Walking to the Courthouse | An Intimate Wedding in Downtown Portland

Mar 19

Some weddings are big productions. And some are exactly what they need to be — the right people, the right place, and nothing extra getting in the way of the moment.

Erin and LeFoster kept it simple. Beautifully, intentionally simple.

I've known Erin since college, which meant showing up for her wedding day carried a little extra weight behind the lens. The kind of weight that makes you slow down and pay attention to everything, because you know the person and you understand what the day means. It was an honor in the truest sense.

The morning started at The Porter, a stunning downtown Portland hotel with floor-to-ceiling windows and sweeping views of the city and the Willamette River. Leah Flores As a getting-ready location, it was everything — all that light pouring in over the skyline, warm and generous and completely flattering. The kind of room that does the work for you before you've even unpacked your camera bag.

From the hotel, we walked together through downtown Portland to the Multnomah County Courthouse for the ceremony — and there is something I genuinely love about that. No shuttle, no grand entrance, just a small group of close friends and family walking through the city they love on the way to something meaningful. Portland was just doing its thing around us, completely unbothered, and we were in the middle of it all, heading somewhere that mattered.

The ceremony was quiet and full, intimate in the way that only happens when you've stripped everything back to just the people who actually need to be there. Erin and LeFoster, surrounded by their closest, said the words that counted. It was exactly right.

And then — tacos.

The reception was held at Xico, a beloved Portland Mexican restaurant that has since closed its doors, which makes these images carry a little extra meaning. A room full of people who love these two, good food, the kind of celebration that feels less like an event and more like a really good dinner party. The best kind of reception.

A note on the groom: LeFoster is a local Portland author and actor — you can follow his work at @authoractorlefoster on Instagram. Genuinely talented and well worth your attention.

Erin and LeFoster — what a sweet, perfect day. Thank you for letting me be there for it.

Getting Ready: The Porter Hotel | Ceremony: Multnomah County Courthouse | Reception: Xico | Portland, Oregon