Awh! Where do I even start with this wedding! I took Emalee & Ryan’s engagement photos a year ago which you can find here and I was SO excited for their wedding day! It was a rainy day in Oregon but clouds make for the perfect light! When I got to their Oregon barn wedding Emalee & Ryan were just finishing up getting ready. The ceremony space was set and I took separate photos of Emalee & Ryan right before they decided to share private vows. They didn’t want to see each other yet, but they wanted to have a moment just the two of them before they became husband and wife. And it was beautiful. One of the perks of being a wedding photographer is that I get witness and capture every moment. The first thing Ryan said was ‘I don’t know how I’m going to get through this without crying’. They were both emotional through their smiles as they shared their hearts with each other and ended feeling so ready to get married!
The ceremony was in a gorgeous red barn at River Bell Farms in Jefferson Oregon. And as soon as Ryan saw Emalee for the first time in her wedding dress, the tears were back. The ceremony was short and sweet as they exchanged vows and rings and did a branding ceremony. And then they were husband and wife! Emalee mentioned after the ceremony that she felt like it was so short! haha. We had lots of fun with family and bridal party portraits and then it was time for just Emalee & Ryan! The views were amazing for their Oregon barn wedding and the rain held out just long enough for us to get portraits!
Inside dinner started and then came the toasts. Toasts and vows are some of my favorite parts of wedding days. Yes, I LOVE photographing the couple but there’s something about words of love and encouragement that just make me tear up every time! Several different people gave toasts and some of the things they said really stuck out to me. They encouraged Emalee & Ryan to ‘live in the moment, remember why they fell in love and live life how they wanted to’. Emalee’s dad told a little bit of how Ryan asked him for permission to ask Emalee to marry him and Emalee’s mom held up a card that Ryan wrote to her asking her permission to ask Emalee to marry him. Another person said that Emalee & Ryan gave us a ‘hope that love will surround us and always protect us’ and ‘thanked them for reminding us all to fall in love again’.
I am so beyond grateful that I was able to be a part of Emalee & Ryan’s wedding day. I witnessed so much love and support and couldn’t have asked for a better couple! Congrats Emalee & Ryan, I am so happy for you!!
Ahhh so beautiful 😍