Nathan & Melissa's Gorgecrest Vineyard Wedding

I met Nathan and Melissa though a random Facebook connection. When I first moved to Seattle I posted on my Facebook page that I was looking for a newly engaged couple to photograph for free since I wasn't shooting much locally last January. A friend of mine from high school gave me the name of her cousin who works for Amazon and lives just minutes from me in Seattle. Like a stalker, I found him on Facebook and messaged him asking if they were interested in a session. Poor guy probably had no idea who I was and if I was going to be any good but they were good sports and agreed me meet me for a downtown Seattle engagement session (seen here). Nathan mentioned that he was a hobbiest photographer so I definitely did not assume that I would be asked to be their wedding photographer (we photographers like to congregate in groups and I figured he already had someone in mind). A couple of months later when they emailed me and booked me to shoot their wedding I was excited and flattered. I was 5 weeks postpartum when I drug my family with me to the Hood River area of Oregon for their wedding. We made a mini vacation of it and enjoyed the 90 degree weather in mid September. As I drove across Hood River and up the hills to the Gorgecrest Vineyard I understood what Nathan and Melissa meant when they described the breathtaking views of the venue. Unfortunately, Mt. Hood was not in full display thanks to some haziness and clouds, but you could still see it looming there in the background and tried as I might, my photos really don't do it justice.

I was joined by the talented Britney Gardner of Turn Loose the Art that day as my 2nd shooter and she commented to me, "I love your clients. I wish all of my clients were like them" and I feel the exact same way. Working with these two was just as easy on their wedding day as it was on that stormy January morning when I casually shot their engagement. Thank you both for trusting me to capture the most important day of your union and thank you for bringing me to such a beautiful location...a part of the country that I likely never would have thought to visit. Special thanks to their AWESOME DJ, DJ Moe Funk who cracked me up all night long and to The Lambs Table for the amazing meal.

Luna & Federico's Laurel Creek Manor Wedding | Seattle Wedding Photographer

How festive is this wedding?! The Laurel Creek Manor was the perfect venue for Luna and Federico's celebration. Luna started off the day by gifting her bridesmaids with  scarves which they wore for the majority of the day, matching perfectly with the bright, happy style of their wedding. Federico and his guys had a great time getting ready and I think I lost count of how many times they tossed him in the air :) Hands down my favorite part of the day was watching Luna's mom cry tears of joy as she watched her beautiful daughter marry the man of her dreams. Hmm, or maybe it was Luna's emotion as she walked down the aisle? Or perhaps when Luna and Federico danced together in front of all of their guests? Maybe Federico's toast to his bride which had nearly everyone in tears? Luna's face as Federico fetched her garter? At the end of the night everyone came together on the dance floor, surrounding Luna and Federico for one last show of love and support, and I heard a group proclaim "BEST WEDDING EVER!" I definitely can't argue with that. Congratulations you two! I hope you're enjoying your honeymoon in Cabo!

Jen & Sheana's Wedding | Seattle Wedding Photographer

Jen and Sheana were the first couple that I met with when I moved here to Seattle. The gay marriage bill had just passed in Washington so not only were they going to be my first same sex wedding, but it was going to be LEGAL and recognized by our great state. I couldn't be more thrilled for them. I left our consultation feeling so lucky to have already found great clients just months after moving here from California because not only did they know that they would be my first gay wedding, but I was also hugely pregnant, something that I suspect might have been a turn off for other clients. Jen asked me, "So, is this your first gay wedding?" and when I replied yes, she gave me a huge smile and said, "Awesome." I knew that we'd be a perfect fit. Their wedding day got off to a bit of a rocky start when Jen's pants were no where to be found. They suspected that they were left at home all the way in Portland. We were in Olympia. Well, what do you do when one of the brides needs to wait for her pants? You do a little switch-a-roo and have cocktail hour first, ceremony second. Who can complain about that? Their guests happily conversed and drank while Jen and Sheana hung out upstairs with their family and bridal party waiting on the pants.

Can I confess that I felt far too un-cool to be at their wedding? Not only did Jen and Sheana look fabulous, but all of their guests did as well. Hopefully the photos that I took make up for the horribly boring outfit that I wore to their wedding.

My favorite moment of the entire day came during the ceremony when Jen ended up without the mic and no one could hear her as she spoke to her bride-to-be. She proclaimed that she did not need a mic and continued to speak to Shaena in what I can only assume was a confession of love. My 2nd shooter heard a bit of what she said, enough to make you cry, but I will let that stay between Jen and Sheana :)

Congratulations to these two awesome chicks. Thanks for letting me a part of your day.