Nicole + Christopher
Saint Josef’s Winery, Canby, Oregon
Vineyard weddings are some of my absolute favorite to photograph, so when Cristopher and Nicole planned to have their wedding at a winery which would be new for me to photograph I was beyond excited!
Saint Josef’s winery is a gorgeous vineyard nestled in Canby, Oregon and not only has rows and rows of those romantic vines, but also houses one of the most picturesque little ponds that you’ve ever seen! The talented crew of Saint Josef’s have landscaped a stunning rose filled amphitheater that leads down to the pond where most ceremonies are held. Across the water you can see rolling hills that in early September were just starting to turn to their glorious golden fall hues. As I walked around the vineyard grounds I quickly found myself falling for this quaint little vineyard tucked away from the hustle and bustle of busy Portland.
I arrived a bit early and did my standard rearrangement of furniture in the bridal suite (Bridal suites usually have tons and tons of furniture and many things hanging on the walls, but to fit my light and airy style, I tend to like a simple and minimalist getting ready area so moving furniture to make a less cluttered space is one of my favorite little tricks to achieve my style!). After the room was cleared out a bit, the bridesmaids arrived with the dress and jewelry and I got to photographing these gorgeous details!
Nicole came in just a few minutes later and it was a flurry of giggles and fabric as the girls all donned their dresses and Nicole slipped into her stunning bridal attire. Nicole’s dress had the most amazing details, including a subtle delicate design stitched into the base layer of the dress that I was just swooning over!
Tears were shed as Nicole’s mom saw her daughter all put together and I counted my lucky stars that my career involves getting to see such sweet moments as this multiple times a year.
Nicole and her dad shared the loveliest first look just outside the large oak vineyard doors and as I hid Nicole inside the tasting room, she gained some fans from the lingering guests of the winery who even requested a quick photo to put in their travel journal!
Chris was all smiles as he turned around to see his beaming bride during the first look and I can’t tell you how many times these two just burst into laughter while Nicole twirled for Chris to see the full Bridal getup.
If you are a devout KHP blog follower you’ll remember Nicole and Christopher’s engagement session at Cooper Mountain and how I mentioned that my favorite thing about these two is their constant and infectious laughter. This theme of laughing and expressed pure joy continued throughout their wedding day and my suspicion is that this gift of laughter and joviality will continue throughout these two’s beautiful life together!
We enjoyed taking some photos with the bridal party as guests began arriving, and Nicole’s amazing coordinator, Morgan from MH Events went around making sure every little detail was perfectly in place.
Nicole and Christopher did an incredible job at picking such an amazing team of vendors. From their caterers at Premier Catering whose attention to detail and fantastic hospitality made the evening just absolutely magical, to their Florist, Robyn of Song Bird Floristry who made such stunning bouquets, to their efficient, Michael of Red Bird Ceremonies who was just the sweetest with how he customized their wedding ceremony, to Gavin “The Aussie DJ” who is just about the kindest person I’ve ever met, this crew was phenomenal to work with and made the entire day an absolute dream!
As the music for the ceremony started, the intimate group of family all took their seats and the bridal party made their way under the custom arch to the front steps of the winery. For her entrance, Nicole chose to come from the bridal suite and descend down the stairway behind the ceremony area, meeting her dad on the landing and gracefully floating up to her soon to be husband. This was a beautiful twist on the normal wedding processional that Saint Josef’s does and just goes to show that there are so many ways to customize your wedding to be uniquely you.
The ceremony was flawless and many a tear was shed while Nicole and Chris exchanged their vows. As they were officially pronounced husband and wife their family and friends cheered them down the aisle where they paused for a second brief kiss under their custom arch.
Immediately following the ceremony, Nicole and Christopher exchanged wedding gifts which included a gorgeous new watch for Christopher and the most beautiful charm for Nicole’s Pandora Bracelet.
The reception was held inside the tasting room’s intimate dining area and as the sun began to set behind the vines toasts were made, cake was cut and dances were had.
I stole Christopher and Nicole for a few minutes of portraits as the golden light dipped down below the horizon and then returned them back to celebrate amidst their intimate group of family and friends.
I feel so thankful to have been a part of this gorgeous day, and look forward to next year when we will return to Saint Josef’s to celebrate Nicole and Christopher’s first year of marriage with a much larger guest count!
Nicole and Christopher, thank you from the bottom of my heart for bringing me into your and your family’s lives. Congratulations on such a beautiful wedding day!
