ENCHANTING GROTTO WEDDING CEREMONY IN PORTLAND, OREGON
imagine saying your vows in an enchanting grotto wedding ceremony in portland, oregon! the natural beauty of this elegant cave wedding ceremony mixed with the charm of chic wedding florals and a designer wedding dress is an ideal balance of mystic and man-made. for #aandbabe mandy and christian, their gorgeous grotto wedding was as serendipitous as their love story.
dating app love story and first date in portland
mandy and christian first met on hinge in november of 2020. after spending a few days getting to know each other better, they decided to go on a dinner date at modern times beer. what was supposed to be a dinner conversation, turned into just drinks, as they got so wrapped up in their conversation, they forgot to order food!
after their date, christian picked up fast food as he was still hungry from never having eaten dinner. during his wendy’s run, he made sure to tell mandy what an amazing time he had and give her his number. since that first date, mandy and christian have been inseparable.
getting wedding ready at the benson hotel
walking into the lobby of the benson hotel on the big day was a magical experience. the hotel’s italian marble floors glistened and the walnut accents provided a cozy and historic ambiance. as both mandy and christian prepared in their wedding suites, they enjoyed the presence of their loved ones. mandy shares that getting ready at the benson hotel was “a mix of laughter and anticipation”.
light pink bridesmaids robes
in the bridal suite, mandy’s bridesmaids wore a mixture of light pink and dusty pink bridal robes. mandy wore a short white robe with tulle sleeves and embellishment. on their feet, each bridesmaid sported fuzzy sandals with a custom monogram on the strap. these fun wedding loungewear looks kept everyone comfortable and made for the perfect photo op before changing into their ceremony outfits.
dusty pink bridesmaids dresses
mandy’s bridesmaids dresses were a mixture of dusty pink shades, mauves, and baby pink hues. each bridesmaid wore a unique dress that had a similar silhouette, but featured a variety of necklines and details.
made with love wedding dress in portland
when it came time for mandy to look for a wedding dress in portland, she visited a&bé bridal shop. the natural embroidery and floral details of made with love’s lace wedding dresses intrigued mandy. ultimately, ‘cameron’ dress by made with love felt like the perfect balance of glamour and effortlessness. this fitted wedding dress was hand beaded and had layers of lace to create extra dimension. not only was the beadwork dramatic, but the gown’s sheer train and illusion bodice added a modern flair.
statement glitter tulle veil
to complete her sparkly bridal look, mandy paired her beaded bridal gown with a cathedral length glitter tulle veil. ‘candlelight veil’ by untamed petals completed this whimsical wedding vision and added the perfect amount of shimmer.
ethereal cave wedding ceremony at the grotto
surrounded by lush greenery, the serene environment of mandy and christian’s wedding ceremony at the grotto was ethereal. stone stairs led to their rock altar that was decorated with vibrant flowers. the silver rails for the stairs were adorned in pink and white wedding flowers and greenery that matched mandy’s bridal boutique.
wedding ceremony officiant ideas
one of mandy and christian favorite ceremony moments were their vows. mandy shares, “my uncle and husband's childhood friend officiated the ceremony, adding a personal touch to the heartfelt exchange of promises”.
classic wedding reception at irving street studio
after the ceremony, everyone headed to their reception at irving street studio. while this event space still had natural elements like rustic wooden flooring and exposed brick, its lofty environment was a modern contrast to the grotto’s stone walls.
each wedding table was decorated with white tablecloths and pink decorations. pink wedding napkins were arranged at each place setting and vintage pink glasses gleamed in the candlelight. even mandy and christian’s dessert table had a pink and white color palette. their traditional wedding cake had white and pink flowers adorning every tier.
“we celebrated with wedding llamas, heartfelt toasts and a bustling dance floor. late night pizza from sizzle pie made for a great way to end the evening. our wedding day in portland was full of wonderful new memories and genuine happiness.”
dress and bows designer: made with love / veil designer: untamed petals / bridal shop: a&bé portland / photographer: julia green / getting ready venue: the benson hotel / ceremony venue: the grotto / reception venue: irving street studio / planning and styling: your perfect bridesmaid / florals: natalie parks floral design / blossom and beauty: blossom and beauty / pizza: sizzle pie / suit: indochino / llamas: wedding llamas