Kiley and Will – Red Lion on the Columbia River – Portland, Oregon
Kiley and Will were married outside on fall afternoon along the banks of the Columbia River. Will and his groomsmen all looked very handsome in their Dress Blues for pictures and the ceremony, and Kiley’s sleeveless mermaid-style wedding gown was just stunning on her. After the outdoor ceremony (with a great view of the interstate bride and the nearby marinas), guests headed inside to the reception area, decorated with flowers put together by Kiley’s mother, and pink lighting to coordinate with the wedding colors. After dinner and toasts, the groomsmen did some excellent lip synching and even a bit of break dancing during the reception, and guests mingled and danced and celebrated with the couple until the very end of the night. This was such a fun wedding to photograph and I wish these two all the best!
Luisa and Aaron – Sauvie Island Engagement Photos – Portland, Oregon
For their engagement session, Luisa and Aaron were courageous enough to brave an October Saturday on Sauvie Island. Not only is Pacific Northwest a bit unpredictable in the fall, but on Sauvie Island, October is prime pumpkin patch season. Lucky for us, traffic wasn’t bad at all, and the weather couldn’t have been better for their engagement photos. The three of us drove around on the island until we found a spot that felt just right for their photos, and began exploring on foot (and on bikes!). I am so happy with how these photos turned out, the light was just right, and these two were absolutely wonderful together, so natural and fun, and willing to play around and take a few risks to try out a pose or two. I am so excited to photograph their wedding next August!
Diane and Alexa – Hoyt Arboretum Wedding – Portland, Oregon
Diane and Alexa were married surrounded by just the trees and a few of their loved ones at the Hoyt Arboretum in Portland. Their ceremony had such a wonderful and intimate vibe, Alexa walked down the aisle with her mom and sisters, while Diane’s mom officiated. They did a wonderful job transforming the Steven’s Pavilion into a reception site with lace tablecloths, antique china, a few vintage pieces of furniture, and lots of flowers. For dessert guests were treated to a selection of flavors of macaroons, in a beautiful rainbow of colors. After the main events, the three of us were able to sneak away as the sun was streaming through the tall trees and capture a few more pictures of the gorgeous daylight. It was such a warm and welcoming celebration – and I was very lucky to get to photograph it!
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.
Jennifer and Jake – Clackamas River Farms Wedding – Eagle Creek, Oregon
Jennifer and Jake were married at Clackamas River Farms on the last Saturday in August. There were so many lovely details that Jennifer and Jake put together for their wedding: photos of the couple at each table, bouquets of lavendar and purple flowers as centerpieces, strings of paper decorations, round paper lanterns in purples and whites, silver goblets at the bride and groom’s place settings, and a really special memory table with pictures of loved ones that had passed away. As the day started and everyone was getting dressed, the sun came out for a bit, and we snapped photos all around the fields and gardens at the farms, but as soon as guests began to sit down for the outdoor ceremony, the sky really opened up. Being a native Oregonian, I assume the rain would stop after a few minutes, but, twenty minutes later it was still pouring. Jennifer and Jake remained calm and in great spirits even with an unexpected change of ceremony location. They were able to hold the ceremony in the covered area on the property – and when Jennifer walked from the house to the barn (with her parents holding an umbrella over her as the rain poured on) she was received by a standing ovation and cheers from her guests. And I think the rain made the ceremony feel even more intimate and romantic. A bit into the reception, the sky cleared, and the result was a just gorgeous sunset, and the fields at Clackamas River Farm had this hazy post-rain mist to them that made for some incredible pictures. As the night set in, guests danced under the stars near the old silo on the property, and the party continued on into the night. After getting to experience this wonderful celebration, I don’t think anything, especially a bit of wet weather, could have dampened the love on this day!
Maria and Chris – McMenamins Grand Lodge, Forest Grove, OR
Maria and Chris were married in Catching’s Grove at the Grand Lodge McMenamins in Forest Grove, Oregon. There were so many gorgeous details that went in to this wedding (let’s see if I can remember them all!). Maria’s first wedding outfit, her blue and purple and beaded sari, draped over an equally beautiful teal skirt embroidered with many, many, beads, was absolutely stunning – and the henna on her hands and feet looked amazing with the gold jewelry and the ample amount of red and silver bangles she wore during the ceremony. Her attendants also looked beautiful, each dressed in their own sari. During the ceremony multi-colored mason jars with flowers lined the aisles, and hanging behind the ceremony site were beaded strings with red and teal puffs on them. Maria’s bouquet had flowers with the tips dipped in gold glitter (similar to Chris’ boutonniere, which was a white flower with gold glitter on the edges). The ceremony itself was a wonderful blend of languages and cultures, and it included a traditional lasso ceremony. Chris happens to be a member of a DeLorean car club, and during the cocktail hour (much to the delight of everyone) seven DeLoreans parked near the patio, doors up, for guests to check out and take pictures with. After that, Maria and Chris changed into a second set of party clothes (Maria’s second dress was just gorgeous), and headed up to the Compass Room for the reception. We headed outside as guests finished dinner, and I could not have asked for a more beautiful sunset for the last few portraits of the day. What an incredible wedding to get to photograph!
Ruth and Ryan – Cornelius Pass Roadhouse Wedding
Ruth and Ryan were married at the Cornelius Pass Roadhouse on a perfect summer Friday. Since these two live on the East Coast, we’d only met once before the actual wedding day – but they were so easy to work with and full of lots of great smiles and laughter throughout their portrait session. The groomsmen and the men in the bridal party all wore grey suits, with feathers for their boutonnieres, and the girls carried lovely white and peach and light purple flowers in their bouquets. Ruth and Ryan had set up a Polaroid photobooth inside the octagonal barn to use as their guest book, and the guests loved it! I really liked the giant chalkboard they used to serve as the program for the day. The sun was peeking through the trees during their outdoor ceremony, and the temperature was just perfect as the sun began to set during the reception outside the octagonal barn. We moved inside for some dancing and to cut that gorgeous unfrosted chocolate cake topped with blackberries and flowers (I think some call them “naked” cakes – but whatever the name, I think they are absolutely stunning). At the end of the night I was able to snag the couple for just a few more photos as the daylight faded away. Congratulations again to these two!
Lyndsey and Preston – Aurora Colony Vineyards Wedding – Aurora, Oregon
Lyndsey and Preston got married on a warm summer Saturday at Aurora Colony Vineyards. The ceremony took place in the outdoor amphitheater under the sunny summer sky. After the ceremony, guests celebrated and danced near the beautiful vineyard. I was able to steal the couple away for a few extra portraits right before sunset and I’m so glad we did, the light that day was just stunning. Lyndsey’s gown was so lovely, and her satin pink Toms shoes made it pretty easy to have her walking through the grass and in between grape vines for pictures. The whole wedding party was so fun and helpful to these two on their big day, it was truly a pleasure to get to be a small part of their celebration.
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.
