Spring Wedding Inspiration at Oakwood Gardens

If I had to sum up this shoot in a few words, I would say ethereal, delicate, and whimsical perfectly capture this beautiful day at Oakwood Gardens. The inspiration for this shoot was the warm welcome of spring. All of us have been through so much with the Covid-19 pandemic, especially the wedding industry. I wanted this shoot to focus on the new beginnings that come with spring and a new future for weddings. Although there aren't many, there were a few things I did enjoy about the changes that came with Covid -19 mainly the shift in focusing on what truly matters.

Sometimes weddings can just feel like you are trying to check all the boxes instead of building something truly unique and special. My advice to couples who want to create a wedding that is unique to them, is to keep the guest list small and focus on a feeling. Keeping your guest list down to just your closest family and friends gives you more options. You can keep costs down while still having a fantastic day. Think of the things you can do with your budget if you only have 20 guests! Focusing on a feeling rather than a color palette or a theme will help you keep your priorities first, whether it's food, flowers, or music.

It was so fun creating this shoot and bringing it all together with such a talented team of individuals. I truly cannot say enough good things about this vendor team. The venue that we gathered at is Oakwood Gardens, a new wedding venue just outside of Portland. This sprawling estate has limitless options for weddings. We only shot on a fraction of the property and I can't wait to go back for weddings this summer. I plan on doing a four part series here at Oakwood focusing on each of the seasons and different locations on the property. Stay tuned for summer's English inspired editorial!

- Rachael

Vendor Team

Planning, Design, and Florals: Rachael Meader

Photography: Kallie Dawn Photography

Videography: Kane Limbaugh

Venue: Oakwood Gardens

Rentals: The Party Place

Hair and Makeup: Blossom and Beauty

Pearl Jewelry: Kasa Kasma

Invitation Suite: Letters and Dust

Bridal Gown: aandbe

Lingerie: Trousseau