A Silver Falls State Park Wedding - Joni Loraine Photography

May 16, 2019

So, as it turns out, TLC had it all wrong. You definitely should go chasing waterfalls! Especially at the breathtaking wooded wonderland that is the Silver Falls State Park!

Silver Falls!

This day was so gloriously beautiful from start to finish. We couldn’t have asked for better weather in May in Oregon. And being the adventure-loving couple that they are, Rio and Jon were so up for a mid-wedding day hike down to the stunning Silver Falls waterfalls in the middle of the forest to have some of their portraits done. Yup, hiked down in dress, shoes and all! I think one of the best parts was all the attention they got along the way! Against the roar of the falls you could hear cheers that echoed off the rocky walls as people congratulated them from up above while Jon and Rio twirled around in the windy mist of the water that blew over them.

Rio’s dress was simply to die for! Just like a princess, of course we HAD TO make her twirl and spin in this epic background. The movement, emotion, and love between these two beautiful humans just melted me! Everything about this day had me swooning, from the creative and breathtaking floral arrangements put together by Bridge City Blooms, to the decadently sweet cake and desserts created by Jaciva’s, down to the planning and coordinating of this entire event by the extremely talented Stephani Delatte with Whitney Werts & Co.

A Moment I Will Never Forget!

One moment that I won’t ever forget at this wedding, was when I first arrived that day at Silver Falls. I walked into the bridal suite where all the girls were getting ready. Rio, in the middle of hair and make up, made them stop so she could jump up and run to hug me! She was so excited and I saw a look of relief and excitement on her face. It was as if my presence just removed any stress she might have been feeling. Not only that, but all her bridesmaids chanted my name with her as if they all already knew me. It was like I had my own fan club! I was so humbled and it made me tear up a bit! Then Rio had asked me how I was doing since my mom had just passed away exactly one month prior. She was so incredibly sweet to even think of me like that on HER wedding day! Rio’s mom was right there and overheard about my mom. She came over and hugged me and told me she’d be so happy to step in and be a momma to me! Excuse me while I cry!! I will never forget that moment for as long as I live.

A First for Me!

One of the sweetest moments of the day was when their wedding party surrounded them on the dance floor with sparklers as they shared their first dance as husband and wife. I have not yet seen this done and it was INCREDIBLE! Rio and Jon couldn’t have picked a more perfect location or day to make their everlasting vows to each other or have better friends or family to share it with. I wish them so much happiness, so much laughter, and so many adventures together. And thanks to this amazing thing I do that I call so much more than a job, I am so blessed to now call them friends. I hope to remain in their lives as their family grows. I am ever so thankful for what I do and the relationships it brings.