Driving up to Kestrel Barn it instantly took my breath away. This gorgeous wedding venue sprawls across colorful gardens, tall golden grasses, bright green pastures and two enormous trees which provide just enough shade to keep things cool. As I strolled around the grounds orienting myself to the ceremony and reception layout I was greeted by Barn Kestrel’s owners Debra and Ed greeted me with their effusive and energetic golden doodle pup. Ed was putting the finishing touches on the grounds and Debra was kind enough to chat with me a while explaining about their Queen Ann Victorian home their barn which is over 100 years old and the historic sequoia tree which is the largest in all of Clackamas County. Debra was so kind and super excited about Logan and Mary’s wedding as this would be the first wedding she was to host since the restrictions due to the pandemic were put in place.

I found my way to Mary’s getting ready area and was instantly greeted with all the electricity and energy of Mary and her bridesmaids. Mary’s mom was helping Mary put the final touches on her makeup, utilizing the hours and hours of experience she has from helping Mary and her friends get ready for pageants when they were younger.

DIY hair and makeup wasn’t the only personal touch on Mary and Logan’s wedding- it was actually impossible to be anywhere in the Venue without seeing the custom handiwork of Mary’s family and friends. All the decorations, right down to every floral item, the bouquets, boutonnières and centerpieces, had all been lovingly put together the night before and all by themselves! There were so man gorgeous little details, from the tiny jars lining the barn walls filled with baby’s breath and adorned with wire twisted into hearts to the teacups filled with everyone’s favorite candies, it was hard not to fall in love with this amazing group of people who had put so much time and love into making this wedding day perfect for Logan and Mary.

After the details were photographed and the boys had chosen their favorite pair of star-wars themed socks to wear for the day, Logan’s best man Collin snuck up to the bridal suite for a little surprise he and Mary had put together for Logan. I walked with Logan to the first look location and made sure he wasn’t peeking as a figure in white began to approach from behind him. Logan laughed as he heard the footsteps drawing nearer, but his brow became puzzled when he called out to Mary and received no response. The white figure paused just behind Logan and tapped softly on his shoulder. As Logan spun around it wasn’t Mary his fiancee which he saw standing there but rather Collin in a very form fitting white gown, complete with veil which was somehow miraculously staying on his very short-trimmed hair.

Logan burst into fits of laughter as the bridesmaids cat-called from the porch and we all enjoyed the hilarity of what can normally be a pretty intense moment.

After the giggles from the girls subsided and Colin went back to the house to change, Mary came for the “real” first look and I got to witness the tender loving touches they shared as they enjoyed seeing each other in their full wedding garb for the first time.

We spent some time walking the grounds snapping photos and being followed by the horses in the pasture next to the venue. Logan went to collect the rest of the groomsmen and Mary and her dad shared a tearful first look that made my own eyes swim as they hugged each other in the shade of a giant oak tree.

Logan and Mary’s beautiful ceremony was officiated by Logan’s father and included personal readings by each of Logan and Mary’s siblings. As they shared their first kiss as husband and wife and danced back down the aisle their intimate group of family and friends enjoyed some truly scrumptious appetizers which included bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers (my favorite!).

Some highlights of the reception included THE coolest way to open a bottle of champaign that I have ever seen- using a SWORD!- , cute custom crazy-straws for the bridal party, custom shades for the groomsmen, a sweet sunset-walk between the bride and her father and of course, sunset portraits where I spent a few minutes celebrating the success of the day and the start of a new life for Mary and Logan as husband and wife.

Enjoy this selection of images below as I wish all my best for an eternity of happiness to Mary and Logan!