where all the stories are savored
Dreaming of a trendy garden wedding in Portland? Discover why Blockhouse PDX is the perfect venue for your special day. This guide shares everything from design inspiration to planning tips for an unforgettable wedding. Learn how to make the most of this urban oasis and create beautiful memories at one of Portland's most unique venues.
I adore these two!! We’ve been chatting about their wedding since early 2019, and it’s been an honor to both watch and walk alongside them in this journey! They have been absolute CHAMPS as they’ve rolled with the punches of 2020 and plan changes! I’m so grateful to have couples who are so gracious and still choose to experience all the joy a day holds — no matter what it looks like!
This intimate wedding was a small gathering of their close friends and a few family members — joined by a zoom party of other guests (of course)! They truly chose presence, and the whole wedding day was so fun to be a part of! I loved everything about these sweet moments.
So so so thankful that I get to witness some pretty amazing stories!
DRESS // BHLDN
SUIT // INDOCHINO
FLORALS // POPPIES & PAISELY
VENUE // TENDUE
PLANNER + STYLING // ROSEDAE EVENTS CO.
CATERER // WHITE PEPPER
As many of you know — I have an equal love for all things adventure in nature AND a love for the creativity a city photo shoot holds! So, exploring down town with these two was so fun. Every corner was a new adventure and challenge to create a meaningful image!
AND, a fun story from this shoot! After chatting a bit, we realized Scott is IN the band that did Josiah and I’s first dance song!!!!! WHAT THE HECK?! Basically, I met a celebrity and had a starstruck moment when I found out hehe. So, everyone should go check out @mybrothersandi and also go listen to the song Fly Away. K, that’s all. I adore these two.
I also found a list of the 50 most beautiful cities in the world, while that may be kind of subjective, I still found myself wanting to go to every single one of them! So, check them out and maybe we can go explore one of them while doing photos! ;)
This gorgeous city wedding at Castaway in downtown Portland, Oregon was the perfect way to wrap up 2019! A winter wedding in the urban scapes was all sorts of dreamy! And, a little extra snuggly! ;)
Allie and Andrew’s day was SO FUN! From giddy getting ready moments to the biggest dance party every! Their winter wedding was effortless and joy filled the whole day through!
Enjoy these moments from their day and scroll to the bottom to see the amazing team that put all these details together!
ENJOY!!
VENUE // CASTAWAY, PORTLAND
STYLIST + PLANNER // RACHEL ROSE EVENT PLANNING
FLORIST // NOBLE FLORAL CO
DRESS // ESSENCE OF AUSTRALIA, ANIA BRIDAL
GROOM’S ATTIRE // MEN’S WEARHOUSE
DESSERT + CAKE // NOTHING BUNDT CAKES
DJ + VIDEO // 1859 ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY
There are so many incredible locations to head to for your engagement photos - and the CITY is one of those! We explored The Pearl district in Portland, OR for Joey and Allison’s engagement session!
I love all the dynamic lines and angles the city offers for photos — every corner is a new challenge and canvas to make a good photo. There is so much creativity to be had in urban-scapes, and I’m grateful to all my couples who trust me to co-create images with them in those kind of spaces!
I met Jay & Meagan for tea over a year before their wedding day — and I knew right from the start I wanted to capture their wedding day! The joy the carried was undeniable! I was immediately drawn to their vision of an intimate, October, city wedding in Portland — surrounded by a small group of their closest friends and family.
Fast forward to a year + a couple months later, their day was just as dreamy as I imaged it when they described their vision the summer before. Fall colors, moody Oregon skies, a minimalistic industrial space, earthy tones, decor that was unique and special to them and who they are, and an intimate setting to make their promises to one another. It was beautiful.
The Portland Baker Building is STUNNING. The space is full of warm woods and white walls, with soft window light — it’s a creatives’ dream for urban, minimalism!
I was blown away by the love these two share! Every piece of the day was meaningful, everything had a purpose or was special to them. The gifts — their wedding song lyrics, an “inside joke” shirt, and a pair of dream shoes. The decor — old, collected books, intricate beer steins, and posters with poems. Dinner — the BEST pizza (that’s their thing — see engagement photos hehe).
And, the most emotional moment, the last few pictures of this day…
Jay had written Meagan a song, a secret song. As the night drew to an end, he pulled her into a side room and sat her down. When he started singing, I think we all had goosebumps and tears. These two truly cherish one another, deeply. Those last photos remind me why I do what I do… it’s not about the perfect room, or the most aesthetic space… it’s about those moments. The ones that wreck you and remind you that you’re capturing a small piece of a much bigger story. And that, is an incredible honor.
I. MAKE IT YOU. Like Meagan and Jay did, bring in little details that speak to you and your relationship — wear sneakers, bring old books, eat some pizza — you do you.
II. LOOK AT EACH OTHER A LOT. These two had the most in love looks, even across the room. Remember to take time to soak it up, stare into each others eyes, get all mushy gushy, this is your day!
III. GO SOMEWHERE SPECIAL. They really wanted to walk across the street and do photos in a coffee shop they loved! That’s awesome! Somewhere you really want to do photos?! Let’s do it! There is no “normal.”
VENUE SPACE: Baker Building, Portland Oregon
FLORALS: Sammy’s Flowers
This urban wedding at the Castaway in downtown Portland was the perfect blend of vintage meets modern. Every aspect was timeless and each detail was creatively and beautifully thought through! I mean, just scroll down and check out the GORGEOUS whimsical arch that they built themselves for the ceremony! I want it in my house!
Castaway is a rad urban venue with a clean slate for all your creative ideas! Every time I shoot there, I find new spaces to photograph and explore. This time, it was a modern white brick building on the corner — a stunning, minimalistic backdrop for their first look and other wedding party photos! There’s something that seems to fit every couple there!
All the tables were set with books, handmade bowls (that Johnny created himself, AMAZING), and vintage Portland postcards with table letters for seating. For the Love of Floral also created STUNNING florals for the entire space, with colors that made everything come to life and glow in the late afternoon sun.
Emily & Johnny’s day was incredible, full of so much love and life — not to mention vows that made me sob behind the camera! It’s an honor to capture a love story that is so so so drenched in pure love and commitment to the journey together. Emily and Johnny have such sweet and gentle spirits, yet their love is fierce for one another.
I’m so excited to share these few highlighted moments throughout their day!
VENDORS //
DRESS // A&BE
FLORALS // FOR THE LOVE OF FLORAL
VENUE // CASTAWAY, PORTLAND
WEDDING PLANNER + STYLIST // POP FIZZ CLINK
HAIR + MUA // BLOSSOM & BEAUTY
DJ // JOHN ROSS MUSIC
This minimalist, trendy styled shoot at The Portland Studio made my creativity cup overflow!! There’s something so special about being able to do shoots like this, to put together something that invites artists and business babes to collaborate on something unique and fun!
First, I just need to say – to all your creatives out there, make time for things like this. Make time for the fun projects and for pushing the box to do something that sounds different and exciting! During off season, it’s easy to feel “land locked” if you’re not shooting a ton! So, whenever I start to feel that oh-so-common creative block, I always try to put something together that will feel life giving and allow all those artsy juices to flow! I find that shoots like this strengthen my creative ability for all my clients – they make my work SO much stronger and allow space to try new things!
This editorial photo shoot was not only a JOY to be a part of, but I wanted it to be an inspiration to both other creatives AND to all couples. I want anyone who is planning a wedding, elopement, or just couples photos to see that there are no limits to the vision you want! You never have to stick with what a wedding day “should” look like. Make it your own. Let the vibe of the day speak to who you are! And, if that means wearing a badass jumpsuit and pearl cape, THEN HECK YES YOU CAN DO THAT!
Ok, also… everyone who poured into making this shoot possible is INCREDIBLE!! If you’re planning your wedding or just fell in love with some aspect of this collaboration, then please scroll to the bottom and check out all the wonderful humans who were a part of this!
Everyone who made this possible…
PHOTO // Corrie Mahr Photo
STYLING // Mod & Maple
DRESS // Claire La Faye
MUA // Styled By Mal
PAPER // Linen & Poppi
LOCATION // The Portland Studio
JEWELRY // OPALMILK
MODELS // Talia Hope (+ her boo)
FURNITURE // Vintage Meets Modern
oh boy, whatta good day with these two babes! I mean, who wouldn’t want to spend an hour all cuddly and being goofy with your boo? They snuggled their booties off, had crazy tickle fights, AND did some insane (and hilarious) “acrobatics” … be sure to scroll to the end to see those. ;)
kyra and michael were part of our home sweet home giveaway! which so many rad creatives contributed to. I’ll put a list at the end of the post so you can check out all their work. SO. GOOD.
also, the bindery in mcminnville is the absolute cutest space, and even had this cozy little living room set up for us to play around in! Seriously, check them out, they have everything!!
autumn in the pacific northwest always reminds me how nice it is to do in home sessions, escaping the rain and snugglin’ up! So, lots more of those please!
HOME SWEET HOME GIVEAWAY CREATIVES:
PHOTOGRAPHER // Corrie Mahr
VIDEOGRAPHER // The Pair Visuals
HOUSE PLANT // Uflora Planthouse
BOTANICAL PAINTINGS // Inhaling Art
EMBROIDERED HAND TOWELS // Sarah Rosella Cuevas
CERAMIC SET // Susannah Ceramics
These two had a trendy, downtown Portland Oregon wedding at Union/Pine, complete with all the urban vibes, margarita cheers, and THE BEST taco bar! Makenzie was STUNNING in her sleek Alexandra Grecco dress and her badass lace up boots! Definitely the hippest couple I know! We laughed, cried, and danced the night away!
