Coastal Wedding at Rosario Resort // Orcas Island, WA

I love, love, LOVED this wedding! Elly and Mike chose to tie the knot in the place that they got engaged; Rosario Resort on Orcas Island. They planned an entire weekend for their family and friends that was full of good food, fun activities, and lots of fun. When Elly suggested bringing the fam and making a little weekend getaway out of it, I was totally on board. It was the first time that we all were able to go to Orcas together so we tagged on a few extra days so we could see all the sights and enjoy some family time too. Orcas is such a special little place and I highly recommend visiting if you ever get the chance. We loved getting coffee and ice cream in town and visiting the beaches.

I was a little worried about the weather that weekend (it had rained the day before and the forecast seemed to change by the hour), but on the day of the wedding we were blessed with lots of sunshine. I spent the afternoon running around the resort capturing all the details and getting ready moments. One of my favorite moments was Elly and Mike’s first look. I wanted to find a quiet and secluded spot away from the resort so they could see each other and calm those pre-wedding jitters. I had scouted the perfect spot the day before the wedding and gave the coordinates to Mike so he could drive out there once he finished getting ready. Once Elly got into her dress, I brought her to the spot and to our surprise, there was a large hiking group that had parked in our spot along the side of the road. The hikers were all chatting by their cars and waiting for the rest of the folks on the trail. It was one of those moments that you knew was possible, but didn’t expect, but Elly and Mike trusted me and went with the flow. They shared the most beautiful and emotional first look on the bluff. Even with the hikers watching close by and congratulating them as they passed by, it no longer mattered because they had each other. I gave them some time to take each other in and head back to the resort when they were ready to do the family and bridal portraits. I loved how the day unfolded for these two and how family and friends were all involved in making their wedding day special. From bringing in all the flowers by boat, to building the arbor, and making sure all the details were just right. It all came together perfectly and it was truly an honor to be able to be the one to document it all.