Alex & Chris ~ Lacamas Lake Lodge ~ Camas, WA

I’ve photographed many weddings as a photographer, but I have to say… Every time, it’s always SO special to see two families come together as one! It’s definitely one of my favorite things about photographing a couple’s big day.

Alex and Chris planned to get married at Lacamas Lake Lodge in Camas, Washington over Thanksgiving weekend. When speaking to me about the wedding, Alex shared that they were going to become a blended family! Alex and Chris, with her two sons and his two daughters, were going to officially become a family! I needed to make I captured plenty of photos of them all celebrating together!

On the big day, Alex and Chris arrived at the Lodge for their brunch-time wedding ceremony. It was a COLD day, but the sun was shining making the surrounding greenery and nature look even more gorgeous. After seeing how beautiful Round Lake looked that morning, I couldn’t wait to start snapping photos of Alex and Chris along the water!

When it was time for the ceremony, Chris’s daughters and Alex’s sons walked down the aisle. His daughters were wearing dresses that were white and green, and her sons also had green ties of a similar sage tone! The green, white, and tan color scheme that was picked out for the wedding perfectly complemented the nature outside.

Then, Alex came down the aisle! All eyes were on her and her stunning dress. The train along with the details on her dress were jaw-dropping. She was absolutely glowing, and it was clear that she couldn’t wait to get down the aisle and make it official. Once Alex and Chris said “I do,” all of their kids were thrilled!

After the ceremony ended, it was time to take photos of the newlyweds! We all walked to the dock outside and took many photos with Alex and Chris along the water. The lake and trees were an amazing backdrop and perfectly framed the couple in the shots. We were so grateful for the morning sun on that chilly day! The sunshine shined down beautifully, especially in the close-up shots of Alex and Chris.

We also made sure to take photos with the new couple along with their four kids. Before even arriving for the big day, Alex and Chris shared that it was definitely a priority to capture shots of them and their kids all having fun together, so I made sure to do just that! Their sons and daughters all had huge smiles on their faces for the photos, and it was heartwarming to see everyone so excited.

Before the reception officially started around lunch time, we made sure to capture the special decor and details found around the Lodge. I love the natural, green decor and white flowers that they selected! They definitely found ways to use their wedding colors thoughtfully throughout their reception space.

I love that the couple chose to have all family and friends sign a wooden keepsake with their family name on it. It will be a great wedding souvenir to keep and look back on for years to come!

Before getting started with the reception, it was time to get Alex’s dress bustled. To get the job done, it took three different people including Chris. It took a bit of time to button all of the tiny buttons on her dress, so I took it as a photo opportunity!

Once the dress was bustled, it was time for the reception to start, and the newlyweds quickly jumped into their first dance! They danced to “Love You Anyway” by Luke Combs, and it was such a beautiful moment between them. Everyone watching could see the love and admiration in both of their eyes, and they both looked truly happy.

Then, it was time for special dances with each of their family members. Chris danced with his mom, and Alex also danced with her dad. This was followed up by a very special dance with their kids! Each of the kids was having a blast, and I definitely made sure to take plenty of photos of this moment. This dance will be an incredible memory to look back on, and they’ll have tons of photos to remember it by.

After everybody got up and did some dancing, it was time for cake! The couple’s kids all joined them for the cake cutting, and as you can see, they all had such a fun time. They were all excited to take part and get a taste of the yummy dessert!

Before the cake was cut, we made sure to capture photos of its beautiful design. It had natural accents of greenery and also included a base that had a wooden, rustic feel to it! The cake design was a perfect match for the wedding’s colors and the gorgeous nature outside.

We also captured photos of guests happily enjoying their snacks and lunch. Everyone was a big fan of the food and desserts that were served, and I can guarantee that we were all full by the end of the event. Everything was delicious!

When it was time for the event to end, Alex and Chris had an exit planned! They wrote “just married” on the back of their SUV, and they drove away to get started with their honeymoon.

While they were leaving, the guests looked on with excitement! Everybody was so happy for the newlyweds and cheered them on as they started their marriage together.

Congratulations again to Alex and Chris! You had such a beautiful wedding, and it was amazing to see your two families officially come together as one. I’m SO excited that you’ll have these photos to reflect back on for years down the road. These will be amazing family memories to cherish.

Thank you to Alex and Chris, and I wish you two all the best!