Tucked away in a small corner of a small island in the Pacific Northwest, Steve and Julie quietly celebrated their union. Witnessed by just a handful of family members, a relaxed, laugh filled affair unfolded. I was privileged to document it. Enjoy the story.
A new public beachfront park has opened up on the North side of Orcas Island and I got the opportunity to meet up with the visiting Johnson family for some exploring. The sandstone rock outcroppings along the beach are always a treat to come across. I’m always fascinated by the tafoni weathering that shapes it into a sponge or honeycomb pattern. But what was really special was getting to know this sweet kind family. They were all smiles and down for anything in front of the camera. Enjoy the story.
What a fabulous day for a wedding. Emily and Gregory choose one of the best venues in the San Juan’s for a wedding. The Outlook Inn has it all, including a secret garden with a charming chapel for the ceremony. Enjoy the story.
It was my first time to this quiet part of Orcas Island. I found this family lighting up Grindstone Harbor with its big laughs and infectious smiles. Enjoy the story.
It was a most lovely day to hang out with this sweet family. A mother, two daughters, and a granddaughter frolicked in the orchard then headed down to the sea for a beach walk. It was a day full of laughs and genuine smiles. Enjoy the story.
Another successful proposal plan executed! This time it was amidst some very untimely wind and rain at an exposed point of Mt. Constitution. But everything aligned up perfect and she was all smiles. The San Juan Islands present some of the most romantic spots for popping the question. Planning it in secret for weeks is part of the fun for me.
Keenan and Amanda spent over a year making their cross country move from the East Coast to the West coast, stopping in various places along the way before landing in their permanent home of Seattle. As a testament to their journey, Keenan thought it fitting to propose to Amanda on the Western shoreline – it symbolized them reaching the end of their cross country journey and starting their new West Coast life.
So Keenan got to planning – he scoped a secluded spot on San Juan’s South Beach, set up a bonfire and brought an only-for-occasions bottle of wine. It was while Amanda and Keenan were dancing on the beach that he told her they really needed to start getting serious about picking a couple’s song. Amanda’s wheels started turning: why would they need to finally pick a song (a four year debate they’d had going and were nowhere near settling)? The look on Keenan’s face said it all, he smiled and said, “Amanda, I love you so much,” and as he got down on one knee he asked “Will you marry me?”
Amanda cried, got down on the ground with him and exclaimed, “Of course I’ll marry you. Hell yea!” Adam caught it all. The three of them laughed and gushed over a glass of wine before exploring the cliffs for a movie-like photoshoot. Keenan curated an unforgettable proposal and Adam documented it so artfully!!! -K+A
Throughout the summer, Georgia’s family cruises on a sailboat in the San Juan Islands. It made perfect sense to meet up at the fabulous Rosario Resort on Orcas Island. She warmed up to the camera within seconds and we had a fun time exploring the property as she delivered one beautiful look after another.
We had a blast during our two hour session. The kids warmed up to the camera quickly and away we went! We walked to Crescent Beach and then went on a little hike at Cascade Lake.
It was an honor to document this intimate elopement at sea. Only immediate family was in attendance aboard a private chartered Grand Banks Trawler. Country Cakeshop, of Salem, provided the sweet treats and the gorgeous scenery of the San. Juans at sunset provided a serene atmosphere for a lovely ceremony performed by Captain Greg.
On September 23, Roche Harbor Resort was buzzing with love as Jonathan and Danae tied the knot. They took full advantage of the all of the unique spaces on the property, including the mausoleum, the cemetery, the marina, and the chapel while friends and family helped create a gorgeous reception atmosphere. I loved the colors and laid back vibe of the entire day.
Wellspring Spa and Resort once again delivers a magnificent space for a marriage ceremony. I love shooting weddings here. The whole resort is connected with foot trails under the canopy of a Cascadian forest. You forget all about modern civilization until you have to leave eventually. Here’s what the bride and groom have to say about it:
He said:
It was a magical day in the forest, unforgettable life moment. It was everything Sandra and I could have hoped for and more. We enjoyed spending the day with our favorite people, family and friends. Shout out to Jeremy’s Farm to Table for delicious food and beverages. Vendredi’s Bag band added perfect energy to the night and the live music really provided elegance to the event.
She said:
This was the most beautiful day of my life! I can’t stop smiling when I relive the day by looking at the photos. Having so much love around me made this moment very special. Our lifelong promise was sealed in this beautiful magical place surrounded by force of nature and our family and friends. It was absolutely magical!
elenaWhat a beautiful testament to such a magical day! Your love and joy truly shine through your words — it sounds like an unforgettable celebration surrounded by nature and loved ones. Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness and adventures together! If you’re planning your own special day, you might find HelloPrenup helpful too.
NickChatGPT said:Sandra and Evan, your wedding sounds like an absolute dream! The love, joy, and natural beauty truly shine through your words. Wellspring Spa and Resort seems like the perfect setting for such a heartfelt celebration. For couples planning their future together, HelloPrenup is a great resource to consider while stepping into marriage. Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness!
I’ve photographed quite a few marriage proposals. I usually coordinate with the guy in the day’s leading up to it. I like to hide out in the bushes until the excitement and hugs die down, then we finish up with a quick portrait session . But when Joey said they would be walking their dogs, I figured they would sniff me out so I had to be lurking out in the open. Even still, once I started clicking away they went into protective mode and it became mass pandemonium!
In the end, it was still a beautiful moment, AAAAND she said “YES!”
Congratulations Caroline + Joey!!!
Here are some of my faves (that don’t include dog fangs.) Enjoy the story.
Terri RoushCongratulations Caroline and Joey!!! We are so happy for them!!!! I’m so glad you were able to meet my niece and her wonderful fiancé (AND protective pups🤭)!!!❤️❤️❤️
Love your photos Adam!!!
Jackson and I skipped school for a week to go warm up in the Sacramento area. We both got to bond hard with our old Georgia crew. We hit as many skateparks as we could and got in a fair bit of climbing in Yosemite. Big thanks to Kris and Celeste for showing us a good time.
Enjoy the story.
Half of these pictures were taken by little Kaleb man using my Nikon D850.
This group claimed to be have some camera shy folk in it, but I couldn’t figure out who they were talking about.
Enjoy the story.
Lime Kiln State Park has the perfect trail for a well rounded sample of the San Juan Island feel and mood. Its has lots of little opportunities for portraits. I recommend it for lifestyle portrait sessions for groups of any size.
For me it was funny how looking at the pictures made all the happy and joyful emotions of the day come flooding back. It feels like the wedding was just yesterday, in all the exquisite detail. My favorite part of the day was the walk to and from the ceremony because it was a short time with just me and Jen, bookending this amazing 15 minutes of my life (the ceremony). We got to enjoy the prospect of the ceremony on the way there and then got to enjoy everything about how it went on the walk back.
Jen says:
The day of the wedding was better than either of us hoped. We started our day with a walk to the ceremony site just the two of us. It was the perfect way to start the day with a walk outside together, thinking about our intentions for the day and soaking in the beauty of the island. It was important for us to share the beauty of the outdoors with our friends and family who were there. My favorite part was simply the ceremony- every word was meaningful to us and we involved every person there in some way. But I also loved that we got to include all the elements of one of Mat’s normal trip to Orcas: camping, cooking pizza, and mountain biking!
Our wedding was exactly what we wanted – a time to spend with our closest family and friends to celebrate our marriage. Our time together that weekend gave us moments that we’ll remember forever… having our close friend as officiant helped put us at ease with his humor and brought tears to our eyes with his words; seeing family and friends who didn’t know each other meet and engage in lively conversations, and come together over food and puzzles; cookies galore!; dancing ourselves silly despite the frigid temperatures and gusty winds; but most of all the joy of being happily married surrounded by our favorite people.
– Seth & Emma
Enjoy the story.
Lakedale Resort Wedding SAN JUAN ISLAND wedding photographer
My last post of 2021 ends on a love story. Kate and Alex choose one of the most perfect locations for their San Juan Islands wedding. Saltwater Farm’s expansive campus has plenty of options for hosting large weekend long events. The post is rather long, ( I have a lot of favorites with this happy gregarious crowd. ) Give it time to load!
Roche Harbor is such a beautiful backdrop for engagement photos. And this little hamlet holds an extra special spot in the hearts of these two lovebirds. We had a lovely time meandering around the water’s edge and garden nooks. Kelsey and Brian’s long history together was evident by how relaxed and happy they were together. Enjoy the story.
About seven years ago today, I documented David and Lexi’s wedding day that was held in a tiny church on a tiny island. It was picture perfect all day, culminating with a gorgeous dinner held at Lopez Island Vineyard. If you haven’t seen the post lately, click on this photo.
They came back to Lopez for a visit and brought their two adorable kids! It was great seeing how far they have come. What a treat to see the flower blossom.
