorite accessory to add to your wedding look? For me, it’s a toss up between the Bolero and the Belt. Maybe both! For that perfect gown, it could be that final piece that brings it all together. Boleros, Wraps, and Belts, Oh My! No matter which you chose, the options are endless.
Stay tuned for our next blog in this series, Part II will focus on hair pieces and veils!!
Posted by cloudnineweddingsportland on September 16, 2012
https://cloudnineweddingsportland.com/2012/09/16/hello-world/
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