Dream Big

Devin + Gabe are passionate, kind, funny and loyal!! It was a JOY to be their Oregon elopement photographer. They went through the Covid ringer and we re-imagined and re-planned this day multiple times, but when they decided to downsize their wedding, I asked Devin to dream big. 

I asked her to envision a location that was so special and within a moment she replied, “My parents’ home in Oregon. I have grown up going there every summer, Gabe and I have spent weeks in that home, especially with quarantine. We shared milestones in our relationship there.” 

So when I started to paint the picture of pivoting their wedding from a PNW garden to an Oregon Beach celebration, it just felt right. We wanted to honor the original wedding day plan so thats why we chose Twin Willows for their engagement session the perfect PNW garden venue!

Oregon Elopement Photographer: Pivoting

So we pivoted and their Seaside Oregon Elopement was truly perfect.  Devin + Gabe shared their vows on the beach in front of Devin’s parents’ home in private and between Devin, Gabe, Alexis with Green Attic Films and I there wasn’t a dry eye!! Their love is so deep and the emotions were so real.  

When I look back on these photos it takes me back to the things I love most about Devin + Gabe. They are truly authentic, real and passionate and their celebration with their closest family and friends was a beautiful picture of their love and loyalty.  Devin + Gabe, you did it!!

And between the PNW engagement, the intimate Jewish Ceremony in your parents’ backyard in Seattle and this beautiful Seaside Celebration, it truly was magical and i’m so thankful I could on this journey with you! Below are a few of my favorite responses from their love story questionnaire.

First Impression

Q: What was your first impression of your fiance?

Bride’s Response

A: “My first impression of Gabe was that he was spunky and fun. He had this energy about him that was really sexy. Everyone on the trip wanted to be around him! He was so fun, goofy, and athletic which was totally attractive. But we also would sit down and have hour long conversations about relationships, emotions, friendships, passion and overall life – which honestly was the most sexy part about him! He is so emotionally intelligent.”

Groom’s Response

A: “Dev and I met for the first time at Hillel at the University of Washington about 6-7 years ago. We were gathering to meet our Israel trip group for the first time. We sat next to each other and I knew right away she was someone I was drawn to. She was so bubbly and gregarious it was hard not to pay attention to her. I did what any respectful human did in our generation and went home to check her social media accounts. Disappointed, I discovered she had a serious boyfriend so I thought there was no where to go with her.”

First Date

Q: What is your favorite memory when you first started dating?

Bride’s Response

A: “We LOVE the Seahawks and one of our first Seahawks games together at century link field was an absolute blast. We know how to “vacation” hard, and we took the weekend to do a full blown welcome back to football season celebration, and it was so carefree and so much fun.”

Groom’s Response

Q: “Our first date. I was so impressed with her when truly getting to know her. She also opened my world up when she unashamedly put Caesar salad on top of her pizza before eating it which I’d never seen before.”

How are you different?

Q: What do you think is unique about you as a couple?

Groom’s Response

A: “Our ability to communicate and problem solve. The amount of places we’ve been as an early couple.”

Bride’s Response

A: “I think we’re kind of a dynamite couple. We’re both not easy people, we’re pretty stubborn and we argue / bicker a lot. But the way we balance each other out and bring out the best parts of the other person I feel is truly incredible. I’ve also never had someone be able to comfort and calm me down in times of chaos, stress, or anxiety, like Gabe can. I’m truly grateful for that. I think the best part of our relationship is how we communicate – we like to joke around, poke fun, and that makes it easier to bounce back from arguments super quickly. I also think we’re able to be caring and loving towards one another quickly after arguments, and that gets us through so many hard times! “

Q: Tell me about three of your personality traits.

Bride’s Response

A: “Intense, driven, and passionate. I need a goofy Gabe to help balance out my intensity :)”

Q: Tell me about three of your personality traits

Groom’s Response

A: “We share many similarities but also couldn’t be more different. I’m very fun-loving and care free most of the time where Dev is a bit intense. I like to approach life as a wide-eyed optimistic child. I tend to be the positivity leader in our relationship.”

Three Things

Q: Tell me three things about your fiance

Groom’s Response

A: “She’s an incredibly quirky human with some hilarious “Rules” or generally things that get to her that I find crazy/hilarious. Some things include she gets grossed out when people make pig faces or generally alter their own nose somehow. Adult dogs that look like puppies freaks her out. The same “Mad World” by Gary Gules gives her the heeby geebys. She’s also the most driven, motivated human being I’ve ever met in my entire life.”

Bride’s Response

A: “He’s emotionally intelligent, incredibly creative and goofy AF.”

Q: When you can do anything you want to do, like a typical Friday night, what would you do?

Groom’s Response

A: ” Easy. Movie, wine and deliiicious food.”

Bride’s Response

A: “Movie night, wine, scotch, & popcorn.”

The One

Q: When did you know that he was the “one”?

Bride’s Response

A: “Gabe and I broke up for a summer after about 2 years of dating. We tried to stop talking and it never succeeded. I even tried dating, but I would always compare my dates to time I would rather be spending with Gabe. I think the first time I truly felt Gabe was the one, when we were on a date at a restaurant (after getting back together) drinking a glass of wine and just talking about life, laughing, and feeling so connected. And I just looked at him, and he was talking and smiling about something, and I just felt at that moment, wow, I could do this every day for the rest of my life and feel absolutely content. I felt truly at home.”

A big shout out to the awesome vendors!

HMUA : Angie Evans with https://makeupartistangela.com/

Video : Alexis with Green Attic Film http://www.greenatticfilms.com/

Florals: Carlee with https://rustedvase.com/

Photo : Oregon Elopement Photographer, Kelly Lemon Photography