Caitlin and Alex gathered with their closest family and friends for a short-notice ceremony at Lowman Beach Park. It was a sunny October afternoon full of love, laughter, and sweet candid moments (all of my favorite things)! If you're thinking about eloping or planning a small outdoor ceremony, we live in such a beautiful area for these types of celebrations—no decorations needed. Scroll to see the highlights from this special day!

Anticipating that an upcoming stay-home order could cancel their March wedding, Keegan and Tara eloped early and postponed their reception for a later date. They exited the Seattle Washington Temple all smiles, surrounded by their parents and a few other close family members. It was a beautiful day full of so much love, and I hope it helps spread a little joy and hope to other couples getting married this year.

Larrabee State Park is a perfect location for tiny outdoor weddings and elopements, especially for those who want to embrace all the beauty that Bellingham has to offer. Sarah and Michael booked photography with me after attending Bryan and Mackenzie's wedding, and I'm so glad they did! The contrast between these two celebrations just goes to show that weddings come in all types and sizes.  Whether couples have a handful of guests or over 300, whether it rains or shines, being a wedding photographer is the best job, and I'm so happy and thankful to be a part of these special moments.

I'm a big fan of getting married in whatever way makes you happy.  David and Aubrey eloped in Iceland and then hosted a reception for friends and family back in Seattle.  Aubrey loves to cook, so she and her friends catered on their own, and they created some of the most beautiful wedding food I've ever seen.  Another friend brought flowers, and the family barbershop quartet surprised  them with a few songs.  They shared hugs, toasts, and laughter, and had me join them for two hours of photography.  I love tiny weddings and hope to do many more of these in the future!

Ready for something a little different?  Elyssa is one of my very best friends, and she and Curtis decided to have a small elopement along Nooksack River.  We finished beading her dress the night before, spent the morning getting ready together, and drove out toward Mount Baker!  Their first look was beautiful and so sweet. Not only was it Curtis's first time seeing Elyssa that day, but it was his first time seeing the dress that she had put months of time and love into.  I love the way she included pieces of family history in her lace, beads, and jewelry.

And as soon as the ceremony began, I swapped out my camera for Elyssa's bouquet, and my talented friend Kestrel Bailey took over as a second shooter until the ceremony was over. Kestrel and I met through our work in non-profits years ago and spent each of my volunteer shifts talking about our shared love of photography.  Elyssa and I knew we could trust her to document the ceremony beautifully.  (Thank you, Kestrel!)  We laughed, shivered, and shared hot cocoa, and it was one of the most fun, light-hearted, people-focused weddings I've ever been a part of. No decorations, no setup, just a well-scouted location that served as the perfect setting to say "I do" in front of their closest friends.

Hair by Crowns of Gold Styling

After photographing the Appel family last summer, Nicole and Richard reached out and asked if I would also photograph their upcoming elopement on the family farm.  Yes!  This was the smallest wedding I've ever been a part of, just Nicole, Richard, their daughters, and their parents, and it was so special.  We took portraits along the river, played with their daughter in the backyard, and gathered under the twinkle lights for their ceremony.  It was such an honor to be a part of their tiny elopement, and know that their siblings, friends, and extended family would later get to be a part of the moments through my photos.

Richard's sister Elizabeth (Beauty by Elizabeth Marie) and sister-in-law Erika (Crowns of Gold Styling) are my go-to hair and makeup artists, and they did a beautiful job getting Nicole ready for her day!

These two invited only their closest family members to this beautiful backyard ceremony, and I'd say it turned out perfectly! They "all got married," exchanged hugs and rings, and shared a homemade brunch and dessert.