Trudy and Michael’s June Backyard Micro-Wedding in Troutdale | Troutdale, Oregon Wedding Photographer

Some weddings are big productions. This one was family. My sweet cousin Trudy married Michael this June in their own backyard in rural Troutdale, Oregon, with pines overhead, purple petunias in hanging baskets, and the people they love most gathered close. Getting to be their Troutdale, Oregon wedding photographer was one of the honors of my summer.

What is a backyard micro-wedding like?

A backyard micro-wedding trades a big venue for a short guest list, a short aisle, and a whole lot of meaning in a place you already love. Trudy and Michael’s day had everything a wedding needs. A wooden arbor draped in white with a stained glass cross. A tower of mini cupcakes by the window. Seed paper hearts and butterflies for guests to take home and plant in remembrance. And a marriage certificate signed on the living room couch while the cupcakes waited their turn.

What is a ring warming ceremony?

A ring warming is a ceremony tradition where the wedding rings pass from guest to guest, and each person holds them for a moment to warm them with a wish or a blessing before the vows. At Trudy and Michael’s ceremony the rings traveled through every hand in the yard, mine included. By the time those rings reached their fingers, they carried a little bit of all of us. If you’re planning an intimate wedding, I cannot recommend this tradition enough.

What was Trudy and Michael’s June wedding day like?

Trudy and Michael’s day was June sun, lace sleeves, and three generations of family in one backyard. Trudy walked to the ceremony arm in arm with her daughter, past rose petals scattered on the path. Michael waited under the arbor in his paisley tie, doing his best to hold it together. And while they exchanged vows, I heard a hum next to my ear and turned to find a hummingbird hovering at my shoulder, watching the ceremony right along with us. In a family that has lost some people we love very much, that little visitor felt like a sign that they were watching too. Then came the dip kiss, the bubbles, the cupcakes, and a lot of hugging. It was a beautiful day to see family I had not hugged in far too long.

Why have a backyard wedding in Oregon?

A backyard wedding works in Oregon because June light through the evergreens beats any ballroom, and home means the day is entirely yours. No venue clock, no rental minimums, no rules about your dog or your playlist. You can spend what a venue costs on the things you will keep, like great food, real flowers, and photographs. And when the party winds down, you are already home.

Looking for a Troutdale, Oregon wedding photographer?

I’m Becky Chambers, owner of Studio 623 Photography in Sandy, Oregon, and I’ve photographed 400+ weddings over 20+ years, from backyard micro-weddings like this one to big days across the Portland metro. Take a peek at my wedding photography, and if a tiny ceremony in a beautiful place sounds like you, you might also love eloping on Mt. Hood.