Christianson's Nursery in Mount Vernon is one of my favorite places for portraits and weddings. The gardens and greenhouses photograph beautifully and keep my clients warm and dry year-round. It's always special to be back at the place where we got married, and it brings me so much joy when couples choose me to capture their celebrations here, too. As I prep for my May mini sessions, I've brought together a handful of favorites from the past two seasons.  

Chelsea and Andrew wanted a session near Mount Baker, a favorite place where they've spent time camping and canoeing together. We connected over Zoom first, and it was such a joy to learn more about them and the story of how they met years ago on an airplane. Adventure session require an adventurous attitude, and when our original locations ended up closed, we were stoked to find this expansive waterfront spot instead. Their pup Marley had the best time exploring for sticks, and it was so special to be able to include her. The rain downpoured at the end of the session, and Chelsea and Andrew did an incredible job embracing it. Originally, they planned to only book engagement photography and focus on videography for their wedding day. After receiving their engagement previews, they asked to book wedding photography too, and I couldn't be more excited to work with them again!

I'm a big advocate for mixing up tradition and having fun with your wedding plans. Marla and Matt chose to have a brunch wedding at the Bellingham Ferry Terminal complete with a waffle bar, fruit, scones, quiche, bacon, and donuts.  We started their day with a first look and portraits down the street at Marine Park, and we included their dog for a few special photos, too. It was a smoky August morning, and the pink tint from the sun tied in beautifully with Marla's blush dress from Belle Bridal. Scroll to see my favorites from this colorful, happy day!

Keith and Pauline found me through a Google search and had their hearts set on Washington coast engagement photos. I almost said no. It'd been years since I drove out there, and I was in the middle of moving and a busy wedding season... but I could feel their joy, excitement, and trust in what we could create together! After a five hour road trip from the Bellingham area, my travel buddy and I arrived and could not believe how gorgeous these locations were. Simply put, this was a DREAM session. Keith and Pauline aligned so well with my style. As always, I told them where to stand and how to move, and their ability to focus on each other, not take it too seriously, and laugh together was what really brought out the magic in these photos. I could not be more excited to share these photos, and I really recommend watching the behind-the-scenes video on Instagram to get the full idea of how much fun we had!

​I'll be back for more coast sessions in March! Send me an email at cayliemashphotography@gmail.com for details.

Nicole and Josh married at Jardin Del Sol on a warm September afternoon. I got to know them at their winter engagement session, Zoom meetings, and text updates about dress shopping, venue tours, and more. I love connecting with my clients like this and feel really grateful I got to work with them (big thanks to Nicole's coworker and my client Rebecca!). This wedding was a day full of laughter, family, friendship, greenery, and gorgeous florals from Flori Flowers. Scroll through to see my favorites!

One year after their fall micro wedding, Megan and Joey booked a Bellingham Airbnb and an anniversary photography session to celebrate! We used the beach outside their rental, included their dogs Newton and Gordon for portraits, and then let them run and play in the water. They made such a fun trip out of it, including stopping by the bakery that made their wedding cake, and I love knowing that these photos will remind them of all it.

Erinn and Tony celebrated with a backyard wedding in Snohomish County. It was a beautiful overcast August afternoon, and they picked up a bouquet of dahlias from a nearby market. I arrived as they finished up a wedding-day lunch of ramen and pizza, and Erinn's friends popped a bottle of sparkling cider. Their first look was one of my all-time favorites, and moments like these are why I keep spare tissue packets on hand! Erinn, Tony, my second photographer and I hopped in the car for a short drive to Lake Stevens to finish their portraits with a view. Back at the house, both their ceremony and reception were full of laughter, joy, and so many candid moments of loved ones happy to be together. This was such a fun wedding to photograph!

Michelle and Kris shared an intimate September garden wedding at Christianson's Nursery. Bellingham florist Tangled Roots created a unique color palette, and her arrangements tied the images from their day together so beautifully. Michelle and Kris used the pathway and front steps to the schoolhouse for their ceremony. When their officiant pronounced them married before they had a chance to exchange rings, they shared a great laugh with all of their guests. The ability to laugh and see things as a funny story to tell is the best recipe for a happy wedding, and everyone continued to smile about it all evening long. It's always a joy to be back in the space where we got married, and I am so excited to share my favorites from their celebration!

Wow! The past few weeks have felt surreal leading up to this moment.

I've been photographing weddings and engagements for over 10 years alongside school and work. Photography has always been a source of joy for me, and this last year more than ever I felt the pull to spend even more of my time on it. As a result of the postponements of 2020, 2021 was a big year for getting married. I had the opportunity to book weddings nearly every weekend of the summer, and I knew that was exactly what I wanted to be doing. It became increasingly more difficult to balance it all, and I made the choice to finally go all in. In September I switched to part-time at my day job and put in notice for the end of the year. Yesterday marked the end of six and a half years working in foster care, including over four years at my most recent nonprofit. I worked with an amazing team and licensed foster parents who wanted to care for teens and older children. We started as a small, new program, and I feel so proud and grateful to see what it's become.

I'm a big believer in celebrating life's important moments--that's part of why I love weddings! So today I had a tiny celebration filled with custom cookies from Bellingham's Morgan G Cookies, on-brand decorations, platters full of local snacks, and lots of laughter with a few friends. This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter of my small business journey, and I'm ridiculously thankful for everyone who has cheered me on along the way. Thank you for being here and making it possible for me to do what I love as a career!

Mia and Berkly shared a colorful July wedding at Lairmont Manor, decorated with bright summer florals from Pozie by Natalie. After a sunny ceremony on the lawn, they celebrated with a family style meal. I don't see this serving style often, and it was a beautiful way to bring their loved ones together! Scroll to see my favorites from their wedding day, and then take a look at their Bellingham engagement session and guestbook.