The Press Hotel

ot including alcohol or even water, I expected much more than for all of my guests to leave hungry and eat lobster rolls and burgers down the street afterwards in tipsy desperation. That being said, I think a seated reception would have been lovely and I really wish I went that route even though I would have had to split into 2 rooms because of guest count. We got married at city hall in the State Room and that was a perfect transition, but dinner was big disappointment. Communication with the coordinator was great, although I do wish I was told that my guests would not receive an entree in their banquet style reception. We were assured the standards were the same, and the menu we selected from had three courses (passed and stationary appetizers, "action stations" , and desserts).... Other tips: their sound system is very quiet, although they pitch you can have your own playlist, you may want to bring your own speakers. I also suggest you let them know you'd like champagne to be passed out when the bride and groom actually arrive to the reception after pictures, since we didn't get any bubbly when we arrived as they passed it out so early everyone drank it before we got there. Thus, there was no queue for our toast and it instead we were crowded by guests for pictures when we arrived and ended up doing our toasts and dances about an hour after we wanted to (& after our photographer had to leave).

offee shop on site this place will make you feel like royalty and wow your guests. From the seasonal, sustainable food and drink menus to the way the staff is always one step ahead of your needs, the atmosphere and service is truly above and beyond. Albert Thayer, our wedding coordinator handled our event with expertise and poise and I honestly cannot say enough good things about him. He is very dedicated to his craft and devoted to helping create the day of your dreams. Not to mention, he is one of the kindest most genuine people you’ll ever meet. I would chose him over and over again if I could. If you’re looking for an intimate, romantic and unique wedding experience, I HIGHLY recommend The Press Hotel and Albert Thayer.

our wedding in a beautiful boutique hotel with a rooftop deck. Just about everything was taken care of for us, from the delicious meal Union restaurant prepared, to the luxurious accommodations. We were actually able to relax, if only for a little bit. Since we had a small wedding (about 60 guests) and an even smaller ceremony (20 guests) we were able to take advantage of the incredible backdrop of the City of Portland while delivering our nuptials on the rooftop deck with our closest friends and family. Because the rooftop deck was connected to the penthouse suite, we reserved for the day of the wedding, the wedding party was able to use it to get ready and then greet guests as they arrived for the ceremony. Cocktail hour, held in the art gallery adjacent to the reception, was the perfect setting for our guests to mingle while waiting for us to arrive. The reception was held in their well-appointed, warm composing room. Our guests were treated to an elegant setting in which to enjoy their meal. We ended the night dancing until our feet hurt and we retired to our room still full of incredible memories of the most perfect day. Thank you Press Hotel for making our wedding weekend all that we imagined.

ch there one Sunday. The atmosphere, aesthetic and tone of the hotel was exactly what we were looking for in a wedding venue. From our first meeting with Crystal, we knew we were in good hands. Crystal helped us navigate the planning process and what a savior she was, as we had little free time between busy careers and grad school. She kept us on track and helped us with the little details that tied it all together. To say she went above and beyond would be an understatement. It was as if she had known us for years and knew exactly what we wanted, before we knew we wanted it! She was a dream to work with and made the whole process stress free. We held our ceremony in the Editorial Room and it was a great back drop for photos. The art gallery was the chic space for our cocktail hour. The reception was held in the Composing Room and it was perfect! There was no need to bring in excessive decor. We used simple white floral arrangements from Campbell’s Floral design and they did a fantastic job (and the flowers lasted for days!). Crystal and the chefs at Union helped us craft all the food for the cocktail hour and dinner at the reception. We wanted the food to be the focal point and our guests let us know just how great the food was! Everything looked wonderful and tasted even better, and as most couples claim, they didn’t get to eat at their wedding…that was not the case here! We enjoyed every bite! The chefs at Union also created our wedding cake and as someone who is a dessert fanatic they did not disappoint! They served up tiny individual cakes with gelato on the side, it was a fun spin on “cake and ice cream”. And the reception favors! I still get texts asking “where can I buy those pumpkin whoopie pies” five months later. The staff during the cocktail hour and reception were outstanding. I think my father put it best when he said, he didn’t notice they were there, yet his wine glass was never empty! The rooms at the Press Hotel are just so beautiful and so modern and the staff was very gracious and helpful from check in to check out. The hotel itself provided many locations for photo ops. When we got our photos back we were floored at how beautiful everything looked. Clare Norton Photography was just outstanding. Clare did an amazing job at capturing the whole day for us, she is a real pro! I can’t say enough great things about the Press Hotel, Crystal, the chefs and the staff. We were so happy with every aspect of the day, it was absolutely perfect!