Annie + Theodore

How did you meet?

Annie and Theodore were introduced the old-fashioned way; two friends thought they would hit it off and so they met. Annie’s childhood neighbor turned Theodore’s college best friend introduced them, nonetheless. However, they lived in separate cities at the time and decided not to pursue long distance. Four years later, Annie and Theodore both found themselves living in Portland, Oregon and, unknowingly, lived less than one block away from each other. She could literally see his place from her doorstep! One fall day they ran into one another at their neighborhood grocery store and started to rekindle their friendship. Several months later they had their first proper date on Valentine’s Day. Theodore made Annie surf n’ turf and she was impressed. The rest is history.

When did you know they were the one?

Actually the first time we met, long before dating, I had a gut feeling that we would end up together. Our personalities and approach to life matched each other so well. I loved his sense of humor. Even though it took awhile for us to find each other once again, it worked out and was worth the wait.

What are your three favourite attributes of your partner?

- He shows his love for me with food, he is an amazing cook and always wants to make sure I eat, lol.
- He is incredibly multi-faceted. i.e., he speaks Spanish, is incredibly intelligent, masters his corporate job, and is the ultimate handyman, rancher, and mechanic. I get the best of all worlds.
- He is a great balance for me. Nothing phases Theodore and he can take a stressful situation and bring it down 5 notches. I need that and we complement each other so well.

Who proposed and how?

Theodore proposed to Annie on January 4, 2019 while watching the sunset on “the knob” at his family’s ranch in Condon, Oregon. This space is incredibly significant to his family and the couple. Theodore is a fifth generation Oregonian, from a family that homesteaded there after coming across the Oregon Trail. The ranch covers approximately 10,000 acres in Eastern Oregon and the couple spends a lot of their weekends there to decompress from their corporate jobs and get a break from city life in Portland.

Where did you fall in love with your dress and why?

I fell in love with the Stevie dress and veil at the a&be bridal shop in Portland, Oregon while with my sister. I thought I wanted a white crepe dress and ended up with something completely different. I loved the unique lace, the cut, fitted bodice, and mostly that the lace was overlayed on a nude layer that made the lace stand out and pop.

What was the best moment for you at the wedding?

Bringing our family and friends together. I think this was especially special given that we married in June 2020 and had been quarantined for months.

What surprised you most at or about your wedding?

Even though it was not exactly what we had planned, just like everyone else planning in 2020, we had to alter plans. Surprisingly, it turned out very unique, everyone had a blast and things worked out perfectly.

What did you do differently?

We always talked about tying the knot in eastern Oregon, where we were both raised, to honor our upbringing and bring our friends and family to appreciate the natural beauty there. Our reception venue closed its doors to parties of more than 25 people (due to Covid) three weeks before our wedding day. We held a small ceremony with just our immediate family at our venue and moved our reception to my husband’s family’s working farm and ranch. We had a “hoolie” inspired reception that kicked off with food and a sunset walk on the farm land, and followed by a barn dance with a DJ, drinks, and lights at a barn that is over 100 years old and hosts a resident owl.