When Ali first started telling me her plans for a late September wedding, we talked all about how great the weather is that time of year, how fall is just starting to bring color to everything in the Spokane area and how perfect the day would be. Fast forward to one week before the wedding date… I’m always checking the weather like crazy before shoots in general but especially outdoor weddings so that I can be prepared for anything. Well you can imagine how surprised I was to see not just cool temperatures but the very first storm of the winter, scheduled to hit Reardan, Washington on Ali and Ryan’s wedding day. Now typically weather can be a little fickle so I didn’t really worry too much, as it can easily turn to just cloudy or a little rain. However, the day approached and NOTHING changed! In fact the morning of the wedding there were snow and ice advisories on the news. Although we live in the Pacific Northwest, the last time snow hit Spokane in September was in 1926!
Despite the best attempts of the weather, Ali & Ryan still had the most perfect wedding, an amazing day, complete with near blizzard conditions. Ryan proposed to Ali they were dancing in the moonlight in the most romantic setting I’m sure they had visions of a similar dance on their wedding day. However, regardless of their original expectations they just embraced the current circumstance and were obviously having the time of their lives, never letting it phase them. Marriage is never about the ideal situation no matter how many happily ever after endings you may have heard. It is more about making the best of anything and even if it’s not what you thought, choosing to stick through it and stand with each other and these two showed that not only in their attitudes but also in their love and care of people throughout the day.
This wedding was filled with people that we love and have years of history with and true to form this community didn’t just get through the day, they made it memorable and remarkable, showing up in parkas, scarves, and hand warmers and always putting someone else (usually Ali and Ryan) ahead of their own wants or desires. Believe me, that’s the kind of community you want to celebrate and support your marriage and I’m so happy that Ali and Ryan have that already!
Throughout the day there were many sentimental and special pieces that were included, starting with the necklace that Ali wore. That beautiful statement piece was worn by her grandma on her wedding day to the mother of the bride’s father and it was the best complement to Ali’s ornate dress. For this day, I loved working with:
Venue: Fox and Goat Ranch
Bride’s Hair and Makeup: Ashlyn Smith
Bridesmaids and Mothers Hair and Makeup: Melinda Bray and Haley Walker
Bridesmaid dresses: David’s Bridal
Bride’s Dress: Bridal Collections
Groom and Groomsmen’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse
Cake: Sarah Hagedorn
Flowers: Angela Hagedorn
Dinner: Marcella Posthuma, Karlene Melhus, Moms in Prayer Friends, Longhorn Barbecue, Jordan Bondo
Decor: AM Hunt Letters
Coordinator: Pre-Wedding Mother of the Bride Kate Posthuma, During the day: Patti Puyear
Bride’s Ring: Jewelry Design Center
Groom’s Ring: Amazon
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