Rainbow Flags and Red Lanterns in the Oregon Forest
Tall trees, red lanterns, and the sound of kids running between cabins set the tone for Kat (she/her) and Jaq’s (they/them) wedding weekend at Camp Cedar Ridge in Vernonia, Oregon. Surrounded by their families, friends, and about twenty very enthusiastic kids, the celebration unfolded over a few days rather than a single afternoon.
The whole weekend felt easygoing and full of life. Rainbow flags waved during the ceremony, a lion dance moved through the reception tables, and the forest camp setting became the backdrop for a celebration that centered family, culture, and the life Kat and Jaq have built together.
From Playdates to Love and Partnership
Jaq and I first met through our kids at a baby gym. They quickly became friends, and we did too. We bonded over being vegan and the similarities in our parenting, and it was one of those easy friendships that just clicked. Over the next few years we both separated from our kids’ other parents, and our friendship slowly grew into something deeper. We supported each other through some really difficult times, and blending our families took time and intention. The kids had big feelings at first, but eventually things settled. Now they act like regular siblings, playing, arguing, and telling each other “I love you.”
Jaq always knew we were meant to be together, while I was a little slower to see it. But once I realised the depth of our connection, I was all in. What we’ve built together is rooted in trust, mutual respect, and a true partnership that feels like coming home.
A Little Wedding Planning, A Little House Hunting
We actually chose our venue the very first place we toured, so that part was easy. Our only real challenge was house hunting at the same time we were planning the wedding. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend doing both at once, but that’s just how things worked out for us.
It definitely felt overwhelming at times, though in a good way. We ended up closing on our new house just one week after the wedding.
A Place That Felt Like Us
Camp Cedar Ridge stood out right away. They could accommodate a fully vegan menu and clearly stated on their website that they are LGBTQ+ friendly, which meant a lot to us. We also loved that they offered a full wedding weekend package.
We live in Portland and didn’t find many venues online that felt right, so discovering this one felt like a win. Vernonia is only about an hour away, which made it an easy drive for our guests too.
The Magic of Spreadsheets
Spreadsheets got us through the whole thing. Lots of them. We kept shared notes with everything that needed to get done and who was responsible for it.
We also had a list of volunteers for the day, and our friends and family were more than happy to pitch in and help.
Meant to Be Behind the Camera
We actually booked and then lost multiple photographers along the way for different reasons. One had a best friend getting married, another had wires crossed with scheduling, and another was already booked for the day.
But in the end, I’m convinced we ended up with exactly who we were meant to. We were thrilled with Toya Rose Photography. She was a joy to work with.
A Fully Vegan Feast
We had a fully vegan menu, and the venue team at Camp Cedar Ridge was completely on board with making that happen. Since it was a full wedding weekend, it meant a lot that they could also accommodate about six guests who were gluten free with gluten free vegan options.
Our rainbow cake was made by a dear friend and one of her friends. It was incredibly special and exactly what I wanted.
A Whole Weekend of Family and Celebration
We turned our wedding into a full weekend so we could spend more time with friends and family. It was important to us that it felt really family friendly. About twenty kids came, so we planned lots of activities, including a 300 foot slip and slide with inner tubes, time in the heated outdoor pool, and a nature walk led by babysitters we hired for the afternoon. Everyone had so much fun that we even repeated the slip and slide after Sunday brunch.
For the ceremony, we walked in together with our kids and did a sand pouring ritual with different colored sand to represent our blended family. Our friend Sasha married us, and we spent a lot of time writing vows we really cared about. Music was also really important to Jaq, so we included songs that meant a lot to us, including “Just One” by Blind Pilot, which was the first concert we went to together. Our friend Liz also read a passage from All About Love by bell hooks. When we walked out, guests waved rainbow flags while “Can’t Stop the Feeling” played.
The reception was full of fun moments. The kids performed together in matching faux leather jackets, Jaq’s mom led a Spice Girls line dance, and there were parent dances that meant a lot to us. But one of the most meaningful parts was the lion dance. Jaq is Chinese, and it was important to include that tradition. The dancers moved around the tables and revealed scrolls with wedding blessings.
We also carried red throughout the day, since it is a lucky color. I wore a red dress by Zac Posen, our flowers by Flowers By Beth were red, pink, and white, and we hung red Chinese lanterns.
A Photographer Who Made Us Feel at Ease
Toya Rose Photography really went above and beyond for us. Both of us are pretty shy about being photographed, but she made us feel completely comfortable.
We asked her to focus on the kids and candid moments throughout the day, and she captured them beautifully. We’re absolutely thrilled with the photos.
Making Our Own Traditions
The only tradition that really mattered to family was my dad wanting a father daughter dance. Jaq’s dad is not in the picture, so it was really special that Jaq also shared a dance with my dad. Jaq and I started a couples dance too, but quickly realised we didn’t love being in the spotlight and invited everyone else to join in.
Beyond that, we mostly did things our own way. We walked down the aisle together with our kids, had our friend pronounce us married, and included a reading by a queer, radical author. We wanted the focus to be on our blended family, which is why we included the sand pouring ceremony, had the kids perform at the reception, and built the whole weekend around family activities.
Photography by Toya Rose Photography
Ceremony Venue Camp Cedar Ridge
Dress Zac Posen
Florist Flowers By Beth
Pants Suit Shop
Rings Mauboussin & Brilliant Earth
