September Wedding at Sweet Cheeks Winery in Eugene, Oregon

Lienne & Derek were married at Sweet Cheeks Winery in early September, surrounded by the vineyard bursting with lush grapes. The winery was just days away from harvesting the fruit and we loved taking photos among the grape vines!

The wedding day was warm and beautifully sunny in Eugene, Oregon while Lienne & Derek were getting ready with their wedding parties. The couple decided not to see each other before the ceremony, but they did share “first looks” with their bridesmaids, groomsmen, and families.

Lienne shared the upstairs bridal suite with her bridesmaids while they styled their hair and applied makeup. However, for the final step of getting into her dress, she had a private moment with her mom. This was the perfect way to spend time with her closest friends while still having a “reveal” moment - her bridesmaids were so excited to finally see her in her wedding gown!

Sweet Cheeks Winery is open to the public until 5 pm each day. This means on wedding days, the ceremony often starts at 6 or 6:30 pm to allow us enough time for setup. I loved the lighting during the ceremony, as the soft beginnings of a sunset crept into the sky.

A couple shares a kiss during their sunset wedding ceremony at Sweet Cheeks Winery in Eugene, Oregon

While their guests enjoyed cocktail hour, the couple took a private moment together in the vineyard. It was the perfect time to reconnect with each other after an exciting day.

After a heartfelt ceremony and beautiful sunset, it was time to party! Lienne & Derek made the unique decision to skip a sit-down meal and instead offer appetizers to their guests all night long. This encouraged movement and mingling throughout the event. (As long as there’s a steady supply of food to guests and no one leaves hungry, this can be a fun way to mix up a traditional wedding reception!)

The guest tables were decorated with wine-bottle table numbers, white roses, and floating candles in earthy, autumnal tones. The cloth napkins were wine-red to further emphasize the theme.

One of my favorite moments of the night was Lienne & Derek’s first dance. Instead of using the wide dancefloor that would have put them far away from their guests, they chose to dance in a small area between the guest tables. Their favorite people loved having a front-row seat!

A couple shares their first dance on the patio at Sweet Cheeks Winery during their wedding reception

A private cake cutting, tearful speeches, and rockin’ dance floor rounded out the night. Lienne & Derek’s videography team had to leave an hour before their grand exit, so I filmed the moment and sent a short video to them the next day. It’s another of my favorite memories from this event , but I can’t share it here - some things are just for the couple to enjoy!

Lienne & Derek, it was such an honor to witness your love surrounded by your family and friends. Thank you for choosing me as your wedding coordinator, and congratulations on your future together!