When Riki and Jacob contacted me about photographing their wedding, they were living in Jerusalem, visiting family and learning more about their Jewish faith and heritage, so I was very excited to work with them – I love weddings with different stories and traditions. I think my favorite thing about Jewish weddings (and Jews in general) is the propensity to break into songs of celebration (I tend to break into song a fair amount myself, but it’s hardly ever the case that a hundred people in the area join me, though I wish they did). The wedding took place on a sunny but somewhat smoky day just outside of Portland, Oregon at the Arbor School, where Jacob attended as a kid. It was such a fun place for a wedding! Add beautiful DIY dried flower and ribbon decorations all over the grounds, delicious food and two different great live bands, and it really was quite a party.
I love a good church wedding ceremony – the stained glass windows, the great architecture, the substantial amount of time they typically afford me to take photos. They’re even better when the officiant knows the couple really well and the whole thing feels really sweet and personal, as it did with Rebecca and Karl’s wedding at Gresham United Methodist Church. Followed by a lovely reception at McMenamin’s Edgefield Administrator’s House and Yard, it was a day filled with laughter, family, friends, and the good kind of tears. And dancing! So much dancing, compliments of DJ Chad Dowling and the energetic wedding revelers.
Lauren + Grant got married at the beautiful Estate Gardens of their Alma Mater, Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, where they met. I think it was a little strange for them to be getting ready for their wedding in some of their old classrooms, but once the day got going, you could tell that everyone felt right at home on the beautiful campus – much of their bridal party were college friends, and everyone was excited to be taking part in this adorable couple’s big day.
Kate and Faraz got married on the DeSoto Rooftop Terrace in Downtown Portland on a VERY hot day in June. Looking at the photos, though, you’d barely notice (aside from the uncharacteristic tent set up on the rooftop). The couple, their family and their guests just look happy to be celebrating their love and their special day. This wedding, for me, wins hands-down for the best ceremony reading ever: the couple had two of their friends read their very first email exchange on OKC, complete with emojis-on-sticks. It was funny, charming, and sweet, and made perfect sense that these two would’ve fallen in love. And such fun for their friends and family to get to peek inside the beginnings of their relationship!
Erica and Karl and their families traveled all the way from Wisconsin to get married at the beautiful Lan Su Chinese Garden in Downtown Portland. It was during a heatwave weekend here in Portland (the weather report predicted 106 degrees that day!), but luckily their wedding was scheduled for 8am, before the garden opened to the public – this meant not only less heat, but some nice cloud cover, which makes this photographer really happy (such beautiful, flattering light!) It was lovely to meet their families and witness their beautiful ceremony. It was also great to work once again with their lovely officiant, Rev. Maureen Haley, who is always a delight.
So happy to share this lovely Ponzi Historic Estate wedding! The beautiful venue, delicious food, happy couple and their lovely family and friends all made for a fantastic day. And such cute little kids! Ponzi’s staff was so helpful and accommodating, especially with the little ones.
I can’t get enough of the gorgeous golden-hour light from this recent Portland Waterfront engagement session. Liz and Zachary were so much fun to walk around and shoot with on the Eastbank Esplanade – not at all shy about being love-y or goofy or downright adorable – and even more dog-crazy than I am (I wasn’t sure it was possible, but it is). I can’t wait to photograph their wedding later this month!
So excited to share these lovely photos from Piper and Cody’s recent Abernethy Center wedding in beautiful Abigail’s Garden! There was just a little bit of a mist of rain on their wedding day, but they didn’t let it bother them at all – it was a fantastic day filled with family, friends, and lots of love. And the dancing! I haven’t seen such enthusiastic dancing wedding guests in quite a while – such fun. Congratulations to Piper and Cody on a beautiful event!
