Wes + Alex | Crag Rat Hut
It was so exciting going into this wedding knowing more about Wes & Alex, after having them in our home (once for portraits and again shortly before their wedding for last-details chat + wine & cheese). Weddings hit different when you’ve seen their iphone jumping spider photos, you know? These two are something special, and after knowing that already, it was an honor to see that play out on their wedding day. They let their day roll, enjoyed their people, and, our favorite, actually relaxed and hung out during their reception which is what we hope for every couple!
Peter and I (Susannah) got to photograph this one together, a perfect May day up at Hood River. Mountain-bikers, mountain-climbers, board-game players, Gorge-hikers, Alex & Wes got to get married in their stomping grounds, instead of choosing the inimitable Hood River as a destination wedding. It made it even more special to be in such an amazing area, showcasing their beloved mountains, the rolling orchards, and everything ruggedly dreamy and green that this place truly is. Craig Rat Hut boasted it’s stunning Mt. Hood views (always changing throughout the weather of the day), and its cozy, rustic yet classy vibes for both the outdoor ceremony and the indoor dinner. Since they wanted to wait to see each other ‘til the ceremony, we zipped down to the Gorge White House for photos after, a beautiful spot farther in the valley.
As Alex said, her essential one thing was photography and Wes’s was the food. We related to the whole “caring a lot about making things the best they can be” which I believe was one of the toasts/roasts about Wes later in the night, and it came THROUGH in the best way at their wedding! They nailed planning for what mattered most to them, personalizing it to who they were, and not letting the details ruin the joy of the day. 4 & 20 Blackbirds served truly great food (family-style at individual tables, which is a favorite for any wedding!), Wes’s mom made the entire massive cake, and most of the other “vendors” were friends (many of whom were still pros/could be pros (shout out to Kelsey coordinating like a true host!) in the industry), which always makes a wedding feel a different kind of personal. We are all about a community really using their skills to come together to celebrate the people they love. We had so many fun conversations with this crew—they were a delight from start to finish.
Doing what we do, truly immersively documenting a piece of a couple’s/family’s/community’s story at a wedding or on any other day, rises and falls based on their ability to be present and themselves, living out their real life and real emotions.
“Photo booth” pictures as great guest photos was the priority for Wes & Alex, so we loved getting to have our setup be more mobile—we moved our flash to where the magic was happening with lighting throughout the night, just on the edge of the dance floor so nobody had to leave the party for some quick pictures.
Full gallery below:
