Photography: Olivia Leigh Photography | Florals: Safeway | Catering: Frau Kemmling | Wedding Coordinator: D'Anne Lenford | Band & DJ: Joel Simpson | Hair: Sara Schneider Dragonfly Salon | Makeup: Diane Johnsen| Venue: Bingham Knoll Campus | Dress: Essence of Australia | Gown Boutique: La Panache Pasadena California | Bridesmaids Dresses: David's Bridal | Groom's Suit: Men's Warehouse | Second Photographer: Gabriela Ines
This day was filled with so many answered prayers, happy moments, and tear-filled joy. Kelsey was a radiant and down-to-earth bride, simply overflowing with excitement to begin her married life. "Ben and I met at his cousin's wedding in Washington. I had decided to go at the last minute, with my mom. At the reception, my mom and I were dancing when Ben cut in to introduce himself. Little did I know that his cousin had dared him to do so! We ended up talking the rest of the night, exchanged numbers, and then dated long distance for the summer before I moved out to New York where he was going to school.” Their dreamy wedding day, resplendent with gorgeous greenery and loads of perfect roses, had been dreamt about for a long time. "Because we met at a really fun wedding, I wanted ours to be the same”, explained Kelsey, "My vision for our wedding was to have it to be all about the atmosphere, the food, and of course, the dancing. I've lived in Jacksonville most of my life and I used to run around Bigham Knoll, hoping that one day I could be married there. As soon as Ben proposed I called to reserve the space. With the Oregon weather being so unpredictable, we opted to do the service outside and the reception inside. I didn't want weather to keep people from getting on the dance floor! There had been a lot of forest fires in the months leading up to our wedding and the valley was very hazy right up until the week of our wedding. I had been so excited to show off beautiful Southern Oregon to all our guests, and my heart sank when I landed at the Medford Airport and saw all the smoke. Thankfully, a huge answer to prayer came in the form of strong winds the week of the wedding that pushed all the smoke out temporarily! Our ceremony and reception were exactly as I wanted them to be and once it was all over Ben and I had the fullest hearts after spending the evening with our friends and family”. Kelsey had lost her mom prior to her wedding day, so she remembered her in a very sweet way, adding, "One of the most memorable parts of the ceremony for me was opening a note that my mom had written me prior to her passing. One of her friends stitched the note onto a cloth and I carried it with me down the aisle.”
A perfect day for this beautiful couple...I wish them all the happiness and love in the world, and am so grateful they chose me to document their ceremony!
