2017: Year in Review

There’s no denying it, 2017 was an incredible year!

12 weddings, 7 editorial shoots, 2 corporate events, 4 blog features, making the cover of Eugene Weddings Magazine (for the second time!), moving my rental items into a showroom in downtown Springfield with Soft Peaks Cakery, lots of amazing Engaging Eugene events… what a year it’s been! Personally, my baby’s turned 1 and 4, I celebrated 8 years of marriage with the hubs, strengthened friendships and made some incredible new ones, experienced a lot of personal growth and learned some new skills, and continued to grow this little business of mine.

As we welcome a whole new year (hello 2018!), I wanted to spend some time reflecting on the past year, and I thought a blog recap of each wedding and event would be a great way to do so. I chose one image from each wedding/event (which was SUPER hard by the way) and included a little blurb about each. I kept it pretty short and sweet for the most part, but many of these weddings will have their own separate blog posts with more details coming soon.

Happy New Year!

01.

IN JANUARY, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON THIS GORGEOUS WINTER GLAM BRIDAL SHOOT, AND THE OUTCOME WAS STUNNING! RACHELLE WITH MAKEUP BY RACHELLE J CAME UP WITH THE VISION, AND SHE BROUGHT ME ON BOARD TO PULL EVERYTHING TOGETHER AND EXECUTE IT. I LOVED STYLING THIS SWEETHEART TABLE WHICH LATER TRANSITIONED INTO THE CAKE TABLE. THIS SHOOT WAS FEATURED ON PNWEDDING, CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT ALL OF THE DETAILS AND TO SEE MORE PHOTOS!
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE JARSTAD

02.

IN FEBRUARY, WE HOSTED THE “3RD ANNUAL EVENING AT DEEP WOODS.” FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, ENGAGING EUGENE HAS THROWN A BIG PARTY FOR WEDDING PROS IN THE AREA, IN ADDITION TO OUR MONTHLY NETWORKING EVENTS. WE WENT WITH A SUPER FUN 80S PROM THEME, WHICH MEANT LOTS OF BALLOONS, METALLICS, RING POPS, AND 80S TUNES… IT WAS A BLAST!
PHOTO BY STEVI SAYLER PHOTOGRAPHY

03.

IN MARCH, MY DAUGHTERS TURNED ONE AND FOUR, SO I THREW THEM A JOINT PARTY WITH A PINK AND PURPLE COWGIRL THEME, BECAUSE MY OLDEST LOVES HORSES. IT WAS DEFINITELY ONE OF MY FAVORITE EVENTS TO PLAN, EVER! I HAD SO MUCH FUN WITH ALL OF THE DETAILS AND GOT TO WORK WITH SOME OF MY FAVORITE VENDORS FOR SUCH A SPECIAL DAY. THE PARTY WAS FEATURED ON KARA’S PARTY IDEAS, HEAD OVER THERE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS AND READ ABOUT ALL OF THE FUN DETAILS!
PHOTO BY STEVI SAYLER PHOTOGRAPHY

04.

IN APRIL, I VENTURED OUT TO CENTRAL OREGON TO THE BLUE BASIN IN THE JOHN DAY FOSSIL BEDS FOR THIS INCREDIBLE SHOOT WITH BASICALLY BRANDY PHOTOGRAPHY. I BROUGHT MY FAMILY ALONG TO MAKE A WEEKEND OUT OF IT, AND I WILL NEVER FORGET MY HUSBAND AND MY DOG PULLING OUR WAGON FILLED WITH A TABLE, TWO CHAIRS, AND TONS OF DECOR UP AND DOWN MANY HILLS TO GET TO THE PERFECT SPOT (ALMOST A MILE ROUND TRIP!). I DEFINITELY COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THEIR HELP! THE SETTING WAS UNREAL; UNLIKE ANYTHING I HAD EVER SEEN… I FELT LIKE I WAS ON ANOTHER PLANET. EVERYTHING TURNED OUT SO BEAUTIFULLY!

05.

LATER THAT MONTH, I COLLABORATED WITH FATTIEPIE DRESSES AND GABRIELA INES PHOTOGRAPHY TO PUT TOGETHER THE CUTEST LITTLE FLOWER GIRL TEA PARTY AT THE WASHBURNE CAFE. IT WAS SO FUN HAVING MY DAUGHTER AND HER FRIENDS AS OUR LITTLE MODELS! THE SHOOT, ALONG WITH AN ADORABLE VIDEO BY ROPER MADE, WAS FEATURED ON WEDDING CHICKS.

06.

MY WEDDING SEASON STARTED IN MAY, WITH CHELCIE AND CAYMON’S WEDDING AT MOUNT PISGAH. CHELCIE AND CAYMON ACTUALLY LIVE IN LAS VEGAS, AND SEARCHED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY FOR THE PERFECT SETTING FOR THE DESTINATION WEDDING. THEY FELL IN LOVE WITH MOUNT PISGAH, AND DECIDED IT WAS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR. THEY HAD A SUPER UNIQUE WEDDING WHICH INCORPORATED THEIR PERSONALITIES THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE DETAILS, WITH HARRY POTTER AND OTHER MOVIE AND VIDEO GAME REFERENCES THROUGHOUT THE CENTERPIECES. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO WITNESS AND BE A PART OF!
PHOTO BY BLAINE SHILLINGTON

07.

NEXT UP WAS NICOLE AND MANNY’S WEDDING IN JUNE. THEY ARE FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BUT FELL IN LOVE WITH THE OREGON COAST AND SPECIFICALLY YACHATS WHEN THEY TRAVELED THERE TOGETHER WHILE THEY WERE DATING. IT’S EVEN WHERE MANNY PROPOSED TO NICOLE, SO IT MADE COMPLETE SENSE FOR THEM TO HAVE THEIR INTIMATE DESTINATION WEDDING THERE. THEY HIRED ME VERY EARLY ON IN THE PROCESS AND IT WAS SUCH A JOY TO WORK THROUGH ALL OF THE DETAILS WITH THEM, HELP THEM CHOOSE VENDORS, AND DESIGN THEIR SPECIAL DAY. I BLOGGED ABOUT THIS WEDDING EARLIER THIS YEAR AND YOU CAN SEE MORE BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS BY CATALINA JEAN.

08.

IN JUNE I ALSO TEAMED UP WITH ASHLEY COOK PHOTOGRAPHY AND ALI BRISKEY DESIGNS TO PUT TOGETHER A GORGEOUS GREENHOUSE-INSPIRED SHOOT. WE HAD BEEN PLANNING THIS SHOOT FOR A LONG TIME AND IT GOT PUSHED BACK A COUPLE TIMES, SO IT WAS SUPER EXCITING WHEN IT FINALLY HAPPENED AND WE GOT TO SEE EVERYTHING COME TOGETHER. THE ACTUAL SHOOT ENDED UP BEING QUITE A BIT DIFFERENT THAN WE HAD ORIGINALLY ENVISIONED, BUT I WAS IN LOVE WITH THE OUTCOME AND IT WAS EVEN FEATURED RECENTLY OVER ON HEY WEDDING LADY!

09.

TAYLOR AND TYLER WERE MARRIED ON THE 4TH OF JULY AT THE BRIDE’S PARENTS BEAUTIFUL ESTATE IN SPRINGFIELD, AND IT WAS A TRUE FAIRY TALE! THEY HAD FIREWORKS, SURPRISE DANCES, SO MANY FUN AND UNIQUE DETAILS, NATIVE AMERICAN TRADITIONS, AND TAYLOR LOOKED LIKE A TRUE PRINCESS IN HER PRINCESS DIANA TIARA. READ MORE ABOUT THIS WEDDING AND ENJOY THE IMAGES BY VICTORIA CARLSON.

10.

MY SECOND WEDDING IN JULY WAS JENNA AND JOE, THEY WERE MARRIED AT THE CROFT FARM ON SAUVIE ISLAND IN PORTLAND AND ALTHOUGH IT WAS SUPER HOT THAT DAY, IT WAS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE DAY. THEY DECIDED TO MOVE THEIR OUTDOOR CEREMONY INTO THE BARN WHICH ENDED UP BEING ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE AND KEPT EVERYONE OUT OF THE HEAT. I ADORED HOW THEY CHOSE TO STAND TOGETHER ON ONE SIDE WITH THEIR OFFICIANT ON THE OTHER, I THOUGHT THAT WAS SO SWEET AND UNIQUE!
PHOTO BY KYLE CARNES PHOTOGRAPHY

11.

IN JULY I GOT TO GO BACK TO THE OVERLEAF LODGE IN YACHATS FOR A STYLED SHOOT WITH STEVI SAYLER. IT WAS SUCH A BLAST! THE OVERLEAF IS SUCH A GEM AND IS SITUATED ON SUCH A STUNNING PART OF THE OREGON COAST. THEY HAVE A BEAUTIFUL HOTEL WITH INCREDIBLE VIEWS (I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO STAY THERE FOR NICOLE + MANNY’S WEDDING) AND A LOVELY EVENT CENTER. IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING AN OREGON COAST WEDDING, DEFINITELY CHECK IT OUT!

12.

I KICKED OFF AUGUST WITH KRIS + BRENDAN’S WEDDING AT SWEET CHEEKS WINERY. THE SETTING OF VIEWS OF THE WINERY ARE UNBEATABLE AND KRIS AND BRENDAN KNEW THEY DIDN’T NEED TO GO CRAZY WITH A TON OF DECOR. THEY KEPT IT SIMPLE, STAYED TRUE TO THEMSELVES, AND HAD A BEAUTIFUL AND MEMORABLE WEDDING THAT I DEFINITELY WON’T FORGET. 
PHOTO BY LONGSTREET WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY.

13.

JEAN AND TYLOR CAME UP TO OREGON FROM LAS VEGAS TO GET MARRIED AT THE GROOM’S MOM’S BEAUTIFUL ESTATE IN EUGENE. THEY SAID THEIR VOWS RIGHT NEXT TO THE LAKEFRONT AND THEN GUESTS WALKED UP THE STONE STEPS TO THE COCKTAIL HOUR AND RECEPTION ON THE LAWN. THEIR WEDDING WAS ELEGANT AND CLASSY WITH A FEW RUSTIC TOUCHES AND SARAH DANIELLE PHOTOGRAPHY CAPTURED ALL OF THE DETAILS BEAUTIFULLY.

14.

MY LAST AUGUST WEDDING TOOK ME TO JASPER HOUSE FARM, ONE OF MY FAVORITE LOCAL VENUES, FOR DANA AND ZACH’S WEDDING. DANA AND ZACH CAME ALL THE WAY FROM NEW YORK TO SAY THEIR VOWS ON THIS ONE-OF-A-KIND FILBERT FARM (IN CASE YOU DIDN’T NOTICE – A LOT OF MY COUPLES COME FROM OUT OF STATE)! IT WAS A BLAST HELPING THEM PULL ALL OF THE DETAILS TOGETHER AND TO SEE DANA’S VISION OF COLORFUL BLOOMS AND LONG FARM TABLES COME TO LIFE ON THAT PERFECT SUMMER DAY.
PHOTO BY CASSY BERRY PHOTOGRAPHY

15.

SEPTEMBER WAS MY BUSIEST MONTH OF THE YEAR, WITH 5 WEDDINGS AND 1 CORPORATE EVENT! I STARTED OFF SEPTEMBER WITH JADE AND NICK’S WEDDING AT DEEP WOODS IN ELMIRA – YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PHOTO WHY IT’S CALLED DEEP WOODS, THE SETTING IS INCREDIBLE! JADE AND NICK CAME UP FROM CALIFORNIA TO CELEBRATE HERE IN OREGON WHERE NICK’S FAMILY LIVES. JADE ENVISIONED A ROMANTIC FAIRYTALE RECEPTION IN THE WOODS COMPLETE WITH TEACUPS, VINTAGE BOOKS, AND MOSS, AND I LOVED SEEING EVERYTHING COME TOGETHER. THEY HAVE THE SWEETEST LITTLE FAMILY AND THEIR TWO SONS WERE THE CUTEST RING BEARERS EVER!
PHOTO BY MATTHEW WHEELER PHOTOGRAPHY

16.

I’M NOT HOW I COULD WRITE JUST ONE PARAGRAPH ABOUT JESS & NEAL’S WEDDING… THERE IS JUST SO MUCH TO SAY! THEIR WEDDING WAS ONE OF MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITES EVER, AND IT WAS ALSO THE MOST CHALLENGING WEDDING PLANNING EXPERIENCE I’VE EVER COME UP UPON (AND I AM ALL THE BETTER FOR IT)! JESS AND NEAL LIVE IN CHICAGO, AND HAD BEEN PLANNING TO GET MARRIED AT BRIDAL VEIL LAKES JUST OUTSIDE OF PORTLAND (IN THE BRIDE’S HOME TOWN) FOR OVER A YEAR, AND THE WEEK BEFORE THEIR WEDDING THE EAGLE CREEK FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE GORGE AND WE WERE FORCED TO FIND A NEW LOCATION ON THE MONDAY BEFORE WEDDING. AFTER LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS, WE WERE ABLE TO NAIL DOWN A NEW LOCATION AND JESS AND NEAL FLEW IN TO PDX THAT WEDNESDAY TO CHECK IT OUT. IT ENDED UP BEING THE PERFECT BACKUP PLAN (IN MANY WAYS, EVEN BETTER), BUT IT ALSO PRESENTED MANY CHALLENGES AS SO MANY OF THE LOGISTICS AND DETAILS OF THE DAY CHANGED (COMPLETELY DIFFERENT RENTAL ORDER, TIMELINE, HAD TO BRING IN SOME NEW VENDORS, ETC). IN THE END, EVERYTHING CAME TOGETHER PERFECTLY, I HAD AN INCREDIBLE TEAM HELPING ME THAT DAY, AND IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE I’LL NEVER FORGET! I MAY NOT HAVE EATEN OR SLEPT ALL THAT MUCH THE WEEK BEFORE THEIR WEDDING BUT IT WAS SO WORTH IT. THEY ARE TWO OF THE NICEST, MOST GENUINE PEOPLE ON THE PLANET AND THEY MADE ME FEEL SO INCREDIBLY LOVED AND APPRECIATED THAT DAY. I CAN’T WAIT TO DO A FULL BLOG POST ON THEIR WEDDING!
PHOTO BY KELLY IN THE CITY

17.

IT’S NOT EVERY DAY THAT ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS GETS MARRIED!! STEVI AND RYAN CHOSE SUN RIVER FOR THEIR DESTINATION WEDDING AND I WAS TRULY HONORED THAT THEY BROUGHT ME ON BOARD TO COORDINATE THEIR BIG DAY. I WORK WITH STEVI ALL THE TIME ON WEDDINGS AND SHOOTS BUT IT WAS SUCH A SPECIAL THING WORKING WITH HER AS HER COORDINATOR! SHE WAS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BRIDES EVER, AND THEIR WEDDING WAS SO FITTING FOR THEM. THEY HAD AN ICE CREAM BAR, GOLD DINOSOURS, TACOS FOR DINNER, LOTS OF SWEET DETAILS, AND OF COURSE DOGS. ISN’T THEIR PUP HAPPY THE CUTEST!?
PHOTO BY GRACE AND JADEN PHOTOGRAPHY

18.

IN SEPTEMBER I WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP PLAN AND EXECUTE A RECEPTION FOR THE LANE TRANSIT DISTRICT’S LAUNCH OF THE NEW WEST EUGENE EMX LINE. I DIDN’T TAKE MANY PHOTOS THAT NIGHT, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE SIMPLE/RUSTIC CENTERPIECES I CREATED FOR THEIR RECEPTION AT NOBLE ESTATE URBAN WINERY.  IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENT TO BE A PART OF AND I AM EXCITED TO WORK ON MORE CORPORATE EVENTS IN THE FUTURE!

19.

HEATHER AND JOSH WERE PLANNING AN INTIMATE WEDDING IN PORTLAND, BUT THEY KNEW THEY NEEDED SOME HELP WITH THE LOGISTICS AND PULLING ALL OF THE DETAILS TOGETHER SINCE THE CEREMONY AND RECEPTION WERE GOING TO BE IN TWO DIFFERENT PLACES. ORIGINALLY THEY WERE GOING TO TIE THE KNOW AT WAHCLELLA FALLS, BUT THEY HAD TO RELOCATE LAST MINUTE DUE TO THE TREACHEROUS FIRES IN THE GORGE.  LEACH BOTANICAL GARDEN ENDED UP BEING THE PERFECT SOLUTION AND IT STILL HAD THE WOODSY VIBE THEY WERE ENVISIONING. AFTER THEIR MORNING CEREMONY (COMPLETE WITH BLUE STAR DONUTS!), GUESTS RECONVENED FOR DINNER IN THE WINE CELLAR ROOM AT HOTEL VINTAGE IN DOWNTOWN PORTLAND. THEY TREATED ME LIKE A GUEST AT THEIR WEDDING, IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE DAY TO BE A PART OF NOW HEATHER IS A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE!
PHOTO BY JOSHUA RAINEY PHOTOGRAPHY

20.

MY FINAL WEDDING OF THE SEASON WAS MY VERY OWN SISTER-IN-LAW’S WEDDING AT JASPER HOUSE FARM. I WAS IN THE WEDDING MYSELF AS A BRIDESMAID SO I BROUGHT THE LOVELY EMILY HILL ON BOARD TO COORDINATE THINGS ONCE IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO GET READY. IT WAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DAY, EVEN THOUGH RAIN CAME AND WE HAD TO MOVE THE CEREMONY INTO THE BARN LAST MINUTE. NO TEARS WERE SHED OVER THIS DECISION AS IT WAS STILL ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS! ONE OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES OF THE DAY IS WHEN EVERYONE SURROUNDED LEIA + GREG FOR THE LAST SONG OF THE NIGHT SINGING BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY AT THE TOP OF OUR LUNGS. IT WAS TRULY EPIC!
PHOTO BY LONGSTREET WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY

21.

IN OCTOBER I HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH DAYLINN OF GREATER THAN PHOTO ON THIS COZY FALL-THEMED FARMHOUSE SHOOT AT JASPER HOUSE FARM AND I LOVED EVERY MINUTE. DAYLINN CAPTURED EVERYTHING BEAUTIFULLY AND THE PHOTOS ARE CURRENTLY FEATURED IN MY 2018 WEDDINGS GUIDE (YOU CAN DOWNLOAD A COPY UNDER THE “WEDDINGS” TAB)!

22.

I ALSO WORKED WITH RACHEL HAYLIE PHOTOGRAPHY AND A BEAUTIFUL UNION IN OCTOBER TO SHOWCASE A NEW PROJECT THAT RACHEL AND I ARE WORKING ON TOGETHER THAT I’M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT. MORE DETAILS ON THAT COMING SOON!

23.

MY LAST EVENT OF THE YEAR WAS THE ASPEN DENTAL EMPLOYEE CHRISTMAS PARTY THAT I PLANNED IN DECEMBER. I HAD SO MUCH FUN WORKING ON THIS EVENT; THEY CAME UP WITH A RUDOLPH THEME (HERMEY WANTING TO BE A DENTIST…) WHICH I THOUGHT WAS ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE AND PERFECT! IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL PARTY AND EVERYONE HAD A GREAT TIME, 93 PHOTOBOOTH CO. WAS A HUGE HIT AS WELL AS THE FOOD FROM SHEILD CATERING. 

2017, you were pretty freaking rad! I am ready to jump feet first into this next year and to all of the new adventures up ahead. I’ve got 8 weddings on the books so far, a Disneyland trip planned, and one of my big goal’s for this year is to attend an educational conference or workshop!

Thanks so much for sticking around to read this – I’d love to hear about your goals for the year ahead as well!