Jaquie & Christopher ~ Oaks Pioneer Church ~ Portland, OR

I'm a wedding photographer, so it's no secret that I really LOVE love... but there's an extra soft spot in my heart for long distance love!

Whenever I'm able to help capture memories for a long distance couple who's getting married, it's especially meaningful. Whether they’ve been long distance for months or even years, I can always see the relief on both of their faces when the big day comes. Once they tie the knot, it means that the end of their separation is here… and it’s the start of a new life together!

When I learned that Jaquie and Christopher planned their wedding while being separated by (almost!) an entire state, I couldn’t wait to help them capture memories on their big day. Christopher moved to Eastern Oregon for his new job while Jaquie stayed in Portland, and they were only able to see each other on the weekends.

Thankfully, their living situation was going to change after the wedding… making what was already a highly anticipated wedding even MORE exciting!

On their wedding day, the weather was absolute perfection… which was a little unusual for early May. The sun was bright and shining, and there weren’t any raindrops in sight! Who could ask for better weather on their wedding day? The sun radiated down on Oaks Pioneer Church and looked equally as beautiful in the photos, too.

Before the ceremony started, the couple requested that I capture a “first look” for them in the grassy yard behind the church. I captured Jaquie as she put on her veil, and I could tell that she couldn’t wait for her future husband to see her!

Jaquie then went outside for the first look! Both her and her fiancé had huge smiles on their faces before the big reveal. Once Christopher turned around, his smile grew even bigger! He gave her a huge hug before I snapped a few portrait-style shots of them in front of the lush trees and bushes.

Before we knew it, it was time for their ceremony! I captured guests as they walked into the church, and they all had such excited expressions on their faces. The couple had around 50 guests join them for the day, and the inside of the church was a perfect match for this number of attendees. The chapel felt very intimate while having a historic, vintage feel.

When it was time for Jaquie to walk down the aisle, she was joined by her dad. All eyes were on her! She looked stunning and wore a lacy dress with long, mesh sleeves covering her arms. The waistline of her dress included some hints of teal which matched perfectly with her wedding party and Christopher, too!

At the end of the ceremony, Jaquie made everybody laugh when she pulled out a stool to reach her new husband for a kiss! This moment perfectly reflected their humor and love for one another. Once the ceremony was over, they signed their marriage certificate and made it official.

After the ceremony ended, it was time to capture some formal portraits for the newlyweds! The indoor portraits featured the church’s beautiful wooden walls and stained glass windows. It was a classy, perfect backdrop for the new bride and groom! Inside, I also snapped some shots of their wedding flowers and rings against the wooden pews.

Once we went outside, we definitely had to take advantage of the church’s beauty and use it as a portrait setting! I captured a few images of them standing in front of the church doors, and in these shots, you can also see what beautiful weather we had! The sun was appropriately shining on this joyful day.

After I photographed the ceremony and formal portraits at Oaks Pioneer Church, it was time for me to go! At this point in the day, Jaquie and Christopher headed off to their reception and continued celebrating with their guests.

You might think this was the end of my time with the happy newlyweds… but think again! Because Jaquie and Christopher lived apart prior to getting married, they planned an “engagement” session for a few weeks after the wedding. They wanted some professional photos of the two of them together to hang in their new home, so when they were back in the Portland area, we had the shoot! The session took place at Lacamas Park in Camas, Washington. Looking at these final images, I love how the natural landscape perfectly frames Jaquie and Christopher! I’m so thrilled that they’ll have these photos to display in their home.

Congratulations to Jaquie and Christopher on your marriage and the start of a beautiful life together. Thank you for allowing me to capture memories for you on your gorgeous wedding day!

If you’re interested in booking a wedding photographer but don’t envision having professional images taken during your entire wedding day, I’d love to talk to you! I now offer wedding photography services by the hour for couples who might just want a photographer there for their ceremony and formal portraits.

Click the link below to learn more about my wedding offerings!