Buckley Washington Rustic Barn Wedding Review and Photography
In Summer 2021 I had the honor of photographing Amanda and Ryan's Rustic Barn wedding, which took place in a gorgeous barn venue surrounded by the Washington pines. Ol' Hitchin Post Ranch is a woodsy property nestled in the forests of Buckley, WA, a town that is a pit stop along the way to Rainier, an hour outside of Seattle.
It is a place where country meets forest meets elegance. The golden brown and green hues photograph easily. String and bulb lights throughout the whole barn warm up any photo, without fail. I was so pleased to find a wide variety of glowing lights to work with.
I started the day up the center stairs, where there was a quaint, woodsy room for brides and their maids to be found getting ready. Some of my favorite photos of the day were captured in that room, especially the one with Amanda putting in her earrings. The golden mirror with wood panels stretching out behind her combined with her soft, elegant beauty made for a piece of art. Also, notice the warm glowing lights on the mirror and immense potential for creativity that this space offered to me as a photographer! Again, the space and the colors were such a pleasure to work with.
Another aspect that brought the photos to another level was the string lights that sway across the entire barn. I featured these lights throughout as many photos as possible because of their simple elegance. I love the glowing orbs that they create in the background of detail photos! There were also bulb lights in the upstairs room and more lining the roof of the barn outside.
Next, the couple did their first look on two sides of the tall barn doors out front. As they read each other's vows, tears streamed down their faces and mine. This is your sign to do a first look and read vows in private before the ceremony! Just look at how intimate and sentimental their first look was for proof...
Throughout the day, the lead photographer and I found countless shady spots surrounded by trees that were perfect for photos. We snuck the couple away multiple times throughout the day- which I highly recommend- to get photos in various lighting, location, and wardrobe scenarios. Breaking away for photos throughout the day allows for a break from the crowd and more moments of intimacy with your partner.
For toasts, I found a fantastic spot upstairs to feature the string lights and add context to the pictures. You can get upstairs and photograph through the railing. The stairs in the center of the room were very helpful for getting creative angles of toasts, the dance floor, and the bride and groom at their table.
As the day carried on, some family members let loose and danced under the string lights. In night photos, I love to experiment with flash to create a bit of drag, which shows movement of people dancing and gives off a fun vibe. Dance floor pics are some of my favorites to do because everyone is already smiling without me even asking!!! It is very easy to capture candids then because photographers are hardly noticeable in a dancing crowd, especially when I do a little boogie myself!!
Overall, the venue offered plenty of lighting situations to get creative with. I enjoyed photographing Amanda, Ryan, and their guests, surrounded by such warm, pleasant colors. This woodsy Buckley barn was a golden opportunity- literally. The glowing lights and rustic woods panels made for lovely, interesting photographs. Then, the boundless shade throughout the property was a photographer's dream. I would recommend this location to anyone who cares deeply about how their wedding will photograph, any time of day or year.
Barn weddings in the Pacific Northwest are some of my favorite venues to work in. Consider me for your barn wedding in 2021 or 2022 by clicking the link below, and of course, keep scrolling to see the beauty of the Amanda and Ryan's union for yourself.
Hi, I'm Chloe
I am a hiking & traveling couples, portrait, and wedding photographer based in the Pacific Northwest
On this blog, I carefully compile the work that sings to my soul. Take off your dirty boots and stay a while where the water is cold and our hearts are afire. View some of my other blog posts, explore my full website, and check my instagram for recent update and announcements below.
