Bridalbliss.com | Portland Wedding Planner | Oregon Event Design | Paul Morse Photography

Ever heard of the phrase "bringing the house down?" Well, Brooklyn and Matthew, both professional opera singers, were familiar with the phrase. Little did they realize it would come into play when it came to their own wedding day! Logistically, this wedding already had a LOT going on: 500 guests, a sunset ceremony, aerial dancers and a performance by the couple themselves. As the week of the wedding rolled around, I was ready - or at least I thought I was. With less than 48 hours before load-in was to begin, we found out that the ceiling of their original venue had collapsed and there was no possible way to continue with an event there. So, what does a planner do? Brainstorm EVERY SINGLE OPTION our team could think of! By the next morning, we had the entire vendor team at the new potential venue with the bride, groom, and both of their families. I am truly still in awe how they each handled the circumstances with such grace and were focused on providing the best possible experience for their guests. After being given the green light, our vendor team was moving in full force at the Oregon Convention Center.

The gorgeous day started out with the bridal party getting ready at the Allison Inn + Spa in Newberg, OR. Cassandra Kennedy and her team set the elevated tone for the ladies while the guys played some soccer in the morning to pass the time. Back at the venue, our team was busy fine tuning countless finishing touches. Everything from chandeliers being trucked in from Florida, to an epic bar installation, to the most luxe tablescapes, no detail went unturned.

As guests arrived, they were greeted with a pre-ceremony cocktail hour in the venue's foyer. A pianist played on baby white grand piano as guests enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres and cocktails provided by Art of Catering, while aerialists performed on a standing truss. Lush greenery filled each entry, giving the feeling of an English garden.

The ceremony took place under a massive majestic chuppah, surrounded by 500 gold chiavari chairs that made way for the white 10-foot topiary lined aisle. Brooklyn floated down with both parents in the most stunning Vera Wang gown to a processional played by an 8-piece orchestra. After the Jewish ceremony, guests made their way into the reception hall where they found their seats on a massive white acrylic escort wall with 3-D style black lettering

A combination of long and round tables were spread throughout the 12,000 square foot ballroom with a 24-foot floral installation that floated above a massive bar in the back of the room. Each table had alternating chair styles, various combinations of different gold chairs, gold chargers, letterpress menu cards wrapped in a black ribbon (to match Brooklyn's black ribbon on her gown) and a white box of delicious macarons. A portion of the design was inspired by floral artwork from Isabelle Menin of the Muriel Guepin Gallery in NYC. We projected the image to serve as the band's backdrop and made it a focal point of the room. Throughout the evening it would very slowly change scenes that eventually circulated throughout depending on what was happening— Brooke + Matt’s performance, dinner, toasts, or dancing.

Bridalbliss.com | Portland Wedding Planner | Oregon Event Design | Paul Morse Photography | Reception Hall

We utilized three separate vignettes of lounge seating throughout the space, two of which surrounded the white dance floor, to give guests an area to sit and enjoy the moment. As the couple was announced into the reception, they performed three songs for their guests. It was pure magic, and there wasn't a dry eye! Precious Byrd performed throughout the night and to give Brooklyn and Matthew an element of surprise, a Nike Air Force One disco "shoe" dropped from the ceiling to kick off the dance party. It was the perfect homage to Angela, the most fab mother-of-the bride who is a Nike executive.

Despite the crazy last minute change, it was the most incredible night for the most incredible couple and their families. I couldn't have been more honored to have been a part of it!

XOXO, Katy

“The theme for our September 7th wedding was “Mid-summers night dream”—without our team at Bridal Bliss, it could have been a “Mid-summer nightmare”. My husband and I could not have dreamed of a more magical day, and it would not have been possible without our ‘dream team’ at Bridal Bliss, our wedding planner, Katy Haley, and all of our amazing vendors. They turned our Wedding day, in what could have of been a disaster, into the best day of our lives, and with that, I cannot recommend them more highly!”

— Brooklyn Snow + Matthew Greenblatt

Brooklyn + Matt

XOXO, Katy