Spooky October Wedding at Mount Pisgah Arboretum

Cailin & Skyler were married beneath the beautiful Twin Oaks tree at Mt Pisgah Arboretum in Eugene, Oregon earlier this month. It was such a pleasure to help these two kind, creative people bring their wedding day vision to reality!

Halloween Wedding October Eugene Oregon Mt Pisgah — Mountain Meandering Photography

When I met this couple, they were feeling the very real pressures of wedding planning: it was just a couple months before their big day, and there was still so much to do. Cailin mentioned in her review: “As a person with anxiety, I was STRESSING about getting everything ready for the wedding. Then along came Olivia and she made everything feel comfortable and taken care of. She made the whole wedding planning process so streamlined and easy.”

That’s what I love to hear!

Neither Cailin nor Skyler felt super comfortable in the spotlight, so we needed to build a day that looked like them: their primary focus would be on each other, as well as spending quality time with their closest friends and family. We weren’t going to have a long ceremony, public vows, or too many toasts. But - we were definitely going to celebrate the spooky season that they loved!

In our very first conversation I discovered that C & S had loads of talented, helpful family members to make the magic happen on their big day: one mom would be the florist, and a dad would be the officiant. Siblings would help set up the day of, and then support the couple as members of their wedding party. I was enchanted to see everyone working together.

Spooky October Wedding Eugene Oregon Mt Pisah — Mountain Meandering Photography

The wedding decor celebrated the more charming aspects of this spooky season: candles, lanterns, rich terracotta tones, and pumpkins galore. The table centerpieces were actually hand-carved pumpkins with florals arranged inside, and the reception included a designated trick-or-treat table crowded with apothecary jars of sweet treats. Here are some of those bewitching details, artfully captured by one of my favorite Oregon photographers, Mountain Meandering.

I’m sure there were moments when C & S wish they had eloped - it happens to almost every couple, at some point in the planning process! Weddings can be complex, emotionally-charged, and logistically challenging events that benefit greatly from professional vendors (and a day-of coordinator who knows the ropes!). It’s my favorite thing to watch my couples transform from anxious to relaxed during the planning process, and then watch them soak up all the beautiful moments of the wedding day. It takes bravery to surrender and trust your vendors & helpers on your big day, but it will increase your enjoyment so much more if you can let go and be present.

Cailin had many kind words after the wedding: “Olivia is amazing!!! It totally felt like she had everything under control. The day of the wedding she was so helpful and so kind, calm and collected, positive and upbeat. The day was perfect, and she kept checking in to make sure we had everything we needed and ensured we got everything we wanted out of our wedding. If you have the chance to work with Olivia to coordinate your event, you should 100% do it, you won’t regret it.”