What are the opening hours?

Monday 10am - 5pm Tuesday 10am - 5pm Wednesday 10am - 5pm Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 10am - 5pm

Ainsworth House & Gardens, 19130 Lot Whitcomb Drive, Oregon City, OR (2024)

12/07/2024

5 Fun Ways to Level up the Fun at Your Wedding!

As wedding specialists, one of the trends we see for 2025 weddings is that couples are selecting a venue such as Ainsworth House & Gardens more than ever before! Why? Because we have exquisite spaces which don’t require a lot of decoration, our couples can spend money allocated for decorations on elevated food or music. That makes their wedding even more amazing!

In addition, there is a trend to add more fun to 2025 weddings! Here are just five:
1. A Personalized Coffee Bar: We are in the Pacific Northwest, land of ubiquitous coffee! Caterers or food trucks can create an amazing coffee bar at which your guests can get personalized hot or cold libations. Depending on your vendor, there might be sweet pastries or other fun food to accompany each drink!

2. 360° Photobooth with Props: Want to raise the fun? Level up from a regular photobooth to one that takes images all the way around your guests! Offer props either related to your wedding’s theme or the season and let your guests have a blast creating memories to last a lifetime!

3. Picture this! A Portrait Artist! Let your guests capture this moment in time at your wedding by having their portrait done by an artist right there and then! The portrait becomes a keepsake which your guest can keep or give to a loved one.

4. Bespoke Poet at the Party: Hire a poet to author bespoke poems about your guests! What incredible fun!

5. Late night bites: Many weddings extend after the reception with the party going on until the early hours of the next day. To make sure that your guests don’t faint because they are famished, offer food to keep the festivities going such as nachos, sushi, sliders, tacos, burgers with fries (of course!), chicken bites, or personalized wood-fried pizza. Your caterer or a food truck are the perfect ways to provide fun food!

I hope this gets your creativity amped up!

The image above is courtesy of Pixabay.com.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved. Internationally.

Li
Add Fun to Your Wedding? Yes, Please!

There is a trend to add more fun to 2025 weddings! Here are just five:
1. A Personalized Coffee Bar: We are in the Pacific Northwest, land of ubiquitous coffee! Caterers or food trucks can create an amazing coffee bar, tea bar, and/or hot chocolate bar at which your guests can get personalized hot or cold libations. Depending on your vendor, there might be sweet pastries or other fun food to accompany each drink!
2. 360° Photobooth with Props: Want to raise the fun? Level up from a regular photobooth to one that takes images all the way around your guests! Offer props either related to your wedding’s theme or the season and let your guests have a blast creating memories to last a lifetime!
3. Picture this! A Portrait Artist! Let your guests capture this moment in time at your wedding by having their portrait done by an artist right there and then! The portrait becomes a keepsake which your guest can keep or give to a loved one.
4. Bespoke Poet at the Party: Hire a poet to author bespoke poems about your guests! What incredible fun!
5. Late night bites: Many weddings extend after the reception with the party going on until the early hours of the next day. To make sure that your guests don’t faint because they are famished, offer food to keep the festivities going such as nachos, sushi, macaroni ‘n cheese, BBQ, slides, tacos, burgers with fries (of course!), chicken bites, or personalized wood-fried pizza. Your caterer or a food truck are the perfect ways to provide fun food!
I hope this gets your creativity amped up!

The image above is courtesy of Pixabay.com.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved. Internationally.

12/04/2024

2 Amazing Tips to Improve Communication & Reduce Stress during Wedding Planning

As wedding planners at Ainsworth House & Gardens, a premier event venue, we often notice that when a couple is under stress, their frustration soars as their communication crumbles. As a successfully married couple of many years, let us share with you two techniques we found that improve communication and help the bonds grow stronger.

1. Select your alert word or phrase which alerts your partner that you need them to listen to you actively right NOW.
How do you do this?

Each of you needs to select an alert word—a word or phrase you don’t normally use in conversation (such as “pineapple,” “red,” or “crocodile”). For one couple, hers was “kangaroo” and his alert word was “itzy,” a Southern term of endearment.

Either person could speak their word to tell their partner that he/she didn’t feel that they were being listened to or that they were being spoken over.

Often, just the act of actively listening is enough to relieve the other person’s stress so that productive communication can occur. Sit down with your partner. Pick your alert words. Practice this technique. It works!

If your partner is managing the majority of the wedding planning, she might be incredibly stressed. Encourage her to let her team of bridesmaids, family members, co-workers, and friends help her with this gargantuan task. Ask what tasks you can take on that will shorten her “to do” list.

2. ACT—Always Carry Tissues. Often, stressed people cry. By having tissues or a handkerchief in your pocket at all times, you can provide a level of calming comfort which will be appreciated by your beloved and thus improve the communication between you two.

Image is courtesy of Pixabay.com.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved internationally.

11/30/2024

A Totally Unique Idea: A Random Ring Bearer!

Last June, we posted on our blog how to have a random ring bearer at your wedding. We thought it was a cool idea…and so did one of the couples marrying at Ainsworth House & Gardens this fall! Since everyone enjoyed having a ring bearer chosen by chance, we thought we’d re-run the post for you!

Here is how it works:
1. Before your ceremony, select a chair that is on the outside aisle.
2. I strongly recommend that the chair be near the front since there is a greater chance a person will be escorted to that chair by an usher or groomsman.
3. Tell the groomsmen or ushers to make sure that they seat a well-dressed person in that seat.
a. If there is someone you really want to be your ring bearer, tell the groom’s squad who this person is and seat them in that chair.
4. Tell the videographer and photographer to be focused on the person when you arrive at the rings part of your ceremony.
5. At this point, either you or your groom should take the mic and say a version of the following:
a. “We are now at the point where we give each other our wedding rings except we don’t have them. Could you all look under your chairs? One of these chairs has our rings taped underneath it. Could you—you lucky person, you—bring them up to us as our ring bearer? Thanks!”
b. When the person finds the rings, invite them to stand up and come forward to give the rings to the officiant.
c. You thank the person.
d. Your ceremony continues.
6. Could a woman be your ring bearer? Yes! It’s up to you two how much or how little you want to control the situation. If you want a specific person to be your random ring bearer, then make sure they are escorted to that special chair. If you want this to be completely random, then that is your option.

This has worked at other weddings; it is hilarious when the random ring bearer has fun with it.

Image is courtesy of Pixabay.com.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved worldwide.

11/27/2024

16 Insanely Cool Ways to Have Bows at Your Wedding!

As the premier wedding venue in Metro Portland, we are seeing so much creativity on the use of bows at weddings.

In the recent past, bows were in neutral colors so that they blended in, or they were in a contrasting neutral color such as a black bow on a white wedding cake so that they stood out.

For upcoming weddings, we are seeing bows in bright colors to add pop to the wedding. In certain cases, we are seeing bows with a pattern.. For instance, if a huge bow is tied (with our permission, of course) to one of the trees between the parking lot and the wedding venue to point the way, that bow is more likely to be in a bright color or pattern to get the guests’ attention and guide them to where they need to be.

Places where we are seeing bows:
1. wedding dress, bridesmaids’ dresses, and flower girl dresses
2. wedding cake
3. bride’s and bridesmaids’ bouquets
4. aisle of the ceremony space
5. back of the reception chairs
6. sweetheart table at the reception
7. vases
8. candlesticks
9. wine glass stems
10. champagne glass stems
11. napkins or a bow-shaped napkin fold
12. menu cards
13. trees or sign posts guiding guests to your wedding venue
14. entrance to your wedding venue
15. front porch
16. mailbox where guests can leave greeting cards for you

Depending on how bright your bow colors are and the size of the bows, this motif can be cute and sassy.

Bows are the perfect way to add feminine charm, romantic symbolism, and cheerful whimsy to your wedding!!

Image is courtesy Pixabay.com.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved internationally.

11/22/2024

8 Super Smart Eco-Friendly Options for Your Wedding Exit

Since the dawn of time, guests have found creative ways to bless newlyweds at the end of the wedding ceremony. In Ancient Rome, guests tossed rice over the couple to wish them abundance and fertility. In Italy, guests toss candy and sugared nuts at the couple to wish them all the sweetness of life. In France, guests toss wheat at the couple to bless them with abundance.

So what can your guests do that’s eco-friendly at the end of your wedding ceremony? Here are 8 great, green, eco-friendly options!

1. Release Monarch or Painted Lady Butterflies. There are several vendors who offer live butterflies which you or your guests can gently release. Like bees, they pollinate flowers, fruits, and vegetables.
In certain cultures, the sight of a butterfly reminds you of a person who passed on and brings you comfort and peace knowing that the person’s love gently surrounds you now.
2. Release Ladybugs which eliminate bugs that can damage valuable crops.
3. Flower petals: Your florist may have petals left over after making your bouquets.
4. Biodegradable confetti
5. Toss paper airplanes (which can then be gathered and given to children in the hospital or a homeless shelter).
6. Fragrant herbs such as lavender or rosemary, a symbol of love during the Middle Ages
7. Allow your guests to blow bubbles.
8. If you would rather not be used for target practice, let your guests wave:
a. Flags representing your nationalities or the US
b. Ribbon wands
c. Paper streamers
d. Hankies
e. Sparklers
f. Or ring small bells

If you’d rather not have anything to clean up, have your guests yell “Yippee” as you walk by them as you exit or if this is a Renaissance themed wedding, your guests can yell, “Huzzah!” If your guests are Texans, they can yell, “Yee Haw!”

Now you know!

The image above is courtesy of Unsplash.com.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved internationally.

11/19/2024

What You Should Ask a Professional Wedding Photographer

As wedding professionals at Ainsworth House & Gardens, an elegant historical wedding venue in Metro Portland, we are often asked by our brides and grooms what they need to ask a professional wedding photographer before they hire that person.

Here are the seven questions we give them:
1. Is the photographer operating legally in your state? This could mean having both a business license through the city or county AND a legal entity in that state.
o Does the person have a business license?
o Are they registered with in your state under a trade name (or doing business as), limited liability company, or corporation?
o Does the person carry liability insurance?
o Will the person sign a written contract with you?

2. Check out the person’s portfolio. Are these the type of photos you seek?

3. What are the photographer’s skills and experience?
o Has the person worked in challenging situations such as low light or changing weather?
o Did the person capture the best moments at other weddings?

4. Did the photographer tell the couple’s story? Do the images convey beautiful storytelling?

5. In the portfolio, are all the photos stunning or only a few? If it’s only a few, run! You want consistently amazing photos.

6. In the portfolio, do you see photos which show attention to details such as the rings or your wedding dress? Did the person capture the details of a wrought iron chair sitting in a garden surrounded by flowers?

7. Is the photographer willing to help you organize your wedding day so that you get the photos you really want? These might be you with your mom before the ceremony or your groom getting ready with his “I Do Crew.”

We hope that helps you get started finding the photographer who will create lifetime memories for you!

The image above is courtesy of Pixabay.com.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved internationally.

11/16/2024

2 Brilliant Options to Hiring a Professional Wedding Photographer

Having coordinated oodles of amazing weddings here at Ainsworth House & Gardens, a sustainable wedding venue in Metro Portland, we’ve found fabulous, professional wedding photographers whose work we applaud and two alternatives: hiring someone who is not a professional photographer yet or letting a guest give you the gift of their skills as a photographer instead of a wedding gift. Let’s explore each option and then you can decide!

1. Should you hire someone building their portfolio, pay them to take photos, and develop the film at a photo store?

Many professionals use a combination of digital and film now. Depending on whom you hire will determine how you get the photos—download digital photos to the thumb drive and/or develop film.

How would you go about finding a photographer?

In discussing this with our team, Kathy, one of writers, shared her story:

She called the photography department at the local community college and got a recommendation for one of the students excelling at wedding photography. The two met. The woman showed her portfolio, and they discussed what kinds of photos Kathy wanted.

At the wedding, Kathy paid the woman for her time and took the film to be developed.

The photos were nicely taken, and Kathy was happy with the results. She saved quite a bit of money and figured it was a success!

2. Should you let a guest take the photos in lieu of giving you a wedding present?
a. If the guest is a professional wedding photographer and you like the person’s work, that’s a great solution!
b. If the guest is not a professional photographer but has taken photos at a wedding, check out their work. If you like what you see, then proceed if you wish to.
c. If the guest has no experience, be careful. The person’s heart might be in the right place but if their skill isn’t up to the task of taking photos you will have for your lifetime, consider all the options before proceeding.
3. Are there reasons to hire a professional wedding photographer?
Yes. You want a professional whose experience and skills will get the stunning photos you want. At Ainsworth House & Gardens, we are happy to share our list of very talented preferred photographers!

If you’d like to learn more about what you should ask a professional wedding photographer before you hire them, see our next Facebook post.

I hope this gets you started on planning.

The image above is courtesy of Pixabay.com.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved internationally.

11/13/2024

4 Amazing Bridesmaids’ Gifts!

As wedding planners at Ainsworth House & Gardens, an exquisite wedding venue in Oregon City, we are often asked by our brides how they can create an Oregon gift bag for their bridesmaids. Here is our super cool idea!
1. Start with a duffle bag. You could monogram it with each person’s initials or give them a gift certificate for any three letters the person wants.
2. There are so many amazing products made right here in Oregon. By selecting local vendors, you are supporting our economy. Here are a few of my favorites:

Carriage House Lavender
Sherwood, Oregon
https://www.carriagehouselavender.com/
Imagine seeing a beautiful future when all anyone else sees is a dilapidated, scheduled for demolition carriage house (a stately barn for miniature ponies). That’s what Dave Murray did when he turned this rickety old farm into a gorgeous carriage house and lavender farm—an oasis of peace in a world of chaos. He selected, planted, and carefully tended several varieties of lavender on this property with its sweeping views of the Willamette Valley. After gently hand harvesting the lavender, he creates a variety of products which could easily go into each bridesmaid’s duffle bag including handmade soaps, sachets, lavender essential oil, shea butter cream, and a lavender-jasmine muscle rub which is fabulous! (For the groomsmen, there is a beard oil which softens even the prickliest cactus face.)

Rose City Pepperheads
Tigard, Oregon
https://www.rosecitypepperheads.com/chicken-fajitas.html
Just beyond the city limits of the Rose City of Portland is this enterprise which grow acres of peppers—every pepper from “That wasn’t too bad” to “What was I thinking!?!” This small batch producer creates award-winning pepper jellies which can give your I Do Crew a taste of Oregon. Want more fun? Download the recipes for Chicken Fajitas which features Mango Madness Pepper Jelly. Check out the website! There are several amazing recipes for these flavorful jellies!

Made in Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
https://madeinoregon.com/collections/main-nav-oregon-apparel-collection-women/products/ban27-105191
They’ve got everything! Want a tee shirt or a Pendleton blanket? They have them! Want a beautiful Raincloud necklace? It’s here! Have fun exploring!

I hope that gets you started on your quest for an Oregon gift bag for your bridesmaids!

Image courtesy of Pixabay.com.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved internationally.

11/09/2024

Include December’s Birthstones & Birth Flowers in Your Wedding

Here’s a quick list of December birthstones and birth flowers!
December Birthstones:
Blue Topaz
Turquoise.

December Birth Flowers:
Holly
Poinsettia
Orchid
Narcissus.

December Birthstones: Blue Topaz.
How do we get blue topaz?
Light blue topaz occurs naturally and is found in Texas, Russia, and Brazil.
For those looking for a deeper blue topaz, there is a choice: When colorless topaz is irradiated, it turns blue.
What does topaz symbolize?

• Faithfulness
• Constancy
• Loyalty.
Turquoise
In many cultures, turquoise symbolizes:
• Wisdom
• A Blessing
• Protection
• Tranquility.

December Birth Flowers: Holly
What does holly symbolize?
• Love
• Hope
• Protection
• Rebirth
• Renewal
• Eternal Life.

Poinsettia
In which colors does the Poinsettia bloom?
While vibrant red was the original color, flowers now bloom in a single color of creamy white, pink, and bright orange or in two colors such as red and white or green and white.
What does the Poinsettia symbolize?
• Love
• Hope
• Goodwill

Why is the Poinsettia associated with Christmas?
Simple answer: Really good marketing.
To promote the flower for the Christmas season, Paul Ecke, Sr. sent free poinsettias to the hosts of TV shows to decorate their sets with the gorgeous red flowers. Johnny Carson, Dinah Shore, and Ronald Regan all broadcast their shows surrounded by poinsettias!

Paul Ecke, Jr., took this a step further. After being told by the editors of Women’s Day and Sunset magazines that they did their Christmas photo shoots in the summer, he developed poinsettias which bloomed vibrantly in summer so that it could be included in these promotional activities. And that’s why people decorate their homes with prolific poinsettias—so that they can look like the homes featured in these magazines!

Orchid
You can find orchids growing almost everywhere on Earth…except on glaciers where it’s a bit too cold. In fact, there are more than 28,000 species of orchids! Orchids bloom in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors.
In which colors do orchids bloom?
• White
• Pink
• Red
• Orange
• Yellow
• Green
• Blue
• Purple.
What does an orchid symbolize?
• Love
• Charm
• Beauty
• Refinement
• Thoughtfulness.

Narcissus (Paperwhite)
What does a narcissus symbolize?
• Purity
• New beginnings
• Renewal
• Wealth
• Prosperity.
For those celebrating Hanukkah, a Jewish festival, the flower stands for:
• Hope
• Light
• Rebirth.
For Christians, the flower stands for the birth of Jesus Christ.

Image courtesy of Pexels.com.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved worldwide.

11/04/2024

A Deliciously Smart Option: A Mac ‘n Cheese Bar for Your Wedding!

Looking to add creative fun to the food options at your wedding?
Consider a super cool Macaroni and Cheese Bar!

For many of us, mac and cheese is a comfort food we can dress up (or not) to our heart’s content.

But does it work for a wedding? Yes!
As far back as 2010, there were social media posts about how to pull off an epic mac and cheese bar at a wedding

A macaroni and cheese bar can be the focal point of the cocktail hour instead of hors d'oeuvres. For a little extra class, serve it in martini glasses!

If your mac and cheese bar is at the reception, you might want to offer one or two other main dishes to accommodate guests’ dietary needs.

Here are some of the toppings that we’ve seen offered at a mac ‘n cheese bar for the cocktail hour or the reception:
The Pastas:
• Elbow macaroni
• Orecchiette

The Cheeses (as a sauce or shredded):
• Cheddar
• American
• Bechamel sauce
• Havarti
• Gruyere
• Gouda

The Proteins:
• Chicken (grilled, Buffalo, or BBQ)
• Ground Beef
• Brisket
• Steak
• Pork (pulled or BBQ)
• Shrimp
• Lobster

The Toppings:
• Bacon
• Diced ham
• Pepperoni
• Pancetta
• Prosciutto
• Roasted pine nuts
• Bread crumbs
• croutons
• Sour cream

The Veggies, Etc.:
• Broccoli
• Tomatoes
• Roasted red peppers
• Roasted cauliflower
• Mushrooms
• Chopped red onions
• Chopped green onions
• Chives
• Scallions
• Green chilies (mild or medium)
• Jalapeños
• Roasted Garlic
• Onions

The Sauces & Dressings:
• Bacon-onion jam
• Pesto
• Ranch dressing
• BBQ
• Buffalo Sauce
• Hot sauce
• Tabasco
• Truffle oil.

Select the elements that appeal to you…And that’s how you create an amazing Mac ‘n Cheese Bar!

Image is courtesy of Pixabay.com.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved internationally.

11/04/2024

Join us for our next open house! Meet us, tour us, and enjoy some drinks & snacks on us! Enter a drawing to win a complimentary “extra” with your event booking!

11/03/2024

We're having an open house, and we'd love to have you come and see us! Sunday, November 10th from 1 pm to 4 pm.

You'll get to connect with local caterers, florists, photographers, DJs, and more!

Light refreshments will be served by a few of our preferred caterers, so please RSVP by November 5.

11/01/2024

Can We Allow Guests to Sit on Either Side of the Aisle? Yes!

While most of us know that there is an etiquette rule that our fork must be on the left side of our plate, the great news is that there is no hard and fast rule on which side of the aisle the bride’s guests must sit; therefore, if you allowed it, your guests could sit on either side of the aisle.

How could allowing your guests to sit where they please improve your guests’ experience?
1. By allowing the guests to sit where they wish, the guests can select a location where they can clearly see the face of the bride or the groom. When the guests are relegated to their traditional side, what they see is the back of the head of the bride or groom. Not the best guest experience…
2. Allowing the guests to sit anywhere they want allows them to get closer to the front and have a better view. On one forum, there was a post that one partner had 12 siblings while the other was an only child which meant that one side of the aisle was crammed with guests and the other side was underrepresented. If the guests were allowed to co-mingle, then it wouldn’t have looked so lopsided.
3. Often, a guest is friends with both the bride and the groom. By having open seating, the guest doesn’t have to select which side of the aisle they are on but instead selects the best available seat.

The traditional seating chart (bride’s posse on the left) may have two different origins.
1. In the early Christian church, women sat on one side of the aisle for church services and men sat on the other…even if they were married. It is possible this influenced seating at Christian weddings.
2. As Christie discussed recently in the previous blog post, the groom stood to the right of the bride so that he could draw his sword and defend her during wedding if raiders barged into the church trying to kidnap the bride. His groomsmen and any guests lined up behind him to create an army to protect the bride.

If you’re not expecting a raiding party to take your bride, then you are probably pretty safe in letting your guests sit wherever they wish for your wedding ceremony.

Image courtesy of Fritz Photo.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved internationally.

10/29/2024

9 Insanely Smart Tips for Reducing Pre-Wedding Stress

If you’re getting married, we’ve got 9 ways to reduce your stress while planning your wedding.

1. Understand your situation. Planning a wedding is one of the most stressful life events—right up there with death of a loved one and loss of a job.

2. Practice self-care.
a. Breathe:
1. Use deep breathing to release stress.
2. Use guided imagery to enhance this.
b. Play:
1. Play with Play-Doh for 30 seconds.
2. Watch a funny cat, dog, otter, or dancing cockatoo video.
c. Exercise:
1. March in place for 30-60 seconds.
2. Wring out a towel. Pretend it’s a person who just got up in your grill…😊
3. Contract your muscles. Release. Shake it out.
4. Stretch and release.
d. Spirituality: Practice mindfulness, meditation, and/or prayer.
e. Schedule time to get a massage, a facial, or a reflexology treatment.
f. Read or listen to soothing music.

3. Celebrate your inner child. She’s still in there! Let her come out and play! As girls, we found joy in swimming or drawing “great works of art” on the driveway with those thick chalk pieces. Taking an adult dance class now or kicking a soccer ball up and down the field might be what you need to drop kick that stress!

4. Learn the life skill of delegating. Do you know why there is a bridal party? In the Middle Ages, the gal pals were there to protect the bride from someone who wanted to kidnap her. Let your bridal party defend you now from the ugly stress monster by taking on some of the tasks you’ve loaded on your shoulders.
a. Ask each bridesmaid, friend, parent, or co-worker to be your point of contact with a particular vendor—Sarah is your contact with the florist. Let the vendor know that she has been deputized by you to approve certain changes. For instance, if the florist tells Sarah that the roses are coming in a slighter deeper shade of peach than what you selected, Sarah can approve that and update you but if the roses coming in are purple, Sarah needs to contact you immediately.

5. Involve your team in the wedding. invite your team over to address envelopes, make centerpieces, and/or make favors.

6. Sleep. Give yourself permission to sleep 7-9 hours and take a nap if needed.

7. Enjoy healthy meals. Eating a healthy breakfast, snacks, and meals will improve your focus.

8. Set regular dates with your partner. Go out on a regular basis.

9. Exercise. A ten-minute walk or a yoga class releases those happy little endorphins and can improve the quality of your sleep!

Keep your goal in mind. Why are you getting married? So that you can declare to the world that you have found the person whom you love above all others.

That makes all this so totally do-able!

The image is courtesy of Pixabay.com.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved internationally.

10/25/2024

Sustainable Wines for Your Wedding? Yes, please!

Could you serve sustainable wines at your wedding? You can!

Let’s dive in!
• A vineyard is where the grapes are grown.
• A winery is where the grapes are processed into wine.
• An estate winery combines both and bottles all the grapes grown on the property.
• Sustainable wines are produced when the focus is on the long-term health of the vineyard and the vitality of the winery’s ecosystem.
While there are a number of sustainable wineries in the U.S., I will focus on three.

1. Clear Creek Vineyard & Winery
Camp Verde, Arizona
(Verde Valley)
(602) 859-7418
https://clearcreekwineryaz.com/

Founded by retired engineer, Ignacio Mesa with the intention of being the first sustainable vineyard and winery in Arizona, Mr. Mesa succeeded! With the guidance of his small business counselor, Kathy, he applied for and was awarded the Sedona Sustainability Award—the first vineyard or winery in the entire state of Arizona to win the award.

As a sustainable winery, Mr. Mesa keeps a flock of ducks and geese which eat the snails and other insects instead of using insecticides.

He feeds a clowder (a group) of feral cats, giving them employment as mousers and keeping the vineyards free from furry pests.

He has two large Great Pyrenees dogs who protect the flocks and the clowder from harm.

There is a solar array installed on top of the wine tasting room which produces electricity.

By focusing is on the long-term health of the vineyard and the vitality of the winery’s ecosystem, Mr. Mesa has a sustainable winery!

Each of his wines has a story behind it. The Terciopelo red wine is perfect for a wedding! When he was younger, his father would dance with Ignacio’s mother to the love song, “Terciopelo” (“Velvet”). The love that his parents expressed for each other and for their children is blended into the wine!

Clear Creek produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Tawny Port, White Port, Petit Sirah, Viognier, Chardonel, and several blends.

2. Silver Oak Cellars
Rutherford, CA (Napa Valley)
(707) 942-7022
https://silveroak.com/about/

Dedicated to energy efficiency and sustainable building practices, Silver Oak was the first LEED certified winery in California. They utilize a solar array, reclaimed water, and recycling to reduce their impact on the environment.
They specialize in Cabernet Sauvignon.

3. Sokol Blosser Winery
Dayton, Oregon (Willamette Valley)
(503) 684-2282
https://sokolblosser.com/

A pioneer in energy efficiency, this winery built the first LEED-certified cellar in the U.S. Since 2002, their wines have been certified as organic. While known for their Pinot Noir, they produce a variety of well-known red, white, sparkling, and rosé wines

The image is courtesy of Pixabay.com.
© 2023-2024. Come Rain or Shyne, LLC. All rights reserved internationally.

Ainsworth House & Gardens

12/07/2024

12/04/2024

11/30/2024

11/27/2024

11/22/2024

11/19/2024

11/16/2024

11/13/2024

11/09/2024

11/04/2024

11/04/2024

11/03/2024

11/01/2024

10/29/2024

10/25/2024

Address

Opening Hours

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Videos

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Other Wedding Venues in Oregon City

Monday	10am - 5pm
Tuesday	10am - 5pm
Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5pm