An Intimate Backyard Wedding on Sauvie Island
Jade and Blake’s Sauvie Island wedding took place in their own backyard, just outside of Portland, Oregon. Immediate family joined them for an intimate ceremony followed by dinner at sunset.
One of my favorite things about smaller weddings is the freedom to create a day that looks completely different from a traditional wedding timeline. Jade and Blake chose to skip getting-ready coverage and instead prioritized more time together, including a full couples session rather than a short window of portraits at sunset.
Planning An Intimate Wedding Around the Light
I created a photography timeline that included portraits before their ceremony as well as additional time together after dinner. We intentionally scheduled their ceremony around the evening light, something Jade was on board with from the very beginning.
It isn’t always possible to build a wedding timeline entirely around the best light for photography. Venue restrictions, season, dinner service and other logistics all play a role. But if photography is a priority, I always recommend having this conversation with your planner and photographer before choosing your ceremony time. Even a small adjustment can make a significant difference in the final imagery.
Jade and Blake trusted me to help shape the flow of their afternoon and evening, and I’m so glad they did. Sauvie Island is one of the most beautiful places for an intimate wedding near Portland, surrounded by farmland, open landscapes and incredible evening light.
A Backyard Wedding Dinner Grown at Home
One of the most memorable details of their wedding was dinner. Jade and Blake had grown their own food and worked with Ace High Private dining to incorporate it into the meal. Everything served at the table had been grown by them, creating a dinner that felt incredibly personal to the place and the people gathered there.
They invited me to sit with everyone during dinner, which also gave me the opportunity to photograph the evening from within it rather than from the outside. The result was some of my favorite imagery from the day: conversations across the table, passing plates, laughter and the quieter interactions happening between the people closest to them.
As a documentary wedding photographer, these are always the moments I’m drawn to.
Sunset and Blue Hour at Their Sauvie Island Wedding
After dinner, we headed back outside for their final portraits of the evening.
We ended with Jade and Blake in their rowboat as the last of the light disappeared over Sauvie Island. I sent the drone up during blue hour for a completely different perspective of the two of them on the water and the landscape surrounding their home.
It was an intimate wedding designed entirely around what mattered to them: their home, their family, good food and time together.
Exactly as it should be.
Planning an Intimate Wedding on Sauvie Island
Sauvie Island offers a completely different setting from a traditional Portland wedding venue while still being close to the city. The open farmland, empty roads and expansive evening light make it especially well suited to intimate weddings and private-property celebrations.
For couples planning a wedding at home, I recommend thinking about the photography timeline alongside the layout of the day. Where the ceremony faces, when dinner begins and where portraits will take place can all change dramatically as the light moves. Building those decisions into the timeline early allows the day to remain relaxed while still creating space for intentional portraits and documentary coverage.
Planning an intimate wedding in Portland, Oregon?
I photograph intimate weddings and celebrations throughout Portland and the Pacific Northwest, as well as California. My approach blends documentary coverage with an eye for design and editorial imagery. Explore my approach to wedding photography, or get in touch to begin planning your coverage.