Catherine and Jaime – Adamson House Wedding – Malibu, California
Catherine and Jaime were married at the gorgeous Adamson House in Malibu, California. I started taking pictures with the bridesmaids and Catherine at the Malibu Country Inn as they got dressed and put the finishing touches on all of the hand-made details (the poms and decorations for the dessert table, the bouquets and the reclaimed wood flower boxes that served as centerpieces, and the re-purposed chalkboards for all the signs and menus), then I headed over to the Adamson House with Catherine and Jaime for their first look and a few early portraits. Catherine looked absolutely beautiful, and Jaime could have been pulled from the pages of a magazine, and the way these two were smiling and laughing with each other it made my job pretty easy. Jaime and Catherine’s first look reminded me why I love getting to photograph weddings, I get to be present for some of the most special moments of a couple’s day, and watching the two of them see each other for the first time (after a small delay to wipe away some happy tears) really warmed my heart.
The Adamson House sits right next to the Pacific Ocean (right along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu) and has just stunning grounds, so it was really fun to get to explore the property and take lots of pictures among the historic buildings (with the beautiful colored tile and the incredible blue windowsills). We could not have asked for a more beautiful fall day for a wedding! The ceremony took place with the Pacific Ocean as the backdrop, and ended just as the sun was beginning to set. We were able to step away during cocktail hour and steal a few more photos as the sun slipped away. Guests then were treated to an amazing selection of pallela for dinner, along with some signature cocktails from the couple, and afterward everyone helped themselves to the wonderful dessert table. As evening turned to night, the guests made full use of the dance floor (seriously, there was so much dancing!). I am so very lucky that I got to capture some of this remarkable day for these two very special people, a few of my favorites are below.
Kirsten and Josh – Lake Wilderness Lodge Wedding – Maple Valley, Washington
Kirsten and Josh were married just outside of Renton, Washington at the Lake Wilderness Lodge. We did their first look and some portraits at the Lake Wilderness Arboretum right next to the venue, and as the sun set on the beautiful fall day, the ceremony was held on the venue lawn with Lake Wilderness as the backdrop. During the ceremony, a little pair of ducks decided to crash the wedding and stood at the back of the aisle for just a moment to check things out. We headed in for the reception just as it was getting dark outside, the couple had used little succulents as place cards for table assignments, and I loved the geometric table numbers they made, friends and family were also treated to a trail mix bar for snacks and sweets (the first time I’d ever seen that, what a great idea!). In one of the best toasts I’ve heard in a while, Kirsten’s maid of honor had picked out sappy or cute public messages that Kirsten and Josh had written to each other on Facebook, and read them aloud; everyone in the room was laughing (including the couple). There was no lack of love during the day, and I have no doubt these two have a very happy life together ahead!
Elida and Derek – Tanner Springs Park and Portland City Grill Wedding – Portland, Oregon
I met with Elida and Derek at Tanner Springs Park in Portland’s Pearl District before their wedding ceremony just as the late afternoon sun was beginning to get lower in the sky. We were able to take lots of pictures in and around the park, including on the boardwalk and near some nice looking architectural features in the neighborhood. I couldn’t keep these two from smiling at each other (but who needs to stop smiling on their wedding day anyhow!), Elida looked just stunning in her white gown with her hair curled and pinned to one side, and Derek looked handsome in his navy suit.  After our quick photo session we headed over to the Portland City Grill – way up on the 30th floor with gorgeous views of the Portland skyline, for their ceremony and reception.  Guests ate and drank and visited with one another as the sun set and the city began to light up against the night sky.  Just as evening really set in, they had their first dance, and afterwards fed each other bites of their gluten-free wedding cake. I was so happy to get to be a small part of Elida and Derek’s wedding day! Some of my favorite wedding photos are below.
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!
Emily and Steve – New Orleans Wedding – Race and Religious
Emily and Steve were married at Race and Religious in New Orleans, LA earlier this month. This was an absolutely gorgeous wedding to get to photograph, there were so many little details I couldn’t even fit all of them into the handful of photos I’ve put below, but the little details paled in comparison to the love and laughter brought to this wedding by the bride and groom and their friends and family. Each guest took a handkerchief at the beginning of the ceremony, and in true New Olreans fashion used those to wave and dance with as they joined the couple in a second line parade right after the ceremony – complete with a band leading the way! Emily wore a stunning lace dress with a gold belt and gold jewelry, while Steve looked fantastic in his navy blue suit (and really spectacular tie!). The white roses in copper colored vases looked very lovely against the blue and white table linens, and the papel picado banners were a great compliment to the string lights hung around the venue. The cake room was just beautiful (as were all the rooms in this historic venue), with photos of the couple strung behind the three cakes, and the main cake set upon an intricate silver cake stand, and decorated with a cute flag banner.
When the time came for the toasts, there was no short supply of laughter and tears, and when it came time to get dancing, there were lots of happy feet on the dance floor. At the end of the night we were able to sneak a couple of photos in front of the vibrant blue water of the pool, right as guests began to wade into the waters.
I think the pictures tell the story a bit better than I can, I am so very lucky to have gotten the chance to photograph this wedding, I know these two have many many happy years ahead of them.
Lindsay and Keith – Wedding at the Lodge at Mountain Park – Lake Oswego, Oregon Wedding
Lindsay and Keith were married on a foggy winter evening last week at the Lodge at Mountain Park. The chandelier that they hung from the wedding arbor was a perfect compliment to the candles and strings of lights around the venue and created a beautiful and romantic feel to the room where they were married. Lindsay had a really lovely hand-made fabric bouquet (as did all of her bridesmaids), and each centerpiece carried on that vintage feel (I really loved the use of older books for centerpieces). The dessert table was really hard to resist and the white fondant cake looked amazing in front of the fireplace. The newly-married couple made their exit at the end of the evening under the dim light of many many sparklers held by friends and family. It was a beautiful wedding and I was so lucky to be there.
Rita and Cirihn – Corson Building Wedding – Seattle, Washington
Rita and Cirihn were married at the Corson Building in Seattle, Washington. It was one of those absolutely gorgeous fall days, and when I arrived at their home to photograph them getting ready, I was treated to a wonderful view of the water and all the beautiful fall trees. I got a chance to meet their pup, Ruby, and to spend some time with them as they got ready (a more calm pair I’ve yet to meet on their wedding day). We arrived at the Corson Building just in time to get a few late afternoon photos with that beautiful fall sun, and surrounded by the gardens of the venue (I also got a chance to peek in the kitchen and see all of the wonderful food getting prepared). As the day faded, the guests arrived and gathered for the ceremony, after that everyone was treated to a course after course of delicious food prepared by the chefs on site, topped off with a pear and quince pastry.  It was a wonderfully intimate celebration that allowed Rita and Cirihn to spend time visiting with all of their guests, and the night was full of warm conversation, laughter, and lots of happy tears.
Chrys and Nate – Hotel DeLuxe Wedding – Portland Oregon
I’ve been meaning to post pictures from Chrys and Nate’s wedding for almost four months, so please pardon the extreme tardiness (there are a few more weddings that I should be blogging about in the next couple months). Nate and Chrys were married at the Hotel Deluxe in downtown Portland in March. The luxurious vintage details of the Hotel Deluxe made for the perfect setting for their intimate ceremony and reception, I loved the lush drapes in the Screening Room where they were married, and the vintage-looking chandeliers, and the gentle Alice in Wonderland theme of their wedding could be found in little details throughout the day.
I loved Chrys’ vintage silver dress, and her blue high heels added a wonderful burst of color. They had friends play guitar and sing as they walked down the aisle, and Chrys’ sister officiated the wedding (and included an aptly placed quote from the Princess Bride).  The friendly dog you’ll see in a few pictures walked the rings down the aisle (and was a great sport!).
After the ceremony, guests gathered in the gorgeous lobby for a few signature cocktails while I stole the couple for a few minutes to take some pictures around downtown, then everyone gathered in the Screening Room for dinner, ice cream from Salt N Straw, and lots of dancing (but not before a series of very touching, and a few hilarious, toasts).
Since Nate and Chrys are friends of mine, it was especially meaningful for me to get to be a part of their wedding day. A few of my favorite pictures are below.
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