Wedding Tip of the Week: Save the Date

It's never too early to save the date for your upcoming wedding! Sending Save-the-Date cards to your guest list will make it easier for friends and family to plan to attend your wedding festivities.

Coordinate your Save-the-Date cards with your invitations, with many styles to choose from at the Mari Bliss Boutique, located at 311 Oak Street in Hood River.

We have hundreds of samples to suit every budget and taste, and can help you find the perfect Save-the-Date card to mark your special day. Stop by the shop and have a look!

Winter White for the New Year

What better way to ring in the New Year than with a stunning white Phalaenopsis Orchid. These exotic beauties will add a little extra cheer to your days as you start anew in 2011.

There are more than 50 different species of Phalaenopsis orchids, with a color for just about every mood. We like the gorgeous white big-faced, yellow-throated P. philippinensis, of which there are several varieties.

Add some live beauty to your home or office, and enjoy blooms for several months. Orchids are easier to care for than you might think, if you follow these handy guidelines:

- Let your Phalaenopsis's potting medium (most orchids do not require soil, but grow in a mix of bark or coconut husk chips, rock and other organic matter) dry out between

waterings. Too-frequent watering will result in an unhealthy orchid, unwilling to bloom.

-To water, thoroughly wet the growing medium, taking care not to get water on the blooms. Let drain completely.

-Phalaenopsis are heavy feeders and like a regular fertilizing. Water with a 30-10-10 standard fertilizer every couple of weeks.

-Keeping the plant in a room with adequate, but not direct, light, with an average temperature of 60 degrees F or above will help keep your orchid happy and producing blooms.

Stop by the shop and take home a Phalaenopsis to brighten your winter!

To learn more about orchids and how to care for them, check out the American Orchid Society.

Wedding Tip of the Week: Find the Perfect Venue

Congratulations on your engagement! Getting married is one of life's biggest, most memorable events. Begin planning your special day as early as possible, starting with finding a venue for your ceremony and reception.

With more than 20 unique and amazing venues, the Columbia Gorge has something for every style and budget imaginable. From historic hotels and bed and breakfasts, to rustic lodges and villas, having the wedding of your dreams is easy in the Gorge. But be sure to book early, as popular venues fill up quickly, sometimes up to two years in advance.

To learn more about all of the possible places to get married in the Gorge, email Mari-beth Guenther at Gorge Events for recommendations and other wedding planning help.