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Why Choose a Centrally Located Venue for your Wedding

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If you live in a sizable city, choosing a wedding venue can be daunting. For example, within a two-hour radius of Portland, Oregon, there are hundreds of venue options. How does one choose amongst the beautiful coast, the stunning gorge, the rustic mountains or the rolling hills of wine country?

We suggest a centrally located wedding venue; meaning a venue close to Portland, serving as an epicenter for your wedding celebration, complete with transportation and accommodations to fit your needs. Think of Portland as a home-base, and the nearby 7 wonders of Oregon are easily within reach.

What are the benefits of having a wedding in the center of it all?

 

Close to Accommodations

Having your ceremony and reception within the city allows your guests to easily choose accommodations close to your venue including hotels and housing rentals. You and your fiancé can reserve room blocks nearby that fit your needs. In more remote locations, it can sometimes be difficult to secure adequate nearby lodging.

 

Convenient Transportation

A centrally located wedding will ease the burden of travel for you and your guests. Many cities, like Portland, have a good public transportation system.  In addition to inexpensive light rail, streetcar and bus options, Lyft, Uber, PDX Pedi-cab and Double Decker PDX can accommodate guests quickly and easily. Your guests won’t have to rent a car and park to get to and from the airport, wedding events and attractions around the city.  A central location also alleviates the cost of shuttling guests to and from venues outside the city.

Treasury Ballroom | Photo: Evrim Icoz Photography

 

Reduces Vendor Costs

Consider the cost of vendor travel and accommodations before booking an out-of-town venue. Photographers, make-up artists, hair stylists, etc. may charge for travel. These charges can be avoided if booking within city limits.

 

Minimizes Packing Stress

Unless arranged with a planner, there will be some items that you, your bridal party or family will need to bring to the wedding reception site. For example, you may need to bring client-provided alcohol, décor items, wedding attire, bridal party gifts to the ceremony and reception site. Depending on what your venue can accommodate, you may be able to bring some items the day prior, freeing more of your time the day of your wedding. If you forget something, you can rest easy knowing you have nearby resources to pick up that last minute item.

 

Close Rehearsal

Keep in mind that your bridal party and family will need to travel to your ceremony walk-through and rehearsal. A centrally located venue will allow your friends and family to settle in to their accommodations and get to these events in a timely manner. Additionally, being within the city opens up a world of fantastic rehearsal dinner options.

Tasting Room at The Loft at 8th Avenue

 

Lets Your Guests Have Fun

A centrally located wedding destination will allow guests to enjoy your city. It can be difficult to pack in a relaxing and fun trip when most of that time is spent traveling. Easily accessible bars, restaurants, tourist attractions near accommodations and venue make for an easy and fun getaway. Guests can enjoy your reception without worrying about driving home after a night of celebrating.

Cascade Rooftop at The Exchange Ballroom | Photo: Donny Mays

Start your Honeymoon!

If you’re that couple that prefers to keep the party going after the wedding reception, choosing a downtown venue will allow you and your guests easy access to nearby attractions and Portland’s nightlife. If you’re that couple who is exhausted after a long day of celebrating, if you’re centrally located, your hotel is nearby. Start relaxing as soon as possible!

At VT Group, we are proud to manage four of Portland’s most beautiful and diverse wedding venues. All venues can accommodate both ceremony and reception on-site.  As one of Oregon’s premier hospitality purveyors, VT Group also provides casual to high-end, full-service catering, event production and facility management.

Our exclusive venues include:

The Loft at 8th Avenue

Portland’s newest wedding venue!

The Loft at 8th Avenue is a modern, wedding venue located in Portland’s Central Eastside Industrial District. The versatile spaces within the Loft are a perfect fit for your wedding events. Our unique tasting rooms can host your intimate rehearsal dinner or cocktail hour while our larger Annex and Outdoor Space allow for a seamless flow from ceremony to reception.

The Loft at 8th Avenue is ideally located in Portland’s newest bustling neighborhood, the Central Eastside, providing your guests easy access to the amazing accommodations and attractions Portland has to offer.

 

The Exchange Ballroom

The Exchange Ballroom is a perfect blend of contemporary design with historic character and boasts amazing views of downtown Portland.

This wedding venue embodies the Portland vibe with a clean and modern aesthetic; a perfect blank canvas to do what you want in terms of décor, color, lighting and theme to create a stunning event.

The gorgeous Cascade Rooftop can host your ceremony overlooking the city and is perfect for cocktail hour. Located in the Central Eastside Industrial district, the Exchange Ballroom is centrally located with easy access for both driving and/or public transport.

 

The Treasury Ballroom

The Treasury Ballroom is Portland’s best downtown wedding venue. Boasting iconic architectural details and located within the 100-year-old U.S. Bank Building, the ballroom is a piece of Portland’s history. With a fresh and bold color palette, the Treasury Ballroom is perfect for elegant and sophisticated weddings.

Located in the heart of downtown Portland, the Treasury Ballroom is steps away from a plethora of incredible food, beverage and cultural attractions the city has to offer.

 

Lan Su Chinese Garden

Lan Su Chinese Garden stands alone as a breathtaking, one-of-a-kind venue. Exquisite pavilions and lush gardens provide a beautiful backdrop for sharing your special day.

The natural, calm beauty of the Garden is surrounded by the bustling city of Portland.

Time to Vote for Oregon Bride Magazine’s “Best of 2018”

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We love weddings! And we’re here to help guide all those happy couples during the planning process. From selecting one of our amazing venues across Portland to choosing the perfect menu and decor, our experienced team has got you covered.

We’d be delighted if you took time to vote for our brands and venues in Oregon Bride Magazine’s annual “Best Of” Awards.

http://orbridemag.com/vote-now-best-2018

(must fill out six categories for votes to count)

Best Caterer – Vibrant Table or Food in Bloom
Best Intimate Venue – Lan Su Chinese Garden
Best Garden Venue – Lan Su Chinese Garden
Best Urban Venue – Exchange Ballroom
Best Historical Venue – Treasury Ballroom
Best View – Exchange Ballroom and Cascade Rooftop
Best Florist – Vibrant Flowers

Wedding Floral Trends – 2018

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With a new year, comes new trends in floral. At Vibrant Flowers, we are constantly looking to what’s next to elevating our client’s expectations.

As we step into 2018, we anticipate bold colors, textures and jaw-dropping installations. Here are trends we expect to continue into the next wedding season:

 

BOLD PALETTES

It’s all about being bold with deep, rich and romantic color palettes. Though the classic white and softer tones of recent years are still popular, we are excited that couples are eager to infuse their wedding with red/berry tones.

Photo: Catalina Jean

 

RIBBONS

Ribbons are making a comeback!  Long, flowing ribbons of varying materials such as silk or satin provide a romantic element to bouquets and installations.

 

GREENERY

We expect greenery to continue to make a big statement in 2018. Eucalyptus varieties, diverse ferns and even banana leaves can act as welcome texture or accent or can steal the show as bouquets, installations and centerpieces all on their own. Luckily, we are in the Pacific Northwest surrounded by an abundance of all things green!

 

 

INSTALLATIONS

The popularity of open, industrial venues has welcomed the opportunity for eye-popping installations to complete the space. Hanging florals, arches and giant wreaths can transform the vibe and act as a stunning focal point. At Vibrant Flowers, we love installations and the opportunity to combine the clients’ and our creative visions and bring them to life in a big way.

 

Photo: Marcela Pulido

 

GEOMETRIC SHAPES

We anticipate that geometric shapes will continue to complement florals as a crisp visual in table and altarpieces.

Photo: Catalina Jean

 

 

Cake by Papa Haydn

 

MARBLE

The up and coming texture element is undoubtedly marble.  It adds a strong element without being too severe. We will see marble incorporated in cakes, centerpieces, altar installations and other décor pieces.

 

 

Vibrant Flowers

Vibrant Flowers provides innovative and unique event décor from conceptualization to installation. Our designers merge floral, color, lighting, texture and staging to bring each client’s vision to life.

We are excited to create with you! Contact: mhoward@vibrantflowers.com to learn more about Vibrant Flowers.

 

 

 

Elijah Coe Joins VT Group as Executive Chef

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Chef Elijah Coe aims to bring innovation and foster a community of respect and trust in his new role.

Coming from an extensive and diverse culinary journey, Elijah Coe joins VT Group as Executive Chef.

Elijah has spent over 20 years in the hospitality industry honing his expertise in a multitude of cuisines, running large-scale kitchen operations and carrying out a myriad of events.

Some of his past roles include working in the British Royal Navy as Senior Chef for the Queen and Royal Family, Executive Chef at both Seattle’s Newcastle Golf Club and NYC’s Restaurant Associates where he executed events at major venues such as the Lincoln Center and the MET. Most recently, Chef Elijah worked as Executive Chef for one of Microsoft’s cafés where he served over 1,800 people daily. He has been a part of the entertainment industry’s most notable events including the Grammy’s, MTV Music Awards and the Oscars.

 

We asked Chef Elijah to share a bit about himself:

What drew you to working in the hospitality industry and what do you love about it?

By luck! I started as a dishwasher aged 13 and was drawn into the lifestyle. I later realized that it was a career that would allow for me to travel, I love to learn about different cultures–after all, food is one of life’s greatest joys: flavors, taste, atmosphere.

What makes a successful client relationship for you? 

Earn their trust, get to know them, go the extra mile. Treat every client as your most important one – furthermore treat them as a guest. I like to see myself as more than just an email address.

 

Out of all the work experiences you’ve had, do you have any events or memorable moments that stand out?

Many wonderful moments and many wonderful events – from the Oscars, Grammy’s and MTV awards to cooking dinners for the Royal Family are to name a few.

I love to learn about different cultures–after all, food is one of life’s greatest joys: flavors, taste, atmosphere.

What are the most important values to you that you hope to bring to VT Group?

Growth potential, innovation, and fun workspace are the most important things to me in any role I accept. I look for good growth potential in terms of my own role within the company and especially in terms of the company’s overall growth. l enjoy working for a company that is innovative and creative always looking to be at the cutting edge of trends. Lastly, I look to bring a positive and adaptive culture with a healthy dose of respect and trust. A positive workplace will create high levels of respect and trust amongst its employees. It is important to me that my brigade and coworkers can respect and trust me just as I can trust and respect them.

 

Chef Elijah taught weekly cooking classes to employees during his time at Microsoft

 

What is your favorite dish to make at home?

It not so much about the dish but the ingredients. I have massive respect for the story behind the ingredients, this allows for family discussion behind the story of the food.

 

Outside of work, what is a perfect day for you? 

I love the outdoors, the perfect day is to be camping and cooking outside with my family, while drinking a glass of red!

 

As VT Group continues to grow, Chef Elijah aims to spur culinary innovation and respect within VT Group’s 200+ staff and diverse clientele.  His desire to support local business and growers align with VT Group’s ongoing sustainability initiatives and his drive and ability to think forward meshes well with VT Group’s mission.

 

About VT Group

As one of Oregon’s premier hospitality purveyors, VT Group provides casual to high-end, full-service catering, event production, and facility management. VT Group’s flagship brands include Vibrant Table Catering & Events, Food in Bloom Catering, f&b cafe and catering, and Vibrant Flowers. VT Group also manages several of the city’s most beautiful and diverse spaces including four event venues and two cafe locations in the Portland Metro area.

Our mission is to foster exemplary relationships within our community, developing and maintaining quality connections with partners who share our same ambition, drive and values.