Clueless she is not. But when wedding planner Nora Sheils recently stumbled on an original Kate Spade bag in her closet, she immediately flashed back on the punchy prep of the mid-’90s, a look so perfectly encapsulated in that Alicia Silverstone flick. When we asked for her latest wedding décor inspirations, she had this sassy yet polished look in mind. The owner of Bridal Bliss, who loves injecting bold pops of color into her weddings, balanced vivid raspberry shades with crisp navy for a tailored collegiate edge. “It’s an unexpected alternative to black,” she explains. “This ‘Portland Preppy’ style embraces tradition without being stuffy.” Sheils sourced the perfect details from local vendors for a classic winter wedding with a twist.
(above) There’s no better place to feature an intense burst of color than in your bouquet. This dense bunch of flash bacarra and black roses, rapberry garden roses, deep magenta double peonies, blush ranunculus and hyacinth from downtown Portland’s Geranium Lake Flowers takes pink to the max, but keeps the pop from overwhelming the bride with a rich and silky navy stem wrap. $195
(above left) “I like to surprise my brides with unexpected details,” says Sheils, like putting the ladies in rain boots instead of high heels. These Burberry galoshes in Raspberry Sorbet are no less posh, however, and would look perfectly cheeky making a splash on one of our gray Oregon days. $225 from Nordstrom
(above right) Rows of stripes are anything but rigid when rendered in alternating shades of fuschia and indigo ribbon by Dream Cakes in Southeast Portland. The silky sheen and clean lines transform the three tiers of white fondant, butter pound cake, red velvet, and Tahitian vanilla buttercream from simple to stunning. $7/slice
(above) Make sure your wedding party is dressed to the nines, right down to the last detail. The guys will charm in striped bow ties by Countess Mara, and the ladies will look lovely with velana k lip glosses, a local line whose creator names each shade after a close friend, and a rich navy leather clutch from Tory Burch, whose pieces exude socialite charm. Bow tie from Macy’s, $39.50; lip gloss in “Jennifer” from Blush Beauty Bar, $20; clutch from Nordstrom, $195
(above left) These invitations by Crave Design are a neat and tidy first impression of your wedding style, featuring an envelope-inspired tri-fold design and sophisticated deco typography. Color-coordinating ribbons are hand-woven throughout to provide that perfectly luxurious touch. $7/each for invite set including envelope, RSVP postcard and website card
(above right) Surprise your guests with a playful place setting to shake up an otherwise formal dinner reception. A soft ombre plate softens the strong pattern on Missoni Home china, while shiny rose gold forks offer a different take on “silver”ware. Salt block favors wrapped in ribbon show off your refined taste. Margherita charger, $155, and dinner plate, $88, and Astier de Villatte Naples fork, $34, all from Cielo Home; quartz salt cube from The Meadow, $8
(above) Using winter
season fruits pomegranate and blood orange, McMenamins’ Kennedy School
bartender Daniel Parker Guidry crafted a whiskey cocktail even the liquor-shy
will love. The rich pink color of the Pomegranate Blush might be eye-catching,
but it’s the refreshing tart flavor that will have your guests raving.
Pomegranate Blush
- 1 1/2 oz. Rye
Whiskey - 1 oz. Pomegranate
Liqueur - 1/2 oz. fresh
Blood Orange juice (use the Moro variety for intense red color) - 1/2 spoon Agave
Nectar (optional)
- Pour all
ingredients into a shaker filled to the top with ice. - Shake for ten
counts. - Strain the drink
into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a blood orange wheel.
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