A multi-cultural Sunriver Resort Winter Wedding

I’ve known Justine for 10 years. We met while working at the High Desert Museum. I was absolutely thrilled & honored when she asked me to photograph her intimate Sunriver Resort intimate winter wedding. Christopher and Justine have a beautiful little girl (they actually just welcomed a boy to their family a few months ago), and they wanted a very intimate ceremony with just a few family and friends. The Fireside Room at Sunriver Resort was the perfect space, with it’s warm stone fireplace, and rich wood lined walls and floors.

The Mt. Bachelor lawn, and the open space surrounding Sunriver Resort, are perfect for beautiful portraits on your wedding day!

We started the day with some family portraits of Justine, Christopher and their daughter Isla out on the Mt. Bachelor lawn (also a beautiful outdoor space for your wedding ceremony). Isla was pretty camera shy at first, but once she got mom & dad to swing her around, she warmed up to me.

It was time to take Justine & Christopher out alone for their romantic portraits, so they said goodbye to Isla and a friend took her back to the lodge before the wedding ceremony. The grounds surrounding Sunriver Resort are absolutely breathtaking, with views of the Cascade Mountains. It was late November and the landscape was transitioning from fall to winter. I took a few bridal portraits of Justine in her beautiful lace gown and then we wandered around the property.

Christopher is not Jewish, but their friend Olivia had just been to Israel and brought the Tallit back. Since her Rabbi Adam was their ceremony officiant she gave them the Tallit. They honored that gift with some photos of Christopher wearing this beautiful prayer shawl.

Before the ceremony began, we headed back to the main resort for a few photographs outside the gorgeous venue, decorated for the holidays. Christopher wanted to get a couple of photos with his brother as well and then it was time for the indoor ceremony to start.

Justine paid homage to her Native American roots by wearing a gorgeous beaded barrette in her hair. I just love how this couple honored their family backgrounds and traditions and weaved them throughout their wedding day!

The Fireside Room provides a truly intimate space for an indoor Sunriver Resort winter wedding ceremony!

Justine & Christopher married in an intimate ceremony surrounded by their closest family and friends. They chose to have Rabbi Adam Spears officiate their ceremony. Neither are Jewish, but but they both met with him, bonded and felt he was the one to marry them. In Justine’s words, “Christopher and I are spiritual more than religious but we believe in the power of blessings, meditations and community.” They also weaved Justine’s Native American heritage in the ceremony, with traditional wedding blessings. Later in the ceremony they wore some Maidu and Pit River jewelry and regalia to honor Justine’s late grandfather. It was an absolutely beautiful, heartfelt ceremony!

I can truly say that Justine & Christopher’s wedding ceremony was one of the most unique and beautiful ceremonies I’ve had the honor to witness. I just loved how they made it special to them, weaved their stories together, embraced different cultures and traditions, and created something so beautiful. After the ceremony we did a few more portraits of Justine and her parents, and Justine & Christopher with Rabbi Adam. Then of Justine & Christopher wearing some traditional Native American jewelry and regalia, honoring her late grandfather.

Thank you, Justine & Christopher for allowing me to be a part of your day! I am so happy for you both and wish you a lifetime of love, friendship and happiness.

The Vendors:

Venue: Sunriver Resort

Dress: BHLDN by Anthropologie

Veil: The Bridal Suite & Special Occasion

Flowers: Sunriver Floral

Menswear: The Men’s Warehouse

Officiant: Rabbi Adam Spears

_______

Hey, I’m Erica, a sentimental wedding & elopement photographer for free-spirited and natural couples. I am based out of Bend, Oregon but always willing to travel. If you are getting married and looking for a photographer, let’s talk!