For a photographer in Oregon, a Mt. Hood Organic Farms wedding is like an Eiffel Tower wedding…. Ok, maybe not quite the same thing but if you’ll just indulge me. When you arrive at Mt. Hood Organic Farms, you are greeted with a jaw dropping view of our region’s prized Mt. Hood. From this venue, you receive a vantage point that is unparalleled. If I was a bride, or Daniel was a groom, there’s simply no way we could say no to this backdrop once we set our eyes on it. Which is what we’re guessing happened for Dan and Ellen, who exchanged their vows and began their marriage right there in front of this beautiful mountain.
Dan and Ellen are a special couple. One who have been together for roughly 15 years before getting married. They’re the type where friends and family are just patiently waiting and tapping their toes for them to tie the knot. Sometimes you wait a little bit though, you have careers, travels, cross country moves and just plain enjoy your relationship before you decide to marry. And when you meet Dan and Ellen, you completely know the expression, “It’s like they’re already married.” They finish each other’s sentences, know the other’s every nuance, still reference nicknames from college and have recurring inside jokes from years past. You can just tell have such a long lasting mutual love and respect for each other that was built on the years they’ve spent together. They’re just so easy, effortless and fun to be around.
As you can imagine, this is a wedding photographer’s dream couple. When Dan and Ellen’s wedding day on the mountain arrived, we just slipped right into their effortless day. We were quickly treated like old friends of everyone and we started documenting their history as fast as we could. Their ceremony at the Mt. Hood Organic farms picturesque ceremony site was equal parts sweet and charming, followed by a relaxed cocktail hour where we watched (and photographed) Dan and Ellen greet nearly every single person and have a genuine conversation with them too.
For those who don’t know, a Mt. Hood Organic Farms wedding is seamlessly coordinated by none other than Cassandra Cass. She runs a beautifully organized day, with no fuss and all the comfort a bride and groom deserve. Cocktail hour moves from the big lawn down to the dinner and dancing site which is set against the mountain. Guests enjoyed an incredibly fresh and delicious farm to table meal, in an open air atrium setting. This is followed by speeches, cake and of course…an epic dance party. The checkered board dance floor is lit by hanging lanterns and the DJ (who is always excellent at this venue) keeps guests dancing their asses off without so much as checking their watches once before the evening is done. Our groom Dan, once a DJ himself in college, surprised (or not surprised) us all by leading the dance floor song after song, serenading his bride with Billie Jean and making everyone get in the party spirit. When the night was done, we drove our 90 minutes back to Portland, smiling and recounting the memories of photographing Dan and Ellen’s day. And we hadn’t even looked at our photos yet. You can’t ask for much more as a wedding photographer. Thank you Dan, Ellen & Mt. Hood Organic Farms!
Thanks, Steven!
Amazing. I always look forward to your blogs. Well done.