Q&As are wrappedWe hosted two pay-what-you-can educational Q&As this year. Thank you to everyone who participated! We saw representation from 20 vendors in six different states and raised $100 toward keeping the lights on here at Altared. We’ve decided to now end the Q&A season. It’s a bit sooner than we hoped but our February speaker fell through and the person who hosts these (Altared co-founder Beth Kramer) decided to take that as a sign to wrap. Got someone whom you’d love to see host a Q&A in the future? Is that person you? Tell us! Here’s where you can anonymously nominate someone. Fellow vendors to supportWelcome in to Mariah Milan, who recently relocated to Portland, Oregon, after 23 years in business on Maui. Mariah is a wedding, business/branding, and portrait photographer who also offers education on Showit websites. Learn more about her work and say hi @MariahMilan. Meet Velvet Thistle, a floral design studio bringing a fresh, ethereal touch to wedding florals in Portland. Led by designer Shannon Rose, Velvet Thistle specializes in creating floral installations that feel like living works of art. If you're a planner, photographer, or venue looking for a floral partner who thrives on creativity and collaboration, Shannon would love to connect with you! You can find her on Instagram at @VelvetThistleFloral or via her website here: VelvetThistle.com. Welcome to Sam Dechenne, a trumpet player and booking manager for three bands that perform at weddings in Portland, Oregon. Learn more about Bang Bang (seven-piece brass and drums music); Bridgetown Sextet (hot jazz from the 1920s and 1930s); and The Late Risers (small, traditional Jazz quartet/New Orleans music). Congratulations to Harper & Gracie Mobile Drinkeries! They’re now a Clark County Certified Green Business! In owner Liska Stokes’ own words: “We’re committed to reducing event waste by utilizing reusable drink ware, composting garnishes and drinking straws, recycling wine corks, bottles, cans, and ice bags, and drinking local.” Do you have clients who could use a little help writing their vows? Officiant, Celebrant, and Altared co-founder Emily Sterling of Rooted & Wild recently announced the new season of her virtual vow writing workshops. This year at Nostrana marks their 20th year as an independent restaurant in the Portland community! To celebrate this milestone, event director Natalia Toral is planning a series of special events. Check out the “Events to attend or amplify” section below to read about one specific to our industry. Badge to useReminder: Andy Anthony of Double A Weddings & Events created this badge for her business and wants to share it with fellow queer business owners in the wedding industry. If you use it, please credit and, if possible, link to Andy’s website. Vendor conferences and shows to considerLast call: The Kinder Weddings Conference in Victoria, B.C. on Saturday 2/8/25 is a half-day conference all about how we can create a wedding industry built around sustainability, innovation, and intention. Abbey Road Farm in Carlton, Oregon, is hosting wedding showcase Hitched on Saturday 3/1/25. Folks in the greater Port Townsend, Washington, area, check out the Jefferson County Wedding Weekend on Saturday 3/1/25 and Sunday 3/2/25. Expect a focus on highlighting local talent! (Psst — This event is looking for Northwest wedding planners to join. If that’s you, email info@quimpereventscollective.com with the subject line “ALTARED SPECIAL INVITE” to get a discount on tickets + lodging and an invitation to an industry mixer hosted on Friday 2/28/25.) Do you work in the Portland, Oregon, area? Consider applying for the Alternative Wedding Fair. Hosted at Rae Loft on Saturday 3/8/25 and Sunday 3/9/25, the event is currently accepting vendor submissions. SMOOCH is accepting applications for vendor booths for their wedding showcase on Saturday 4/5/25 at Abernethy Center in Oregon City, Oregon. Learn more. Black girl florists, group to considerIf you’re a Black girl florist looking for community with other Black girl florists, consider a Tenure Group with the organization Black Girl Florists (BGF). Read more about this opportunity, which matches people by experience level. Free for BGF members; $45 for non-members. Discount to shareTo celebrate their fourth anniversary, Harper & Gracie Mobile Drinkeries is offering 10 percent off any service booked in February. Events can be held any time in 2025. Initial payment and signed contract must be received by Friday 2/28/25. Simply mention this newsletter when you contact Harper & Gracie. Articles (and booklet!) to readShout-out to Oregon wedding and events planner and Vendors of Color co-founder Jaime Ta for her recent interview with Brides about 2025 gift and registry trends. Get 50 free ideas for weddings from The Experiential Wedding by sharing your email address here. (From what we can tell, this does not subscribe you to any newsletter.) Some tough stuff is going down with the Portland Bridal Show. Altared co-founder and Oregon wedding coordinator and consultant Beth Kramer spoke to The New York Times about 2025 wedding trends. Newsletter to joinSign up for Emily Foster’s newsletter about marketing and receive a checklist of ways to improve your homepage. Classes and services to considerEverybody needs rest. But how do you do it? Former Altared Educator and radical joy coach Jordan Maney answers that question in RestLab 101, a two- hour interactive class that helps bleeding-heart creatives, service providers, and leaders reframe their relationship to rest. Photographers and videographers, By Emily Jane and Modern Memoir Films are offering a free, live masterclass at 10 a.m. PT Tuesday 2/11/25 about how to elevate your website so you can raise your prices and work less. Social media manager and former Altared Educator María del Mar Oliva now offers partial social media management services. She meets with clients monthly to talk strategy, ideas, and analytics. She then creates posts and, depending on the level of service, selects photos. Your role? You schedule the posts. Packages range from $500 to $750 a month but mention this newsletter and you’ll get $100 off your first three months. Contact María: smsmediapr@gmail.com. Events to attend or amplifyMeet-ups are happening! We’re in Bellevue, Washington, and Portland this month. Want to host your own? Tell us: altaredpdx@gmail.com. Tomorrow (Thursday 2/6/25): PDXperts hosts their latest cocktail hour from 4 to 7 p.m. at Hi-Lo Hotel in Portlnad, Oregon. RSVP. Rational Unicorn Legal Services’ has the following upcoming virtual, sliding scale educational options: If recent social and political events have you re-examining your messaging and approach to make sure you're drawing in ideal clients, partners, and opportunities, the Brave Leadership Roundtable is for you. This is a free community gathering for socially conscious leaders and business owners. Hosted by former Altared educator Crystal Whiteaker of Crystal Lily Creative. Join this month’s at 10 a.m. PT Thursday 2/20/25. Southeast Portland, Oregon, wedding venue Coopers Hall is hosting two wedding showcases: 12 to 3 p.m. Sunday 2/23/25 and 12 to 3 p.m. Sunday 3/23/25. Learn more. To start off Nostrana’s 20th anniversary year, event director Natalia Toral invites you to a hospitality and event industry networking happy hour from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday 2/26/25 at Nostrana (1401 SE Morrison St., Portland). Enjoy Nostrana Salad, wine, and mingling while you check out this rehearsal dinner venue. Kids welcome. Please RSVP as space is limited. Learn more about Nostrana events. Eugene-area venue Mount Tom House has their first 2025 winemaker dinner scheduled and it’s with Approachment Wines and the team at Lion & Owl. With 24 tickets available on Saturday 3/15/25, contact Mount Tom House directly to get on the list (hello@mounttomhouse.com).
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