Lindsey + Riley | Wedding at BeckenRidge Vineyard

Hooray! Congratulations to Lindsey + Riley!!!

Where do I begin with this blog post? Seriously I’m at a loss for words.

I first met with Lindsey + Riley last May to discuss their upcoming wedding and photography. Honestly, I was a little disappointed at the time that their wedding wasn’t for 11 more months, but it was completely worth the wait. We had a fun engagement session last summer that included a ferry ride (if you want to hear the cutest proposal story ever definitely clink on the link) and there was plenty of time for me to design custom save-the-date cards, invitations, and a photo guest book. Working closely for 11 months gave us time to develop a strong sense of trust and made us available to each other for random ideas and questions. I’m mostly telling you this part to encourage booking the members of your wedding’s creative team early. Early, early, early… like right away!

Their wedding day started as many do – with a hotel room full of girls doing their hair and make up. The girls wore matching pink bridesmaid robes with their sweats or yoga pants and were a ball of giggles and stories while listening to 90s boy-band music. The guys were just a few doors down watching TV and eating continental breakfast… guys have it so easy. Once the bridesmaids were ready we made our way, stealthily so that Riley wouldn’t see Lindsey until their first look, to BeckenRidge Vineyard down the road. Lindsey’s MOH and older sister, Caitlin, helped her into her beautiful mermaid cut dress. It was all laughing, happy tears, and hugs in the bridal room; while Riley and his grooms-folk (5 groomsmen and 1 groomslady) were waiting in the front parking lot looking sharp in their gray suits.

We arranged for a first look with Lindsey’s Dad first. It was such a sweet and tender way to start a day that was already so full of love. Once Lindsey and Dad dried their eyes we positioned Riley at the other end of the property and walked her to him. It was starting to do that misty-sprinkly thing that Oregon does in the spring, but it didn’t dampen the moment. Riley immediately wrapped her in his arms and didn’t want to let go. After a few photos of them together the misting turned into a light shower, so Riley opened their signature “How I Met Your Mother” yellow umbrella. We spent the rest of the pre-ceremony time dodging the intermittent rain while taking photos of Lindsey + Riley, their wedding party, and their families. Everyone managed to maintain high morale thanks to granola bars, blankets, even more laughing, and spontaneous dance parties wherever Lindsey could prompt one.

Soon it was time for their patio wedding ceremony, overlooking the budding vineyard, surrounded by their friends and family. Lindsey was STUNNING!!! Her Dad walked her down the aisle and immediately there wasn’t a dry eye …anywhere. Early into their service I was forced to turn off my ears so that I didn’t fog up my view finder with teary eyes. Lindsey + Riley wrote their own vows that were heartfelt and funny with personal references to their relationship and their favorite TV shows. There was laughing, crying, hugging, and more crying. If Riley’s vows are any indication I think we can expect an equally amazing vow renewal ceremony in 10 years “…because one set of vows can’t cover a lifetime of growing and changing with you…” OMG!!!

After a GREAT kiss Lindsey + Riley had some quite time (a very good idea) where they had a chance to eat and just be together. Their guests enjoyed a cocktail hour with tasty snacks and beer provided by Riley’s Dad at Mazama Brewing Co. When they were announced into the reception room all of their guests joined them in a receiving line photo booth. Whoa, “what’s that?” you ask… the idea occurred to me at a recent wedding were a receiving line just sort of formed at the Bride + Groom’s table. They never got a chance to eat and it took FOREVER!!! …but people all want to come up to the newlyweds, hug them, say “Congratulations, what a lovely service.”, and get a quick selfie with them. Whether it’s the traditional stand-at-the-front-of-the-room receiving line or letting your guests know that you’ll come around to their tables it will happen so it’s best to have some sort of plan. Instead of going with tradition I suggested that we arrange for a photo booth to speed things along and get people what they wanted – a nice, quick photo with the Bride + Groom. It was awesome! The reception was filled with tearful toasts, yummy food and beer, lots of glass-clinking to make the newlyweds kiss, dancing, dancing, and more dancing.

Lindsey + Riley exited in a 1950s Chevy pick-up that her Dad has spent the better part of 15 years restoring – the truck bed was full of flowers with a “Just Married” banner across the gate and balloons on each door. Yay!!!