Portland is full of so many great wedding venues that I rarely repeat one. And when I do repeat, 9 times out of 10 it is a McMenamins. Last wedding season proved me right with three weddings at the Cornelius Pass Roadhouse–and each of them was VERY different!

So what makes the Cornelius Pass Roadhouse so special? I think first and foremost it is the rustic charm that the property offers. While the old farm house is great. The real gem is the old octagonal barn. It has an old world feel to it and it is inviting, warm and cozy–especially in the colder seasons when the pot-belly wood stove is roaring.

Scott and Tanya chose the Cornelius Pass Roadhouse for their December wedding and it was the perfect backdrop for their rustic elegance theme. I was first introduced to the couple by another client. Tanya was a close friend and the wedding coordinator for James and Katie’s wedding. So having worked with Tanya before, I knew that her day would be awesomely over-the-top–and boy did she deliver.

The ceremony was held at the couple’s small church in Forest Grove. It was a sweet little rustic country church. However, when you entered the sanctuary, Tanya (with some help from Scott, of course!) turned it into something spectacular. The entire church was dimly lit by candles and Christmas lights. I knew this was in the plans, but I was blown away. The light was so warm and soft. The photos are stunning.

After the ceremony concluded, we were all off to the Octagonal Barn at the Cornelius Pass Roadhouse. There, rustic met bling and it really worked beautifully. The couple filled the barn with rhinestones and lights, but then added a splash of their personalities through miniature statues and discrete nods to their favorite TV shows–Big Bang Theory and Game of Thrones. The overall vibe was so much fun!

As much as I enjoyed working with Scott and Tanya, I was also fortunate to have an amazing team for this wedding. I was able to bring in two of my associate photographers to the event, which meant we never missed a moment or detail. It even made for some fun new perspectives on the bouquet toss!

I wish Scott and Tanya all the happiness life has to offer. And I hope I get to work again with the fabulous Tanya on the next wedding she coordinates… 🙂