Derrick and Lauren are incredibly busy med students and resident physicians so when it came to planning their Sentinel Hotel wedding, they did what every busy couple should absolutely do (and in this order)…book their dream venue, find a photographer they love and hire a stellar team to make it all happen. Photographers and venues are typically the first vendors booked for a lot of couples. Derrick and Lauren booked us a full 18 months before their wedding but the time flew by, as it always does, and their wedding had arrived before we knew it.
Little known fact about having a Sentinel Hotel wedding…the hotel used to be called The Governor and while it was always a quaint old Portland gem, the new and remodeled Sentinel Hotel literally checks all the boxes for a downtown Portland wedding. The rooms are adorned in rich green and purple hues that we love to preserve as much as possible while shooting. Jackknife is a great, hip bar in the lobby for before and after parties which make for fun casual photos with the wedding party. More importantly, the hotel is centrally located near all the best PDX restaurants and bars downtown. However, to tell you what is truly the best thing about a Sentinel Hotel wedding, we need to tell you more about Derrick and Lauren’s day specifically.
Derrick and Lauren chose to have their traditional Chinese tea ceremony in one of the smaller rooms in the Sentinel, before hosting a beautiful wedding ceremony in the Library room. The tea ceremony was very emotional, as Derrick and Lauren presented tea and received gifts from their parents and grandparents. All of whom made us laugh and cry with tender sentiments and well wishes during each exchange. We’ve gotten better about crying at weddings over the years (haha) but this one got us!
Now, onto the Library room ceremony. This room is simply jaw dropping. It is just like it sounds…a library. But way better than the one where you check your books out. With old novels lining the walls, elaborate overhead light fixtures and warm tones that just feel romantic, it’s truly a unique setting to get married. Derrick and Lauren’s wedding ceremony was as personal as it was funny as it was endearing. Soon after, a celebration continued in the Sentinel Hotel’s ballroom and let me tell you, for a Portland wedding photographer shooting a December wedding…we just couldn’t help but feel grateful for this grand and gorgeous indoor venue.
Remember that dream team we mentioned at the beginning? Well we can’t go without saying that Carisa from Adornment Events was the woman who flawlessly put the pieces together, Blossom & Beauty once again with the most gorgeous hair & makeup for Lauren and her bridesmaids (plus such nice people!), Seventh Stem florals made that magic happen that you see on the fireplace mantel and on the stunning reception tables and YOU GUYS…Papa Haydn wedding cake. ‘Nuff said. Thanks, team!
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