Washington Lakefront Wedding - Seattle Wedding Photographer

Washington is such a beautiful state. Most people immediately think of Seattle when they think of Washington. But in reality, Washington has so much more to offer! Seattle is by far my favorite place to visit in the United States. I am absolutely in awe with all the beauty that Washington has to offer. It’s absolutely stunning! There’s so much to offer everywhere in the states! It’s also the home to some of the most amazing National Parks such as Mt Rainier, Olympic, and North Cascades. I am honored to be a Seattle wedding photographer and photograph so many beautiful spots throughout Seattle.

As you probably know, it rains quite a bit in the Pacific northwest and the forecast on the day of Chauncey and Tyler’s wedding was thunderstorms all day. Luckily it turned out to be the most perfect and beautiful day, we even got some sun! A couple scattered rain showers couldn’t dampen the mood—everyone was grateful for the good weather and being able to spend time outdoors, especially for Washington this time of year, it was just perfect. As a photographer, I was thrilled! Couldn’t have asked for a better day. It was a photographer’s dream!

The Couple and Family

Chauncey and Tyler are two of the most amazing people with the most beautiful family. They are both super family-oriented, so this wedding of only 8 guests was a laid-back family affair with everyone jumping in to help out and make the wedding day as special as it was. Everyone pitched in to help make a delicious dinner, and Chauncey’s sister provided music, dedicating a special song to the couple (more on this later!)

Their son, Weston, is just the cutest! We quickly became BFFs. His parents were surprised about how quickly he warmed up to me since he tends to be on the shy side, but I think that’s just a testament to the welcoming, inclusive environment that they had created. I feel truly blessed to be a part of such an intimate and meaningful day for these two.

The Ceremony

Their intimate wedding was a total blast. Chauncey and Tyler rented out a lakefront airBNB in Olympia, located on Athens Street, which made me think of Greece and was fittingly giving strong romantic vibes. The couple had thought about going to the capital after the ceremony, but Chauncey decided the airBNB location was so pretty, why not just stay here, so that’s exactly what we did. They made a whole weekend out of the whole event. They knew they would be busy but made intentional choices and made sure Weston was always a priority. I was able to capture them in their natural element and just being who they are.

Tyler picked the menu—steak, asparagus, smashed potatoes, and salad with feta, dried cherries, and walnuts—and everyone helped out with cooking. We all hung out, ate the delicious prepared dinner and cake, and did toasts. It was wonderfully casual and inclusive, making me feel like I was part of the family.

Chauncey’s father gave the most memorable teary-eyed toast. Usually the father-of-the-bride toasts tend to be more about the daughter with a joking tone, but Chauncey’s dad instead thoroughly professed thankfulness for his new son-in-law. He spoke of how Tyler impressed him with his kindness and openness, and it was just the sweetest. Tyler’s dance with his mother was so sweet too. Both of their parents were so emotional, and it was truly moving to witness. When it came time for the couple’s first dance, Chauncey’s sister, who is a musical artist, sang a beautiful heartfelt rendition of What a Wonderful World.

I know that this wedding was not how they had originally envisioned. They had planned a destination wedding in the vineyards of California, but covid had other plans for them. But this wedding was still absolutely breathtaking and such a dream wedding in its own way. It gave them the opportunity to really focus on what was important. They really got to look deep and what matters to them and that was they were getting married and had all the closest and most important people there. That’s all that really mattered.

This wedding was the greatest experience, and I’d like to thank Chauncey and Tyler for welcoming me and inviting me to be a part of it, for that I am so grateful.

Looking for a photographer to capture your intimate wedding? I’d love to talk with you! Contact me here so we can start planning how to make your small wedding a reality.