Romantic Vineyard Wedding at Oswego Hills Vineyard, Oregon | Kayleigh and Sean

groom in military attire holds bride while standing in vineyard at sunset at Oswego Hills Vineyard wedding

Nestled amidst the picturesque landscapes of West Linn, Oregon, the Oswego Hills Vineyard hosted Kayleigh and Sean’s heartwarming wedding celebration. Let's dive into the details of their special day filled with love, tears, and swords (yes, I said swords!). 

A Love Story That Began in OREGON and Led to Colorado

I first met Kayleigh and Sean a few months before, for their engagement session at Lost Gulch Overlook in Colorado. They chose this spot because it’s where Sean popped the question! While they live in Georgia now, they decided to have their wedding in Oregon, which is where they both grew up, so more of their family and friends could attend. They chose Oswego Hills Vineyard, a rustic boutique winery and vineyard, which has been producing wine for generations. 

The morning began with Kayleigh getting ready upstairs at the venue, surrounded by her bridesmaids and her mother, who helped her into her wedding dress, a ballgown-style Morilee by Madeline Gardner found at Crown Bridal. The bride wore a bracelet that was a gift from her mom and carried an heirloom handkerchief from her grandparents, adding sentimental touches to her attire.

Kayleigh and Sean had a touching first look under the venue's gazebo, decorated with flowers from Distinctive Designs by Denice. Sean looked dashing in his full military attire. Kayleigh used her grandparents’ handkerchief to dry her eyes as the emotion of the day welled up inside her. I loved how beautiful and intimate this first look was. 

The Ceremony and Sword Arch Military Tradition

Before we knew it, it was time for the ceremony! Guests were greeted with champagne as they arrived at the venue, setting the tone for a fun and celebratory day ahead. During the ceremony, officiated by their family friend Bambi, a few strong winds started to pick up. At one point the DJ's tent was blown away over the venue fence! But things got back on track quickly, and they integrated a special military tradition: a Sword Arch. This was performed by six of Sean's friends—three on each side—creating an arch for the couple to walk under. I have many family members in the military, so I enjoyed getting to see the Sword ceremony in person for the first time. 

Cocktail hour was held indoors, featuring ticket scratcher souvenirs and a cigar bar. Kayleigh created all the signs, including one that featured their dogs, Mia and Milly. Sean attempted to open a champagne bottle with his sword, a technique known as sabrage. However, this didn’t exactly go as planned and the bottle fell to the ground instead. 

A Fun Reception and Surprising Dance Moments

Dinner and heartfelt speeches followed, leaving not a dry eye in the room. The sword, which failed to open the champagne bottle, proved useful later on when it was used to cut the wedding cake from JaCiva’s Bakery.

The first dance had a special twist. A few decades ago, Sean’s mother and late father and Kayleigh’s mother and father just happened to dance to the same song on their respective wedding days: Cross My Heart by George Strait. “When we found that out, we thought it was so special, we knew we had to use it for these special dances,” the couple said. Everyone in the reception was crying during this poignant moment, especially because Sean’s father is no longer with us. 

Sunset Portraits in the Oswego Hills Vineyard and a Magical End to the Day

We did sunset portraits in the vineyard, surrounded by greenery. One of my favorite moments was when Sean twirled Kayleigh and her dress flowed behind her! 

Upon our return to the reception, the guests were having a great time dancing and visiting the cigar bar. DJ Cutt Entertainment took requests from the crowd, and one of the surprising songs that got everyone on their feet was Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” even though it was definitely nowhere near christmastime! The evening concluded with a bubble exit, creating a magical and memorable end to a truly special day.

detail photo of Oswego Hills Vineyard and winery barn
bride gets dressed with her Mom the morning of her wedding day at Oswego Hills Vineyard
bridesmaids see bride for the first time in her wedding dress at Oswego Hills
the bride walks down her ceremonial aisle for her first look at Oswego Hills Vineyard
a bride in a white dress holding florals taps the back of her groom in military attire for their first look
the groom reacts to seeing his bride for the first time during their first look at Oswego Hills Vineyard
the bride cries during her first look after seeing her groom for the first time
bride and groom portrait next to a floral arrangement at their ceremony site at Oswego Hills Vineyard
bridal portrait of bride in a white dress with a veil on, and the focus on her wedding ring
the wedding ceremony setup at Oswego Hills Vineyard
detail photo of a floral arrangement at wedding ceremony
floral and sword detail and wedding ceremony
groom awaits bride walking down the aisle at their Oswego Hills Vineyard wedding
a young woman cries during a wedding ceremony, and she wipes away a tear
bride and groom stand at the front of their ceremony sharing vows at Oswego Hills Vineyard
the bride and groom share a first kiss at the end of their wedding ceremony
several military members perform a sword salute for the bride and groom walking back down the aisle after the wedding ceremony at Oswego Hills Vineyard
marquee sign detail stating MR and MRS Nolan, the bride and groom last name
wedding reception table details with the Oswego Hills Vineyard in the background
reception wedding floral detail on top of a table with white table cloths
the groom attempts to cut the top of a bottle off with a sword
the groom picks up the remaining pieces of the bottle that broke from the sword opening
the MC of the wedding announces dinner to the attending guests while they sit outside in white chairs
the best man raises a toast while the bride and groom cheers
a woman in a pink dress wipes a tear while guests perform speeches
the bride wipes a tear while the groom smiles on during their wedding speeches at Oswego Hills Vineyard
a detail of a white wedding cake sitting on a wine barrel with pink florals adorning the bottom of the barrel and the cake
a detail photo of two talk white candles, and a bud vase floral decor
the bride and groom cut their wedding cake with a sword
the bride and groom take pictures during sunset at Oswego Hills Vineyard
the bride holding her white and pink florals poses for a portrait in the middle of the vineyard at Oswego Hills
the bride and groom pose for a portrait in the middle of the vineyard at sunset
the groom poses for a portrait in his military dress while standing in a vineyard
an up close detail of the ornamental cords worn on the shoulder of a military dress attire
the bride and groom share their first dance inside the reception hall at Oswego Hills Vineyard
a young woman attending the wedding dances during the wedding reception
a small boy is lifted in the air during a song
a portrait of the groom smoking a cigar
the bride shares a dance inside her reception hall
the bride and groom depart their wedding reception to bubbles from their guests

I loved getting to tell the story of Kayleigh and Sean’s Oswego Hills Vineyard wedding through their eyes, and this beautiful venue! If you’re looking for a wedding photographer in the Pacific Northwest, let’s get in touch, and definitely check out some other recent weddings below!

Venue : Oswego Hills Vineyard
Jewelry : Olive and Piper
Rentals : 
Arden Event Collective
Floral Design :
 Distinctive Designs by Denice
Bridal Shop & Veil :
 Crown Bridal
Bridal Brand :
 Morilee by Madeline Gardner

Wedding Party Attire :
 Azazie
Dessert : JaCiva’s Bakery
DJ :
 DJ Cutt Entertainment
Caterer : 
Bellyful Catering
Rings :

Bride’s Rings : Brilliant Earth
Groom’s Ring : Father’s ring
Light Up Letters Rental :
 Alpha Lit Portland 

xx,

Jennifer Lourie

WeddingJennifer LourieOregon, PNW, Oswego Hills Vineyard