Dutch Inspired Vineyard Wedding

A fun Dutch inspired vineyard wedding that brings in bright summer vibes! Rich colors paired with warm tones gave this intimate wedding such a beautiful finish, Megan & Pieter incorporated intentional choices that held meaning to them while making the design choices, giving this celebration even more beauty!

Tell us a little a bit about your wedding “Our wedding was titled a “Summer Dream with a Dutch Twist”. Our colors were light and airy. I wanted our wedding to blend perfectly with the venue. Terracotta orange, cream, blush pinks, and eucalyptus green matched perfectly with winery green foliage, and the pure white colored mansion. My husband, Piet, is 1st generation Dutch/American so we uniquely include dutch clogs “Klumpa” into our design along with a French fry bar, which reminded us about our trip to Amsterdam.”

Tell us about your attire choices. “I wanted the flowers and colors of the venue to match perfectly with the bridal party attire. I chose a dusty rose color for the women with different style of bodices (flattering for each body style), and a deep blue suit with gold tie for the men. For my dress, I desired a form fitting bodice, a long train, and lace details. Little touches hints of sparkle.”

What is your proposal story? “Pieter proposed in October 2019 surrounded by the beautiful fall foliage in the heart of Lithia Park in Ashland, OR. It was his desire to propose at a location which was memorable for us and a place where we could visit. Growing up in Ashland as a runner, he often ran through Lithia Park training for state meets with his cross country team. He also dreamt that one day we would be able to bring our children to the location where we were engaged. Being able to visit the location of our engagement came full circle when we were challenged with COVID-19 restrictions in August. We had 40 guests (adults/children) attending our rehearsal dinner and we were unable to find a restaurant which could host our party safely within the guidelines of the covid restrictions. We decided what better place to have our rehearsal dinner than at the park where Piet proposed? With the help of my young adult nieces, we decorate the park with twinkle lights, colorful flowers, white linens, and yard games. We connected with a local mom and pop shop and arranged burgers and fries for the group. We served prepackaged sides and salad and found a spirits company which sold individual bottles of wine. As nervous as I was to have our rehearsal dinner in a park, it was breathtaking and intimate. the safety of our guests was our most important priority and we pulled if off. Now when we return to Lithia Park, we have the memories of the proposal and our the celebration with our closest friends and family.”

What were your favorite parts of the day? “First Look, Champagne Toast – SO heartfelt and words we will cherish for a lifetime. Watching our nieces and nephews dance hearing from our guests how much they enjoyed our wedding”

How did you meet? “Pieter and I met on Match.com. Our first meeting lasted 3 hours, we had so much in common and much to talk about. We connected over coffee at a local coffee shop in Medford, OR. We began dating just as Pieter’s dad encountered life threatening medical issues. His dad was in the hospital for 72 days after having a 19 hour surgery at OHSU in Portland, OR. It was a difficult time for Pieter, but our blooming relationship helped him through the tough time. Two years later his dad was well and gave the most beautiful toast at our wedding.”

“Megan and Pieter were an absolute dream to work with. From the moment we met, I knew that the memories of their celebration would truly last a lifetime. Date changes, guest count reductions and strict safety measures due to Covid-19 were no match for this couple. They trusted the planning process, they trusted their vendors, and chose to have peace in the midst of difficult decisions leading up to their celebration. This wedding celebration was one of my favorite weddings to design. Megan and Pieter were thoughtful with each design choice we made – it had to have meaning and purpose. Pieter is half Dutch so he wanted to bring elements of his heritage into the design. Megan loves the warmth of the summer sun as it is starting to set and wanted the theme to revolve around that. Combining these two themes, I titled the design “A Summer’s Dream With A Dutch Twist”. Megan absolutely loves flowers so we set the tone of a constant sunset through gorgeous blooms from Penny & Lulu Studio Florist. Burnt orange, blush, mustard and some hints of burgundy were in sight everywhere our guests went. Gold metal accents dawned the celebration and tablescapes, making the colors of the flowers even richer. For our Dutch twist, we included some of Pieter’s favorite Dutch elements. We added natural wooden clogs in purposeful locations around the event, a reminder of all of the trips Pieter took to visit extended family in the Netherlands while he was growing up. The clogs caused the flowers to pop even further and truly brought a spirit of celebration that all of the guests partook in. We also incorporated one of Pieter and Megan’s favorite Amsterdam eats from their many trips they have taken together – French fries & sauces. To sum up this celebration in a few words, I would have to say: warmth, intimacy, rich in love, and a memory I will truly never forget.” – From the planner, Events with Becca

What did you do for favors? “With the help of my nieces, sisters, and mother we spent an afternoon infusing rosemary with olive oil. we transferred the oil and sprig of rosemary into 3 oz glass jars with hinged lids.”

Please describe any DIY, handmade, or personal details. “Our wedding sign designer did a marvelous job creating our hand made signs for yard games, wedding entrance, welcome signs, and cake and pie flavors. we were so pleased.”

What was the most important to the two of you while planning? Was there anything that you chose to splurge on or skip? “sign of the times — our utmost importance was the safety of our guests and vendors. We added extra tables to allow guests to sit at tables with only their household. We had designated ceremony seating to keep guests in pods for covid tracking. Unfortunately, we had to decrease the guest count from 200 to 70, but this was the best decision for safety. We wanted to focus on the experience for our guests. We started the event with a cocktail hour of wine, Charcuterie plates, and a French fry bar. From there the guests were lead to the vineyard for the ceremony. We then made our way to the courtyard at the mansion and went straight into dinner, toasts, cutting the cakes, and dancing.”