Josephine and Phil’s intentional, adventure-filled wedding on top of a mountain in Oregon
Phil and Josephine have an incredible story about how they got engaged!
They had both been interested in proposing to each other and decided to have an engagement ‘open season’ where either could propose. But the wild thing is… they both had the exact same idea about how to propose, and they each proposed at the same time, same place, in the same way!! Their synchronicity is absolutely incredible.
They brought that same shared intentionality into their wedding plans, crafting a day that felt like a joyful adventure and an authentic reflection of their life values.
They decided to have their wedding out in Oregon, where Phil is from originally. They knew that they would have a lot of their family and friends traveling in from out of town, and so they sought out a wedding venue that would have a beautiful outdoor setting that would reflect their love of nature, and they also wanted to choose a place that would easily accommodate all of their guests staying nearby so that everyone could arrive and relax and enjoy a celebratory weekend together.
The amazing venue they found was the Mount Hood Skibowl in Oregon, which is on a mountain with a view of Mount Mood. The setting was so unique - guests took a chairlift up to their wedding ceremony, and then took an alpine slide back down to the bottom of the mountain for their reception!!
As we talked about their wedding plans and how they envisioned the day, I heard so much about their community - their family and friends, their sweet niblings, their wedding party (which was one big shared wedding party with all of their closest people). They were so excited to be able to gather together with all of their friends and family from different parts of their life to join together in one spot, to spend the evening dancing and celebrating with everyone.
A pre-wedding adventure session at Tamanawas Falls in Oregon
The day before their wedding, we actually started their photography with a pre-wedding adventure session! They had an engagement session included in their wedding package and we had decided to do it the day before their wedding ceremony.
It was a lovely way for them to be present together and start off their wedding weekend, and was also a wonderful way for us to document more of the nature and mountains and setting in this place that was so meaningful to them. So we met up and spent an afternoon hiking along this beautiful trail to Tamanawas Falls - we got pictures with a lot of happy energy, full of nature, and ending at the most epic waterfall!
The most epic first look on top of a mountain at the Mount Hood Skibowl in Oregon
I met up with Josephine right away and followed her and her sister as they rode up the chairlift, and she finished getting ready in a sweet little cabin surrounded by a few friends.
Tyler (my partner and second photographer) met up with Phil separately once he arrived, and they took the chairlift up to the very top of the mountain.
When Josephine was ready, she and I made our way to the top of the mountain as well, and I photographed theri first look, as Josehpine walked up to Phil and they shared a moment together. It was such an epic, incredible setting - with Mount Hood in the background, surrounded by trees and sky and mountains. We spent some time exploring the area, and then made our way back to their ceremony area to capture some portraits with their wedding party and families. These pictures are so full of sun and joy, and again the incredible mountains in the background, and they feel super special and happy!
I love this moment of Josephine, very literally surrounded by friends and family helping her to get ready.
Josephine and Phil’s first look on top of the mountain in Oregon
A panorama composite (that I made with multiple pictures stitched together!) of Phil and Josephine on top of the Mount Hood Skibowl, taking in the scenery and taking a romantic moment together.
Portraits with Josephine and Phil’s wedding party and families, with Mount Hood in the background!
An epic, joyful moment with Phil and Josephine’s wedding party!
Josephine and Phil’s Quaker wedding ceremony full of community
Phil and Josephine had an incredible wedding ceremony with a view of Mount Hood behind them. Their Quaker ceremony included periods of silence (which felt wonderfully serene with the sounds of nature and the view of the mountain around us), a time when any guest could stand up to share a blessing or reflection or memory or kind words for the couple. Josephine and Phil each spoke, sharing promises and commitments to each other as well as to their community and world.
After their ceremony, the couple stepped away for a few quiet, celebratory minutes together, before rejoining their guests for a few extended family photos. As everyone filed out of the ceremony, their guests stopped to sign their wedding certificate (which was a stunning piece of artwork in itself!) and then made their way to the Alpine Slide for an epic trip down the mountain, to the cocktail hour waiting for them at the bottom. Talk about a grand entrance!
Josephine and Phil made promises not only to each other, but also to their community during their wedding ceremony. And yes, it made me weep - such a beautiful moment.
The most epic and romantic kiss, surrounded by their community and a breathtaking landscape.
Phil and Josephine taking the alpine slide down the mountain on their way to their reception!
Phil and Josephine’s relaxed, happy reception
They had an incredible rest of their party - a cocktail hour on the patio, a relaxing dinner inside their stunning tent, toasts that made everyone laugh and tear up, and some beautiful dancing outside on the patio.
Josephine and Phil, it has truly been an honor to be your photographer! Your wedding day was unique and authentic to you in so many ways - from the literal adventures of hiking and alpine slides and mountain tops, to the intentional commitments you made to your community during your ceremony, to the romantic sunset portraits we took together. It’s been so inspiring and fun to collaborate with you as your photographer, and I’m so happy for you both! Thank you for everything, and congratulations.