This Cathedral Park wedding holds a special place in my heart for many reasons. First of all, I find myself lucking out again, by landing a really sweet couple like Ali and Adam. Good people is what makes this job worthwhile and this day felt like spending the day with family. Second, this location is both humble and grand. The simplicity of getting married at a park paired with an epic, tall standing bridge; the juxtaposition is unique and if you get married here in the summer time, the light that filters through the trees is divine.

This Cathedral Park wedding day was slow paced with a loose timeline. Ali got ready with her cat, at home in North Portland and we took some regal bridal portraits on a treasured couch that was her grandmothers. The electric blue color and pattern of this family heirloom is unforgettable and I still think about it often. Following a relaxing morning, we drove to Cathedral Park for a private first look and an intimate ceremony. There were a lot of tears and sweet moments shared between these two.

The night progressed with dinner from Por Que No, as the sun blazed across a perpetual hazy sky and eventually guest lit sparklers and Ali and Adam initiated their first dance, surrounded by their people.

I photographed this special day, just before moving to Portland and it felt like such a fitting way of giving me a glimpse of this city. From start to finish, I was smiling from ear to ear, in disbelief that I would soon be living close by and fully immersed in new parks, new restaurants and working with Portland couples. The success of this day felt like foreshadowing for the upcoming years. It’s like Portland basically welcomed me with open arms and said, you’re really gonna like it here.

Venue: Cathedral Park
Ali’s Dress: BHLDN
Dress Boutique: Brides For A Cause
Catering: Por Qué No
Flowers: New Seasons

Some sweet words from Ali + Adam to conclude this post!

“We met in a very modern manner – online dating. Her profile was quite unlike the others, with detailed descriptions of who she was and who she was looking to meet, and photos demonstrating her whimsy (oh, and stunning beauty). I immediately began to craft a message to her. It was clear that “hey, how are you doing” simply wouldn’t be well-received by Ali. After much time and deliberation, I sent to her what must have been the right note, because she responded and we had a brief back and forth through the dating site. We quickly reached the point where we abandoned the dating app and began to text, and soon thereafter were prepared to meet for a date. I pondered various romantic restaurant options, but Ali (who I now know to be a “planner”) took the lead and proposed meeting at Circa 33. I arrived well before the date, moving tables several times to find the spot most conducive to a deep conversation. I watched the front door intently awaiting her entrance. Then she was there. I remember nothing of what she was wearing, how she had done her hair, etc.; I remember only her warm smile and beautiful eyes. My nerves were racing but I was quickly put at ease by her calmness. We talked for a couple hours, but it felt like only a fraction of that, and I knew rather early in the conversation that I definitely wanted to spend more time with Ali, but had no idea if she felt the same way.”

“What sets my relationship with Adam apart is our ability to grow together through both the beauty and tragedy of life — he is the person I want to share happy times, and sad times, and mundane times, and joyful times with.  It feels like we are fundamentally compatible in the most important and meaningful ways, and like we are always a team.  I have always felt that we’re equally invested in our partnership and willing to do the work to reflect that, and I’ve never questioned us both genuinely wanting and desiring to share our lives together.  We are also very different, and in those areas we have been able to challenge one another, to support one another’s growth in empathy, patience and compromise, and to expose one another to new ideas and interests.”

If you love this Cathedral Park wedding, you might enjoy reading about my top 5 favorite indoor weddings in Portland.