Battle Ground WeddingSaturday August 16th I travelled to Battle Ground for the wedding of Jessie & David. The wedding took place at Jessie's parent's house, a beautiful country home with towering trees surrounding the backyard.
It always amazes me to watch the transformation from private residence to event venue. There are so many details to think about. Where do you find parking for 100+ guests? Where will the caterers prepare all the food? How do you keep all of your guests out of your family's home? The list of things to consider goes on and on.
Mike Pyper, with An Affair to Remember, covered all the bases, and not only had a flawless event but a very beautiful one as well. The white tent was a canopy above the hydrangea chandeliers and cool blue linens. The decor was simple yet elegant.
In addition to obstacles that come with changing a home into a venue, the weather had an extreme effect on the day. It was a scorching 96 degrees outside and everyone could feel it. There was plenty of water, lemonade, and ice tea to keep everyone hydrated but shade was still a high priority. The entire bridal party crowded around air conditioning vents in the house to keep cool and the cake was stored away to keep from melting. Outdoor weddings are naturally beautiful, but it is essential that brides and grooms make sure there is a way for them and their guests to deal with the elements.
We look forward to editing this couples wedding video.

8.8.88.8.08 was a very popular day around the world and for Hybrid Moon. I spent the day with Aki and Verne celebrating their wedding. The ceremony was at the First United Methodist Church in southwest Portland. It was my first time shooting in this location and the sanctuary definitely made my job easy. The dramatic ceiling sloped down to a wall of stained glass pouring in tons of warm light. An Affair to Remember added elegant simple touches to the room by lining the aisle with stands holding candles and dripping flowers. After the ceremony, the couple was whisked away to the Benson Hotel downtown.
Verne mingled with guests during the cocktail hour while Aki changed into her traditional kimono. Eric Wright, from All Wright Music, ushered the guests into the Crystal Ballroom to announce the couple and begin the dinner. The evening was an elegant and warm affair with guests coming from across town and across an ocean. There were many people who made a long journey from Japan to celebrate this special day. It is always so nice to be a part of a wedding with so much support and love around.]
Aki & Verne, as well as the Chinese Olympic Committee, chose the date August 8, 2008 for a very specific reason. In Asian cultures numbers play a big role in day to day life. For example, the number four sounds very similar to the word death in Chinese. Therefore, it is very common for buildings omit that number; they may rename the floor or just skip from three to five. On a less ominous note, the word eight sounds very similar to the word prosperity. This is precisely the symbol for August 8th, 2008; it translates to Prosperity, Prosperity, Prosperity! Aki & Verne hoped to bestow prosperity upon their marriage and their guests on this very lucky day.

Hybrid Moon Helps BusinessesPortland Now a magazine style television program showcasing all that Portland has to offer has been airing since April and the response has been great! Watch this video to see how the show has been helping local businesses increase their exposure through informative and well produced segments.