Some of My Favorite Weddings
Over the years I've had the joy of attending hundreds upon hundreds of weddings, mostly in a professional capacity of course. Each and every one of those weddings was truly unique, thanks, in part, to the vendors and staff, but mostly because of the family and friends that came together to celebrate the couples!
Don’t misunderstand however, there’s never a wedding where I can’t find something truly beautiful to photograph. One of my favorite things to shoot are the details, aided by the inclusion of some of the beautiful flowers, or the stationery that the couple have for their wedding! The shots of the hanging dress, framed in a window, backlit by the amazing natural light bleeding through; even just the thought of it makes me happy!
While I have enjoyed every wedding I’ve shot, there have been some that stick out above the rest. Every wedding is beautiful and unique in its own way, but it can’t be helped that some should come to mind first when I think back on my past experiences. Those are the weddings that I want to share with you today!
An Autumn Wedding in Hood River
This wedding was something super special. Rosie and Spencer, the bride and groom, had been on a roller coaster ride for the two years previous while trying to plan their big day! Like many couples eager to get wed during Covid, the uncertainty of the times caused delays, frustrations and sadness.
With an original date set for Spring of 2021 the resurgence of Covid caused an unfortunate delay, requiring Rosie and Spencer to reschedule for the Autumn season of last year. Luckily, they’re Hood River wedding location was still ready and waiting to receive the happy couple, and that’s just the beginning of the good luck awaiting Rosie and Spencer!
The big day finally arrived and with it some uncertainties about the weather conditions. Though the sun was shining down the weather was a bit chilly and the wind was whipping like it always does in The Gorge. However, by 10AM the wind had miraculously subsided down to a gentle breeze and the sun had brought the ambient temperature up to a wonderfully comfortable level! The wedding was full of awesome moments that Dom and I got to capture. The newlyweds enjoyed a cocktail hour followed by a wonderful dinner of salmon and ended the night off with some of the craziest dancing I’ve witnessed yet at a wedding! The party continued on long after Dom and I left. Regardless of the setbacks and disappointments, everyone and everything still came together in support and celebration of Rosie and Spencer. It was truly an incredible wedding that I won’t forget anytime soon!
A Summer Wedding on Mount Hood
This is a wedding that I don’t think I’ll forget for years and years. Not only was it held on a beautiful summer day, but it was also held at one of the most adventurous places I’ve ever shot a wedding at.
Avery and Garret are truly a special couple and getting to shoot their wedding was more than a pleasure, it was an honor. A few years back I got to shoot Garret’s fathers wedding, and through that event I got to know the family which ultimately led me here. They planned a very small, intimate wedding that included no more than 15 people on the guest list, all immediate family.
What made this one of the most adventurous venues I’ve ever been to? The fact that it was on Mt. Hood. Let me clarify a bit, it was 6,950 ft. up on Mt. Hood. Nearly 1,000 ft. higher than Timberline, we had to travel in off-roading 4X4 vans that climbed all the way up to a little-known cabin where the ceremony was to be held. I mean, we were climbing over boulders and ancient volcanic debris in these vans, talk about a way to get the energy of the day to reach its peak! The ceremony was quaint and peaceful, full of the love of the two families and a desire to celebrate with the newlyweds! I think it might be the most meaningful and memorable wedding I’ve shot to date!
A Summer Wedding in Vancouver Washington
What a truly special day this was. Most weddings include special surprises by the bride and groom for each other but this wedding, the bride outdid herself!
Shyla and Shawn are absolutely one of the greatest couples! They have a unique story like every couple does, but unlike most couples their story starts 8,ooo miles away on a study abroad trip to Australia. Shyla and Shawn have grown in their relationship while traveling all over the world, making friends at every stop.
The wedding was held at Shyla’s childhood church, and it was obvious as we walked around the place that she was reminiscing about days gone by. Truly a full circle experience. The guys got ready in the church gym, where Shawn donned his stunning looking suit and a newly acquired pair of socks covered in various gaming consoles! The ceremony and reception were wonderful, and Shyla and Shawn chose an incredible musical entertainer for the evening by the name of Jonathan Sherrill. What made this wedding truly special in my opinion was the gift that Shyla prepared for Shawn. Shyla wrote to their friends the world over and asked them to send in video clips of congratulations which she then compiled into a video and shared with Shawn after the ceremony was finished. It brought tears to his eyes. It is easily one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever seen a bride give to her groom.
A Summer Wedding in Springfield Oregon
When I think back on the weddings that stick out the most to me, I can’t not remember this wedding. The friendship that the couple shared not only with each other but with their parties was intoxicating and wonderful.
Lindsey and Tyler are one of those couples that just love, every day. It was apparent throughout the whole wedding as they greeted everyone with huge smiles and were very appreciative for the support of their union. It became obvious to me why people love them so much, because they reciprocate that love back to everyone they’re around!
The wedding was held at a friend's house in Springfield OR, and it was not at all what I expected. The house was unlike any other I’ve seen, and the grounds were covered in high and mighty trees, filling the space with so many incredible spots to get portraits of Lindsey and Tyler. Something to be said for Lindsey is that she is the most relaxed bride I have ever worked with! Most brides have a certain amount of anxiety about the day off, making sure it’s perfect and exactly how they want it; however I could tell Lindsey was there to enjoy the day regardless of whether everything happened perfectly or not. The venue allowed me to capture some truly amazing sunset photos and as we returned to the reception Lindsey and Tyler danced the night away, surrounded by their closest friends and family!
A Summer Wedding at Smith Rock Oregon
This wedding holds a special place in my heart for multiple reasons, so needless to say when we got asked to photograph the wedding of this beautiful couple we couldn’t say no. It was a beautiful summer day with extraordinary views of Smith Rock, perfect for a wedding!
Jessica and Nick are an awesome couple with an awesome bunch of family and friends! We met Jessica for the first time at a wedding in 2019 where she was a bridesmaid and an absolute joy to be around! So, when she and Nick reached out to see if we would shoot their wedding, it was an immediate yes!
They originally had planned their wedding to be held at Broken Top Club in Bend OR, however with increased restrictions in the spring of 2020 they had to find an alternate location. Luckily their friends and family all came together and with experience and business in almost every vendor market they quickly had a back-up venue, not to mention food, flowers and more! With the new venue being literally right across the street from Smith Rock (a place that holds dear memories for me and Dom) the wedding day began to come together in new and exciting ways! The ceremony and reception were full of wonderful vows, toasts and epic dancing! To top it all off I got to take some truly incredible sunset portraits of these two beautiful newlyweds! It was a day to remember and one that won’t leave my memory anytime soon!
While these are my top 5 weddings of all time, I’ve still love shooting and being a part of every KHP wedding! There’s not one wedding that I regret shooting and I certainly love every couple that I get to meet!
Looking for a Photographer who can help you with your wedding every step of the way?
