Ben + Leora got married this summer on a beautiful, windy day in late August. Despite having to roll with a few punches, weather-wise, it was an amazing day, full of friends and family, live klezmer music, delicious Tastebud pizza and decadent Baker & Spice cake. It was lovely to get to celebrate with these two, and to see some familiar faces from Leora’s friend Neon’s wedding, which I photographed a few years ago. (I love it when my clients tell their friends about me! It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.) And even the tricky weather was mostly a win for me, since I love those dramatic skies in my photography. Congratulations, you two, and thanks for having me!
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.
Bethanie and Daniel are an Army couple, so they planned their Cape Horn Estate wedding remotely. Bethanie also folded over one thousand origami paper cranes and strung them together on threads with beads to decorate the wedding venue, which sounds a little crazy, until you see them. Then you say, wow – that was totally worth it. In the end, they had a beautiful, intimate wedding ceremony officiated by an Army Chaplain friend, with their friends and family looking on. Such a great day! Congratulations, you two!
It was such an honor to photograph Matt and Maggie’s absolutely stunning Zenith Vineyard Wedding in Salem, Oregon. Lots of great vendors to thank for this one, among them: Willaby’s did a fantastic job with dinner and delicious creme brulee, Botanica Floral Design put together absolutely stunning floral arrangements and bouquets, and Melegari Chamber Music with the most beautiful ceremony and cocktail-hour music I’ve experienced at a wedding. Most of all, though, the bride and groom and their lovely friends and families made this a fantastic wedding to photograph. Thanks, and congratulations, you two!
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.
I just love everything about this wedding. Every detail, from the delicious food and dessert (¿Por Qué No? Taquéria and Cinnamon Rolls!), to the bride and groom’s wardrobe (from Xtabay Vintage Bridal and my beloved Hollywood Vintage), to the beautiful flowers and custom designed rings, just added to the unique, bright, whimsical feel of the day. I knew I liked these two from our very first meeting, but when they danced together back down the aisle after their lovely, personal ceremony, I fell in love. And with color and laughter and adorable kids and love everywhere, as a wedding photographer, I really couldn’t have asked for a better day.
I went to visit Bridal Veil Lakes with Katie and Matt the week before their wedding and was in awe of how beautiful it was. Everything at this Columbia River Gorge wedding venue, from the ceremony site to the reception area, to the lake itself is just picture-perfect. I knew right away that this was going to be one gorgeous wedding. We were lucky to have beautiful weather on the big day, and the whole thing went off without a hitch — wonderful food, lovely friends and family, great music and lots of Scotch and Irish Whiskey made sure of it. It was such a pleasure to be a part of this beautiful wedding day! Many thanks to Katie and Matt for having me (and thanks to my lovely second-shooter Ally for the gorgeous photos!)
