When Emily & Luke set their wedding day right before moving cross country, the idea of having to reschedule probably never crossed their mind. Of course then along came COVID, their cousin Brooke (of Brooke Silverman Photography) who was going to capture the wedding couldn’t fly out anymore and so she referred them to me.

Getting referred by another photographer is always a huge compliment and Emily and Luke were a dream to work with! We started their day at The Heathman Hotel in Kirkland for some getting ready photos before heading to Twin Willows Gardens for their first look and ceremony.

For their first look, Emily & Luke wrote each other letters and read them to each other BEFORE seeing each other. It was a really great way to build excitement during the first look because they wrote such beautiful things and were so excited to see each other already and that put it into overdrive. Needless to say, tears were shed and tissues were needed.

After their first look we headed out amongst the gardens to take some wedding portraits, including a photo of the wedding couple with framed photos of both their sets of parents on their wedding days. It was a very special moment, but also from my perspective it was interesting to see how the wedding attire had shifted in the 20-30 years since the photos were taken.

Emily put in so much work decorating their ceremony space that it was a shame that under 20 people got to see it but it was a bonus for me as the photographer to have such a gorgeous space to capture them in. Amazingly even though we were in what seemed a very secluded wooded grove, the wifi was still strong enough for them to stream the ceremony to all their family and friends who couldn’t make it.

After the ceremony we did some family and couples portraits before they headed off to finish packing for leaving on their cross country move the very next day!

Check out Emily & Luke’s gorgeous intimate elopement at Twin Willows below and if you’re still looking for a wedding photographer be sure to head to the Contact page and get in touch!