I met Kenny and Katie on their vacation to Oahu, Hawaii that turned into an engagement celebration of a trip when Kenny popped the question on their first day here! We met via a mutual friend and had a plan for a sunrise surprise proposal shoot but Kenny got impatient so we got to run around Kailua and Lanikai snapping pictures and celebrating after a few mai tais on the lanai. I’ve so missed photographing couples in love during Covid and am so glad to be back at it!
We met Garrett and Stephen on a very cold day in January when they took Kales and I to Kings Mountain Retreat for the first time. The temp had barely risen above -20 degrees fahrenheit and I just remembering being VERY cold and VERY in awe of the beauty of this special place. Eight months later it was not exactly the Autumn Equinox celebration these two were expecting, but I was sure happy to be there to capture a few moments of their love.
When you have to take a handtram across a river to get to the gorgeous Alaskan cabin backdrop for this celebration of love, you know it’s going to be a good day. Alaska’s colors were popping, the trees looked alit with gold and sepia tones and the air had that crisp chill that makes us love fall so much. Garrett & Stephen donned their velvet jacket and kilt respectively and rings embossed with Alaskan gold and shared a few romantic moments, and posed for some truly magnificent photographs. We sipped some cocktails, ate a delicious cheese course, soup homemade bread and laughed by the crackling campfire with wine and hot toddy’s in hand. It was an honor to be in this moment with you two and I can’t wait to continue to celebrate your love in the years to come!
If you aren’t already following @kingsmountainretreat on instagram I highly suggest you check it out - there are going to be magical things coming from this place in the years to come!
Sadie and Jo got married at the Alpenglow Lodge at the Arctic Valley Ski Area outside of Anchorage, Alaska in foothills filled with flowering fireweed. Their family travelled from as far as France and New England to celebrate their marriage. Their dear friend Noah officiated, there were toasts that made folks laugh and cry (and cry from laughing so hard). They foraged for the mushrooms and caught the salmon that was served and the carrot cake was made by a dear family friend who peeled all of the carrots herself! It never really got dark, in true Alaskan summer fashion, and the first dance was my latest to date - at 10 pm! Needless to say, much fun was had by all and this wedding was one for the books!
I hope you all love these photos as much as I do and if you are friends/family of the Bjornsens/Maubets you should be receiving the full gallery of these images in the coming days! XO
Venue: Alpenglow Lodge | Dress: Kenneth Winston from Orainda’s Bridal | Rings: Becca Rorabough | Flowers: Rosie Brennan | DJ: DJ Spencer Lee
Thank you for having me Jo & Sadie!!