A Rustic Chic Wedding | Albany, Oregon
I met Travis & Helen outside Archive in downtown Salem months ago to chat about their wedding. They’re such a low-key couple & we connected on a few different levels that it made it feel a little bit more personal for me. I pretty much instantly knew that I wanted to work with them & I was excited to see their vision for their wedding come to life!
Honestly, I had never heard of this place! It’s just a cute little horse ranch turned wedding venue, right off the freeway in Albany. If you blink you will drive right past, but oh man, there is so much to it! Gazebo, gardens, stables, etc. Because of the unpredictability of Oregon weather, they also have an area inside to host the ceremony &/or reception.
90’s country music anyone?
I really feel like they could be on the cover of an album. I love the groomspeople attire! It definitely fits with the whole rustic theme of the ranch & I also love that Travis’s sister was on his side of the wedding party. She was definitely giving him those good sister hugs. I love it when people switch things up for their weddings! They also had boutonnieres made with shotgun shells?! I’ve never seen that, but I was diggin’ it.
Bridesladies
Can we change ‘bridesmaids’ to bridesladies? I think it sounds better, & who calls a lady a maid anymore? This isn’t the 1400’s. Ladies just sounds more classy, & in this wedding, these laaadies looked pretty fricken classy if I do say so myself! That gorgeous red color, the lace, & their beautiful bouquets.
First Look
More & more people are opting to do a first look & I am so down for it. Usually when I have a meeting with a couple & they are on the fence about it I give them my little spiel on all of the pros of having one. Helen & Travis were a little unsure about it, wanting some traditional things to stay the same, but they talked it over & eventually decided to do one. But this wasn’t your run-of-the-mill first look!
Yup, there he is in all his glory. The Best Man. He literally had this dress on UNDER his clothes for over an hour. Helen had texted me a couple months ago saying she wanted to prank Travis during the first look, so I had to make sure I captured this moment. This was probably one of the best first looks I’ve ever witnessed lol.
Decor & Florals
Some of my favorites things to take photos of at a wedding are the flowers & decorations. Every wedding is different & I love being able to capture all the unique differences.
Cake
Oh the CAKE.
Probably one of my favorite parts of any wedding. & it doesn’t even have to be cake, it can be any dessert!
They had this Aspen tree inspired cake with eucalyptus & red roses. A gorgeous chocolate cake with raspberry filling on the inside for the couple.
& for everyone else, they had cookiedough & funfetti flavored cupcakes filled & topped with amazingly smooth buttercream!
Husband & Wife
Well, they did it, they got married! It’s always funny to see that relief come over a couple once the ceremony is finished. It’s like they can relax & just be. But then it’s time for photos with family & friends, mingling, dancing, food, & drinks! So, it’s not quite over yet, BUT they can let go of a little bit of the stress!
Let’s all say a huge CONGRATS to Travis & Helen!
I’m so glad I got to be there to capture your special day! It is always an honor when a couple wants me to be their photographer on such an important day, so thank you!
As always, if you or someone you know needs a photographer for anything, let me know! The best way to get that process started is to fill out a contact form & I will get back to you as soon as I can!
With all the love,
