How do your guests know that they are on the right path to your party?

Signs!

For a recent soup party, we wanted to make certain that guests not familiar with the party neighborhood could easily find their way.

In order to direct guests:

We first included the party address and driving directions in our invitation.  A simple step, but effective.

We hung our 1^st party sign in an easy to find place as guests turned off of the highway.

Hey, Y'all! The party's this-a-way!

We tied yellow balloons onto trees that our guests could follow.  These tree balloons synced up with the turn directions in the invitation.

Follow those balloons!

Better than breadcrumbs!

A “Welcome” sign was hung at the party entrance along with some cute party flags we made and some path lights.

You have arrived!

A “Restroom” sign was hung to direct guests to the detached restrooms.

Practical and cute.

You can make your signs out of pretty much any material.  With some creativity and web inspiration, show your guests the way to your party and give them a nice surprise, too!

You can make your own directional wedding & party signs by following these steps:

Our Supplies:

All of our supplies were purchased at Michaels Craft Store. Visit www.Michaels.com for the store nearest you.

3 Craft Boards from Michaels Craft Store in standard sizes (Note: If you want to re-use your signs, I recommend getting a tight-grain wood from a hardware store and cutting your signs to size with a table saw.)

1 bottle of Martha Stewart chalkboard paint in black.  (They come in a lot of fun colors!)

Water Seal

Scissors

Pencil

Box of chalk

Chalk Pen in white

Computer (Mac in this case)/Printer/Paper for the stencil

Drill

Twine

Yellow Balloons

1) Prep your boards.  You can cut your boards to size, or, do as I did and use a stock size from Michaels Craft Store.  If you want to stain your board, do so.  If you want to water seal your board, do so after you stain it.  You may also just water seal the plain board.  Water seal keeps your sign from warping and turning color if it should rain on your signs or they somehow get wet.

2) Find a border that you want to use for your design.  I found mine online by using Google search on “scroll borders” and came across this adorable website:  http://www.weddingclipart.com.  Since I wanted to blow the border up even larger than could be done by blowing one image up on a page, we downloaded the image and took 3 separate screenshots of the design.  We imported the screenshots into iPhoto. From there, we put each screenshot onto a Word Document page and blew them up to fit each page.  Each page was then printed.  I taped the images together to make one large frame that I cut along the outer edge to make my template.  (Note: You can import your design into many programs and blow it up onto multiple pages.  But I have a Mac that I LOVE and use iPhoto.)

Cute border from www.weddingclipart.com! You can sign up and print two clip art borders for free.

3) Use your cut out border or design as a stencil.  I thought of applying masking tape directly to my board and cutting along the tape to make a masked area that I could easily roll the paint onto, but you need a tight wood grain on your board for masking tape to work.  Otherwise, your paint will seep in under the tape.  Instead, I drew the design onto each board by following along my stencil with a pencil.

4) Fill in the lines with chalkboard paint.  I purchased Martha Stewart chalkboard paint from Michaels Craft Store.  I put the paint onto a plate covered in a Ziploc (easy clean up).  Loading my brush, I pulled my brush along the drawn lines and then filled in the middle as I went.  It took a total of 3 coats for this porous craft board.   Wait an hour in between coats.

5) Let the chalkboard paint cure for 24 hours.

6) If you have a tight-grain wood and you want to re-use your signs, you must follow this step. Once cured, rub down the entire surface with chalk.  Wipe the chalk off with a dry cloth.  You need to do this step or anything you write will be permanent and leave a ghost image.  (This mostly works on balsa wood, but the grain is loose and becomes a bit bumpy. There was a bit of trace left by writing in traditional chalk.  The chalk pen came right off, though! – I always wondered why my teachers would wipe chalk over their chalkboards after they were resurfaced.  Now I know!)

You don't have to rub your sign down with chalk, but you do if you want it to be a reusable chalkboard!

7) You now have chalkboard signs!  Write or draw whatever you want with chalk, or use a chalk pen, which easily washes off with water.

8) Write the message you desire in a fancy font. I wanted a particular script called “Little Days” on my signs that matched my party stationary and other printed signs.  In order to get the penmanship correct, I printed the words onto regular printer paper.  Then, I rubbed the back of the paper with chalk.  Rubbing just the area on the reverse side of the text will do.  Next, I centered the text on my sign as I would want to rad it and traced the words with a blunt pencil.  This transferred a faint image of the text from the chalk on the back of the paper onto my board.  Last, I traced the faint image with my chalk pen.  Any mistakes will wipe off with water.  Just make sure to use permanent pen, paint or shrink wrap your board if you think it will rain!  You can always re-paint the black!  Better than drippy chalk signs!

9) Drill hang points and use twine to hang your signs. I used four hang points total (one on each corner, but set in a bit) so I could secure the sign tightly as the wind in Central Oregon can become very brisk and may have ripped the signs loose if they were not tethered.

10) Admire your handiwork and the awesome cuteness you have created!

Ready to hang!

Welcome!

Enjoy your party!

Suzanne

FivePine Lodge – Your Wedding Weekend Getaway in Sisters, Oregon

Cultivate a spirit of community with a wedding weekend in Sisters, Oregon.

Sisters, Oregon

The town of Sisters makes the perfect place for a destination-wedding weekend.  Guests traveling from afar will truly be on a total vacation.

It's a Beautiful Day for a Wedding at FivePine Lodge in Sisters, Oregon! Photo by Kimberly Kay Photography.

One of the wonderful benefits to having your wedding in Sisters, Oregon is the sense of community you will experience even if you have never lived nor visited Sisters before.

With a population of about 2000 and about a mile long, Sisters is a cozy community that quickly embraces you and gives you a feeling of the familiar.

Invite two hundred of your closest family and friends and your guests will literally make up about 10% of the people in town.  So, everywhere you go on your wedding weekend, you will actually see faces you actually know!

Zip Around Town in Celebration of Your Wedding Day on Bicycles Borrowed from FivePine Lodge. Photo by Kelly Armijo Designs.

Even those whom you have never met shine a friendly face and greet you at the local coffee shops and stores in town:  Merchants helpfully show you their wares, and locals wave and say hello as you walk down the street.

Best of all, with your guests in such close quarters, they will really get the opportunity to meet new people, see soon-familiar faces and feel as if they are truly a part of a close-knit group on your wedding day.

FivePine Lodge

A beautiful woodsy retreat for weekend weddings in Sisters is the much-adored FivePine Lodge.  Rated AAA Four Diamond resort and a recipient of the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award, FivePine Lodge is the perfect blend of rustic and elegant.

FivePine Lodge and Conference Center Nestled Among the Wildflowers. Photo courtesy of FivePine Lodge & Conference Center.

FivePine Makes the Most Beautiful Setting for a Wedding Whether the Season is Summer or Winter. Photo courtesy of FivePine Lodge & Conference Center.

Situated right at the end of Sisters, you can walk from the FivePine Campus (which includes FivePine Lodge, Three Creeks Brewery, Sisters Movie House, Sisters Athletic Club and Shibui Spa) to absolutely anywhere in town.

Your guests will stay in well-appointed, comfortable, stand-alone cabins or within the craftsman lodge rooms.  From here, they can walk a few steps to all of your wedding events and the town of Sisters itself.

Imagine a wedding weekend that lasted from Thursday through Sunday with a variety of things to do and ways to help your guests really get to know each other and feel at home.

Thursday

The friendly staff of FivePine and the team of Suzanne the Party Girl would greet your guests in their lovely craftsman front lobby.  Comfortable leather craftsman couches and gaming tables surround a double-sided stone fireplace.

You could surprise your guests with custom welcome bags created by Suzanne that we have filled with local treats.  Mitch & Julie of Sisters Olive and Nut Company have a wonderful assortment of local Oregon jams as well as delicious olives and pickled snacks.

Also, a gift certificate to BJ’s Homemade Ice Cream and Sisters Coffee create fun destination spots.  FivePine has seed packets of the local wildflowers and other wonderful gifts you can choose from in their gift shop and spa.

In addition to treats in welcome bags, Suzanne would include a special custom guide that coordinates with your wedding colors and theme.  Your guide would list the local hangouts and eateries in town as well as a list of organized events both the bride and groom would lead.

Get Ready For Your Big Day at FivePine Lodge and Conference Center. Photo courtesy of FivePine Lodge & Conference Center.

FivePine offers a complimentary wine reception for all lodge guests in their main lodge lobby.  On the evening of your guests’ arrival, you can mix and mingle with your guests over a glass of wine as they arrive.

You can also have the FivePine team check in your guests and direct them to a hosted private party with drinks and appetizers in FivePine’s Cozy Room in the Conference Center.   Serve wine, local cheeses from Tumalo Farms and small bites fixed for you by FivePine’s catering staff.

Wedding Receptions, Rehearsal Dinners, and Welcome Parties All Look Amazing in FivePine Lodge's Conference Center. Photo by Byron Roe Photography.

Come nightfall, guests will happily snuggle in their down comforter beds next to their in-room fireplaces and prepare for a weekend of surprises and fun!

Friday

Friday morning let the adventure begin!

Awake fresh and ready for an event-filled day.  FivePine offers complimentary deluxe coffee and tea service daily for all lodge guests.  They also offer bagels, scones, yogurt, fresh fruit, granola, oatmeal, hard-boiled eggs, juice, coffee and tea in the lodge.  It’s a fun time to meet and gather before the rest of the day’s events.

Enjoy the Rising Sun from the Patio of Your Cabin or Balcony of Your Room at FivePine Lodge. Photo courtesy of FivePine Lodge & Conference Center.

Suzanne will help arrange for a round of golf at nearby, beautiful Aspen Lakes Golf Course and lunch at Brand 33 Restaurant or organize a guided fly fishing tour from The Fly Fisher’s Place.  The nearby Metolius River is the perfect spot to hone your fly-fishing skills.

Other adventures can include a self-guided hike up into our National Forest along the Peterson Ridge Trail.  You can also borrow FivePine’s cruising bikes to ride around town and enjoy the sights.

FivePine Lodge Bicycles Make Great Local Transportation and Photo Opportunities for Your Wedding Party. Photo by Jay Eads.

Round out your day with wonderful, relaxing massages at Shibui, FivePine’s luxury spa.

Friday evening, your invited family and friends would gather on the grass and attend your wedding rehearsal at FivePine Lodge.  Suzanne would coordinate your wedding party and ceremony so every element of your wedding feels comfortable and prepared.

Set the Stage with Lovely Rustic Benches for Your Wedding Ceremony in the fields of FivePine Lodge. Photo by Kimberly Kay Photography.

Afterward, all of your guests would be invited to your casual rehearsal dinner at one of Sisters charming local restaurants.  Directions and details would be included in your guests’ welcome bags.

Show a slideshow to your gathered guests or small movie of your engagement and start sharing the story of your lives together.  We can help you arrange your photos and videos into a lovely presentation.

Saturday

Awake on your wedding day at FivePine Lodge surrounded by the woods and the crisp mountain aroma of Ponderosa Pines.

Suzanne can deliver baskets to your guests’ rooms of fresh baked goodies and doughnuts from Sisters Bakery or gluten-free, vegan treats from Angeline’s Bakery or Poppies to accompany their complimentary freshly ground Sisters Coffee.

Getting ready for your wedding couldn’t be easier.  Every modern convenience is available to you in Sisters.  Pamper yourself and your bridal party with manicures, pedicures and hair styling by the expert staff at Metamorphosis Salon, just blocks from FivePine.

FivePine has a spacious getting ready room for the bride and her party in the Boardroom within the reception lodge.  The groom and his party can get dressed and prepare in a nearby suite.

FivePine Lodge Transformed for Your Wedding Day. Photos courtesy of FivePine Lodge & Conference Center.

Your Wedding

Suzanne and the Party Girl team will greet your guests as they arrive and gather on the grass overlooking FivePine’s running brook and wildflower field.

Your outdoor wedding ceremony will be enveloped by the glow of the afternoon sun, which will surround you and your guests and form a memory that will last forever.

Outdoor Ceremony in the Grass at FivePine Lodge. Photo by Kubota Design.

FivePine Wedding Ceremony Reflecting in the Pond. Photo by Kimberly Kay Photography.

Celebrate your nuptials with a cocktail hour on the terrace of the Creekside Outdoor Patio overlooking the pond.  An outdoor bar will serve your guests cocktails while a small trio of musicians fills the air with jazz.  Tray pass cocktails of your choosing and appetizers such as mini crab cakes with chipotle remoulade or wontons filled with sausage, roasted tomato and mozzarella, among other scrumptious options.

Enjoy a Wedding Reception that is Outdoors or Indoors at FivePine Lodge. Photo by Kimberly Kay Photography.

Enjoy a delicious sit down dinner fireside inside FivePine’s reception space of the Middle and South Sister rooms.  Surrounded by flagstone and natural pine, you can enjoy carrot ginger soup, seared scallops with endive and roasted pears and lemon beurre blanc, filet of beef served with a merlot thyme sauce and tomato oregano coulis over potato gratin and broccolini.

Your guests can then dance the night away to one of our favorite local bands or the spinning of a talented DJ on the dance floor.  Guests can enjoy conversation in the adjacent North Sister/Cozy Room.

Even the Kids Will Dance the Night Away! Photo by Kimberly Kay Photography.

Enjoying a Quiet Moment as Husband and Wife. Photo courtesy of FivePine Lodge & Conference Center.

Spend your first night as husband and wife in FivePine’s Romance Cabin. You will be bathed in luxury with your pillow top king bed, down pillows, down comforter, gas fireplace, personalized climate control, sunken tile and rock soaking tub, plush bathrobes, dual head Italian tile shower, 42” plasma television, DVD player, complimentary wi-fi, mini fridge (among other amenities), and a patio where you can gaze at the stars in Adirondack chairs.

http://www.fivepinelodge.com/portfolios/romance-cabin/

Superb Amenities Await You as New Husband and Wife in FivePine's Romance Cabin. Photo courtesy of FivePine Lodge and Conference Center.

Have a Romance Basket delivered to your room that includes Domaine Ste Michelle Brut Sparkling Wine, champagne glasses, bubble bath, bath fizz, body lotion and gourmet chocolate bars.

Say goodnight to your guests with local homemade fudge or chocolate chip cookies and warm milk.

Sunday

Remember the weekend’s shared experiences and stories with a trip to Sisters Coffee followed by an open brunch at Three Creeks Brewing Company where you can say thank you to your guests and wish them a safe journey home.

Your destination-wedding weekend will be one that you and your guests will always remember and enjoy.  Truly, your wedding will be your dreams come to life.

Congratulations to the Happy Couple! Photo by Byron Roe Photography.

Congratulations on your engagement and cheers to a wonderful wedding and life together!

Suzanne

Check out FivePine’s Wedding Flipbook:

www.fivepinelodge.com/wedding-flipbook

FivePine Lodge

1021 Desperado Trail

Sisters, Oregon 97759

541.549.5900

www.FivePineLodge.com

For more information regarding special events and catering, particularly the seasonal menu, contact FivePine’s Events Coordinator at 541.585.2647.

Shibui Spa

720 Buckaroo Trail

Sisters, Oregon 97759

541.549.6164

email: info@ShibuiSpa.com

www.ShibuiSpa.com

Three Creeks Brewing Co.

721 Desperado Court

Sisters, OR 97759

541.549.1963

email: info@ThreeCreeksBrewing.com

www.ThreeCreeksBrewing.com

Sisters Athletic Club

1001 Desperado Trail

PO Box 1747

Sisters, Oregon 97759

541.549.6878

www.SistersAthleticClub.com

Receive complimentary use of the athletic club with your stay.

Sisters Movie House

720 Desperado Court

Sisters, Oregon 97759

541.549.8800

email: inquiries@SistersMovieHouse.com

www.SistersMovieHouse.com

Receive discounted movie tickets with your stay. Great for kids, too!

Metamorphosis Salon

161 North Elm Street

Sisters, Oregon 97759

541.549.1784

Sisters Bakery

251 East Cascade Avenue

Sisters, Oregon 97759

541.549.0361

Angeline’s Bakery

121 West Main Avenue

Sisters, Oregon 97759

mail:

Angeline Rhett

Angeline’s Bakery

PO Box 2171

Sisters, Oregon 97759

Email: YumYum@AngelinesBakery.com

541.549.9122

www.AngelinesBakery.com

gluten-free, vegan, agave sweetened bakery fare and creative soups, salads, and lunch entrees.

Poppies

221 W. Main St.

Sisters OR 97759

Email: PoppiesInSisters@gmail.com

541-549-1033

www.Facebook.com/PoppiesInSisters

Tumalo Farms

64515 Mock Road

Bend, Oregon 97701

541.350.3718

www.TumaloFarms.com

Tumalo Farms Cheeses, Pasteries, Sisters Coffee & Wedding Cakes are also available at Ray’s Food Place

Ray’s Food Place, Sisters

635 N. Arrowleaf Trail

Sisters, Oregon 97759

off of Cascade Hwy 20

541.549.2222

www.GoRays.com

Sisters Olive & Nut Company

271 West Cascade Avenue

PO Box 1113

Sisters, Oregon 97759

541.549.8047

Mitch & Julie Mansfield

email: SistersOlive@preferredld.com

www.SistersOlive.com

Aspen Lakes Golf Course

16900 Aspen Lakes Drive

Sisters, Oregon 97759

541.549.3019

www.AspenLakes.com

The Fly-Fisher’s Place

151 West Main Avenue

PO Box 1179

Sisters, Oregon 97759

541.549.FISH

www.FlyFishersPlace.com

Other local Sisters, Oregon businesses:

Sisters Chamber of Commerce

www.SistersCountry.com

The Nugget Newspaper Sisters Oregon Guide

www.SistersOregonGuide.com

The City of Sisters

www.ci.sisters.or.us

Photography by:

Armijo Designs

Kelly Armijo

www.kellyarmijo.com

Byron Roe Photography

Byron & Wendy Roe

www.studio-br.com

Jay Eads

www.jayeads.com

Kubota Photo Design

Kevin Kubota

www.kkphoto-design.com

Kimberly Kay Photography

Kimberly Kay

www.kkayphoto.com

Cows and elk roam the pastures in the meadow near the Metolius River. Photo courtesy of House on the Metolius.

Available as a wonderful indoor and outdoor venue for your wedding or event from May through October, House on the Metolius is truly a romantic, rustic paradise.

This charming hand forged sign greets guests as they enter The House on the Metolius and again on the deck overlooking the Metolius River.

Surrounded by breathtaking views, the private resort is set deep in the Ponderosa Pine Forest near Camp Sherman in Central Oregon.

The Metolius River meanders through 200 acres of private land that has been family owned for generations.  On a clear day, spectacular views showcase a snow-capped Mt. Jefferson and Three Finger Jack.

View of Mount Jefferson from the resort's property. Photo courtesy of House on the Metolius.

Early mornings, elk are frequently seen languishing on the meadow and drinking from the clear, spring-fed river.

View of The New Lodge which has a view of the river's bend and the meadow below.

According to House on the Metolius, “The setting is unbeatable for those who want to be in nature and be surrounded by beauty.  There is no other venue like it.”

“Large or intimate, simple or extravagant, the House on the Metolius is the perfect setting for any couple. Arriving by horse drawn carriage in the Meadow or by a Model-A with the mountains in the background.  Standing next to the Metolius River for your ceremony. The options are as big as your imagination.”

The serene beauty of The Old Lodge. Photo courtesy of House on the Metolius.

The two locations available on-site for weddings and events are The Old Lodge and the Meadow on the Metolius River.

The Great Room in the Old Lodge. You can imagine your guests dining in the rustic beauty of the 1926 Old Lodge with a view of the Metolius River. Photo courtesy of House on the Metolius.

Pathway to The Old Lodge leading to the catering kitchen and the wrap around deck.

The Old Lodge is equipped with a large full-sized kitchen and it would be easy for catering to set up. Catering can even drive their vehicles right up to the kitchen to unload and set up.

The full-sized kitchen in The Old Lodge is perfect for catering to your guests. Photo courtesy of House on the Metolius.

“A small, intimate wedding could be held inside with a long family style table and the fireplace glowing or a ceremony outside on the lawn and a reception on the deck, or the ceremony on the deck for either a large (100 people) or small wedding.”

View of the winding river from the deck of The Old Lodge.

You could begin your wedding by greeting guests in the Old Lodge for a cocktail hour and tray-passed appetizers. Then, you could have your guests circle around you with the fireplace framing your ceremony.

The original 1926 fireplace in The Old Lodge would make a lovely backdrop for a ceremony with some added flowers and greenery.

The Great Room in The Old Lodge has a long bank of windows with a view of The Meadow and The Metolius River. Photo couretsy of House on the Metolius.

You could have your guests walk down the path toward the river’s edge for your ceremony. Chairs can be set up on the meadow.

Path from the entrance through the meadow where elk enjoy grazing in the early morning hours.

Following your ceremony, you could either have your cocktail hour (while you take your wedding photos) or your reception in The Old Lodge or in a custom tent that can be enclosed and heated on The Meadow next to the river.

For guest counts over 100, you can tent and heat an area in The Meadow right next to the Metolius River.

Imagine this as the view from your wedding ceremony location. Photo courtesy of House on the Metolius.

Metolius shares, “The Meadow can accommodate 300 people either under a big tent or out in the open.  Ceremonies can be held in a number of desirable locations and a reception with dance floor, beautifully decorated tables and catered food for a buffet or sit down dinner reception.  The grounds are so expansive that there are a lot of options to make a bride and groom’s wedding tailored to fulfill their dream.”

A dance floor can be set up and music and dancing can go into the night.

You can also book a cabin for your wedding night or honeymoon.  House on the Metolius has five cabins which can each accommodate 2-4 people.  All cabins include bathrooms with showers, complete kitchens, sitting rooms, fireplaces, decks and BBQ grills.  Restaurants and supplies are nearby in Camp Sherman, Suttle Lake, Black Butte and Sisters.

Entry into the main cabin of The New Lodge from the foyer and sun room.

The Great Room at The New Lodge. Photo courtesy of House on the Metolius.

Detail on the window hinge showing the pine cone and fish which are part of the rustic motifs.

The master bedroom in The New Lodge. Photo courtesy of House on the Metolius.

Click here for rooms and accommodations:  House on the Metolius Accommodations

For your wedding guests, there are also several lovely accommodations and rentals in neighboring Camp Sherman, which is less than 2 miles away.

Metolius invites you to, “Come out for a tour and experience the magic of the House on the Metolius.  It will take your breath away.”

House on the Metolius
10475 Road 1420
Camp Sherman, Oregon 97730

Mailing Address:
PO Box 100
Camp Sherman, Oregon 97730

For weddings, events, resort information and fly-fishing tours, contact:
Loy Helmly
House on the Metolius
Call: 541-410-3652
Email: Loy@metolius.com
Website: www.metolius.com
For wedding coordination information, contact:
Suzanne Carvlin
Call: 541-595-8707
Email: Suzanne@SuzanneThePartyGirl.com
Website: www.SuzanneThePartyGirl.com

Directions to the lodges and meadow: From Highway 20/126, turn onto road 1420 from the Camp Sherman Junction. Follow the road North 6.6 miles. (Pass the 4-way stop that directs you right to Camp Sherman and continue straight.) At 6.6 miles, you will see a small wood sign on the left side of the road. Opposite you will see a green gate. Turn right at the green gate, labeled 10475. Continue on the red dirt road until you see a small gate with the House on the Metolius iron forged sign and enter the pass code provided by Reidun or Pam. Then, follow the road to the parking area by the Old Lodge.

Tip: For guests on your wedding day, add a few directional signs: One at the Camp Sherman Junction; another at the 4-way intersection directing guests to continue straight; a third directing guests to turn right at the green gate at 10475.

Photo credits:  Photos that are provided by House on the Metolius were used with permission.  All other photos taken by Suzanne Carvlin.