Last month, I had the opportunity to be a photographer at an event called The Big Fake Wedding. To be honest, I never considered doing a wedding show. But this was different. The premise of the event is putting on a fake wedding so you can see vendors in action. Instead of being to a show where there are dozens and dozens of different vendors and you are just shaking hands behind a display table - you are only seeing a few (or one!) of each kind of vendor. Seeing them in action. Seeing their real work on tables. Watching them work and seeing them do their thing. The Big Fake Wedding's philosophy is to inspire local businesses AND inspire committed marriages, which is something I absolutely stand behind. The "wedding" is an actual vow renewal between a real couple, which reminds all the couples planning weddings out there that the most important part of being engaged is laying the foundation for your MARRIAGE, not just planning a wedding day. I absolutely love this company and their heart for what they do. Not to mention, it was SO fun collaborating with all these other vendors putting their best work forward. I felt like I was in a photographers play-land. I felt so honored to be one of three photographers shooting this incredible event. This day in Seattle was pouring, absolutely downpouring the whole day, which made the neon/bright color theme so fun. I loved the contrast of the gloomy day and the party full of bright colors happening inside. I'm all about bright and bold color palettes (not usually seen in the PNW!) and I was so excited when I saw the inspiration board for this event. I am so impressed with all the vendors and everything they created!

Check out the event featured on Ruffled Blog and the Big Fake Wedding website! I am so excited to finally be able to share my favorite images from the day on my personal blog. Check it out!

ALSO - I will be a photographer at the Big Fake Wedding in SAN DIEGO in just a few weeks! I am so excited and I can't wait to share that event with y'all.

Kevin & Rachael | Woodland Meadow Farms Wedding

Kevin + Rachael

Venue: Woodland Meadow Farms / Second shooting by Maddie Takata / Makeup by Shalonda Peguero / Hair by Azalee Gracier / Florals by Flourish Floral Design

Caitlin & Colten | Rainy Tacoma Engagement Session

Colten + Caitlin on a rainy day in Tacoma.

Allison & Josh | Craven Farm Wedding

Blogging is hard for me because I am horrible with my words, especially when I'm really excited about something. That's why I moved away from writing (whaddup journalism degree) and into photography. I sat in front of this blog post for what felt like hours (maybe ten minutes) trying to figure out the perfect thing to say about this one. This was one of my favorite weddings of my career so I just want y'all to enjoy the images because this was a fun one.

Allison + Josh's Snohomish wedding at Craven Farms was *so* dreamy. It was late August, which is normally hot and bright, but the stormy clouds created the best mood and perfect lighting throughout the day. Allison put so much work into this wedding - all that stunning hand-lettered signs she did HERSELF. I felt like I was at a photographers playland at this one because Allison has such amazing taste and style and poured herself into planning this day. Also she gave me like 1.5 hours for bride and groom portraits which always allows us to produce some really amazing stuff. Allison should be a wedding planner someday because she *nailed* it.

Second shooting by Sharis Harmon

Andrew & Ashley | Mt. Adams Engagement Session

Ashley + Andrew /// These high school sweethearts took me to Mt. Adams for their engagement session. And let me tell ya, this kinda thing is what I live for. There's a reason I don't charge my wedding couples extra for "adventure sessions" or anything extra for the distance. I want to take the time and hang out, to shoot in new places, to go to places important to them. In this case, a mountain they've spent quite a bit of time on and the place he proposed to her. I want to leave the session better friends than when we entered it. Spending 12 hours together for a shoot is a reeeeeal good way to do that - even if that means spending the entire day together after a double wedding weekend. :)

Kendra & Sean | Anniversary Session at Ruby Beach

I don't think I've ever blogged so many images from a portrait session, so sorry about that in advance (not). It was so hard to hold back with this one; this is some of my favorite work of my career and there's so much variety within this one location. I had the pleasure of shooting their gorgeous PNW backyard wedding last September, and I was so stoked when she asked me to shoot an anniversary session for them. We've had this session in the works for *months* and it did not disappoint. I am always so excited to go on an adventure with my couples and shoot in a new place. Spend the day together. In this case, catch up and hear all about their first year of marriage!

ok ok ok y'all. More anniversary sessions please (any excuse to get dressed up in your wedding dress again #amiright) and don't be afraid to ask about a location that's on your heart. Because odds are I'll always say yes. ;)

Danny & Reesa | Snohomish Wedding

I contemplated pretty tough whether or not to blog this. Not because I don't *love* these images (because I definitely do), but because this wedding was SO fun and so full of joy. It's hard to explain, but it was such a special day it was like I wanted to keep it to myself. The kind of day I came home and cried about later because I had so much fun. I felt like I was leaving my own bff's wedding. These two and their friends and family made me feel like family and I didn't even want to leave at the end. I was like "I don't want to share these because no one will know how much fun it actually was or how much we all smiled and laughed!" These two have been together since middle school, so naturally they have the most amazing friends and family who have been supporting them for a decade. The energy and joy surrounding this day was unlike anything I've ever experienced. It was such an honor to be apart of and I can't help but look back at this images and smile. I hope they make you smile too.

Jordan & Cody | Chehalis Engagement Session

Jordan + Cody in Chehalis /// When I got Jordan's wedding inquiry, I was pretty stoked to say the least. Jordan is photographer based in the Chehalis area who I had the opportunity to work with back when I was offering videography services at weddings. It's always SUCH a trip to be hired by other photographers; it is seriously such an honor and the biggest compliment and I'm not sure I'll ever get used to it. Not to mention they are a gorgeous couple so selfishly I love photographing them. When they got engaged, I immediately thought "damn, it would be so dope to shoot that wedding," never expecting to actually get an inquiry from her. Needless to say, I am pretty stoked to be their wedding photographer and can't wait for their wedding next year!

I was thrilled to meet them in Chehalis for their engagement session. I got to see and shoot in some of their favorite spots and the place he proposed. Some of my favorite engagement shoots result from me having no idea what to expect or where we are going; I love just being along for the ride and stopping somewhere that speaks to me.

Enjoy, and keep your eyes peeled for their wedding next year because it's going to be dope and amazing.

Alex & Ryan | Woodland, WA Wedding

Alex & Ryan's wedding was one of my favorites. The breathtaking scenery, the brides stunning dress... it made it hard not to love. But what was most amazing of all was how much it felt like them. Friends, family, and the wedding party were able to stay in the cabins for the weekend and enjoy themselves. Dogs running around. It felt like summer camp (with booze and way better food). It was so chill and the best party.

Ben & Emily | Hurricane Ridge Engagement Session

Ben + Emily. We spent a gloomy day at Hurricane Ridge and it made for a seriously dreamy engagement session. I am so thankful for the adventure day I spent with these two! I can't wait for their wedding!

Sierra | personal project

I don't know if it's the new Blink-182 album that came out (if you haven't heard it you should stop what you're doing and listen now), but lately I've been feeling the need to let my inner SoCal skater punk chick out to play. Sierra was the perfect person for this vision. I knew of Sierra in a kind of roundabout way (girlfriend of a friend of a friend kind of situation) but I've been following her on Instagram for about a year now (no shame) and have been DYING to get her in front of my camera. Her style is perfect and she has the sweetest and most contagious smile ever, but at the same time has this sassy cool-chick factor I always love to photograph. It's always amazing to bring an idea in my head to life, and Sierra was perfect for the job. Someday I want to move to SoCal and capture the skate/surf/beach culture and work with brands who serve this lifestyle, but in the meantime I'll grab my friends and bring it to life myself.

Alex & Courtney | Olympia Wedding

Venue: Albee's Garden Parties; first look/portrait location: Tumwater Falls

The Grussings! This wedding was so fun and special to be apart of. Courtney is one of my friends from college and barista days, and her wedding day felt like a reunion. So many wonderful friends and people supporting these two. Rain was on the forecast for the whole day, but instead we got sunny skies and dreamy clouds that rolled in during the ceremony.

This wedding is a really great example of what a difference a good getting-ready space can make. Courtney got ready in our friend Brenna's home near the venue and I was in photographer heaven. Big windows, lots of natural light, neutral colors and tones... this was the perfect space to get ready in and resulted in stunning images from that part of the day. I always try to encourage my couples to find places to get ready with lots of light and a clean space, because it's SO worth it.

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