My lady and I decided to finally make it official. Yup, we tied the knot. We moved to Portland in…read moreMay and most of our friends and family are still in SoCal. A big wedding was not going to happen--heck, we were having trouble coming up with the two required witnesses for the ceremony. I found Wedded Your Way on-line. The price for our elopement ceremony was very reasonable. Rev. Leah Light was our officiant and we found her to be very personable and exceptionally nice. She really went out of her way to make our little service something special--not at all like the trip to the dentist my lady feared it would be. I highly recommend.

We choose Leah Light to perform our ceremony for our July 2011 wedding at Elk Cove. Because we do…read morenot live in the area, we wanted to find somebody that was able to do all of the ceremony plans via email and phone. Leigh was a delight to work with. She had many choices for the ceremony and also allowed us to modify it was we wanted. She was very helpful during the rehearsal and made my husband and I feel comfortable that the ceremony would go off without a hitch....which it did. Highly recommended!

I know why Affordable Dream Wedding won the Gold and voted: Best Wedding Venue three years in a…read morerow. It because the Wedding Chapel, the People and the price were all outstanding. It's very hard to win a trifecta of good service and value, and they have been exemplary in all three. Thank you

From the owner: Hubbard Chapel is a beautiful historic building perfect for any event. We offer onsite, our main…read morechapel hall, our reception hall, and a fully fictional kitchen. Along with a prep room for getting ready for your special event. Hubbard Chapel is where you can make your affordable dream wedding a reality.

My husband and I were married here recently, and I am so glad we chose this venue for our nuptials…read more The space is classic but not overly religious, architecturally gorgeous, but snug which suited us and our small group of 25. Pews comfortably seat 3 adults. I would not recommend this space for more than 50 people Lorraine, the venue coordinator is an absolute sweetheart. One of the church's volunteers, Jim,who I had the pleasure of meeting on a couple of occasions, was extremely helpful and pleasant. Tips for brides -definitely reserve for at least 3 hours. Between setting up, ceremony, and photography you will need the time. -better to book outside peak wedding season. They do 3 weddings a day here at times eek!

PLEASE BE WARNED! I do hate to give such a bad review, but I wish someone would have warned us…read more Because it was just one disaster after another. And in every way they were able, the staff here ruined the wedding. In short, they screwed up the ceremony, the music, the reception, the flowers, and they even screwed up the start and end times, and they lost some of our stuff. They were also very unpleasant to deal with. See their response below. And we even tipped them quite a bit extra in an effort to encourage good behavior. Instead of resolve anything, they called me a liar and put me down - beyond unprofessional. I've attached pics to illustrate my professionalism. We spoke to the officiant, and he interrupted my wife constantly. He tried to talk over me constantly too. I needed some clarification on vows vs. deceleration etc. But rather than clarify anything, he kept talking about himself, his expertise, and frankly his ego. I could see my wife getting visibly frustrated. He wasn't hearing anything SHE wanted in a ceremony. All we wanted was something brief and traditional. He kept saying things like "I've done thousands of weddings" and "this is why you have me." So we ended the conversation politely. Then we used AI and our own preferences to write a very simple 5 minute ceremony. When I gave it to him, he said he would add it to his and wrote another 20 minute ceremony. I eventually had to tell him, "you aren't hearing us." This is what we want. Then he actually threatened to not do the ceremony at all. My wife cried because he made her feel like her ceremony wasn't good enough. I had to get out the contract and get the venue involved and all I wanted was to smooth things over. Then he decided he would do it. But my wife didn't want him to do it anymore. So I had to talk her down, and him down, and all we wanted was like the simplest ceremony ever. When we got to the alter, the very first thing he did was go off-script. He asked us to turn and face each other at the start. Which would seem like a perfectly fine thing to do, unless he had read our ceremony. Because it asks us to turn half-way through. It quickly became clear that he had not read it in advance, which makes sense considering he was arguing with us about it until the day before. So later he asked us to turn again when we had already turned, and he fumbled his words several times - in a mere 5 minute ceremony. They advertise having a host who can help start the wedding music. I needed the host to press the 'skip back' button at the start of the ceremony, and 'skip forward' at the end - that's all. I typed those instructions, with pictures, using the forward and back icons. I had print-outs. I let them know in advance. I went over it with the host before the ceremony. I told the host it would only be about 5 minutes long, so be ready for the end. I showed them how, and I checked for understanding. Well, obviously, they screwed it up anyway, wandered away and then hit 'skip back' over and over again, until I shouted "skip forward" from the alter. Because right after we were pronounced married, the walk-in song kept playing over and over. Left button at the beginning, right button at the end. How hard is that? They couldn't do it. Then they collected our stuff and rushed us out early because they got the end time wrong. I had to show them the confirmation. We paid for extra time and only got extra aggravation. Some clothes were left in the closet. They said they weren't. It's hard to sweat a pair of Nikes and jeans when a wedding's been ruined. They eventually found them and moved them to some other location with very limited hours. And ultimately they said "Bless your little heart. There's just no way we can get them back to you." I can think of about twelve ways they could get them back to me or avoid losing them in the first place by not kicking us out of our own wedding early after ruining it. After all, I paid them ten times the shipping cost just in tips. And what did I get for it? Pure heartache.

What a beautiful building, perfect location for wedding photos as we saw several shoots happening…read morewhen we arrived. They hold community events like apple cider making in the fall and pancake feeds in the spring. Has a small lot with a restroom and picnic bench. Great place to learn history and take in some views . Not a lot of parking and the bridge is one lane.

Even if your timing isn't perfect enough to coincide with the handful of hours each week where the…read moremill is "open" for business, this volunteer-run "living museum" is worth a visit alone for its rustic exterior and picturesque surroundings. It's one of the best places in the greater Portland area to experience the full spectrum of autumn arborea, from late September through November, including the scenic drive when approaching from either direction. It is, perhaps unsurprisingly, one of the most photographed structures in the Pacific Northwest. If you do happen to luck out and arrive in the early afternoon hours on Saturday (and maybe Sundays again, in the future), you're treated to a handful of volunteers demonstrating the operation of the milling machines, and providing inexpensive bags of fresh flour and other milled materials for purchase by "donation", the proceeds contributing to the maintenance and operation of this historic site. There are also hands-on opportunities for kids (and adults!) as well as informative posters and infographics that give a glimpse into the history and operation of the mill during its heyday. Private tours are available, as well as booking options for weddings, rehearsals, and similar events, with information available on-site, and on their website.

Imagine you're sitting in the congregation with your 4 year old son. Its his first service and you…read morewant him to learn to appreciate church. Lately he's been cursing, using the F word and such and you're trying to get him to stop. "It's not right to use those words" you keep telling him. Imagine then the priest gets up to the podium for his sermon. All of the sudden he starts dropping bombs. You're shocked, you start feeling uncomfortable next to your son, but you stay because you think maybe he'll stop and maybe there is a point. But they don't stop. They just keep coming. You look down at your son feeling helpless. Obviously you don't want him getting the message that men who are supposed to be spiritual leaders speak this way. But there's more when the sermon ends the congregation applauds, even whoops. I've never been in any church service where people applauded ANYTHING, and there's a spiritual reason for that. Well that's what happened to me when I attended a service here. Awful. As people applauded I got up with my son and left feeling very disappointed that that was his first introduction to church. A priest who shows no respect for the tender ones who may be in his audience. A priest who speaks with crude language and is more interested in showing off and writing a nice piece than in passing along anything spiritual. Sadly we will never be back again. This happened many months ago, but I have been meaning to write a review since then because it has stuck so sharply in my mind.

I found Trinity Cathedral over 7 years ago and have enjoyed my experience throughout this time…read morebecause it is a warm welcoming congregation and I love the services which help me with my connection to God and provide me an avenue for worship and prayer. The choir is stellar and the whole music program is superb! The Rosales organ is so beautiful and such an amazing instrument. The Dean and all the clergy are truly welcoming and make themselves very available to all congregants. Sunday sermons are always thought provoking and interesting. They have been a great help throughout the pandemic in helping people to carry on. The outreach ministries are a very important part of who the Cathedral is in the community. Food Pantry and other food provisions made available to the less fortunate are wonderful examples of "faith and love" working to help our neighbours. I first went to Trinity because it was the closest Episcopal church to me when I first moved to Portland and I am delighted it has become my church home. I couldn't have found a better fit for me. Please come to see this welcoming open hospitality community! All are welcome no matter who you are, what you believe or not, what sexual orientation or where you are in your life journey.

This Pioneer Church was very lovely and affordable. We had a dream wedding.read more

This place has become a part of my forever story. I had my wedding there last night and it was a…read moredream come true. Cristi was AMAZING! She's so kind and caring. She did everything to make sure we had anything and everything we could have needed. She's become apart of my family and I will be forever grateful. Cristi thank you for everything and being so flexible with his leave dates. We love you so much and anyone would be blessed to have you and your chapel apart of their story.

So if you are reading this, you maybe looking for a wedding chapel. So let me make this useful:…read more 1. The interior has been repainted white, so if you are looking at photos on Yelp, anything maroon is outdated. It actually looks quite simple and charming inside. The lighting through the windows makes for some good photography. The greenery outside will give you a good back drop through the windows. 2. The basement looks newly renovated, and has a full kitchen. They do not have everything in the kitchen you might need, so make notes and take photos to help you plan. 3. If the bride is mean, don't go in the dressing room next to the kitchen. She might be in there. 4. The back entrance is ADA accessible. It has a ramp. You can take some photos here where you lean on the railing, lined up in a row like at a prom. People might not be willing to do that in the rain, but whatever, their loss. 5. There are two bathrooms in the back entrance. One is slightly better than the other; you can guess which one they made nicer. I know because I deserve the best when I am my most vulnerable, even if bridesmaids have to wait. It's not their wedding. Bathrooms are a bit tight, ADA folks may need help. 6. The bell works. You can ring it. I did not. Not my wedding either. It is an euphonious sound. 7. The piano inside works. I am tone death so I don't know if it was well tuned. 8. The place is 100+ years old. It is now well seasoned firewood. I can't tell you what to do, but don't use candles unless you want to make the evening news for the wrong reasons. Which reminds me: 9. I have never seen or felt a ghost anywhere. That includes this place now. It is probably not haunted. Congratulations on your forth coming wedding. May your wedding be joyous and marriage be blessed.

Providence Academy seems to be widely under-recognized by the Southwest WA and Portland, OR metro…read morearea for the Academy's significance and impact on the development of the region. When the "House of Providence" was dedicated in September 1873, it was the largest brick building north of San Francisco in the West. The iconic, four-story school and orphanage closed doors in 1966, but, not only is "the Academy" still standing, it has been undergoing a multi-million dollar restoration process since 2015. These days, it is a historic commercial and event space with the Academy Chapel and nearby Ballroom as the site of numerous weddings and ceremonies. In 1856, Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart with four other Sisters of Providence from Montreal, Canada arrived at faraway Fort Vancouver to set up a mission in the Washington Territory. Within a year, the Sisters had established a small one-room school in a flood-prone cabin at the Fort. Through vigorous fund-raising efforts and dedication, the 5 Sisters of Providence built the impressive Academy in 1873 on higher ground to serve as a school, orphanage, and governance offices ... and 16 years before Washington would even become a state. As newer schools from other parishes replaced it in 1966, the first 110 years of community service continued to leave a lasting imprint on the region such as the non-profit organization Providence Health which grew from these simple origins to now have 50 hospitals and over 800 clinics. Providence Academy was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and purchased from the prominent Hidden family in 2015 by the Vancouver Historic Trust thanks to $5 million raised by a philanthropic campaign. Over $2.1 million in renovation efforts have already repaired the roof and porches. An additional $25 million is scheduled to be spent on the chapel, ballrooms, restrooms, parking, accessibility, utilities, and replacing a restaurant built in 1976. Free 1-hour tours are available upon request and I'm glad I got to join one. I had no idea the history, importance, or legacy of the Providence Academy. There is also a free app called the Providence Academy Journey for an augmented reality and virtual tour. If you are new to the region or just interested in learning more about one of the truly historic sites of the Pacific Northwest, I recommend checking out Providence Academy. Otherwise, the building is a memorable choice for leasing office space, hosting a corporate event, or celebrating a wedding, baptism, or other affair.

Many different businesses inside with a chapel i am dying to see. The building is just beautiful…read morebrick with a flower walkway in front. I saw the 'Ne jazz orchestra there. They are excellent but it was too bright in the room. There was a dance floor and snacks, no alcohol.

Did not fulfill the expectations. Even though all the details were laid out in advance, things sat…read moreundone week after week. Despite constant check-ins and assurances that things were moving forward, we got the run around each time. Finally had to terminate services and go with another planner. Would not recommend or at least caveat emptur.

Lisa Marie and her team are absolute ROCKSTARs. You have to use her services, either it's for…read morewedding "day of'" coordination, wedding planning, or corporate events. She is a huge help in all aspects of an event. Here are a couple stand out moments with Lisa Marie that set her apart from other event planners: Wedding tips: you think you have your wedding all planned out, but you will leave out some planning details and she will catch them! She has great tips about ceremony timing, how you should time out your wedding day, and the flow of the reception. Stuff you don't think about planning out or questions that you need consulting on, Lisa Marie will iron out those concerns for you. Our other vendors adored Lisa Marie and appreciated her thoroughness and willingness to help. This makes your whole wedding staff have a fun time working our event. This brings great vibes for the guests and the wedding party. She doesn't operate like her competitors, who can be sticklers on charging you for every extra thing they do for you. She is a good time. She turned into a friend during our wedding planning year. The whole family enjoyed sharing the weekend with her. She even acted as a "therapist", coaching me through the emotional times throughout the wedding week haha! She does her research on whatever you provide her with to fully understand your wedding ins-and-outs. Lisa has great taste. You can trust her to get your theme and design concept and make decisions for you to enhance your event! Picture below for proof: