Growing up in Colorado there were no ferry rides, for that matter there was very little water and most of the years I lived there, we were in a drought. Perhaps that’s part of what propelled me to the PNW, the quest for water and all that comes with it. Now, I’m the girl at the front of the ferry doing the Titanic pose with my arms out just soaking in the air, utterly amazed at the state I now call home. After many of these ferry rides, and posing like Rose, I have found my favorite place to ferry, the place that I find the most beautiful, quaint, and absolutely perfect for a wedding, Orcas Island. And that’s exactly where I headed on a ferry in late September, going to the Eastsound for Kristen & Steven’s wedding that I shot alongside Sarah Anne Photo as an Orcas Island wedding photographer.
Arriving to Orcas Island the day before the wedding, I drove around in awe of the landscape. Trees as far as the eyes could see, farms, flowers, sheep, and epic views of the surrounding water. While the island is quite small at 57 square miles, and a population of about 4,900, it’s actually the largest of the San Juan Islands and contains two state parks, an airport, and multiple marinas. It also contains my favorite town, Eastsound located at the top middle of the island, right on the water, with breathtaking views, adorable bakeries, gourmet restaurants, shops, and even a Saturday Farmers Market. After walking around and taking in the scenery, we headed to our AirBnB to get ready for their rehearsal dinner which was hosted at The Outlook Inn, right in the heart of Eastsound, and where the majority of guests were staying for the weekend. It’s always fun to get to document a rehearsal dinner to meet the guests, hear their toasts, and get to spend more time with the couple ahead of following them around all day come the morning. At this rehearsal, with rain pouring down, we all congregated in the great room attached to the water view suites to hear toasts and congratulations for Kristen & Steven, including friends and family who had flown in from Denmark, Australia, and all over the US. As the night ended, we ran to the car in the rain and drove home hoping we would wake up to clear skies for the wedding.
The next morning we did in fact wake up to clear skies, and while the radar did predict some rain throughout the day, it ended up fizzling out and left us with blue skies and sunshine. We began our coverage in the morning starting with detail photos and getting ready. I was thoroughly obsessed with the invitation suite with its colorful scheme and intricate pattern containing fruits and vegetables. Per usual, I shot way too many photos of the details, but that’s also why I love arriving early.
The couple chose to do a first look so they could get their family photos completed before the ceremony, so we chose an aspen grove right near the water for them to see each other for the first time. From there, we walked to the church to do family photos and then hid the couple away for the ceremony which took place at the chapel down the street, Orcas Island Community Church. The old wooden church was the perfect backdrop for Kristie & Steven’s intimate wedding, and was made even more perfect as the pastor rung the bell after the couple exited the chapel complete with guests throwing rose petals.
As guests left the chapel and headed across the street to the garden at Outlook Inn for the cocktail hour and reception, multiple seaplanes flew overhead to land in the nearby marina, further adding to the charm of this perfect island town. We made our way to the garden to photograph guests mingling, drinks cheering, and hugs from new and old friends. The reception space was under a large white tent, and was set with vines, vibrant flowers, and whimsical colorful designs. This was my first time as an Orcas Island wedding photographer that I got to photograph in the garden space, which I later found out was the only time the hotel has had a wedding there, and was something the bride won. (How lucky!) It was the perfect space to gather their guests and begin dinner.
The night concluded with speeches, cake cutting, special dances, and of course, open dancing. We heard from the bride’s sister, the bride’s brother, and the bride’s dad all of which told stories (sometimes sentimental and sometimes hilarious) of how they met the groom and some of their favorite memories all together. The bride’s dad even put together a memory book for the couple, completed by all the worldwide guests at the wedding, to illustrate all the love they have from all corners of the world, and places to stay when they travel.
Once the music began playing, we walked around the dance floor snapping photos to finish out our 8 hour day. The rain that had held off all day finally started coming down again, but everyone continued the party safe and warm under the giant white tent. We arrived at our AirBnB a few minutes later, and as we unloaded our gear and started uploading the photos we heard the music continuing until the end of the night.
Are you having a wedding on San Juan Islands? Looking for an Orcas Island wedding photographer? Send me a note!
