Golden Hour on the Columbia Gorge // Delaney & Brenna

GOLDEN HOUR HANG OUTS AND CAPTURING PHOTOS ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE — PURE MAGIC.

THESE TWO. Joy joy joy.

Do you ever meet people and feel like you’ve been friends forever? Yep, that was Brenna and Delaney for me. 100%. They are pure joy and full of kindness, oh and also HILARIOUS. We all laughed… so. much. I’m grateful for people who meet me and trust me to see their true selves. It’s an honor to share in a piece of your stories.

Enjoy all the golden goodness that we got to experience on the Columbia River Gorge!

PS. Starting this blog with a little black and white series of images that, I feel like, gives the perfect glimpse into our whole evening together!

xx

Tiny Airbnb Coastal Wedding // Neskowin, Oregon

The most beautiful small wedding on the Oregon coast — it was a sweet, intimate day for these two, with friends and family gathered they said their vows along the waves, frolicked up and down the beach, and made a feast together before dancing the evening away!

TIP: If you want a dreamy, memorable wedding day that’s intimate, find an Airbnb on the coast (or wherever else makes you happy) and invite your closest people to come celebrate. Spend the weekend exploring, drinking wine with the views, and making meals together. There is something SO special about these kinds of days.

Ellie and Scotty created an experience for their small wedding day, full of precious moments — they walked down to the coastline for their vows, where there were both tears and laughter (from the sweet words AND the waves sweeping up around their feet). The celebration moved up to the wrap around deck where they all made a homemade feast together and mixed cocktails. After dinner, we sprinted (literally) beside the waves to catch the golden sunset!

These are just a FEW of the images that make of the story of their special day! I hope these two can be an inspiration for your intimate day!

VENDORS //

FLORIST // Corvus Landing Farm
DRESS // BHLDN
SUIT // John Varvatos Suit
VENUE // Airbnb

TWO IDEAS FOR ALTERNATIVE WEDDING ‘VENUES’ —

check out Airbnb & Peerspace

Sunrise Elopement in the Columbia River Gorge // Portland, OR

A beautiful, sunrise elopement in the Columbia River Gorge just outside of Portland — and an amazing story to go with it!

Oh man — this story will go down in the books for adventurous and SPONTANEOUS elopements! These two lovely humans slid into my DMs around 11pm on a Friday night, asking “Hey what are you up to Sunday at sunrise?!” A few messages back and forth later, and they had tickets from MISSOURI to OREGON for the next day!! They sent me a selfie of them on the plane, IN THEIR WEDDING CLOTHES (can you say, hello free upgrades) and they were heading my way!

Even though they had a bigger wedding planned for the following weekend, they wanted to elope — their hearts needed this kind of space, to breathe and to recenter on what they were choosing together.

We met on a very chilly morning, just before the sun came over the mountains. It was calm and clear. It was so evident that their hearts were bursting for each other, and the joy on their faces from this decision was beaming! Elopements are so incredibly special, it’s a unique kind of space, and the sacredness is almost tangible in the air. I’m always grateful and in awe of the people who make the brave (and sometimes spontaneous) choice to speak their promises in this kind of way.

Dunes on the Oregon Coast // Engagement Photos

Exploring the Oregon Coast sand dunes with these two was a DREAM!

I was over the moon excited to get a chance to hang out with these two before their wedding next year!! We each road tripped to meet on the Oregon dunes for an evening of exploring the sandy coastline!

Having not spent much time on the Southern coast of Oregon, it was so fun to experience the new scenery and landscapes. I’m always blown away by all the different types of terrain the Oregon Coast offers — it’s truly incredible!

We spent the evening running around and soaking up the golden sun as it set over the dunes. Grateful for these two lovely humans — and goofballs ;) — and for an evening with new friends! It’s gonna be a freakin’ party at their wedding next year!

Adventurous Crook Point Elopement // The Oregon Coast

An adventurous elopement on the Southern Oregon Coast at Crook Point.

Oregon showed up in its truest way on this elopement day — the hills and coast covered in low clouds, misty air, and rolling stormy waves. It was a beautiful fall day for an adventure elopement at Crook Point!

Dianne and Jeff are true champions at embracing every aspect of their day, even the weather! The drizzly skies didn’t steal their joy one single bit, and the excitement they both had was so contagious. Dianne told me, “he is the hum to my soul.” Jeff had a smile on his face every second of the day, and laughed with pure happiness the second they were announced as husband and wife. Their kindness and love is something I’ll always remember.

They rented an airbnb on a clifftop for the weekend (talk about a DREAMY getaway spot), and scouted out a bluff overlooking a private cove for their intimate ceremony.

It was just the two of them. Small, intimate, and so meaningful.

We hiked the trail in the rain out to a grove of trees where they said their vows to each other. Then, the rain stopped for 10 minutes for us to walk out to the point for photos and to soak up the view before returning to their airbnb for some bubbly and cake. They even hired a private chef to prepare them a romantic dinner to celebrate!

Every little piece of this day was beautiful.

DETAILS

DRESS // WILLOWBY WATTERS
SUIT // MACYS & NORDSTROM
LOCATION // AIRBNB & OREGON COAST
FOOD // BLACK MARKET GOURMET
FLORALS // ABUNDANT BLOOMS
CAKE // COASTAL MIST

Summer Anniversary Photos // Columbia River Gorge, OR

These two picked a summer evening on the Oregon Columbia River Gorge for their anniversary photo session!

Summer evenings in the gorge are magical — golden skies, illuminated clifftops, lush forests, and warm, windy nights. There are so many incredible locations along the river for photos, but this might just be one of my favorites. I was so excited when these two reached out wanting their anniversary photos in the gorge!

Grateful for peaceful spaces and gorgeous views, and wonderful people to adventure with!

Pacific Northwest Engagement Photos // Columbia River Gorge, OR // Mason & Grace

One of my newly discovered favorite locations in the Columbia River Gorge for engagement photos! This beautiful river spot has the most gorgeous views of the mountains reflecting in the water!

The Columbia River Gorge just East of Portland, OR is one of my FAVORITE places to watch sunset! It’s also one of the most beautiful drives — mountains on one side, river on the other. As the sun goes down, the entire gorge is illuminated with light, and the colors change every minute of the sun dipping down!

Spending the evening with these two, exploring a new location, was SO MUCH FUN. We had a blast trailblazing through the long weed-y grass, splashing in the river, watching salmon jump, and spotting sea lions (yep, that’s a thing in the river).

Grateful for amazing humans, stunning views, and deep breaths out in the wilderness!

Cannon Beach, Oregon Coast Elopement // Kaci & Dallin

WE CHASED THE SUN FROM ROCKY COASTLINES, TO COASTAL FORESTS, TO GOLDEN BEACH SUNSETS — THIS OREGON COAST INTIMATE WEDDING WAS PURE MAGIC!

These two travelled across many states to have their intimate wedding elopement day on the Oregon coast! Surrounded by just family (with the Pacific Ocean as their witness), they said their vows and spent the rest of the day frolicking along the beach, exploring lush coastal forests, eating fish tacos, and having cake and donuts as the sun set! My. Kind. Of. Day.

The Oregon Coast — especially Cannon Beach — can get pretty crowded in the summer months! But, these two scouted out the perfect little cove for their wedding ceremony, and had the whole corner just to themselves! I love when ceremonies have a unique aspect to them — in the middle of the ceremony, these two had everyone (including themselves) go and find a rock or pebble to bring to the “alter” and surround them with. A family roundedness for their promises. Then, they kept the rock they had chosen — a pretty special souvenir if you ask me!!

I adore these two — and being a part of their day was so incredibly special. They have such warm hearts, and I immediately felt like I was a part of the family! They truly embraced their day and went with the flow of whatever happened next. Every single second of it was soaked up to the fullest! If you’ve read my blog post on “Why Eloping or Having a Small Wedding is so Special” then you know my thoughts behind these special kinds of days — and Kaci & Dallin REALLY REALLY lived into all of it. It was beautiful.

I’m grateful I got to savor this piece of their story.

xx

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DAY DETAILS —

GETTING READY SPACE // AIRBNB
CEREMONY LOCATION // CANNON BEACH, OR
FLORALS // SOLABEE, FLOWERS & BOTANICALS
DINNER // TOM’S FISH & CHIPS

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Desert Lake Couple Photos // Bend, OR

A DREAMY EVENING OVERLOOKING A DESERT LAKE FOR THESE COUPLE PHOTOS IN CENTRAL OREGON

Golden hour is always magical — but, when you’re standing on a cliff overlooking a desert lake with mountains in the background, it’s a new level of beauty.

I had a blast exploring the central Oregon lake views with these two on this lovely summer evening. It was impossible not to take some pretty grand images with that background!

Always grateful for new friends, windy + golden evenings, and exploring this beautiful state!

Desert Evening Elopement // Central Oregon

ALL THE GOLDEN HOUR, DESERT ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT VIBES FOR THESE TWO! THE PERFECT SUMMER NIGHT, AMAZING VIEWS, AND INCREDIBLE PEOPLE — SOME OF MY FAVORITE THINGS!

We arrived at the desert butte and grasslands just as the sun was starting to make the canyon glow! Kyra & Michael got ready in the parking lot (with the final touches being lint rolling puppy hair off his suit jacket haha)! They put on their old wedding clothes — almost two years later — and we captured some magic in the desert!

It was such a beautiful evening, running from one amazing view point to the next! Summer exploring is one of my favorite things, and good company makes it even better!

Excited for many more summer evenings to come!

DRESS // A&BÉ BRIDAL SHOP
FLORALS // UFLORA
EARRINGS // AMANDA MICHELLE HANDMADE

Rowena Crest Couple Session // Columbia River Gorge

A SUMMER AFTERNOON SPENT FROLICKING AROUND THE WINDY CLIFFTOPS OF ROWENA CREST OVERLOOKING THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE!

The rolling golden hills at Rowena Crest were dancing with the wind when we all arrived at the Columbia river Gorge overlook! It was so fun to prance around and laugh SO MUCH during these photos! It was an absolute blast to hang out and enjoy the summer afternoon together!

THINGS TO DO AROUND ROWENA CREST VIEWPOINT —

// Eat at Eastwind Drive-in

// Coffee at Dog River Coffee Co.

// Stay at The Society Hotel, Bingen

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 — 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!

Sunset in the Columbia Gorge

Oh, Oregon - I’m grateful to live in a state where I’m an hour drive from the Columbia River Gorge and get to watch the sunset while capturing two people in love! It’s pretty dang dreamy!

 I love the mix of warm tones and forest vibes that the Gorge has to offer, it’s the perfect PNW feels. You have the rocky clifftops, tree covered mountains, and shimmering water ALL IN ONE SPACE. AHH!

Anyways, enough of me drooling over how beautiful Oregon is and how much I love the landscape! Now, time to get giddy over how amazing and adorable these two humans are!!

Man.
THESE. TWO.

 Bailey and Kokanee are just such gems. They brought so much joy to the shoot and our evening together! They truly soaked into each moment and even embraced the crazy, wild, BEAUTIFUL windy hair (yep, both of them have frickin’ luscious locks #hairgoals)!

 I love the feeling I get when I’m invited into a story – that’s what it feels like when I’m capturing two people together. It feels as though I’m an observer of a greater moment than just two people standing in front of a gorgeous view – I’m experiencing a small snippet of their journey and savoring that.

 And WOW I’m so so so grateful to be a part of that!!
It never ceases to truly move my heart.

 So, thank you two these two babes for inviting me into this space with them – for soaking up the sunset with me, wandering along ridges, and sharing parts of your story with me!! I’m excited for all that this year holds for you two – both the good and the hard – I hope you can savor and soak it all up! Just remember how good you are at those airport arrival hugs. ;)

Grateful. Grateful. Grateful.

SOME COLUMBIA GORGE FAVORITE SPOTS - THE GUIDE TO SEE THE BEST OF THE BEST…

// ROWENA’S CREST

// VISTA HOUSE

// EAST WIND DRIVE-IN