Chateau de Michellia Wedding, Salem, Oregon
Candice and Carson’s wedding at Chateau de Michellia in Salem, Oregon felt like stepping into the French countryside for the day. With sculpted gardens, statues tucked throughout the property, meticulously trimmed trees and hedges, and a beautiful rose garden, the venue has an old-world European quality that feels completely fitting in Oregon wine country.
Candice and Carson both work in fashion, and their eye for style came through in nearly every detail of their wedding day. Nothing felt overdone or overly trendy. Instead, everything was considered—chic, classic, and personal.
Their wedding attire reflected that balance perfectly. Carson added a YSL pin to his look, one of those small details that says so much without demanding attention. Together, they looked effortlessly sophisticated against the European-inspired architecture and gardens of Chateau de Michellia.
As a photographer, weddings like this are especially fun to document because there are layers everywhere you look. The fashion, the florals, the architecture, and the landscape all become part of the visual story
I photographed a large portion of Candice and Carson’s Chateau de Michellia wedding on film. The venue lends itself beautifully to the medium.
Rather than trying to make every photograph feel perfectly polished, I wanted the images to retain the movement and atmosphere of the day—the quiet moments between events, guests wandering through the gardens, details of what Candice and Carson were wearing, and all of the little interactions that naturally unfolded.
The original plan was to hold the reception outside, surrounded by the grounds of Chateau de Michellia. Oregon weather had other plans.
When the rain arrived, the celebration moved indoors. What could have felt like a compromise ended up creating one of my favorite parts of the entire wedding.
Long tables filled the interior, illuminated by rows of candles. As daylight disappeared outside, the room became increasingly warm and intimate. Candlelight reflected across glassware and table settings while everyone gathered closely together for dinner.
The change in plans gave the reception a completely different energy—less like a traditional outdoor summer reception and more like an intimate European dinner party.
It was also incredibly beautiful to photograph. I leaned into the lower light rather than fighting against it, allowing the photographs to hold onto the warmth, shadows, and atmosphere that made the room feel so special.
Candice and Carson made the space completely their own. Their personal style paired naturally with the setting, while the unexpected rain transformed the evening into something even more intimate than originally planned.
The result was a wedding that felt refined without feeling overly formal—full of beautiful details, incredible fashion, film photographs, candlelight, and the kind of unplanned moments that often become the most memorable parts of a wedding day.
Vendor List:
Planner: Mackenzie Shoemaker
Venue: chateaudemichellia.com CHÂTEAU de MICHELLIA
Photographer: alixannlooslephotography.com Alixann Loosle Photography
Caterer: artofcatering.net Art of Catering
Flowers: blumfloraldesign.com Blum Floral Design
DJ: highergroundent.com Higher Ground Events
Rentals: ardeneventco.com Arden Event Collective
Dessert: dreamcakespnw.com
