RAMIE + KYLE | HAINES, AK WEDDING | THE CHILKAT INLET RETREAT | DESTINATION WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER

Ramie + Kyles’s Wedding at Chilkat Inlet Retreat in Haines, AK was one I won’t soon forget. The weekend was a wedding I had been looking forward to since linking up with Ramie. Seriously. I had planned to go camping while my stay there and they ended up renting me a yurt on the property to stay in. The location was the perfect place to have an intimate wedding. The Chilkat Inlet Retreat was surrounded by mountains and the ocean. The sun was beaming while the wind howled through the trees. When I had my consultation with Ramie, she mentioned a friend told her that her biggest regret on her wedding day was not getting a video. So her friend recommended me, she loved my style of storytelling and wanted me to help her capture her special day and the rest is history!

Ramie + Kyles’s love story is one I absolutely swoon over. They first met in 2018 outside their local coffee shop in Haines as they were calling their dogs – both ironically named Brodie! They knew each other only as distant acquaintances for a year or so after that first encounter. Ramie is a school Teacher and one of her coworkers, who also knew Kyle, decided to set them up! Kyle reached out to Ramie and asked if she would like to go on a hike. They went on adventurous and slightly confusing 7 mile hike up Saddle trail with both their dogs (confusing because both dogs names were Brodie haha) and hit it off right away. It was a gorgeous sunny day, right before the school year started.

Shortly after Ramie’s daughter Piper was introduced to the mix and her and Kyle immediately hit it off as well after a game if hide and seek in the Moose Meadows. After spending days together hiking, gardening, spending time sharing stories and sitting around the fire, they quickly became best friends and saw their lives together as a family.

They now go out and hike on that day every year, just the two of them to celebrate their first date.

Ramie, Kyle and Piper enjoy having game nights together. One Sunday evening, they decided to play a game of telephone. Little did Ramie know, Kyle and Piper had been planning this sneaky moment to have Ramie propose to Kyle. They played a couple rounds and Kyle finally whispered into Piper’s ear, “will you marry me”, who then relayed the message to her mother Ramie. Kyle then dropped down to his knee and asked Ramie to spend their lives together as a family.

Ramie + Kyle define fun-loving, family oriented, adventurous, outdoorsy couples/family in love and this is everything I hope for when I film couples. I wish for laughter, and joy, engagement sessions outdoors, and down-to-earth brides with big hearts for the people in their lives. This is Ramie and Kyle to a “T”!

We were outstandingly lucky to have a beautiful fall engagement session at Dredge Lake in Juneau, Ak during a snow fill winter! We walked through 2 feet of snow to an opening that highlighted the beauty of the glacier where we played in the snow. It was a day full of so much playfulness and laughter and their wedding day was even more perfect.

The day started in the main lodge on the property where the day of coordinator and team started setting up for the big day, the guys hung out and got ready in one of the yurts just above the lodge, and the girls finished getting ready in another yurt. Ramie was surrounded with so much love from her girls, daughter and her mother and inlaw’s to be who she met in person for the first time after many calls over facetime together. I’m pretty sure her heart was exploding with gratitude at this point, because mine sure was and I was just overwhelmed with the love that was felt in that cabin.

After settling in, she got her dress on with the help of her best friend Tenaya and everyone was beaming when as they watch Ramie nervously add the final touches to her dress. She was jaw-dropping and her positivity was more radiant than ever. She has an unbelievable heart for serving and loving others and I find myself always looking forward to hearing from her. This became so apparent when she was surrounded by her bridesmaids as they all were just so excited to be a part of the day.

Then comes the groomsmen. I went up to Kyle’s yurt where I found him relaxing with their dogs reading a box to calm his nerves before all the chaos of the day began. I had such a blast with them as they hung out sharing jokes overlooking the ocean from their yurt. They were surrounded with laughter and fun all day and I can’t imagine a more perfect wedding day.

Music Inspired by Ramie + Kyle’s Intimate Wedding Day

The ceremony overlooked the Chilkat mountains and their rustic and personal touches left so many people in awe. They read their own vows under an arch Kyle made that was wrapped with floral arrangements that were flown over from Martha’s flowers. They had a unity ceremony with candle while Kyle’s dad officiated the ceremony. I love intimate weddings because it allows the couple to customize their day even more and involve family members in their day more than the traditional sense. The weather was a perfect considering it was supposed to rain. The weather held up for the whole day, sun beaming with the wind rustling through the trees.

After the ceremony we took family and wedding party photos and then it was time for the bride and groom portraits!! IT started to get cold from the wind at this point but Kyle and Ramie tuffed through and enjoyed every minute of it as we walked along the beachline and through the trees to a wooden bridge! I love the water and mountains so this was absolutely perfect. We then wrapped up the portraits and went to the lodge to get the party started!!

When we entered the lodge candles, florals and linens beautifully lined the tables. The cake was one of the most beautiful masterpieces I had ever seen. It wasn’t your traditional white wedding cake either. It was vibrant, green and beautiful and artfully decorated with frosted flowers custom made by Costa Brava. Their guests left love notes in their guestbook coupled with a polaroid camera that I had brought over for everyone to enjoy.

We danced the night away together until the sun rose above the Chilkat mountains. This was definitely a wedding I will remember forever and new friendships that I will cherish forever.

All in all, it was truly a perfect day and the threat of rain held off until literally
the next day! Together, Ramie and Kyle completely compliment one another. He is always smiling (as is Ramie) and loves her deeply, and quietly. They are, indeed, a perfect match, and I am just bursting with joy that I get to document their love.

Ramie + Kyle, no one deserves this perfect day more than the two of
you. I am so beyond happy that I got to be there to witness the beginning of
your next big adventure. Thank you, a million times, over for being so incredible. I hope this new adventure together as a family gets better each and every day. Your joy is contagious, and I absolutely loved being surrounded by it on your wedding day. Cheers to many more decades of love and happiness!

Vendor Credits

RECEPTION/CEREMONY VENUE: The Chilkat Inlet Retreat
VIDEOGRAPHER: Sorril Media
PHOTOGRAPHER: Mel G Photography
CATERING: Malo Nista Catering
DAY OF COORDINATOR: Caroline Hankins Events
FLORIST: Martha’s Flowers
CAKE ARTIST: Costa Brava
DJ: Ceremony Music – Andrew Cardella (acoustic guitar), Reception – DJ Dan
MAKE-UP ARTIST: Krystal Rose Studio
HAIR ARTIST: Hair By Tenaya
BRIDESMAIDS DRESS: Bird Grey
TUXES: N/A mostly their closets
OFFICIANT: Hudson Valley Officiants
BRIDAL GOWN: The Dress Theory Seattle
INVITATIONS: Selkie Stationary