Melissa and Stefan – Historic Overlook House Wedding – Portland, Oregon
Melissa and Stefan were married in their home country of Germany earlier this year, but they had come to Portland to have a second ceremony and continue their “summer wedfest” with Melissa’s friends and family here. They had chosen the perfectly suited historic overlook house in north portland for their celebration – and it turned out to be a lovely warm summer afternoon. Melissa wore a beautiful cream dress with a light green sash, and it looked just gorgeous with her red hair. The wedding details perfectly coordinated, with oranges and reds and greens in the flowers (along with a few berries in the arrangements!), the cake was a simple layered cream number, with light green ribbons, and a burst of color on top. I attend so many weddings each summer that I take for granted many American wedding traditions, so it was a lovely chance for me to see all of these traditions happen for the first time for Stefan, from giving the vows a once-over, to the cake cutting, it gave the whole wedding a feeling of newness for me. Near the end of the reception, I was able to steal the couple away for a few moments to take a couple of portraits at Overlook Park, I was lucky that for these two, I barely had to do any prompting to get them to laugh and smile together, they were just a joy to work with! A few of my favorite images are below.
Morgan and Mark – Jasper House Farm Wedding – Pleasant Hill, Oregon
Morgan and Mark’s wedding was at the absolutely gorgeous Jasper House Farm just outside of Eugene in Pleasant Hill, Oregon. There were so many lovely details at this wedding that I am sure I am going to leave a few out – but I’ll try! Morgan was wearing a stunning dress with a lace overlay that was tailored from her mother’s wedding gown, her bridesmaids were each wearing a different dress in grey, all of them wearing leather boots. Mark choose a grey suit with a blue shirt (and a great tie with owls on it!). The flowers for the bridal bouquets and the boutonnieres all came from the garden at Jasper House Farms (and they smelled just as wonderful as they looked – with flowers in creams and purples and blues and light pinks).
For the guest seating, the couple used long picnic benches, set with hand-made napkins with a variety of colorful napkins, and many different lace runners spread over the tables, they had little bits of tree branches cut to use as a pedestal for the tea lights on the table, and lovely little flowers in assorted vases as well. The picnic tables were placed so that the guests could sit during the ceremony under the trees, and stay at their same places for the dinner.
We explored the property a bit for the first look and the bridal party photos, using the old barn for a background with Morgan and Mark, and also using the brand new covered structure for a few of the photos of the bridesmaids. Jasper House Farm was the perfect place for this particular day, because even though it was a pretty hot day, the venue area stayed really cool with all of the shade from the huge trees surrounding the area.
The couple used old window panes to give guests info (on one was written the food menu, on another the instagram hashtags for the wedding pictures, and another listed out the beverage options), and they used old vintage suitcases as a place for guests to put cards. Along one wall were wedding pictures from Mark and Morgan’s parents, grandparents, and other family members. As guests arrived, along with a few different lemonade options served in mason jars, they could pick from a home brewed beer for refreshment.
During the ceremony, when the officiant asked for the rings, I, along with everyone else, was genuinely concerned when the best man patted his pockets and looked as though he might have forgotten them, and then went over to a guest and came back to the groom with a full mug of beer, from which each groomsmen took a few drinks, until the rings were fished out of the bottom and the ceremony continued. Once the marriage was sealed with a kiss, the whole bridal party danced their way down the aisle.
After a delicious dinner eaten under the warm glow of the many lights strung about the property, guests were treated to the most delicious looking (and tasting!) collection of pies I have ever seen. Morgan’s sisters had been working hard in the days leading up to the wedding baking lots and lots of pies, from the old favorites like strawberry rhubarb and lime cheesecake, to some I’d never tasted before such as salted honey, blueberry lavender, and berry balsalmic pie.
After dinner and pie, it was time for dancing! This part of the wedding was extra special for me because my husband was DJing the wedding. Guests danced until the couple was ready to make their getaway, and then celebrated their exit with sparklers as they drove away in a sporty little yellow car.
This was such a beautiful and fun wedding to get to photograph, and the warmth and love I witnessed throughout the day are just some of the many reasons I love doing what I do. Many, many congratulations to Morgan and Mark!
Kirsten and Robb – Sunriver Oregon Wedding – Mary McCallum Park and SHARC
Kirsten and Robb were married on one of those very warm July days a few miles outside of Bend in Sunriver, Oregon. The bridesmaids looked lovely in the peach colored dresses, and the groomsmen were able to stay somewhat cool in their white shirts, salmon colored bowties, and matching khakis. I loved Kirsten’s choice of dress, a strapless flowy gown that looked stunning on her, and paired with a sparkly white pair of Toms she was able to wander around in the woods with Robb during our photos (which happened during some of the sunniest parts of the day – and they were both super great sports about the heat!). The actual ceremony took place at the Mary McCallum park in Sunriver, with the Deschutes River serving as a gorgeous backdrop during the ceremony, and with us getting a little break from the sun from a few clouds during the actual ceremony. After the ceremony, all of the guests headed to the Sunriver SHARC (Sunriver Homeowners Aquatic and Recreation Center) for the reception. The dessert table looked amazing, filled with candies and a huge variety of cupcakes, and I was just able to snap a few photos of it before those treats were quick to disappear. I set up the photobooth during the reception (Kirsten and Robb had provided some fun props), and guests ate and danced and enjoyed themselves until after the sun set. I had such a fun time photographing this wonderful group of people!
Sydney and Treavor – Portland LDS Temple and Lacamas Lake Lodge
I met with Sydney and Treavor and their families at the Portland LDS Temple to get some pictures around the temple before their wedding reception. It was one of those very warm days in early July, but we were able to stick mostly to the shade and grab some really beautiful family pictures around the gorgeous white marble of the building. Then the two of them stuck around with me for a few more portraits in the 90 plus degree weather. I can’t say enough what great sports these two were during their pictures, even though it was super hot they were both smiling and laughing the entire time, which makes my job pretty easy. I loved the silhouette of Sydney’s dress, and the colors of her bouquet, Treavor had a really wonderful white and blue wedding ring that looked just incredible when we put it next to the Sunflowers in the bouquet.
Later that afternoon friends and family gathered at the Lacamas Lake Lodge for a reception, you will notice that I got lots of pictures of the dessert table because it was just filled with goodies (cupcakes, chocolate covered strawberries, canolis, and lots of other bite-sized treats). At the end of the day, I was able to steal the couple away for a few more portraits on the dock near the lake. There was so much joy at this celebration, I was very happy to get to be there to capture some of it!
Rachael and Ethan’s Legitification Celebration at the Bad Habit Room – Portland, OR
Rachael and Ethan were married at the Bad Habit Room in North Portland the day after the Fourth of July. We first met up and walked around the Killingsworth/Albina neighborhood to take some portraits, starting at the North Portland Library, and working our way to the Sumner Albina City Park (with it’s beautiful and colorful mural), and then back to the Bad Habit Room. When Rachael first contacted me about doing photos, she let me know that this would be more of a celebration than a traditional wedding, and the theme of their “legitification celebration” ran throughout their ceremony and reception. Rachael looked incredible in her cowboy boots and stunning off-white dress, and she carried a simple-yet-beautiful bouquet of lavendar, and Ethan was quite dapper in his vest and tie. The “LEGIT” temporary tattoos that the guests wore were a huge hit (I even got one, and wore it the rest of the night), with guests getting really creative about how to wear them (legs, heads, necks .. you name it!). They had a small live band play for the reception, and the venue was just the perfect size and feel for the intimate gathering. All the food was delicious, but I was especially taken with the mini strawberry shortcakes that were passed around! All in all, a great way to celebrate getting hitched!
Melissa and Mike – Castaway Portland Wedding
Melissa and Mike were married at Castaway in Portland Oregon. This wedding was a bit different for me because not only was I photographing some of it, I was also in the bridal party. Since I couldn’t be in two places at once, I had some awesome help from deena of d. selbak photography to capture the ceremony, the bridal party, and some of the portraits, so that I could do my duties as a bridesmaid. Luckily the wedding was intimate enough that I could just pick my camera back up and photograph bits here and there, and spend some time with the couple doing portraits along the train tracks, in front of that beautiful backdrop of lights, as well as with those incredible giant balloons at the end of the night. I even snapped my first picture ever of a little hummingbird who was having a little snack as the groom waited for his first look at the bride.
This wedding was a wonderful mix of the industrial look of Castaway, and the really rich and beautiful details that the girls all helped Melissa put together. We made the tassels for the balloons and for the decorations, the confetti, her husband Mike helped make the structures to hang the string lights that made up the ceremony backdrop, as well as all the chalk boards, and the centerpieces with the faux mercury glass votives. We also tied together scraps of fabric for the photobooth backdrop – which turned out looking really awesome. The floral arrangements were just gorgeous and really complimented the colors of the girls dresses and the grey suits worn by the groomsmen. The little treasure boxes carried by the ring bearers later served to hold lots of M&Ms from the candy bar, and I loved all the pink and gold confetti that the flower girls (and later everyone else) threw as they went down the aisle. The giant balloons were something Melissa had mentioned early on in the decorating planning process, and they really added a great element to the portraits.
I am so happy to get to share this wedding with you! I was very lucky to get to be in it and to help document it for these two!
Jaki and Devin – Wedding at The Cornerstone Lodge, Plain, WA
Jaki and Devin got married at the Cornerstone Lodge on a stunning day just a few miles from Leavenworth in Plain, Washington. There are so many details about this wedding that were absolutely gorgeous! I loved the lace dress, the yellow bouquet, Jaki’s blue rhinestone heels, and her bird cage veil for the wedding ceremony. Along with the table centerpieces of yellow flowers in blue mason jars, Devin and Jaki put pictures of themselves at whatever age the table number was (which was such a cute idea!). The programs were printed on fans for the guests, and the sign in was a thumb print tree on a canvas for them to hang in their home. Devin and Jaki were such a pleasure to work with, and it was clear from all of the wedding toasts and their interactions with friends and family that these two are one fantastic couple, loved dearly by any who know them! I could go on and on, but I’ll let the pictures do the talking!
Jessica and Jackson – Eastfork Country Estate Wedding
Jessica and Jackson were married on an absolutely gorgeous June Saturday at the East Fork Country Estate in Damascus, Oregon. Their ceremony took place in a meadow with a fantastic view of Mt. Hood as a backdrop. In our meetings leading up to the wedding, Jessica had mentioned that she was making a lot of the decorations herself, and the day of the wedding all of her hard work really made the celebration beautiful, there was the candy bar, the flower girl’s dress, the lovely centerpieces, but perhaps my favorite personal touch were her high heels which she embellished with rhinestones and lots of other bling. The bouquets with pinks and whites and the green succulents were a great compliment to the neutral tones of the bridesmaids dresses. Jessica’s two dresses were both beautiful and her flower halo looked really stunning with her blond curls. Before I left I got to photograph the guests celebrating with sparklers (which looked amazing in the fading light of the day).
 
 
     
  
 
 
Emily and Steve – New Orleans Wedding – Race and Religious
Emily and Steve were married at Race and Religious in New Orleans, LA earlier this month. This was an absolutely gorgeous wedding to get to photograph, there were so many little details I couldn’t even fit all of them into the handful of photos I’ve put below, but the little details paled in comparison to the love and laughter brought to this wedding by the bride and groom and their friends and family. Each guest took a handkerchief at the beginning of the ceremony, and in true New Olreans fashion used those to wave and dance with as they joined the couple in a second line parade right after the ceremony – complete with a band leading the way! Emily wore a stunning lace dress with a gold belt and gold jewelry, while Steve looked fantastic in his navy blue suit (and really spectacular tie!). The white roses in copper colored vases looked very lovely against the blue and white table linens, and the papel picado banners were a great compliment to the string lights hung around the venue. The cake room was just beautiful (as were all the rooms in this historic venue), with photos of the couple strung behind the three cakes, and the main cake set upon an intricate silver cake stand, and decorated with a cute flag banner.
When the time came for the toasts, there was no short supply of laughter and tears, and when it came time to get dancing, there were lots of happy feet on the dance floor. At the end of the night we were able to sneak a couple of photos in front of the vibrant blue water of the pool, right as guests began to wade into the waters.
I think the pictures tell the story a bit better than I can, I am so very lucky to have gotten the chance to photograph this wedding, I know these two have many many happy years ahead of them.
 
 
 
Haley Lovett Photography Featured on The Knot
I am so excited to announce that the wedding of Emily and Tyler from this August has been featured on theKnot.com in the real weddings section!
This was an absolutely wonderful wedding to photograph, and made beautiful by the work of talented vendors such as Your Perfect Bridesmaid, Le Cookie Monkey, Snapdragon Studio, Pearl Catering, the wonderful venue Urban Studio, and of course, the very lovely couple, Emily and Tyler.
Please check out and share the feature below:
“A Playful Floral Wedding in Portland, Oregon”
And if you haven’t already seen the original blog post with many more pictures from the wedding, you can do so here:
Emily and Tyler – Wedding at Urban Studio PDX – Portland, Oregon