Destination Community -- Weddings

If you can, I’d REALLY like to be your friend! Let’s face it - weather in the Pacific Northwest is very quick to change and keeps you on your toes. We don’t ever quite know what we’re going to get. If you are someone whose entire wedding will be ruined by rain, wind, a low flying airplane, a train’s whistle, a flyby of honking geese, cold temperatures, or a myriad of other outdoor occurrences then an outdoor ceremony or reception isn’t a good choice for you. If you can roll with the punches and understand that no one can control the weather or completely control an outdoor environment (and consequently none of your vendors are to blame if it’s raining, too hot, a car horn honks, etc.) then considering an outdoor event or portion of your event can be a great option.

In a world where a new social media website seems to “pop-up” every day, it can be hard to decide which sites are worth your time. As the Social Media Coordinator at Tempe Mission Palms, it is my job to keep my finger on the pulse of social media, and the latest website that has caught my attention is Pinterest.

Love is in the air with Valentine's day approaching, but nowhere more than on Maui – the perfect place to “get Maui’d” or spend a honeymoon. Stunning sunsets and secluded beach coves provide the most popular backdrops as couples exchange lei (traditionally, pikake for the bride and maile for the groom), to symbolize their eternal love. For some, close friends and family members make the journey to the islands to share in the celebration while others exchange their vows in a private, romantic ceremony. 

The exotic landscape resonates with many who embrace all or part of a traditional Hawaiian wedding ceremony with an accompaniment of ukulele music, or the blowing of the conch shell (or pu) to announce the bride’s arrival and call to the earth, sea, air and fire as witnesses.

Had probably the best massage of my life at the Spa at Loretto. Bryan was my therapist and the whole experience was relaxing yet energizing. The room was comfortable with beautiful furnishings and a place to shower after, in privacy. I literally took me about 10 minutes to get up off the table after the treatment was complete. It will be a spa experience that is hard to top!

This Sunday, January 15th is the Skamania Lodge Bridal Open House. If he's like most guys, the last thing he wants to do is go to some Bridal show. But ours is different and YES, there really will be other guys there! He can belly up to the bar and sip on a Northwest Micro Brew (important research for the big day!), while you talk to the florist, photographers, and check out the decor.

Next up, FOOD tasting! What guy doesn't love that? You two can get a taste of all the options the Lodge has to offer and decide on your menu together!

Nearly eight million votes were cast and in the end only 511 hotels, resorts and cruise lines earned the right to be ranked as the top places to stay around the world. Criteria for each varied slightly, but candidates were rated on five key components, including 1) rooms, 2) service, 3) food, 4) location, 5) design, and 6) activities. The Gold List is based on data collected from the annual Readers’ Choice Survey and to qualify for inclusion in the Gold List rankings, a property had to receive a required minimum number of responses.

Did you know that the average wedding takes 200-300 hours to plan? And there are a minimum of 30 “hiccups” that occur at every wedding? Hiring a professional wedding coordinator will save money, save time, and save your sanity.

Christmas is over and the year is coming to an end. Like many do over the holidays, you've gotten engaged. Congratulations! Now the planning begins - a great way to start is to attend our Bridal Open House on Sunday, January 15 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. Check out all the great venues that Skamania Lodge has to offer, taste the delicious food from Chef James Boheim, and chat with some of our preferred vendors. It's a one stop shop and we'd love to have you.  RSVP by January 10 to Michele at mstarry@destinationhotels.com.

Skamania Lodge will be exhibiting at the Portland Bridal Show January 7-8, 2012 at the Oregon Convention Center. Be sure to check out the bridal show as all attendees receive an opportunity to win a door prize that includes a three night stay, lunch, dinner and a spa treatment for two.

Come check out Skamania Lodge at the Annual Portland Art of Weddings Show! This is a wonderful opportunity to explore ideas for your Portland area wedding. The show is on January 9th from 6:30pm - 9:00pm. Additional details about the bridal show are below so keep reading and we'll see you there!

We are excited to announce our latest addition of the 281-room Doubletree Bedford Glen Hotel to our collection of hotels and resorts. This Boston area hotel, located on the I-95 corridor, is only 40 minutes away from Boston’s Logan International Airport and is ideally situated near a major technology development center and high tech businesses. Nestled on 24 wooded acres, this centrally located suburban hotel is a wonderful retreat for the leisure or business traveler and is only 18 miles northwest of downtown Boston. Both leisure guests and business travelers can enjoy the hotel’s indoor pool, fitness center with beach volleyball and an indoor/outdoor tennis facility. Enjoy a leisurely meal and dine at Bistro 44 serving New England favorites and American fare.

A mermaid gown and crystal starfish accents make for a modern yet timeless San Diego beach wedding. See pictures of Randi + David's elegant seaside soiree held at L'Auberge Del Mar on the Karen Tran Florals website.

Embassy Suites Chicago-North Shore/Deerfield, located near Chicago, IL joins the Destination Hotels & Resorts’ collection. Ideally situated in the Chicago North Shore suburbs, the hotel offers a tranquil suburban setting yet is centrally located near The Windy City. Accommodations at this Chicago area hotel include 237 spacious two-room suites. The hotel also offers many options for your meeting needs with 47,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space.