SHELBI + TREVOR'S ISSAQUAH WEDDING

There is just something about the Pacific Northwest that gets me every single time.

This was my first time ever visiting Washington, and just like when I traveled to Oregon last year, I was completely stunned by how beautiful it was. I swear, every time I leave the PNW, I feel like I leave a little piece of my heart behind. The mountains, the trees, the weather, the scenery......all of it!!! It almost feels like you’ve stepped into an entirely different country. And getting to experience Washington for the first time while photographing Shelbi and Trevor’s wedding made it even more special.


Shelbi and Trevor got married at Trinity Tree Farm in Issaquah, Washington  which is quite literally a Christmas tree farm. Like… shut up. A WEDDING on a Christmas tree farm in Washington?!

Shelbi had me start the morning with everyone at their Airbnb, about 30 minutes from the venue. I spent the first couple of hours documenting everyone getting ready and all those little in-between moments that happen before the craziness of a wedding day really begins. From there, we all headed over to Trinity Tree Farm to finish getting ready and photograph all of the details. This is also where I met my second photographer for the day, Anna Childers Photography, a Washington local who came along to help me photograph the wedding. Anna was amazing!! She helped me out so much throughout the day, and it was so much fun getting to work alongside another photographer from the area. I also got to meet and work with so many other local Washington vendors throughout the day and, honestly, I felt like I fit right in.


Once everyone was ready, Shelbi and Trevor shared their first look before we moved into family photos and bridal party portraits. Then it was finally time for the ceremony. And when I tell you this wedding was a FULL HOUSE ....they had so many people there to celebrate them. You could feel how loved these two were just by looking around at everyone who showed up for them.

After the ceremony, we finished up a few more family photos before heading into the reception, and this is where the party really started. There were some incredible speeches, tons of guests, live music, and so much energy throughout the entire reception. Oh, and like so many bubbles?! LOVE. But one moment in particular absolutely got me. Trevor is a musician, and during the reception he performed a song that he wrote for Shelbi. I was behind my camera trying to photograph it while also trying not to cry LOL.  It was genuinely one of the sweetest things I have ever witnessed at a wedding. There are certain moments from wedding days that stick with you long after you pack up your gear and go home, and that will absolutely be one of them for me. Toward sunset, I stole Shelbi and Trevor away from the reception for a little while and the three of us headed out into the Christmas tree farm. This ended up being one of my favorite parts of the entire day. Just the two of them, rows and rows of Christmas trees, that gorgeous Washington scenery, and the last bit of light from the day. After such a busy day surrounded by friends and family, it gave them a few quiet moments together.....and gave us some of my favorite bride and groom photos from their wedding! Then, we headed back inside and finished the night exactly how you should finish a wedding: live music, lots of dancing, more bubbles, and some fun flash film photos. Literally, the last photo of the night, and even the last photo of the album is a giant group hug of all last remaining survivors on that dance floor...It was the perfect ending.


Traveling across the country to photograph weddings is something I will never take for granted. I started this trip having never stepped foot in Washington, and I left already wanting to go back. Getting to photograph Shelbi and Trevor surrounded by the people they love, work alongside some amazing Washington vendors, and somehow call a Christmas tree farm in the Pacific Northwest my “office” for the day was pretty unreal.

Shelbi and Trevor, thank you for trusting me enough to bring me all the way from Arkansas to Washington to document this chapter of your lives. Your wedding was beautiful, hilarious, emotional, packed full of people who clearly adore you, and SO much fun to photograph. It was a day I will never forget or shut up about.


Washington:  you officially have a piece of my heart now.