Caitlin Head and Alex Ramberg
October 12, 2013
Ceremony:
Reception:
When Caitlin Head and Alex Ramberg met through mutual friends in the chilly winter of 2008, they shared an instant connection. On their first date, the couple dined at downtown’s Portland City Grill before sneaking off to a dimly lit empty sports bar where they played shuffleboard and laughed into the wee hours—establishing their unique dynamic of down-to-earth fun from the very beginning. It only made sense that, four years later, Alex didn’t let a world-class Oregon downpour stop him from proposing as they walked their English setter pup, Bodie, at Troutdale’s 1,000 Acres Dog Park.
While planning their wedding, Caitlin, 29 and Alex, 32 knew they wanted to focus on enjoying a weekend of picturesque celebration with friends and family. To avoid getting caught up in planning the décor, they chose Hood River’s Gallery 301 for its halls filled with local artwork and kept the rest elegant and understated. Simplicity aside, Alex and Caitlin’s deep family roots echoed throughout the details. Framed family wedding photos decorated the tables, while the coasters were printed with “cheers” in both Gaelic and Norwegian, a nod to the bride’s and groom’s heritage, respectively. Before walking down the aisle arm in arm, Caitlin and her father shared a beer at the Hood River Hotel.
After the ceremony, the wedding party and guests took a celebratory walk around town, accompanied by drummers from the local high school marching band, using the abundance of charming local landmarks as backdrops for group photos. Upon returning to the gallery, guests wined and dined before cheering as the bride and her family performed an impromptu Irish dance. After a locally sourced meal and, of course, more dancing, friends and family sent the couple off with a festive display of sparklers.
Following the festivities, the newlyweds took off for a cozy weekend at Skamania Lodge before returning to their Southeast Portland home, where Caitlin works in financial aid at Reed College and Alex works in medical sales. When they aren’t tasting new beers, skiing on Mount Hood or adventuring along the Oregon Coast, they’re planning to adopt another English setter and embark on one more European expedition before starting a family.
