Alvord Desert Wedding in Oregon | Christy + Peter
Minimalist Pastel Wedding in the Alvord Desert
Words cannot properly describe the Alvord Desert. White gold sands and turquoise skies come alive at sunrise in perfect complimentary colors. Until this year I had no idea a location existed like this in Oregon. The state is known for its forests and falls, but not its desert. Definitely adding this to my list of best elopement locations in Oregon.
Christy and Peter are dear friends of mine and I was completely blown away to be asked to shoot their elopement. Christy is an insanely talented wedding photographer as well as being one of the most stylish people I have ever met. Then I met Peter - and I do not say this sort of thing often - the instant I met him I knew these two would have a truly deep connected partnership.
Words from Christy…
What did you love about your wedding location?
We're not huge outdoorsy people, so it's really funny that we chose such a remote location, but the Alvord holds a special place in our hearts. We'd spent Christy's birthday there a couple years back, and the landscape is unlike anything else in the PNW. It's a truly surreal experience when you drive over the Steens Mountains and see if off in the distance. It looks like a body of water, and it's only when you get close to it that you realize it's a salt flat. It's one of our favorite places in the world, and it's really the only place we even considered having our wedding in Oregon.
What memory from your wedding do you remember the most strongly? What part of the day had the most effect on you or your relationship?
The ceremony, hands down. It took place during sunrise, and we walked down the aisle just after the sun had peeked out over the horizon. There was zero wind, which almost never happens in the Alvord, and it was so silent that you could hear a pin drop. Our best friend in the world married us, and to say it was emotional would be an understatement. We both cried throughout, and looking into each other's eyes while reading our vows is a moment we'll both remember forever.
Funniest moment on your wedding day?
The funniest moment of the day is when we ran naked across the desert. We'd all been out there eating, drinking champagne and celebrating for hours, so a little streaking was naturally the way to end the day. We hopped in the car and drove about a half mile away from our guests, stripped down (you're welcome, Catalina!) and ran while tossing our hats in the air. It was a joyous and silly moment, and luckily we have photo evidence to remember it by!
What advice would you give to future couples who are getting married?
Be flexible, especially during these uncertain times. We'd planned an entire wedding in France, but due to Covid it had to be cancelled one month before we were supposed to go. We were both strangely calm considering the circumstances, because honestly what could we really do? We planned our Alvord micro wedding in those four weeks and still got married on the same weekend that we would have originally.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Hi, I’m Catalina Jean - a destination wedding photographer servicing Oregon, California, Mexico and beyond. Nature, minimalism, dark shadows, real emotion all make my heart skip a beat.
Getting hitched? Check out my work and reach out to learn more.
Venue: Alvord Desert + Frenchglen Hotel // Planning + Design: The Bride // Florals: Coy + Co // Dress: BHLDN // Suit: Hall Madden // Rings: Blanca Monros Gomez + Isabel Borland // Cake: Dream Cakes
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