A. & D. | Two-day intimate wedding near Mukilteo Lighthouse and Snoqualmie Falls | PNW

This intimate wedding required more planning than any other before it. It was a two-in-one: an wedding with some guests followed by a love story adventure photoshoot.

Half a year before the wedding day, the couple contacted me and it took five meetings to sort out the timeline. The bride’s plan was a small wedding with 25 guests near Mukilteo Lighthouse in July. In search of a photographer who could capture the real emotions of that day, her exploration of my works led her to add an adventure with some refreshing hiking to make the whole thing even more exciting

She of course selected the right partner to collaborate with in bringing her plan to reality.

Two weeks out, we set out to Snoqualmie Falls to inspect the pathway and make sure the route would be feasible for the wedding day, for it can get wet and muddy this time of year. Permits were needed to access the area, and it would have been a shame if a permit was obtained while the terrain was still unsuitable. Luckily, our worries were alleviated when the route to Snoqualmie Falls was found to be in decent condition, enabling a perfect wedding adventure.

The grand day began with me documenting the bride and groom as they were getting ready separately in two hotel rooms. Just two words about the hotel: from its windows there was a breathtaking view, as if you were floating above the water. 

There was a lot to look forward to for both of them. The bride was going to dress up in a gown she bought a few years ago. When she saw it on a mannequin that day, she knew it was the dress of her dreams. Pearl jewelry was a gift from her parents, so she wore them with special excitement. Due to his nervousness, the groom couldn’t decide which perfume to wear on his big day, so he tried two at the same time. To relieve the tension, we turned on the groom's favorite band "Ocean Elzy", and their first look went like clockwork.

The first look  was a truly heartwarming event. We rehearsed with the groom how he should turn when the bride comes up to him from behind and lightly claps him by a palm. It was fun to watch how he waited for this pat while the bride pinched him instead of the agreed sign. However, when he finally turned around and saw his future wife, both could not contain their emotions, and neither could I. 

The ceremony was intimate, only with closest friends and relatives. Even an officiant was their friend. So, I felt like an honored guest, not simply a photographer in the background.

In the evening, we embarked on a hike, with me gathering some lovely shots. But the day's best shots were taken near the waterfall. Summer had graced us late this year, so the stream was rushing in full force, with a marvelous set of colors, sounds and smells – which were so wonderful that it almost seemed like an escapade with friends, and not a job! We played “Okean Elzy” and had so much fun dancing that the bride almost lost her veil in the water. Thanks to my hubby who caught it. 

We laughed our way through the day, and I feel truly grateful to have been there as a new family began its chapter.

The next day, I had the pleasure of visiting my newlyweds at their hotel. We had a rather playful boudoir session in the bath, and a light hearted romantic session roasting marshmallows. It was a delight to work with both of you, that evening being one of my favorites this summer.

These blissful moments are why I adore my job.

Kind words from the couple: 

Me and my husband chose Valerie to be our microwedding photographer due to her candid true-to-life photography style. We didn’t want traditional posed pictures, we were looking for someone who could capture our emotions, feelings and vibes in the moment. Valerie was ready to help us with the timeline, participated in the organization of the event and was ready to go above and beyond to make our day special. We had fun having her as our engagement and wedding photographer. Pictures were released in a timely manner, Valerie was easy to reach and communicative. Will highly recommend her for your future celebration.