Portland Forest Elopement // Mich + Justin
This sweet, intimate elopement was one of my favorite projects from this summer! It was so beautiful, and Mich + Justin planned such a fun, memorable day. Not only did they opt to keep their wedding day small - with under 15 guests - they also made it very intentional. With an outdoor ceremony in the forest and a quiet dinner with family afterward, this Portland forest elopement was the best day ever!
Keep scrolling to see a beautiful redwood forest ceremony, to-die-for bride and groom portraits, and why downtown Portland is where it’s at!
Mich got ready at her home in Portland, which was lovely. Every detail was so thoughtfully planned out, and I took photos while Kendall from Yur Girl Ken did her makeup. Mich opted for natural makeup, which ended up still being glamorous, Kendall did a stunning job, and it was so perfect for the wedding day!
Mich and her sister got ready in cute matching jammies, and when hair and makeup was all done Mich slipped into her BHLDN halter dress - and let me say, WOW.
This BHLDN halter wedding dress is chic and modern. It’s simple, but also makes a big statement.
I took portraits of Mich in the forest before the ceremony, and having her surrounded by tall towering trees was SO stunning. Justin + Mich opted not to do a first look before the ceremony, which made the half mile hike to the ceremony location even more exciting! They had booked Redwood Observation Deck in Washington Park for their ceremony.
The deck is a beautiful spot at the Hoyt Arboretum, made of natural wood and featuring a sequoia tree protruding through the deck. There’s enough standing room for up to 50 guests, and overlooks a creek.
If you dream of having a Portland forest elopement, the Redwood Deck is the perfect space for an intimate outdoor wedding.
With their closest family watching, Mich + Justin tied the knot in a sweet, intimate, joyous way. Their families were all so supportive, and everyone was so happy for them.
We walked through the woods afterwards to take portraits of the two of them, they were so giddy and happy together! They were scheduled to meet guests for dinner at a vintage Italian restaurant called Mama Mia Trattoria in downtown Portland. We had some extra time, so we snuck off to take some urban bridal portraits in the downtown area first. I chased after them through downtown Portland as they ran around, cars honking their congratulations as they zoomed past. Mich and Justin were SO chill they even stopped at a food truck for snacks! They finished off their day by joining their family for dinner at the restaurant. The entire day was magical, and it was such a perfect way to have a Portland forest elopement!
The amazing wedding vendor team:
Photography: Mariana Tey
Ceremony Location: Hoyt Arboretum, Portland Oregon
Bridal Gown: BHLDN
Makeup: Yur Girl Ken