A Point Defiance Rose Garden Wedding in Tacoma | Jessica & Caleb’s Casual and Sentimental Celebration

Some weddings just feel really special to photograph, and Jessica and Caleb’s Point Defiance Rose Garden wedding was absolutely one of them.

Their wedding at the Point Defiance Pagoda in Tacoma was full of sunshine, blooming roses and dahlias, happy tears, a packed dance floor, and so many little details that had real meaning behind them. They even gave me a photo list that felt a bit like a scavenger hunt—which I loved.

So Many Little Winks From the Universe

Jessica lost her mom a few years ago, and there were so many beautiful reminders of her throughout the day.

One of my favorites was that Caleb’s mom and Jessica’s mom were both named Michelle. Jessica and Caleb’s mom, Michelle, have become extremely close, and Michelle was there alongside Jessica’s sister Jamie to help Jessica get ready.

Then Michelle gave Jessica a handkerchief that Jessica’s mom had gifted her on her own wedding day.

Jessica later shared the story with Caleb during their first look, and he immediately started crying. It was such a sweet moment.

Jessica’s grandmother Rose was also incredibly important to her, which is part of why they chose to get married in a rose garden. Naturally, one of their requested photos was Jessica holding a rose.

Running Shoes, Roses & a Very Goofy Couple

Jessica and Caleb both wore running shoes with their formal wedding attire, and Jessica chose to keep her watch on throughout the day. I loved that they weren’t worried about following some invisible rulebook of what wedding photos are “supposed” to look like.

And honestly, some of my favorite photos were the ones that weren’t on their list at all.

These two were so goofy together during portraits. They were running around, laughing, messing with each other, and at one point Caleb even pretended to arrest Jessica. They were all smiles and laughs the entire time, and I didn’t want to turn that into something overly posed or polished.

Instead, I let them be themselves, gave them some gentle direction when they needed it, and let their personalities take over. The result was a set of photos that actually feels like them—playful, ridiculous, affectionate, and genuinely happy to be together.

A Ceremony Full of Happy Tears

Both Jessica and Caleb cried during their ceremony, and there was one little moment that made me smile. Jessica’s vows kept trying to blow away, so while she held the microphone, Caleb simply held her vows for her.

That pretty much sums up their whole day: lots of big emotions, mixed with small, everyday acts of taking care of each other.

Their friends and family were completely invested, too. One friend followed us around during portraits cheering them on and tearing up at all the appropriate times. Caleb’s family welcomed Jessica with so many hugs and smiles, and I caught tons of sweet moments between Jessica and her sister Jamie.

Caleb’s grandpa even made it onto the dance floor, where I photographed him dancing with different family members from his wheelchair. So many of their guests had known Jessica or Caleb since they were kids, which made the whole day feel like a really big gathering of people who genuinely love these two.

The Photo Bomb Party

When Jessica and Caleb decided they wanted to skip most of the traditional formal photos, we came up with something much more fun: the photo bomb party.

They sat on the dance floor while each table took a turn running in for a quick photo with them. It was chaotic in the best possible way and definitely felt more like their kind of wedding photo than standing around for a perfectly organized group shot.

The reception also included a slideshow of their lives before and after meeting each other. One of their requested photos was of them watching the slideshow while a photo of Jessica’s mom was displayed on the big screen.

Tattoos, Thai Food & a Packed Dance Floor

Jessica and Caleb also had some pretty unique reception details.

They hired their tattoo artists, who are also friends of theirs, to give guests real flash tattoos during the reception. I’ve photographed a lot of weddings, and this was a first for me!

Their favorite Thai restaurant, [Thai Restaurant Name], provided the food through professional caterers. The restaurant doesn’t offer catering, but they loved the food enough to find a way to have it at their wedding anyway, which I fully support.

And then there was the dance floor.

It was packed.

Ending With the Macarena

The final moment I photographed was the entire party doing the Macarena.

This was actually a tribute to Jessica’s mom, who was full of joy and absolutely loved the dance. As the DJ said, one of the best ways they could honor her was to remember her with joy and celebration.

And that’s exactly what they did.

Jessica and Caleb’s Point Defiance Rose Garden wedding was beautiful, but more than anything, it was them. Full of family, friends, memories, running shoes, roses, tattoos, happy tears, ridiculous moments, and a whole lot of dancing.

And honestly, those are my favorite kinds of wedding days to photograph.

Looking for a Tacoma Wedding Photographer?

If you’re planning a wedding at the Point Defiance Pagoda, the Rose Gardens, or somewhere else around Tacoma, I’d love to hear what you’re dreaming up.

Get in touch and let’s make some really good photos together.

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! ^^