Weddings – big or small – are a deeply personal reflection of who we are, how we love, and what we’ve envisioned for ourselves. Because, when you think about it, a wedding isn’t just a party or a celebration ( although it is that, of course, to some degree). 

A wedding is a symbol of the life we’ve imagined for ourselves with our partner – the start of something truly beautiful, reflecting and refracting the glimmers of what we love about our relationship.

We’ve all heard it time and time again – the average cost of a wedding is around $30,000. I’ve been part of the wedding industry for years as an elopement and small wedding photographer, and in that time, I’ve noticed that so many of us hold wild misconceptions about weddings, our wedding budgets, and what the real cost of a wedding (of any size) truly is.

If you’re a soon-to-be-married couple out there eager to plan your wedding, you’ve probably already run into several conversations about the type of wedding you’ll have. Will it be a big wedding with a large guest list? A smaller, more intimate event? What about something just for you two–maybe a secluded elopement only including a few guests to stand by your side? 

If you found yourself swooning over the stunning Oregon Crook Point wedding between “Dancing with the Stars” pro Koko Iwasaki and choreographer Kiki Nyemchek, know you’re not alone. 

Koko and Kiki Iwasaki shared their vows in late July in front of 100 guests in a dreamy, forested spot right on the Oregon coastline.