Ben + Brooke at Cathedral Park

You may remember Ben + Brooke from their gorgeous engagement session on Mt. Hood this summer. Brooke, a girl after my own heart, wanted to make sure she had enough quality time for pictures of her and her hubby and opted for a portrait session a few days before her wedding. We met at Portland's Cathedral Park and from the moment I drove across the St. John's Bridge I knew the day would be absolutely perfect. The leaves seemed to explode with color and in a rare moment of sunshine the air was surprisingly warm. Getting to watch as Ben + Brooke saw one another for the first time was a touching moment I won't soon forget, and selfishly I was thrilled to get to have these two all to myself for a few hours of capturing their gorgeous smiles and infectious laughs. Stay tuned for their equally-as-stunning wedding at Abernethy in Lake Oswego coming soon!

I'd be remiss if I didn't thank Nicole Wagner of Powder Inc. for her incredible talent. She's a genius with hair + make-up and worked her magic to make Brooke's most naturally gorgeous self shine through.

David + Sarah at the Ranch on Beaver Creek

I've found few things to be quite as heartwarming and joy-giving as watching a friend find her equal in life. The one who makes her laugh and makes her cry happy tears and who brings out the best in her. When Sarah found David I think we all knew she had found her match. David is everything Sarah had always said she wanted in a man and yet at the same time he's one million times more than this. David is the type of person who always makes you feel special. He listens and cares and looks you in the eye when he speaks. He has a way of making everyone he comes in contact with feel valued and appreciated and loved, and I know, that more than anyone else in this world, Sarah is a lucky girl to be the beneficiary of this. David + Sarah, you should know that it's an honor to call you two friends. Colton and I are beyond blessed to know you and to get to do life with you. Yes, it was a total honor being your photographer, but beyond this is was so wonderful to get to be one of those you chose to stand beside you as you promised your lives together. You're a joy to be around and together you're the most beautiful example of true, pure, authentic Love. Congrats on this incredibly special and exciting season of growing together as husband and wife. I'm so, so, so, so happy for you both!

Love you to the moon + back!

M.

Venue :: The Ranch on Beaver Creek Photography :: Michelle Cross Assistant Photographer :: Lauren Hurt Make-Up :: Kate Tuma

JB + Gloria in Portola Valley

I don’t even know where to start with these two. I remember the morning I met JB + Gloria at a bakery in Palo Alto. Colton and I had made a last minute, spontaneous decision to head to Stanford for a football game and while in town I received an email from Gloria. She was a friend of one of my most favorite past brides and was wondering about photography for her upcoming wedding in the Bay Area. To make a long story short, Gloria and JB met me for breakfast the next morning and the rest is history. Anyone who knows Gloria knows that her joy is infectious. Really, it’s addicting and it’s absolutely impossible to enter a room without being lit up by her smile. She’s the most wonderful breath of fresh, happy air and working with her always seemed to brighten my day. And while Gloria seemed to be excited about just about everything, nothing made her smile quite as big or as beautifully as talking about her boy, JB. These two met at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and later moved to the Bay Area after college. I really do apologize for sounding like a broken record on my blog this summer, but JB + Gloria are again just one of those couples that make me feel so truly blessed to be doing what I do. The truth of the matter is that I work with brides for a long time, sometimes as much as an entire year. We email hundreds of times and make dozens of phone calls and walk through more timelines than you’d think is even remotely possible. But through all of these seemingly monotonous details, Gloria was nothing but a joy. Her excitement made me smile and I truly mean it when I say arriving to the hotel on JB + Gloria’s wedding day was like walking into the room of a dear, close friend. These two have a beautiful future ahead of them, full of life and adventure and only a few million laughs. They’re the type of couple I know will grow old together, holding hands and still making one another laugh. JB will always be the gentleman and Gloria ever the beautiful lady. Together they’ll conquer the world, knowing that at the end of the day they’ll always have each other.

JB + Gloria, awwwww! Plain and simply there just aren’t words to let you know how great I think you are. Thank you for always making me feel so welcomed and appreciated and loved. Your trust meant the world to me and your kind, warm smiles always made me feel so valued. I’m honored to call you friends and I feel so blessed to have witnessed your day. You’re the specials ones and I can’t wait to see what goodness the future holds. I speak for so many when I say I know it’s truly a bright one!!

xoxoxo…XOXOOXOXO! Michelle

Joy and Charlene of Miss Scarlett's Flowers curated the most beautiful arrangements for JB + Gloria's day. Each bright and bold flower was the perfect reflection of the happy and cheerful couple!

Venue :: Private Residence in Portola Valley, California Florist :: Miss Scarlett's Flowers Coordinator :: Meredith Chase DJ :: DJ Matteo (<< this guy was AMAZING! I cannot recommend him highly enough. Colton and I spent the entire drive home planning a hypothetical party in which we leave the dancing to Matteo!) Photographer :: Michelle Cross Assistant :: Athena Plichta Catering :: Joshua Charles Catering Cake :: Peeples Baking Hair + Make-Up :: Maryam Abassi from Tooba Salon Dress :: Pronovias