Why did you decide to get married when and where you did?
- From a relationship lens: We had been dating for nearly 10 years and thought it was as good a time as any to enjoy a public celebration of our love for our friends and families. We were excited to throw a great party and celebrate with our community.
- From a date/venue lens: We chose NYE as the wedding date, as it's always been a favorite holiday to spend together and we love to get dressed up, drink champagne, and look forward to a fresh new year. We wanted to give our friends and family the NYE plans/party everyone wants, but rarely get to realize: ballroom, black tie, great dinner/drinks/dancing! Based on the winter season, we knew it would be indoor and we wanted to stay local to our home in Portland. The Evergreen venue was a perfect setting for the size and vibe of our wedding - around 100 guests, ballroom for dinner and dancing, a beautiful space on its own, and easy to make festive/our own with disco balls and greenery.

Was your actual wedding experience the same or different from your expectations leading up to it?
- Pretty much inline with expectations. Keeping it a "relatively" simple affair allowed us to build in predictability to the day and evening. We had an absolute blast and loved so many of the components that mattered most to us when planning: the food, drinks, lighting, vibe, photography (duh).

What was the most important element for you in terms of planning your day?
- That our guests were well fed, slightly drunk, and all had a fun time without stress. We also did not want to put any of our friends or family to work, despite them being DJs, chefs, event experts. We wanted to enjoy ourselves and feel like the event was authentic to us as a couple and individuals.

What was your biggest splurge or tough decision to make and was it worth it?
- A custom disco ball installation from Greenlight Creative. and Willamette Valley wines from our home cellar that we poured at dinner that we had been amassing for the occasion. Both well worth it.

How did photography factor into the overall wedding planning conversation and what was important to you about it?
- The photography was one of the most important decisions in our planning. We are awkward when posed, so we wanted someone who could capture the spirit and vibe of the day and us in more natural and real moments. Having someone who could capture the "unseen" or non-posed moments was literally one of the best parts. Once the stress and exhaustion and hangovers are gone, those captured moments remain and endure as our favorite moments/memories! The photos are treasured and captured the spirit of the day so beautifully.

Is there anything that you would do differently if you had to do it all over again?
- We should have spent more money on and time vetting our DJ. It was one of the only elements of the day that simply did not meet expectations.

What from this experience has stood with you and remained as your lasting memory from it all?
- I loved the intimacy of our engagement photos juxtaposed with the huge event and party that was captured in our wedding photos, but that the spirit of who we are individually and as a couple shine through across both: highly celebratory, a little goofy, a little chic

Any wedding planning or 'day of' tips for couples getting married soon?
- Relax! It's a party, not a carefully choreographed one-take shot. Drink (water), enjoy the food, let things break and go wrong. Those make an event memorable. Hire a group of vendors that you have great communication with and who understand and can help execute your vision!


After all of the confetti settled and the gallery was delivered this is what Alli and Jeff had to say about both their experience and finished imagery:

"Wow wow wow. I can’t say enough positive things about our entire wedding photography experience with Ty at Flirt in Portland! From the initial email communication, to our engagement photo session, to the wedding day itself and all the communications and deliverables in between and since, Ty has been dependable, kind, patient and put us completely at ease through the process. I was nervous about finding someone that would be a fit for us stylistically and interpersonally, as it’s such a momentous and personal event. I was looking for someone who could capture the moments and mood of the day and highlight the beautiful people and personalities attending. Ty delivered, and exceeded, every expectation we had. He was such a delightful and unassuming presence and managed to capture so many gorgeous moments. His style is editorial and he shines in artistic composition and catching candid, REAL moments. So many friends made the comment that these photos could be in a fashion magazine or a coffee table book. As we pour over our photos it’s clear that the day tells a story and it features not just my husband and me, but our community and all they brought to the day. There’s such joy and movement and life in the photos! Lastly, Ty was unbelievably fast in getting us sneak peeks and full galleries of our engagement and wedding photos. There is so much excitement and eagerness to see the images of your big day and Ty went above and beyond to deliver an incredible package. If you’re seeking a professional, compassionate, artistic photographer who will bring quiet confidence, attention to detail, and a thoughtful eye to your big day, I can’t recommend Ty and Flirt enough. 🤍"