Nestled in a family’s pear farm you’ll find one of the most tranquil and scenic venues in Hood River. The Orchard left a lasting impression on me not only for its breathtaking views of Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams, but because of the friendly and warm staff, who take really good care of their couples and vendors.

I’ve noticed that this industry thrives when venues treat vendors as equals, making sure we have what we need to show up and do our best possible work. The staff at The Orchard treats everyone who visits their farm like family, which is the sort of camaraderie that is essential to a successful day for couples getting married. It’s wild how close this venue is to downtown too, so although it feels off the grid it is still accessible for guests eager to stay close to the city.

Nate and Becky flew in from California for both their engagement session and wedding and immediately felt like fast friends. Photographing an architect/talented photographer himself (Nate) and a lawyer (Becky) had me nervous before meeting them for the first time. It’s funny how a decade and change later, I still get butterflies before I meet my couples and photograph them for the first time. What’s also funny and surprising is how quickly my nerves dissipate when I start taking photos. These two were humble and sweet; so easy going. Several rolls of film later, we had taken photos beyond sunset and into blue hour. I love shooting engagement sessions entirely on film and playing with difficult lighting situations. These two were open to it all and the evening flew by.

On B + N’s wedding day, details big and small were bursting with color. I love that people in the wedding industry seem to be embracing color again and it photographs so well on film. Most of the images included in this post are 35 and 120 film, all developed and scanned by Blue Moon Camera in North Portland. I think my favorite photos from this day are of Becky and her gals, just enjoying themselves in the sunshine for some bridal party photos. This series of photos felt so seamless, I didn’t have to encourage them to interact, but I made sure to encourage them to keep their interactions going as they fluffed Becky’s dress and enjoyed the scenery of Mt. Hood Views. Vibrant florals and unique bride’s maids dresses are always enjoyable to capture and mid day sun never scares me away, but rather leave me feeling creatively charged.

From start to finish this day was photogenic and a breeze. I enjoyed sneaking away at sunset to capture a few golden hour photos, and really appreciated taking a break during dinner to get a taste of the amazing food catered by Celilo Catering. I was even offered a pear cocktail…what an absolute treat. I entered the reception fully recharged to capture the lively dance floor.

Photo: Alexandra Celia
Planning + Design: Hosted By
Florals: Britlyn Simone Floral
Stationer: 26 Pressed
Venue: The Orchard
Catering: Celilo Catering
DJ: Higher Ground Entertainment
Tabletop Rentals: Great Jones NW
Linen Rentals: Arden Event Collective
Film Scans: Blue Moon Camera