Bailey & Collin | A Colorful Summer Wedding, North of Vancouver, WA

B&C had a very clear brief for their wedding photographs: happy, sunny, juicy, bright, and exhilarating. The weather certainly understood the assignment. It was HOT, intense sunshine for most of the day.

Their wedding took place on family’s property, and so much of what made it unique was made by family members. Bailey and her mom were essentially the stylists of the whole celebration, including the flowers her mom made by hand for the welcome stand. And those incredible trees behind Bailey and Collin as they walked away from their ceremony? Her dad planted them!

A display of wedding accessories and stationery on the ground, including an engagement ring, earrings, wedding bands, and invitations, decorated with flowers and labeled 'Mrs. Dallen' and 'Bailey and Collin'.
A bride and groom share a kiss at their wedding, surrounded by blurred guests and a forest background, with sunlight streaming through trees.

From a photographer's perspective, this was a proper exercise in working with strong midday light. Deep shadows, plenty of contrast, and hardly any soft light to hide behind. Rather than trying to make everything look like golden hour, I leaned into the brightness, using the strong light and saturated colors to give the photographs the energy Bailey and Collin had asked for.

This gallery is also a great example of what a summer wedding in full sunshine can look like. Bright light doesn't have to be something we work around. Sometimes it's exactly what the photographs need.

Wedding welcome sign with colorful flowers, pink and yellow background, and green trees in the background.
A group of women in white dresses at a wedding or bridal event, standing indoors, with a wooden wall and a whiteboard in the background that says, "Mom & Dad, I Love You."
A bride in a lace wedding dress and veil standing on a forest path surrounded by trees and flowers.
A bride and groom holding hands during their wedding ceremony.
A couple getting married outdoors, holding hands and exchanging vows, with guests and umbrellas in the background on a sunny day.
A newlywed couple sharing a dance at an outdoor wedding ceremony, with wedding guests seated under umbrellas watching and smiling.
A bride and groom holding hands and smiling under tall trees on a sunny wedding day, with the bride wearing a white wedding gown and veil, and the groom in a beige suit. The bride holds a colorful bouquet of flowers.
A man in a beige suit is being tossed into the air by a group of men dressed in beige suits, during an outdoor celebration in a forested area.
A group of nine men dressed in beige suits with floral ties, standing outdoors among trees at a wedding, smiling and laughing.
A bride and groom dancing at their wedding reception inside a large tent, surrounded by seated guests and decorated tables with flowers.
Outdoor decorative display with a wooden wall, green leafy backdrop with the words 'The Dallens,' a pink upholstered sofa with striped and solid pillows, and large white floral arrangements on either side, accented with smaller colorful flowers.
A woman with long wavy hair and a big smile, wearing a sleeveless dress, sitting at a table with a blurred glass in the foreground, outdoors at night.
Two women, one with blonde hair in an updo and the other with long brown hair, are hanging a wedding dress on a dark wooden door. The room has natural light coming through window blinds on the right side.
A woman in a white wedding dress standing by a window, adjusting her earring and looking thoughtfully out of the window, with sunlight streaming in and creating shadows on the floor and her dress.
Clothes hanging on a rack with personalized tags, including names like 'Stella', 'Malea', and 'Nakkita'.
Group of women and a girl in a cozy living room, posing for a photo, all smiling and wearing light-colored sleepwear or dresses.
A woman helping a bride zip up her wedding dress inside a room with wooden walls and blinds letting in sunlight.
Two women hugging, one in a white dress and the other in a pink dress, smiling happily. Four other women in colorful dresses are in the background, outdoors with trees and sunlight.
A woman in a white dress with her back to the camera is looking at eight women, of various ages, wearing colorful dresses, standing outdoors among tall trees. They are smiling, laughing, and covering their mouths in surprise or joy.
Close-up of a person holding a bouquet of colorful flowers with a white handkerchief wrapped around their wrist, adorned with a gold cross-shaped ring with gemstones and a large blue gemstone ring.
Close-up of a man's lapel with a colorful flower boutonniere attached, featuring orange, pink, purple, yellow, white, and green flowers, on a beige suit at a formal event.
People attending an outdoor wedding ceremony seated on white chairs with parasols on a grassy area, surrounded by tall trees under a clear sky.
Guests sitting at a decorated event table, including a woman holding a baby, with other guests in the background, indoors with natural light.
A table decorated with a colorful flower arrangement and a vintage suitcase with a 'Cards' banner, outdoors among greenery, with markers, an open book, and a small pink and white container on the table.
A bride and groom exchanging vows in a wedding ceremony outdoors at night, under a floral arch, with an officiant standing behind them. The bride is wiping tears with her hand, and both are dressed in formal wedding attire.
A woman in a white wedding dress laughing and standing outdoors during her wedding ceremony, with a man in a beige suit facing her, and a floral arch in the background.
People sitting at a decorated table during a celebration, with women talking and floral arrangements in the foreground.
A bride and groom cutting their wedding cake together at a reception with floral decorations and guests in the background.
A large group of people celebrating at a wedding, smiling and posing for a photo in a festive setting.
Close-up of a bouquet of multicolored flowers with two rings resting on orange flowers, an engagement ring and a wedding band.
A wedding party outdoors with large trees in the background. The bride and groom are in the center, smiling at each other. The bridesmaids and groomsmen are standing on either side, holding umbrellas and bouquets, dressed in colorful dresses and suits.
A wedding scene outdoors with a bride and groom kissing in the center, surrounded by bridesmaids and groomsmen holding white parasols and bouquets, under a clear sky with tall trees in the background.
A bride and groom dancing at their wedding reception inside a large tent, surrounded by seated guests. The bride wears a white lace wedding dress, and the groom wears a beige suit with a boutonniere. They are happily dancing and smiling.
A girl and a boy sitting on swings hanging from a large tree in a grassy outdoor area with sunlight filtering through the branches.
A black and white photo of a bride and groom dancing together, embracing lovingly with eyes closed, smiling. The bride has long dark hair and wears a lace wedding dress, the groom has short dark hair, a mustache, and is dressed in a suit with a boutonniere.
Close-up of four hands with rings and bracelets, displaying jewelry. The hands belong to different individuals, with varying skin tones and ages.
A bride and groom, both smiling, sitting at a decorated wedding reception table with flowers and glasses, enjoying the celebration.
A bride and groom share a kiss on their wedding day outdoors in front of tall trees, with guests passing by in the background.

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