Ashley and Danny had an amazing wedding. It was gorgeous. It was sentimental. It was full of love. And it was FUN! Let me tell you… unless I knock back a few drinks, you won’t ever see me dancing in front of anyone but my kids. But it took all my energy to NOT set my camera down and get out on the dance floor and join the crowd during their reception. Ashley and Danny’s wedding was downright fun. It was truly a celebration, which is exactly what a wedding should be. Their friends and family were celebrating two amazing people who fell in love and decided to spend the rest of their lives together.

I loved the wedding and enjoyed every minute of it.

To Ashley & Danny: the two of you are so sweet, fun, full of life, and most importantly, crazy in love. I wish you a lifetime of happiness together and a house full of gorgeous children. Thank you so much for having me capture your first day as husband and wife.

You can see Ashley & Danny’s engagement photos HERE. They were also taken at Jenkins Estate where their wedding took place.

Catering: It’s Party Time Catering

DJ: Memories of Muzic

Cake: Bridget Becker

Venue: Jenkins Estate

Hair/Make-up: Ashlee Smith

Florist: Flowers By Mary Beth Bartel

Dress: Bellissima Couture

Without further ado, the photos…

The Bride & Groom
Stunning. I have no words to describe this photo other than stunning.

Aren’t they gorgeous?

The rings. Honestly, could they be more perfect? I don’t think its possible.

I feel joy and happiness when I look at this photo.

Isn’t she breathtaking?

Look what the ring bearer got to carry down the isle. So gorgeous.

Before

Ashley’s dress was so gorgeous.

Mommy’s little girl.

She wrote Danny a card to read before the wedding. Super sweet.

Daddy’s little princess.

The Ceremony:

Ashley and her father came around the corner and it was the first time Danny laid eyes on his bride to be. The emotion on their faces could have stopped time.

The kiss.

It’s official!

The Reception:

Announcing, for the first time as husband and wife…

So many lovely details at the wedding. The guests were seated inside the main building as well as outside on the big wrap around porch. The food was so good. We’re talking hamburgers, hot dogs, pulled pork, salads, fruit. My husband asked why we didn’t do that at our own wedding. 

The toasts. First came Ashley’s dad. He gave the loveliest, sweetest, funniest speech. It had me in tears by the end of it. He talked about how Ashley is their only child and how it only seemed like yesterday that his baby girl rode her big girl bike for the first time without training wheels, or she had a full beanie baby collection. Made me sad because I kept thinking about how fast my babies are growing. Afterward, I was standing next to Ashley and she said “I love my dad so much”.

The cake.

The first dance. What I love most about watching the two of them together is how Ashley always buries her head into Danny’s chest.

Father Daughter dance.

Mother Son dance.

Bouquet toss. Yes, there was some fierce competition.

Garter toss.

And a few photos from one of the best parties I’ve ever been to. The dance floor was packed all night long. There were some seriously good dancing going on too. Fun fun fun!

Cheers to the newlyweds!!!

Live. Laugh. Love.

I saw this on a sign once and thought, “well put”. It pretty much sums it up, doesn’t it?

Live. Live each day like it’s your last. Enjoy life. Be grateful for what you have and look forward to what is yet to come. Take nothing for granted.

Laugh. A day without laughter is a day wasted. Smile. Take joy in the little things.

Love. True love doesn’t just fill your heart, it overflows into your whole body and soul. When you love someone, they will always be a part of you, and the love you have for them will never end.

I can easily see Mckayla & Jeff living by those three very words: Live. Laugh. Love.

They make each other happy. They make each other laugh. The two of them together are so apparently easy, it’s hard to imagine them not being a couple. Ask any couple that’s been together for several decades what the secret is to a long happy marriage, and I guarantee they will say laughter has something to do with it. And oh how these two make each other laugh.

Mckayla and Jeff – I can’t wait to see how much you make each other smile on your wedding day! Congratulations!!!

Julie and Steve. What an extraordinary couple. I’ve been trying to think of the best words to describe the two of them together. Graceful. Sweet. Loving. Caring. Content. All those words describe them, yet I feel like they don’t quite explain how they are as a couple. Together, they are simply put: easy. They are so comfortable with each other; so at ease. One can look at them and just know that they will not only be together for the rest of their lives, but they will remain loving and compassionate with one another. It is clear to see that they truly know and understand each other – such an important component in a long lasting marriage.

Their wedding was perfect. Down to every little minute detail. Absolutely perfect. From the brilliant colors, to the delicious cake, to the gorgeous jewelry, to the mouth watering prosciutto wrapped scallops, to the pristine weather, to the gleaming bride and groom. I can’t imagine a more perfect wedding for the two of them. They were surrounded by family and their closest friends and enjoyed every last minute, dancing the evening away, sharing memories with loved ones. It was an absolute honor for me to be able to photograph such a joyous event.

You can see Julie and Steve’s engagement photos HERE. We took them earlier this year down at the waterfront near the Riverplace Hotel, where their wedding reception took place.

Videographer: Jason Craig Steady State Studios | Email Jason

DJ: Randy Mueller Paradox Productions | Email Randy

Cake: Papa Haydn | Email Papa Haydn Wedding Cakes

Caterer/Venue: River Place Hotel | Email Riverplace

Hair/Make-up: AJ’s Hair Design & Makeup | Email AJ

Now on to the photos…

The Bride & Groom

I always like to start with the photos of the bride and groom. They’re what its all about, of course.

The rings. Absolutely exquisite. This photo will have particularly special meaning for the bride & groom and their wedding guests. Hopefully a fun, memorable story. Sorry folks – its private. Won’t share the details on the blog. Just know that this photo means a lot.

The Bridal Party
If you’re wondering… the answer is: Yes, I do take traditional formals at every wedding. They’re sort of a must have and I always take them unless specifically requested not to. Do I like to show them on my blog? Not particularly. Why? Because although they have meaning to the bride & groom as well as the family and the wedding party, they’re not particularly interesting to the remaining blog audience. However, I do like to show fun shots of the bridal party. Like when the bridesmaids give the groom an octopus hug and tangle their legs around his. Or when the groomsmen are asked to give the bride an inappropriate touch and the brother of the groom lands his hand right on her toosh. Yeah, I like those photos.

Before

Isn’t she stunning?

I just LOVED all the details. Absolutely gorgeous.

The Ceremony:

The ceremony was held at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Parish in downtown Portland. Beautiful stained glass windows and wood beamed ceilings surround the couple as they took their vows to share their lives together. The ceremony was especially personal because Steve’s father was the priest who married them.

The Reception:

The reception was on a private outdoor courtyard patio at the Riverplace Hotel. The food was amazing. The light was pristine. The details were stunning.

Announcing, for the first time as husband and wife…

The cake. Oh. My. Lord. It tasted as good as it looks. Raspberry poppy seed, insanely delicous chocolate buttermilk with bittersweet chocolate ganache, and sinful espresso bean cupcakes.

The details. Downright perfect. Perfect!

The toasts. Sentimental. Funny. Memorable. Perfect.

The cake.

The first dance. Now, I have to admit, this was one of the most fun first dances I have ever seen. They danced to “Dog Days Are Over” by Florence + The Machine. If you haven’t heard it, open up a new window and listen to it. Their dance was fabulous! The song goes back and forth between slow and soulful to fast and happy, and Julie and Steve were so fun to watch!

Father daughter dance.

Garter toss.

And the bouquet toss. The maid of honor caught it and her boyfriend looks mighty pleased, I must say.

Such a fun reception! No one danced more than Grandma! She was cutting a rug out there. The entire evening was filled with love and joy.

Julie and Steve – you are an amazing couple. Thank you so much for trusting me to capture this most important day in your lives. You two are a wonderful couple and I expect an invitation to your 50th wedding anniversary party!

I’m a strong believer in fate. I think everything happens for a reason. I believe that there is a reason we connect with certain people. And I most certainly feel that we are meant to be with the people we fall in love with.

After getting to know Todd & Nicole from their engagement session and then from following them around on the most important day of their lives together, I don’t have a doubt in my mind that these two were put on this Earth to be with one another. They are both so incredibly and genuinely kind – such a lovely attribute to find in one person alone, but to find it in two people is really quite amazing. After getting to know their friends and family, it was easy to see how much these two are really loved by everyone around them.

I was fortunate to have my friend and fabulously talented photographer, Kristin, as my second shooter for the wedding. Kristin owns Images by Kristin and lives in the area so if you are interested in having family photos done, her work is really stunning and she is a really lovely person to work with.

Nicole and Todd drove 9 hours round trip last fall to have their engagement photos done… in the rain! You can see them HERE.

Hair Stylist: Carma Rutgers Argyle Salon
Make-up Artist: Sara Rorvig
Wedding Veil: Kara Rice Rafferty
Venue: Homestead Golf & Country Club
Caterer: The Reserve

The Bride & Groom

It was a gorgeous day with a bright blue sky and puffy white clouds. I can’t think of a better compliment to bright blue shoes than a classic yellow truck.

Loved loved loved their rings.

Isn’t she stunning?

Two of my favorites.

Sometimes its hard to get cozy in front of a photographer. These two were so into each other on their wedding day, I don’t think they even noticed I was there. Once they were inside the cab of that truck, I don’t think they noticed anything else besides each other.

There was an old barn next to the golf course and they gave us permission to shoot there. The light inside was gorgeous and we were shielded from golf balls.

Todd was being naughty. See the hand?

Such a gorgeous dress. Absolutely stunning.

Side by side – the shot on the left is from their engagement session and the shot on the right is from their wedding. I have to thank my four year old daughter for the presentation of the photos. She woke up in the morning and came and sat on my lap while I was editing pictures. First she said “I love those shoes!” (I thought Nicold would get a kick out of that). Then I asked her what color I should make the background and she said pink and blue to match the shoes. I had the pink on the left and the blue on the right and she had me switch them to compliment the colors. She just might have the eye for this kind of thing!

The Bridal Party

The bridal party consisted of Nicole’s twin and Todd’s two brothers and his sister. They both have one of those families where everyone is gorgeous.

Who says you can’t run in heels and a wedding dress?

Cute!!!

Before

The owner of the golf course was generous enough to have Nicole and the girls get ready in his motorhome… It was nicer than most houses I’ve been in. Everyone’s hair and make up was gorgeous.

I can’t say enough about how gorgeous the dress was and very few girls could have worn it as well as Nicole did.

Hot!!!

And the lucky groom getting ready. (Not shown: the boys relaxing with some whiskey)

The Ceremony:

I always love the photos of the father of the bride walking his sweet princess down the isle. The expressions are always priceless.

So lucky to have such a beautiful blue sky overhead. They deserved nice weather after having had their engagement photos in soaking wet rain.

Exchanging of the rings.

And the KISS.

See that? Nothing but pure joy and happiness.

Making it official.

The Reception:

I love wedding food. So much thought and planning goes into every single selection.

I am a huge fan of all the planning and details that go into a wedding. Instead of a traditional cake, Nicole & Todd had their family and close friends make different kinds of cookies. Personal touches like that are what make a wedding personal and intimate. Love it.

A little fun with the fish eye lens and some funky processing.

The cake.

I have to say that the toasts at this wedding were the best toasts I have ever heard. Each one was well thought out and delivered, heartfelt, genuine, and funny. There was a ton of roasting going on.

The guys in the back kept chanting “T-BONE” and they’d make a T with their arms. Loved the camaraderie.

The first dance.

The father daughter dance.

Grandma and Grandma – married 61 years!!!

Congratulations, Nicole and Todd. May every single day be filled with the same love and passion that you shared for each other on your wedding day.

There are so many reasons I love photographing weddings. To be able to capture one of the most important days in a couple’s lives is such a privilege. To be trusted to do so is an absolute honor. To be able to feel the love, connection, and excitement through my camera is exhilarating. But one of the reasons I love photographing weddings is one that I didn’t expect when I first started… getting to know these fabulous couples and consider them friends when all is said and done is such an added bonus to the whole experience for me. I form a different connection with each of my couples. One of the reasons I do engagement sessions is to develop a relationship with both the bride and groom before the wedding.

From a selfish perspective, I get a preview of how the couple interacts, what makes them smile, what brings them joy, how comfortable they are showing intimacy in front of the camera, how they make each other feel. I feel like I further get to know them through my editing process because I spend hours staring at their expressions, their postures, their never ending gazes into each other’s eyes, and of course their apparent love and adoration for each other. By the time the wedding arrives, I feel confident I will know how to pose them and get them to look completely natural and comfortable in front of the camera so that they fall in love with each and every photo of their special day.

From the couple’s perspective, they get to know how it feels to have a camera in their face while they’re expected to act like no one is watching. They realize how the photographer they chose has no problems telling them exactly what to do, down to simple little things like how to touch a face or where to point a toe, so that they don’t have to think about a thing other than each other. They see how much joy I get from capturing a photo that makes me simply stare with wonder and amazement because of how a single image can make me feel. And they realize that I’m a pretty pleasant person to be around… kind of important when I will be on them closer than their shadows on one of the most important, exciting, joyful, and arguably stressful days of their lives.

It’s a win-win situation.

I love my couples.

Julie and Steve are no exception.

I met up with Julie at a Starbucks during the winter to go over the contract, how it will all work, details about her wedding, stuff like that. She and I instantly hit it off. You ever start talking to a person you just met and you feel like you’ve been friends forever? That’s how it was. I love it when that happens. I have no idea how long we sat there and talked but I just thought she was a true pleasure. I didn’t get to meet Steve until the engagement session, but we hit it off right away too. We met up at the Riverplace Hotel where their reception will be this summer. We had to reschedule a couple of times because of all this dark, cold, wet weather Oregon has been giving us. We made a last minute call to reschedule our session that morning to catch on of the clear 71F days we got this month. When I showed up they were enjoying a nice drink on the porch. They looked so comfortable together, like being together was just easy. I mean, does it get any better than that?

Julie sent me a note the next day. I hope she doesn’t mind me pasting what she wrote.

“I just wanted to share with you that last night was awesome! We were both so nervous to have so much attention focused on us in such a public place but you made it so easy! You put us both at ease and managed to make the whole thing really fun! Steve and I were both very impressed. Can’t wait to see the pictures and to work with you on our wedding day! Thank you for everything .”

I love getting notes like that. Of all the things I love about photography, making my clients happy takes the cake.

Now, enough words… let’s get to the good stuff. The photos.

That blue sky is fake. There wasn’t any detail in the sky in the photo I took because I was using natural light (no flash) and would have had to underexpose to get any detail in the sky. Pretty nifty, eh? Love my photoshop.

I love seeing the marina with all the boats in the background. Her boots are pretty freaking awesome too, don’t you think?

What you don’t see is what happened between the photo on the left and the photo on the right. They told me at the beginning that there would be no tongue all session, meaning dry pecks on the lips only. Totally cool. Most couples aren’t down with full on making out in public. However, the tongue did come out in between these photos. Julie stuck it right in Steve’s ear. I got a photo of it but I dare not post it.

This was a fun photo. We wanted to get the Riverplace Hotel in the background. Funny thing was that all of a sudden the dock filled up with people because they were doing dragon boat races on the river.

This is one of my favorite photos. Its so peaceful.

I love her ring. Gorgeous and elegant.

Congratulations Julie and Steve! I can’t wait for your wedding!!!