I’m not exactly sure how to preface this post. All I can really say is that I tried my hardest to get the photos down to a manageable number. I really tried. In fact, there are lots of photos I love that didn’t make the cut—like more than double the number that did. So with that I offer this…

WARNING: Massively long blog post (but I promise you won’t get bored).

Gracie & Chris are two incredible personalities—they should be, Gracie is a TV meteorologist & Chris is a TV sportscaster (if you want to see them in action, check them out at KREM.com). Let’s face it, this is about as close as Spokane gets to a celebrity wedding. They were married on a scorching summer day at Spokane’s amazing Beacon Hill. This post is long enough without me rambling on about it, so to the photos we go…

The day started at Last Looks Makeup Studio

I love it when I get to hang out with past or future brides (as in this case, Hey Adriana!) at my weddings.

The amazing flowers were created by Special Touch Florist.

Prom.

This might be one of my favorite bride & groom (yes, groom) portraits I’ve ever made.

The “Love is…” signage that lined the aisle was created by students visited by Gracie during one of her school weather trips.

First dance guitar solo.

Best. Cake. Ever. Tres leches cake from Sangria Grille in Moscow, Idaho.

From the next day’s newscast…

The fourth wedding or a four wedding weekend. Think I was getting tired? I’ll let you decide (Hint: check out the dancing pictures).

One of my favorite parts of a wedding is the happiness that is unique to wedding days. I get to experience that over & over & I love it. That’s especially true with couples like Laurel & Jack, as well as their families. Their smiles & joy are contagious & it makes for great, emotion-filled photos.

I loved shooting on Gonzaga’s beautiful campus (Go Zags!), which is where both the ceremony & reception were held.

Just a happy coincidence that the room the girls were getting ready in looked like it just hosted a “How to Choose a Mate” seminar.

Also a coincidence that the room where the guys got ready was playing a child development video on a loop.

Back to the wedding posts after an engagement session break. First up is the elegant wedding of Stefanie & Paul that took place at The beautiful White House in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. What can I say other than these are two of the kindest people I’ve had the joy of photographing. There was a sweetness at this wedding that was very unique—of course it’s possible that I was just fooled by Paul’s British accent, but I doubt it.

This was a family & friends celebration where everybody was overjoyed at this union. And although Paul’s parents attended the wedding via Skype, their presence & joy was obvious as well. All of the floral arrangements, bouquet, & boutonnieres were created by The Art of Flower.

I love Point Defiance. There’s a strong possibility that if you live outside the South Puget Sound, you’ve never heard of it (other than maybe the zoo). There’s a reason Steve Prefontaine called it “The most beautiful place I’ve ever run.” It’s just plain gorgeous. I have much the same feelings for the place as Pre, since it was running through the forest there during my first Sound to Narrows race that I fell in love with running. It’s a place where, as a kid, my friends & I ran up & down “G.I. Joe Hill” along the water while playing army. It’s a place that was the location of a number of school field trips where we explored the tide pools. It’s a place that is so full of beauty that you never run out of places to explore. If you live anywhere close, you need to go visit.

That’s why I take every opportunity to shoot there when given the option. I was thrilled when Aaron & Alicia agreed to come down to Tacoma for their engagement photos. It was a blast hanging out during the first sunshine of the year (even though it was still colder than it should have been) with these two & making some photos that I really love. I hope you do too.