Kassidy + Tyler
An Intimate Wedding in Eugene, OR
Man, it would be hard to find a wedding day with as many amazing raw, candid, and emotional moments as you will find in Kassidy and Tyler’s intimate ceremony and after-party that Dominic and I were honored to be a part of this last weekend.
When I first met Kassidy and Tyler over an online video chat, they were initially planning very different wedding celebration that ultimately didn’t totally feel 100% right. After talking things over together, they found that what they both really wanted is a very intimate wedding ceremony to share with just their immediate family and Kassidy’s best friend, and then celebrate in a very big way with a packed-out after-party.
Utilizing the gorgeous estate of a family friend for their ceremony location and setting up their reception after-party in the backyard of Tyler’s parent’s home, they were able to have the best of both worlds; a private and emotional union and an epic meal and celebration with all their extended family and friends.
Following the address to the ceremony location, dom and I found ourselves winding down the side country roads of Lane County and pulling into a gorgeous landscaped entrance way lines in lavender and exquisitely set off with an ornate fence as vineyards stretched out in the distance amid rolling hills and long driveways leading to dream homes.
Punching in our access code, we drove the final stretch to where Kassidy, Haley (Kassidy’s Best friend) and Kellie (Kassidy’s Mom) were getting the final touches of their hair and makeup done by Divine Complexions.
Kassidy and Haley helped my collect the details and I set up a little lay-flat area on the front porch to photograph Kassidy’s gorgeous engagement ring and wedding band, her ornate wedding dress, her Marc Jacobs Perfume, Dolce Vita heels and her heirloom bracelet from her Grandmother.
Tyler arrived shortly after, and Dom documented as Tyler donned his slim tuxedo and they both learned how to tie a bowtie thanks to YouTube.
Over on the girl’s side of the house, champagne was poured and Kassidy slipped out of her floral silk PJs and was helped into her gorgeous wedding gown. Form-fitting with delicate beading all over, Kassidy’s dress featured lace embellishments and a flared skirt with a mid-length scalloped train. Her hairstyle was long and curled, her highlights featured prominently with a bejeweled hairpiece that glittered in the orange glow of the sun.
Being fire season, smoke had blown into the area and created an orange and overcast shade to the day, the sun appearing as a red circle as its rays were colored and diffused. Photographically, this created a gorgeous warm filter to all the images we captured, giving us all the benefits of diffused lighting, but still allowing for dramatic pops of color from the surrounding valley, gardenbeds and vineyards.
As Kassidy added the final touches to her wedding day look, she got out a gift for her father and we called him into the room. Upon seeing his daughter all dressed up for her wedding day he immediately was overcome with emotion, hugging her tightly and fighting back tears. Reading the note she wrote him and opening her gift to him, all fighting proved fruitless, and his eyes welled up with tears as the full weight and emotion of the day hit him.
Next up was Tyler’s first look and as I led Kassidy out to where he waited, I made sure to take an extra long time “setting up the shot” just to kick up the anticipation an extra notch. ;)
When Kassidy did finally tap him on the shoulder, inviting him to turn and see his bride for the first time in all her wedding-day glory he was speechless. Circling around her to get a full view of her, you could see how overcome with joy he was and the happiness on Kassidy’s face was unmistakable as the two of them grasped each other’s hands and soaked in this moment together.
Traipsing all over the property, we took full advantage of the estate’s stunning grounds, taking Bridal Portraits filled with the joy Kassidy and Tyle felt at the arrival of this much anticipated day.
Oakley, Kassidy and Tyler’s energetic pup, got to don his own wedding day collar and he posed, giant smile on his adorable face, clearly elated at his humans finally making their family official!
As their family arrived, it was hugs all around then a few portraits and some down time while Kassidy and Haley tucked themselves away and made final preparations for the ceremony.
Everyone took their seats and the music began. Kassidy’s brother stood alongside Tyler and extended a supportive arm as Kassidy and her father made their way to the patio and toward the aisle way. Tyler’s eyes welled up as Kassidy made her way toward him, sharing a final hug with her father and passing her bouquet to her mom before taking her place opposite her soon-to-be husband.
Kassidy and Tyler shared vows they had written themselves and it would be an injustice to describe them as perfect, beautiful, raw, emotional and sentimental. Honestly, the words Tyler and Kassidy shared were some of the most incredible vows I’ve ever heard and they had everyone present in tears before finalizing their union with a first kiss. Cheering their way back down for the recessoinal, it was hugs all around, another round of champagne, and signing the Marriage Licence made things 100% official!
Before heading to the after-party, Haley, Kassidy, Tyler, Dom and I stopped at the entrance gate which, although was frozen in place from the power outage caused by the fires, provided the perfect spot for some final “Just Married” photos of the newlyweds. (Extra-special thanks goes to Haley for her expert dress-tossing skills to create the photo seen above!)
Driving to Tyler’s folk’s house, the back garden was filled with family and friends enjoying drinks and filling the air with joyful greetings, hugs, and catching up.
Kassidy and Tyler entered amid cheers of congratulations from the crowd and a delicious meal was served that featured Tyler’s mom’s famous potatoe salad and baked beans.
Everywhere you looked people were laughing, hugging and reveling in the joy of the occasion. Emotional toasts were made after dinner that had everyone in tears all over again, and first dances kicked off the party-portion of the night.
By the time Dom and I were taking our leave, I had multiple memory cards filled with images of true happiness and celebration and Dom and I remarked that we couldn’t have been luckier to be able to witness such an incredible day.
I’m excited to include just a small selection of images from Tyler and Kassidy’s wedding day below, be sure to leave them a comment of congratulations at the end!
