I never wanted to get married, it’s true.
And yet, I’ve always been fascinated with wedding photos.
While I don’t seek them out, if there happens to be a wedding magazine readily available, I will pick it up, thumb through it, and either exclaim over or (more often) mock the gowns, the table settings, and whatever decorations may be in place.
Every now and then there would be a wedding (always out-of-doors; generally in the woods) glamorized on some DIY wedding blog and I’d think, “IF I were to ever get married, I’d want a wedding something like that.”
Well, I did get married. And now, I want to share it.
So today, just for today, I’m going to pretend that this blog is a wedding blog and I’m going to tell you a bit about our wedding day… with photos!
*Unless noted, all photos were taken by the oh-so-lovely Lorijo Daniels. She’s awesome. You want her to take your photo!
Our Vision
We envisioned all of our friends and family joining us to help create the wedding. We wanted the people we love spending the day with us, helping us decorate, cooking food, and just hanging out and getting to know each other.
We know that it is our community that sustains us both as a couple and as individuals and wanted our wedding to truly be a community event.
The Setting:
We held the wedding in the woods at YMCA Camp Collins, located on the Sandy River, right next to Oxbow Park, a park that is dearly loved by both of us.
How it all came together:
Our families did all of the cooking for the wedding feast, our friends showed up early to help decorate and finish prepping the food, my brother married us, Jami did my make-up (so beautifully), and the amazing Emma peeled over 60 apples to make homemade apple crisp which she served hot from the oven.
Here we attempt to hang huge swaths of silk I’d dyed gorgeous shades of turquoise.
In fact, over the course of several evenings I had dyed three 10’X55″ swaths of silk, 31 scarves, 25 handkerchiefs, and 27 yards of ribbon. These doubled as decorations and take-home gifts for attendees. Fun!
I adore my friends. Here two of them are creating boutonnières and corsages for family members. Check out the super beautiful fern and leaf clippings they foraged. In the background you can see some brilliant pom-poms waiting to be hung. (Photo by Mom).
Ah. What would I do without Emily? She provided the lovely vintage tablecloth-sheets. She suggested the pom-poms. She told me what colors to use to complement my turquoise and turmeric obsession. Then, she hand-painted wooden signs for us and sewed me the most awesome Owl in the world (Photo by Mom). Hot damn!
Earlier that morning, my dad, brother, and brother-in-law headed out on a secret mission to Cascade Locks to procure freshly caught wild salmon from tribal fishers. That evening, they grilled up four HUGE salmons – the best ever eaten. 🙂 Photo by Dad.
This is one of my favorite photos. It’s meta! Lorijo is fixing my hair. Tom, who takes absolutely incredible black and white film photos, is patiently waiting. Photo by Dad.
The dress! Everyone wants to know about the dress, right?!
Well, if you happen to have a difficult to fit figure like I do, Cocoon Silk on NW 23rd Ave is the only place to go for the most amazing dress you’ll ever wear.
They specialize in custom made gowns created from spectacular, handmade Cambodian silk.
Savonna and his staff will personally help you choose the style that will best suit you (and your circumstances) and then make certain it fits you perfectly.
I wanted a dress that was flow-y and fitted, that wouldn’t take up a lot of space, that would be easy to wear and fun to walk and dance in. I totally got it.
I hate shopping (I always end up feeling like a freak because nothing ever fits me correctly) and yet, I loved every moment of my time spent at Cocoon Silk.
The Ceremony:
The ceremony was brief, sweet, and perfect. My brother officiated. The Mukluks played beautiful music for us. A hawk soared overhead.
Note: check out how dashing my soon-to-be-husband looks in his perfectly tailored vest and pants (also from Cocoon Silk).
The Mukluks – Peter and Monique.
Yes, Baby Mukluk is on the way! Very soon. Please send blessings and well wishes their way. Thank you.
Also, The Mukluks just released their first two singles. They are awesome. And, I’m not just saying that because I happen to be fortunate enough to be friends with them. I’m saying that because they are. Awesome. 🙂
We did it! Standing before our family and friends for the first time as husband and wife.
Finally, thank YOU (yes, you)!
To all who read (this and the last post), commented, and sent or thought nice things, thank you.
And, an extra huge Thank You to those of you who participated in or attended our wedding as well.
Every one of you is part of our community and I’m so grateful you are in our lives. Much, much, much love!
PS. I posted a bunch more photos over at Google+. For now they are posted publicly and everyone can view. Soon, I’ll change it so only people in my circles can view my pictures; I’ll leave them public for as long as I can stand though.
And, if you aren’t on G+ and want an invite, let me know.
Comment Magic:
For a woman who had never dreamed of getting married, I somehow had a dream wedding. I am in awe of and inspired by the generosity, support, and love of our friends and families – both present and not. Truly, the entire day felt enchanted.
What I’d love to hear from you today is congratulations, well wishes, and stories of your own Enchanted Day – whatever it may be, wedding or otherwise.
(more love)
Gorgeous and lovely and perfect! Thank you so much for sharing this story! (Totally love that you got your salmon from Native fishers — it’s the only way to go!) Your dress is just magic, too. Many many blessings. xo
Jesse! Thank you. Yes, the salmon was SO delicious. I overheard so many comments about it being the best salmon they’d ever had. 🙂
What a beautiful place to celebrate your joining! And what a gorgeous gorgeous dress… very uniquely you, the best.
Every day is a magic day for me and with a hard freeze last night, it is raining colorful leaves! Today’s magic!
I’m imagining frozen, brilliant leaves raining down. So very beautiful! Thank you for sharing one of your magic days, Lenny. 🙂
Hey Larissa! I was just thinking about you yesterday. Thanks so much for sharing your wedding. I love, love, love your dress, and that you did so many things yourselves. We had the same approach to our wedding (I even hand made mints), and involving family and friends made it so much more special and more full of community. Turqoise is beautiful.
Hugs and Many Congratulations,
Jen
Hi Jenn 🙂
Handmade mints! That takes me back to my childhood… my mother was the mint-maker for many, many weddings. I’ve pressed thousands of them myself. What fun!
Thank you for sharing your photos and commentary Larisa.
What a very special day you had! My heart is full of happiness for you.
Peace
Judy
Thank you, Judy.
I am so so very over the moon for you my darling. I LOVE that you shared this enchanted day with us – so honoured, I know how private you can be.
And I am so pleased for you both. It looked like such a beautiful day, the whole thing sweet being of light! And to think that you two are embarking on this adventure that will be even more expansive, light and joyful. I am so darn happy for yooooo!!! xxx
I am proud to have you as my friend from over the pond and to have worked with you this year my love. And I am abso-friggin-lutely delighted to know that you live your talk – following the energy and in this case the energy of love, connection, intimacy, even though Life has been rich n complicated and all that jazz – right?
Lead the way bright spark’s. We need love stories steeped in what is real and what is totally magically and otherworldly too.
You are magical and otherwordly come to think on it and I am just..ohhh….brimming with Happy feelings for you both! So happy for you both.
Leila xxx
Sweetie!
Yes, as you can imagine, it was a bit of a process getting to the point where I could post pictures publicly. Thanks for acknowledging that. And, your comment about the story and me being Otherworldly and Magical – so great! Thank you!
And in case it needs to be said…you looked absolutely beautiful my love. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
Aw, thanks. *beaming*
Gorgeous, honey!
Thanks, Amy!
Your day was full of love, warmth, magic, and beauty. Very much like you.
Beautiful photos of a beautiful day. And I am so so happy that you had your dream wedding.
Thank you, Elizabeth. What great qualities. I love that they are what you experienced at our wedding. 🙂
Oh so much love!
It looks absolutely lovely. Such a good inspiration for us.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks! And now, we get to watch you plan *yours*! I’ll be thinking of you over the coming months…
I loved the way all your family and friends helped with the celebrations ( a testimony to the power of love at work I think)…and getting married in a wood has got to be the perfect setting.
As I write I am helping my daughter plan for her wedding next year and at this very moment we are busy hand making her wedding invitations! I am enjoying this special time together.
Yes, it was wonderful how everything came together with such ease thanks to everyone helping out. And, definitely, the woods are magic. Wishing you much joy and laughter as you prepare for your daughter’s wedding!
Thank you for sharing these. You and your sweetie look fantastic, and I’m so happy for you and everyone celebrating with you!
So beautiful! Thank you for sharing Larisa.
What a beautiful wedding!!! I am so glad I was able to be a part of it. Thank you for sharing the beautiful photos!!! It was such a beautiful day too!!!
lovely…romantic, relaxed, intimate, charming! thank you for sharing and all best wishes to you both xx
Aw! I’ve only just seen this. Congratulations! I loved getting married and I LOVE being married.
It’s so great.
Happy for you. x
Dear Larisa and Paul,
I knew you were getting married, but not when. Just looked you up today and see your beautiful selves getting married and wanted to say congratulations and best wishes and a happy future to you both. Now it is nearly a year after your wedding and I am sure you are both doing well. It is so sweet to see your photos…tell Paul he looks very happy, more mature and, dare I say it? thinner? Or maybe not. You look wonderful, both of you. Blessings on your marriage and your lives. Love you both.