Jen & Jeremy- Private Colorado Ranch Wedding

Jen & Jeremy had a wonderful intimate ceremony at a private ranch just outside Glenwood Springs, Colorado along Canyon Creek. The weather held out for the ceremony and in typical Colorado style was on and off all night. Although, the timing couldn't have been better because everyone was under the tent and ready to party by the time the sky let loose. They were well prepared, with umbrella's for everyone, but most turned out to be used more as toys for the kids. (the big and little kids, both, as you can see below) :)
I also never expected to find a band at a wedding that I have completely fallen in love with!! Meniskus performed throughout the entire celebration and I could have listened to them all night. If anyone is looking for an AMAZING band to book for a wedding, I would definitely recommend them!! Click here for info on booking them for a private event. They have gigs all over the state if you want to hear them live. Actually, their tracks on their website don't begin to do them justice. They absolutely ROCK live... definitely check them out!



Jen & Jeremy, it was an absolute delight to work with you and your family. Thank you so much for having me!! I'm so excited to hear about all your adventures in the future! :)

Kristi & Hugh got married in Aspen!

Kristi & Hugh are such an amazing and genuine couple. I knew their day was going to be a special one, but I don't think any of us could have ever predicted how the day would pan out.

For this wedding, my good friend and fellow photographer, Dusty Volkel of Volkel Image, came to Aspen with me. Actually we made a little trip out of it and also brought our spouses so we could enjoy Aspen together the next day.

We met up with both Kristi & Hugh while they were getting ready down in town in Aspen, just across from the Gondola at Aspen Square. Now Kristi hadn't spoken to Hugh at all that day, so Dusty & I had a lot of fun running back and forth and spilling the beans about what was going on in the others' room.




On our way up the gondola, we could see the weather at the top had completely closed in. It was windy, rainy/sleeting/snowing, and you couldn't tell that we were even at the top of the mountain, we were just in the clouds! Now you'd think Kristi's scarf on her head was to protect her hair? Nope. It was to make sure that non of the guests already up top got a glimpse of her. She's so funny, I adore her... hahaha.




The boys getting ready, captured by Dusty.




Well it wasn't looking like we were going to get to have the ceremony outside. The weather hadn't let up at all and Kristi told the coordinator to go ahead and set everything up indoors. As bummed as Kristi was, I was really really proud of her for not getting upset. I always tell my brides that there is no reason to stress about the weather! It's definitely the one thing that is completely out of your control! But Kristi & Hugh are from Houston and she wanted so badly for everyone to see this beautiful place that they had brought everyone to exchange their vows. I mean, not everyone gets to be married at 11,212 ft.! So naturally Kristi was bummed, and came down to share the news with her bridesmaids. She tilted her head back and looked towards the sky and actually said, "Please God, I'm with ya, you're my guy! Please give me this one break, it would mean so much"... and with a few laughs and giggles the girls gave Kristi a hug and continued to get ready.

Just a few minutes later, Melina, the wedding coordinator ran down the stairs... "Kristi! You're never going to believe this, you've got to come and see!! It's cleared... the rain has stopped and the sun is out!! "

We couldn't believe it! I have to say that was one of the neatest things I've witnessed. Just as quickly as they had set everything up outside, the amazing staff at the Aspen Mountain Club quickly took everything back outdoors so we could start the ceremony. Dusty captured the rainbow just as the rain was stopping...



So the rain may have stopped, but boy oh boy was it cold!! Being a Colorado girl, I usually keep gloves and a coat in my car, but I hadn't taken them up the gondola with me. I thought, it's June, can't be that bad right? I've lived here long enough that I definitely should have known better. I mean it had to have been no more than 30 degrees up there. It had been snowing! Dusty gave me a look when the ceremony started. One of those, what the heck did you get me into, kind of looks. Hahahaha. :) It actually wouldn't have been as bad if it weren't for the wind. You can see from the pictures that it was extremely windy. Since the staff is used to unexpected cold temperatures, they provided fleece blankets for all the guests. The next image shows a guest bringing up blankets for each of the bridesmaids as they took their spots up front. Such nice guys... :)



See, the sun was out! Doesn't it look warm? ;)




But it certainly didn't take away from a very beautiful and emotional ceremony for the bride and groom. And, well, Kristi got to share the view.







The Aspen Mountain Club was decorated so beautifully. Kristi did a wonderful job picking out all the details and making things special.







All good things, of course, must come to an end. I LOVE the sparklers on the exit. It's my favorite! This is Dusty's image. Isn't it great?! I barely made it outside to even see it because I got trapped by the crowd and burning sticks of fire were a little scary to maneuver through. haha




To Kristi & Hugh... it was an absolute pleasure to get to share this special day with you and your family. You are an amazing couple and I'm so glad you were able to find each other! I can not wait to hear about all your adventures in life as husband and wife and I fully expect to get to meet the possible additions to your family when you come out to Aspen again!! :)

Ian & Amy's Wedding in Silverton, CO

At this point, I've been to quite a few weddings. I'm a huge sap, I love weddings and families and all the amazing energy and excitements that surrounds a couple on their big day. But... this one was very special for me.

Amy and I met while we were working together at the Glenwood Caverns. This was before the tram was built, before they had 100's of employees. This was back when this little business held it's staff meetings in the owners basement with their 2 boys and pizza and babysitting duty was often on our standard schedule! :) Ahh, those were the days. But Amy and I enjoyed our time together at the caverns and were excited to watch it grow.

Then enter Ian. I was a volunteer for our college orientation day at CMC and basically met him just moments after he set foot on campus. We became incredibly quick friends and soon after were just like brother and sister. I can't even tell you the number of times he fell asleep in my room watching movies or studying and once we decided it was time to get out of the dorms, it was an easy decision to be roomies!

Time came for the caverns to rally the town to show their support for the new tramway. Each employee was told to bring every warm body we could and come to the City Council meeting where the final vote would be made on whether or not the tram would be approved. I was planning to stand up and speak at the meeting and there was no way I was going alone! I drug Ian out of the house to go with me and I'm sure he was terribly excited to be spending his evening at, of all things, a City Council meeting! But when we went inside, we sat down next to Amy and well.... the rest is history! (Wait, I've actually told this story before! Oh well. :) )

These two mean the world to me and when Amy called and told me the news that Ian finally proposed (which I knew was coming) there was definitely some squealing involved. I was so excited to be asked to shoot their wedding and honestly, I've never been closer to my subjects!

The editing process for their weekend of events has been one of the hardest I've ever had to do. They have WAY too many pictures because I know them and their family and the whole thing was just so personal and fun. Not to mention the fact that they had a spectacular wedding at the Eureka Lodge, which is owned by Amy's parents. I know I've mentioned the lodge before when we went there for New Year's Eve this year, but this was our first trip there in the summer. Just incredible. With snow still gracing the tops of the mountains (and even next to the lodge in some places) this was the quintessential Colorado wedding. These are just a few of my favorite images, with too many to choose from.

To Ian & Amy: D and I are just so excited for you. We wish you many many years of happiness and love and I can't wait for our hypothetical children to grow up together. :)