Sarah & Cole met in high-school and their families have farms in the same town! They fell in love over their shared interest in country life and family. I had the pleasure of photographing their engagements at each of their family farms surrounded by hazelnuts and cattle and it was such a unique and great session! I especially loved when Sara climbed the silo at her family farm and when the couple sat together in the loft of Cole’s historic barn on his family’s farm in St. Paul, Oregon. Their pup joined along and of course, we had to photograph them with some of their beautiful cows. At the end of the night it became a bit cloudy which made for amazing light and epic sunset and ! I can’t wait for their wedding in just a few days!
Laura and Gary are a fun and laid-back couple who wanted their engagements to showcase all the beauty of fall in Portland. We met on the East Side Esplanade for sweeping views of the city and stunning architectural photos on the Tilikum Bridge. Their wedding is just around the corner and will be hosted at The Evergreen among close friends and family.
Dominique and Kevin are a travel-loving couple from Chicago who have been all over the world together. Now they’re both looking to make a home together… which starts with getting married! For their engagements, we walked along the riverside in Portland for some stunning photos filled with some of Portland’s most iconic bridges and skyscrapers. The couple are getting married at an intimate ceremony here in Portland and I can’t wait for their big day!
Trish and Josh are the sweetest couple and so well matched. Our sunset engagement session along the Vancouver waterfront was the perfect start to the wedding countdown. We revisited where Trish and Josh met each other in this exact spot for their very first date. A few hours turned into a whole day of talking, biking, and sipping margaritas at Who Song and Larry’s with a riverfront view, which then carried into the week, the month and the years! This golden hour engagement made my heart soar and I just know that their wedding this weekend will be beyond amazing.
Lisa and Geoff and I met up on a snowy January day deep into the Mt. Hood Wilderness for their snowy wilderness engagement session. Loved learning their love story about how an older neighbor in their condo introduced them at a mingle event for the building. SO very meet cute! We laughed while almost falling on our faces every few minutes (it was slippery!) and had a blast photographing in the snow. The day was chilly and crisp but not too cold and just right for a snowy evening in the woods. The pine trees were heavy with snow and made a wonderful photography backdrop to Lisa and Geoff’s love story. Absolutely loved the Pendelton blanket they brought to keep warm with along with the Argyle bubbles to pop in celebration! We hopped in the back of their truck so we could get some fun sitting pics and not get too freezing sitting in snow! Such a perfect Mt. Hood Oregon engagement session. So happy for these two amazing people and their upcoming wedding this summer. Congrats Lisa & Geoff!
I look back on Lei and Alfonso’s wedding with so much awe and love for how they beautifully crafted a day that represented both of their cultures. I’ve known Alfonso’s wonderful family since photographing his sister’s wedding at the same venue in 2018. The ceremony started with a traditional Western wedding at the University of Portland where the couple originally met while in a study group together (awe!) Lei took our breathe away in her gorgeous dress from Anna’s Bridal and traditional Samoan flower crown from Blum. The ceremony was then followed by a stunning holiday-inspired reception at the Portland Golf Club complete with twinkle lights galore, amazing food and music and mingling. Their gorgeous cake from Dream Cakes was topped with an antique cake topper which has now crowned wedding cakes in their family for over 50 years. After the emotional toasts came the dancing! The couple danced the traditional Samoan dance called “taulagua” with the bride, groom, and bride’s family in cultural attire. The ceremony symbolizes the closing of the event, thanking guests for joining in the celebration. From start to finish their day was filled with endless smiles and unforgettable moments of union between two cultures. Happy one year anniversary Lei and Alfonso!
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!
McKenzie and Paul’s just celebrated one year of marriage and I’m so excited to finally share their absolutely jaw dropping wedding experience at The Sentinel Hotel in Portland Oregon. This historic portland wedding venue is incredibly elegant with a timeless style and architecture that the couple, along with the talents of both Danielle Caldwell Events and Blum Florals, transformed into a luxe garden of magic, complete with English inspired garden details, like hedges and topiaries. McKenzie, an absolutely stunning bride, wore a weddings dress from Portland’s A&bé bridal shop and her father’s first reaction to seeing his daughter all in white was a truly beautiful moment. The couple opted for a “first touch” rather than a first look, which was a powerful and unforgettable moment of union. Paul, a talented pianist, played a song he wrote for his future wife and they shared a silent moment of prayer together. The two walked down the aisle to a full string quartet and onto an impressive garden trellis of live ivy & roses. The reception, held in the Governor ballroom, was gorgeously designed to incorporate elements of nature into the evening. From full trees lit by candlelight, to twinkling stars projected onto the ceiling, it was truly breathtaking. The cake, made by the one and only Dream Cakes, was impressive 5 tier with acrylic dividers to highlight the elegance of the day. To close out their incredible day, McKenzie and Paul danced to the last song of the evening surrounded by their friends and family holding a sea of tealight candles that swayed with the perfect music provided by Event Team Entertainment. Congratulations on one year McKenzie & Paul! Your magical wedding truly represented what a magical couple you two are!
I am beyond honored to be Oregon Bride Magazine‘s Best Photographer in Portland for 2020! This is my third year winning (2013 and 2015) and I continue to feel so very humbled and appreciative. I want to thank each and every one of you for your votes and continued support and love. The wedding industry has been completely upended, but your support has allowed me to live out my passion and continue to capture amazing and meaningful moments for Oregon couples. A huge shout out to the other winners and contestants, it is an honor to know & work alongside so many of you! Thank you and Happiest Holidays!
