Burgundy Suits and A Corvette Arrival: Inside a Vibrant Oregon Queer Wedding 

Queer grooms Josue Diaz (him/his) and Jonathan Snowden (him/his) arrived at their ceremony in a decorated Corvette, stepping out to dance down the aisle together at Stoller Family Estate in Dayton, Oregon, on an October afternoon. The vineyard set the stage without much intervention: no floral installations overhead, no draped arbors, just the open landscape of the estate and a wool rug placed at the front for the jumping of the broom. Bud vases lined the reception tables, and two larger floral arrangements anchored the bar. The flowers throughout were wild and organic, held as single stems by the wedding party, which suited the spirit of a wedding where restraint and intention carried equal weight.

A Mutual Proposal

The proposal wasn’t one man asking and another answering. Both Josue and Jonathan came to the coast prepared, each with a pen in hand. The exchange of pens on the beach was mutual, deliberate and specific to who they are as a couple. It set the tone for everything that followed: a wedding planned not from a template but from the inside out.

That mutuality carried into the engagement itself. The two spent a year planning with intention, sourcing attire from France, decor from Mexico, and incorporating values around sustainability, culture and inclusivity into decisions large and small. Nothing was incidental.

Their Love Story

“The year 2020 brought much change, and for us the most momentous was that it brought us into each other’s lives. We were each adjusting to a radically altered reality, tending to our respective gardens, and open to the possibilities.

When we matched on Hinge, we both immediately knew that it was something special (even before then, Josue maintains). Very little was open, so we agreed to meet at the hip-seeming 3rd wave coffee shop WFM (Whole Foods Market, FYI). Although the coffee counter was closed, we shared a walk over coconut water. Conversation was fluid and natural, despite Jon’s aversion to small talk (noted in his profile). We walked, sat, talked about our desire to build relationships and family, and watched the sunset. It was an immediate soul connection. We had our second date planned by the time we parted ways.”

Ceremony at the Vineyard

The ceremony at Stoller Family Estate was held outdoors and drew from multiple traditions. Prayer, readings, a ring-warming ceremony and the jumping of the broom were all part of the service. The prayer flags, sourced from Mexico, acknowledged Josue’s heritage. The rug on which the couple jumped the broom honored Jonathan’s.

Guests arrived to coffee and matcha before the ceremony began, a quiet, grounding gesture that set the tone before any vows were spoken. The two grooms drove in via a decorated Corvette and then, rather than walking, danced down the aisle together.

The ring-warming ceremony passed the rings through the hands of guests before they reached the grooms, a practice that turns the rings into something communally held before they become personal. Paired with the readings and prayer, the ceremony moved between the intimate and the collective without losing either.

How They Made It Their Own

The personalization at this wedding was layered enough that no single element tells the whole story. Josue wore Gucci. Jonathan’s suit came from Designs by Thor. The invitations were designed by Crave Design. Decor came from Mexico, including luminaries and beeswax candles that lit the reception tables alongside stones and crystals the couple brought from home. Dried flowers completed the arrangements rather than fresh cuts, a choice that aligned with the couple’s commitment to sustainability.

Restroom signs used inclusive language. A lactation room was designated and marked. These aren’t flourishes; they’re the kind of decisions that signal to guests who might otherwise feel peripheral that they’re actually welcome. Coordinator Elise at Keen Events helped bring the logistics together while the couple held the vision.

At dinner, before anyone had settled into the rhythm of the reception, Josue and Jonathan broke it open with a surprise choreographed dance. Their first dance earlier in the evening had been to Selena’s “I Could Fall in Love.” The choreographed number that kicked off dinner pulled from a different register entirely: Luther Vandross, Natalie Cole and Janet Jackson. Late in the night, Churros Locos provided churros in lieu of a wedding cake. Intentional Espresso served as the favor. Green Light Creative and DJ Jess the Ripper rounded out the evening.

The Flowers and Palette

The color story at this wedding ran through burgundy, orange, blue and brown, and the florals by Small Yard Florals stayed true to it. Wild and organic in form, the arrangements leaned into texture over symmetry. The wedding party carried single stems rather than structured bouquets, which gave the ceremony a looseness that matched the vineyard setting.

The reception brought the florals closer. Bud vases lined the tables, each one holding a small piece of the same earthy, autumnal palette. Two larger installations anchored the bar, giving the space its focal points without overwhelming the warmth of the beeswax candles and luminaries that came from Mexico. The dried flowers worked alongside stones and crystals to create a texture that felt gathered, personal and ceremonial. ❤️

Featured LGBTQ+ Inclusive and Queer Affirming Wedding Vendors

Photographer: Indwell Weddings
Wedding Ceremony and Reception Venue: Stoller Family Estate
Florist: Small Yard Florals
Planner/Coordinator: Keen Events
DJ: Jess the Ripper
Invitation Designer: Crave Design
Attire for Josue Diaz: Gucci
Attire for Jonathan Snowden: Designs by Thor
Jewelry: Maloys
Catering: Stoller Family Estate
Late Night Churros: Churros Locos
Favors: Intentional Espresso
Additional Vendors: Green Light Creative

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