Aisle Style: The Altura Studio Blog » Inspiration for Pacific Northwest brides by Altura Studio

I can’t think of a sneak peek that I’ve been more excited to post this year than Marisa and John’s. We had such a good time photographing their fun wedding at Pendarvis Farm. The whole day seemed to come in happy waves: the low key getting-ready wave, the hot and sweaty portraits wave (John and I hot and sweaty as we fruitlessly cast about for open, even shade), then the tender and sweet wedding wave (with a tradition I’ve not witnessed before, more on that in a minute), and then as dusk fell, truly the best after-wedding-party. Ever.

Ok, here was something really neat about their wedding ceremony. Instead of the officiant conducting the entire ceremony, John and Marisa’s friends one by one shared stories or observations about the couple. About their relationship. Or about the funny or kind or wonderful things they’ve done with and for each other. Or the sweet ways that John loves Marisa or that Marisa loves John. While an officiant can conduct a meaningful wonderful ceremony, wouldn’t it be fantastic to be married by the kind words and blessings of those who know you best and love you most? Makes me wish I could have a wedding re-do just so that I could have a ceremony just like theirs.

Here are a few of our favorite photos from the day. It was hard to edit down to this hundred or so. I didn’t get to put in all of the horses. Or the adorable kitten by the barn. But, hey, it’s a wedding, right? My favorite of the day: your perfect dance posture struck amidst a sunset vineyard. Only you two could pull that off. Congrats to you both. You two are the bomb.

See the slide show here.

And check back in about two weeks for John and Marisa’s wedding gallery. If you want an email when it’s posted, leave a comment below.

We met Kurt Winner a few Saturdays ago when he officiated Allison and Josh’s wedding at The Viewpoint Inn. I liked him instantly. He had a crisp, but low-key demeanor that put me in a good mood right away. He seemed to me to be stylish and contemporary, not stiff or stuffy. I thought you might enjoy learning a bit more about him.

About 1.5 hours prior to the wedding, he ran through a quick rehearsal with the couple and wedding party. When you think about it, that fact alone saved the couple, the parents, and the wedding party a couple of hours by avoiding a formal rehearsal the day before. He managed the crew well, organized everyone quickly and had everyone feeling confidant in short order.

I enjoyed the ceremony that he prepared with/for the couple. I called Kurt’s wife and business partner, Michelle, to learn a little more about their company. In a nutshell, they have a total of 7 officiants, (although I’ve only met Kurt and would request him) and they cover all areas around Portland from Mt. Hood to Wine Country and to the Coast. Basic services start at about $350, which includes a meeting and a customized ceremony, and go up from there. She says that most people book them 6-12 months in advance, but often they can accomodate last-minute requests.

If you want to know more, call them at 503.668.0107 or look up their website at www.historicalchurch.com.