We are bringing back an edit of our top-performing real weddings from the TJ archives. These are our very best weddings that our audience has loved the most, and the ones we think are still very relevant and aspirational.
We are high school sweethearts. We dated for more than five years before we decided to get married…
We truly invested time in getting to know each other and making our relationship as joyful and gratifying as it is today. What I love the most about Ellis is the peacefulness he brings into our home. It’s something I had always longed for.
Ellis proposed in the summer at one of our favourite places, the White River Falls. He pulled the car over and had us get out and take a picture using the self-timer on my camera. Then all of a sudden, he was down on one knee. It was simple and heartfelt. A few months later, we came back to this sacred place and took our engagement pictures.
We were married by the Wahclella Falls in Oregon, surrounded by our immediate family. We originally wanted to say our vows in front of the waterfall, but when we arrived at the carpark, there was another wedding taking place, so we wandered further downstream, and it was even more beautiful than we had planned.
Our style tends to be very bohemian and free-spirited, and we wanted this in the wedding, which was styled by me and executed by our day-of coordinator, Danielle Firle. One of our favourite parts of the planning process was thrift-shopping for pieces to use at the reception that now live in our home.
Ellis and his father chopped up wood stumps into slices that were stained and used to hold the tea lights that ran along our reception tables. I am part Native American and have always connected with that side by wearing turquoise jewellery, so we incorporated that into our outfits with turquoise rings for me and a turquoise bolo tie for Ellis.
For us, marriage goes beyond the glitz and glamour of the wedding. As young newlyweds, this is our first time not living with our families, working tougher jobs in order to pay the bills, finishing college, and living in a city we don’t like, but it has been comforting and healing to experience these challenges as a team.
Photography: Olivia Strohm | Bride’s dress & kimono: Free People | Groom’s jeans: Topman| Groom’s shirt: Calvin Klein |Flora: Vanessa Schmidt | Ceremony location: Wahclella Falls,Oregon | Special song: ‘You Are The Best Thing’ by Ray LaMontagne | Officiant: Jessie Thompson | Day-of Coordinator: Danielle Firle | Groom’s bolo tie: Roadrunnertrail at Etsy | Reception venue: The Evergreen | Groom’s hat: Brixton | Hair + makeup: Hannah Bennet at Glamourise | Bride’s earrings: The 2 Bandits | Shoes (bride & groom): Nordstrom Rack | Turquoise rings: Gem Set Love, Wanderlust & Wildhearts, & The Portland Flea Market | Catering: White Pepper | Cake: Sweetheart St. Johns | Styling: The bride | Gift registry: Crate and Barrel
