Matador East Portland

Rehearsal Dinner

Bar Bar

Welcome Toast

The Troutdale House by the Sandy River

Wedding Day

Summer

Our Wedding

The Story So Far...

Matt and Lauren met in late August of 2019 in the most conventional way for aging millennial nerds: on the internet. They were immediately drawn to each other’s quirky and goofy vibes, and after exchanging messages and getting to know each other a bit, they decided to meet in person. They planned a date at the local North Portland lounge Victoria Bar for Saturday, September 7th. The chemistry was immediate and strong. Matt was warm and affable, and Lauren was clever and charming. They talked for hours, the minutes melting away like butter. But more importantly, the laughter flowed freely and easily. By the time they closed down Victoria Bar and paid their tabs, their cheeks were aching from the evening of smiles and laughter. After agreeing to meet again soon, Lauren leaned in and sealed the deal with a kiss. Matt beamed all the way home. The next few months were a flurry of exciting adventures. They spent more late nights getting to know each other at bars like The Rambler and Moloko on N Mississippi Street, playing video games and watching cartoons at Lauren’s house, singing karaoke at Sweet Home, eating deliciously greasy brunch at Nite Hawk Cafe, and they even went to a huge Halloween house party together where they didn’t know a single other person. Things were going great, they were having a blast and growing closer by the day, nothing could possibly go wrong! And then in March of 2020 for reasons outside their control, the non-stop adventures came to an abrupt halt. But they decided to stick it out, frequently texting each other, having video calls, playing video games, and watching movies together online. It wasn’t ideal, but the love they had begun to nurture was too special to let a little thing like a massive global pandemic get in the way. Matt eventually got his own apartment, and they were able to spend more time together in person. Around the end of 2021, Lauren and Matt decided to move in together. They joined forces and created their own little nerd-nest, and soon after decided to adopt their first (and weirdest) kitten, Jeff. They met each other’s families, traveled a bit, and inherited a second cat named Sully after Lauren’s father and step-mom passed away. They continued to build their life together as their relationship grew stronger. As Lauren’s birthday approached in June of 2025, Matt invited some of their closest local friends to a karaoke party at VoiceBox in SW Portland. After Matt’s vocal chords were properly warmed up, he covertly put on the suit jacket and clip on bow tie he had stashed away and proceeded to serenade Lauren with the song “I Swear” by the 90’s R&amp;B group All-4-One. Right as the saxophone solo hit after the second chorus, Matt reached into his jacket pocket, took a knee, and offered Lauren a ring. He asked Lauren to marry him… and she said yes! Which brings us to the reason you’re reading this. We’re so excited and so happy to include you all in our big day, and we can’t wait to celebrate our union together on August 30th, 2026. See you then!

Our Story

Photos

Bridesmaids

Jessica GeoffroyCaitlin AldridgeCristina FitzerAdrienne Seely

Groomsmen

Paul SeelyZack SterlingTait HowardSam Pepperwood

Wedding Party

Q + A

The airport you'll be flying into is Portland International Airport (PDX), which has recently been renovated and is now one of the most beautiful and highly rated airports in the country! PDX is a quick 13 mile drive to downtown Portland, and only 10 miles from the Jupiter Next hotel block we have reserved. If you are arriving by car to the wedding ceremony and reception, there is plenty of parking available onsite at The Troutdale House.

Portland International Airport

We have reserved a block of rooms at a special rate for our special day at the modern and eclectic Jupiter and Jupiter Next Hotels. They are across the street from each other on East Burnside Street within walking distance of some of the best bars, restaurants, cafes, and boutiques on the east side of the river. They’re also just a short drive across the river to the Pearl District, one of the best downtown areas in Portland with vibrant nightlife and close to some of Portland’s most popular attractions. Transportation from these hotels will be provided to and from the wedding venue on the wedding day. If you prefer to travel on your own, the wedding venue is about 20 minutes drive from the hotel in the town of Troutdale, OR. Here are the links to book on-line. <a href="https://reservations.verticalbooking.com//premium/index.html?dc=7749&amp;id_albergo=25785&amp;lingua_int=usa&amp;id_stile=19744&amp;codice_roomlist=ALDRI260828-234039" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aldridge-Seely Wedding @ NEXT</a><a href="https://reservations.verticalbooking.com//premium/index.html?dc=3453&amp;id_albergo=14356&amp;lingua_int=usa&amp;id_stile=17288&amp;codice_roomlist=ALDRI260828-234039" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aldridge-Seely Wedding @ Original</a> If there is a specific room type and/or hotel property that is not available in our block, please message us and we will contact the hotel to accommodate your request at the special rate.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There is a 2 night minimum for these special rates.&nbsp;If you would like to book shoulder dates (before or after Friday, August 28 through Monday, August 31, 2026 ), please book online with the link above then call or email the sales office. The direct phone number is (503) 234-7767 and email is sales@jupiterhotel.com. You will need a confirmation code in order to extend your dates.&nbsp; The cut-off date for these special rates is August 6, 2026. &nbsp;As an alternative to our hotel room block, there are plenty of short term rentals available in Portland as well as closer to the wedding venue.

Jupiter NEXT

Travel

Portland has a vibrant and diverse food, arts and bar scene including award winning culinary professionals from casual to fine dining, and is known for its large variety of local made craft beers, unique local art, and beautiful gardens including the Portland Japanese Gardens. In the greater Portland, Oregon area, you can visit the picturesque Columbia River Gorge national parks or take a wine country day trip down south to the renowned Willamette Valley. If you're looking for some fun things to do around town and aren't sure where to start, check out <a href="https://pdx.eater.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">pdx.eater.com</a> for the best local bars and restaurants and <a href="https://www.travelportland.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">travelportland.com</a> to get to know our city and region a little better. A few personal recommendations from us:

Hey Love is a super cute, super vibey cocktail lounge and restaurant directly attached to the Jupiter Next hotel we've reserved for our wedding guests! Distinctly modern but with a lush, retro aesthetic, Hey Love serves award-winning cocktails and food by Machetes - Authentic México City street food. Definitely worth checking out at least once during your stay!

Hey Love

It's Powell's. It's the biggest independent bookstore in the world. It's awesome. Go get lost amongst the tomes and discover your new airplane read for the trip home!

Powell's City of Books

Got an arcade itch to scratch while you're visiting? A Portland nerd staple, Ground Kontrol offers a great selection of both retro and modern arcade games as well as pinball machines in a futuristic 2-story arcade serving beer &amp; light meals.

Lauren & Matthew

Lauren & Matthew

L&M

Welcome Toast

Wedding Day