Jeremy + Lindsey

I arrived before her, which usually doesn’t happen on a wedding day. But nervous to shoot at a new location, I wanted to check out the venue before the day began. So when Lindsey showed up at the Faith, Hope, + Charity Vineyard and Event Center last Saturday afternoon, I joined her bridesmaids in a unified squeal of excitement over the arrival of the bride. Lindsey, with her hair styled by the Envy Salon and makeup applied by Tangerine Salon, represented everything a giddy and glowing bride should. As she slipped into her Watters gown and her mother carefully secured every last button on the dress, Lindsey’s bridesmaids looked on with undeniable joy. Everyone knew the day had finally come for Lindsey to marry her best friend and true love. And when Jeremy saw Lindsey for the first time at Smith Rock State Park, it was almost as if the whole world stood still. Watching, smiling, crying tears of joy as Lindsey and Jeremy began their journey together as husband and wife.

As mentioned above the day began at the breathtaking Faith, Hope, & Charity Event Center amidst fields of wildflowers and an antique Ford truck.

Any time the morning begins with a pair of Badgley Mishka's I know it's going to be a great wedding day. Add to that a divine bouquet from Sara of Blue Daffodil and my day couldn't get any better. Sara provided all of the wedding flowers, which as you'll see later in the post were exquisite.

Jeremy seeing Lindsey for the first time...

Because much of Lindsey + Jeremy's relationship began while rock climbing at Smith Rock, it was especially important to the couple that they had pictures at the park. This meant trading designer heels for running shoes as Lindsey hiked down the steep and dusty trail in her wedding gown. In 85 degree midday sun. Before the wedding ceremony! Lindsey, in my book you're Superwoman.

I'm so glad we did hike down because it meant we were able to take pictures like this...

...and this.

Lindsey, you are beautiful.

After making our way back to Faith, Hope, & Charity we had time to grab a few pictures of the truly lovely bridal party.

Tate + Tate Catering provided a delectable variety of food during the cocktail and dinner hours. I've been lucky enough to eat many a Tate + Tate meal and the amazing thing is I've yet to try something I don't like.

These are two of my favorite details from the day (okay, every detail was my favorite from the day). The cake on the right was handmade from paper by Lindsey's mother, Kim, and topped with Lindsey's grandparent's cake topper! And the forks on the left? Those would be 'bride' and 'groom' engraved silver with the couple's wedding date on the stems. I need.

Brace yourselves. If you're anything like me these pictures will leave you with some serious flower lust. Someday I'm going to fashion myself a lifestyle where it's possible to have Sara send me new arrangements each week.

Lindsey and Kim reserved the most beautiful assortment of polished antique silverware. All of the tables were adorned with platters, pitchers, and goblets of sterling silver.

There are a hundred reasons why this wedding was a photographer's dream to shoot, one of them being the eagerness Lindsey + Jeremy had for portrait time. After guests began dancing we slipped away for a few more pictures in the dewy evening light.

Stop. Just stop.

Afterward we jumped right back into the party with the most awesome bouquet toss, ever.

A few pretty evening lights and a few pretty guests.

And one last dance...

Lindsey, I know I say this a lot, but I really do feel honored that you asked me to shoot your wedding. As a fellow artist you know how important photography is to remembering this most special day in your lives. Know that I did not take the responsibility lightly. Your wedding was equally as beautiful as it was meaningful and it’s weddings like yours that make me want to photograph brides + grooms every day of the year. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. You and Jeremy really do make a wonderful couple!

Love, Michelle

Oh! And P.S.: I HOPE YOU'RE HAVING FUN IN TAHITI!!!!!

Sarah + Erik : As Told by a Bridesmaid

I remember our senior year of high school when Sarah and Erik first started dating. For an entire year Sarah and I sat during AP Statistics and wrote notes on college ruled paper about how handsome Erik was and how, well, handsome Colton was. For seventy minutes every day we stealthily sat in the back row of class and passed folded papers of hearts and stick figured couples holding hands. And it continued until an inappropriate note or sideways glance would inevitably cause us to erupt into laughter, ruining our stealthy guise and seriously annoying our teacher, Mr. Payne. And on Saturday, as if no time had passed since our days of high school statistics, giggles, laughter, and shrieks of inappropriate jokes filled Sarah’s room at Pronghorn Club & Resort. For hours Sarah and her bridesmaids sat and laughed and cried and spoke of just how absolutely stunning the bride looked in her Enzoani gown. As our hair was finished and our makeup perfected we slipped into our pink Amsale dresses before heading outside where Sarah would marry Erik in front of their family and friends and the backdrop of the Cascade mountain range. And the crowd would cheer with joy.

While I tried painfully hard to refrain from taking pictures at Sarah's wedding, it was physically impossible for me to not take a few - like a nervous tic that's equal parts annoying and nice. Because my main role on Saturday was being a bridesmaid these photos don't follow the same storyline that most wedding posts follow. But I think you'll find they're an adequate Clif Note version of the day: 1. Sarah was stunning. 2. Sarah has stunning friends. 3. Sarah married Erik in a fairytale wedding and danced happily ever ever.

All of Sarah's florals were arranged by Allison of Events by Mint. A mixture of drool worthy peonies and dreamy roses made for a wedding of stunning flowers. My bouquet is still sitting in the living room and I refuse to let it die. Ever.

Erik's mother, Susan, and (super great) sister, Erin - hieriniloveyou!

Sarah's mother, Katie, bridesmaid, Laurel, and maid of honor, Lacey

I cannot believe my friends look like this. I love it. Loveitloveitloveit.

One of the many great parts of Sarah and Erik's wedding is that I was able to spend the day with not one but two future brides whose weddings I'll be shooting later this summer. Sammy, I literally started counting the days until August on January 1st. And Kaitlyn, well, we both know I've been excited for your wedding since middle school.

A first dance as husband and wife...

...followed by one last, sweet father-daughter dance.

Sarah and Erik, congrats on the start of forever. You are two of the funniest, kindest, most adventurous people I know and there is no doubt in my mind you were made for each other. You're the last people that need a reminder, but I hope you live it up on the warm sands of Kauai!!

LoveLOVElove, Michelle

{P.S. Lauren Brooks, who photographed the wedding, was so sweet and generous in allowing me to take pictures throughout the day. Thank you, Lauren, for letting me take pictures of my friend!!!}

New Collateral

I did it again. That thing where I wait at the door and stare through the peephole waiting in desperate anticipation for the FedEx man to arrive. Fiiinally he showed up, painfully later than usual, as is most commonly the case when I’m waiting for a package. You may think it sounds dull to be this excited about proof boxes and DVD cases but these are the things that make my heart sing. They’re silk cloth fabrics bound in ribbon. I can’t think of anything more perfect to house the photographs from a wedding day. If I could I would line my walls in Japanese book cloth and tie silk ribbon around every door. In the off chance I baked you something sweet I would wrap the goods in duponi and secure the treasure with a perfect satin bow. I would dress my tables and pillows and future children alike in dresses, scarves, and socks of silk cloth. And I’m only slightly kidding. Then it only makes sense, doesn’t it, that I give my truly lovely clients a product that makes my heart sing? I think it’s only right…

This is something I’m really, truly excited about. I feel passionately about couples seeing their images in print and because of this I just began offering my clients something I like to call The Proof Package. The proof package is a way for a bride and groom to see all of their final wedding day photographs in a custom, handmade silk cloth box. I think the emotional connection to a real, physical picture is far greater than that of an image on a screen. I want couples to see their photos for the first time and relive every single feeling they experienced on their special day. To me, that would be a job well done.

Happy Monday, Michelle