Confession: I never wanted a wedding. I know...I know. I’m a wedding magazine editor. Just hear me out. My darling husband and I tied the knot almost 14 years ago in a very modest ceremony at Seattle’s King County Courthouse. I wore a black sheath dress and carried a small bouquet of purple calla lilies that he ordered for me because I wasn’t even certain where to get a wedding bouquet. We had friends take grainy photos on their iPhone 4. While I mostly wouldn’t change a thing, seeing the incredible feats of beauty this Oregon wedding community creates on the daily definitely has me second-guessing. (For one, I didn’t even know elopement photo sessions existed.)
If you find yourself in a similar cloud of uncertainty (in my case, cluelessness) or are just in the market for the perfect planner/caterer/photographer etc., to bring your dream to life, then this Fall/Winter issue of Oregon Wedding Day is your issue. In our Best of 2026 feature (page 38), you’ll discover a curated list of Oregon’s most talented wedding professionals, nominated and voted on by local couples, readers and fellow industry experts. It’s truly an essential planning resource—one that past me would have consulted many, many times.
As you thumb through the rest of these inspiring pages, you’ll encounter a dramatic, draped editorial at the Sentinel Hotel (page 52), led by Totem Events. The florals! The food! The ornate detailing on the cake! We also traveled to Abbey Road Farm in Carlton for a romantic, yet whimsical scene (page 46) with Your Perfect Bridesmaid, where we refused to let an early spring downpour rain on our very pretty parade.
Don’t miss local love stories (page 85), a new Hood River hotel for the perfect wedding weekend (page 26) and inventive ideas on how to bond with your soon-to-be in-laws (page 24).
It’s funny to think that planning a dream wedding was never part of my journey, but now, I have the opportunity to watch all of you work your magic, then write about it—and for me, that’s the real dream.
With love,
Lauren Mang
@lauren_irondiamond
