Nate Smith | Minneapolis + St. Paul Wedding & Portrait Photographer

Emily + Ben's wedding at Leftbank Annex in NE Portland was, like them, the perfect mix of fun, trendy, and romantic. It's difficult to pick out a few favorite moments from such an amazing day but I gave it a shot!

The day started with Emily and her bridesmaids getting ready in an awesome loft space overlooking the ceremony site. While some brides might have been anxious watching the setup process, the vibe with Emily and her girls was happy and excited, with a few moments of sadness, most notably when Emily was gifted a beautiful locket featuring portraits of departed family members, including Emily's father. It moved her (and me) to tears.

Downstairs, Ben and his guys had the benefit of separation from all the hubbub of flowers and chairs, but they still enjoyed a drink to take the edge off.

I loved this first look. Both of them reacted with joy, laughter, tears and then finally an embrace. Their parents were watching outside the door with teary eyes and came in to celebrate with them. The resulting photos prove that more first looks should involve family!

I couldn't resist keeping Emily + Ben in this cool industrial space a little longer for some more photos. When I asked them to dance together they surprised me by both going straight into "walking like an Egyptian"! I love how cute and them those photos are (although I did have them engage in some more traditional wedding dances too)!

This unbelievably joyful day was punctuated by moments of bittersweet sadness and love for those who are no longer with us. The presence of Emily's dad was felt in particular as she walked down the aisle arm in arm with her brother and when the time came for the traditional father-daughter dance, which Emily and her mother danced together, inspiring no shortage of tears.

The day was filled with so much love and excitement, so when it was time to party I was not surprised to see that this group went hard!

Cheers to an amazing couple and all the people lucky enough to be in their lives. Congratulations Emily + Ben!

Venue: Leftbank Annex

Dress: Blush by Hayley Paige, Ania Bridal

MUAH: Blossom and Beauty

Flowers: Natalie Parks Floral