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denver lds temple – wedding photographer – colorado

Dec 03, 2010

I was so thrilled to be able to photograph Janice and Kellan’s wedding portraits at the Denver LDS Temple! It was quite a story–on Thursday morning I was standing in my kitchen, thinking I was done with wedding season, and less than 24 hours later I was photographing Janice as she got ready for her and Kellan’s sealing at the Denver LDS Temple! Their original photographer had a family emergency and was unable to travel to Colorado for the wedding, so she got in touch with me. Janice couldn’t have handled the situation better–even though we’d just had a brief conversation over the phone less than a day before her wedding, she trusted me and was so easy to work with!

Kellan’s sister did Janice’s hair and make-up. She looked incredible!

On their way!

The first look. Janice looked amazing, and Kellan’s expression of joy was just perfect!

For those unfamiliar with Mormon weddings, cameras aren’t allowed at the actual wedding ceremony (the sealing) , so portraits on the temple grounds that showcase the temple building along with the couple are very important.

As we stood taking pictures at this spot I had an idea. “Kellan, can you do that jumping thing where you kick both legs out to the side?” I asked (or something just as inarticulate). He answered something to the effect of “probably.” We got it in one take. ONE. He rocked it!

Funny story about this next photo. As we were taking pictures on the Denver LDS Temple grounds, the sprinklers went off not three feet away from us. Talk about terrifying!

Some pretty sun flare from their gorgeously sunny and warm day!

After the sealing they were greeted outside by family and friends.

And then we headed out to one of their favorite Mexican restaurants for some lunch and laughter!

Nothing brings a family together like looking at silly pictures of other family members!

Up next, pictures from Day 2 of Janice and Kellan’s wedding – their ring ceremony and reception at the Lodge at Cathedral Pines!

Posted in Wedding Photographer

della terra mountain chateau / estes park wedding photographers

Oct 22, 2010

Lindsay and Mike’s wedding at the Della Terra Mountain Chateau in Estes Park was one of most fun weddings I’ve ever been to. It was gorgeous, the weather was perfect, and there were temporary tattoo mustaches. The last part tips it over into BEST. WEDDING. EVER. territory.

bride getting ready estes park

Lindsay was a beautiful bride–I love these photos of her getting ready!

wedding at della terra mountain chateau bride getting dressed wedding photographers at della terra mountain chateau

A hug during the First Look.

wedding photos at della terra mountain chateau

With a late September wedding in Estes Park, you never know what kind of weather to expect…Lindsay and Mike got the absolute best! A gorgeous not-too-hot-not-too-cold day with the aspens just starting to change colors for fall.

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Bride and groom portraits in Estes Park at the Della Terra Mountain Chateau.

bridesmaids and bride in red shoes estes park

The bride and bridesmaids had matching red shoes–gorgeous! The the red, yellow, orange and green gerber daisy bouquets were fantastic!

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The wedding ceremony at the outdoor ceremony spot at the Della Terra Mountain Chateau.

After the ceremony we wanted to do a few more portraits, since the light had become much softer and ever-so-much-more gorgeous. Since we’d already taken photos, though, and the wedding party already had drinks in hand, on a whim I said “bring the drinks with you.” I figured we’d go with some spontaneous chatting shots, but once they gaggled together they all spontaneously raised their glasses, and their idea for this shot was way better than my original plan!

best wedding party portrait photographer

I love this wedding party portrait because it captures the celebration of the day. I’ve only been a bridesmaid once, and the memory of that wedding (my sister-in-law’s) is so glow-y and love-y to me. The wedding party had so much fun together and I love to see that at weddings. People coming together to celebrate the bride and groom’s past and future. (You can tell that wedding season is over when I start getting sappy like this…)

bride and groom wedding portrait mountains estes park outside

Bride and groom with mountain view.

fun bride and groom wedding photo della terra mountain chateau

A super fun bride and groom shot–Lindsay actually picked up a pine cone in her underskirt (and a heck of a lot more dirt–outdoor Colorado brides should always be prepared to get a little dirty!) that has been photoshopped out. :)

outside cocktail hour wedding at della terra mountain chateau

Cocktail hour at the Della Terra.

mountain wedding cake with hiker toppers

Their mountain themed wedding cake and programs were amazing. Everything was impeccable.

wedding reception at della terra mountain chateau

Inside the reception hall at the Della Terra. Pretty gerber daisy centerpieces! And all of the tables were named after mountains–such a cute touch!

della terra mountain chateau wedding reception

I was very excited to see that they were serving my favorite chardonnay (even if you can’t drink it, it’s still fun to see the rows of bottles)!

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First dance.

della terra mountain chateau

And then the party started. There are so many hilarious reception shots that I won’t show you…but trust me–this was a PARTY.

bride bouquet toss wedding photo

I love this bouquet toss action shot–check out all of the arms and the flowers breaking apart!

fun wedding reception photos

There was a TON of laughter! wedding reception

Thanks in no small part to the radtastic idea of one of the guests–she brought a pack or two of temporary tattoo mustaches and they were the hot item at the reception. Everyone wanted one, and it was hilarious out on the dance floor. I will be bringing several dozen to every wedding I attend as a guest, now! Stephanie (my second shooter) and I wanted in on the mustache action, too. We were attempting the self portrait below when a guest jumped in…

And if awesome fake mustaches weren’t enough, Lindsay and Mike had a fantastic photobooth!

wedding photo booth estes park

Stephanie and I couldn’t help but join in…

Lindsay and Mike, thank you so much for sharing your ridiculously fun wedding with us. I can’t wait to show you the many laugh-out-loud reception photos that you can use to blackmail your friends for years to come. Just promise you won’t delete the equally hilarious ones of you guys. :P

Posted in Wedding Photographer

lodge at cathedral pines wedding / black forest / colorado springs photographer

Oct 15, 2010

The Lodge at Cathedral Pines in Black Forest just outside Colorado Springs is always one of our favorite wedding venues. Peter and Sarah had a special date–not only was September 10th their new anniversary, but it also both of their birthdays! How cute is that?!

Check out their wedding cake. It makes it into the wedding cake hall of fame–the bride and groom on top of a waterfall with their dog at the bottom!

bride getting ready photos at lodge at cathedral pines

Sarah made such a beautiful bride.

bride getting dressed at lodge at cathedral pines colorado springs

Their wedding color was forest green, so she used a forest green ribbon for the lace in her corset-backed dress. Brilliant!

outdoor ceremony at lodge at cathedral pines colorado springs

A few times a year we get a couple where the groom is just as involved in the wedding day as the bride, and I absolutely love to see that. It goes against the conventional thought of the wedding as the ‘bride’s day’ and it always endears the groom to me. Peter is one of those grooms who was 100% present and involved on the wedding day. Just before Sarah walked down the aisle, Peter bowed his head, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath–really soaking in the moment and centering himself. If I hadn’t had my camera trained on him, waiting for his expression when they opened those doors, I would have missed it. It was one of the most special and unique things I’ve seen in my 80+ weddings.

outside wedding ceremony lodge at cathedral pines colorado springs outdoor wedding ceremony lodge at cathedral pines september fall colorado springs

The pines trees outside the back patio at the Lodge at Cathedral Pines make such a great backdrop for the ceremony.

wedding ceremony photos at lodge at cathedral pines colorado springs casual modern family portrait at wedding

I love catching more relaxed and affectionate moments like this after the official smiley family portrait.

bride and groom portrait lodge at cathedral pines wedding

I admit to having a heart attack for second half of the ceremony, since the sun was getting lower and lower and we were running a little behind and we had yet to take any portraits. But it made for the most incredible portrait time. We only had about 30 minutes, but all of our shots of have this incredible golden hour light!

modern wedding party portrait photorapher lodge at cathedral pines

Our signature wedding party shot. Nic and I refer to it between ourselves as the ‘off to see the wizard’ pose. (We’ve code named most of our poses. We should invent hand signals for them, though, to be like baseball players. That would be awesome. Or we could assign numbers to them like football players. I could be all like “red, 47. blue 13, 26, 84. HIKE!”)

groomsmen portrait lodge at cathedral pines silly photo

Silly groomsmen are fun.

bride and groom at bridge at lodge at cathedral pines

Ahhh–gorgeous sunset light, big pine trees, a sweet moment between bride and groom.

bride bouquet white and green

I love the way the sunlight has hit Sarah’s hair in the top left of this shot.

groom carries bride in sunset wedding outside lodge at cathedral pines

Peter requested a few shots of him carrying Sarah. (a la ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’)

romantic bride and groom wedding portrait at sunset

I love it when a groom looks at a bride like this. It makes me hum love songs while I proof. (Which is good, because usually I just mutter about being hungry.)

best sunset bride and groom wedding portrait

We used up every last inch of light before it slipped behind the mountains. Lots and lots of fun artsy flare-ish shots.

Their wedding had so many creative details. Here were the centerpieces–treasure chests with compasses and ‘jewels’–perfect, since Peter is in the Navy.

wedding at lodge at cathedral pines in black forest

Toast time. The Lodge at Cathedral Pines always has such a cozy atmosphere for the reception.

wedding at lodge at cathedral pines colorado springs

End of the first dance–such a cute moment!

wedding reception photos lodge at cathedral pines colorado springs

Yep. That’s a ‘cake up the nose’ kind of smash.

wedding at the lodge at cathedral pines

It’s been a while since we’ve had a behind-the-scenes shot! Here I am with my buddy and tiny assistant. She LOVED my buttons. (And bird hair clip. She got to wear it for a while, too.)

bride and groom dance wedding reception lodge at cathedral pines black forest

And a line dancing shot to finish off the night!

Peter and Sarah, thanks for sharing your chalk-full-of-love wedding day with us! Your gallery will be up tonight, so you don’t have to wait long for the rest of the images!

Posted in Wedding Photographer