Wedding Videographer Serving Bainbridge Island | Sam & Elliott’s Islandwood Wedding Photography & Wedding Film

“They didn’t want normal wedding photos and videos.”

Music to my ears.

When Sam and Elliott first reached out to me, one of my favorite things they told me was that they weren’t looking for a wedding gallery that felt stiff or traditional. They wanted their photos and wedding film to capture what their relationship actually feels like: goofy, playful, heartfelt, and full of laughter. They described their wedding as a hobbit dinner party, and from that moment on, I knew this was going to be a wedding unlike any other.

As both their photographer and wedding videographer on Bainbridge Island, I love when couples give themselves permission to do things a little differently. The best photos rarely come from trying to look perfect. They come from the moments in between—the laughter after a joke, the way you naturally look at each other, or the little things that make your relationship yours.

That’s exactly what this entire weekend was about.

Held at the incredible Islandwood venue on Washington’s Bainbridge Island, Sam and Elliott spent the weekend surrounded by towering evergreens, winding forest trails, campfires, golf carts, treehouses, and the people they love most. It felt less like attending a formal wedding and more like spending a weekend away with lifelong friends, which made documenting every part of it that much more special.

If you’re planning an Islandwood wedding or searching for Islandwood wedding photography inspiration, I hope this gives you a little glimpse into what makes this venue so unforgettable.

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A Weekend That Felt Like Summer Camp (In the Best Way)

One of the things I loved most about Sam and Elliott’s wedding is that it wasn’t just a wedding day.

It was an entire wedding weekend.

Instead of everyone arriving a few hours before the ceremony and heading home that evening, family and friends settled into Islandwood together for a few days. People had time to reconnect, wander the property, laugh around campfires, and simply enjoy being together without feeling rushed from one event to the next.

That slower pace changed everything.

Rather than documenting one busy day, I got to capture a whole collection of memories that all became part of their story.

The first event I filmed wasn’t a first look or a ceremony.

It was s’mores.

The night before the wedding, everyone gathered around the campfire with marshmallows in hand, swapping stories and laughing together as the sun disappeared behind the trees. There wasn’t a timeline to follow or anything formal happening. It was just people slowing down, enjoying each other’s company, and soaking in the excitement of what was about to happen the next day.

Those moments may not be the first thing couples think about when planning their wedding film, but they’re some of my favorites.

Years from now, they’ll remember the ceremony and the first dance. What they’re more likely to forget are the tiny moments in between—the way loved ones were catching up after years apart, friends wrapped in blankets as the evening got cooler, or the feeling of knowing tomorrow was finally the day.

Those are the kinds of memories I love preserving.

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Islandwood Was the Perfect Setting for Their “Hobbit Dinner Party”

I’ve photographed weddings all over Washington, and Islandwood has to be one of the most unique venues in the state.

Tucked away on Bainbridge Island, the property is a massive wooded sanctuary that’s home to camps, environmental education programs, retreats, and events throughout the year. Everywhere you turn, there are towering trees, wooden bridges, trails disappearing into the forest, open fields, cozy gathering spaces, and little hidden corners that feel like you’ve wandered into another world.

For Sam and Elliott’s vision, it couldn’t have been a better fit.

Nothing about the venue feels overly polished or formal. Instead, it feels welcoming, peaceful, and full of little adventures waiting around every corner.

As both their photographer and videographer (coming with a carefully-chosen team so I wasn’t the only camera woman, of course), I was already mentally planning all of the places I wanted to take them before the weekend even began.

Thankfully, Islandwood gave us more incredible locations than we could possibly use in one day.

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The Story of Sam and Elliott

One of my favorite parts of their ceremony was hearing their officiant tell the story of how these two met.

As he shared in their wedding film, Sam was immediately attracted to how fun Elliott was and what an amazing conversationalist he was. Elliott’s first impression, on the other hand, was a little different.

He couldn’t get over how much Sam looked like Sam Gamgee from The Lord of the Rings.

Hilarious.

The two of them spend their lives doing exactly what you’d hope they would—laughing together, playing games, loving their two perfect and beautiful cats, and enjoying each other’s company.

Nothing about their relationship ever felt performative.

They were never trying to create moments for the camera.

They were simply themselves.

As a photographer, that’s the dream.

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Skipping the First Look

Wedding days don’t have to follow a script.

Originally, Sam and Elliott had planned to do a first look, but as the morning arrived, they changed their minds and decided to get dressed together.

I always think that’s such a sweet choice. It takes away some of the formality and turns getting ready into something you experience together instead of apart.

Rather than nervously waiting in separate rooms, they helped each other prepare for one of the biggest moments of their lives., straightening ties, helping with little details, laughing away the nerves, and pinning their gorgeous boutonnieres from [BLOOMS & TWINE FLORAL] on each other.

There wasn’t any pressure to react a certain way for the cameras, so funny little moments included pretending they were in a “beautifying” movie scene and cutting the pocket of Sam’s jacket open with a beard trimmer.

So different, and so much more them than any staged moment could have been.

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Golf Carts, Forest Trails, and a Treehouse Straight Out of Middle-earth

One thing you’ll discover very quickly if you’re getting married at Islandwood is that the property is absolutely massive.

Walking from photo location to photo location isn’t really an option unless you have time for very, very leisurely walks, so we hopped into golf carts throughout the day while we explored different parts of the grounds for photos and videos.

Honestly, it just added to the fun, especially with Sam and Elliott laughing their heads off on the back of the cart.

Our first stop for couple’s portraits and videos was one I’d been looking forward to all day: a gorgeous treehouse tucked away in the woods.

If there was ever a place that fit Sam and Elliott’s “hobbit dinner party” vision, this was it.

Instead of asking them to stand still and smile at the camera, we explored the treehouse together, with them enjoying the view, kissing, laughing together, and playing peek-a-boo out the adorable little windows.

Those are some of my favorite photos from the day because it felt like they were simply playing and enjoying each other’s company.

I think that’s one of the biggest misconceptions people have about candid wedding photography. People often assume candid means I’m hiding across the room with a zoom lens waiting for something to happen. In reality, it’s usually about giving couples permission to interact naturally, and directing them with fun ideas so they never have to feel awkward on camera.

I’ll give little prompts, encourage movement, or suggest an idea—but what happens afterward belongs entirely to them.

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Family Photos That Didn’t Feel Like Family Photos

After spending some time with just the two of them, we met up with their bridal party and family.

This is generally the only part of the day where people “stand and smile at the camera” so we can capture all of those group photos in a timely fashion, but it’s also a time to mix in fun prompts and multiply the laughs and the energy with everyone present.

Especially for the bridal party, we mixed in photos or everyone mobbing the grooms, running in from out of the frame, cheering for the couple, or striking whichever pose they felt like.

In addition to the photos of everyone staring politely at the camera, you see people doubled over laughing, looking at one another, and having a genuinely great time together.

Those are the kinds of family photos I would want hanging in my own home.

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One Last Stop Before “I Do”

Before heading to the ceremony, we made one final stop in the woods.

Hidden among the trees was a tunnel made entirely from driftwood branches, and it felt like the perfect little transition between portraits and the ceremony.

Sam and Elliott crawled through the tunnel together before we stepped into a quiet clearing on the other side.

What happened next was exactly why I love photographing couples like these two.

Instead of trying to look serious or romantic, they immediately started making each other laugh.

Standing several feet apart, they each proudly lifted a pant leg to show off their colorful socks, “flirting” with each other from across the clearing before eventually making their way back together, twirling with their airplane arms out along the way.

It’s one of my favorite little moments from their portraits because it feels so unmistakably them.

It wasn’t on a Pinterest board.

It was simply one of those little moments that happened because they were completely comfortable being themselves together.

And honestly?

Those are almost always the moments couples end up loving the most.

A Ceremony That Felt Completely Like Them

After spending the morning exploring the woods and making our way around Islandwood in golf carts, it was finally time for the ceremony.

Guests gathered beneath the trees while [PUT HARPIST NAME IN] filled the forest with beautiful harp music. There’s something about hearing live music outdoors that just hits differently, and it was the perfect soundtrack as each groom made his way down the aisle, accompanied by his parents.

One of my favorite things about Sam and Elliott’s wedding was how personal every part of the ceremony felt.

Their officiant—who also happened to be one of their close friends and a lawyer, as he explained—took his role very seriously, but in the best possible way. Before the wedding, he had interviewed each of them separately, asking about how they met, what they admired most about one another, and the stories that had shaped their relationship over the years. Instead of hearing generic words about love, everyone got to hear their story.

Their officiant also shared stories about one of the things that first brought them together: laughing their way through the famously terrible movie The Room. If you’ve ever seen it, you probably understand. If you haven’t… well, maybe save it for your next movie night.

It was such a fun reminder that some of the strongest relationships aren’t built on grand romantic gestures. Sometimes they’re built on inside jokes, shared hobbies, and finding someone who laughs at all the same ridiculous things you do.

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Vows That Couldn’t Have Belonged to Anyone Else

If there’s one thing I hope every couple does on their wedding day, it’s letting their vows sound like them.

Sam and Elliott did exactly that.

Sam’s vows were incredibly heartfelt, but woven throughout them was his signature dry sense of humor. Every time the claearing started getting misty-eyed, he’d sneak in a line that had everyone laughing before bringing things right back around to something sweet.

Then it was Elliott’s turn.

His vows were exactly what you’d expect if you’ve spent even five minutes with him—playful, silly, and completely sincere all at once. He had everyone smiling from the first sentence (check out the video to hear it!), but underneath all of the humor was a very simple message: this was the person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

They exchanged rings, shared their first kiss, and made their way back up the aisle to music pumping and Sam and Elliott absolutely beaming.

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Cocktail Hour With Edward and Jacob

Elliott and Sam had special signature drinks: they were designed for their beloved cats, Edward and Jacob.

As someone who has met plenty of couples whose pets are every bit as much a part of the family as anyone else, I absolutely loved this little detail.

Guests spent cocktail hour trying the drinks, chatting with friends and family, and enjoying some seriously delicious appetizers while taking advantage of Islandwood’s beautiful grounds.

Drinks in hand, people wandered between conversations and enjoyed a few friendly games of badminton and corn hole that continued well beyond cocktail hour.

It felt exactly like Sam and Elliott had hoped it would.

Less formal reception.

More weekend gathering.

As both their photographer and wedding videographer serving Bainbridge Island, those slower moments are some of my favorites to document. They don’t always make the Pinterest boards, but they’re often the moments couples are most excited to relive years later. The hugs that happen when nobody’s watching. The laughter from across the lawn. Those little pieces of the day matter just as much as the big ones.

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Stories Around the Dinner Table

As everyone settled in for dinner, Sam and Elliott heard toasts from their siblings and some of their longest and closest friends from the wedding party, and every speech added another layer to their story.

Some stories had the room laughing before the speaker even reached the punchline.

Others were quiet reminders of just how deeply loved these two are.

One of the things I always find interesting during toasts is how different people describe the same couple. Every speaker notices something a little different, but by the end, all of those stories come together to paint a fuller picture than any one person could on their own.

From Elliott’s older brother describing his “shrieks” as a child and Sam’s sisters describing how much they looked up to him as kids, to their closest friends describing the beauty of their relationship to each other, hat’s exactly what happened here.

By the time the final toast wrapped up, there wasn’t much doubt about why everyone had traveled to Bainbridge Island to celebrate these two. They’re simply really, really good people.

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An Overloaded Dessert Table and a Dance Floor That Never Slowed Down

After dinner, everyone made their way into the Great Hall (how on-theme is that?) for the next chapter of the evening.

Sam and Elliott shared their choreographed first dance [thanks to DANCE INSTRUCTOR for the fantastic choreography!], and it was every bit as fun as you’d expect. It was obvious they’d put time into it, but it never felt overly rehearsed. They were still laughing with each other throughout, which honestly summed up the entire day.

Afterward, they shared a dance with their moms before it was time to cut the cake.

Or maybe I should say…f ind the cake.

Because it was sitting in the middle of one of the most incredible dessert tables I’ve seen. Seven cakes total, plus a mountain of other goodies covering the massive table!

Everywhere you looked there was something delicious waiting to be sampled, and guests didn’t seem to have any trouble accepting the challenge.

Once dessert wrapped up, the dance floor officially opened.

And it was absolutely popping for the rest of the night.

From the very first song, people filled the floor and never really left. Every time I turned around, there was another group laughing together, another family member showing off some unexpected dance moves, or another friend pulling someone into the middle of the crowd.

It was one of those receptions where you could genuinely feel how happy everyone was to be there, celebrating two people they love so very much.

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Why I Love Weddings Like This

When I got home and started going through the photos and footage from the weekend, I realized something.

My favorite moments weren’t necessarily the biggest ones.

Yes, I loved documenting the ceremony, the vows, the first dance, the first kiss.

But when I think back on Sam and Elliott’s wedding, I also think about marshmallows around the campfire the night before. I think about the two of them helping each other get dressed instead of sticking to the original plan. I think about them popping open the windows of the treehouse, proudly showing off their socks from opposite sides of a forest clearing, and stretching their arms out like little airplanes because it made them laugh.

Those are the moments that make a wedding feel like your wedding.

Not because someone suggested them, not because they were trending, but because they happened naturally.

That’s always what I’m here to capture.

Beautiful portraits absolutely matter, but I also want you to look back at your gallery years from now and remember who you were together in that season of life. I want your wedding film to sound like your laughter, your voices, and the people who mean the most to you. Those are the things that become priceless over time.

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Planning an Islandwood Wedding?

If you’re planning an Islandwood wedding, looking for Islandwood wedding photography, or searching for a wedding videographer on Bainbridge Island, I can’t recommend this venue enough.

Islandwood has this incredible way of making a wedding feel like a weekend getaway. Between the towering evergreens, peaceful forest trails, cozy gathering spaces, and hidden gems tucked throughout the property, there are endless opportunities to create a wedding that feels relaxed, intentional, and completely your own.

And if you’re the kind of couple who cares deeply about genuine moments, I’d love to be part of telling your story.

Whether you’re getting married at Islandwood, celebrating somewhere else on Bainbridge Island, or planning a wedding anywhere in the Pacific Northwest (or beyond, actually), my goal is always the same: to create photos and films that feel like you. The big moments matter, of course, but so do the little ones—the ones you don’t realize are important until years later.

Sam and Elliott reminded me of that all weekend long.

Their wedding wasn’t about trying to fit into a mold or checking every tradition off a list. It was about spending a weekend with the people they love, laughing until their faces hurt, and beginning this next chapter together in a place that felt perfectly, unmistakably them.

And honestly?

I can’t imagine a better way to start a marriage.

Love these photos and looking for authentic storytelling photography or videography on your wedding day? Reach out on my website for a for a free consultation! ^^