vendors

season : summer
venue : black diamond gardens
photographer : erin aasland photography
coordinators : wonderful family & friends
makeup : bride & bridesmaids
hair : apluxe salon
dress : watters
shoes : life stride shoe
veil : ruffled rose veils
groom’s tux : sartoro
groom’s collar pin : handmade
rings: mark sabino
flowers & install : poppy flowers co
drinks : emerald city cocktails
food : cascadia pizza co
service : the banquet boss

Black Diamond Gardens

Black Diamond Gardens is tucked right off a main back road between Maple Valley and Enumclaw, Washington. If you didn’t know what you were looking for, you could drive right by it. This only adds to the charm of the whole venue. The grounds are thoughtfully planned. A sunlit greenhouse anchors the space, glowing softly at every hour. Nearby, a still pond with lily pads mirrors the sky, calm and unhurried. A weathered log cabin sits at the garden’s edge, warm with quiet charm. Meanwhile, pathways wind through blooming beds, offering fresh views at every turn. Evenings bring soft light through the trees, casting a warm glow over everything. Altogether, the venue blends rustic charm with quiet natural elegance. It’s the kind of place that makes a wedding day feel unhurried and real.

When the stars knew first, uniting beautiful souls

C+E chose a different timeline for their wedding day. They wanted a flow that focused on what was more important to them — quality time with loved ones and a relaxed environment. So, they decided to split their day up a bit. This meant a more intimate pre-ceremony portion, plenty of time for portraits together, and a fuller celebration in the evening with all their guests. And let me tell you, I’ve never been to a more relaxed and heartfelt wedding than this.

Immediate family, a few special friends, and the whole wedding party arrived early at the venue to get ready together. The focus was on being present together and enjoying the morning. In E’s squad, the gals had gorgeously colorful dresses that fit their personalities to a T. Meanwhile, C was so excited that it was finally the wedding day. He got ready waaaaay too early—before I could make my way over to capture his details, lol! He didn’t care though; he was just ready to go. So, during Couples Portraits, I snagged some close-ups of his details. I just love C’s style, it is so unique and his nails were so cool!

C+E opted for a “First Touch,” since they didn’t want to see each other until heading down the aisle. It was a perfect way to give them a grounding moment. This allowed their emotions to calm and settle before saying “I Do.” I found a beautiful spot right next to the cottage. There, they could stand, sync their breath, and share a few sweet words in private.

The ceremony was very small and intimate, held out on the main lawn. The chairs were tied with colorful ribbons that floated when the wind picked up. Fans for the summer heat and hand-stitched handkerchiefs were set on each chair. It was such a sweet, personal touch. They had about 30 guests for the intimate ceremony. There was not a dry eye the entire time! Everyone was crying, even me! I tend to always tear up at weddings, but this one took the cake—I was a mess.

Afterward, we gathered for Family Portraits. Then, we went around the venue taking Couples Portraits in all the beautiful little pockets of sun we could find. It was so, so nice to have no sense of needing to be somewhere. There was no rushing and no worry about missing anything. They were just fully able to enjoy this time together, soaking in all that “just married” happiness. We even had time for them to have a little private dance under the roses. Next was a one-plus-hour break in the day. Everyone snacked together and refreshed, spending time laughing and creating memories.

Cocktail Hour started with a stunning charcuterie board and yummy drinks, while guests began to trickle in. C+E made their entrance to much applause and walked right into their First Dance. Afterward, music was set up (photo of the happy brother who tackled this!), giving them time to meet with every guest, hug, and catch up. Everyone then walked over to the greenhouse together to sit down for dinner and dancing. There, they were met by a little donkey with a flower crown, carrying drinks.

It was the most relaxing, beautifully intimate wedding I’ve been a part of in quite some time. When you cut out all the things that don’t truly matter to you, it’s amazing how much freedom it gives you. You’re free to be present, making memories with those you hold dear. My coverage for this day spanned from getting ready through the end of cocktail hour. The focus was more of a documentary photography approach, with candids of everyone relaxing and having a good time together.