{ANDY + DIANA} LATE SUMMER WEDDING ••• BEND, OREGON WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Here are few selected images from this amazing wedding held at Cultus Lake Resort in the Cascade Lakes region near Bend, Oregon.  Andy and Diana run the very successful and popular Broken Top Bottle Shop in Bend.  They planned and pulled off an amazing event and party, which basically was about a week long festival of family, friends, and fun times all around this amazing Central Oregon outdoor playground!  It was a great day for a "hat-themed" wedding on the shore of a Cascade lake, though a bit chilly, but the laughter and libations kept everyone happy.  The ceremony was followed by a boat tour around the lake for the wedding party, a ceremonial rock "toss" by the parents (thereby leaving a "foundation" stone from each of them in the lake for all time), great food from the BTBS chef and crew, and a wild dance party with music from The SweatBand and ToneRed.

AMANDA + BILL ••• CENTRAL OREGON WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER IN MICHIGAN

Michigan is my home state...I was born and raised there, making the leap out to Oregon in 2001 (I really can't believe its been that long...wow). Anyway, I still have a lot of family and friend connections back there and I jumped at the chance to photograph the wedding of my good friend Amanda in May of this past year.

The wedding was held at a beautiful Catholic church in Owosso, MI with the reception party taking place on the grounds of the Shiawassee County Arts Center right next to Curwood Park in downtown...home of the Curwood Castle site.  The castle was built  in 1922 by author James Oliver Curwood, and used as a writing studio.  A beautiful location for wedding photography!  Highlights included beautiful details such as the brides vintage boots, makeup done by the bride's brother (a certified MAC cosmetics expert and Aveda-trained stylist), one of the cutest little flower girls I've seen, a horse drawn carriage, bride and groom stopping for ice cream, lots of caring family, some crazy Karaoke singing (New Order, Journey, and Black Sabbath all made appearances), and me getting creative with the DJ lights at the end of the night!  It was a great trip overall and a fantastic day filled with beauty, loving family and friends, amazing details and design, and so much laughter!

{JOE + SHARON} BEND SUMMER WEDDING ••• CENTRAL OREGON WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

Hello again!  More images from the past as I continue to fill up this new blog for 2014.  It's been a great exercise for me, reviewing previous work again and reflecting on these good times. I am featuring this couple and a few images from their wedding as they have just recently taken the next big life step, with the very recent birth of their son.  What a good way to celebrate parenthood by taking a look at the day that officially joined them together.  I like the thought of these images being there for him to look at many years down the road.  Again, that is the importance of wedding photography to me--making these moments last and having a "vehicle" for memories and storytelling throughout your lives and for the next generations.

This wedding took place back in 2012 here in beautiful Bend, Oregon at one of our nicest locations, Shevlin Park and Aspen Hall.  Great spot for a wedding and a fun celebration!  Joe and Sharon hired me to document their day and we had a fantastic time, starting with hanging out with the ladies as they got themselves ready after an early morning yoga session.  I then dashed over to where Joe and his groomsmen were hanging out also getting the details in place.  Portraits in both areas and then a fun "first look" and wedding party photos.  The day just seemed to fly from there...so much love and fun...and music.  Joe's the vocalist for local act, Boxcar Stringband and they ended up playing a set at the reception along with another fantastic local band, Harley Bourbon.  Things got wild and the family and friends made the party fantastic!  Congrats again you two (now three!!)  and thanks for having me be a part of your incredible day!