PNW Riverside Engagement Photos // Allie & Andrew

 

SOME PNW EXPLORING AT SUNRISE WITH THESE TWO LOVEBIRDS!

Why would you wake up at 3:00 am to drive east into the Columbia River Gorge, you ask? Well, let me tell ya, it was well worth waking up before the sun to explore the rugged pnw with these two babes! Also, coffee helps! ;)

You really can’t get much more Pacific Northwest than the Gorge β€” pine trees, moss covered boulders, foggy mountains, and windy rivers! It was a perfect morning to watch the sun rise!

There was lots of cuddling and snuggling up to keep work in the early dawn hours, but I think red noses and chilly cheeks are cute… right? ;) We had a blast exploring this secret Oregon cove, and soaking up having the WHOLE SPACE TO OURSELVES! It was a gorgeous morning together!

 

Baker Building, Portland Wedding // Jay & Meagan

 

A lovely Fall wedding at the beautiful Baker Building in Portland, OR.

I met Jay & Meagan for tea over a year before their wedding day β€” and I knew right from the start I wanted to capture their wedding day! The joy the carried was undeniable! I was immediately drawn to their vision of an intimate, October, city wedding in Portland β€” surrounded by a small group of their closest friends and family.

Fast forward to a year + a couple months later, their day was just as dreamy as I imaged it when they described their vision the summer before. Fall colors, moody Oregon skies, a minimalistic industrial space, earthy tones, decor that was unique and special to them and who they are, and an intimate setting to make their promises to one another. It was beautiful.

The Portland Baker Building is STUNNING. The space is full of warm woods and white walls, with soft window light β€” it’s a creatives’ dream for urban, minimalism!

I was blown away by the love these two share! Every piece of the day was meaningful, everything had a purpose or was special to them. The gifts β€” their wedding song lyrics, an β€œinside joke” shirt, and a pair of dream shoes. The decor β€” old, collected books, intricate beer steins, and posters with poems. Dinner β€” the BEST pizza (that’s their thing β€” see engagement photos hehe).

And, the most emotional moment, the last few pictures of this day…

Jay had written Meagan a song, a secret song. As the night drew to an end, he pulled her into a side room and sat her down. When he started singing, I think we all had goosebumps and tears. These two truly cherish one another, deeply. Those last photos remind me why I do what I do… it’s not about the perfect room, or the most aesthetic space… it’s about those moments. The ones that wreck you and remind you that you’re capturing a small piece of a much bigger story. And that, is an incredible honor.


TIPS FROM THIS DAY…

I. MAKE IT YOU. Like Meagan and Jay did, bring in little details that speak to you and your relationship β€” wear sneakers, bring old books, eat some pizza β€” you do you.

II. LOOK AT EACH OTHER A LOT. These two had the most in love looks, even across the room. Remember to take time to soak it up, stare into each others eyes, get all mushy gushy, this is your day!

III. GO SOMEWHERE SPECIAL. They really wanted to walk across the street and do photos in a coffee shop they loved! That’s awesome! Somewhere you really want to do photos?! Let’s do it! There is no β€œnormal.”

VENUE SPACE: Baker Building, Portland Oregon
FLORALS:
Sammy’s Flowers


 

Sunrise Engagement Session on the Columbia River Gorge // Sam & Kaylee

 

THIS COLUMBIA GORGE ENGAGEMENT SESSION WAS WORTH THE 3:00 AM WAKE UP FOR THIS GLOWING, GOLDEN SUNRISE!

November in the PNW is always hit or miss for weather (usually a miss haha), but Kaylee and Sam had the most BEAUTIFUL sunrise in the Columbia River Gorge for their engagement session! One might even say it was GORGE-ous… ha… ha. Too much? K done with puns.

We all stood in awe as the fog flowed over the hills and became illuminated by the sun. Everything felt as though it had been painted in gold, and the light was absolutely stunning!

I love doing couple photos in the Gorge, and Rowena Crest is up there on my list! It always looks different depending on the season you go. The fall colors were in full saturation this time, and those earthy tones stole my heart right away!

I had such a blast hanging out with these two wonderful people! We met as strangers, but left feeling like friends. I’m so grateful for this job β€” the stories I get to hear and moments I get to be a part of! It was seriously such an honor to savor this season of life for these two, and soak up all the beauty of an Oregon fall sunrise!

So, make some coffee, curl up, and enjoy the moments below (without having to get up at 3 am haha).

PLANNING YOU’RE OWN ENGAGEMENT SESSION AND NOT SURE WHERE TO GO OR EVEN WHERE TO START? WELL, CHECK OUT MY OREGON LOCATION GUIDE FOR THE BEST PLACES TO DO ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS!

 

Vintage Meets Modern City Wedding // Portland, OR // Emily & Johnny

 

THE TIMELESS VINTAGE DECOR MIXED WITH A MODERN SETTING IN DOWNTOWN PORTLAND β€” IT WAS A DREAMY DAY!

This urban wedding at the Castaway in downtown Portland was the perfect blend of vintage meets modern. Every aspect was timeless and each detail was creatively and beautifully thought through! I mean, just scroll down and check out the GORGEOUS whimsical arch that they built themselves for the ceremony! I want it in my house! 

Castaway is a rad urban venue with a clean slate for all your creative ideas! Every time I shoot there, I find new spaces to photograph and explore. This time, it was a modern white brick building on the corner β€” a stunning, minimalistic backdrop for their first look and other wedding party photos! There’s something that seems to fit every couple there! 

All the tables were set with books, handmade bowls (that Johnny created himself, AMAZING), and vintage Portland postcards with table letters for seating. For the Love of Floral also created STUNNING florals for the entire space, with colors that made everything come to life and glow in the late afternoon sun.

Emily & Johnny’s day was incredible, full of so much love and life β€” not to mention vows that made me sob behind the camera! It’s an honor to capture a love story that is so so so drenched in pure love and commitment to the journey together. Emily and Johnny have such sweet and gentle spirits, yet their love is fierce for one another. 

I’m so excited to share these few highlighted moments throughout their day! 

VENDORS //

DRESS // A&BE
FLORALS // FOR THE LOVE OF FLORAL
VENUE // CASTAWAY, PORTLAND
WEDDING PLANNER + STYLIST // POP FIZZ CLINK
HAIR + MUA // BLOSSOM & BEAUTY
DJ // JOHN ROSS MUSIC

 

Intimate, Alternative Forest Wedding // Oregon Coast

A unique, intimate forest wedding on the Oregon coast β€” these two didn’t let COVID-19 stop the joy of their special day!

This day was a little extra special β€” it was my sister in law’s wedding! A day full of family.

Now, back story. We were supposed to all be flying to the tropical beaches of Thailand for this wedding. But, COVID brought in a season of plan-changing and going-with-the-flow. However, this day ended up being more beautiful and perfect than anyone could have imagined.

Thani & Hilary found a gorgeous property on Hipcamp (check out my Elopement Planning guide for more tips on unique location ideas). This space included a lovely house, so much space for camping, a yurt, and a backyard that was basically our own private forest! This led into the creative idea to make their wedding a journey β€” the ceremony would be a movement from one space to the next, each with different purposes and family and friends speaking. It was a truly unique and sacred experience.

They chose intimacy and presence β€” embracing every little piece of their day to the fullest. We all enjoyed a picnic beside the forest, each picnic setting with its own homemade shepherd’s pie, fresh bread, salad, and mini cheesecakes. We drank blackberry + whiskey punch, gave toasts, shared stories, and danced the evening away.

It was simple, it was beautiful, it was so so so special.

These two took their wedding β€œplans” that COVID derailed, and created something that was even more intimate and sacred. Reach out if you need ANY help or ideas for your own small micro wedding, experiencing this day give me so many ways I can inspire you with your own wedding!