Jen and Erik – Catching’s Grove and Compass Room Wedding at McMenamins – Forest Grove, Oregon
Jen and Erik were married in Catching’s Grove at the McMenamins Grand Lodge in Forest Grove. Since our engagement session a few months back was so rainy, I was thrilled to find that on their wedding day there wasn’t a drop of rain. Along with the lovely purples and white in the wedding decor, Jen had hidden little Mickey Mouse details in the wedding, one small shape made out of crystals on her veil, another one on her bouquet, and a mouse ears at the head table (one for a little bride, another a little tuxedo groom). During the ceremony, the couple poured two beers into the same glass as a sweet (and very McMenamins appropriate) symbol of their new union. I was so happy to get to be a small part of their day! A few of my favorites are below.
Melissa and Stefan – Historic Overlook House Wedding – Portland, Oregon
Melissa and Stefan were married in their home country of Germany earlier this year, but they had come to Portland to have a second ceremony and continue their “summer wedfest” with Melissa’s friends and family here. They had chosen the perfectly suited historic overlook house in north portland for their celebration – and it turned out to be a lovely warm summer afternoon. Melissa wore a beautiful cream dress with a light green sash, and it looked just gorgeous with her red hair. The wedding details perfectly coordinated, with oranges and reds and greens in the flowers (along with a few berries in the arrangements!), the cake was a simple layered cream number, with light green ribbons, and a burst of color on top. I attend so many weddings each summer that I take for granted many American wedding traditions, so it was a lovely chance for me to see all of these traditions happen for the first time for Stefan, from giving the vows a once-over, to the cake cutting, it gave the whole wedding a feeling of newness for me. Near the end of the reception, I was able to steal the couple away for a few moments to take a couple of portraits at Overlook Park, I was lucky that for these two, I barely had to do any prompting to get them to laugh and smile together, they were just a joy to work with! A few of my favorite images are below.
Jenn and Patrick – Smith Rock Engagement Photos – Bend, Oregon
Last weekend I met up with Jenn and Patrick to take some engagement photos near Smith Rock in Bend, Oregon. It was one of those pretty hot days in early August, the temperature when we met up in the late afternoon was still hovering well above 90 degrees. But the gorgeous sunlight and and beautiful scenery of the rocks and high desert plant life made for a pretty amazing backdrop. We spent some time hiking (well, walking) around some of the cliff areas at Smith Rock, and luckily no one was afraid of heights, so I was able to get these two to stand pretty close to the edge of the cliffs so that we could also sneak some views of the Deschutes river valley down below. Spending the evening with Jenn and Patrick was so fun, and I’m feeling pretty lucky that I get to return to Bend next summer to take their wedding photos.
Morgan and Mark – Jasper House Farm Wedding – Pleasant Hill, Oregon
Morgan and Mark’s wedding was at the absolutely gorgeous Jasper House Farm just outside of Eugene in Pleasant Hill, Oregon. There were so many lovely details at this wedding that I am sure I am going to leave a few out – but I’ll try! Morgan was wearing a stunning dress with a lace overlay that was tailored from her mother’s wedding gown, her bridesmaids were each wearing a different dress in grey, all of them wearing leather boots. Mark choose a grey suit with a blue shirt (and a great tie with owls on it!). The flowers for the bridal bouquets and the boutonnieres all came from the garden at Jasper House Farms (and they smelled just as wonderful as they looked – with flowers in creams and purples and blues and light pinks).
For the guest seating, the couple used long picnic benches, set with hand-made napkins with a variety of colorful napkins, and many different lace runners spread over the tables, they had little bits of tree branches cut to use as a pedestal for the tea lights on the table, and lovely little flowers in assorted vases as well. The picnic tables were placed so that the guests could sit during the ceremony under the trees, and stay at their same places for the dinner.
We explored the property a bit for the first look and the bridal party photos, using the old barn for a background with Morgan and Mark, and also using the brand new covered structure for a few of the photos of the bridesmaids. Jasper House Farm was the perfect place for this particular day, because even though it was a pretty hot day, the venue area stayed really cool with all of the shade from the huge trees surrounding the area.
The couple used old window panes to give guests info (on one was written the food menu, on another the instagram hashtags for the wedding pictures, and another listed out the beverage options), and they used old vintage suitcases as a place for guests to put cards. Along one wall were wedding pictures from Mark and Morgan’s parents, grandparents, and other family members. As guests arrived, along with a few different lemonade options served in mason jars, they could pick from a home brewed beer for refreshment.
During the ceremony, when the officiant asked for the rings, I, along with everyone else, was genuinely concerned when the best man patted his pockets and looked as though he might have forgotten them, and then went over to a guest and came back to the groom with a full mug of beer, from which each groomsmen took a few drinks, until the rings were fished out of the bottom and the ceremony continued. Once the marriage was sealed with a kiss, the whole bridal party danced their way down the aisle.
After a delicious dinner eaten under the warm glow of the many lights strung about the property, guests were treated to the most delicious looking (and tasting!) collection of pies I have ever seen. Morgan’s sisters had been working hard in the days leading up to the wedding baking lots and lots of pies, from the old favorites like strawberry rhubarb and lime cheesecake, to some I’d never tasted before such as salted honey, blueberry lavender, and berry balsalmic pie.
After dinner and pie, it was time for dancing! This part of the wedding was extra special for me because my husband was DJing the wedding. Guests danced until the couple was ready to make their getaway, and then celebrated their exit with sparklers as they drove away in a sporty little yellow car.
This was such a beautiful and fun wedding to get to photograph, and the warmth and love I witnessed throughout the day are just some of the many reasons I love doing what I do. Many, many congratulations to Morgan and Mark!
Allie and Michael – Anniversary Pictures – Mississippi Street, Portland, Oregon
- At August 13, 2014
- By Haley Lovett
- In family portraits
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I met Allie and Michael on Mississippi Street a few weekends ago to take some pictures to celebrate their second wedding anniversary. They have made it a tradition to get their pictures taken once a year near their anniversary, which is a very sweet way to mark the passing of another happy year of marriage.
They brought along their little dog Teddy (who was held by Allie’s mom when he wasn’t in a photo), and we just wandered around the shops and alleyways on Mississippi taking pictures and laughing and generally having a pretty nice little Sunday morning. We stopped in to one of the public gardens for a couple shots, used a cool wooden building and another really beautiful brick wall as backdrops, and even found some shade under a nearby tree for a few of the later shots.
It was really nice to get to stroll around such a cool street before it really started to get busy with people, and Allie and Michael are so easygoing and playful that it made getting great looking shots of them laughing and interacting with each other very easy. I hope I get to continue this tradition with them next year!