Holly and Tim wanted their waterfall wedding to be a fun and carefree day that they would be happy to look back on forever. They also knew they wanted to get married in the woods, because they love to hike. They adventured all around the Columbia Gorge until they finally came across the perfect spot: Wahclella Falls. Though their ceremony was very small and intimate, they wanted photographer Ali Bonomo there to capture every sweet moment from their DIY wedding. Holly arranged her own bouquet and customized her favorite leather jacket, and she also had her father officiate the ceremony.

The Couple:

Holly and Tim

The Wedding:

Columbia Gorge, Cascade Locks, Oregon

We knew we wanted to get married in the woods, because hiking has always brought out natural natures. This led to many adventures trying to find the perfect spot. We experienced a lot of beauty, a lot of waterfalls splashing us in our faces and dangerous edges, that led us up to finding our perfect location at Wahclella Falls. 

We DIYed pretty much everything. We made our own wedding rings with the help of Rebecca Melton. We even had our son make one to make sure he felt included in the day.Holly‘s dad became ordained so he could be our officiant. We collected flower petals for months from various bouquets to sprinkle onto the hiking trial to make an aisle.

When my Dad arrived, we were surprised to see him using a cane. It turns out, a few days prior he had broken six ribs. He didn’t tell us because, “Nothing was gonna stop him from being a part of this special day.” It was incredible watching him hike in, just as happy as can be. He became ordained so that he could marry us.

Ali was absolutely a blast to work with. She is funny and laid back but still professional and gets the job done. We are beyond thrilled with the way she captured our day. She went extremely above and beyond for us. We love her!

Holly made her own bouquet. She used sequins and glitter glue to make a Mrs. Harding back patch on her leather jacket and attached floral fabric to the back of her dress. Tim chose to use feathers instead of a classic boutonniere.

Congratulations to Holly and Tim on their Columbia Gorge wedding, and a special thanks to Ali Bonomo Photography for sharing their wedding with Junebug. For similar wedding inspiration, take a look at Ashley and Andrew’s intimate barefoot elopement in the Columbia River Gorge.