Lauren & Dallas | Hood River, Oregon
Lauren & Dallas’s love for live music, Phish, and travel helped inspire their floral design direction. Eclectic, whimsical, and almost electric; the flowers were vibrant and funky for their windy and chilly summer wedding on a tomato farm.
Lauren & Dallas have a once in a lifetime kind of love.
When I first met them 6 years ago, they already had years of adventures together under their belt. From California to Asia, their adventurous spirits somehow landed in the same place at the same time.
Dallas and I met at a winery party, I had just made the move to Oregon and I knew one person. He asked me if I would be friends with his girlfriend and I was instantly on my feet ready to meet Lauren. I remember that moment so clearly because I could tell after five seconds with Dallas that he loved his person so much that he was scoping people out in the hopes that she would start to feel at home in their new home.
If ever there were soulmates,
these two are it. In spite of all their travel adventures, they were raised in similar parts of the states, worked in the wine industry, carry a deep love for Korean food and fried chicken, and jam to the same music. Those two are always seeking out live performances, never missing an excuse to see Phish or drive into Portland for a new favorite.
Oftentimes, the hardest thing is to find a partner who wants to grow with you.
For years, Lauren & Dallas have been side by side pushing each other, learning new things, growing in their careers, and striving to be the best versions of themselves. They have both experienced massive losses and health scares, never finding a crack in their foundation. When I met them 6 years ago, it was as though they had already been married for a decade. So it was no surprise that a sentiment echoed throughout the evening was “its about time!”, but everything has been able to unfold in their own time. Which to me, makes it feel that much more special. It wasn’t for the fanfare, pressures from society, or a false timeline. It was always just about what was right for the two of them. Being a part of their wedding day is something I’ll always hold dear and I know the two of them will continue to create the most thoughtful and vibrant life together.
The Vendor Team
Photography: Ace Photography
Florals: Port & Palm Co.
Venue: Killer Tomato
Coordination: Infinity Events
Dinner: Los Francos
Music: Steel Fringe
Content Creation: Your Bridal Content
Emma & Bradley | Silverton, Oregon
Creating for a friend is always such a special experience, but creating for a friend while her family hangs out, took all of the isolating feels we sometimes catch while designing out of the equation. Weddings, to me, are all about community and expanding the circle of people you can rely on - and that is exactly what was felt when we were welcomed into the marriage of Emma and Bradley.
Emma and I met while working on a vineyard one summer. It was a Covid summer, our faces were covered in masks and we didn’t see the bottom halves of each other’s faces until a few weeks later. After a few long hot days of pouring wine for customers, we were taking a break in the AC when we realized we were cut from almost the same cloth. We bonded over our similar childhoods, instantly understanding massive pieces of each other, and finding solace in our instant friendship while the world was going through a strange period of isolation.
When Emma met Bradley a year or so later, I could instantly tell, even before meeting him, that her joy and heart would be protected.
Creating florals for Emma and Bradley’s wedding was a unique experience that I’ll never be able to replicate. We clipped a few select blooms from her garden and spent the day creating flowers in her mom’s home, with family members popping in and out as they gathered to celebrate E & B. After a day of designing, we went out to dinner with her siblings and their partners, shared stories, and wound up back at E & B’s home where we opened a bottle of wine from the hill we met on, spent a few hours working on wedding crafts, while the boys loudly laughed, played games and flipped records.
Oftentimes weddings and the days leading up feel like a rushed flurry. Emma & Bradley’s felt like a little bottle of joy, filled with the steadiness of Emma and the excited wonder of Bradley. Spending time with her family while designing Emma’s flowers was the perfect kind of fuel to feed the design process. Normally we design in our own studio, but with our travel schedule surrounding Emma’s wedding, Emma’s mom welcomed us into her home enveloping Aaron and I into the family for a few days.
Creating for a friend is always such a special experience, but creating for a friend while her family hangs out, took all of the isolating feels we sometimes catch while designing out of the equation. Weddings, to me, are all about community and expanding the circle of people you can rely on - and that is exactly what was felt when we were welcomed into the marriage of Emma and Bradley.
Josie & Teddy | The Ocean Club of Florida
What helped create this breezy classic oceanside wedding? Read more to see what elements we pulled together to bring Josie’s vision to life.
Josie and Teddy’s wedding was chic, classic, and allowed the backdrop of the ocean at the Ocean Club of Florida to shine.
We wanted the ocean, the sky, and the crash of the waves to be the focal point. Luckily, they even got an appearance from the full moon.
We brought in texture on a statement bar with a gorgeous linen overlay. Kept florals monochromatic and fluffy. Brought in cafe lights to create an intimate and magical feeling, a weathered oak dance floor that felt like driftwood and kept everything crisp with moments of antique-style elements to keep it feeling grounded and classic.
Their welcome party was a sunny celebration that allowed guests to mingle and relax at The Ocean Club of Florida. The club ended up feeling like the backyard of Josie and Teddy’s home, as they would welcome guests back the next day to celebrate their marriage.
What helped create the breezy classic oceanside wedding?
Attire that was frothy, blue and white, like the crash of an ocean wave.
Cafe lights that felt like stars strung across the sky. Antique-style vessels were used for monochromatic white blooms. A statement bar with textured linens and large floral arrangements anchored the expansive green space. A weathered oak dance floor evoked driftwood, and clear glass candle accents created ambiance and simplistic refinement. But the part that always elevates a wedding to me? True linen linens. The light reflects differently off a natural texture as opposed to a white poly. Your pictures will look all the more soft and chic if a natural fiber is used.
Final touch? The ocean breeze and a couple in love.
Planning and Floral Design Port & Palm Co.
Photography Sunny Lee Photography
Lighting Sperry Tents
Venue Ocean Club of Florida
Band Derek Mack Band
Sweet words from the bride
“I don’t even know where to begin! Thank you, truly, for everything you did to make our wedding so beautiful, meaningful, and seamless. From our very first email exchange, your calm energy and thoughtfulness gave me such a sense of peace. You had this incredible way of making even the most overwhelming decisions feel manageable. Your organization, insight, and gentle guidance brought everything together in a way that felt so personal and true to us.
And the flowers! Jenny, I was absolutely blown away! They were beyond gorgeous. Every single arrangement was stunning, from the bouquets to the boutonnieres to the lush centerpieces. The two large floral arrangements at the church especially took my breath away. They were so grand and elegant. It made my heart so happy when I saw them again later on the satellite bar at the reception, they added so much beauty to every space they touched.
It’s not lost on me how many hours and moving parts went into this day. Your grace, professionalism, and patience did not go unnoticed. I was able to be fully present and in the moment, knowing you had everything under control behind the scenes. That is such a gift, and one I will never forget!!
So many people told us it was one of the most special weddings they’ve ever attended, and that is in no small part thanks to you.
With all my love and deepest gratitude,”
Destination Wedding Guide
If you’re planning a destination wedding, looking to gain confidence in hiring a vendor you love but who lives in a different state, or an industry professional looking for more information on how to produce a destination wedding, this might be a helpful resource.
Yes, statistically speaking, most couples would prefer their wedding vendors to live and operate near their wedding venue. However, in my ten years of operating Port & Palm Co. I’ve planned the majority of my weddings in locations hundreds, usually thousands of miles from my home address. In the first 2 years of business, I found myself traveling from Florida to the Bahamas, New Hampshire, and Virginia. Year 3 I moved to Oregon and during my 7 years there I only designed 5 weddings in the local area, 1 in Montana, 1 in Colorado- and the rest brought me back to Florida. And would you believe, now that we live back in Florida we just designed 2 weddings back in Oregon. Which is honestly, the dream (snowbird life manifestation in action).
I will never feel confident enough in any of my skill sets to call myself an expert (what’s up imposter syndrome!), but destination weddings seem to be something I have a decent amount of experience managing. If you’re planning a destination wedding, looking to gain confidence in hiring a vendor you love but who lives in a different state, or an industry professional looking for more information on how to produce a destination wedding, this might be a helpful resource.
Keep in mind, every wedding is different and your travel needs may be different than mine. I’m going to layout a standard plan we follow for full service floral design clients. Following this framework and adapting it is how we survived our most recent jaunt to Oregon where we designed two back to back weddings, which happened to both be on the same day, in different cities 2 hours from each other.
Pre Production
Gain Clarity from Your Clients
There are so many variables when designing a wedding. Ensuring clear and concise plans with your client is crucial, even more so with destination clients.
Create a price quote that details the items you’re providing. This will also clue you into what is required from a production standpoint and will allow you to start understanding how much studio space you need, if a rental van is necessary, how many staff members are needed, and how much on-site install time is required.
Create a visual proposal that details the way these pieces will look, I also detail the types of flowers I plan to use.
Gain final approvals from your client at least 1.5 months prior to the wedding date.
Lodging/Flights/Rental Car
Normally I’ll book an Airbnb with the following requirements for floral design operations:
A large open space that will act as the studio. This is typically an open concept style home with the kitchen opening into the living room/dining room.
Tile or other waterproof flooring to mitigate any potential water issues that may arise from the buckets of water with flowers.
Ground floor unit
Air conditioning
When booking flights I make sure I’m arriving at least 4 full days before the wedding.
Tuesday: arrive/check in
Wednesday: supply check, final shops
Thursday: floral pickup/processing
Friday: design day
Saturday: wedding day!
Floral & Supply Orders
Based on the finalized invoice, I’ll place orders for supplies and florals a month before the wedding date. Consider having hard goods delivered to the client if they are local to the area. Otherwise, plan on a checked bag of supplies when flying.
Consider using mechanics that won’t break for easier transport.
For florals, either connect with a local wholesaler, a local farm, or check to see if your hometown wholesaler will ship to you.
The Week Before
Pack List
Create a pack list of everything you’ll possibly need. Pack a carry on with some must have items that you won’t be able to quickly or easily replace.
Check in with Suppliers/Farms
Say “hey!”, see what subs might need to happen, ask what may be ready to bloom at the farm, ask them if you can pickup buckets when you pickup the flowers, make sure your orders are ready to go!
Travel Confirmations
Flight, check. Airbnb, check. Rental car, check!
Rain Plan?
Check the weather, and check in with the coordinator/client to see if there is a rain plan, or what setup will look like if there is inclement weather.
Production
Wednesday
Final supply shop for any last minute needs.
This is when we’ll usually go to a nursery and see what potted plants we can clip from or use in our installations. Grab a folding table for design day if needed.
Thursday
Floral Pickup! Head to wholesaler and/or farms.
Process all stems.
Friday
Full design day.
Saturday
Delivery and install of all ordered items.
Post Production
Sunday
Clean up! Scrub all the buckets if you’re returning or keeping them. Compost/recycle flower waste and cardboard.
Monday
Have fun! Enjoy that day off wedding pro!
Following Week
Bookkeeping! Track all of the expenses accrued before your exhaustion helps you forget everything you just did.
And as promised…
How we managed our time during a two wedding weekend in Oregon, while living in Florida.
Taylor & Chad | The Ocean Club of Florida, Ocean Ridge
It was as if the rain clouds knew exactly when to finish their dance, leaving our team just moments to jump in and install lush gatherings of florals across the fence line. Nature somehow seems to always know exactly when it needs to let the party start at The Ocean Club.
Taylor and Chad’s wedding was the third wedding we’ve been lucky enough to see come to life at The Ocean Club of Florida, and it felt so uniquely her own. Taylor and I spent a year together dreaming up florals that felt whimsical and timeless, with elements of the sea infused. In usual Florida fashion, it was a blustery rainy afternoon. Bursts of storms kept rolling through as we were trying to perfectly time the ceremony install and maintain the dream of her outdoor ceremony. It was as if the clouds knew exactly when to finish their dance, leaving our team just moments to jump in and install lush gatherings of florals across the fence line. Nature somehow seems to always know exactly when it needs to let the party start at The Ocean Club.
The weddings that leave a lasting impression on me and my team are the ones where the family seems to effortlessly absorb us in their day. I usually try to remain a fly on the wall, letting the family enjoy their moment while me, the fly, adjusts lighting, or coordinates speeches with the band. But when you’re stuck in a corner under layers of tulle trying to bustle a gown you’ve never had hands on before and the groom is giggling along with you, when you witness the bride and groom weeping from happiness just while simply looking at each other, when the mother of the bride loads florals in the back of her car at the end of the night accompanied by the biggest smile and most sincere hug - the hours seem to fly (no pun intended) by and before you know it the magic is being packed up, but certainly never forgotten.
Floral Design & Month of Coordination | Port & Palm Co.
Photography | Stephanie Tarno
Video | Joe Pineiro Films
Venue | The Ocean Club of Florida
Stationery Artist | Solari Studio
HMU | Jess Bolina
Danielle & Julian | Wedding Floral Design Workshop
The day before their wedding, I arrived with buckets of flowers that were uniquely selected with Danielle’s vision in mind. I called her aesthetic “Modern Nonna”. It was a gorgeous blend of florals from times past, in a modernized color story of mango, rich purples, and creamy buttery yellow.
Danielle and Julian’s wedding is one of the most memorable experiences I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of. Every little detail felt so uniquely them and pulled their friends and family into their love story. Cocktail napkins printed with love letters hand written by each of them were sprinkled across the venue alongside floral arrangements that were designed the day before by her closest girlfriends.
The day before their wedding, I arrived with buckets of flowers that I specifically selected with Danielle’s vision in mind. I called her aesthetic “Modern Nonna”. It was a gorgeous blend of florals from times past, in a modernized color story of mango, rich purples, and creamy buttery yellow.
After stations were setup, her besties filled pin frog dishes with florals, caught up with each other, and drank mimosas. While everyone created their own arrangements, I worked on a focal ceremony arrangement, Danielle’s bouquet, and Julian’s boutonniere. In the end, Danielle had a living room full of lush arrangements that were wedding day ready, all with a different personality and representing a few of her favorite people.
Included in each wedding workshop
Bridal Bouquet
Boutonniere
1 Statement Piece, perfect for the altar or other focal point
Centerpieces handcrafted by your favorite people
The morning of their wedding, ceremony arrangements were sent to the Ann Norton Sculpture Garden for their intimate ceremony with immediate family. Reception arrangements landed at Composition Coffee where unique bunches of fruits and nuts from the farmers market were intertwined with the florals.
After working in the wedding industry for over 10 years, I often check in with myself and ask “why are we doing this?”…. Danielle and Julian’s wedding offered a clear answer. It is about community. It is about a celebration of love and the resulting next chapter. Danielle’s workshop highlighted all the things I love most about weddings. I told her afterwards that her floral workshop reminded me of the wedding scene in Fiddler on the the Roof. The entire community excitedly puts everything aside to gather. It is rooted in tradition, one that celebrates a success and the continuation of what a family has fought for and poured endless amounts of love and effort into. It doesn’t need to be showy or sparkly to feel special. The sparkle comes from the effusive smiles on everyone’s faces and the collaboration of multiple family members and friends, all in the hopes that a new, strong home is created and certain traditions might remain. I hope that Danielle and Julian find ways to gather with loved ones and create something together for years to come, and that a floral workshop just might become a tradition in their family.
Photography | Mary Cain Photo
Florals | Learn more about our workshop offering