Best Portland Wedding Planners
After over 13 years and hundreds of weddings, there is one consistent piece of advice I hear from my couples after their weddings: hire a wedding planner.
“I honestly do not know how we could have gone through the wedding as smoothly without her,” said my 2021 bride Julia about her planner Nicole of Zilla.
“Erica from Flourish is the best wedding coordinator/planner ever,” said a 2021 groom named Chris. “She was the only reason we didn’t go insane during planning and she was amazing with day-of coordination. If there was any wedding expense we felt we initially under appreciated it was wedding planner help: invest here!!!”
“If you have the means, hire a day off coordinator,” said a 2021 bride named Sara. “This was a last minute add for us and I’m so so so glad that we added Danielle to our team. I was able to fully relax and enjoy the day without having to worry about setup/tear down, where to be when, and any small issues that may have arisen. It also saved my friends and family from needing to take that role, and I was so glad they were able to fully enjoy the day and be present with us.”
The people who hire coordinators are always happy. The people who don’t usually regret it. I have never heard the words “I wish we hadn’t hired a planner” come out of my couples mouths. It’s a simple choice to make your wedding easier.
That said - hiring a wedding planner is one more expense to add to your budget. Is that cost worthwhile? Yes. You might only need day-of coordination. Or you may feel most comfortable with complete start-to-finish planning and styling services. Either way - having a planner on your team will reduce your stress level and make the day go more smoothly for every single person at your wedding. You, your family, your guests, and the rest of your vendor team.
MORE TIPS FOR PLANNING ON A BUDGET
Why I love working with wedding planners
As a photographer, I have a LOT going on during wedding days. There are a million moments to capture, but I often end up helping with small tasks, organizing people, and making sure we stay on schedule as well. When you hire a wedding planner, I have more time to take pictures, and I spend less time stressing about other wedding details. It frees up mental energy to create. Having a planner makes my life less stressful and gives me more opportunities to capture better photos and make art. And I really like making art!
Reasons to hire a wedding planner
-They know how to plan a wedding - they have done this before! -They will help you stay organized -They will lower your stress level before your wedding -They will lower your stress level during your wedding -They will take stress off of your close family and friends -They will help prevent procrastination -They can help you figure out your design aesthetic -They can help you make difficult decisions -They can help you choose vendors -They can help you with cleanup. -They can help you plan a wedding when you live far away
The best Portland wedding planners
Kim of Your Perfect Bridesmaid
What makes Your Perfect Bridesmaid unique?
I feel like our experience (we have been planning weddings for almost 14 years) makes us unique. Each wedding makes us a better planner and we have had a lot of opportunities to really perfect how we help our couples. Additionally, our commitment to helping our couples create a very personal wedding that speaks to the uniqueness of them as a couple set’s us apart.
Why should couples hire a wedding planner?
Every couple deserves the peace of mind a wedding planner provides. That peace of mind during the planning process and on the wedding day ensures that (you the couple) will be able to relax and enjoy your special day. The worst thing in the world would be to spend all of this time and all of this money planning a wedding, only to have you be too exhausted or too stressed to enjoy yourself. Wedding planners ensure couples and their friends and family have the mental bandwidth to soak in the memories. Afterall…it’s the memories you are going to keep for the rest of your life
What advice do you have for couples in choosing a wedding planner?
When you start to look for a planner, narrow down your choices to three or four companies. Read reviews, look for experience, find the companies that speak to you as a couple in terms of how they approach their services. From there hop on a call. Who does the better job of listening to you. Who explains their services in a way where you understand what it is they are going to do/not do. And then finally, trust your gut. This is a personal decision. If you connect better with someone, then they are likely your person.
What type of weddings and couples are the best fit for you and your business?
I love couples who love the northwest. I love couples who want to host their friends and family and have a great time, but who are just as excited about the marriage as they are about the wedding. I love couples who want to play a role in the planning of their wedding but who can also trust our recommendations and advice.
What do you love most about your job as a coordinator/planner?
For me, this job is all about being of service to our couples. It is incredibly meaningful and rewarding being able to create the perfect wedding for our couples AND seeing them be able to fully enjoy themselves on such a special day. Even after 13 years, I still get choked up at every ceremony. What we do matters, and we take that heart. Seeing it all come together….it is still just so emotional.
What is the best way for a couple to reach out and get ahold of you?
There are a few options: email: [email protected] or call/text: 503.984.8652
Anything else you’d like to add?
We would love an opportunity to connect and learn more about your plans and share more specifics on how we can help make them happen. Reach out! We are here to help!
SEE MORE OF MY OWN WEDDING WHERE I HIRED YPB!
Jaime of Jaime Ta Creative
What makes Jaime Ta Creative unique?
I have a large background in multicultural celebrations and have experience customizing wedding days to celebrate and highlight cultural traditions in a way that feels authentic to my clients. I also co-founded Vendors of Color to help couples and vendors celebrate, uplift and hire BIPOC wedding vendors in the PNW.
Why should couples hire a wedding planner?
Planners have great vendor relationships and can help you navigate budget, sourcing vendors, as well as making recommendations/providing guidance throughout the whole planning process. That way you can spend more time enjoying your engagement versus stressing out over the details. They offer valuable insight into venues, vendors and timeline details.
What advice do you have for couples in choosing a wedding planner?
Check their portfolio and work, make sure you can envision your wedding day with their design style. Always trust your intuition, if you vibe with the planner, they are going to closely be part of your wedding planning process and day so it’s important that you mesh with them.
What type of weddings and couples are the best fit for you and your business?
I love celebrating all couples and all forms of love, especially if you are BIPOC and/or part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Being a Vietnamese American wedding planner, I want to see communities of color and underrepresented communities celebrated! My couples usually love delicious food and just having a really fun party!
What do you love most about your job as a coordinator/planner?
Seeing all the hard work we put in prior to the wedding day and on the day of, you being celebrated and loved by your friends and family the whole wedding day. The joy of serving my clients is a huge honor that I don’t take lightly.
What’s the best way for a couple to get ahold of you and reach out to you?
My website and email are the best way to reach out if you want to get more info on service offerings and pricing: jaimetacreative.com and [email protected]
Anything else you’d like to add? Follow me on Instagram for more of my work, wedding planning tips and behind the scenes! Check out my reviews on Google.
FOLLOW JAIME TA CREATIVE ON INSTAGRAM
Morgan of MH Events
What makes MH Events unique?
We believe that our main job as planners is to support not just you but your vendor team as well. If your entire team heads into the event with their needs taken care of and knowing they have your planners on their side, we are all more free to feel all of the feels with you and truly experience your day. I really feel like you can tell the difference between a team that is fully invested in the experience of your day and one who is just ticking off the boxes of the job, to take it from just a perfect event to a true lived experience we will all remember.
Why should couples hire a wedding planner?
You don’t know what you don’t know until it’s too late to fix it, so having a professional on your team to ask all of the right questions, share all the tips and tricks, and streamline the whole process for you, clears your mind to be present and truly enjoy your day. It’s more than just set up and running the event, but also taking on the stressors on the lead up so you’re ready to party.
What advice do you have for couples in choosing a wedding planner?
It is such a personal choice! Trust your gut, ask the questions, and don’t be afraid to push us in our interview to explain or elaborate on something. Remember, we work for you and are here to create your vision, not sell you our own vision of your day.
What type of weddings and couples are the best fit for you and your business?
Our weddings come in all shapes and sizes and we wouldn’t have it any other way. We date around and don’t really have a type. ;) If you love love and want to make memories, we want to help.
What do you love most about your job as a coordinator/planner?
The relationships are it for me. Me and my team make the most amazing moments with our clients as we build and are so connected to each wedding that we do that we are just rolling through all of your moments right there with you. Seeing love in motion is just the best thing in the world.
What is the best way for a couple to reach out and get ahold of you?
Email! Text! Phone!! [email protected], 505-263-8211 https://www.mheventspdx.com
Anything else you’d like to add?
We love, love! Let us love you too!
SEE MORE OF THIS WEDDING I DID WITH MORGAN
Catherine at Bridal Bliss
What makes Bridal Bliss unique?
I think what separates us from other planners is the team we have. There are over 12 of us planners and if one of us doesn’t know the answer, needs another recommendation, or just a brain to bounce ideas off of - we have a team of gals ready to help & listen!
Why should couples hire a wedding planner?
The BEST investment! They are your project manager throughout your entire wedding planning process, keep you on task and set you up for complete success. Not to mention the vendor booking process is quite overwhelming, they make sure you are hiring all the right vendors + keeping your budget in mind!
What advice do you have for couples in choosing a wedding planner?
Find your friend within a planner! You are ultimately going to spend a year if not longer planning your wedding and choosing a planner you vibe with and could see being friends with will set you up for the best success!
What type of weddings and couples are the best fit for you and your business?
I love a couple that is open to new ideas, new trends and ready to think outside of the box a bit!
What do you love most about your job as a coordinator/planner?
I love the relationship you create with your bride + groom. You learn so much about them, their styles and get to see it all come to life on the wedding day! I also can’t help but love the moment I get to make final adjustments to the brides dress before sending her down the aisle! Always the dreamiest moment.
What is the best way for a couple to reach out and get ahold of you?
You can reach out to me directly at [email protected] or [email protected]
Anything else you’d like to add?
If you’re looking for a fun planner that can talk design over rosé, I am your gal!
CHECK OUT THE BRIDAL BLISS WEBSITE
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Emee with EJP Events
What makes EJP Events unique?
Our team approach with 3 planners on staff (employees not contractors); over 45 years of combined event and hospitality experience in the business; and a “heart and head” approach that speaks to both the data side and the emotional side of weddings helps everyone in your weddings mix feel included, comfortable, and secure that you’re making educated decisions.
Why should couples hire a wedding planner?
Simply because: it’s a lot of legwork that you do not have time to do. Of course you could create your own wedding design brief; write a wedding budget; and research the best vendor choices to fit that design and criteria. (This is just the first part of planning!) However. If you’ve never done this before, it’s a huge learning curve to figure out all the industry terms, conventions, and insider knowledge to get all your planning systems up and running. Why not work with a planner who has already created and tested and used successful systems over and over and over; that way you can focus on the fun things like picking colors, decor, and clothing — rather on trying to figure out in what order you should do your huge wedding planning to-do list.
What advice do you have for couples choosing a wedding planner?
Check out their websites and social media! Do you see your wedding or the possibility of your wedding style, in what they offer? Do you see people like you having weddings like yours in their portfolio? Is there a variety of work and clientele, or do they pretty much do just one type of design and look? The latter is not necessarily a bad thing, but if you have non-traditional ideas, or want to work with someone who is flexible with a wide experience of various cultures, traditions, and styles — make sure to look for that int the planner’s work. If so, it’s a good sign that you might want to meet with them and do that interview next step!
What type of weddings and couples are the best fit for you and your business?
We love to work with people who are willing to invest time and thoughtfulness into the process. Most of our wedding clients are working with us starting 6-18 months before the wedding, envisioning everything from the best location to the emotions they want themselves and their guests to feel at different timepoints of the wedding experience.
What do you love most about your job as a coordinator/planner?
I love standing in the back of the room when the party is in full swing, knowing that the crowd is joyfully celebrating, and that they are completely unaware of what went into producing the day. They are only present in the moment.
What’s the best way to contact you?
We have a contact page on our website: https://ejpevents.com/contact-a-portland-event-planner/ or of course you can always call us at (503) 284-6756 or email [email protected]
Anything else you’d like to add?
Remember WHY you’re having your wedding and the love will guide you. Also - we travel!
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SEE MORE OF THIS WEDDING I DID WITH EJP EVENTS
Danielle at Danielle Nichole Events
What makes Danielle Nichole Events unique?
We are a husband and wife team that are both planners and coordinators that help couples.
Why should couples hire a wedding planner?
Hiring a wedding planner can help with organizing all the wedding planning details as well as having someone there to advocate for what your wanting and how you want it for your wedding. It can be stressful when planning your wedding and everyone wants to give you advice or tell you how to do something , a wedding planner can be right there to step in for those conversations to tell others your vision and how the wedding would be like.
What advice do you have for couples in choosing a wedding planner?
When looking for a planner you want to pick someone that you can relate to and feel comfortable with. Wedding planners are there for you the whole time of planning your wedding and being there to help on your wedding day and you want to be able to hire someone that you can communicate with openly and not be afraid to ask to help you with your dress while using the bathroom.
What type of weddings and couples are the best fit for you and your business?
I would say the couples and weddings that are a best fit for us are ones that are filled with love and fun. We love when our couples can have fun at their wedding with their guess all while everyone is giving love to the couple and showing support for their marriage.
What do you love most about your job as a coordinator/planner?
What we love most is seeing our couples smile and having a good time while enjoying themselves. That smile let’s us know we are doing a great job in keeping them relaxed and stress free so they can enjoy their day.
What is the best way for a couple to reach out and get ahold of you?
Best way to contact us is via email at [email protected] or by visiting our website DanielleNicholeEvents.com and sending us a message on our contact us page. We usually get back to couples the same day they reach out.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Have fun while planning your wedding , incorporate your hobbies , favorite shows or movies or favorite past time into your wedding for a personal touch and most importantly pick food , desserts and beverages you enjoy.
DANIELLE NICHOLE EVENTS WEBSITE
SEE MORE OF THIS WEDDING I DID WITH DANIELLE
Events with Becca
What makes Events with Becca unique?
I specialize in planning unforgettable fairytale celebrations and providing a concierge style planning service that allows my clients to enjoy the planning process and ultimately be guests at their own events.
Why should couples hire a wedding planner?
Couples should hire a wedding planner so that they can truly enjoy their celebration. They are investing so much into a once in a lifetime day and the last thing they need to be worried about is the wedding day coming together as they envisioned it. A planner catches the vision and does all of the legwork so that couples and their families/friends don’t have to.
What advice do you have for couples in choosing a wedding planner?
I always share with my clients that I will treat their wedding day as if it was my own or my closest family member’s/friend’s wedding, so it is really important to find a planner who has their best interest in mind at all times and will treat their wedding as their own. With that heart as a planner’s foundation, the couple is guaranteed to experience the most magical day of their life.
What type of weddings and couples are the best fit for you and your business?
I specialize in premium, luxury, and destination weddings/elopements, allowing couples to freeze a moment in time and truly immerse into another world on their wedding day. The magic is in the details so it is really important to me to have a well organized and curated event from the decor/flowers to the vendor selections to the overall atmosphere and flow of the celebration.
What do you love most about your job as a coordinator/planner?
I absolutely love serving my clients on one of the biggest days of their lives! Watching them have the time of their life is like no other! And of course I love watching all of the pretty come together and the trust my clients put into my expertise to design a gorgeous curated event!
What is the best way to contact you?
Website: www.eventswithbecca.com Email: [email protected] Phone: 541-326-1051 Insta: @eventswithbecca Tik Tok: @events.with.becca
Anything else you’d like to add?
Let’s start dreaming! Your life is precious and your story deserves to be celebrated in the most amazing way!
SEE MORE OF THIS EVENTS WITH BECCA WEDDING
Nicole with Zilla
What makes Zilla unique?
Zilla provides a holistic approach to wedding planning by offering wedding coaching and coordination to engaged couples who want to be thoughtful about their wedding planning experience. We empower our amazing couples by talking through all.the.stressful.wedding.things and building their confidence in decisions, helping them navigate through difficult family and friend dynamics, along with, evolving their mindset around budget, wedding perception and vendor relationships. We then translate that solid foundation to execution - so that you actually enjoy the wedding planning process. It’s SUPPOSED to be fun!
Why should couples hire a wedding planner?
To protect the experience YOU want as a couple. Weddings are a lot, even the ‘simple’ ones - but they are pretty amazing! A wedding planner will help you navigate through the process, and should - from both an emotional, aesthetic and logistical perspective. A wedding planner will be your advocate, your phone-a-friend, your go-to for processing all the feelings.
What advice do you have for couples in choosing a wedding planner?
Choose someone that won’t just check things off the list for you. Choose someone who will also support you emotionally and mentally. Planning a wedding is a marathon, not a sprint and you want someone who is excited about travelling that journey with you.
What type of weddings and couples are the best fit for you and your business?
Couples who are working through sensitive family or friend dynamics and/or tricky external factors. They want to be thoughtful about their wedding planning experience - so that it remains authentic to them and their story as a couple.
What do you love most about your job as a coordinator/planner?
I love getting couples back to that moment they got engaged. Because many times, that experience is the most pure moment of excitement, before all the reality sets in, the stress, the opinions. I like helping couples get excited again about their wedding, and then making it happen.
How can people connect with you?
Oooooo, yay, let’s be friends! Email me at [email protected] or follow me on IG @zillaevents
Anything else you’d like to add about yourself?
My happy place is salsa dancing, getting my nails done, binge watching Below Deck, swearing (more than) a smidge, white cheddar popcorn, travel and wine tasting…..the more the merrier - so let me know if you’d like to join!
SEE MORE OF THIS ZILLA WEDDING
Emily with Ponderosa Planning
What makes Ponderosa Planning unique?
Our goal is to demystify the planning process and help couples invest wisely in their wedding day. One of the ways we’re unique is that we’ll go over your budget in depth before even booking with us. Weddings are a huge investment of time, money, and emotional energy. We believe in transparency and honesty surrounding the help you need to make it all happen.
Why should couples hire a wedding planner?
Couples should hire a wedding planner if they don’t have a spare 300+ hours to plan a wedding, hah! But seriously, it’s so bizarre that society wants you to plan the biggest party of your life with all these traditions and expectations, and most couples have never done that before! It’s hard to be successful when you don’t know what you don’t know. That’s where a wedding planner comes in. At the very least, wedding management (sometimes known as coordination) ensures that you can be a guest at your own wedding. That’s my number one goal for my couples.
What advice do you have for couples in choosing a wedding planner?
Don’t spend more than 15% of your wedding budget on a planner. Understand exactly what type of support you’re getting. Make sure they ‘get’ you– your vision, your values, your expectations.
What type of weddings and couples are the best fit for you and your business?
We serve adventurous couples who aren’t afraid to trade tradition for the wedding they truly want. We believe more people is not more fun. We want the wedding to be first about the couple, secondly about the guest experience, and society’s expectations come last. We love building weddings from scratch, at private residences, campgrounds, beaches, summer camps, you name it. We are partial to couples who love the outdoors and love their doggos.
What do you love most about your job as a coordinator/planner?
I love the stakes. To be partially responsible for one of the biggest, most memorable days of someone’s life? It’s truly an honor. I love working with people and using my expertise to make a significant, positive impact.
How can people connect with you?
The best way to get in touch is by filling out our contact form with as much information as possible! ponderosaplanning.com/contact. You can also find us on instagram: @ponderosaplanning
Anything else you’d like to add?
Fun fact, I was a park ranger for 6 years and absolutely LOVE our national parks!
VIEW THE PONDEROSA PLANNING WEBSITE
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Victoria with The Indigo Bride
What makes The Indigo Bride unique?
What makes The Indigo Bride so unique is our team. Having a team made up of strong, creative women who all think differently helps us connect with a wider client base.
Why should couples hire a wedding planner?
Couples should hire a wedding planner simply because planning a wedding is not easy. We are basically your one stop shop when it comes to planning your wedding. We will help you with your design, manage your budget, look over contracts and coordinator the day of. Our job is to make sure you get to enjoy your wedding without feeling overwhelmed!
What advice do you have for couples in choosing a wedding planner?
When choosing a wedding planner you want to make sure you have a real personal connection with your planner. Your Wedding Planner should be able to see your vision and help bring it to life while being realistic.
What type of weddings and couples are the best fit for you and your business?
Our ideal couple is the adventurous couple that is looking for a unique experience and a fabulous design!
What do you love most about your job as a coordinator/planner?
I love so many things about my job, but what I love the most is making couples happy. Seeing their wedding come to life and watching them experience it, is such a blessing.
How can people connect with you?
Head to our website! TheIndigoBride.com - you can fill out a simple contact sheet and someone from our team will be in touch with you as soon as possible. It is also a great place to get inspired, we have a great portfolio of pretty much every venue in Central Oregon.
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Amber with Gather Events
What makes Gather Events unique?
We specialize in creative and personalized design that exudes the style and personalities of our clients in every detail. We create weddings that are not only picture perfect, but also crafted with heart to create a meaningful experience for our couples and their guests.
Why should couples hire a wedding planner?
Hiring a wedding planner allows couples to lean on seasoned professionals to help them navigate the world of weddings. Starting from square one can feel overwhelming, and suck all the joy out of planning a wedding. Planners have years of experience, relationships with other vendors and lots of tips and tricks that streamline the process and make it fun! This allows you to enjoy not only your big day, but also all the time spent creating it together.
What advice do you have for couples in choosing a wedding planner?
Before choosing a planner, take the time to consider your needs and vision. Do you need day of support, or someone to help translate your vision into reality from the start? Look for planners that create weddings that match your style and interview them to see if your personalities mesh. You will work together closely, so choose someone you really vibe with!
What type of weddings and couples are the best fit for you and your business?
We love creative and stylish couples that are fun and open minded. We get excited about out-of-the-box ideas that break old traditions and create new ones!
What do you love most about your job as a coordinator/planner?
I love getting to know my couples and finding out about their love stories and adventures together. I love being able to translate this into a visual and experiential language that is unique to them.
What is the best way for a couple to connect?
Email: [email protected] or phone: 407-230-1369
Anything else you’d like to add about yourself?
Remember, your wedding is more than a budget, a reference image, or a perfect outfit. It’s about love, connection and community. Build from there and you’ll create the perfect wedding and a solid marriage. xx
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Learn More
Did you like reading about these Portland wedding planners? If so, here are some other blog posts you might enjoy! And always, feel free to contact me with more questions! I am here for you.
MY FAVORITE PORTLAND WEDDING VENUES
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WEDDING TOASTS
LEARN ABOUT NON-TRADITIONAL WEDDING TIMELINES