Written By: Sabrina Peters

Our story begins the night of game 4 of the NBA Finals, Warriors vs. Celtics. Steph Curry was on fire….Oh wait, is that not how most wedding blogs start? If Jordan and Scott had any say, it absolutely would be.

When this unassuming, delightful couple landed in our inbox, we vetted the inquiry like usual and had our meet and greet call. When we got off the phone, we knew we were a match made in heaven. It’s that same feeling you get after an incredible first date, when you know there’s so much good coming your way.

Jordan and Scott are one of those powerhouse couples – they’re both successful, good-looking, smart and creative. They’re driven, a touch competitive and a perfect fit for one another.

Their personal style is modern, chic and neutral - three words that are music to our ears. We plan and style weddings of all shapes and colors, but when you come to us wanting a taupe palette with sexy black and bone detailing, we’re here for it.

The morning of their wedding was beautiful. The Gorge was showing off for all of Jordan and Scott’s out of town guests – the crisp June air and dappled lighting, shining through the slight cloud cover, made for a quintessential Oregon morning.

The weather report for the rest of the evening wasn’t quite as dreamy. The rain was scheduled to come at 2 pm, and 60 mile-an-hour winds weren’t far behind. When the photographer, Mariana Tey, arrived, we quickly came up with a revised plan to ensure we could get all the outdoor photos we needed before the weather shifted. Jordan and Scott were game to be flexible, so we pushed up the timeline and made it happen.

And then…the rain came. A few days before the big day, we had put our rain plan into action, but we held out hope the weather would subside in time for an epic cliffside ceremony. Floral structures had been placed, umbrellas were ready and waiting for guests, but as the afternoon went on, we knew we needed to shift to plan C.

As the ceremony start time drew near, we received a call from our transportation partner, letting us know there was a five-car pile-up on the highway, delaying the arrival of Jordan and Scott’s wedding guests by an estimated hour and a half. While that seemed like not so great news, it gave us an idea.

The Griffin House has a permanent tent structure on the property where Jordan and Scott had planned to have their reception. While we were standing in the tent, putting finishing touches on the tables, we realized that if we simply opened two of the panels and framed it right, suddenly, we had a lush, sweeping view of the gorge. We approached Jordan and Scott with the idea to flip the finished reception space into their new ceremony location, then reset during cocktail hour. It would be an all-hands-on-deck mission for our vendor team, but with the delayed arrival of the guests, we could make it happen.

Jordan and Scott gave us the green light, and we got to work.

The amount of hustle that ensued was legendary. Let’s be very clear – this type of scenario is not one we can do alone. It took every vendor we had to move tables, place chairs, repurpose florals, etc. to get it done in time. But the end result was well worth it. Special shout out to our catering partner, Chef’s Table, and ever-so-fabulous florist, Wildflower PDX. You both were incredible, so thank you.

Just as we were finishing the set up for their new ceremony location, we got a call that the traffic had cleared, and guests would be arriving shortly.

Everything went off without a hitch – the room was filled with so much love and all the feels for Jordan and Scott. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about.

After the ceremony, right before cocktail hour, something magical happened. As Jordan and Scott were getting ready to pour their champagne tower and kick off the party, the rain stopped and the sun broke through the clouds. It made for the sweetest moment and felt like a wedding gift from the universe.

After cocktails, guests were invited to find their seat for dinner inside the tent. In lieu of a traditional welcome table, Jordan and Scott gave us creative license to come up with a simple, unique alternative. We decided on a vintage gold bar cart, acrylic card box and audio guest book from After the Tone, all of which were very fitting for their minimalist, modern vibe.

As we tell all our couples, your wedding design should reflect who you are as individuals and as a couple. Jordan and Scott’s style is modern and neutral – their reception décor was just that, but with an elevated, elegant approach. Every element included was intentional and served a purpose.

The contemporary Kaleb stoneware plates and matte gold flatware, placed alongside the etched old-fashioned water glasses set the tone for this clean, elegant tablescape.

We wove in texture by adding touches of velvet to the overall design – the Bone velvet napkins from BBJ La Tavola tied in beautifully with the bridesmaid dresses, while the rust velvet armchairs in the lounge brought a complimentary pop of color.

The floral design was simple and inviting. Each arrangement brought Jordan and Scott’s warm, neutral color palette to life – the tabletop vessel choices and unique designs made by Chas from Wildflower PDX were nothing short of inspired and made for an effortless harmony of old and new.

The night went on and the rain poured down while Jordan, Scott, and all their favorite people enjoyed a delicious dinner, provided by Chef’s Table. We were back on schedule and full steam ahead.

Just when we thought we were in the clear, Mother Nature decided to throw us one more curveball. Right after dancing began, the power went out in all of Hood River. While we hustled to restore power, we turned to our DJ, Dillon, from John Ross Productions to keep the party going. Within minutes, he hooked up his mobile speaker, and got people back on the dance floor without missing a beat (pun fully intended).

The rest of the night was as dreamy as could be – the Warriors won, delicious s’mores from 1927 S’mores were had, and cocktails provided by our friends at Stirred Bartending were flowing.

With any event, there will be challenges to overcome - we can promise you that. But the most important thing to remember is to take them in stride, and lean into your wedding day support system.

As your vendor team, we’re here to be the steady hand, but also be flexible and solution-driven. We come to the table with a calm head and options, so you can keep your focus on what’s important.

We can’t stress enough the importance of the people you choose to be around you on your big day – vendor partners and bridal party included. When things don’t go as planned, it’s the job of the bridal party to pour you a drink, turn up the music and keep you focused on putting one foot in front of the other until you’re down the aisle. That’s exactly what Jordan and Scott’s people did. Gold stars across the board for every one of their bridesmaids and groomsmen.

Jordan and Scott, you were an absolute dream. We felt so honored to be a small part of such an important day in your life, and we miss you terribly. Thank you for your trust, your love and your friendship.