A Two-Day Wedding Celebrating Wildflowers and Summer in the PNW in Eugene, Oregon
KelCee Hallstorm and Russell Morgan are all about the Pacific Northwest, so it’s no wonder it was the ideal backdrop for their ceremony and reception. “Afternoon tea in a field of wildflowers was the vibe we went for,” KelCee says. “My husband and I love color so there was definitely no shortage of that!” After meeting on a dating app—and a three-hour first date—the bride and groom became engaged at home. Being private people, they decided that an ultra-intimate ceremony (with only eight guests in attendance) would be the way to go, followed by a larger, lively reception the next day.
For most of her life, KelCee had known she’d want to host her wedding on the property of her childhood home. “Our ceremony was in the middle of tall Douglas Fir trees,” she tells. “It was intimate and simple.” The bride accessorized her knee-length, lacey dress with a hairstyle of soft waves, bejeweled sandals and a lush bouquet of wildflowers in a variety of stunning shades. The groom donned a dapper gray suit, and the excited lovebirds exchanged their “I dos.” “Our short and sweet vows (slightly less than 3 minutes) was a source of pride for us,” KelCee reveals. “A friend of ours married us, which was special, and the vows were riddled with Harry Potter references, which we thought fit us very well.”
The following day, guests arrived at the lakeside property and gathered under a large sailcloth tent overlooking the water and found their seats via perfectly themed escort cards: a packet of Oregon wildflower seeds. There were bright, joyous colors of summertime in the Pacific Northwest abound—wood grains, poppy red accents, honey yellows, fern greens, pale blues, light lilacs and coral hues. “The native-to-Oregon flowers were used everywhere in the space under and around the gorgeous tent: around the dance floor, on tabletops and around the furniture pieces,” the bride notes. “They created a paradise in an open field.” Tablescapes consisted of elaborate, spilling centerpieces at medium height flanked by glass-encased candles, wooden charger plates topped with intricately designed china and a bright-and-sunny menu.
Attendees were able to move about in the spacious setting—plenty of plush vignettes awaited tired feet: “We also wanted a relaxed atmosphere, so lounge areas were sprinkled throughout and we encouraged our guests to wear light, comfortable clothes.” Upon hitting the dance floor, the bride and groom wanted to share a traditional wedding event with their nearest and dearest. “We invited couples to join us on the floor 30 seconds into our first dance so that we weren’t all alone out there,” says KelCee.
Fashion-wise, KelCee broke from modern trends and selected a more formal gown as her reception dress. “I wanted my more elaborate dress—with a lace, beaded top, a plunging neckline and a sparkly, tiered-ruffle skirt—to be worn for the party. Russell wanted to wear a classic tux with a pop of blue.”
Under the setting sun and the brilliant glow of string lights adorning the tent and trees, the newlyweds danced the evening away in the best of company. “I like how we stuck with who we are and didn’t make us a big focus; we just wanted to enjoy our guests and celebrate with them,” gushes the bride. “My husband and I have no regrets about our special days. [Future couples:] do what you want, you don’t have to do all of the traditional things. Be vocal about what you want and be honest if you don’t like something, whether it’s decor, food, clothing or even how something is set up. Enjoy the process, live in the moment and don’t sweat the small stuff.”