With the 2008 Summer Olympic Games opening in Beijing this evening, I was looking for a pertinent wedding venue, and I found one in the Pacific Northwest. Portland, OR has a beauty!The Portland Classical Chinese Garden is an “authentically built cultural heritage garden and living museum of Chinese trees and flora.” The authentic Ming Dynasty scholar’s garden features serpentine mosaic pathways that lead to “harmonious landscapes of plants, water, stones, pavilions, and poetry.” Sounds peaceful and lovely, doesn’t it?

Possibly Portland’s most unique event venue, the gardens are a carefully planned paradise of winding walkways, a bridged lake, and open pavilions, making it a picturesque setting for a wedding or any occasion. Asian-themed weddings are a growing trend, and you don’t have to be Asian. All it takes is a love of the culture and its beautiful imagery.

Whether you want a simple ceremony or a ceremony and catered reception for 250 guests, the Garden can accommodate you, and there’s also a traditional teahouse on the ground that holds up to 50 people for a more intimate wedding. According to the Chinese, the color red is considered good luck, so you can abandon the white wedding dress for a bold and beautiful red wedding dress. And how’s this for a wedding cake? Absolutely stunning! I can’t even imagine how fabulous your wedding photos will be!

                祝你紅雙喜和長期的生命！
(Wishing You Double Happiness and Long Life!)

Susan