As the snow begins to melt off the mountains around Lake Tahoe and the rivers begin to flow, my free time passion begins to shift from skiing to kayaking. I am getting ready to compete in the Reno Riverfestival this weekend and it occurs to me that I haven’t yet posted this wedding from last spring. Of course kayaking made me think of it, because this super fun wedding photographed in Dunsmuir and Shasta in Northern California was for kayaking legend Darin McQuoid and his now-wife Shannamar Dewey. Darin is a great action/adventure photographer in his own right, so I was really honored when he asked if I would shoot their wedding. Of course kayaks had to be involved! The getting ready was at a rustic lodge complex owned by Shannamar’s family called the Cave Springs Resort. The ceremony was held in the neighboring Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens, and the reception back at the Cave Springs Resort. We did a “trash the dress” shoot the next day so that we could incorporate the kayaks, and a nearby scenic waterfall.
Shannamar getting her makeup on.
This shot of the bride getting ready was through the textured glass of one of the cabinets.
A well trained dog like Taki and a bottle cap opener on the collar is an amazingly useful combination.
Darin and Shannamar opted to do a first look before the wedding ceremony so that they could spend more time with their friends after the wedding .
Shannamar’s family owns the Cave Springs resort, where the reception was held. This rock was in memory of her grandparents if memory serves, and was special to her.
The wedding ceremony was held in the beautiful Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens.
What pro kayaker’s wedding would be complete without matching kayaker cake toppers?
Two drinks are better than one.
With an adventuresome couple like this, you can bet the toasts were something else!
Taki in a rare moment of mischievousness.
The reception was held in the trees at the rustic Cave Springs Resort in Dunsmuir.
A short walk from the reception venue got us to a picturesque train trestle and, more importantly, to the beautiful Mossbrae falls.
Bridal portrait at the unique Mossbrae Falls in Dunsmuir, California.
Wedding portrait at Mossbrae Falls in Dunsmuir. They had to hold still for each photograph as a long exposure was needed to capture the flow of the water behind them.
Now to the serious stuff, kayaking portraits with dog.
I scouted out a nice viewpoint on Lake Shasta just north of Dunsmuir to do some sunset “just married” kayaking shots. The clouds disappeared and we really had no sunset to speak of, but the shoot was fun regardless.
The couple who kayaks together…..
Darin hard at work from his “office” while we wait to see if we get a sunset.