Inside Portland’s historic Sentinel Hotel is a marvel of a space: the soaring, more than 6,400-square-foot Governor Ballroom, with its intricate cornices, stately columns and ornate ceiling motifs. The regal room can host up to 500 of your closest friends and family, however, Carrie Wilmes, lead designer and planner at Totem Events, wanted to think smaller. Way smaller. “The Sentinel has exquisite details everywhere you look,” she says. “My vision was to have this big space still be a showcase, but to also feel like you’re in your own world at your reception dinner.” She enlisted the creative genius of Runestone Events to enclose the tablescape with flowing layers of rich drapery, making it feel “as if the couple and their guests were surrounded in a cloud of love.”
For the invitation suite, I was inspired by the ornate ceiling patterns in the ballroom. They felt CLASSICAL and ARCHITECTURAL. Pairing those traditional motifs with modern typefaces and bold accents of chartreuse and cobalt blue created a BALANCE between old and new.
–Brittany Hampton, Letters and Dust
Trending shades of terracotta, ivory and chartreuse—with hints of cobalt blue to echo the ballroom’s carpeting—laid the foundation for the design. A lavish garland arrangement by Trellis Florals, featuring green cymbidium orchids, anthurium, hydrangea and fritillaria grown from owner Blaire Regan’s garden, filled the table’s center. “I leaned into a rich, textural mix of blooms that felt both grounded and a little unexpected,” she says. “The orchids added movement and delicacy, anthuriums introduced a sculptural, modern edge and hydrangeas—very much having a moment—brought fullness and softness that tied everything together.”
The overall vibe of the installation was immersive and transportive. We worked with a WARM, layered palette of terracotta, GOLDEN TONES and chartreuse, punctuated by soft hints of light blue in the table décor and linens. Draping enclosed the entire space, creating this intimate, almost cocoon-like environment where the florals felt like they were unfolding around you.
–Blaire Regan, Trellis Florals
A terracotta stunner from Dream Cakes incorporated ornate details that mimic the Governor Ballroom’s grandiose carved ceilings and walls.
With an INTENTIONAL and INTIMATE guest count, a smaller reception seating layout doesn’t have to feel small. You want it to feel cozy. COZY doesn’t have to mean simple.
–Carrie Wilmes, Totem Events
The finale to this cozy evening among friends: a delicious spread of comfort food with an elevated twist. Jake’s Catering & Jake’s Grill Chef Dolan Lane devised a menu of late-night eats, including spiced curly fries with smoked gouda and green onions, duck confit flatbread, Jake’s famous Dungeness crab cakes and sesame noodle boxes with spicy peanut sauce. Hot dogs and champagne, anyone?
