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Wallowa Lake Wedding

Wallowa Lake Oregon Wedding near Joseph | Kelsey + Doug

Amy Isacson September 24, 2021
Mountain Wedding

When a bride who is also a florist (Evelyn Frances Floral Design) reaches out to you to photograph her wedding, you know the stars have already aligned in your favor. Kelsey was one such bride. Based out of Portland, OR, she and Doug wanted to get married at his parents’ property overlooking the Wallowa Mountains, near Enterprise, Oregon.

I was fortunate enough to find a room at the Jennings Hotel in nearby Joseph, OR. I had been eyeing the progress of this historic 1910 brick building for years, and was stoked that this place on my bucket list was actually going to become a reality.

It was WAY cool!

The owners have done a hands-down spectacular job of renovating this corner building right on downtown Main St. Joseph, Oregon is a super fun town - I highly recommend it. I definitely will be bringing my family back with me next time! Bonus points were earned by the fact that I had shared common space with others in the hotel (Covid restrictions applied) and met some friendly guests both nights on my way back to my room, one of whom was another guest at this “AMAZING” wedding, as she exclaimed!

Jennings Hotel Detail
Jennings Hotel Interior
Jennings Hotel Stairwell
Wedding Dress Detail

Kelsey and Doug turned out to be the absolute sweetest couple EVER, including me in their welcome BBQ at Wallowa Lake the night before their big day. It was a good opportunity to meet everyone, and we even got to witness Coho Salmon spawning in the river nearby!

Couple at Wallowa River
Coho Salmon Spawning
Wallowa Lake
Welcome BBQ Wallowa Lake

Originally planning to use her mother’s crocheted dress and going for a Priscilla Presley look, there was some drama in the alteration dept. and Kelsey ended up needing to find an alternative. She found her forever dress at Brides for a Cause and it was absolutely stunning on her! If you are ever on the hunt for a wedding dress in Portland, Tacoma, Seattle or Sacramento, check them out. Such a novel idea - they collect and resale wedding dresses for women-focused charities!

Getting Ready Bride
Wedding Details
Getting Ready
Getting Ready
Wedding Table
Bride Getting Ready
Bride Getting Ready
Bride Boots

On the day of their wedding, the weather forecast was for rain so we hoped for the best. We got their first look photos just fine, but by the time we were doing family portraits, the wind had picked up and everyone’s hair was being blown in every direction. It was pretty comical!

First Look - Groom
First Look
First Look
First Look

We next went to Wallowa Lake to get some couple shots of just Kelsey and Doug and those may just be my favorite ones from their big day. The light was perfect, and the time spent with just the two of them, delightful.

Wallowa Lake Wedding
Wallowa Lake Wedding
Wallowa Lake Bride
Wallowa Lake Wedding
Wallowa Lake Wedding

Kelsey hoped to get some shots with 9’s, their old man horse friend, so we headed over to the ranch and got what we could before it really started to rain.

Bride and Horse
Western Wedding
Western Wedding

On the way back to Doug’s parent’s house, we stopped for a quick porch shot at the Hurricane Creek Grange, where Doug’s grandmother had been a founding member. It was a sweet moment.

Hurricane, Oregon Grange Wedding
Bride and Groom

We got back to the house, enjoyed some downtime as the storm really blew in the rain came down. The view of the Wallowa mountains disappeared and we could see nothing. His mom lit the woodstove, and we all hunkered down. As sudden as they appeared, the clouds drastically moved on and the sun came out delivering the most spectacular view of the SNOWY Wallowa Mountains in the distance. I yelled “Kelsey, come see the SNOW on the mountains!!” and she was equally thrilled, sharing that Doug had been hoping this would happen. The first snow of the season!

Sure enough, everything looked brilliant. Family and friends rushed to wipe the water off the chairs, and the boys carried the arbor that Doug built and Kelsey decorated up to the front (watch it happen here!) The view was spectacular! That just-rained cleanse filled the air, and the wedding geared up full steam. It rolled outright without delays, along with Doug’s Auntie playing piano and their heartfelt vows exchanged. Doug’s dad was the perfect officiant. It was the first time I’ve heard toasts while the wedding party was at the altar - of which there were some super heartfelt ones by the BRIDE AND GROOM as well as the guests.

Arbor with Wallowas
Wallowa Wedding
Wedding Rings
Wedding
Wedding Flowers
Wedding Exit
Wedding Exit

Kelsey and Doug didn’t miss a beat with a pretty wonderful sendoff - riding the family John Deere tractor down the road!! How cool is that?!!

Wedding details
John Deere Tractor Wedding Exit
Wedding Exit on Tractor
Just Married on Tractor
Wedding Tractor
Wedding Tractor Detail
Photo Booth Wedding
Wedding Photo Strings Details
Wedding Cake
Wedding Table Details
Kids at Wedding
Wedding Rings
Wedding Dinner
Wedding Baby Guest
Wedding String Lights Sky

Despite the wild weather day, we absolutely got a lovely sunset and then some. That sky was spectacular. It was one of THOSE nights. Pretty amazing, in every way!!

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Their day was just perfect in every possible way. The next day, I drove back home to Idaho with a heart overflowing, having witnessed some kind of wonderful as well, knowing I had made some new best friends by the name of Kelsey and Doug. ❤️

* Update - I just had to share this sweet message from Kelsey:

Oh Amy! I just love how you captured our day. Thank you so much for this beautiful blog post! We are thrilled with your photos and feel so lucky to have been able to work with you and get to know you. You were absolutely the perfect fit for us! We are so grateful.

VENDOR TEAM

Photographer | Amy Isacson Photography

Couple | Kelsey + Doug

Dress | Brides for a Cause

Florals | Evelyn Frances Floral Design

Cake | Sugartime Bakery Oregon

Venue | The Wallowa Mountains

In Weddings, Mountain Wedding Tags Oregon Wedding, Wedding Photographer, Mountain Wedding, Western Wedding, Boise Wedding Photographer
17 Comments
Salmon River Wedding

Salmon River Idaho Wedding | Nicole + Mike

Amy Isacson August 25, 2021

The backstory of Nicole and Mike was recently published in How They Asked, a subsidiary of The Knot magazine. As skydivers, they met back in 2016 and have a rich history, which culminates in falling in love.

I jumped into the picture when I asked if they’d be down for a snowy couples photoshoot in fancy clothes. Yes, they were!! Quite possibly the most touching session to date, Mike proposed to an unsuspecting Nicole, complete with snowshoes and on one knee. Read about it here.

They opted for a weekend celebration with their family and friends, staying at the River View Cabins along the Salmon River, not far from where Nicole grew up.  Renting a jet boat,  Mike kicked things off in proper celebratory fashion by catching a 7 ' 10" sturgeon!  (fish photos, not mine)

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Their wedding day was perfect and HOT - with 100 degree temps, pretty true to Hells Canyon summers.  Their amazing community came together to create a most beautiful, heartfelt day.  Nicole was escorted down the aisle by her beautiful daughters, where she and Mike exchanged vows beneath an amazing arbor designed by her sister, in the shade of trees, with the Salmon running swiftly behind them.  Check out her amazing ring by Michellia Fine Jewelry - a large Austrailian boulder opal surrounded by diamonds!  Sweet details such as feather fly lures on Mike's and their officiant's hats, along with vibrant feather bow ties were super creative touches.  And the band the Dusty Huckleberries played some great music, pretty ideal for dancing along the river... 

Around sunset, Nicole was totally down for a dip in the river IN HER WEDDING DRESS.  Mike was game, too!!   Their love was radiant and their adventurous energy completely contagious.  A truly amazing day!  ❤️

Watch the rad video of their wedding here!

Planning a wedding? Let’s CHAT.

VENDOR TEAM

Photography: Amy Isacson Photography

Videography: Jack Isacson

Bride’s Dress: Spell & The Gypsy

Venue: River View Cabins

Ring: Michellia Fine Jewelry

Flowers: Farm to Market Florals

Music: The Dusty Huckleberries

Salmon River Wedding Arbor
Salmon River Wedding
Salmon River Wedding
Salmon River Wedding
Flower Girl - Salmon River Wedding
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Salmon River Wedding
Salmon River Wedding
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Florals - Salmon River Wedding
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Floral Crown. Salmon River Wedding
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Salmon River Wedding
The Dusty Huckleberries - Salmon River Wedding
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Salmon River Wedding
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Salmon River Wedding
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Rings - Salmon River Wedding
Salmon River Wedding
Salmon River Wedding
Bride's Floral Crown. Salmon River Wedding
Salmon River Wedding
Salmon River Wedding
Salmon River Wedding
River View Cabins - Salmon River Wedding
Salmon River Wedding
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In Weddings Tags Idaho wedding, Destination Wedding, Riverside Wedding, Boho Wedding, Boise Wedding, Idaho Wedding Photographer, Boise Wedding Photographer
8 Comments

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