romantic intimate Oregon Coast wedding

This wedding was one for the books!!… not too long ago I had the incredible opportunity to capture Clayton and Dottie’s waterside wedding ceremony in Astoria, Oregon and what a perfect day it was!  I’ve known Clayton and Dottie for some time as I have had the honor of being there for both their 2019 engagement and 2020 elopement!  And what I truly love about being a wedding photographer is having the opportunity to watch perfect strangers become good friends and I get to be the one to capture their major life milestones.    

Since Clayton and Dottie were already married, this ceremony was meant to be a little more relaxed and just as sweet as their Intimate elopement I shot back in 2020. But of course for the most relaxed couple, the universe decided to crank it up a notch when Dottie’s ring slipped during the ceremony and sank into the water.. In the middle of the ceremony!!

Ever the relaxed bride, Dottie kept things calm and asked to just keep going through the ceremony despite everyone’s gut sinking feeling. And afterwards the two decided to take a minute to process what had just happened. Their wedding coordinator, myself and my second shooter sprinted to the edge of the dock to see if finding the ring was possible. And by God there it was.  If you had started at the water hard enough there was a faint, perfect circle sitting on the sand just below the waterline!

SO! In a true wedding vendor “we have to fix this” mindset, the coordinator flagged down a very nice man (now nicknamed “John from Idaho“ since he happened to be on vacation in Astoria)  who was willing TO DIVE FOR THE RING and SURPRISE DOTTIE AND CLAYTON WITH IT.

No one was expecting to get that ring back from the bottom of the ocean, so the fact that Dottie got it back was truly the perfect story that will live on to be told to their children & grandchildren! Out of the whole day the best line to come of it was when Dottie slipped the ring back on and officially promised she’d never take it off….again! 

P.S. keep scrolling for a photo of John from Idaho coming to save the day haha!

The amazing vendors:

• Cake: Karalee Martin, karaleessweettreets@yahoo.com

• DJ: Clatsop County DJs, clatsopcountydjs@gmail.com 

• Caterer: Chris Holen,  @chefchrisholen, @nekstevent

• Florist: Linda Depersis @clatskaniefloral

• Venue: Briana Smith @theloftattheredbuilding 

• Alterations: @fittedstitchesllc

• Rings: Kassab Jewelers @kassabjewelersofficial 

• Dress: @bhldn

• Ties: @daziusa

•. Hair and Makeup: Casual Elegance Salon @casual_elegance_salon_, @esthetics_with_chelsey