Wedding Details
Time of Year: Spring | Design Theme: Timeless & scenic | Number of Guests: 150 | Wedding Party: 6
With family in San Francisco and on the East Coast, Andrew and Jake wanted to find a location away from their Bay Area home and new to both sides of their families. “We fell in love with the relaxed vibe and natural beauty of Bend and Central Oregon,” they explained. On their visit, they hiked through Smith Rock State Park and were blown away by the scenery.
After consulting with a few wedding planners in Central Oregon, they knew Emily Gylling with Ponderosa Planning was the right fit for them. “Emily understood our vision for our wedding and immediately showed us that she was well organized and capable of executing our perfect day,” the couple shared. In fact, Gylling recommended the wedding venue at Ranch at the Canyons due to its stunning backdrop of Smith Rock. “We knew it was the only choice,” they said.
Creating the Magic
Being from out of state, Andrew and Jake relied on their wedding planner to help them curate the team of local vendors. “Ponderosa Planning provided us with recommendations and options,” the couple explained. “We took the time to evaluate each of them to see how they would line up with our wants and needs.”
Andrew and Jake’s vendor team added special touches to highlight the couple’s personality and capture the playful and “not too overly formal” vision they had for their wedding. Offering whimsy and fun for their guests, the Bend VW Photo Bus and Dippin’ Dots Truck enhanced the festive vibe of the celebration. A violinist from San Francisco named Kippy Marks was a big hit, playing violin versions of pop songs during the cocktail hour. “Our guests loved him!” the couple exclaimed.
Highlight Moments
“We knew an outdoor wedding could be risky, but right before dinner, we experienced that classic high-desert thunderstorm. We all ran into the stables for shelter and then we headed back under the tent for dinner as it rained around us. Our DJ played every rain-themed song you can imagine…Alanis Morisette, ‘It’s Raining Men,’ you name it. After the storm passed, we were left with the most amazing sunset and perfect golden-hour lighting for our first dance and mother-son dances. We moved to the grass near the pond since the dance floor was still wet. It was a truly beautiful and special moment we all shared together. The dance lessons we took really paid off!” said Andrew and Jake.
The Guest Experience
Family and friends from around the world traveled to the high desert to attend Andrew and Jake’s wedding weekend. “They all trekked their way to Central Oregon to celebrate with us,” the couple said, explaining how most of their guests had never been to the region before. The festivities took place in Bend and Terrebonne, with a rehearsal dinner at 900 Wall in downtown Bend on Friday evening, followed by welcome drinks and desserts at McMenamins Old St. Francis School Hotel. The wedding and reception took place at Ranch of the Canyons in Terrebonne the following evening, and a parent’s breakfast at the Oxford Hotel in downtown Bend was the culmination of the festivities. “Central Oregon is a special place,” Andrew and Jake said, “It’s filled with amazing nature, plus great people and plenty of stuff to do. We’re sure a lot of our guests will be back someday.”
Andrew and Jake’s Wedding Team
Venue: Ranch at the Canyons | Photography: Victoria Carlson | Planning + Coordination: Ponderosa Planning | Florals: Posie Shoppe | Hair + Makeup: Central Oregon Bridal Beauty | Grooms’ Attire: Klein Epstein Parker | Rentals: O’Brien Events and Curated Event Rentals | Videography: Captivate Films | DJ: Flip Flop Sounds | Catering: Bleu Bite Catering | Cake: Market of Choice | Violin: Kippy Marks | Photo Booth: Bend VW Photo Bus
