Every wedding we do is special in its own way.  But this one….this one was something special.  Weddings are always extra meaningful when we are covering family.  Rylee is my cousins. Really my second-cousin-once-removed, or something like that, but we are close enough that we have always just said we are cousins. So when she asked us to film her wedding in Solvang we were ecstatic.  Our family has a huge connection to the cute little Danish town in central California.  Our grandparents, who immigrated from Denmark, lived here and were laid to rest here.  We spent many Mother’s Days celebrating with family here.  Rylee also chose to get married in the very same church her parents got married in.  (Side note: I was also a flower girl at this church when I was about 6 years old for Rylee’s aunt.) So to say that this location was meaningful was an understatement.  And what a place to finally tie the knot with her handsome groom, Robin.  Robin, who is from Belgium, came to the US to play rugby and just happened to land in the same high school as Rylee in Apple Valley, CA.  To say that Rylee & Robin have traveled thousands of miles to get to this point is an understatement.  But I’ll let their film tell that story.  Congrats Rylee and Robin!  We love you!

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You know this world is pretty crazy sometimes (can I get an Amen! on that one).  But in our line of work we get to see how amazing it can be when two random people can find each other amongst the crazy, busy and sometimes impossible world. Jessica & Andrew did just that. Jessica is a native Oregonian.  Andrew is from South Africa.  Jessica lives in Portland.  Andrew lives in London.  So how in the world did these two people cross paths??  A business trip brought the two to Dubai.  It was there that Andrew became smitten with Jessica in a cobalt blue dress.  After months of texts, phone calls and FaceTime, Andrew finally asked Jessica if she was “his girl.” These two have such dedication to each other with much of their relationship being thousands and thousands of miles apart.  Ian and I couldn’t help but admire the strength that these two have.  So dedicated.  So strong.  So perfect.

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I don’t think there is anything more meaningful than getting married in the spot that your proposal happened.  That’s what Shelly & James did.  Nine months prior to this day, James got down on one knee and asked Shelly to be his partner in life.  And on this day Shelly & James recited some of the most beautiful and personal vows in front of their family and friends.  To say that it was amazing is an understatement.  Shelly & James are such a perfect fit and we were so honored they let us in to be able to capture these special moments.

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Elegant ease.  That’s what we think of when we think of Charlotte & Kyle’s wedding day.  How could you not?  I mean, look at Charlotte!  I don’t think I have ever seen a bride look more like an Italian princess (though I am not sure she is Italian).  And Kyle…does anyone else see a young Jon Hamm?  Just me?  So the two of them together looked impeccable on their day.  But more than that, the way they are as a couple can be described as elegant ease.  They just have a way of fitting together so elegantly.  They are such an amazing match.  We were so honored to film their day.  Charlottle and Kyle, you truly are special.  You are special individuals and a special couple.  Thank you for letting us in.  Now run off into the sunset you two!

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You know when you meet that special person and if feels like you have known them for years?  Well that’s how we felt when we met Doug & Matt.  Seriously it felt like we had known them for years.  We had the best time chatting with them over Skype since they live in Chicago and we loved becoming friends with them.  They are truly special people and we could not wait for their wedding because we knew it was going to be extraordinary.  Now let me tell you.  The wedding details were phenomenal.  Cathy at COJ Events did not miss a single detail.  It was truly breathtaking.  But what was more breathtaking was the love that Doug & Matt have for each other and the love that their family and friends have for them.  I have never seen more joy and happiness from 200+ people.  This day was full of laughs, love, and happy tears.  It was a huge honor to be trusted to document this day.  We could not be happier for our friends Doug & Matt. 

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Michelle & Jimmy had an impeccably planned wedding day.  Though after hearing the story of their proposal we aren’t the least bit surprised.  Jimmy went into epic amounts of planning.  He rehearsed the day before with all the important parties involved, sent a powerpoint to the family complete with FAQs and a map & legend of the Venice area.  Nothing was going to wrong for this proposal.  With the guise of celebrating his sister’s birthday they enjoyed a walk on the beach.  Even though she wanted to go up on the boardwalk, because Jimmy was edging her more and more into the ocean where her feet were getting wet, they stayed on the beach.  Jimmy started to gaze into Michelle’s eyes and her first thought was, “what’s wrong with him?!”  But once she saw his sister and another friend holding cameras and recording the moment, she knew what was happening and started crying.  After she said yes, Jimmy pointed up to the pier.  It was then that Michelle saw a huge sign saying “Congratulations!” and their entire family up there cheering.  Nothing could be more perfect!

Special note: Big shout out to Craig at Watertown Films who helped us film this one.

 

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Anna and Jim are our kind of couple.  They balance each other so perfectly and they are hilarious.  They decided to throw an intimate wedding with their closest family and friends at a private estate in the hills of wine country.  The wanted their day to reflect them, and boy did it.  One of my favorite details of the wedding was the custom made gown & veil made by Anna’s mother.  It was exquisite. But more than the details it was the overall feel of the wedding day that we loved the most.  It almost felt like a family reunion.  Everyone was relaxed, happy, and joyous.  Definitely one of our favorite wedding days.  Thank you Anna & Jim for allowing us in to get to know you guys, for being “you” and for trusting us to capture your day.  It was an honor!

Creative Team
Officiant: Heidi Yorkshire
Catering: Rip City Grill

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Even though Donna & Bhavin worked for the same company, they never met.  They worked in separate offices so their paths never crossed.  It wasn’t until a weekend trip with friends that they finally would lay eyes on each other.  They bonded by complaining about their exes.  After the weekend trip had concluded Bhavin called Donna when she got home just to check in.  He wanted to make sure she made it home safely, fed her cat, etc.  Donna was shocked and pleased with how considerate he was.  She immediately called her friends to ask if he was always this nice.  They said…no.

After a proposal in their first house together in Texas, they chose the wine country of the Pacific Northwest to have their wedding.  Their love for each other is perhaps the only thing that surpasses their love for Oregon wine.  With friends coming from all over the country and family coming from India, they were looking to give them an unforgettable experience. I think they achieved that.

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Bianca and Varun come from two different cultures and on their wedding day they wanted to honor that.  Not only that but they wanted to give their family and friends a weekend they would not forget.  That’s why they planned their cross cultural event nearly 1000 miles away from their home in LA and asked their guests to come to Portland to experience all this city has to offer.  Along with the beer, wine, food, and Pips Donuts they started the day with a Hindu ceremony followed by a Catholic ceremony.  And capped the day off with an amazing sunset and dancing into the night.  Definitely a weekend that their friends a family won’t soon forget.

Creative Team
Planning: Miranda with Bridal Bliss
Photography: Bryan Rupp
Floral: Blum
Beauty: Powder Inc.

 

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In the Pacific Northwest, there is always a chance of rain.  This is obviously the kind of thing that can make outdoor weddings a bit of a scary proposition. Nestled up amongst the trees in the forest, overlooking the Columbia Gorge, Nynke and Logan risked the rain, and came away as lucky as can be.  The day before it rained, leaving the ground muddy, but walkable.  Then the entire wedding party and the guests waited with baited breath as the hour of the ceremony approached.  The sky was grey and foreboding, but as the ceremony started, the rain held.  As they wrapped up their vows it sprinkled, but nothing too bad.

That’s when it came. The downpour.  As the toasts were being given the sky ripped open, making it hard to even heard the toasts.  Luckily they reception area was under a tent. And that is when the most gorgeous sun you can imagine broke through the grey wall of clouds.  The rain continued like a fine haze to sprinkle and the sun reached its fingers across the grounds.  It was stunning.

Nynke and Logan wanted to be married outdoors,  in nature and with a beautiful sunset.  So nature obliged.

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