Meet the Panelists
2022 Wedding Fest PDX Panelists Announced Soon!
Nicole Herinckx – Zilla
Pronouns: She/Her
Wedding Coach + Coordinator and Wedding Fest PDX Producer + Moderator
Kinda freaking out? Honey, I got you!
Nicole here, I’m a Wedding Coach and Coordinator. From emotions to execution - consider me your ‘wedding bestie’. I am here to coach you through the craziness, listen to how loony your family is, empower your decision to ABC and XYZ, and create an enjoyable wedding planning experience.
My happy place is white cheddar popcorn, wine tasting, reality TV, salsa dancing, takeout and swearing more than you would assume.
Ashley Lachney - Alston Mayger Events
Pronouns: She/Her
Session 1: Once Upon a Wedding
I started assisting on events in a corporate role beginning in 2012. From there, I moved to an internship assisting on ten weddings in one Summer and planning my own wedding. I left my corporate role then and worked two solid years planning everything from meetings to weddings to charity galas, ensuring that every client felt heard, cared for, and supported in the journey of bringing their event to life. I’m now planning weddings and events full time with Alston Mayger Events, and I’m so.damn.proud to have the opportunity to work with you.
My business was born out of a deep desire to give back to couples what I experienced on my wedding day: all I had to do was show up and get married! I serve couples who built their guest lists based on those who support and encourage their relationship. My clients value their families, believe in the magic of hosting an incredible celebration with timeless details, and guest experience is of the utmost importance.
Jaime Ta
– Jaime Ta Creative
Pronouns: She/Her
Session 1: Once Upon a Wedding
I love gathering folks together to celebrate life, love, birthdays & everything in between. Let me take the stress off of planning a special event and make it FUN for you and your guests. I know how stressful planning a wedding can be, so let me let me be your guide on this journey. I aim to make your wedding planning process a fun and memorable experience.
Forming relationships between clients and vendors to produce a spectacular experience is just the icing on the cake. You'll find that I wear many hats but above all, my goal is to make the wedding planning process just as memorable as your wedding day itself. If you're looking for an Event Planner who loves making magic, you've found her.
Co-Founder of the PNW Vendors of Color Directory.
Andrea Friesen –
Wandera Weddings & Events
Pronouns: She/Her
Session 1: Once Upon a Wedding
I love love. I’m a girl with a passion for creating and making memories that will last a lifetime. From the small intimate dinner parties to the big blow out bashes every event is special and unique in it's own way.
When I’m not planning you will find me over at target, coffee in hand, browsing the aisles for everything I didn’t know I needed. I have a love for all things gold and marble and my favorite pastime is wine tasting with my handsome hubby.
I have had a passion for planning and designing events for as long as I can remember. I believe in creating experiences that make my clients and their guests feel loved from start to finish. Whether we are planning a small dinner party or a wedding for 500 you will see the love and dedication poured into every event.
Greg Khng Soliven - Grate Company
Pronouns: He/Him
Session 1: Once Upon a Wedding
Grate Company by Greg and Nate — full service floral, design, planning, and more (pretty much anything creative, we'll tackle it.) BIPOC and LGBTQ Husband / Husband owned, operated, and located in the Portland area, they offer services statewide in Oregon and in southern Washington.
With a background in graphic design and photography, Greg has explored and experienced pretty much every aspect of wedding planning. From baking wedding cakes in high school to photographing weddings in college, working at a catering company to designing invitation suites, florals to rentals and more. Pulling from this diverse and well rounded background, Greg has focused on event planning/design, graphic design/branding, and florals to deliver polished and cohesive events.
Jenna Szyluk - Dash of Pride
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Session 2: 2022 Wedding Trends: The Wedding Boom
Jenna founded Dash of Pride in 2019 after struggling to find LGTBQ+ supplies and decor for her wedding.
As a company, she is dedicated to fostering a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment. As members of the LGBTQ+ community, she wants each person she serves to feel seen and known and loved.
Since launching the online store Jenna has become an advocate for Inclusivity for ALL within the wedding industry. In 2021, she launched Dash of Pride Wedding Pros Wedding Directory that has a focus on inclusivity and equality.
Shantel Dix – Shantilly Artistry
Pronouns: She/Her or They/Them
Session 2: 2022 Wedding Trends: The Wedding Boom
I've always found joy in bringing others happiness. Being able to use my creativity to help others feel beautiful and at ease is a truly incredible feeling. There is nothing like being able to give someone the experience of a lifetime. Beauty belongs to all.
Chas Thomas - Wildflower Portland
Pronouns: She/Her
Session 2: 2022 Wedding Trends: The Wedding Boom
There's no reason professional can't also be fun! I grew up gardening with my Grandma outside of Portland, Oregon and that youthful curiosity & charisma has followed me my entire floral career. Before committing to floral design full time, I spent ten years as a Talent Agent in Los Angeles and beyond. Working in other floral shops, at the Portland Floral Market, and even a grocery store floral department, I finally had the courage to branch out onto my own- and I've never looked back.
Marcela Pulido -
Marcela Pulido Photography
Pronouns: She/Her
Session 2: 2022 Wedding Trends: The Wedding Boom
Hola! I'm Marcela and I'm a West Coast Wedding Photographer capturing romantic images with a luxury feel that will stand the test of time. Serving the Pacific Northwest and beyond since 2015. I take a more fly-on-the-wall (photojournalistic) approach so I can focus on capturing the moments of your day exactly as it unfolds. You get to live in the moment, I'll take care of the rest. Emphasizing a mixture of candids with artistic portraiture, you’ll be able to look back on your images and relive your wedding with a sense of nostalgia and that lightning in a bottle kind of magic.
Sarah Granger-Twomey – Arche Creative
Pronouns: She/Her
Session 2: 2022 Wedding Trends: The Wedding Boom
Arche Creative is a LGBTQ partnership of husband and wife duo, Sean Twomey and Sarah Granger-Twomey. We provide photography and planning & design services for elopements, weddings and to the events trade.
Since 2000, Sarah has devoted her career to marking the important events of life. Formally educated in interior design, she prides herself in being a client-driven designer who's able to read between the lines of a wishlist. She has been called a master visual interpreter. Her resume spans from designing multi-million-dollar events to planning celebrity weddings, but she likes the tiny celebrations best. As a bisexual atheist from a southern religious family, she finds it of the utmost importance to bring a modern sense of individuality to every event.
Cindy Labuhn – The Party Place + Bridgewood Event Rentals
Pronouns: She/Her
Session 2: 2022 Wedding Trends: The Wedding Boom
With an enthusiasm for building meaningful connections, Cindy brings over 26 years of experience in the event industry and is a partner at The Party Place + Bridgewood Event Rentals. Fueled by the desire to bring her clients dream events to reality, Cindy believes in the power of collaboration and transforming not only events but everyday moments into something exceptional!
LIVE EVENTS COALITION (Oregon Chapter) - Board Member
ILEA (Portland Chapter) - Past Board Member
Emily Sterling – Rooted & Wild
Pronouns: She/Her
Session 3: Ceremony Plan/Vow Writing Workshop
Hey there! I’m Emily. I grew up on 12 magical acres in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, where I developed a deep connection to nature, a voracious appetite for reading, and a love of writing. Studying sociology in college, I discovered a love of listening and digging deep to find patterns and themes in conversations. In my early twenties, I became the friend who always brought people together for celebrations. This was also when I found my storytelling voice, performing onstage with The Moth and Mortified. Though I had no idea that all of these seemingly disparate threads would lead me to my life’s work, I was well on my way.
In 2017, I was burning out at a job in the nonprofit sector and I knew that my life had to change. A friend mentioned becoming a Celebrant, to which I said “HUH?!” (because I heard her say celibate). Turns out that a Celebrant is actually a totally cool, inclusive officiant who helps people celebrate and heal through life’s biggest transitions. I spent eight months studying at the Celebrant Institute to get my wedding certification, quit the non-profit job, and spent two glorious months listening deeply to myself to figure out how I wanted to show up as a wedding Celebrant in this world. From those months of exploration, planning, and meditation, I launched Rooted & Wild.
Since that terrifying and beautiful leap into the unknown, I have been utterly grateful for every client and friend whom I have met along the way. I am humbled by the gift of my client’s trust and vulnerability. Witnessing love stories and empowering couples to authentically navigate their way through their wedding process is something that I am grateful to be a part of each day.
When I’m not writing ceremonies and traveling to epic outdoor locations to marry folks, I can be found meditating, hiking, singing my best Celine Dion rendition at karaoke, reading How To Be An Antiracist, and playing in imaginary worlds with my nephew.
Cherise Klosner -
Another One Ties The Knot
Pronouns: She/Her
Session 3: Ceremony Plan/Vow Writing Workshop
Hello! My name is Cherise and I am an officiant for happy couples in love. My goal as an officiant is to make your ceremony the highlight of your wedding day. Whether you are planning to elope or have a large wedding with all the bells and whistles, the ceremony is the reason for it all. I want each couple to end their day knowing they said "I do" in a way that was authentically them.
Zach Michaud - Old Ways Ceremonies
Pronouns: He/Him
Session 3: Ceremony Plan/Vow Writing Workshop
Zach creates heart-centered, engaging, meaningful, and memorable ceremonies full of sparkles, laughter, and tears of joy as a Celebrant at Old Ways Ceremonies. From witchy and woo to solemn and sacred, he knows his way around symbolism, world cultures, and religion, matching ritual elements and storytelling structures with the unique personalities, relationships, and personal tastes of his couples in order to create a custom ceremony that moves them and their guests.
Kristen Baxter - Abbey Road Farms
Pronouns: She/Her
Session 4: This or That? Venue Edition
Kristen Baxter has over 15 years of experience in events and promotions including weddings, corporate functions, fundraising campaigns and social functions all over the Portland metro area. She has planned and executed events for local venues, non-profit organizations, corporations, local companies and organizations. She is a 20+ year Oregon resident who moved from Southern California to attend school at the University of Oregon (Go Ducks!) where she received her degree in Journalism and public relations. When she is not helping folks put together epic celebrations she is with her husband and two spunky children taking road trips, camping, kayaking or enjoying the amazing food and wine that Oregon has to offer!
Auriana Albree - Loft at 8th Avenue and Exchange Ballroom operated by Vibrant Table
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Session 4: This or That? Venue Edition
In her current position as Director of Sales for Vibrant Table Catering & Events, Auriana brings nearly 30 years of event industry experience to the table. Beginning her career as the Event Manager of the University of Oregon Athletic Department, Auriana first developed her planning expertise in the field of venue management. From there, she incorporated a love of food service during her two years spent running the café at Crosswater Golf Course in Bend, Oregon. This passion continued to blossom in her subsequent work as the helm of the Portland Center for the Performing Arts’ catering department, where she was able to integrate her venue and production background to create spectacular, holistic guest experiences. During her 16 years with Vibrant Table, Auriana has continued to pursue her passion for combining delicious food and amazing environments in venues throughout the Portland area, including at VT’s own Loft at 8th Avenue and Exchange Ballroom.
Alisha Santoya - Oregon Garden
Pronouns:
Session 4: This or That? Venue Edition
My name is Alisha and I am the Event Coordinator for The Oregon Garden, an 80-acre botanical garden in beautiful Silverton, Oregon. The Oregon Garden has 3 unique and completely separate wedding venue options on site, offering different aesthetics for different brides. I have been with the Garden since 2015, but actually began my career in events all the way back in 2008 working for companies such as Marriott & Disney. More importantly though, I have been a bridesmaid 8 times & recently got married myself- so I know what you are going through!
I am excited to join Wedding Fest PDX as a panelist and to share my insights on all things venue, specifically garden & outdoor. It's my belief that the natural beauty in the Pacific Northwest is unlike any other, and we are so lucky to live and get married here. There is a right venue for every bride, let's help you find it!
Sherine Iskandar - Lily & Cane
Pronouns: She/Her
Session 5: Event Design for Everyone
My name is Sherine, owner, dreamer, creator.
I didn't start off as a stylist, but design and creativity were always part of my life. My first career was in Branding. Before opening Lily & Cane and venturing into event rentals I used to work as a Marketing Director. I worked on branding, company culture, and client events.
It's while planning one of our events that I first fell in love with the events world and where I saw a small niche for myself to bring to the Portland events industry new options that weren't just different and unique but also high in quality.
Christina Wachspress –
Novella Theory Floral Co.
Pronouns: She/Her
Session 5: Event Design for Everyone
Christina is half of the husband and wife team behind Novella Theory Floral Co. and a floral designer with almost 10 years of experience in the wedding industry. Her approach to wedding floral design focuses on designing for each couple individually. She see’s weddings as having no boundaries or rules and wants nothing more than for every engaged couple to enjoy the process of planning their party and have it reflect them as a couple.
Brittany Aguila – Letters & Dust
Pronouns: She/Her
Session 5: Event Design for Everyone
Brittany started Letters & Dust in 2013 beginning with rentable wedding signs after seeing how signs were discarded after events—and with so many reusable materials it just seemed like a waste! From sings, the natural extension was stationery and having the ability to work with couples to brand their wedding from invitation to day-of through personalized details. Brittany has a BA in Graphic Design and has always been drawn to art and crafting. Her passion for Letters & Dust is driven by unique couples, having new projects every day, and creative problem solving with regards to reducing waste in the event industry.