Hallie and Owen Pendleton Oregon Wedding

Hallie and Owen

As a photographer, I’m always excited about every wedding I get to be a part of. And it’s not just about capturing the beauty, bells, and whistles of the event. Instead, it’s always a renewed gratitude for how beautiful the institution of marriage is, and what a privilege it is to witness the day it begins. And recently, I was blessed to be a part of a meaningful union between two beautiful souls – Hallie and Owen.

Getting in Touch

Hallie’s family already had a photographer arranged for the wedding. This talented artist had been a family friend for ages and was the right person for the task. Unfortunately, his test results for Covid 19 dreadfully returned positive a few days before the wedding day.

With about three days to go before the wedding, Hallie’s dad, Kevin, got in touch with me and informed me about their predicament. They were understandably worried about having no photographer so close to the wedding.

Looking back, I somewhat believe that it may have been the universe conspiring to make sure that Hallie and Owen got a photographer even at the last minute. I, for one, was glad to render my services and looked forward to their big day.

They had scheduled the wedding venue at the gorgeous Peloton in Oregon. As is usual, we agreed that it was best if I also got a look at the place before the main day. So, we arranged a tour of the venue's spaces and facilities. Although this was a last-minute thing, I made sure that I made mental notes of where angles could be created, and lighting was good.

The Day Arrives

On the wedding day, I got my equipment ready and headed out to the venue. Excited to meet both the parties, I decided to meet the men first.

The groom’s party was chilling around at the back section of the venue, where there was a cool little bar. They were still dressed in their casuals and lounging around the pool table. The bar had a vintage look to it, and the guys all huddled around the pool table simply made it even more laid back.

As luck would have it, they were already in the middle of a competitive game of pool. With each side hitting the pockets regularly, the game seemed to go either way with each turn. Owen, the groom, then comes over and pulls off one of the craziest shots I've ever seen. He nails it, and the game easily tipped in favor of his team. I managed to get a few angled shots of them in the moment and wondered if this is the stuff movie scenes are made of!

After this, they proceed to get dressed for the day.

Dapper Scenes

The boys started getting ready so I decided to get some shots here too before moving on to the bride.

The groomsmen all got ready with their swanky suits and well-tailored shirts. With matching reddish ties and brown leather belts, this good-looking group was becoming even more dashing.

Owen helped one of his fellow groomsmen with making his tie. And the boys, in turn, helped him with his blazer along with a pat on the back for good luck. 

As they put on their boutonnieres, the boys were ready with their final look. So, I moved my gig downstairs to the bridal party.

Elegance in the making

The bridal party was already getting ready in the lower floors because they didn't want either side getting an accidental peek at the other. Also, neither party wanted to ruin the build-up and reaction that would happen during the first-look session.

The getting-ready area for the bride and her friends looked like the dressing rooms you see in fancy show business theatres. There were mirrors, lights, and laughter all around. Plus, they had snacks in and around their tables if anyone wanted a quick bite before the wedding.

They were all wearing beautiful matching robes that each had different shades. Hallie’s gown was a special white robe with the word 'Bride' embossed beautifully at the back. Her friends also all had 'Bridesmaid' printed on the back.

I waited and took a few photos as they put their makeup on. With the makeup part over, we decided to go up a floor where the glass panels and windows allowed natural light to seep through. Here, we got some great pictures of Hallie and her bridesmaids in different poses. The warm light enhanced the pictures as it cast attention on these gorgeous ladies.

These beautiful group looked genuinely happy to be together, and it really showed in the pictures. This set is definitely one of my favorite getting-ready photos this year.

Back to the Groom’s Posse

We decided to give the bridal party some time to relax and get ready with their main gowns. So, in the meantime, I headed outside with Owen and his buddies.

As we got outdoors, the brown leaves and trees signaled the end of fall and the arrival of true winter. You could immediately tell that this space was going to be a great backdrop for some group photos.

We got some great pictures of Owen and his groomsmen doing both serious and quirky poses. There was one where the men held Owen horizontally in their arms with a few of the guys acting as if they were about to drop him. As a shout-out to the ladies always getting the fun poses, the boys even did a 'ring reaction' picture where they all made amusing and fascinating faces at Owen’s ring.

After these fun shots, it was now time for Owen to see his bride.

Their First Look and Outdoor Shoot

We decided to have the first look outdoors because it provided a more serene and romantic setting. The temperature was a bit chilly, to be honest. And we wondered for once if it would be too cold for the bride and her friends who don’t have sleeved blazers like the guys do. But as we would find out later, the joy and delight of the young couple would fill the space with enough warmth for everyone.

We let Owen stand next to the river, with his back turned towards the approach so that the reveal could wait till the last second. Slowly but surely, Hallie and her friends made their way to the spot. As Hallie walked up to Owen, the anticipation on everyone’s faces was simply priceless. As she reached her man, she gently tapped him behind the shoulder. As Owen turned around, you could see he was totally blown away at the sight of Hallie all dressed in white. They shared a warm hug first and a tender kiss. You could tell that everyone around them was a happy witness to seeing the love they shared.

We got some great pictures of their first reaction. I was fortunate to be positioned just in front of the groom, to the left. This way, I got angles where we could see the expressions of both love birds as they saw each other for what was actually the first time on their big day.

Then, we proceeded to get some wonderful photos of everyone in groups. The bridal party looked gorgeous in different palettes of pastel colors. We got great pictures of them posing with their bouquets raised and other more candid ones as they enjoyed the fresh breeze outdoors.

The groomsmen were no less impressive, as they posed on either side of Owen and Hallie. As the sunlight took different angles, we shot some nice close-ups and framed views of the couple hugging, doing dips, twirling, and sharing a romantic kiss.

Back to the Venue

We decided to head back indoors because it made sense to spend the pre-ceremony sessions in the warmth of the house.

Here, it seemed like a good idea to get some pictures of the rings when we were waiting. We positioned Hallie’s ring as if leaning on Owen’s ring for support, with a card underneath and a lovely bouquet in the background.

There were already some friends and family who had started arriving at this time. So, we took the opportunity to get some candid pictures of the early guests.

Soon, it was time for us and the guests to move on to the ceremony area. Before they proceeded to this area, the close friends and family came together with the couple and shared a moment of prayer. It was another instance that showed how Owen, Hallie, and their families were truly committed to the day and making it a holy union.

The Ceremony

Guests started flocking to the ceremony area, and everyone gleefully took their seats. It didn't take a lot of time for the seats to be occupied. And soon enough, it was time for the big moment.

The ceremony revealed some unexpected moments where everyone was pleasantly surprised, amused, and delighted. Two of the groomsmen took it upon themselves to perform the flower girls' duties (since there were no flower girls). They pranced down the aisle in what can only be described as both theatrical and energetic. As they came down, they continued throwing petals and flowers along the aisle, paving a sweet road for the bride and groom to follow.

Not to be outdone, Owen had a little surprise of his own! He initially started his walk in a conventional way. But after just a few steps, the music suddenly changed on his cue. Out came an upbeat and fun song, and Owen started busting out some sweet moves as he made his way down the aisle. The congregation also erupted in cheers and laughter along with this sudden change.

Then, the rest of the wedding party followed in a more conventional entrance. In they came, arm in arm, as they executed their simple yet profound roles to perfection. The bridesmaids and groomsmen were all paired to walk down together, which drew admiration and pleasant reactions from the guests too. Personally, it was a delightful experience to see and capture every member of the wedding party take their turns as they made their way to the ceremony.

Soon, it was time for the bride’s entrance. Hallie entered, holding her father, Kevin's arms. As they gently walked down the flowery route to approach the groom, it was truly a serene and memorable moment for everyone present.

As the ceremony began, we were all kept glued, entertained, and moved every step of the way. The pastor was an eloquent minister who combined thought-provoking lines with wit and humor to make the event more meaningful.

Both Owen and Hallie took turns to read the messages they had prepared for each other. Although I had not known them long, it was such a touching moment for me too as a witness. Their honesty, warmth, and love for each other was easy to see, and their words gave life to every aspect of this love they shared.

At the end of the official ceremony, Owen and Hallie got their marriage certificates, which they signed along with their respective witnesses. Then, we proceeded to take some nice indoor photos of the newly wedded couple along with their parents, grandparents, and friends.

Of Food and Fun

After the ceremony winded up, we all made our way to the reception area, where the festivities and more celebrations would follow. The reception area had been arranged downstairs. And as I made my way down, I could get the aroma of some mouth-watering food awaiting us downstairs. Sure enough, the food was amazing, to say the least.

They served everything from steak and baked beans to potatoes and snacks. I wanted to spend some more time sampling the food items but had to restrain myself since I was there on professional duty. Needless to say, it was obvious that the guests all dug in and really enjoyed the delicacies served here.

Once the meals were done, we moved on to the inevitable and looked-forward elements of the party – the fun and dancing. I was glad I got to click some candid pictures of the traditional bride and groom dance as well as their dances with other friends and family.

And as the evening approached, the delightful day made way for a cozy evening. I gave myself the liberty to put the camera down and enjoy the food some more. And as I sat there observing Owen, Hallie, and their loved ones, I was filled with gratitude once again for getting to be even a small part of this beautiful day.