Kara and Daniel.

How lucky am I to have one wonderful couple after another ask me to photograph their wedding.

Kara and Daniel were no exception.

Their wedding was spectacular. They got married on the lawn at Skamania Lodge overlooking the Columbia River. The ceremony was intimate. The skies were clear. The day was gorgeous. The ceremony was followed by a stunning, classy and romantic candle lit reception. It honestly couldn’t be more perfect.

I was lucky enough to get to know Kara and Daniel a bit when I took their engagement photos. When I first met them, I noticed this quiet between them. The kind of quiet energy you can feel between the two of them, like electricity. The magical thing about it is how subtle it is. It’s obvious to see they’re in love when you see them together, but there’s more to it than that. There’s this magic. The kind of magic where you have to watch them from afar. It doesn’t matter if they think they’re alone or they’re in a room of crowded people; every so often you can see the two of them drift off into their own private space as if nothing else in the world mattered. By the time you get to the last pictures, you’ll see it too.

Before you see the photos, here’s the list of the vendors.
Venue and Catering: Skamania Lodge
Flowers: Bloomsbury
Cake: Beaverton Bakery
D.J.: Bust A Move
Hair Styling Bride: Stacy Morin- Vitality Salon
Make-up Bride: Skamania Lodge- Waterleaf Spa
Hair Styling Bridesmaids: Heather Heffley
Lighting: Swank Audio and Visual

And now the photos…

The Bride & Groom

I always start with my favorite photo of the bride and groom. I had a real hard time choosing, but I think I fell in love with this shot the most.

Sapphires in their wedding rings. I LOVE sapphires. A lot. Almost as much as diamonds.

This is one of those shots I love because they didn’t know I was taking the photo. We were in between formals with the family and the bridal party and I caught them taking advantage of a quiet minute alone.

The Bridal Party

By request, I have a totally hilarious, raunchy, and inappropriate photo of the entire group. As much as I would love to post it, I’m going to show restraint and keep the photos appropriate for all ages. These will have to due…

I love this shot. The others in the series are gorgeous as well.

Before

This is the view from the bride’s room. If you’ve never stayed at Skamania, you should. And yes, the river view room is worth the upgrade. Can you see the ceremony site in the lower right? Can you imagine a more spectacular setting for a wedding?

The lace on her dress. Ugh. Gorgeous.

Love love love the details.

The Ceremony

The ceremony was lovely. It was a warm windy day and you could feel that it was the start of fall.

This is the first time Daniel laid eyes on his bride.

The cutie pie ring bearer kept everyone quite entertained.

Exchanging the rings.

Sealed with a kiss.

The Reception

Announcing, for the first time as husband and wife, Kara and Daniel!

The reception was gorgeous. The ambiance was warm and romantic. Rich fall colors, large maple leave centerpieces, candle light throughout. Stunning.

The first dance.

The father daughter dance.

The mother son dance.

The toasts.

The cake. Oh, the cake. It was gorgeous. I’ve never seen anything like it. Each one of those detailed glittery leaves was completely edible (and delicious, I might add). Can you read the bride and groom signs on the figurines? Mr. Right and Mrs. Always Right. Ain’t that the truth.

Let the party begin!

These are my favorite shots of the whole night. Dancing was well underway. Everyone was having a good time. And Kara and Daniel were in their own little world. Look at each one of these pictures. Isn’t it great when you can feel how much two people love each other just by looking at them? You can feel the joy. You can feel the chemistry. You can feel the tenderness. These photos are what their entire day was all about – just being together. Having everything be easy. Being completely in love.

What wedding is complete without a grand exit!

Kara and Daniel – thank you for having me play such an important role in your wedding. It gives me goosebumps to see all your photos and relive your gorgeous wedding. Live by “Mr. Right and Mrs. Always Right” and you will have a long, happy, fulfilling marriage.

Prepare yourself. You are about to witness perfection.

Okay, are you comfortable? Because this is a wedding that will blow you away. If you don’t have a reasonable amount of time to absorb everything in this blog post, finish whatever it is you have to get done, grab a fresh cup of coffee and a snack, sit down, relax, and get ready to see an absolutely stunning, immaculate, exquisite, gorgeous, breathtaking (and any other similar adjective you can come up with) wedding, down to the very smallest details.

I met Laura and John last summer. She was actually the first of four couples who wanted to book me on August 20th, and I thank my lucky stars they came to me first because they, and everything about their wedding, was an absolute treat to photograph. When I first met them, well over a year before their wedding, Laura pulled out this big three-ring binder. She had the wedding contract I had emailed her completely filled out. She was so organized. Probably more so at that point than a lot of brides are a month before their wedding day. At that point, I didn’t know if she was going to be a complete Bridezilla or that her wedding was going to be sooooo AMAZING that it required a full three-ring binder fourteen months before the wedding. So happy to say that it was the latter.

They blew me away with the styling for their engagement photos. If you haven’t seen them, I suggest you go take a peek. She brought all sorts of props – vintage suit cases, open back frames, even a 1957 Bentley. It all tied in with her wedding.

The most amazing thing about Laura & John’s wedding is that they did it all on their own, with a ton of help from family and friends of course. One of the bridesmaids made all of the printed material and signs, the groom’s father made the photobooth, the bride’s childhood babysitter made the cake. I can’t even imagine that the most talented professional wedding coordinator could have done better. I can’t think of one detail that was not beautifully accounted for. I shot for nine hours straight and I still feel like I couldn’t capture it all.

Instead of going into too much description, I’m going to let the photos speak for themselves and I’ll throw my usual commentary in along the way…

I just have to say one last thing: Laura & John – congratulations! May every day of your lives together be as beautiful and as perfect as your wedding day.

Alright, are you ready to be wowed?

First off, the list of the vendors.
Venue: DeArmond Garden Estate
Caterer: Eat Your Heart Out
Rental Company: Party Pros
Chavari Chair Rentals: Ohana Party Rentals
Graphic Design, Invitations, & Printables: Modern Moments
Cake: Tammy Hayes 310.683.9049
Fondant Cake Flowers: Two Sugar Babies
Gelato Bar: Staccato Gelato
Florist: Basketcase, Inc.
DJ: All Wright Music, Eric Wright
Photo booth Mustaches & Lips: Whiskerworks
Place Card Holder Frames: Exclusively Weddings
Centerpiece Urns: Jamali Garden
Muslin Monogramed Bags: Run, Ellie. Run.
Event Styling: Double Take (Lindsey Ter Har & Laura Grim), 503.680.3721
Ceremony Music: Opera Singer, Richard Zeller, 503.998.0801, Michael Barnes Trio, 503.864.4530
Iron Work Chandeliers, Arches, and Urns: J Pedersen Home & Garden, 360.213.1619
Hair Styling: Salon Dulce, 503.701.5507
Makeup: Mary Kreger, 503.330.8207

The Bride & Groom

The Wedding Party

The Details

Oh, the details. These photos don’t even compare to how beautiful everything was in person.

As guests were greeted by the valet parking attendants at the entrance, they saw this big beautiful sign that must have been six feet tall. From there, they walked to the gardens through the green house.

Set up inside the green house was the guest book and the wish tree.

This is what the green house looked like at night. Just outside the green house, crystals and picture frames were hung from the trees.

The place cards were beautifully hung from clothespins that were strung across an old barn window atop an antique dresser. Each clothespin varied in size and even they were decorated. Not one single detail was forgotten.

Immediately following the ceremony was the cocktail hour. The guests enjoyed ice cold mojitos and the hor dourves were mouthwatering.

The dinner was held outdoors under a gorgeous white tent. I couldn’t possible capture all of the stunning details, but here’s just a taste of how exquisite everything looked.

Of course, the food was delicious. You know this is very important to me.

Breathtaking.

This is the photobooth. I was floored when I saw it. I literally felt my jaw drop.

I think one of the biggest hits of the day was when the gelato cart opened. Their wedding was on the hottest day of the year.

The sweets. Are you ready for this?

The cake was perfection. Honestly. I can’t think of any other way to describe it than PERFECT.

Before

The dress. Gorgeous. The color. The style. The fit. Ugh, so pretty.

The Ceremony

The Reception

Laura and John entered after the cocktail hour and had their first dance as husband and wife.

Father daughter dance.

Mother son dance.

The toasts.

Cutting the cake.

The sun went down, the candles glowed, and the party began!

Bouquet toss.

Garter toss.

Lots of drinking and dancing – a fabulous combination I might add.

The exit.

And they lived happily ever after…

Goosebumps.

Kaitlin and Chris were married on a hot August summer day, and I can’t tell you how many times I got goosebumps.

Goosebumps when I arrived and saw how breathtaking the venue was.

Goosebumps when the father of the bride told me he would be taking his daughter across the lake in a canoe.

Goosebumps when I saw the look on the bride and groom’s faces when they first laid eyes on each other, just moments before they took their vows to be joined as husband and wife.

Goosebumps when I could feel the electricity between the two of them when they kissed, as if they had this fire burning and those around them could feel the heat.

Goosebumps.

For every one of my wedding couples, I take their engagement photos. It’s part of my wedding collections. I do it that way so that I can get to know the bride and groom before hand and most importantly, they can get to know me so they can feel comfortable with me on their wedding night. As hard as we tried, we were never able to make our engagement session work. Kaitlin and Chris live three hours away. They were in town several times from the time they booked up until their wedding and we had engagement dates set up each time, but for some reason – maybe because we live in Portland – it was raining every time. We kept saying “no big deal, we’ll set up another date” and then it would rain again and again, and before we knew it, it was wedding time. So, it was my first wedding where I had never met the bride and groom prior to the wedding, not even for a pre-consultation. This made me nervous, but by the end of the night I felt like I really knew the two of them. And what an amazing couple these two make.

During part of the reception, I was standing near a group of people who were watching the photo collage of Kaitlin and Chris they had playing on a TV that showcased photos of the two of them as well as photos of them growing up with family and friends in the wedding party. One of the bridesmaids was standing there and she said to me, “I had never really met a couple until I knew Kaitlin and Chris. They are so in love.” Even though I didn’t have the history with this couple or know them before that night, one thing was abundantly clear – these two were definitely IN LOVE. They were one of those couples where, when they kissed, people watching just stood mesmerized. Like there was love dust floating around them. It is impossible to be near them and not feel the genuine loving energy these two share.

Kaitlin and Chris – Thank you so much for having me there as your photographer, trusting me to capture so many tender moments. Your wedding was incredibly breathtaking, as were the two of you. I wish you a lifetime of loving memories together, and may you keep that passionate flame burning hot throughout the years!

Catering: The Bomber

DJ: Bust a Move DJ

Cupcake Tree: Melissa Davis

Venue: Bridal Veil Lakes

Hair/Make-up: Michelle Herman, Savvy Hair Studio Sherwood

Florist: Debbie Cameron

And now, the photos…

The Bride & Groom

The first time Chris saw Kaitlin was when her father was walking her down the isle. These were all taken after the ceremony. I adore this first photo because I didn’t pose them. In fact, we were all done taking photos and I had already started walking towards the reception. I turned around and this is what I saw. If you’re not sure if you’ve ever seen true love – that’s it right there.

Here’s another one where I was long gone and on my way to the reception. They had no idea anyone was watching them. Alone, in their own world, completely in love.

The Wedding Party

Eight bridesmaids, eight groomsmen, and the most adorable cooperative flower girl I have ever seen.

Do you love the boots as much as I do?

These guys needed no direction whatsoever from the photographer. It was awesome.

Before

Kaitlin arrived in her Bride satin robe and had a job for each of the eight bridesmaids to help her get dressed.

Pre-ceremony prayer.

The Ceremony

I love this photo. Kaitlin is quietly waiting for her father to get in the canoe and row her over to the ceremony. Dad was so sweet – he had been at the ceremony site all day setting up and squeezed in a few practice rows across the lake. He wanted to be confident he wouldn’t dump the canoe with his daughter, the bride, aboard. He did a great job and she arrived at the ceremony completely dry.

Tears. The groom cried. The bride cried. The father of the bride cried. I cried a teeny bit too.

The kiss! The first of many that day.

The Reception:

Announcing, for the first time as husband and wife…

Let me tell you a little about the dinner that was served. Oh my God. It was so good. I’m talking spare ribs, corn bread, cheesy potatoes, broccoli salad, fresh fruit. I’m drooling right now just remembering it.

The signing of the marriage certificate.

The toasts. The toasts were especially sentimental because the groom’s mother asked everyone to take a moment to think of Kaitlin’s sister who wasn’t able to be there because she’s serving our country in Iraq.

The cake. The bride and groom had their own cake and the guests enjoyed the most delicious cupcakes. I indulged in the toasted coconut ones.

The first dance.

Father-daughter and Mother-son.

Is that not the most beautiful site for a wedding reception?

The bouquet toss.

The garter toss.

I love this shot! I thought it was so cute that Kaitlin and Chris wanted a photo with me at the end. Normally I wouldn’t dare show a picture of me after eight hours of shooting on a hot day, but the look on my face is just a teeny indication of how much I love doing this.

And off they go!

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.