Intimate Hurricane Ridge Wedding—Erica & Riley

Ice cubes rattled in my coffee as my car navigated turn after turn, climbing ever upward on the winding park road towards Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park. Every so often, I rounded another bend in the road and a vista opened up in front of me—cascading blue hills marching row by row, fading into pale green and blue with atmospheric perspective, and a glimmer of sun off the Strait of Juan de Fuca far below. The wind whistled by my open windows and waved energetically in the treetop spires of alpine firs, carrying the scents of forest and grass and clear mountain air into the car. Erica and Riley’s wedding day promised to be a glorious one!

We had begun the day at the Hair Solutions salon in Port Angeles, where Erica’s beautiful strawberry curls were gathered into a romantic up-do sprinkled with tiny white flowers and Bernadette of Beautiful You PNW worked her bridal beauty makeup magic. I love to join a bride during the “getting ready” portion of the wedding day—capturing the day as it unfolds—from the breathless anticipation, to the wonderful chaos, to the finished product. Seeing a girl transform into a bride is such an honor, and gives me the chance to participate more fully in the in-between moments of the day.

Erica finished her preparations surrounded by the happy clamor of bridesmaids and kiddos in the home she shares with Riley. Baby Silas put a smile on everyone’s face with his grins and giggles. After donning her gorgeous lace gown and champagne satin belt, Erica and her bridesmaids made the trek to Hurricane Ridge, seventeen miles south of Port Angeles, high in the Olympic Mountains. The drive begins by climbing the hills above town and passing through the Olympic National Park entrance booth, the road sheltered by a lush, leafy forest canopy. Occasional meadows open to either side of the highway, gradually giving way to alpine forests and row upon row of blue-green mountain peaks.

Riley awaited his bride under the shady branches of an alpine fir. A “First Look” is such a sweet, intimate moment for a bride and groom to share on their wedding day—having the chance to see one another before anyone else is so special! The rest of a wedding day can be a delightful swirl of chaos, so when a couple chooses to have a few quiet moments to themselves in the midst of the action, it’s a perfect opportunity for some relaxed portraits. The ceremony took advantage of the incomparable view, and Erica and Riley made sacred promises to each other against a background of solemn blue mountain peaks.

With the afternoon sun just starting to sink in the sky and the  shadows beginning to lengthen across the alpine meadow, Erica and Riley joined me for a few more portraits to celebrate their new marriage, resulting in some of my favorite images of the day! I’m always so honored when a couple chooses to take a few photos right after they’ve said their vows—the giddiness of having just become husband and wife fresh on their faces.

 

 

 

Florist: Bada Bean, Bada Bloom

Ceremony Location: Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park

Reception Venue: Port Angeles Yacht Club

Makeup: Beautiful You PNW

Hair Stylist: Angie at Hair Solutions PA

Officiant: Pastor Aaron Bacon

Gown: David’s Bridal

Cake: That Takes the Cake

DJ: DJ Jason Hooper

I am a destination Olympic Peninsula, Western Washington, & Pacific Northwest wedding photographer and engagement photographer who believes in photos that are adventurous and romantic. When I photograph your wedding, I gladly sign up to be a friend, a confidant, a resource for you during your wedding planning. I love my job as an Olympic Peninsula Wedding Photographer and I truly believe I have the BEST clients in the universe! You can browse through this blog for recent work, check out my updates on Facebook, or take a look at what’s going on in my life via Instagram. If you’d like me to photograph your wedding, contact me here or by using the Contact link above. I am now booking 2016 weddings!