This was a long but truly fantastic day. Qatanna and Doug met their families early at Lan Su Chinese Garden in downtown Portland, before it opened, so that we could have it to ourselves for photos. Then it was back home for a beautiful and intimate backyard wedding ceremony with their closest friends and families (this was the first time I had the pleasure of shooting a backyard wedding, and there's something so magical about it!). Then we took a little lunch break before heading to Cooper's Hall for a ridiculously fun reception . . .
Jessie and Dave's Camp Angelos wedding was such a beautiful example of an amazing group effort event. Friends and family members pitched in on gorgeous flowers, hand-painted escort cards, homemade traditional desserts, and fun family traditions. Add a bunch of adorable kids, really delicious food, a doggy ring-bearer, and lots of warm, lovely people, and you have a truly unique, memorable wedding day for a fantastic couple.
This couple had the cutest wedding date of the year: 8.18.18! I think all wedding photographers had a lot of inquiries for that date, but Molly and Casey were my first. And I’m so glad I got to spend their special day with them - there was lots and lots of friend and family love (not to mention some unexpected musical performances!), super fun dancing, and just a generally great day of two families coming together to celebrate. . .
So much to love about this amazing Castaway Portland wedding! Mostly I can't get over the way these two amazing people look at each other. If I had a daughter, I would tell her to find a partner that looks at her the way that Jeremiah looks a Lizzy. Add to that their incredible friends and family, the fantastic food and venue, and the great music at their super fun dance party reception, and it really was just a perfect wedding day. . .
Becky and Greg got in touch about their Portland wedding all the way from Texas, so I didn't realize it'd be a party full of East Coasters (my people) until the day of - what I fun surprise! It was such a beautiful, intimate celebration at the Leach Botanical Garden in Southeast Portland - very close friends, and a bit of a family reunion on the bride's side. I was warned that the groom wasn't generally thrilled about having his photo taken, but he did great - it's amazing what the excitement and happiness of a wedding day can do for the photo-reticent, I suppose. . .
Emily and Burt and their families were an absolute delight to work with for their wedding photography. I'm not sure I've ever met such an open, welcoming, lovely group of people - my second shooter, Ally, and I spent the day wondering how to get ourselves invited to more of their parties! I've been looking forward to this wedding ever since I photographed Burt and Emily's engagement on the Portland Waterfront, and I was definitely not disappointed - this was simply an amazing wedding day, from start to finish. . .
Hiro got in touch with me a few months ago with a lovely idea: He and his wife Renko were married in Japan earlier in the year, but they hadn't had a ceremony. He was in the US on business and she would be coming to visit soon, for a sort of honeymoon, so Hiro wanted to have a ceremony and take wedding photos here. . .
Wedding season is in full swing, and I couldn't be more excited! Matt and Suzanne's beautiful wedding and lovely family were such a delight last weekend. We started out at the University of Portland for a heartfelt ceremony and mass, took a quick trip to Cathedral Park to take a few rainy wedding day photos with the wedding party under the St. John's Bridge, and then finished the day with a really fun reception on the Portland Spirit, sailing up the Willamette River and enjoying the sunset over the city from the upper deck.
