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Intimate weddings

Scenic Spokane Backyard Wedding // Mikayla + Nick

October 15, 2020

Intimate Weddings

By now, you know the drill: the coronavirus laid waste to all the best wedding plans of 2020. And maybe I’ve said this before, but there’s no way anybody would be able to tell this amazing day hadn’t been the plan all along. Originally planning a June wedding at a golf course in Spokane, Mikayla and Nick pivoted to a more intimate backyard wedding in October. And this has to be the least backyard-like backyard wedding I’ve ever been to! This house had an amazing view of the city and gorgeous architecture that dazzled. It truly could have been a public wedding venue, and it was the perfect spot for Mikayla and Nick to tie the knot!

I originally met this couple while I was still living in Spokane, and I did their engagement shoot for them in the area back in 2019. It was fun to see them again, catch up, and get to spend their wedding day with them after their Covid postponement!

Getting Ready for a Backyard Wedding

The girls got ready at a gorgeous lake house in 9 Mile Falls, and they were all so pretty with their mimosas and the beautiful lakeside view. Their matching robes were just the cutest thing!

We all headed to the house where the ceremony would take place after everyone was ready, and Mikayla’s mom helped her zip into her dress once we arrived. Have I mentioned before how much I’m obsessed with these moments between mom and daughter? Absolutely the sweetest (and this will one hundred percent be me and my mom one day!).

detail shot of bride's shoes before a backyard wedding.
bride's wedding dress hanging on a hanger before backyard wedding.
close up on save the date cards and wedding rings for backyard wedding.
bridesmaids and bride smiling and celebrating with mimosas before backyard wedding.
bridesmaids and bride smiling and celebrating with mimosas before backyard wedding.
bridesmaids and bride smiling and celebrating with mimosas before backyard wedding.
close up of bride's hair and makeup in her bridal robe before her backyard wedding.
groomsman helps groom tie his tie before backyard wedding.
groomsman helps groom tie his tie before backyard wedding.
Groom's mom pins boutonnière before backyard wedding.
Close up of groom in his tux before backyard wedding.
bride hugs her mom before backyard wedding after getting into her dress and jewelry

First Look

Mikayla and Nick had their first look outside, and he was so excited to see her! I always recommend a first look for my couples; it’s a moment focused on just the two of you, and a lot of couples say that all their wedding jitters go away when they see each other at this moment! I loved how happy Mikayla and Nick were here.

They also decided to read their personal vows during the first look, rather than during the ceremony. This is another way you can make your wedding really focused on your relationship and this new beginning you’re taking together. Capturing all of the emotion in this intimate moment just made my heart swell up!

bride approaches groom to tap him on the shoulder for their first look before the couple get married in a backyard wedding.
groom turns to see his bride for the first time before their backyard wedding ceremony.
bride and groom are all smiles during their first look before their backyard wedding ceremony.
bride and groom read private vows before their backyard wedding ceremony.
bride and groom read private vows before their backyard wedding ceremony.
bride and groom read private vows before their backyard wedding ceremony.
bride and groom read private vows before their backyard wedding ceremony.

Portraits

The bridal party for this couple was huge and so full of love; capturing the group dynamic and all the excitement they were feeling was so much fun! They all looked absolutely stunning, and I was in love with the colors for this wedding.

I got couple photos with Mikayla and Nick before the ceremony, and their dogs snuck in for their moment, too! Bear and Teddy totally stole the show when they were walked down the aisle by a bridesmaid. Bear is blind, and he kept bumping into people, which was sad but also super funny. And of course, I can’t not mention how incredible the view of the city was from this spot. Right at the end of fire season, there was a slight haze in the air, but it was clear enough that the sun really lit everything up.

bride smiles at her bridesmaids in outdoor portraits before backyard wedding ceremony.
bride and her bridesmaids walk toward the camera before the backyard wedding ceremony.
groom and groomsmen smile at the camera before backyard wedding ceremony.
bride, groom, and wedding party smile for the camera in front of the main house before backyard wedding ceremony.
bride and groom walk toward the camera for wedding party portraits before backyard wedding ceremony.
bride looks over her shoulder, smiling, for some portraits before her backyard wedding ceremony.
groom holds his lapels and smiles off-camera before his backyard wedding ceremony.
bride and groom walk across the lawn toward the camera before their backyard wedding ceremony.
bride and groom walk across the lawn toward the camera before their backyard wedding ceremony.
groom kisses bride on the cheek before their backyard wedding ceremony.
bride and groom smile, forehead to forehead, before their backyard wedding ceremony.
bride and groom pose in the house's closed porch before their backyard wedding ceremony.
bride and groom pose in the house's closed porch before their backyard wedding ceremony.
bride and groom pose in the house's closed porch before their backyard wedding ceremony.
groom embraces his bride before their backyard wedding ceremony.

Backyard Wedding Ceremony

The ceremony was short but oh so sweet, complete with traditional vows and the cutest flower girl (Nick’s niece!). The officiant (a family friend) cracked a fun prank mid-ceremony too: at the “does anyone object to this union” part, the ENTIRE group in attendance stood and shouted “We do!” OMG! It was lighthearted and so funny!

close up on the cocktail bar at mikayla and nick's backyard wedding.
close up of arch details at mikayla and nick's backyard wedding.
bridesmaid walks mikayla and nick's dogs down the aisle at their backyard wedding.
flower girl tosses petals down the aisle at mikayla and nick's backyard wedding.
mikayla walks down the aisle with her dad to marry nick in their backyard wedding ceremony.
mikayla and nick stand at the altar at their backyard wedding
mikayla and nick stand at the altar at their backyard wedding
mikayla and nick stand at the altar at their backyard wedding
mikayla and nick share their first kiss after the ceremony at their backyard wedding.
mikayla and nick cheer back up the aisle at their backyard wedding.
mikayla and nick smile at each other after their backyard wedding ceremony.
mikayla and nick share a kiss with cocktails in their hands after their backyard wedding ceremony.

The cocktails were flowing after that, and I got lots more family photos, dog photos, and plenty of celebratory photos! We took advantage of our amazing view to get the best sunset pictures ever.

bride leans her head on groom's shoulder in front of their backyard wedding arch as the sun sets.
couple holds each other as the sun sets, the city from their backyard wedding behind them.
couple walks toward the camera, looking at each other, next to the pool at their backyard wedding.
couple silhouetted against the sunset at their backyard wedding in spokane.
couple walks across the frame at their backyard wedding, the city of Spokane in the background.
couple embraces by the pool at their backyard wedding, their reflections in the water.

Reception

The reception was so fun; Mikayla and Nick had the coolest neon sign that was so much fun to take photos in front of (including some steamy ones of our newlyweds!) One of the more memorable moments was when Nick went to take Mikayla’s garter off and she had slipped a tiny bottle of Fireball into it for him to find! The night ended with a classic sparkler send off, bringing an amazing day to a close.

couple shares a kiss at their backyard wedding reception underneath a custom neon sign.
guests at mikayla and nick's backyard wedding cheer with their champagne at the reception.
mikayla and nick cheer their champagne at their backyard wedding reception.
couple sits on the couch underneath their custom neon sign made for their backyard wedding in spokane.
couple shares a steamy kiss on the couch at their backyard wedding reception.
couple poses on the couch in the dark at their backyard wedding reception.
couple shares their first dance at their backyard wedding reception.
couple shares their first dance at their backyard wedding reception.
father and daughter share their dance at backyard wedding reception.
mother and son share their dance at backyard wedding reception.
mother and son share their dance at backyard wedding reception.
groom reaches for the garter at backyard wedding reception, where the bride has hidden a travel size bottle of Fireball.
groom reaches for the garter at backyard wedding reception, where the bride has hidden a travel size bottle of Fireball.
couple kisses on the couch with their guests cheering around them at the end of their backyard wedding reception.
couple shares a kiss during sparkler exit from their backyard wedding reception.

There were so many really special moments in this wedding, and I was really honored to be part of it with Mikayla and Nick. It feels like I’ve known these two for a long time now, and I’m so excited for them as a newly married couple! Reach out to me here to ask about having me capture your backyard wedding!

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