I was completely delighted when Guy and Patrick selected me to photographer their upcoming October 2022 wedding at The Griffin House in Hood River, Oregon (such a gorgeous venue!). I’ve loved getting to know these two lovely humans this year as they’ve shared their wedding vision and plans. And we found that we had many shared interests, like Peloton and our great taste in local Portland restaurants (haha! 😂).

When we met in person this fall for their engagement photos, it was such a special and peaceful time along the Oregon Coast and we witnessed a truly epic sunset. As an Oregon Elopement & Wedding Photographer, it was truly a dream to document! We had been watching the weather closely to schedule for the best golden light, and we were so lucky to have a truly perfect evening. Guy and Patrick picked the most picturesque locations on the Oregon Coast at Ecola State Park and Arch Cape. These are magical spaces for couple photos or elopements any time of year. We created some special imagery to commemorate their upcoming union and shared a champagne toast to celebrate.

I asked Guy and Patrick to share some advice for recently engaged couples in the midst of wedding planning! Read throughout this post as Guy shares some fantastic advice and suggestions.

Cheers to this wonderful couple! Can’t wait for the wedding!

-Angelina

Tell us about you both and your proposal story!

G&P: Patrick and I have been together for 16 years so we really took our time getting engaged. Patrick wanted to be the one to ask, so he made every effort to seem not ready to really surprise me and not risk me asking as well. Patrick proposed to me at sunrise on our 14th year anniversary in the Blue Mountains of Australia. It was a quiet view! The sun rays filtering through the interlocking mountains at the viewpoint was just incredible, it will always hold a special place in our heart. We spent the rest of the day exploring the Jenolan limestone caves, doing an incredible bushwalk into a fern filled canyon, and seeing some kangaroos in the wild. 

Describe your wedding vision and plans; how did you decide on the location?

G&P: We knew we wanted to do something in the Pacific Northwest that encapsulates the beauty and bounty of the region. Portland was too urban for us so we set our sights out east. We love Hood River and they have some spectacular venues there. We chose our venue because it had the best view of our favorite Wonder of Oregon -- the Columbia River Gorge and the people that run it seemed great to work with. The way the sun filters through the Gorge reminded us very much of where we got engaged. We want our wedding to be intimate, with great food, for the people who have shaped us both individually and as a couple. 

How did you select your wedding vendors? What was important to you both?

G&P: We started wedding planning pretty early and it became our pandemic hobby. We've always said that the food was the most important concept for us so we took our time in choosing the right caterer. We are also self funding our wedding so we had to weigh the cost as a factor too. We had a "rule of 3" in which we deeply looked at three candidates as vendors and detailed what their packaging included. 

What has been most surprising or challenging about wedding planning? Most fun?

G&P: Selecting the right venue was the most challenging part of wedding planning. We chose ours 18 months in advance and they were 75% booked for the year. Venue selection is the most difficult because it really decides so much of your wedding, and in our case, it needed to be selected early before we even had the vision of the wedding planned out. We're so happy that our selection so long ago still makes sense for us now. The most fun has to be catering tasting! It's great to see the execution and to eat all the free food. 

Tell us about your Engagement photo session and the vibe you were trying to create.

G&P: We wanted something that showed a different side of Oregon so we elected to do the Oregon Coast. I set out to find some great spots for pictures one summer day and we decided on our two two favorite spots. But the most challenging thing is finding a day when the weather will comply and that's no easy task in September & when both our schedules are busy. We wanted that perfect golden hour lighting, but also wanted to have a mix of late-summer (beachy, barefoot, sunshine) and fall (forestry) looks. 

Engagement photos can feel a bit awkward! What tips or suggestions do you have for couples who might feel uneasy in front of the camera?

G&P: A photographer who knows how to break the ice! We knew Angelina was the right choice as soon as we interviewed with her as she really just knew how to make us feel comfortable. Then, pretend they're not there for the actual shoot. Try and have a fun conversation or story to tell during. The laughs and smiles will come naturally. 

What’s one piece of advice you’d give recently engaged couples planning their wedding or elopement?

G&P: Pick one vendor at a time in order of importance to you and start this process the earliest you can. Weddings really take longer to plan than you think. Price, flexibility, and burden on you are all things you need to consider when choosing the right vendors.