Washington DC Wedding Photographer | Jessie Mary Photography » oregon weddings

Personal Wedding Touches

Jessica — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 02:26:25 +0000

I always notice the personal touches at weddings. I found it so important when I got married, especially with an intimate wedding, for all the details to represent us.

Karen and Drake had their wedding reception (and first look) at the Resort at the Mountain near Mt. Hood. They put up almost a wall of photos. They were casual snapshots of their life, times that were important to them, hanging out with friends, and the like. The display was hung with cloth pins and draped in pretty white cloth. They invited their guests to each take a photo.

As soon as I arrived at the resort, the wedding coordinator told me about it, and was inspired for what locations they would like at their property, since she was given a little glimpse into their lives. Their guests all noticed it as soon as walking into the room, and congregated around it chatting, while waiting for the bride and groom to make their entrance. It was wildly popular.

Oregon Ranch Wedding

Jessica — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 21:54:16 +0000

I admit that when Jaymie told me she was getting married at her family’s ranch in Corbett, Oregon, I could not really imagine the venue. Back east in New Jersey, we just do not have the kind of land we do is here. I don’t know anyone who has more than half an acre, and even that is very rare. After meeting Jaymie, I had to go home and ask my hubby what exactly a ranch is. Ranch verse farm? Good thing hubby is from a small town in Tennesee, and grew up helping on farms!

The ranch was stunning, a beautiful house, sprawling fields with horses, and a big deck. Plenty of room for everyone, and with the intimacy of being a family home… a perfect place for Jaymie and Drew to celebrate their wedding.

Bride and Groom: Jaymie and Drew

Venue: Family ranch – Corbett, Oregon

Wedding Coordinator: James Lindquist

DJ: Donald Johnston

Cake: PastryGirl Bakery

Caterer: Vibrant Table

Planning Your Wedding Day

Jessica — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 19:12:09 +0000

Planning the schedule of your wedding day is all about priorities. As a wedding photographer, I often get asked “how much time do I need for photos?”. The answer to this depends on you, and the answer to this affects the schedule for the rest of your day.

Think about what is important to you. Some brides want piles of bride and groom portraits, some want the majority of their photos to be candids. For some couples, spending the day together with their friends and family is most important.

Think about what will be important to you in 20 years. Do you want all your memories to be of you laughing at your reception and dancing? Do you want to make sure your album is filled with photos of you and your husband more formally posed for the camera? Is there someone special in your life that might not be around in 20 years that you want to be remembered?

Consider your guest list. Do you have a large family? Are all members of your family on good terms with each other? Do you have older members that may need to be seated at all times, even for photos?

Communicate with your photographer or wedding planner. I am always willing to sit down with my brides and help them figure out how to plan their day based on what they want.

I have had brides that want a lot of bride and groom portraits but do not want to be away from their guests on their wedding day. In this case, a day after session works great. Other brides do not want to see the groom before the wedding, so I suggest scheduling some extra time in between the ceremony and reception. For the brides, that really want in the moment photos, I suggest the 10 minute sneak away. Immediately after the ceremony, the bride and groom exit. I give them 2 minutes alone and then quietly join them for a mini portrait session.

Here is one of my favorite wedding photos from last season. Grandpa walked by with this really proud smile on his face, as the bride stands in the background.

First Look – Sarah & Drew

Jessica — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 13:41:43 +0000

Sarah and Drew had their wedding ceremony at the home of a family friend in McMinnville, Oregon. The groom grew up in McMinnville, and the couple now lives in Seattle. I have only been through McMinnville before on my way to Lincoln City, with beach on my mind and not thinking of much else. This trip as I drove through Newberg, sitting in stopped traffic on 99, I had lots of time to look around. It just kept getting more beautiful around me, with fields and rolling hills.

Sarah was stunningly natural, in her short white dress. Drew’s eyes lit up as he saw her.

Sarah & Drew – McMinnville Oregon Wedding

Jessica — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 01:41:46 +0000

A little peek at Sarah & Drew’s amazing McMinnville wedding… more photos to come soon.

Kelly & Eli | Young Nak Church Wedding

Jessica — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 20:12:48 +0000

Kelly & Eli’s wedding had almost 400 guests and was at their family’s church, Young Nak in Beaverton. While the bride got ready, all her sisters surrounded her, and even more family would pop in for a quick hug. The wedding itself was in Korean. I could not understand the words but the emotion was still there. After the ceremony, Kelly changed into a traditional Korean wedding dress, something very important to her mom. Complete with home made food, and the emotional energy of so many people, it was an incredible experience. Here’s a bit more of a glimpse into their day.

Emily Hall photographed this wedding with me. Emily is just starting out with wedding photography, and joined me to as a second photographer. Her style blends seamlessly with mine, and I think anyone would be challenged to pick out which photos in this post are not mine. (I am no longer sure myself without looking at the originals!) Thanks for all your help Emily. Hope to work together again soon!

A new family

Jessica — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:22:22 +0000

When I first started photographing weddings, I under valued family portraits. I figured they were just photos and not moments. One day I started thinking about my own wedding photos. I am glad to have the photos of our kiss, guests blowing bubbles as we walked out of the church, and of course of the two of us. The most important photo to me of all though is the one of all my family. I would never have thought this, but a formal posed portrait of all ten of us is the one I’d choose if I could only make one enlargement.

This bride and groom have an adorable nine month old little girl together, and the bride has a son (with the cutest smile). I have several images of all four of them looking forward but I think there is one particular that stands out. For a moment, the bride stopped thinking about the camera, and turned towards her daughter.

Jaymie & Drew {Corbett, Oregon Wedding}

Jessica — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 03:13:48 +0000

Jaymie & Drew had a fun energetic wedding at a ranch out in Corbett, Oregon. Lots of laughter, a few tears, delicious food, dancing… all surrounded by trees, and fields with horses. I usually prefer the captured moments photos but something about this bride’s shoes really sums up the tone of the wedding.

Check back soon for more photos. (Yes, I realize this is a super tiny unfair tease.)

Karen & Drake’s Wedding

Jessica — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:31:38 +0000

Karen & Drake have been together for a long time. Their wedding was about friends and family coming together from all the times and places in their lives. The couple went up to The Resort at the Mountain the evening prior to their wedding, enjoyed dinner with family and friends at a local bbq place (with the added surprise of good live music), and then had breakfast together on their wedding morning. After, they separated to start getting ready.

I met Drake in the lobby of the resort. It has beautiful grounds, and they provide each couple with a limo golf cart with a personal wedding coordinator to chauffeur them around. Tami, our coordinator for the day, looked through Karen & Drake’s photo display and picked out the perfect spot to do their first look, deep in the golf course by the river.

After taking photos at the resort we headed over to Wildwood Recreation Site to go on a little nature walk for more portraits. Karen led us through a favorite boardwalk style trail. It was deep lush forest, with moss coating the trees. I’ve only seen such density before in the rain forest at Olympic National Park (and I’m pretty excited to find it closer to home).

The wedding itself was at an intimate spot in the park. Surrounded by loved ones, with a ceremony filled with personal touches, the couple said I do. A champagne toast followed, and then Karen & Drake went back to the resort to celebrate at the reception.

Wedding Venues: Wildwood Recreation Site & Resort at the Mountain

Location: Mt Hood – Welches, Oregon

Dress: Lena Medoyeff

Florist: Tayadeline

DJ: Tunes to Go

Cake: Dream Cakes

Wildwood Recreation Site Wedding

Jessica — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 03:47:15 +0000

This photo is a little different but I think one of my favorites as I process Karen & Drake’s wedding. I was planning on just doing one big blog post of all the highlights of their wedding, but I could not wait to share this one. To me, the beauty of this photo is that they are not posing. Wildwood Recreation Site and the area around Mt. Hood is a very special place to this couple, and they were just enjoying the view and each other here.

Karen – more to come soon. I promise!