Emily + Collin | Eastern Oregon Horse Ranch Wedding

You know that you’re marrying an interior designer when she can transform a modest horse ranch in Eastern Oregon into a romantic destination wedding location!

For Emily + Collin’s big day the fun actually started the Wednesday prior with a family meet & greet at the local historic hotel. Activities continued through the week with bowling, golf, a hike to Strawberry Lake, and a of course the rehearsal. With family and friends traveling from all over the country, Emily + Collin wanted to give them a welcoming experience with thoughtful ways to spend time together. Themselves traveling from Seattle, WA they weren’t about to miss out on quality family time.

The forecast was calling for temps in the triple digits (104-107 ouch!) so shade, water, comfort, and safety became a top priority as Saturday neared. Personal note: A little over a year ago I gave up my blue belle (91 tercel) for a new-to-me grown-up-mobile and I was never more thankful for features like AC in my life as I made the 5 hour trekked out to Prairie City the day before the wedding. Even though everyone was feeling the heat, the wedding party and family remained in good spirits to keep the morale high for Saturday.

The big day finally arrived and all the final preparations began early in the morning before the heat set in. Emily + Collin separated to get ready and spend time with their respective wedding party folks. Emily, her sisters, and Mom went up the road to the Riverside School House B&B; while Collin and his boys stayed at the Conway Ranch. As I bounced back and forth between the two locations I saw all the planning, all the work, and all the vision come together to set the scene for this beautiful celebration!
We were graced with an overcast to offer a little relief from the heat and make the lighting a little easier to work with for me. The ceremony began with a long walk from the gate through the field to the arch where Collin and the officiant waited for everyone. The flower girls (Collin’s nieces) were adorable walking down the aisle with their Daddy/Best Man/Collin’s brother and enthusiastic with their task. Emily was walked down the aisle by her Mother. After a prayer and some banter it was time for vows and rings. The rings, btw, were made my Collin’s Aunt; this made them even more special to have that personal touch and care put into them. Emily + Collin’s ceremony was beautiful, personal, sweet, and witnessed by the people they love most.

Cocktail hour, photos, family style dinner, toasts, and a barn dance immediately followed the ceremony.
After the sunset the clouds cleared and I was preparing for some epic long exposure star photography… but a very full moon lit up the sky and kept the stars hidden away.

When I called to say my farewells in the morning I learned that they didn’t leave the reception until 5AM!!!

Congratulations to Emily + Collin… who are currently enjoying their honeymoon in ITALY. Jealous.