Part of the reason I LOVE being a wedding photographer is that the relationships you forge very frequently last a lifetime, and often those relationships bloom out even further than you ever would have initially guessed.

In 2019 I had the privilege to get to know two of the most wonderful people, Dave and Donna. I vividly remember meeting them for a coffee at this cute little cafe and just feeling like instant friends chatting about SCUBA diving adventures and how their lives had brought them together. They had the most beautiful wedding near Hoyt Arboretum and we’ve stayed in touch in the years since. I also was able to photograph a newborn session when their daughter Erin had her second daughter and have loved doing family sessions with them about once every 6 months or so since!

When Avery and Garrett reached out to me inquiring about wedding photography and told me that Dave was Garrett’s dad, I was thrilled beyond measure to yet again be a part of this beautiful family’s life! Avery and Garrett were engaged this past March during a Birthday Trip for Avery to Cannon Beach. Garrett and Avery had been working with their family’s jeweler to design Avery’s custom ring, and when it was finished ahead of schedule, Garrett took advantage of the opportunity to surprise Avery with it.

Avery and Garrett are such a beautiful couple and while we’d chatted a few times over video chat, I was so excited to meet them in person for their engagement session!

Avery loved the look of the tall grasses our at Howell Territorial Park on Sauvie Island and after a brief reschedule do to Oregon’s characteristically wet springs, we ended up with a stunning sunny Saturday evening in May that was perfect for the gorgeous sundress Avery had picked out.

Garrett and Avery were up for anything and it wasn’t long before I had them waist deep in tall grasses, laughing at the epicly-long love-speech I had mistakenly tricked Garrett into giving.

Walking around in the sunshine we chatted about their life and how excited they were for their intimate wedding up at the Silcox Hut on top of Mount Hood. We were even greeted by a few rabbits as we strolled from the orchards to the cute farm house that graces the grounds of the park.

Check out some of my favorite from Garrett and Avery’s engagement session below, and be sure to drop them your congrats in the comments section!