Downtown Portland | Jessica Hill Photography

Engagement

Anna, David & Baby Jack
A Lake Oswego Engagement

Anna, David, and their darling son Jack joined me for a lovely engagement session along the Willamette River at George Rogers Park in Lake Oswego. Anna and David are getting married this weekend and I couldn’t be happier for this sweet couple and their little boy. It was so special to include their son in their engagement photos and I could see they are wonderful parents together. At the tail end of the photoshoot, Anna and David had a romantic dance under golden hour sunlight and I could already envision them on the dance floor during their wedding. Congratulations Anna and David!

Engagement

Lindsey & Kirk
A Portland Engagement

Lindsey and Kirk are both a kind and gorgeous couple and their northwest Portland engagement session reflected their laid-back, yet elegant style. We started the evening on a quiet trail in Forest Park. Their darling instagram-famous dog, Gordie, made an appearance and the evening glow was pure magic! After a wardrobe change, we headed down to The Pearl District for some sunset photos at Tanner Springs Park, talk about opportunities to play with beautiful colors and reflections! So excited to photograph their wedding this weekend at Gorge Crest Vineyards near Mt. Hood. It’s going to be so dreamy!

Wedding

Courtney & Lucas
An Elder Hall Wedding

Early in 2020 (pre-covid!) I had the honor of photographing Courtney and Lucas’ small and intimate Portland wedding ceremony at their favorite bar in NW Portland, the Pope House and, at Ned Ludd’s sister event space, Elder Hall It was a truly local celebration with so many nods to some classically Portland culture. Good whisky, great food and laughter abound, this was such a joyous event! Not afraid of the rain, we ventured to some iconic Portland landmarks, including the SE Waterfront and the Arlene Schnitzer Portland sign in downtown Portland for some fun pics! This was such a delightful day and happy one year Lucas and Courtney!

Wedding

Julie & Joe
A Benson Hotel Wedding

Julie and Joe are just the sweetest couple! This kind couple were married last winter at the First Presbyterian Church and later held their reception at The Benson. The amazing Catherine, with Bridal Bliss mastered the coordination for their day while Blum created the elegant bouquets. Julie looked beyond elegant in her dress with delicate lace long sleeves, perfect for the season. (which then detached from the dress for the dance floor)! These two lovebirds decided not to see each other until they were walking down the aisle and oh my goodness, there was such magic when their eyes met! Following the ceremony, guests moved to The historic Benson Hotel for a beautiful white and gold reception featuring Christmas trees, twinkling lights and a gorgeous cake from Dream Cakes! From the unforgettable toasts to the lively dance party with music from DJ John Ross Music, their wedding was beyond incredible! Wishing Julie and Joe many more happy anniversaries to come!

Wedding

Kelsey & Geoff
A Leftbank Annex Wedding

This wedding between Kelsey and Geoff was absolutely stunning and every little detail thought out to make the day perfection. The bride and groom prepared for their big day in stunning rooms at Portland’s luxury hotel The Nines. During their first look, Kelsey and Geoff took a moment together to laugh and cry together in such a touching moment. After photos along at the Nines and the Portland waterfront, the ceremony took place at St. Mary’s Cathedral in NW. With gorgeous florals from Geranium Lake, the Leftbank Annex was turned into an elegant yet industrial venue perfect for dinner, toasts and dancing. The remainder of the night was an opulent blur of amazing dancing, laugher, and joy! The couple made their exit under a dazzling tunnel of sparklers. Happy anniversary Kelsey and Geoff and we wish you many many more!

Wedding

Lei Lei & Michael
A Traditional Chinese Wedding

Lei Lei and Michael are celebrating their first year as a married couple and their wedding is one I love looking back on! It was a celebration steeped in beautiful tradition, rich color and delicious food! Before their Western marriage at the Portland Community Church, Lei Lei and Michael hosted a traditional Chinese tea ceremony with family and friends. Throughout the day, the event sported bursts of bright red symbolizing good fortune, joy, and happiness. During the ceremony Lei Lei wore an elegant gown from Charlotte’s Weddings and looked stunning. After the ceremony the large celebration was hosted at HK Cafe complete with lobster, shrimp and delicious cupcakes! The celebration continued into the night with games, speeches, and singing! Michael sang a song to Lei Lei and it was incredible! It was a magnificent night and one that no one will soon forget. Congratulations Lei Lei and Michael.

Wedding

Caroline & Scott
A Coopers Hall Wedding

Scott and Caroline planned an elegant, fun and colorful Coopers Hall Urban Winery wedding, which is one of my very favorite spots in Portland. From the hip industrial architecture and plants adorning the space to incredible food, wine and staff, this place is really quite amazing! I loved Caroline and Scott’s kind quiet love and we had a blast getting to know each other better at their Rhododendron garden engagements. Their wedding started with getting ready pics at the iconic Hotel Eastlund and we stopped along the way to the venue for fun and creative photos. Loved loved love Caroline’s bridal style with her tea-length dress from House of Mooshki Bridal and Jimmy Choos. The very fun & colorful florals were from Here Comes the Bloom. Epic entertainment from John Ross Music. Here’s what Caroline had to say about her wedding vision: “I really looked forward to walking down the stairs of Coopers Hall and down the aisle with my father to the song “Sweet Caroline”. The song was a surprise to our guests, but they all enjoyed joining in the chorus! Our first dance was also a wonderful moment, accompanied by John Ross playing acoustic guitar. It was nice to enjoy the moment together, and we both were excited that all the formal parts were over, and we could dance the rest of the night away with all of our guests! We also loved taking pictures with Jessica all around downtown Portland. Having complete strangers congratulate us and enjoy the day with us is something we won’t forget. Her wonderful advice for other couples planning their big day: Choose the things that are important to you, and let everything else go. Otherwise you’ll get stuck in the spiral that is wedding planning, and lose sight of the fact that the act of getting married is the only thing that really matters that day.” HECK YES! Thank you Caroline and Scott and happy one year anniversary! Also- this wedding was just featured over on Boho Weddings, a very cool European planning blog!

Events

Ellerey & Dan
A Coopers Hall Rehearsal Dinner

A rehearsal dinner full of joy and happiness delicious food and celebrated love! Ellery & Dan light up a room with their positive and fun energy and playful love. We all have a blast together and after their UofP & waterfall engagements, I knew it was going to be an incredibly fun, elegant yet chill weekend! Cooper’s Hall, an urban winery in Southeast Portland, hosts incredible weddings and rehearsal dinners. From the menu concept (printed on the paper bread bags!) to the fresh orange poppies & vines by Blum set against the industrial backdrop, this event was pure heaven! Hilarious toasts, great wine and lots of laughter, of course with Bridal Bliss on coordination & Blum on florals, it was a totally perfect & stylish dinner.

Wedding

Patience & Egan
A Sentinel Hotel Wedding

“Our vision was for a super elegant and formal wedding with a reggae and hip hop sound track. Everyone told us those would clash but we were determined. Frank ocean for my walk down the aisle, Popcaan for our entrance to the reception and Bob Marley, Lauryn Hill, Sir, SZA, Nipsey Hussle and J Cole in between. It was romantic and elegant with a vibe full of soul and culture. Exactly what we wanted.” Patience and Egan’s wedding was elegant, chill and oh-so very fun! With a timeless and classy vibe that only the downtown Portland hotel, the Sentinel could provide, Patience wore a stunner of a dress from Ania Bridal and her gorgeous makeup and hair was by Olivia Hawthorne Makeup with detail-perfect coordination from the impeccable able Bridal Bliss family. Florals by the one and only Leah with Indigo Garden. As soon as Frank Ocean via Paradox Productions faded in as Patience walked in during the ceremony ; I was floored and knew that I was in for a new take on “formal”. Needless to say it was everything and more and I absolutely loved this couple, their style, their laughter and their sweet love and I am so very happy for these two on their one year anniversary. See their fun PDX engagements here.