Come to think of it, the spring can be a downright perplexing season to throw a seamless wedding celebration! Fortunately, you’re smart enough to be prepared for any climate curveballs that may be thrown your way. The temperamental inconsistencies of Mother Nature come springtime make multi-functional venues the perfect choice for a bride-to-be. Especially in traditionally colder regions, it may be the best option to find such a venue that offers both indoor and outdoor entertaining spaces.

Weather Benefits

T he obvious benefit of having both an indoor or outdoor venue option is in the case of a forecasted rain or snow storm. By keeping an eye on

the weather starting a couple of weeks before your big day, you can make an informed decision on which portion of the venue you will decorate and for what purpose. Many wedding planners suggest starting your plans with an outdoor ceremony before moving inside for the reception. Your guests will be happy to sit through chilled temperatures or a light drizzle to watch you get married, but may not stick around in such conditions for a late-night party.

Cost While the benefits are many for

choosing a multi-functional venue for your wedding day, cost may not be one of them. Renting out both a facility and an outdoor area can in some cases double your venue price tag.

Be sure to compare all options when making your venue list. You may be able to find a company or organization that

offers discounted costs for renting multiple facets of its facilities. If the more expensive venue still

tops your list after some research, you may be able to find other areas in your budget that are more flexible.

2 Wedding Planner Wednesday, January 28, 2015

~ Wren Vineyard ~west of PhilomathRustic historic settingLavender lawnOak Grove

View of Mary’s Peak

2015 dates availablewrenvineyard@lumoswine.com

541-929-3519

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Multi-Functional VenuesPLANNING | LOCATION

Spring can be the perfect time of year for an outdoor wedding. Unless it is rainy outside. Or snowy. Or cold.

The wedding industry is ripe with professional associations that boast highly qualified rosters of experts ready to help guide both junior planners and pending brides through the planning process.

For the Planner If quality training from a panel of experts is what you’re after, then you should consider joining a professional association. Organizations like the Association of Bridal Consultants have launched careers in wedding industry for decades and can help grow your expertise of the field, too. The ABC fields more than 4,000 members across 50 states and 27 countries. Other associations exist throughout the nation, giving you plenty of options to choose from when trying to get your career off the ground.

For the Bride Experience, experience and experience – this is what a bridal consultant has to offer a bride-to-be who may be confused or overwhelmed at the thought of throwing an amazing wedding.

Consultants have been there and done that multiple times over and are ready to help put your worries to rest. Certified wedding planners have undergone professional training and have also had their hands in many successful celebrations.

Key Partners Bridal associations are generally linked up with key vendors who are proven to enhance and support a great wedding. Musicians, catering operations and floral businesses are all on the list of your bridal association, which will be able to point you toward quality options. Other partnerships often held by professional associations are ones with honeymoon or travel agencies. You can save time and costs by utilizing your local

association for ideas on your dream experience. Consultants will also be able to give you

ideas for great trips and the most popular locations for an unforgettable honeymoon.

3Wedding PlannerWednesday, January 28, 2015

Call (541) 766-6959 to reserve today!Chintimini Senior & Community Center at Chintimini Park

2601 NWTyler Avenue, Corvallis, OR 97330www.corvallisoregon.gov/rentchintimini | Email: seniorcenter@corvallisoregon.gov

Chintimini Senior & Community Center at Chintimini ParkCorvallis’ Beautiful, AffordableWedding & ReceptionVenue

• DIY-friendly:Pay only for the space and services you needChoose your own caterer or self-caterFull kitchen on-site

• Alcohol service allowed with no corkage fees• Chintimini Senior & Community Center

Chairs and tables included in rental priceClimate-controlled and handicap-accessible

• Chintimini Park Reserved Event Spaces (available May 1 - Sept. 30)Water & electricity availableBarbeque grilling allowedIndoor & outdoor restrooms

Use coupon code GTWED when you make your reservationto get free use of a small room during your event.

Santiam Place • Wedding & Event Hall

Website:www.santiamplace.com

PLANNING | THE PROFESSION

Join An Association

Are you an up-and-coming wedding planner looking to make your mark? Maybe you’re a bride-to-be hoping to find a certified, highly trained planner to make your wedding dreams come true.

M-F 9-5:30 • Sat 9-5 • Sun 10-5www.shonnards.com

6600 SW PHilOMAtH BlvD, CORvAlliS

541-929-3524

Wedding Flowers& All Occasion Florist

Free ConsultationsWholesale BunChPriCing & Plant

rentals availaBle

Odds are, you’re in luck! Many bridal associations and local tourism organizations partner on an annual basis to bring wedding fairs to their areas. The fairs are filled with vendors and consultants ready to give you great resources and connections for building the perfect wedding. Check in with your local tourism group to find out when and where the closest bridal show is scheduled. Then make a list of questions and potential ideas for your celebration. Attending a bridal fair is a unique experience because of the energy and enthusiasm in the room, as many potential brides buzz through the venue with questions and excitement. Not getting married anytime soon? That’s OK. Even if a wedding for you, a friend or family member is not in the immediate future, your local wedding fair can still be a fun experience filled with games, food and drinks.

Face-to-Face Interactions The greatest benefits of attending a bridal fair involves the face-to-face interaction you will be able to experience. Caterers, cake designers, photographers, DJs and floral designers fill the rooms at bridal fairs, ready to offer ideas, pricing plans and samples of their work. You will be able to interface with these professionals to build relationships, helping you decide if you can see yourself working with them on something as large as your wedding.

Open Houses Some of the most creative – and marketing-effective – bridal fairs take place at popular wedding venues. Included with their fair activities is a behind-the-scenes tour of the facilities and amenities offered. Getting such an exclusive look into what has made the venue such a popular hotspot can help you narrow down your options. You will also gain information on pricing or availability that may influence your decision.

4 Wedding Planner Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Dale DonovanWeddings, Traditional & Contemporary ServicesSpecializing in unique, personalized ceremonies.

Non-denominational

5720 SW Donovan Place, Corvallis, OR 97333visit: www.donovanplace.com

541-758-6237

Wedding FairsPLANNING | IDEAS

Imagine a place with unlimited and free expertise that can help you build your dream wedding. Now imagine that such a resource is right in your back yard.

There are numerous factors that come into play, ranging from cooking specialties to availability of resources. Before deciding on your final choice for caterer, make sure to ask the below questions – along with any others specific to your wedding – to make sure you find the one most aligned with your nuptial needs.

•Doyouhavealicense?Get this one out of the way quickly because some venues will not allow an unlicensed food operation on their sites.

•WhatisyourpricerangeandcanIgetaquoteonpaper? Making sure you have an on-paper quote will help resolve any confusion come payment time.

•Howmanyweddingshaveyoucateredforinthepastcoupleofyears?This answer may be one of the most important, as you want to make sure the company is experienced and up to the challenge.

•Areyouspecializedinacertaincookingstyleormethodology?This is crucial if you’re looking for a specific type of food for your reception, like French cuisine or seafood.

•Willyoubeprovidingchairs,silverware,linensandequipment?A ‘no’ answer to any

of these questions could lead in higher costs for you and more stress in trying to coordinate different vendors to fulfill these needs.

•Doyouonlycateroneeventperday?You want to make sure you have the full attention of the organization and its staff during your wedding.

•AreyoueasytogetaholdofifIhavequestionsthroughoutthemeal-planningprocess?Every caterer will surely answer ‘yes.’ A good follow-up question is for a list of references just to make sure you can conduct a little follow-up research.

•Doyoualsodoweddingcakes?Having the same party handle snacks, dinner and the cake means one less vendor for you to find during the planning stages.

5Wedding PlannerWednesday, January 28, 2015

You are invited to the 11th Annual

Bridal ShowSunday, February 22nd , 2015

Show Hours: Noon to 5 PMSantiam PlaceLLC

Wedding & Event Hall139 Main St., Lebanon

Visit your local wedding professionalsat Lebanon’s Great Little Bridal Show

to help makeyour special day perfect!

Door PrizesPlease bring & donate a can of food for a

local Women’s Shelter for Free Admission

Website: www.santiamplace.com541-259-4255

Lebanon Bridal ShowIs on Facebook

PLANNING | FOOD

ChoosingtheRightCaterer

Even though their methods for catering may be pretty similar, every restaurant is not the same when it comes to handling your wedding.

6 Wedding Planner Wednesday, January 28, 2015

KRIS’ KITCHENCustom Cakes by Trina Roth

Let us create the perfect weddingcake for you on your special day.

Call now to book your weddingcake order.

www.kriskitchen.net541.259.4259

Made toorder fromscratch.

Cakes for all occasions.

Humidity and warmer weather can send your hair into a frizzy tizzy – the last thing you want to worry about on the day of your wedding. No one knows your hair better than you, so being prepared for potential issues can help save you a hair headache. The key to applying the right product or employing the most effective treatment method is trying them out weeks or months ahead of your wedding day. Be patient if you’re forced to try many different options and products. Your hard work and persistence will be rewarded with the perfect hair day on your special day.

Apply the Right Product With a bevy of options on the market, staying local can be your best choice when it comes to purchasing the right anti-frizz solution. Your local beauty supply store will have many choices in stock and its professionals can walk you through the various treatments. Another benefit of actually seeing the product in person before you buy it is an opportunity to try it, which many local shops will allow to build customer loyalty. Dish out any details that may help your hair consultant make an informed recommendation for overcoming your biggest challenges. Follow all manufacturers’ directions for applications. The last thing you want is a dampened hair mess distracting from your

beautiful smile and dress as you walk down the aisle.

Know Your Hair No matter what you’re working with, it’s important to understand how your hair reacts in springtime situations. Curly and straight hair react differently to humidity, so know what to expect if you’re planning on changing up your usual hair style for your wedding day. In most cases, frizz is caused by hair trying to soak in the moisture from the air. The coarser and dryer your hair, the worse the frizz buildup can be. That’s why using a moisture-infusing product can make such a big difference in fighting fly-aways.

Hair Tips & TricksPLANNING | THE BIG DAY

The springtime has a way of awakening and unleashing the natural beauty around us. Unfortunately, it can have the same impact on

your hair.

But once your special day comes and goes, deciding what to do with the gown can be a difficult choice for many brides. Should you keep it stored away as a memento of your wedding day or let it go?

Keep It When deciding to keep your gown, it’s important to determine why. Are you hoping to one day hand over your dress to your daughter? If so, then keeping the gown in a basement, attic or back of the closet may not be an ideal storage option. Garment professionals recommend you properly clean and store your gown for optimal life span. Simply shutting it away and forgetting about it can lead to a ragged, faded garment after even a short period of time.

Donate It If you have no future plans to give away your dress to a family member or friend, why not donate it to charity? Organizations like Brides Against Breast Cancer use donated dresses to put on their Nationwide Tour of Gowns effort, which it raises funds to contribute to programs for cancer patients and their families. Check in with your local charitable organizations or consignment shops to see if there is a need for donated dresses in your area.

Sell It Another option for your gown after your wedding is selling it to make back some of your own costs. This may be a great option if the dress is very valuable and if the company you bought it from has a flexible buy-back program.

There are also a variety of online options for selling your gown. Many companies buy and sell pre-owned wedding dresses – just don’t expect to get top-dollar out of these bargain services.

7Wedding PlannerWednesday, January 28, 2015

Triple PlayPhotoSenior • Couple

Family • Engagement

Wedding photography

Appointments:541-974-6514

PLANNING | AFTER THE WEDDING

The GownAh, the wedding dress. So

many careful hours of research, fitting and re-fitting for only a few hours of glory.

You spent hours searching for it and less than a day wearing it. It is your wedding dress, and chances are you will never wear it again-unless you want to rock the frock. Rock the frock is a different kind of photo shoot, in which the bride dons her wedding dress once more in unique environments. Developed at the turn of the century, rock-the-frock photo shoots can last anywhere from an hour to several hours and take place in a variety of environments from a country meadow to city streets. Brides, and grooms if they wish, may be photographed frolicking under a wa-terfall, jumping in mud puddles or reading a paper on the city bus. Rock-the-frock photo shoots can get wild and crazy and very messy, hence, the alternative name, “trash the dress.” While some brides may choose to rip up their wedding dress, set it on fire or drag it through the mud, trashing the dress is not essential for a good photo shoot. Rock-the-frock photo shoots are more about providing brides and grooms with the opportunity to get gussied up one last time and blow off some steam after their big day. It is a celebration of the dress that took some time to find. There are no real requirements for a rock-the-frock photo shoot other than the bride and groom dress up and be daring. You never know what the photographer will have in mind, or the bride and groom, for that matter. It’s all about the couple dressing up and showing off their silly side for a few hours in places they wouldn’t normally go in their wedding attire. Most rock-the-frock photo sessions turn out great because the big day is over and the pressure is off. With the wedding behind them, the bride and groom are free to have a little fun, whether sitting on the curb sharing a dripping ice cream cone or feeding the chickens in a barn. Rock-the-frock photos can make for really great me-mentos of the days following the wedding or even the days leading up to it. While you might not want to get your dress dirty if you’re about to get married, you might want to blow off some steam. Let the photographer know of your situation and opt for some less messy fun!

One Last Time By Tresa Erickson

8 Wedding Planner Wednesday, January 28, 2015

1230 Pacific Blvd. SE

Canopies/Dance FloorsTables & Chairs

• Concession Equipment• Bounce Houses• Theme Parties• Linens, China & more

www.AlbanyPartyStore.com

541.967.2789

PARTY STOREThe

For All Events

Your Wedding-and- Party

Headquarters

Choosing where your honeymoon will take place can be a challenge – but try to make it a fun one. If you’re not sure of where to spend your post-wedding experience, consult with a wedding planner or travel guide. They will have many options across different locations and price points.

Stay Closer to Home You may think beaches and warm weather when trying to figure out the perfect honeymoon spot. Don’t forget that we have both right here at home! Many brides and grooms are ditching the idea of international travel for an old-fashioned road trip, which can make for great conversation, stops in historic locations and intimate stays in luxurious hotels across the country. You can start with the west coast if looking for the sandy stuff, as springtime climate in California is much warmer than the national average. And with natural attractions like downtown Los Angeles and the Santa Monica Pier, you can be in honeymoon heaven without even hopping on a plane. A trip out east can be just as beautiful along the historic highways that connect our country’s most illustrious cities. Opt for an all-inclusive stay in one of the many elegant tourist towns of South Carolina to make your honeymoon extra special.

Go Global With temperatures in the low 80s and hurricane season months away, the spring is the perfect time for a trek to the Caribbean. From casinos and restaurants to sailing and water festivals, the Caribbean is loaded with opportunities for exciting honeymoon fun.

If you don’t mind a bit chillier conditions, Europe can be your best bet. You may actually experience a warm spell if you decide to check out Ireland or Italy, but odds are you won’t be spending much time soaking in the sun. Choosing a location for your honeymoon is all about your personal preferences. So make a list of what you’ve always wanted to see and experience, and then work with your soon-to-be spouse to decide on the best option.

Linn County Expo Center3700 Knox Butte RoadAlbany, OR 97322

WWW.LCFAIREXPO.COM541.926.43141.800.858.2005

Big or small, we’re atyour service on your

special day!

The HoneymoonPLANNING | AFTER THE WEDDING

The planning is over and the big day has come to an end. It’s time to reward your efforts with a once-in-a-lifetime trip.