Chloe & Elizabeth planned their wedding in less than 6 months. They wanted a cozy, love-filled day with their community under the beautiful trees of Gardens at Riverside in Corvallis. Resplendent in their custom wedding outfits (designed and crafted by The House of Rose in Lake Oswego), surrounded by moss and ferns and good cheer, Chloe & Elizabeth were absolutely radiant on their wedding day.

A couple grins and cheers after getting married under a lush green arbor in Oregon. — Raya Jade Photography

A Nontraditional Wedding Ceremony

As a queer couple, Chloe & Elizabeth were excited to craft a wedding ceremony that nodded to traditions while also being uniquely their own. For example, instead of walking straight down the aisle with a parent, they entered at the same time along the outside edges of the ceremony, so that they could walk past all their guests seated on the outside. Then they met at the back of the aisle, joined hands, and walked together to the altar. They handed their bouquets to loved ones in the front row and exchanged some hugs before taking their places at the altar. This was a beautiful way to slow down the entrance and allow the couple to interact with their guests.

When to Sign the Marriage License?

During the planning process, I always ask my clients when they would like to sign their marriage license. Traditionally it would be signed right after the marriage ceremony while their guests enjoy cocktail hour, but this is not a legal requirement: the marriage license can be signed anytime - including during rehearsal the day before the wedding!

Chloe & Elizabeth looked at each other and said “during the ceremony.” I loved this idea. We set up a little table behind the altar where the couple, their officiant, and their attendants could sign as witnesses to the marriage. I’d asked the officiant to fill out as much of the paperwork as possible before the ceremony, so all that was needed were signatures. This part of the ceremony took only a few minutes and meant so much to the couple.

A marriage license is signed during the ceremony at a wedding near Eugene, Oregon — Raya Jade Photography

Fun Wedding Activities

Chloe & Elizabeth told me right away during the planning process that they didn’t want their wedding to be boring. They wanted a fun, lighthearted, and interactive event for all their loved ones. Activities included:

Yard games during cocktail hour
A make-your-own-terrarium station, with so many thoughtful details and ingredients provided by Chloe’s mother
Disposable cameras on every table
A “couple’s trivia” game for guests to play while waiting to be released to the buffet
The winners of the trivia game were announced during the reception, and they were awarded with a homemade trophy and (drumroll please) the honor of naming one of C&E’s new pet rats. Guests LOVED this!

Hiring a Professional Photographer

Initially in the planning process, the couple told me they didn’t want to hire a photographer. “We’re not big photo people,” they told me. “And everyone can take pictures on their phones these days.” While I completely understand the sentiment, I explained that if their guests were having an amazing time… they wouldn’t be taking too many photos. Guests will be too busy chatting with friends at their tables, playing yard games during cocktail hour, cheering after speeches, and grooving on the dancefloor!

I’m so glad the couple ultimately decided to hire Raya Jade Photography. We booked her smallest package - just 4 hours of coverage, but she captured so many amazing moments!

A Personalized Menu

Chloe & Elizabeth took their venue’s recommendation and hired Don Juan’s Tacos & More as their caterer for dinner. It was delicious, albeit the line moved a bit slowly because of the many, many condiment and toppings choices that guests needed to select for their tacos!

At first, they wanted to skip appetizers and only serve drinks during cocktail hour. It’s a common idea that comes up during wedding planning, but I have a firm rule: if we’re serving alcohol, we must also serve food at the same time. This ensures that guests can pace their alcohol intake in a safe way (while still having a great time!). The couple decided to buy some chips, pretzels, nuts, and other easy self-serve appetizers from Costco to offer during cocktail hour. This worked well and gave guests something to munch before dinner.

For dessert, we had a huge table laden with donuts from Death by Donutz in Corvallis. They were able to offer some vegan and gluten free donut options in addition to the classic flavors. I confess I ate 3 or 4 before the end of the night… and took one home to my husband!

Donuts are served instead of wedding cake at a nontraditional queer wedding near Eugene Oregon — Raya Jade Photography

Chloe & Elizabeth’s wedding day was one I’ll always, always remember. It was an absolute joy to work with these two wonderful people and to be a part of their journey together in a small way. Congratulations C&E, and cheers to a bright future!