Both bride & groom packed their heavy pair of XtraTuf brown & beige rubber boots and made their way from Alaska to Washington to tie up the last details for their wedding day. You see, I had never met the bride and groom until a week before their wedding, though I’d exchanged calls and emails with Trisha for months. By the time I met them I already knew what they looked like and seen details of their attire…it was just like meeting up with a friend you just hadn’t seen in awhile. They make me smile and on their wedding day, they even made me cry.

Though Trisha is from the Kitsap Peninsula, she went to Alaska in 2008 for a Summer adventure and ended up with more of an adventure than she expected. After meeting Mike they took a fishing trip and exchanged banter back and forth for several months. Trisha decided to follow her heart and moved there. Having just visited Alaska myself, days after their wedding in fact, its truly an incredible part of the country with spectacular views that will take your breath away.

Trisha had to plan things from Alaska, and I must say, she did an amazing job. The location she chose for the ceremony and reception was Island Lake Park in Poulsbo. She picked a palette of dark brown, oranges, yellows, fuchsia and purple with a lovebird theme. There were so many special handmade details, from the invitations to the pillow for the rings. Tables with brown burlap were accented with mason jars full of bright beautiful flowers. Even some of the delicious cupcakes from Bella Bella had candies on top which looked like little eggs. Each element was created and customized just for them…every one of them perfect.

Because this is a nearly complete story of their day, there are quite a lot of photos to share, enjoy!

I met up with Trisha at Seaport Salon & Spa in Silverdale to take a few photos of her having her make-up applied and then it was off to the Oxford Suites to catch the bride and groom getting ready and seeing each other for the “first look”.

During family portraits there were laughs when I asked two of her brothers to kiss her cheeks. C’mon how cute is that?!  Then when the groom’s Mom looked at her son, now married, they exchanged happy tears…and it happened…my eyes welled. I was so caught up in catching the emotion they were sharing that I started to cry. It was such a sweet moment that even now when I look at that photo I just feel honored to have been there.

During the reception it had started to rain, and by departure time it was pouring, not only rain, but birdseed. Thank you Trisha & Michael for celebrating your day with me and I know many new adventures await in Alaska.

Also – thank you so much Katie, for your time and talent as my second shooter and assistant for the day…your images complete their story.