A River Bell Wedding | Jefferson, Oregon
If I haven’t mentioned before that I love weddings, I LOVE weddings! I love love. I love it when two people come together & express their love for each other & their friends & family come together to witness it & everyone is happy! I have been in 6 weddings in my life, as a bridesmaid, matron of honor, or ya know, the bride, I have also helped plan them & photographed many more than that & I don’t get tired of it. So, when someone comes to me to talk about a wedding, you can bet I get excited!
Dennis & Karen
When I met these two cute kids, I knew right away that I wanted to be a part of their big day. I didn’t have to explain why wedding photography is important, they already knew! They knew what they wanted & we had a great connection. I’m telling you; they are some of the nicest people I have ever met. When we had our wedding meeting at Storm Coffee in Turner, I could tell that they have such a strong bond, it almost felt like they were already married lol. I also loved the way Karen was so organized!
I have lived in Jefferson for over 2 years & never knew this place was here. Karen invited me out for a tour a few weeks before the wedding, & holy moly, this place is awesome! It looks like a pretty big red barn from the outside, but the inside is so cool!
String lights everywhere, tons of space for extra long tables for the reception, upstairs has a ceremony area with vaulted ceilings, white drapery, more string lights, pews, yes actual pews, not just benches, & this amazing mason jar chandelier that can be raised & lowered depending on what floor you’re on! There’s also a section on the back of the barn that is lined with old wood windows. It’s like chic, rustic, eclectic & it makes my heart sing lol. Come to find out, the owners actually go to the same church as me (it’s Salem Heights in case you’re wondering)!
Gettin’ Hitched!
I love every wedding ceremony! I also really love it when someone that is close to the couple officiates the wedding. I think that is one of the most special things! Karen’s uncle did a great job & he was pretty funny too!
Karen & Dennis picked a unity cross to put together (instead of a candle or sand) during the ceremony which was really neat & made by their close family friend Don. I had never seen one before, but just being around them & their family that day, I could see why they added that important piece to the ceremony. Their faith is an important part of their lives & I love that they have that as a physical symbol they can keep & display.
Planning fall weddings in Oregon is difficult because of the weather. Some of us are glued to weather apps to see what part of the forecast is going to change & this day was no different. Between on & off rain, sudden downpour, & total overcast, the sun finally decided to peek through a couple of times & we were able to get all those traditional wedding photos done outdoors!
We all get a little bit excited about wedding food, right? Please tell me I’m not the only one! There are so many different options for meals, but I have never had PIZZA at a wedding! I don’t think anyone was complaining though lol. Dough-On-The-Go did an amazing job making so many pizzas for all the guests, plus it was really cool to see a pizza oven with wheels lol! & the awesome bartenders from Travelin’ Taphouse kept the drinks flowing all evening!
Celebrating Love
The day ended with the remaining guests dancing, singing, being silly & just celebrating Dennis & Karen’s day with them. It was so great to see their wedding day so full of faith, love & togetherness. Seriously, my face hurt by the end of the night because I was smiling so much. I am still so honored that they let me capture their wedding!
Congrats to Dennis & Karen!
I wish you nothing but the best in your future together!
Makeup by: Michelle Quady at Glam & Glo Squad
Hair by McKenna Brewer at Ms. Tease Salon
As always, if you or anyone you know needs a photographer, let me know! The best way to get the booking process started is to fill out a contact form & I’ll get back to you ASAP!
With all the love,
