There are some wedding days that simply feel peaceful from beginning to end, and Ella and Sam’s June wedding at Bozarth Mansion Wedding and Event Center in Spokane, Washington was exactly that. Every part of their day reflected who they are as a couple—intentional, joyful, and deeply rooted in their faith.
Before we dive in, if you’d like to see even more moments from their Spokane wedding day, click here to view their wedding on Instagram.
As a traveling wedding photographer, getting to document weddings like this is always such an honor. I’ve had the opportunity to photograph quite a few weddings in Spokane, Washington and even more throughout the Pacific Northwest, so getting to return to the area for Ella and Sam’s wedding was especially exciting. Even more special, I had photographed Ella’s best friend, Mia’s, wedding just one month earlier—also in Spokane. It was incredibly meaningful to see so many familiar faces again and spend another weekend celebrating with this amazing group of people.
A Full Wedding Day at Bozarth Mansion Wedding and Event Center
Ella and Sam chose full-day wedding coverage, which allowed us to tell the complete story of their wedding from the very beginning of the morning all the way through their bubble send-off that night.
The day started with all of the little details that help tell the story years later. I photographed Ella’s invitation suite, jewelry, shoes, and other meaningful pieces in a flat lay before moving over to spend time with Sam and his groomsmen.
Rather than posing every second, I love giving the guys room to simply interact with each other. Some of my favorite groom getting ready photos happen when everyone forgets the camera is there. The conversations, laughs, and anticipation before the ceremony always create genuine moments that make the gallery feel authentic.
Meanwhile, Ella spent the morning getting ready with her bridesmaids, surrounded by excitement, laughter, and a few happy tears. One of my favorite moments from the morning was watching her reveal her dress during her first look with her bridesmaids. Their reactions perfectly reflected just how beautiful she looked.
Meaningful First Looks at Bozarth Mansion in Spokane
The emotional moments continued with one of the sweetest first looks between Ella and her dad.
These father-daughter first looks are always some of my favorite parts of a wedding day because everything else seems to pause for a few quiet moments together before the celebration officially begins.
Not long after, it was time for Ella and Sam’s first look.
Seeing Sam’s reaction as he turned around was such a reminder of why I love documenting weddings. Those few moments before the ceremony are often some of the most genuine emotions of the entire day, and having private time together also helped calm any nerves before they officially became husband and wife.
Immediately following their first look, Ella and Sam shared a private prayer together. It was such a beautiful, emotional moment, filled with tears as they took a quiet pause together before the rest of the day unfolded. Moments like this are some of the reasons I love having the time and space to document a full wedding day—not just the big, obvious moments, but the quiet ones that mean just as much.
Wedding Party Photos at Bozarth Mansion in Spokane
After the tearful first looks, we took some time for bridesmaid and groomsmen photos around the grounds of Bozarth Mansion. These are some of the photos that bring so much personality to a wedding gallery because they capture the people who stood beside Ella and Sam throughout the day, and throughout their relationship.
The bridesmaid photos were filled with fun, laughter, and plenty of personality, while the groomsmen brought their own energy to the photos. I always want wedding party portraits to feel like the people in them actually had fun taking them rather than feeling overly stiff or posed.
Having this time built into their Spokane wedding photography timeline also meant we could get a variety of traditional group portraits along with more candid, editorial-style images before heading into couple portraits.
Editorial-Inspired Couple Portraits at Bozarth Mansion in Spokane
When it came time for Ella and Sam’s couple portraits, Ella had a very specific vision in mind: she wanted their Spokane wedding photography to have an elegant, editorial, almost magazine-like feel. We leaned into that with intentional posing, movement, and a variety of compositions that felt elevated while still looking like them.
One of my favorite things about photographing couples is being able to take a vision like that and turn it into a full gallery of images without spending hours away from the rest of the wedding. We were able to move through a lot of different poses and ideas in a very short amount of time, giving Ella and Sam plenty of variety while still keeping the experience relaxed and fun.
Because we were able to get so many of the portraits they wanted in such a short amount of time, Ella and Sam eventually decided to skip their planned sunset portraits later in the evening and spend that time partying with their friends and family instead. And honestly, I loved that decision. They already had a full collection of beautiful, editorial-style portraits, so they could fully let go of the inevitable stress of photos and actually enjoy the rest of their wedding day.
It’s one of the reasons I love building flexibility into a wedding timeline. Your Bozarth Mansion wedding doesn’t have to be spent entirely taking photos. I want my couples to have beautiful images and have plenty of time to actually experience their wedding day.
A Christ-Centered Wedding Ceremony in Spokane, Washington
One of the things that stood out most throughout Ella and Sam’s wedding was how intentionally they centered their marriage around Jesus.
Their families were an important part of the ceremony, and their faith remained the focus as they committed their lives to one another while surrounded by the people who love them most.
It was a beautiful reminder that weddings are about so much more than pretty details—they’re about the lifelong covenant two people are making together.
As a PNW wedding photographer, I have the privilege of documenting weddings in all kinds of locations and styles, but ceremonies like this always leave a lasting impression because of the heart behind them.
If you’re looking for more Pacific Northwest wedding inspiration, planning tips, and real wedding stories, you can explore more celebrations over on my wedding blog.
Golden Hour Dinner & Heartfelt Speeches at Bozarth Mansion
After family photos, everyone gathered for an intimate dinner as the evening sunlight settled over Bozarth Mansion in Spokane.
And honestly, golden hour at Bozarth Mansion is unmatched. The light, the setting, and the atmosphere made the perfect backdrop for an intimate dinner and speeches.
One of my favorite parts of the reception was documenting Ella and Sam’s reactions while everyone raised a toast in their honor. Between the laughter, happy tears, and genuine smiles, these candid moments often become some of the most treasured photographs in a wedding gallery because they capture how the day actually felt.
Cake Cutting, First Dances & a Night of Dancing
The reception continued with some of those classic wedding moments that are always fun to document, starting with Ella and Sam’s cake cutting. There’s something about the cake cutting that always brings out a little extra personality, and it was a fun moment to capture as they officially cut into their wedding cake together.
From there, the evening shifted into first dances. Ella and Sam shared their first dance as husband and wife before dancing with their loved ones, creating some really sweet and emotional moments throughout the evening.
And then it was time to party.
Once the dance floor opened up, their friends and family absolutely brought the energy. I love photographing reception dancing because these photos don’t need to be perfectly posed or polished—they’re about people letting loose, celebrating, and having the best time together. Between the big dance moves, laughing with friends, and all the candid moments happening on the dance floor, there were so many fun moments to capture.
After spending so much of the day intentionally documenting the details, emotions, portraits, and people who made their Bozarth Mansion wedding in Spokane, Washington special, it was the perfect way to end the night: surrounded by their favorite people and fully enjoying the celebration.
Ending the Night with a Bubble Send-Off
As the evening came to a close, friends and family lined up outside with bubbles in hand to send Ella and Sam into their new season of marriage.
Bubble exits always photograph beautifully, especially after sunset, and they made the perfect ending to such a joy-filled day. Watching everyone celebrate around them one last time was the perfect final chapter to an unforgettable wedding.
Spokane Wedding Photographer & PNW Wedding Photographer
Documenting Ella and Sam’s wedding at Bozarth Mansion Wedding and Event Center in Spokane, Washington was such an incredible experience, and I’m so thankful I was trusted to preserve every part of their wedding day—from the quiet getting ready moments all the way through their joyful send-off.
I currently travel all over the country photographing weddings, and I’ve had the opportunity to photograph quite a few weddings in Spokane, Washington as well as many more throughout the Pacific Northwest. Whether you’re planning a wedding at Bozarth Mansion, another Spokane wedding venue, somewhere else in Washington, or anywhere across the United States, I’d love to hear more about your plans.
If you’re still searching for a traveling wedding photographer in Spokane, a Washington wedding photographer, or a PNW wedding photographer, I’d love to hear more about your plans. You can inquire through my contact form to check availability, or if you’d like to learn more about what’s included with wedding coverage, you can view a full breakdown on my wedding pricing page.
I can’t wait to hear your story.
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