Mark & Katie’s Columbia Gorge Hotel wedding has easily risen to one of our top favorite 2016 weddings. This couple won our hearts on the day we met with them, again at their engagement session on the Columbia River and about a dozen times more throughout their wedding day. Mark and Katie are charming, sweet, salt of the earth people and their wedding was a true reflection of that.
With magnificent wedding planning by Kirsten from Bridal Bliss by our side, we had the pleasure of documenting a truly classy day unfold in a well organized, fun and seamless fashion. Columbia Gorge Hotel has been around for ages and it had been a while since we had the opportunity to shoot there. But when we stepped onto the grounds, we saw what care and detail was going in to make this a truly special and unique wedding experience. Kirsten was buzzing everywhere making sure every last detail was perfect. And it was!
We found Katie tucked into her honeymoon sweet with the sweetest group of bridesmaids, who tenderly watched her put the finishing touches on her classy, Art Deco style hair and makeup. Not a dry eye was in the house as her family saw her dressed in her gown for the first time. Including us! It’s hard not to get caught up in the emotions as you’re photographing such a powerful moment between loved ones.
As soon as Katie and Mark met each other on the iconic stone bridge of the Columbia Gorge Hotel, the day followed suit in a flurry of emotional moments, laughter, and romance. When the ceremony arrived, we were all awestruck by Mark and Katie’s floral entryway by Bella Blooms Florals, that welcomed guests and the soon to be newlyweds into their ceremony. It was simply amazing and even guests couldn’t help take photos of it.
After a beautiful wedding ceremony, the couple treated guests to a sunset cocktail hour overlooking the Columbia Gorge followed by a stunning ballroom reception. Mark and Katie charmed us with an adorable coordinated first dance, tear shedding speeches were delivered, an espresso cart made a late night appearance and the cherry on top of the evening was when Katie surprised Mark with a reception dress that she designed herself. And her mom sewed for her. A long time in the making and well worth the wait, much like Mark and Katie’s loving relationship and marriage.
If you finished reading this and haven’t fallen in love with Mark and Katie too, then we invite you to click through their wedding gallery and fall in love with their photos. We can’t wait to be back for another Columbia Gorge Hotel wedding…although this one will be hard to beat!
Amazing picture you rocked!