Lauren and Cameron - Castaway - Urban Wedding - Portland, Oregon
Stephany and Justin - Loloma Lodge Wedding - McKenzie Bridge, Oregon
Where do I even start with Stephany and Justin?! These two lovebirds live in Michigan so we only got to chat via email and phone before the wedding. As soon as I talked to Stephany, I knew we would get along great.
This is one of the most beautiful venues I’ve had the pleasure of shooting at! When you’re cruising through the photos, you’ll quickly see why I love shooting weddings here. Loloma Lodge has luscious greens, rustic cabins, and beautiful details everywhere you look.
Stephany and Justin’s entire day was so laid back, and everything seemed to go perfectly according to plan. The weather was great the entire afternoon for photos and the ceremony, then it started pouring down rain. I can’t really think of a better to welcome them to Oregon. ;-) The rain showed up just long enough for us to enjoy dinner undercover, but the weather decided to behave and it stopped raining as soon as were done eating.
I can’t even really find the words to describe how special this day was. I feel so thankful that Steph and Justin chose me to spend this intimate day with them. We had delicious tacos, lots of laughter, a smores bar, and tons of dancing. Not gonna lie, when we escaped for bride/groom photos I contemplated kidnapping them so they’d be mine forever! These two are something else. The radiate incredible energy and they make you want to be a part of their life. There’s TOO many good memories from this wedding, but my favorite has to be when Steph and I escaped the wedding to go stand on the heated floors in her cabin. Pretty sure we were meant to be best friends!
I almost teared up when it was time for me to head out because I’ve never bonded with so many humans so quickly. I felt at home here but that’s just how Steph and Justin make everyone feel. They make you feel welcome, and special. I hope you two have the mot magical married life and I’ll cry if you ever forget about me. Lol.
Michigan… North Carolina.. Connecticut.. Norway.. Until next time you beautiful people! And in case you didn’t get the memo, all 45 of ya’ll are welcome to come back and see me anytime :-)
Sara and Ryan - Barns at Cooper Molera Wedding - Monterey, California
Wowza. Hey ya'll. 👋
This last weekend was something for the books. I was down in Monterey shooting a beautiful 2 part wedding. (And PS. It was my first time in this cute little city and I'm pretty convinced that I will have a house there one day. There were succulents hanging in the streets and the architecture was adorable). I got to explore the aquarium down there and it was just a breath of fresh air.
I drove down to capture Sara and Ryan’s traditional church ceremony on Friday, and then we celebrated with another wedding on Saturday. The architecture of Monterey Bay just blew me away…. (Am I a poet now?) There were beautiful stone buildings, quaint little cafes on every block, colorful walls… Tthis town totally gave me mini Italy vibes!
The girls got ready in a suite at the Monterey Plaza Hotel, right downtown and on the water. The views alone were breathtaking! The guys got ready in the one of a kind Casa Munras Garden hotel a few minutes from the venue. We walked over together to the venue where Sara and her father shared an emotional first look. After everyone had seen the beautiful bride, we got to enjoy an even more beautiful ceremony and witness these 2 profess their love! After that, it was stress-free party time.
The details in this wedding were planned down to the marble name plates on the table. I’d describe how beautiful every single piece was, but that would take all day. From the flowers to the grill cheese bites… To the delicious salmon and remarkable dessert table… This wedding was one for the books. We danced and danced, cut the cake with a firefighter axe, sat by the bonfire and the party didn’t stop at the venue! They moved right along to a cute little bar down the street. In all honesty, I didn’t want this night to end and I’m so happy I can relive it through these photos.
Sara and Ryan, thank you for letting me experience this with you and I will always be grateful for this amazing weekend.
"A wise person once told me that a successful marriage is falling in love with the same person, over and over again." ❤️ - Sara Meier
Sam and Omid - Elysian Ballroom Wedding - Portland, Oregon
Sam and Omid are the type of people you want to be best friends with as soon as you meet them. When we did their engagement session, we wandered around Portland and chatted for hours. I normally get anxious being downtown (because traffic), but these two have such a welcoming vibe about them that it was hard to feel anything but relaxed while hanging with them.
This wedding was photographed by our associate photographers Kathleen and Sierra, and I am beyond jealous that I wasn’t able to be there. When I got the photos back, I spent hours and hours going through these and I felt like I was there the entire time. My team can photograph weddings better than I can even dream of. The details were stunning, and I could feel the energy of the day through the pictures.
The Elysian Ballroom is a venue that most girls only dream of. It’s covered in chandeliers, gold chairs, and elegant fixtures everywhere. The getting ready suite is baby blue accented with gold, and has the perfect natural window light. This venue has definitely been on the bucket list, and I don’t even think that photos will do it much justice or show the actual beauty of this elegant ballroom in the heart of Portland.
Sam and Omid spent their morning getting ready, enjoying champagne (and beers) and hanging out with their crew. They did a beautiful first look on the staircase, and then headed outside into the hustle and bustle of Portland to do some classic bridal party photos.
After a beautiful ceremony, heartfelt toasts, and the traditional cake cut, they spent their night hanging out with tons of family and friends and dancing the night away.
Sam and Omid, you two are some of the most kind and generous people I have ever met. Thank you for trusting our team to photograph your beautiful ballroom wedding and I wish you a lifetime of happiness.
Galina and Max - White River Falls Engagement Session - Madras, Oregon
Sometimes in order to get the best photographs you have to work for it, and that’s what this couple did during their engagement session at the breathtaking White River Falls in Madras, OR.
Galina and Max joined me in hiking all the way up to this gorgeous waterfall and Galina even trailblazed it through the rocky terrain all while wearing her heels! We had a blast playing in the cold water and laughing and talking all about their love of corgis. Galina’s adorable backless light blue dress and black strappy maxi dress made for some incredibly picturesque photographs.
Beyond being incredibly photogenic, Galina and Max are the most vibrant and smiley couple ever, and with hearts of gold! They went out of their way to make me feel comforted and loved after learning that my kitten had recently been put down. At our shoot they brought me a framed picture in special memory of my kitty; because that’s the kind of amazing people they are! I could not have asked for a better couple to do this shoot with and I cannot wait to be able to be a part of capturing their wedding next year!
Jayme and AJ - Industrial Iron Fireman Collective Wedding - Portland, Oregon
Getting to capture Jayme and AJ’s wedding was a delight. This was the very first wedding ever hosted at the Iron Fireman’s Collective and the setting was perfect and paired beautifully with Jayme and AJ’s style. Its restored wooden beams, exposed brick and rich textures were a charming backdrop for the bridal parties’ soft and blush tones in their baby pink dresses.
This day was a celebration of love, family and friendship and brought joy and smiles to all the faces of everyone involved. The stylish bridal party was comprised of a fantastic group of people who were a blast to spend the whole day with. They brought the fun and even made a soul train line dance happen! Later on in the evening as the sun was setting the couple and I were able to slip out onto the rooftop. The light was setting so beautifully as we spent those few moments capturing some more special portraits of Jayme and AJ.
The party didn’t stop and kept going throughout the night, continuing with a ton of fun dancing and laughter till the end of the evening.Thank you Jayme and AJ for letting me be a part of your special day!
Emily and Kasey - Oregon Coast Elopement - Pacific City, Oregon
As a photographer, I am constantly trying to make a footprint on this world through photographs, and I wanted especially to give Emily and Kasey something they could remember forever.
Emily and Kasey are an amazing couple who have experienced years worth of tough times within one; From hardships in their careers to health and life in general. Recently Emily received a diagnosis that is now affecting her everyday decisions. She assures me that she does not want people to see her diagnosis and experiences as a sad story. She is one of the most bubbly, fun and charismatic people I have ever met. She grabs life by the horns and chooses to spend her time as CVICU nurse taking care of others and saving lives. She is BRAVE and full of life, and wants to use her story to spread awareness.
When I learned that I was already booked for her wedding day we were crushed, but I immediately knew that I wanted to do something special for her and Kasey and quickly put together a secret romantic trip for the both them. They deserved a stress free and beautiful experience after everything they have gone through this year. We told Emily and Kasey we would do a “fake wedding” and secretly pulled together a team of incredible Portland vendors to make the day spectacular.
We trekked the 2 hours to Pacific City, down a rocky private road to the ocean and the sand dunes. We hung out on top of the sand dunes, playing with their dogs and watching para gliders fly all around us. After spending time in the wind we came down onto the beachfront where we were greeted with a gorgeous bouquet and boutonniere. We snagged a few more breathtaking shots then packed and went over to haystack rock for a romantic picnic put together by our amazing team. Emily and Kasey got to have an incredible evening picnicking, relaxing with the dogs, and watching the sunset, all while having a camera capture it all. The day was full of laughter, wind, and love.
I have learned more valuable lessons from Emily than I have learned from anyone else. Spend every single day living it like it is your last. Whatever you do, love freely. If you are questioning something that gives you anxiety...say “screw it” and do it! Go against the rules of life, every single day.
Thank you to Emily and Kasey for being so damn incredible and bringing us into your lives.
And a huge thank you to the entire team behind this magical set up -
Photography / Makeup / Hair : Sarah Willey of Sarah Lynn Photography
Floral & Spatial Styling : Rosemary Stafford
Amazing kick ass assistant : www.instagram.com/antiqueashley
Comedy & Entertainment ( ha ha ) : Alex Simpson
Rentals : Something Borrowed Portland
Bridal Gowns: Brides for a Cause
Cake : www.christine-power.com
Catering : www.instagram.com/heartofcelebration
Wine : Ken Wright Cellars Winery
