Let’s face it – we couldn’t be who we are, without our fabulous vendors. Over the years we’ve met so many wonderful individuals in the wedding industry. We decided to reach out to some of our vendors from the past and present, and ask them what fuels their business and what they're all about! So, sit down and relax with us as we sit down with our vendors to discuss what is at the heart of their business. We are so excited about this week’s vendor:

Port Gamble Weddings & Events

The Port Gamble Weddings office has been established for over 20 years! However, our team is made up of individuals who have all chosen the world of weddings because we feel like we can make a difference in someone's experience and make their special day that much more 

Our company is Port Gamble Weddings and Events and we have been an event venue in the industry for over 20 years. We offer two great venues for your wedding or special event that can accommodate 150-185 guests. St. Pau's Church is our historic 1800's church with waterfront views and classic northeastern charm. Our second venue, the Hood Canal Vista Pavilion is located on the Hood Canal with waterfront views that truly encompass what the Pacific Northwest has to offer.

Our team is made up of passionate wedding professionals who are here to help you throughout your planning process, walk you through the space prior to your event, create your custom floorplans for your reception, and much more memorable.

We’re dying to know – what made you dive into the world of weddings?
The Port Gamble team says…
“After planning my own wedding and working with such an amazing group of wedding vendors (who honestly have become family at this point) I decided that I wanted to be able to do for other couple's what they did for me. Working with people on one of the most exciting and special events of their life, making them run smoothly, and seeing the happiness that they experience is why I work in the wedding industry!” - Elizabeth

Kristen-
“I've always been drawn to the magic of weddings & how special they can be for each person. I had my start with catering and bartending and had fun seeing guests and the newlyweds have a beautiful experience. It truly is magical and I look forward to every opportunity to see new visions with every couple.” - Kristen

“I was never the girl who played "wedding", or imagined what my wedding would be. However, when I was in college friends and family started getting married. They reached out because of my organizational skills, crafting ability, and vocals. Once I began helping to plan, decorate, and organize weddings...I couldn't stop. There is so much joy and personality that goes into creating a couple's wedding day; I can't help but love being a part of it all.”- Amber

Tell us about how you started your business.
In the early 2000s, we had a team who worked in Port Gamble take a look around and think that the beauty of the town could be an amazingly unique backdrop for someone's special day. A couple of years later in 2002, our historic St. Paul's Church became the home to only a few weddings. Fast forward 21 years later, and Port Gamble is now hosting almost 100 weddings each year in St. Paul's Church or overlooking the water at the Hood Canal Vista Pavilion. Our wedding team is incredibly honored to be part of this historical town and contribute to it's unique history.

Our company is Port Gamble Weddings and Events and we have been an event venue in the industry for over 20 years. We offer two great venues for your wedding or special event that can accommodate 150-185 guests. St. Paul's Church is our historic 1800's church with waterfront views and classic northeastern charm. Our second venue, the Hood Canal Vista Pavilion is located on the Hood Canal with waterfront views that truly encompass what the Pacific Northwest has to offer.

Our team is made up of passionate wedding professionals who are here to help you throughout your planning process, walk you through the space prior to your event, create your custom floor plans for your reception and much more!

What's the secret sauce behind bringing that touch of elegance to your projects?
Port Gamble Weddings’ secret sauce is definitely our team! As a venue, your building will sell because it's beautiful, fits someone's budget, or can accommodate a certain guest count, but it's the people behind the scenes that really make the magic happen. We have a group of venue coordinators who are very enthusiastic about ensuring our client's experience is beautiful and memorable. When you have a team behind your with that kind of love for their job, you can't lose!

Advice you want to give couples about the wedding planning process?
The best advice I think couples can have is to hire vendors that you can put your trust in and get along with. Although magical, wedding days can also be extremely long and stressful for some. If you have a team of vendors who you can trust to solve problems that may arise, make a couple of day of decisions for you, etc. it will make all the difference in how you remember your wedding day.

What trends do you hope to see or want to see in 2024?
The one big thing that we have noticed is that couple's seem to prioritize their guests overall experience at their wedding. We have seen couples focus more on what they can do for their guests to have a unique experience at their wedding. We have seen things from interactive guests books to couple's hiring artists to draw their guests pictures during the reception. We would really love to see this trend continue throughout 2024, so we can see even more awesome ideas from our couples!

Spill the tea – what's the next big thing in weddings that has you buzzing with excitement?
We just love seeing all of our couples think outside the box and try new things. However, we have loved seeing our couple's use their grandparents as ring bearers & flower girls! It's just too sweet. If this is the next big thing in weddings, we are so ready for it!

We love working with you, why do you love working with Elegant Affairs?
We love working with Elegant Affairs because when they are part of any event, you know that everything is going to go off without a hitch! The their team is always so passionate about making every couple's wedding experience so special and perfect. Couples can head into wedding day knowing that the Elegant Affairs team is going to bring their wedding visions to reality.

Reach out to us today!
Port Gamble Weddings & Events
Portgambleweddings@raydient.com
360.297.8074

Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Tacoma Wedding Planner with over 18 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.