This destination wedding in the summer of 2025 was a dream come true type of experience for me. Aubrey and Michael approached me about their vison for their wedding, gathering all of their friends and family at a beautiful wildlife park tucked in the lush trees of Washington. YEAH, sign me up. My wife was immediately on-board too, because we knew we would make this into an extended ~work~ trip. In the months leading up to their big day, the love birds couldn't take not being legally married to each other any longer, so on a wintery February afternoon, we got them hitched at the Colorado Springs Clerk's Office and had a hell of a celebration at the Garden of the Gods.

Hell yeah. Now that the legal stuff in out of the way, Aubrey and Michael can just focus on the details of their magical weekend that will be happening later on in the year. As for Lindsey and I, it's time to start planning our additional days that we'll have in the PNW.

We've been fortunate enough to visit Washington each of the last two years (2023 we road tripped all over the PNW before moving to Colorado, and 2024 we spent my 30th at The Gorge Amphitheater for ODESZA's finale show) so we already had a pretty good lay of the land. We knew we wanted to explore more of Rainier, so we rented a van and off we went.

But before we get to Rainier, how about we find a swimming hole?

Alright, now off to Rainier. Tipsoo Lake was the first stop the next morning

Alright, it's time to get moody. No better way to spend a moody Washington day than chasing some waterfalls. The drive and start of the hike was a PNW paradise

After a few mile jaunt, we found waterfall #1

But that wasn't even the main attraction...

Wowzers. Okay, so I know you're not really supposed to always do the same thing when you visit a place. However, a top five memory that I will take to my deathbed happened on this hike two years prior, so we have to run it back. The Mt. Fremont Fire Lookout hike at sunset. Let's get to steppin'

Absolutely gorgeous. Okay time to rest-up, because it's almost wedding day! The next day we traveled over to Olympia, where we dropped off the van, checked-in to our hotel, and met Aubrey, Michael, and their whole crew at a local brewery for a welcome party for all of their guests. After that, a good night's rest, and it's gameday.

Lindsey and I (yes I forgot to mention, she is second shooting with me today <3 husband + wife team for the win), traveled to their guest house to get some getting ready shots.

Michael is looking fresh and ready, but now he's gonna have to get undressed and take a walk because it's Aubrey's time to get ready.

STUNNING. GORGEOUS. SPEECHLESS. No peeking, Michael. Okay, time to ~trek~ to the venue. (The site is called Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, I had to)

Finishing touches on the details and then it's time to get ready for the show!

Time for the show to begin... it's first look time!! Grab your tissues

Alright alright alright. It's officially ceremony time! Let's make sure everything is looking good at the site.

Everything looks perfect - time to have a wedding.

Take it all in, you two..

Pure perfection. Hugs and tears all around.

Time to take advantage of this light while we have it.

You kids are beautiful. Alright, let us sneak away for some fun photos around the park while we have time.

Bruh.. I have no words. Okay let's check the vibe at cocktail hour.

As expected, vibes are sky high. Entrances // Eat // Speeches // Dances

The love is palpable. Did somebody say dollar dance???

Now the party has started. Let's get this cake cut and have the time of our lives.

Mannnnn, there aren't enough words in the English language to describe my love and gratitude to Aubrey and Michael. This whole experience was a dream come true that I can't believe I got to capture/experience. And I got to do it all alongside my amazing wife as well??? I said earlier about the Fremont hike being a deathbed memory, well, this wedding is right there with it. Cheers to A+M.