I don’t know about all of you, but I am completely clueless when it comes to wine. I got married in 2005 and I couldn’t tell you with any certainty what type of wine was served at our reception or even how many bottles we went through. Some of you out there may be struggling with choosing the type and/or quantity of wine to serve on your big day, so here are some tips for my fellow “vino challenged” brides out there…….
Wine Tasting — Set up a wine tasting with several friends to help you select your wines. There are many great wineries in Oregon, so make a day of it! Get a party bus, designate a driver and hit the road!
Bargain Hunting — Start with the the local wine shops. Many shops will offer you excellent discounts if you purchase several cases. You can also check out online wine retailers for bargains and quantitiy discounts.
Personalized Wines — Many wine companies offer their wines printed with custom personalized wine labels. This means that your names, date and sometimes even a photograph can be the actual wedding wine label! Depending on the budget you can give gifts of these to hotel guests, wedding party members and even given as wine wedding favors.
Buying Enough — There is no magical answer to the question of how much wedding wine to buy. Everyone calculates the amount differently, but a good rule is 1/2 red and 1/2 white, although people tend to agree that more red will be drunk. One bottle serves only about 5 glasses of wine and you should plan that people will have a minimum of 2 glasses. It is always better to have more than too little wedding wine. Some shops will allow returns of unopened cases if you arrange it with them ahead of time. Otherwise you’ll have plenty of wine for months to come. Nothing wrong with that!
Tasting For The Novice — If you are a wine novice and feel intimidated by the process of selecting wines just keep one thing in mind……if you like it…you like it. If you don’t, then don’t buy it. It is common sense, but don’t let anyone talk you into a wine unless you enjoy it!
There you have it folks……go forth and taste!
Rachel
I love the idea of a vineyard wedding! The gorgeous scenery in late summer or autumn sets a romantic and comfortable feel. The warm, rich colors of a vineyard in the fall can inspire many of the details for your wedding and bring together
Of course the wedding gown is the next thing to set the tone for your big day…. 
Your table settings are the final detail that pulls the whole event together. Your guests will feel comfortable with the soothing colors and simple centerpieces of vineyard leaves and red oak leaves!
As many of you know, Charlotte’s is undergoing expansion and renovation!
Flowers are my favorite part of a wedding (besides the gown of course 
you!
Fruits and Veggies
Regardless of whether you’re the mother, grandmother or auntie of the bride or the groom, you want to look killer at the wedding too, right? Let’s face it; traditional “Mother-of” outfits can be pretty horrendous.
I had the utmost pleasure recently staying at the 
e wind and the noise. Large living room area with a floor to ceiling stone fireplace, wood floors and a comfy couch. The dining room table could easily fit 12 people and the kitchen was fully equipped with stainless steel appliances. 
three bedroom villa with a kitchen or you can just get a one bedroom (just like staying at a hotel). There was even a rehearsal dinner in one of the three bedroom villa for 50 people going on while I was there. The groom even made a comment to say that he was worried about that many people but the space accommodated everyone. It’s a great place for a romantic weekend getaway, honeymoon, rehearsal dinner, or bridal suite. 
We are lucky enough to have two fantastic local designers for veil, headpieces, and 