Archives : Bend Oregon

{Mia + Gabe} Traditional Jewish Wedding; McMenamins Old St. Francis Bend, Oregon

By: Wendy Roe

Mia + Gabe’s wedding was especially interesting to me because of the beautiful traditions it included.  Growing up Jewish, memories of the blessing of the wine and bread came flooding back to me and I felt again like I was 8 years old sitting in the synagogue with my parents swinging my legs.  The ceremony and even the signing of the ketubah beforehand had profound significance…and Rabbi Jay did an amazing job to keep it light, heartfelt and special – even through deep faith.

The whole community came together in support for Mia + Gabe.  This shy and sweet couple were surrounded by their parents for a hour as blessing after blessing were shared.  One of the highlights for us was when Mia walked around Gabe seven times and of course the smashing of the glass by Gabe that brought cheers from the guests.

Mia + Gabe, congratulations on your wedding and sharing your faith and community with us!  Rabbi Jay even had us put the cameras down and join in on Shabbat, holding hands with the rest of the guests.  It reminded us all to breath in the moment and share in support for the newly wed couple.  Congrats and may all of life’s happiness come to you and your new (soon-to-be) family!

Mazel Tov,

B + W

{Artist Series}

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LOVE, LOVE…so sweet

Another favorite of the two of you, relaxing after the ceremony was complete.

Mia, pregnant and all, you still got it!!  What a beauty.

 

{Originals}

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Custom bird houses as guest favors.

They featured these lamps in their e-session as well!

Rabbi Jay giving words of wisdom to Gabe..moments before the ceremony.

Mia’s shoes were shipped from England, they were FAB.

Gabe signing the Ketubah – a Jewish wedding contract.

They exchanged rings on their right hands at the beginning of the ceremony and then switched them to the left hand at the end.

Mia walking around Gabe seven times…

Breaking the glass – always a crowd pleaser

…even Byron wore a Yamika.

Right after the ceremony, as is custom, the bride and groom share up to 20 minutes of alone time.

These family pics were too cute to not share on the blog.

Now that’s SCARY!!  Mia was a little nervous but bit the bullet and did it too.

All the guests dance the Hora…so fun

 

Special thanks to the vendors that made this day possible for Mia + Gabe:
Venue, Food, Bar: McMenamins
DJ: John Bramhall Entertainment
Dress: Cordially Invited
Cake and Cupcakes: Ida’s Cupcakes
Officiant: Rabbi Jay Shupack

 

To Cam, From Kira; Shevlin Park Pre-Wedding Engagement Photography Bend, Or

My Love,

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Kira + Cam,

You both have such a sweet charm and quality about you.  It’s been so much fun getting to work with you and know you a bit better, Kira through Adfed and Cam, meeting you at the shoot!  Knowing your family has a portrait studio, Natural Impressions Photography, we are humbled you chose us to capture some fun candid images here and for your big day.  We’ll have to get the background story of your nickname too, by the way!  That’s awesome.  Enjoy some of our favorites and highlights below and thanks again!  We’ll see you in a few months at Rock Springs Guest Ranch.

All the best,

B + W

…a taste of our new pano pics

The coverage bridge in Shevlin Park is one of our favorites because of it’s character.

Okay seriously, the boots just rocked it

Look at those gorgeous eyes Kira!

Love the boots and casualness of this – it’s like you do this everyday or something.

Cam, you brought some serious moves to the table – can’t wait to see you show them off at the wedding.

The Right Person, The Right Moment – Family Portraits; Bend, Oregon

There’s times in your life when the right person comes along at the right time – out of the blue – and forever makes an impact.  Sharon is one of those special people, with big smiles and an even bigger heart.  She was a recommendation from a former bride when we were on the hunt for a caretaker for our dogs during our recent wedding shoot in Mexico.  Our ‘kids’ (our dogs, Miles and Dizzy of course!) were getting older and needed some extra special attention.  Dizzy has been having some trouble with a tumor on her arm and we thought it would be best to have someone take care of her and stay at the house.

The worst happened and during our trip, Dizzy very rapidly went downhill and passed away.  Without Sharon’s dedication and love, the experience would have been extremely difficult (as it was, losing a pet you’ve spent 13 years with is tough enough!).  There’s not enough gratitude in the world that we can share to say thank you.  As a tribute and small token of thanks, we invited Sharon and her adorable 12 year Boston Terrier, Brodie, to do some formal portraits.

Sharon, you are a God-send and true friend.

Many, many thanks,

B + W

LOVE this – just wanna kiss his forehead.

These are the kind of shots where I wonder what Brodie is thinking….

Ultimate bliss – smothered with love!

Byron: “Brodie!  Brodie, over here”  Brodie: “huh?”

To Dwayne From Jessica; Pre-Wedding Engagement Photography, Seventh Mountain Resort, Oregon

Dear Dwayne,

So there we were…

A lot has happened since I first saw you at the dining facility during our first deployment over four years ago (While making fun of me for eating rice with toothpicks, thanks =P). We went from focused sergeants wanting to retire as ornery old soldiers to an “us” planning a family and dreaming of mysteriously losing toddlers in a snowbank (I TOLD you it was deeper than you thought! =P). Things changed so suddenly since we met. Granted, it did take three years for you to talk to me, and it went horribly wrong, and I felt incredibly stupid, and I made you feel stupid, but baby steps, yeah?

I’ve been trying to make up those cool points ever since (You have to admit, my clumsy attempt at the damsel-in-distress bit eventually achieved the desired outcome. I never claimed to be an actress), but I’m starting to think that is just the effect you have on me.

Even if I tried, I couldn’t imagine not having you in my life. And, even then, just being around you isn’t enough; I always want you by my side. Always. When I’m out shopping for socks, I want you there to make sure they have enough cushioning. Yeah, that serious. You got me good, Sergeant.

That being said, I am formally handing over that 2062. Please print, sign, and date in column “A”. But like everything in the Army, you will have to “hurry up and wait” a bit for your government issue Baby Koh. It’ll come soon enough though and then we can fix that “not-being-with-you” stuff. I promise, today and every day after, I will love the hell out of you (Sorry, had to tone it down, but it’s the same level of affection, I swear).

Always,

your Baby Koh

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Jessica + Dwayne,

Flat out, you two make a great team.  It was obvious from the first moments we both met you and how many laughs and smiles were tossed around in such a short period of time!  Thank you for planning your vacation to Bend, Oregon around us and your engagement session – what a treat!  For our blog readers out there, Jessica + Dwayne both serve in the Army, stationed at different bases, have both been deployed several times to Iraq and have both never spent too much time in the snow (like second time ever).  We had the pleasure of shooting with them around Seventh Mountain Resort and the bridge at Tetherow.  Fearless as they both are, they went ice skating and snowboarding on their trip and even jumped on a sleigh (okay, that was just for us but you get our drift!).

All the best,

B + W

One of our favs from the first part of the session – smiles all around!

Jessica, you are STUNNING!  Love the light and each of your expressions here.

Jessica has a beautiful ambigram on her arm that says “Faith” and when you turn it over “Hope.”

The Seventh Mtn. Resort had beautiful decorations up!

We didn’t last long (it was 20 degrees!) but we snuck over to Tetherow to snap a few at sunset!

Back at Seventh Mountain Resort, we played around on the sleigh…the reindeer were on a break now that the holidays were over

Intimate, simple, beautiful….

Trying to warm up by the outside fire…it produced a beautiful glow!

Jessica, you’re beautiful!  (I’m sure Dwayne says that all the time!)

To Jenni + Ian; From Heather + Jon – Wedding Photography Central Oregon

Hello my friends….

Well…it is with much love that I write this letter to you both. Jon has asked to be incorporated as well. So…here it goes

Your wedding day was so much fun to be part of from start to finish. It was more than we could have ever wished for you both. We love you both so much and are so proud of the couple you are so far and the couple you are yet to be. We can tell you from our own personal experience, the first year is tough. A few things to remember when you are in the middle of that year…

1. When you are frustrated… think back to the day you married each other and how happy you were. Smile at that and let whatever it is that you are upset about go.

2. Make time for yourselves as a couple…date night is important!! Keep doing it.

3. Family is a very important and hard part of any marriage, but sometimes…you need a break from family. And that is ok.

4. Have fun…and laugh a lot. Even at yourselves.

Lastly…Ian… Please remember… for every season, there is a “pumpkin spice”.

We look forward to our future children growing up and running around with all of our dogs in the backyard!! Slip and slides and all! Here’s to many years of BBQ’s, Beer pong, and Christmas days with God’s beard and the “hangover”.

Love,

Heather and Jon Seethoff
(Bride’s Brother and Sister-In-Law/Best Friend)

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Jenni + Ian,

Talk about a flawless day!  You can’t go wrong with an 80 degree day in October, a sexy car to parade around town and a dolled up, smashing bride and groom!  It was as easy working with you both as if we’d known you for years.  We knew it was going to be fun, if the engagement session said anything, we knew the wedding was gonna be awesome.  You two compliment each other in every way and the intimate friends and family ceremony reflected the warmth, humor and pull that you both have.  One of our favorite parts was at the ceremony ending when you both had to look at each other and practice the words, “You’re right; I’m wrong; I’m sorry.”

We wish you the very best in your next adventure and fun in the sun in Cabo!

B + W

Special thanks to our vendors:
Coordination: Events By Mint
Cupcakes and Cake: Enlightened Patisserie
Flowers: Wild Flowers of Oregon
Getting Ready: The Oxford Hotel
Bar: Twist Cocktails
Food: Country Catering Co.
Dress: Anna’s Bridal – Portland

Jessica Simpson shoes

Getting ready at The Oxford Hotel

Jenni, you’re beautiful!  Playing around because the bride was ready before the groom…ahhhem, Ian.

All time FAVORITES of the day!  And yes, I did kiss Wendy when I saw this shot.

The groom (middle) and groomsmen take the ‘Stang for a spin…and yes, the guy in the corvette is jealous.

Their ‘first look’   Love how the light cuts right down the middle of the frame.

OH YEAH.  This is the kinda shot we wanted all day.  Smokin’ hot you two.

After the first look and a little spin downtown, we headed to Drake Park for formals…

We don’t traditionally post a lot of formals on the blog but this was too good to pass up.  Ian, you the man!

I was stoked to have a little helper show me how beautiful the rings were

The most dainty fall cupcakes courtesy of Enlightened Patisserie!

Practicing for the big moment of being a flower girl!

They reserved a private residence on Awbrey Butte for their nuptials…hoping for good weather!

The moment before the kiss, so sweet!

The signing of the contract, I mean…Marriage Certificate.

Jenni looking sassy!  Love this shot

The flow of the dress here is beautiful Jenni…

Adorable you two

A secret spot on Awbrey Glen Golf Course

Family Portraits with the Chapins; Portrait Photographer Bend Oregon

Melissa approached me a few weeks ago and said that her daughter, Amelee, was growing big so fast and that she wanted to freeze a moment in time at this adorable stage before she blinked and it was gone.  We had the pleasure of spending some play moments with Melissa, Amelee and Lucas as we snapped away.  You gotta move quick because kids are so SQUIRMY!

…back to brides in a little bit but we pause to bring you this adorable little cutie and her family for a special surprise to Brian (well sort of surprise!).

Thanks Melissa!

B + W

Getting ready, deciding what to wear…decisions, decisions.

Wipe that tear away little one!

Lucas playing in his sand pit

Melissa and the kids….surprise Brian!

My personal fav….CUTIE!