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Table of Contents Letter from Sally
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Venues
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Catering
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Entertainment
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Services
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Shopping
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Š 2020 The Talk of the Town. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied or re-produced without prior expressed written permission from The Talk of the Town.
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A LETTER FROM SALLY Welcome to the second edition of The Talk of The Town Wedding & Event issue! We’re excited to launch our second edition that specifically focuses on wedding and events. We have so many incredible business, vendors, and people that we want to share that we decided to dedicate an entire issue just for those resources. We know that planning an event or a wedding is a special process; oftentimes, it can be stressful and taxing. Here at The Talk of The Town, we want to make that process as fun and easy as possible, which is why we decided to collect the best businesses in the industry in one place. It is important to us that you have all the tools you need to plan your special event or wedding. This guide will be in circulation for a full year, giving you plenty of time to plan your special event or wedding. We’re honored to showcase such quality businesses, vendors, and people in our second Wedding & Events issue. We highly recommend each and every business in this guide. These business know the industry well, and they know the Pacific Northwest. We have full confidence that you’ll find the perfect businesses to help you pull off the event of a lifetime. Thank you for choosing The Talk of The Town Wedding & Event Guide to help plan your special day. And, most importantly, we hope you enjoy your special event or wedding! Enjoy your special day,
Sally Santamouro Founder, Editor in Chief
S A L LY @ T H E TA L K O F T H E T O W N . N E T 4
WELCOME TO THE 2020 WEDDING GUIDE
The listings in this booklet are, truthfully, excellent. We’ve tried them all.
Online Wedding Resource Database with Exclusive Wedding Savings:
www.thetalkofthetown.net
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Venues Photo Courtesy of Eugene County Inn
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VENUES
Choosing a wedding venue Likely the most important decision you will make is where you will get married. Even if everyone you are inviting is local, venues are often booked more than a year in advance, and will set the tone for your special day. If many people are traveling from out of town, choice of venue is crucial to consider your guests travel plans, accommodations nearby, and other local activities before and after the actual wedding day.
Choose your wedding’s general location Figure out your budget Come up with an estimated guest count Think about your priorities Narrow down some dates Contact a few venues with basic questions Pay a visit to your favorites Weigh the pros and cons Sign on the dotted line
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Year Round Event Center as well as Full Service off premise Catering Services Weddings Summer Parties Corporate Events
W W W.EUGENECOUNTRY INN.COM
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541-345-7344
VENUES
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Catering 10
C AT E R I N G
Tips on Making Appointments Second only to venue, food choice is a major decision. It doesn’t need to be lavish, and you also want to have a good time! Considering your budget ahead of time, and having a few options will help narrow down your choices. Tackle this major to-do as soon as possible—the best caterers are often booked well in advance, even up to a year.
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When you call to make appointments, try to schedule tastings as part of the interviews—their personality is incredibly important, but it’s their food you’ll be putting to the test first.
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Before you leave, don’t just take a business card—ask each caterer to draw up a rough outline including details like cost per person, menu options, exactly what the fee includes (alcohol, rentals, tips), service and presentation style, and less expensive alternatives. Make sure to ask these important questions before making any decisions to book.
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Check references and find out several things to make your search more helpful: one, the customer’s head count, venue and menu items; two, the food’s taste, presentation and preparation; three, the quality and efficiency of the waitstaff; and, four, whether or not the menu and bill met expectations.
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Take extra precaution and get the full scoop on a particular catering firm through the Better Business Bureau before you make any moves to hire them.
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Unforgettable catering for an unforgettable event.
Unforgettable catering for an unforgettable event.
♦ Fabulous Food ♦ Top Notch Service ♦ Amazing Presentation ♦ Full Service Food & Beverage Catering for ~
Grand Openings ■ Auctions ■ Weddings ■ Celebrations ■ Class Reunions ■ Open Houses ■ Business Meetings ■ Fundraisers ■ Company Picnics
Limited Service with Delivery for ~ Box Lunches ■ Business Lunch Delivery ■ Party Platters
541.343.7933 | cravingsfinefoods.com
♦ Fabulous Food ♦ Top Notch Service ♦ Amazing Presentation ♦ Full Service Food & Beverage Catering for ~
Grand Openings ■ Auctions ■ Weddings ■ Celebrations ■ Class Reunions ■ Open Houses ■ Business Meetings ■ Fundraisers ■ Company Picnics
Limited Service with Delivery for ~ Box Lunches ■ Business Lunch Delivery ■ Party Platters
541.343.7933 | cravingsfinefoods.com
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C AT E R I N G
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Entertainment 14
E N T E RTA I N M E N T
5 Tips for Wedding Entertainment 1. Live Entertainment is More Than Bands Live entertainment isn’t just a band or singer. In fact, more couples are hiring other types of live wedding entertainment, such as comedians, magicians, etc. Decide the type of live entertainment you want at your wedding – but make sure it matches the overall theme and feel of your wedding. Elegant? Maybe skip the heavy metal, then.
2. Determine Your Budget When you sit down to establish your wedding budget, don’t forget to leave a spot for live entertainment. Price a few suppliers in each entertainment category first before setting your budget – that way you have a realistic idea of how much you’re going to spend.
3. Hold Auditions Once you decide the type of live wedding entertainment you want, hold auditions. You will want to have at least three auditions so you can see who you like. Ask them about their pricing, and ask for references. Talk to other brides and grooms and see their experiences as well.
4. Be Clear About Expectations Live entertainment can be unexpected. But, you can set limits and expectations for that supplier. For example, if you hire a comedian for the reception, you can tell them what types of jokes are off limits. If you’re hiring a live band, you can sit down and compile a list of music that you want played throughout the event.
5. Check with Your Venue Not all wedding venues allow outside live wedding entertainment. So, check with your venue to see if they have a list of approved suppliers for entertainment. Even if they don’t have a list, they may have a statement in their contract that requires pre-approval before hiring live entertainment – and the entertainment may need to furnish a license and proof of insurance before they are allowed to show up.
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Creating the Soundtrack to your Memories WEDDINGS
David Veach Owner
PRIVATE PARTIES • Birthdays and Anniversaries • House Warming
COMPANY CELEBRATIONS • Ribbon Cuttings • Holiday Parties
PUBLIC EVENTS • Fundraisers • Fun Runs
Music has a way of capturing a moment and holding it forever in our memories.
Let’s make your memories last a lifetime! CALL or TEXT
541.621.9510 www.djmedford.com
instagram.com/djveach
facebook.com/djveach
twitter.com/djveach
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E N T E RTA I N M E N T
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E N T E RTA I N M E N T
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E N T E RTA I N M E N T
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LOOK AT THIS
ADVERTISE WITH US AND YOU’LL BE THE TALK OF THE TOWN...
Reaching 500,000+ people throughout Oregon and online.
CALL TODAY FOR MORE INFO 541-335-1912 Sally@theTalkoftheTown.net www.theTalkoftheTown.net
Services Photo Courtesy of Joseph Vera Floral Architecture
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SERVICES
Photo Courtesy of Identity Dance
IDENTITY DANCE
(originally named Breakdown) was birthed in 2007, out of a need that director Lindsey Cooper saw in the community for a dance company that stood for positivity in music, and impacting the lives of the younger generation through dance. Identity’s mantra, “Dance On Purpose”, has made its way into thousands of families homes across the community. No matter where life takes her students, Lindsey wants them to remember to do everything they do “on purpose”, with passion, with pure motive, and with focus on faith as the centerpiece. Whether you have been dancing for years, or have never set foot on a dance floor, looking for a challenging class for yourself, or signing your child up for their first dance class… We have the class that you are looking for! We offer a broad spectrum of dance styles, for all ages! Everything from Hip Hop, Contemporary, Ballet, Tap, Acro, Jazz, Zumba, PiYo, Barre, & more! In 2017, Lindsey and her husband Dusty expanded the dance company to an events business, Identity Events and Entertainment, which includes parties, event planning, character appearances, and rentals of all types. With over 20 years of production design, décor creativity and planning expertise, Identity Events & Entertainment will throw the best party ever! Whether it’s a milestone birthday, wedding, baby shower, retirement party or corporate event, Identity Events & Entertainment aims to make each event unique just for you. Specializing in everything from Equipment Rentals, Event Planning & Decor, to Character appearances, Dance lessons, performances, and much more! For booking and contact information, see our ad on page XX.
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SERVICES
TOUCH OF CLASS Limousines
Let us Roll out the Red Carpet for You! Airport Transportation Bachelor & Bachelorette Parties Anniversaries Prom Nights Weddings Wine Tours
541-679-7223 TOCLIMO.NET
SAVE MONEY ALL OVER TOWN WITH OUR EXCLUSIVE BUSINESS AND VENDOR COUPONS. www.thetalkofthetown.net/coupons We can help you find the right vendors for your wedding. Give us a call today.
541-335-1912
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Joseph Vera
FLORAL ARCHITECT
yoonekdesign@gmail.com 702-600-8951 26
SERVICES
INTERVIEW WITH THE ARCHITECT Talk of the Town: Hi Joseph. Thanks for giving us a peek into your beautiful world. Can you tell us a little about Floral Architecture? Joseph Vera: Thank you, I’m happy to share! A Floral Architect uses floral design knowledge to create one-of-a-kind arrangements that fit the defined space, just like buildings that fit beautifully in a city. TOTT: How did you get started in floral? JV: I started at the bottom. I worked in wholesale and did grunt work processing flowers. I cleaned buckets and cut thousands of flowers every morning for about two years. Then, I slowly started to design. Watching the other designers, I took mental notes and practiced what I liked. Before long, I was doing designs all around my area. Three years in, I entered a floral competition with 400 applicants and was awarded 3 rd place. Since then, I have won 1st place in over ten competitions. After about eight years, I was offered a career as a Floral Designer for MGM in Las Vegas. I lived in Las Vegas for seven years working with MGM to create some really great designs, all while working with some of the best designers in the field. The best compliment I ever got was, “There are designers that work from a book like in a local floral shop, and then there are designers that make the book, like yourself.” I just about melted at that. TOTT: Since this is a wedding guide, can you give some advice for brides? JV: When picking your florist, here is something to consider: when choosing flowers (white lily, for instance), keep in mind that there are multiple variations of that flower. If you pick the right florist, they will be able to take your dreams for your big day and create an event that is fit for you and your partner. Let them do their work. TOTT: What is your take on Pinterest? JV: I hate to burst a bride’s bubble because Pinterest has great ideas, but you have to know that when you see a huge, beautiful arrangement, most of the time those are done for an editorial, meaning that they were created for a magazine with a lavish budget. You have to keep your budget in mind. So, when you meet with your florist, bring the ideas that you like and let a great designer plan the arrangements for you. Oftentimes, all the great ideas in our minds don’t work out in reality, but that’s the professional florist’s job: to turn your dreams into reality. TOTT: Thank you, Joseph. Your work is truly stunning. JV: My pleasure. All the best to the weddings being planned out there.
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SERVICES
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Shopping 29
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SHOPPING
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