I still remember the awe I felt the first time I ever went into St. Mary’s Cathedral in Portland. It was for midnight mass about ten years ago and the Cathedral was standing room only. The combination of the choir and the stained glass and the murals was mesmerizing. Ever since that night, I have wanted to shoot a wedding in this special place.

This summer, Brian and Jacqueline offered me the opportunity to shoot a St. Mary’s Cathedral Wedding — something I have been dying to do for almost a decade! What I loved about Brian and Jackie’s day is that it was wonderful mix of Catholic tradition and formality and casual celebration.

Their St. Mary’s Cathedral Wedding started with the bride and groom’s photos in the church courtyard. Brian and Jackie decided against seeing each other before the ceremony, so we worked with each group privately. The ladies were stunning and looked amazing. The groomsmen were a lot of fun and had plenty of goofy ideas for photos (see pillar photo).

Monsignor Brennan’s ceremony was beautiful and full of tradition. It was very personalized to Brian and Jackie and was complimented with the amazing Cathedral Choir. It was breathtaking.

After the ceremony, all guests went to Brian and Jackie’s home for a relaxing and casual backyard celebration. Touches of elegance were included to tie the ceremony in with the reception.

Jen at Awe Productions did an amazing job with setting up the event and keeping the day running like clockwork. The bride and groom were able to sit back and enjoy the party as Jen made sure every detail was addressed. Pearl Catering presented a beautiful selection of entrees and sides which guests enjoyed under large tents. Encore Mobile DJs kept guests entertained and dancing well into the evening.

I loved the little personal touches–like fresh Oregon Cherries for guests to enjoy. All in all, Brian and Jackie’s day was a great balance between tradition and casual fun.