Lake Oswego & West Linn Wedding Photographer

Kate and Reed’s love story is a real-life fairy tale about the girl and boy next door. These two literally grew up across the street from one another, forming a childhood friendship that blossomed into true love over the years. Fittingly, when it came time to say “I do,” they returned to where their story began – closing down their beloved neighborhood street for a day to celebrate right at home. The significance was lost on no one: on this very block, they had played together as kids, shared their first shy kiss as teenagers, and even got engaged on Kate’s front doorstep. During the ceremony, held in the front yard of Kate’s family home, there wasn’t a dry eye in sight. In her personal vows, Kate thanked Reed for always choosing her and vowed to encourage, challenge, and appreciate him every single day – even promising to stay calm through any crisis, “even if our passports get stolen in a foreign country again,” she quipped with a loving smile.

She expressed her amazement that she got to marry her favorite travel companion, dance partner, and karaoke singer – who had been right up the street all along – and she promised to build a family and a future with him full of laughter and adventure. Reed’s vows were just as heartfelt. He confessed that even the mere thought of Kate makes him giddy and “above all else, truly happy,” and he pledged to love her as they both grow and change, to take care of her and stand by her through anything. Reed also vowed to always respect Kate, to support her dreams, and – in a line that had everyone cheering – to choose her every day for the rest of his life. When they sealed those vows with a kiss, the entire street erupted in applause, celebrating not just a marriage but a lifetime of memories that led to this moment. 

Transforming a familiar suburban street into a wedding venue might sound daunting, but Kate and Reed pulled it off with whimsical, personal style. At dawn on the big day, the residents of Berwick Road worked together to block off the street, turning their cul-de-sac into a private open-air ballroom. The décor paid homage to the street’s natural beauty: the couple lined the ceremony aisle (a pathway through Kate’s front yard) with garlands of greenery and arrangements of white and blush flowers that looked like they’d been plucked from the surrounding gardens. Guests sat on wooden chairs set on the lawn as the late afternoon sun peeked through the oak trees, giving everything a golden glow. After the joyful “I do’s” in Kate’s yard, everyone strolled a few steps to the middle of the street for cocktail hour and dinner – a completely al fresco reception under the open sky. The entire block became a dining space, with elegant long tables set directly on the pavement where the bride and groom used to ride their bikes. It was a breathtaking sight: strings of market lights crisscrossed overhead from house to house, and as twilight fell, the whole street twinkled as if filled with fireflies.

Every detail was imbued with personal meaning. In fact, Reed had designed a custom wedding crest for them, incorporating both of their last initials and the numbers of their two home addresses – a beautiful symbol of two families becoming one. This crest showed up everywhere, from the invitations and programs to subtle embroidery on the napkins and even etched into the couple’s champagne flutes. After dinner, the party moved into Reed’s front yard (just across the street) for dancing. A live band played beneath an arch of fairy lights while Kate and Reed had their first dance on the same pavement they once played on as children. The night culminated in a spectacular sparkler send-off down Berwick Road – a tunnel of warm light and well-wishes leading the newlyweds toward their future. It was the perfect ending to a day that felt wonderfully them in every way. By turning their neighborhood into a venue, Kate and Reed created a one-of-a-kind celebration filled with nostalgia, romance, and the comforting sense of home – truly a “hometown wedding” for the ages.