Samantha & Jonathan ~ Columbia Gorge Hotel ~ Hood River, OR

When it comes to outdoor weddings, especially in the Pacific Northwest, we all cross our fingers and hope that all signs of rainy weather hold off on the special day… especially the wedding photographer, who can’t really hang out under and umbrella! lol

At Samantha and Jonathan’s wedding, that’s exactly what happened! After a week of not-so-great weather, we were all crossing our fingers and hoping for a beautiful April day. Thankfully, the sun was shining when everyone arrived at the Columbia Gorge Hotel to get ready that morning!

Samantha spent her morning getting all ready to go in the hotel’s bridal prep room! Emily Filice (who also does hair and makeup for some of my boudoir sessions) joined the bride for her special day to do her hair and makeup. Samantha really loved the looks that Emily created in the past for her, so it was an easy decision to ask Emily to join her again! Samantha looked stunning and absolutely radiant with her finished look.

Meanwhile, Jonathan also got ready at the Columbia Gorge Hotel, but he spent the morning in the honeymoon suite. His navy suit and patterned shirt tied in perfectly with the groomsmen’s looks as well as the feel of the venue!

Before we knew it, the bride and groom were both ready to go, but there was one more thing to do before the ceremony. Samantha planned to have a “first look” with her dad in the tower of the hotel! The entire property had such gorgeous outdoor views, but the tower was located at the very top of the building and had an especially breathtaking view of the surrounding area. This made for a perfect spot to capture their “first look.”

When he saw Samantha in her wedding dress, you could immediately see the happiness and emotion on his face. It was such an honor to document this moment for Samantha and her dad! These photos showcase their special relationship, and I’m excited they’ll be able to look back on this amazing memory they shared.

Shortly after the “first look,” it was time for the ceremony to start! Samantha and Jonathan chose to have their ceremony on the hotel’s lawn. This ceremony space was absolutely incredible! The greenery on the lawn was beautiful, and there was also a gorgeous view of the Columbia River Gorge. With this stunning view and the sunny weather we had, it couldn’t have been a more perfect day!

Once the ceremony started, it was filled with a ton of personal touches. It was definitely a ceremony that felt so unique to them! Samantha’s dog walked down the aisle along with their bridal party… which was a fun surprise for guests to see!

Samantha looked absolutely beautiful as she walked down the aisle, and all eyes were on her. Once she met Jonathan at the end of the aisle, you could clearly see all of the love he has for her. He was so excited to marry her that he actually jumped the gun and said “I do” a bit too early! It was a funny moment that Jonathan and the guests all laughed at. We could tell how eager he was to make it official!

Right after officially saying “I do,” Samantha and Jonathan also took a few minutes to sign their marriage certificate during their cocktail hour.

After the cocktail hour started and the marriage certificate was all taken care of, it was time to take portraits of the bride and groom! We took many photos with the gorge as a backdrop behind them. Thanks to the wind, Samantha’s veil had a life of its own, and we made the most of it for our portrait session! It flowed all around them, and it added such a soft yet dynamic layer to the photos.

Many photos were also taken on the lawn. Some of my favorite shots on the lawn included the cherry blossom trees! These trees were one of the reasons that the couple chose this venue, and we were all hoping that they would be in bloom for the wedding! They added such a vibrant touch to the pictures. The photos that feature Samantha and Jonathan standing on a bridge with cherry blossoms in the background look absolutely magical!

Before the reception started, they also took a few minutes in the hotel’s tower to read their personal vows to each other. It was important for them to have privacy, but they did want a few photos to be captured of the special moment.

We also took some time to capture the details of the reception space. Inside of the hotel’s ballroom, you could definitely see their beer and garden theme come to life! The flowers on each of the tables as well as the cake really stayed true to the theme. (This delicious cake was made by Columbia Gorge Confections!)

Thanks to these details, it really felt like there was a piece of nature with us inside of the reception space!

Samantha and Jonathan’s reception started off with a grand entrance that included their bridal party. Following their entrance, it was time for their first dance! They danced to Truly Madly Deeply by Yoke Lore, and it was such a beautiful way to begin the reception. They both looked so happy and joyful as they danced together!

We also noticed that Samantha’s outfit changed a bit! The sheer sleeves that she wore during the ceremony were gone, making it much easier to dance the night away.

After their first dance, it was time to sit down and get started with dinner and speeches. The meal was SO yummy and included classics like burgers, onion rings, and baked beans. All of the food was such a hit with the wedding guests!

Next, we all tried some cake after admiring it through the whole reception. Of course it was so tasty. Columbia Gorge Confections hit it out of the park!

As everyone wrapped up with eating, the dances continued once again! Jonathan danced with his mom, and Samantha also danced with her dad. The song that Samantha and her dad chose was a fun surprise! They danced to a slower song at first, but the song changed into Turn the Beat Around by Gloria Estefan. This song was perfect for getting guests ready to hit the dance floor!

Samantha and John’s guests then joined them, and everyone was having an awesome time dancing! Sound Reflections did such a great job as their DJ for the reception. They played music that stayed true to the newlyweds’ personalities and also made sure to keep the party going into the night!

Congratulations again to Samantha and Jonathan! Your big day was absolutely breathtaking, and it was an honor to help you capture these memories.

I’m SO excited to learn that your family is expanding! It will be incredible to have more photography sessions with you both in the future as your family grows. I’m wishing you two all of the best in this next chapter of your lives!