WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GET MARRIED WHEN AND WHERE YOU DID?
Emma - We knew we wanted the day to happen at some of our favorite Portland places and in a sense feel like a love letter to the city. The Rose Garden was one of the first places I visited when I moved here from Virginia and it's one of the places that made me fall in love with this city. We thought it would be a beautiful spot to have the ceremony with its combination of nature and city life.  We chose the Secret Garden within the Rose Garden because it provided the quietness and privacy we wanted for the ceremony. Since we were getting married in May, its beauty wasn't contingent on whether or not the rose bushes were in full bloom. It ended up being so green and full of spring flowers and it felt magical.  We chose to have dinner afterward at Fireside, a restaurant we've visited regularly since we started dating and have come to love the people who work there, the food, and the atmosphere. NW 23rd is also an area of Portland where we spend a lot of time and and we wanted to share all of these special places with our closest family and friends and give them a peak into our lives here.

WAS YOUR ACTUAL WEDDING EXPERIENCE THE SAME OR DIFFERENT FROM YOUR EXPECTATIONS LEADING UP TO IT?
Connor - My experience was much better than my expectations were. I knew the day would be a memorable and amazing one, but once the day was actually happening I was so nervous something would go wrong -  timing, car troubles, etc. However, not a single piece went wrong. Every spot we took photos in, every location we went to, the weather, not a single hiccup. My experience was that all the stress and worry and emotions of the day just melted away as soon as I saw Emma. 

WHAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT FOR YOU IN TERMS OF PLANNING YOUR DAY?
Emma - We both really wanted a slow morning together and then separately with our respective family and friends. So I made sure to build in plenty of time to get ready, hang out, and ease into the day. I'm so glad I did because it led to so many fun memories with my friends. After I put my dress on, though, I started getting nervous. Because I had built in that extra time, I was able to calm myself, relax, and ease into the day rather than having to push those feelings aside and keep going.  We also wanted to make sure we had enough time in between everything so we could take pictures and explore some fun spots around the Rose Garden and NW 23rd and that ended up being one of my favorite parts of the day. Walking around and experiencing the city from a wedding day perspective was so special.

WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST SPLURGE OR TOUGH DECISION TO MAKE AND WAS IT WORTH IT?
Emma - Our biggest splurge was honestly the photography. This was the number one thing I wanted to invest in and was willing to splurge on because I knew that after the whirlwind of the day was over this is what we would have to reflect on the experience. I wanted the photos to feel the way the actual day felt rather than having a bunch of posed or unnatural photos and Ty was the perfect photographer to support us through the process and capture all of the candid moments.  I found Ty on Instagram and his style was exactly what I was looking for. Then reading through his website I knew he was the photographer for us no matter the cost. He shared our vision of being unapologetically ourselves and not taking photos to reflect a certain image, but instead taking photos that captured who we are and what our wedding was about: our genuine love for each other, celebrating with family and friends, and our love for the city where we met.

WHAT FROM THIS EXPERIENCE HAS STOOD WITH YOU AND REMAINED AS YOUR LASTING MEMORY FROM IT ALL?
Connor - One thing that really stood out is that the wedding went exactly as we wanted it to. We wanted to share a day in our favorite city with our favorite people and it felt just like that. The feeling of gathering with close friends and family and really enjoying the moments of the day continue to stand out to me.
Emma - It's hard to pick just one because so many moments are popping into my head. However, they all have a similar theme: being surrounded by our people.  We had a small wedding with 25 guests, and this was something we both wanted from the very beginning. From getting ready with my three closest friends, to looking out during the ceremony and seeing every single face that means so much to us, to spending time talking with each person afterward and celebrating the role they've played in our lives and relationship - it was all so special.  I'll never forget turning toward our friends and family after we said our vows and kissed, holding hands with my husband and smiling, laughing, and cheering with everyone there. It was such a simple moment, but one I'll remember forever.

ANY WEDDING PLANNING OR 'DAY OF' TIPS FOR COUPLES GETTING MARRIED SOON?
Connor - Take the time to plan the type of day you both really want. When I first thought about planning our wedding I would think of what others/guests would enjoy, but ultimately we wanted to do a small, intimate, fun day at our favorite spots. Don't stress over what a wedding "should" be, just make it what you want it to be. When the day arrives know that the planning is done and so do your best to just live in the moment and enjoy it. It sounds cliche but it is true - this is a day that is important for you and being able to enjoy it is truly wonderful!
Emma - Give yourself more time than you think you need, especially before the ceremony. You won't regret it and it'll probably become one of the most important and special parts of the day.  Delegate every day-of task to someone else so that once the wedding day starts, you're not responsible for anything except being present. This was one of the things I'm most grateful we did because I was actually able to enjoy the day, let go, and trust that whatever happened was meant to happen.  Remember that at the end of the day, you're ending it with your favorite person and everything in between is just there to celebrate that!