Olivia & Lukas — A Wild Rabbit Wedding in Clayton, WA
Olivia and Lukas met at a summer camp in Montana, which honestly tells you almost everything you need to know about them. They’re the kind of people who love being outside, who find meaning in community, and who weren’t looking for a fancy wedding — just a real one. The Wild Rabbit, 30 minutes north of Spokane in the middle of the trees and mountains, fit them perfectly.
How They Found Each Other
They’d actually crossed paths the summer before they got together — Lukas was quiet at first, the kind of person whose humor takes a minute to come through. But once it did, Olivia was paying attention. Inside jokes turned into something neither of them had planned on.
Their senior year of college brought a long-distance stretch, and during a trip to Chicago together, Olivia had a moment of clarity: she didn’t want to keep doing life apart from him. She didn’t say anything that night. She didn’t have to. Lukas said it first.
The Proposal
It happened at Thanksgiving, surrounded by Lukas’s family. He was sharing what he was grateful for — and then, with tears already forming, he got down on one knee. Olivia hadn’t seen it coming. She’d thought about it, they’d talked about it eventually, but not that day. Her headache disappeared. Happy tears lasted an hour.
Why They Chose The Wild Rabbit
Olivia and Lukas don’t live in Spokane, but they knew they wanted mountains, open air, and long wooden tables surrounded by the people they loved. The Wild Rabbit’s boho charm — mismatched chairs, string lights through the trees, that 1969 Ford truck sitting in the field — matched their relationship in a way that a ballroom never could have. The outdoors was where their story started. It made sense to get married there.
If you’re considering The Wild Rabbit for your own wedding, I wrote a full venue guide here with all the details on pricing, amenities, and what the space actually feels like on a wedding day.
The Ceremony
Their ceremony was rooted in faith and intentionality. Lukas’s mentor and youth pastor, Gabe Linquist, officiated. Before it began, Olivia had a first look with her dad — one of those quiet moments that doesn’t make the highlight reel but stays with you. During the ceremony, the entire bridal party gathered around the couple in prayer. Afterward, Olivia and Lukas took communion privately while signing their marriage license, just the two of them.
Those are the kinds of moments I live for photographing — not because they’re dramatic, but because they’re true. Nobody’s performing. Everyone’s just there.
What Olivia Wanted from Their Wedding Photos
Olivia told me she wanted photos that could bring her back to exactly how the day felt — the joy of walking down the aisle, the quiet with her dad, the energy of a room full of people who genuinely love them. That’s the heart of documentary wedding photography: not creating moments, but staying close enough to catch them when they happen.
I wasn’t directing them during the ceremony or the reception. I was just there, watching, moving through the day without interrupting it. The images that come out of that approach end up looking like the couple’s actual relationship — not a version of it they performed for the camera.
Advice from Olivia & Lukas
“Have fun. Focus on what’s important to you and your fiancé. Don’t worry about doing things the ‘right’ way — do what feels right for you. Plan the day with love, not stress.”
I’ve photographed a lot of weddings. That’s some of the best advice I’ve heard.
Spokane Wedding Vendors That Brought the Day Together
- Venue: The Wild Rabbit in Clayton, WA
- Officiant: Gabe Linquist
- Florals: Poppy
- Catering: Green Bluff Catering
- Cake + Cookies: Sweet Frostings
- Dress: House of Bridal OKC
Planning a Wedding at The Wild Rabbit?
If you’re getting married at The Wild Rabbit or somewhere like it — outdoors, relaxed, nature-first — and you want a photographer who stays out of the way and captures what’s real, I’d love to hear about your day. I photograph weddings across Spokane, North Idaho, Seattle, and Montana.
Head to my wedding photography page or reach out here to start a conversation.
