Ok ok, I know the term "epic" is totally 2000-and-over at this point, but honestly... if the shoe fits!!!

I still can't get over this flippin' gorgeous mountain wedding, nestled in the northern tip of the Cascades just outside of Hope. Truly, American Creek Lodge is one of the best-of-the-bests, and I had been dying for the chance to shoot a wedding there for aaages. When Victoria Black said she needed a second shooter for a wedding there, I jumped so hard I might as well have launched into outer space. 

Truly, everything top to bottom on this day was perfect: a GORGEOUS fall-but-feels-like-summer day, as said, the venue itself can't be beat, all the styling and finishing touches were colourful, modern, with a perfect rustic-boho touch that matched the setting to a T, and let's take a second for that wedding party/portrait location....?! Ummmm holy smokes!?! Even the tinge of distant forest-fire smoke creeping through the valley was perfect. This spot, whose finding has to be credited to the bride and groom who live in Hope and are exploration-fanatics, was maybe the most beautiful hidden gem I've ever come across. So good, in fact, I knew I had to go back and ended up doing a styled shoot there this past summer (keep an eye out on the blog for it, I'm obsessed).

As for the couple themselves, Matt & Nat (yes, really, Matt & Nat haha!), and all their loved ones, could not have been more fun to work with, and I think the photos show it! Chill, fun-loving, and focused on just enjoying the day to the absolute max, which they most certainly did! They were having fun from the moment we stepped into the beautiful open concept lodge house perched above the Fraser River, all through getting ready and portraits, right into the ceremony that was equal parts sweet and light-hearted, and right on into their reception. The best testament to their chill-factor: one of the groomsmen's suits showed up 4 sizes too large (someone else's suit entirely, yikes!), and there were "no worries, bro" as a friend had to swing by the tailor's in town to pick up the correct one and bring it out in time for us to all get out to the portrait location. 

I mentioned the styling and decor– LOVE the velvet emerald green on the wedding party– and special attention must be given to the totally gorgeous florals and mountain-infused decor for both the ceremony and reception. The use of the wild bramble-like dried hops (a byproduct from the couples' business- yes, they brew their own craft beer!) was something I'd never seen before. The food also needs a shout-out, from the picture-perfect grazing table during the cocktail hour, to the truly delicious all-vegan dinner, and topped off with totally yummy wedding-worthy donuts... literal chef's kiss!

I truly can't wait for the chance to shoot here again. It really says something when a bucket-list venue STAYS on the bucket-list!

(2nd shooting for Victoria Black Photography)