Inspired Photo Blog

What if you’d spent most of your life on or around Mt. Hood and wanted to incorporate that theme into your wedding? You could host your wedding at Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood, as many couples do or take it one step further. Christen and Ryan chose Mt. Hood Organic Farms as the backdrop for their wedding on August 5th.

Located outside Hood River, Oregon, this working organic farm is a new wedding venue and boasts one of the best views of Mt. Hood in the area. Flowers everywhere, clean air, cute little buildings and orchards all nestled in a picturesque valley with the mountain so close you can almost reach out and touch it.

Ryan and the groomsmen. Continuing my theme of informal formals, these are “not your grandma’s formals!”

It wouldn’t be a working farm without cats and there were a number of them walking around, each with their own personalities. This one was the friendliest and wanted to be a part of the bridal party.

Christen pausing for a moment to take in the day at the bride’s cottage.

Christen’s mother putting on a pearl necklace before the ceremony. This was all natural light in the doorway of the cottage. No artificial fillers or ingredients were used, keeping with the organic theme.

Kristen captured Ryan writing a letter to Christen before the wedding ceremony. This is a reflection in the mirror of the groom’s cottage. Nice image Kristen!

Christen and Ryan both wrote their own vows to each other. They were both practicing the whole time leading up to the ceremony. Christen wrapped her vows around her bouquet in case she forgot them. Despite being nervous, as they both were, they spoke their vows perfectly.

Mt. Hood made a beautiful backdrop for the wedding ceremony. Despite the intense heat in the sun, it was a spectacular wedding ceremony.

Colby and Sadna. I photographed their wedding last year. It was wonderful to connect with them again and catch up on life. They travel the world as do Christen and Ryan and have lots of great stories to tell of their travels. Colby was the best man in Ryan’s wedding. They were married in Mt. Hood last year and referred Portland’s best kept secret (me) to their friends! That means the world to me…thank you Colby and Sadna!

Christen and Ryan in front of beautiful Mt. Hood. What a spectacular vista!

All day long Ryan and Christen kept asking me if they could have their picture taken in front of Mt. Hood. All day long I kept telling them that the light was too harsh. We needed to wait for the beautiful light. Finally it happened. Whisked away from their wedding reception, we captured some beautiful images with the alpine glow on Mt. Hood. Half the wedding guests walked down to the vista with one of the best views of Mt. Hood in the valley.

It was a beautiful day for family and guests. Christen and Ryan are an amazing couple. Very attentive to their guests and incredibly laid back. Pepe and the Bottle Blonds provided live music for the wedding reception and it was fantastic! To say that Pepe is charismatic is an understatement. Everyone was dancing under the near full moon and enjoying the cool night air. Best wishes to the newly married couple and thank you for allowing me to be a part of your story.