PORTLAND OREGON SMALL AND INTIMATE BACKYARD WEDDING
SHAWNEE & JOSH
The journey to getting these two married was an adventure to say the least. Saddle up ladies and gentleman because I can’t make this shit up. when Shawnee first reached out to me, in that distant lifetime ago before COVID, her and Josh were planning a small, intimate ceremony at a winery in Willamette Valley. A pandemic, enough wildfires engulfing our state to be considered an apocalypse, two separate venue cancelations, and a slimmed down guest list later, their wedding day finally arrived. By that time, in classic 2020 fashion, the air quality outside was (get this) THE WORST IN THE WORLD. This meant that time outside would be very limited.
And even still, from the moment I walked into the AirBnb where Shawnee was getting ready, she was as as calm as a fully transcended monk. It was as if the sky could be raining fire (which it practically was) and her and Josh wouldn’t have even noticed. Joy, love, excitement, and bad-assery exuded from them all day long, while I thought about I couldn’t have been luckier to have a couple like them. From their short and sweet backyard ceremony, to the quiet moments alone on their living room floor, to drinking Champagne and Rainier and having a delicious meal and beautiful celebration with their family and friends, the intention of their day was never lost. They simply focused on the purpose; love.
Shawnee and Josh, thank you. Thank you for welcoming me in, for feeding me Oysters and wine (one of my most treasured combos in life) and being such kind and overall awesome people. If ever I were to experience a wedding day during what felt like the end of the world again, I would hope it was with people like you.
