Sienna & Tyler ~ Proto-Cathedral of St. James the Greater ~ Vancouver, WA

In all of my years working as a wedding photographer in the Pacific Northwest... I’m sure you can imagine that I’ve seen ALL kinds of weather while covering a wedding! I’ve dealt with sunny days, overcast skies, super hot temperatures, and the freezing cold, too. At this point in my career, I’ve learned to be prepared for just about any weather!

For Sienna and Tyler’s wedding, though, there was a unique weather forecast that had us all a bit nervous in the days leading up to the big day... Their Valentine’s Day wedding was predicted to be very snowy!

The day before the ceremony, the weather prediction came true. We unfortunately did have some snow and freezing rain in the Vancouver, Washington area! At the time, I remember that this weather was overwhelming to see, but believe me... We were all determined to not let some snow stop Sienna and Tyler’s special day!

On the morning of their ceremony, Sienna and Tyler woke up to the news that a couple of their vendors had to cancel because they were unable to drive in the weather conditions. As we know, the snow tends to melt during the day and freeze again at night... leading to tons of black ice and frozen roads. The couple was also worried about the safety of their guests and hoped that everyone would be able to make it safely to the ceremony. Thankfully, their ceremony was scheduled for the afternoon, so the snow and slick roads would have some time to melt!

Luckily for me, I only live a few miles from the church, in the same town, and didn’t have to cross any bridges, so my commute wasn’t too bad! To be on the safe side, though, I had my husband drive me in his car which has better traction that mine!

I arrived at The Proto-Cathedral of St. James the Greater (a beautiful Catholic church in Vancouver, Washington) to find Sienna getting ready for the ceremony. She was joined by her best friend, cousin, aunt, and grandmother who were all helping her with those final touches. You might also notice that she was wearing a sweatshirt blanket in these shots... I definitely remember the room being chilly, so Sienna was all bundled up with her wedding dress underneath!

Next, it was time to meet Tyler so he could get his “first look” at Sienna before walking down the aisle! Tyler was getting ready at home while Sienna got ready at the church, so he arrived at the church a bit later than she did... just in time for their first look!

I was still with Sienna, her best friend, and her family at this time, so we walked over to the sanctuary together. Along the way, I snapped a few shots... and you can definitely see snow on the ground (and falling from the sky!) in these outdoor photos!

Once it was time for the first look, you could see the excitement in Tyler’s expression. Sienna was also waiting in anticipation, and she had a warm smile on her face. Tyler turned around to see his soon-to-be wife, and they each looked SO happy. Both of them were glad to have this special, quiet moment between them before their wedding ceremony.

Before we knew it, it was time for their wedding ceremony and mass to begin. It started with a procession that included the church’s priest and servers, Sienna’s cousin along with Tyler’s best friend, and finally... Sienna and Tyler!

Sienna’s long-sleeved dress was absolutely stunning, and it was perfect for a church wedding, too! She looked radiant in her embellished dress and veil with lace details. It was definitely a showstopper as she walked down the aisle with Tyler.

As everyone walked down the aisle, I also noticed how cohesive and beautiful the wedding colors were! Sienna and Tyler selected blue and yellow for their colors, using sunflowers with blue delphiniums in her bouquet and his boutonniere. These bright, fun colors were the perfect way to warm things up on this snowy day.

From this point on, the ceremony and mass continued without a hitch! Their wedding included readings, the exchange of rings, and a final blessing, too.

After the wedding mass ended, I had just enough time to snap a couple portraits of Sienna and Tyler in front of their church. They posed with the beautiful doors and stained glass windows behind them, and this was the perfect impromptu portrait backdrop!

When it was time for them to head down to their reception area, it was my time to say goodbye to the newlyweds. I hope that Sienna and Tyler had a fun-filled reception that was just as wonderful as their ceremony!

Congratulations to Sienna and Tyler! Even with the weather mishap, you had such a beautiful wedding day. You both handled the situation with grace, and I’m SO happy that you were ultimately able to enjoy your special day with family and friends!

If you’re from the Pacific Northwest and looking to book wedding photography services for your own big day, I’d love to chat.

Whether you’re looking for services by the hour (like Sienna and Tyler who just wanted a photographer for their ceremony and formal portraits) or all day coverage, I’m available to talk and excited to hear about your big day!