Michael and Katie had a super memorable engagement for me - mainly because Michael is deathly afraid of heights, and I asked them to stand on a pretty large cliff. Either way, it was such a great way for me to get to know them, and have a good time. This always translates into a positive experience on wedding day, and it did on this day too. Michael and Katie are just kind people, they are fun, easy to talk to, and game for anything. Even when I ask them to drive a golf cart in the dark through a crowd of people. This wedding day was absolutely beautiful, and sharing it with you is something i’m very excited about. Here are some of my favorites from their day!

Clay and Alyssa's Wedding at the Ridge at Greenbluff

Clay and Alyssa have magnetic personalities. They are just fun to be around and talk to. I saw this when we did their engagement shoot last year (which was a favorite for sure) but I also saw this when we did their wedding. Their friends and family are so kind, and made the whole day go by so quickly. Add in the excellent staff at The Ridge at Greenbluff and Sydney with Piece of Harmony Events and this wedding was always going to be one I loved. Such a great day, and I am so excited to share the many laughs, tears, and moments that filled the day.

Ben and Madison's Rainy Seattle Wedding

Ben and Madison are two people that I absolutely love talking with. They are fun, quick to laugh, and it seems we have a lot in common. I remember hitting it off with them at Ben’s sisters wedding about a year ago and watching him and Madison dance the night away (even though Madison had a torn ACL or something). Fast forward to this year and photographing their wedding in Seattle (although their engagement out in Coeur d’Alene was incredible) was an absolute blast. There was no surprise to find out that not only are they great people, but they’ve surrounded themselves with others that are equally kind, thoughtful, and fun to be around. Their wedding also featured one of the best toast-slip-ups that i’ve ever heard, and really created for me a dilemma in terms of showing you some of my favorite images. There were just so many great moments of laughter, smiles, and tears that I genuinely had such a hard time picking them for this blog. Either way, I absolutely loved being there, and i’m so excited to share with you their wedding photos.

Portland New Years Eve Wedding: John & Kelly

There’s something about New Year’s Eve weddings. Having everyone in the room, counting down, chanting, cheering, kissing, all the magic of that moment. It’s beautiful. And sharing it with John and Kelly, as well as all their friends and family, was a highlight of the year for me. It also happened on the last day of 2023. This wedding also featured some of the foggiest weather i’ve seen all year, so you’ll see some photos where I take advantage of that, as well as one very dark, moody shot that I couldn’t’ help but add in there - even if it looks like it may belong in the Witcher or something. I hope these photos convey the love these two have for each other, the laughs of the day, and the incredible moments we all had the chance to share.

Winter Coeur d'Alene Resort Wedding - Lucas and Kellee

There is something that should stand out to you as you look through these photographs. I know it stood out to me as I edited them. These two love to smile. They love to laugh. From the bridal party photos with their friends, to the ceremony when they shared their vows, to the portraits of both of them, they are smiling, laughing, and clearly in love. This is even more notable as we were dealing with winds of up to 45 miles per hour, heavy rain, and temperatures in the 30’s. Lucas and Kellee were cold out there, yes they shine through anyway. It’s absolutely beautiful and their warmth shines through on such a cold and dramatic day (weather wise). I’m so excited to share these with you, and I hope you love them as much as I loved taking them. What a beautiful wedding at the Coeur d’Alene Resort.

Blair and John's Fall Davenport Reception and Gonzaga Ceremony

John and Blair are two people I had not had the chance to meet until their wedding day (well, together, but I had met Blair at a previous wedding a couple years ago) and I have to say, i’m bummed about that. Because these two are so awesome. They are kind thoughtful, and we share a lot in common. They were a joy to be around, and I have no doubt that if we had met in another circumstance we would have gotten along just as well as we did on their wedding day. Their ceremony at the upper chapel on the Gonzaga campus was beautiful, followed by their reception in the Elizabethan Ball Room in the Historic Davenport was something I highly enjoyed. It’s true that great people collect more great people, and this was confirmed at their wedding. I had a lot of fun, and i’m sure that will be conveyed in these photos, that i’m so excited to be able to share.

The Blog

Brent Looyenga is a Spokane wedding photographer based IN SPOKANE WASHINGTON and Coeur d’Alene Idaho area. He loves people and specializes in wedding, engagement, family and senior photography. You can like Looyenga Photography on Facebook or follow them on Instagram.