Rikki and Darrel chose to get married in the historic town of Roseberry, Idaho. It was an absolute dream to document. A lot of planning went into making it so special and the attention to detail really paid off. The weather forecast called for an 80% chance of rain, though I only felt a couple of sprinkles the whole day! The weather gods favored us kindly, and the day got progressively more beautiful.

The details throughout the day were exceptional and it was evident a lot of time and effort went into each aspect of their day. From custom soles of her shoes (“Mrs. Cobb”") to the cake topper, it was such fun to witness! They also worked with a wedding planner (McCall Weddings) and it absolutely pushed things up a notch!

We had done engagement photos prior so I already had a connection with them and was eager to watch them tie the knot! If you are on the fence about engagement photos, they are absolutely worth it! This is your chance to get to know your photographer and gain a mutual rapport. Think of it as getting to know your new best friend. In most cases, we will be in the room with you getting ready, watching you experience one of life’s most momentous days, and documenting you sealing the kiss with your partner.

The love and connection between these two was one of the sweetest I’ve had the fortune of documenting. Their wedding took place on the grass facing the pasture of cows with the mountains in the background; pretty idyllic. They had their reception in the historic red barn with music and string lights, which really created a magical feel.

The earlier overcast gave way to the most spectacular sunset and of course, I was thrilled to get them out into the field for a few sweet moments together, sealed with a kiss.

Says Rikki about their day:

The smell of the old wood, the twinkle of all the little white lights, the huge double barns doors that open to a mountain view, cows in the pasture just beyond the arbor. It was a rustic setting with a romantic feel! We utilized the indoor barn for the reception and the outdoor lawn for the ceremony. Guests had the option to explore other historical buildings onsite before the wedding or during the reception.

Another reason for choosing this location, my husband’s son and daughter-in-law were married in the same barn 8 years earlier. Also, it just so happened to be available on our 2 yr dating anniversary.

The history of the barn itself is an interesting story, being over a 100 years old. Imagine all the stories that that old barn holds. Well, I just added my story to it!

Vendors

Rikki + Darrell’s Google review about working with me:

Far beyond our expectations! Amy makes you feel relaxed and comfortable. Her joy and excitement is contagious!

Vendors

Rikki + Darrell’s Google review about working with me:

Far beyond our expectations! Amy makes you feel relaxed and comfortable. Her joy and excitement is contagious!

Amy Isacson is an Idaho-based wedding + elopement photographer who creatively captures love in all its varied forms. As an artist at heart, she thrives on telling your unique story, one adventure at a time.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?!!

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!!

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