A Quick Trip to Thailand

At the end of the summer, after Colton returned from Afghanistan and my wedding season was coming to an end, we made a wildly impulsive decision to flee the country and head to Thailand. I think from the time I purchased our tickets to the moment we hopped on the plane, a little over a week passed. But a last minute adventure to a place we’ve never been is exactly the type of thing we live for. I had one room booked for the night we flew into Bangkok, but other than this we had no plans, no place to live, and no idea how to speak one word of Thai. Fortunately for us Thailand is both an especially hospitable country and one that’s remarkably easy to navigate. Leaving the two of us, and only the tiny carry-on backpack we brought along, happy as clams in the Indian Ocean.

…are there clams in the Indian Ocean?

Here’s a little peek into our travels. Our first stop, Bangkok, was equal parts craziness and city living. Which meant I loved every minute of it…

Deciding, at the airport, where we should head next. The south, and the ocean breeze, won our vote.

If you’ve been to Thailand, you’ll know that Buddhist temples are no rarity. One could easily spend a year visiting only the temples in Bangkok alone. Since Colton and I are amateur sight-seers at best, we knew we wouldn’t have the endurance to explore temple after temple after temple. We chose Doi Suthep as our one temple experience on the recommendation of Colton’s cousin + aunt. And I’m so glad we did! It was the perfect combination of culture and history and lots of gold sparkles, all wrapped up in a perfect little rainforest package. Just my style!

Friends, it’s only because I love you that I’m sharing the following picture of Colton and I. It’s the type of picture that someone might steal from my sock drawer in an attempt to blackmail me into baking them Christmas cookies. So I’m preventing any such potential opportunity by sharing it with the world myself. It’s ridiculous, I know this. And every time I look at it I laugh harder than the last. I’m filthy, and resemble something close to what would happen if a construction worker had a scandalous night with a Jane Fonda workout video circa 1980. But it’s all okay because my husband was forced into a zip lining harness four sizes too small. This, in turn, created the illusion that he’s wearing a boys size 6 short. Which, in the end, all revealed the incredible tan line he earned in Afghanistan while running in extra short, dark green, running shorts. It’s a beautiful thing.

And that, Internet friends, is how the Cross’s make a Christmas card.

I made Colton take a picture of me crossing this bridge. It was extra dangerous and I almost died three times while maneuvering it. I wanted him to have a photo of me from our last adventure together, just in case I didn’t make it.

Jason + Kahly

There are times when an inquiry arrives in my inbox that I immediately, without any other contact with the bride or groom, secretly hope to photograph the wedding. When Kahly first wrote me to ask about photos for her upcoming wedding outside of Sisters, for which all of her wedding guests would be spending an extended weekend together with the bride + groom fly-fishing the Metolius, I couldn’t help but get beyond excited. Any couple who loves the outdoors enough to bring their entire wedding to Camp Sherman for a weekend destination getaway is a couple who I know I’ll love to work with!

A few weeks ago Jason and Kahly met me for a wintry afternoon of picture taking. Though we’d never met before, these two made it seem as though we’d known each other for years.  Together we walked through the woods and talked about wedding plans and fly-fishing adventures and our shared experiences of having spent the first few years of our lives in Alaska. And once we’d taken photos of them being nothing more than the naturally gorgeous people they are, Jason and Kahly hopped into their fishing gear and made their way down to the Metolius where they showed me their skills on the river. Any couple who asks if I wouldn’t mind spending my day between the towering pines on the banks of a river is a couple I know I’m going to love.

Jason and Kahly, thank you so much for sharing your afternoon with me. It was so fun getting to meet you (and Lexie!) and traipse through Camp Sherman as you shared your story and your mutual love for fly-fishing. I hope these photos will always bring back warm memories of your time being engaged and planning a wedding. And I cannot wait to see you back at Lake Creek Lodge come June!!

Oregon Engagement Session