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When Stephanie first reached out to me, she described hers and Huell’s wedding their theme as “jewel toned americana gothic” and I knew then and there that we too would fall in love, a perfect match. Their original plan was to tie the knot at Coopers Hall Winery in Portland, and while they still have that spot in mind for a larger reception next year, the couple opted for a winery estate in Dundee found on VRBO. Stephanie sent me the listing and I gasped out loud. The architecture! The views! The wide open space! It was the perfect alternative venue for this sweet couple to get hitched in a safe way.

The bride pivoted and used her own calligraphy and crafting skills to make the signs and table decorations for the day, and friends and family all helped make one of the largest cheeseboards I’ve ever seen followed by a Puerto Rican family-style feast. The groom wore burgundy and his groomsmen (and best woman!) wore navy with orange boutonnieres. The brides party included bridesmaids and bridesmen, each wearing a different jewel toned color of the rainbow. Their flower friends wore gold sequins and silk black, tossing brightly colored wildflower petals that matched the bright and wild personalities of everyone present this day. The overall effect was warm, comforting, welcoming, celebratory, and the stuff that cozy fall dreams are made of.

I was prepped well in advance that I’d be walking into a large, loud family that would be difficult to corral, but as soon as I walked in the door I felt like family too! Every single person in the house was working hard to prep food, set up the dinner tables, organize decorations—any way that they could help make this day magical for Stephanie and Huell. I’m so happy I got to talk to everyone while I was shooting detail photos (can we talk about this dream color scheme???) because later when it was time for photos under the stunning floral arch by Lisa Noelle, I knew everyone by name and could harness my camp counselor energy and work through their list of formal combinations efficiently and get everyone to the cocktail hour!

As a huge added bonus, I had time towards the end of cocktail hour to take couples photos under the arch for any guests that wanted to. It was like have mini sessions built into the wedding day, and one of the most wonderful gifts I’ve been able to give guests this year. It’s one of the blessings of covid weddings—I could never dream of having time for that on a traditional wedding day, but on this intimate day it fit right into the schedule.

Stephanie and Huell are two poetic souls who love each other deeply, only to be matched by the love for their family and community. They rolled with the 2020 punches with grace and humor, and took advantage of every unexpected blessing that came our way with the smaller gathering. I am so lucky that I got to be the one to document it, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for these two!