Nick + Nikki
A day full of surprises
Yep, Nick + Nikki are their real names, and both left handed. These two BELONG TOGETHER for many other reasons, other than those listed. Their love is true. Their laughter is full. And Adventure is always present. Check out their engagement session here, where we romped through the Paint Mines!
Their wedding day took place at a local Catholic Church, where they said their vows, pinky swore and made their marriage official. But Rembrandt Yard, a beautiful art gallery in downtown Boulder, is where the celebrations happened.
Throughout the day, there were many surprises. I was in on a little secret that happened before the wedding day ever came. Nick and Nikki were presented with a wedding gift from their wedding party: A videographer to assist in capturing the day. If you’re wondering if you should hire a videographer as well as a photographer, I say do it!
All of the other surprises revolved around getting “iced”. As Nikki came out of her preparation room to show off her beautiful dress, in tow were 12 Smirnoff Ice bottles, ready to Ice her bridesmaids. Retaliation came later on during the Trolley Bus ride, when Nikki got iced by the bus driver! Nick got iced during speeches to round out the evening.
All these surprises say a lot about Nick and Nikki. They care about the people around them, they care everyone has a good time, feels important, and feels like part of the family. Their wedding guests and family reciprocate those feelings towards the beautiful couple as well. It was just the most fun wedding day I’ve ever been a part of.
Nick and Nikki didnt hire a traditional DJ. Their friend and wedding industry professional Ben Hammond is a looper and is absolutely fantastic. As his cover of Kip Moore’s ”Hey Pretty Girl” played in the background, they danced as Mr and Mrs and their guests swayed along, feeling the love.
After dinner and donuts were served, the dance floor opened to two cultural events. One of the most popular Polish traditions at wedding celebrations is called the "unveiling". As the guests circle around the bride and groom, music is played while Nikki’s sister and maid of honor, removed her veil and replace it with a bonnet, representing a rite of passage from a young women to married a woman. Nick also was adorned with a fun hat, I believe to wish them a long and happy marriage. The next cultural event was a Lebanese line dance, where everyone grabbed hands and danced: stomping, kicking, smiling and moving throughout the art gallery. Seriously, check out the photos - it was so awesome!
Nick + Nikki, you two are seriously two of the most amazing humans I’ve ever met. I cant wait to follow along with your adventures, and hopefully partake in a few! Cheers, new friends!
Dream Team:
Venue: Rembrandt Yard
Dress Shop: Emma and Grace Bridal Studio
Dress Brand: Pronovias
Catering: Greens Point Catering, Longmont
Music: Ben Hammond
Florist: FairyTale Floral
Invites: Minted.com
Jewelry: Shane Co
Make Up: Alchemy Face Bar
Hair: WedLocks Bridal Hair
Videographer: mnafilms
David + Lindsey
Backyard Wedding Bliss
Weddings can be such a production and big ordeal. But not this beautiful wedding in Golden, Colorado. Nope, not this wedding, because David + Lindsey’s chill backyard wedding was relaxed, simply beautiful, and fun for all involved - including me!
Lindsey and her girls got ready upstairs overlooking their property watching as guests arrived early for cold beverages and conversation. As go-time neared, their guests took part in their unity ceremony by placing a tile in their mosaic that would eventually get their hands prints pressed into it. Such a cool idea, and one that I had never seen before.
Their ceremony, full of laughs + Prince quotes ended with a kiss and the applause cheered on the rest of the evening. Hayrack rides brought guests into town where the reception kicked off with a bang. And by bang, I mean everyone got “Iced” with a Smirnoff Ice under their chair. It was hilarious.
David and Lindsey: Keep being the fun loving humans that you are, and I cant wait to see what adventures come your way through marriage. Cheers!
Highlights: Lindsey + David’s killer home aka ceremony site, apples upon entrance, the beautiful arbor made by family, turning around right before the ceremony and seeing a few of my friends in attendance! (smallll world), Photo Locations on mountainside, hayrack rides to the reception, When the ENTIRE reception got “Iced” with Smirnoff Vodka Shooters under each of the chairs, The Shoe Game!, Fresh Hamburgers, All sorts of love and laughter.
Dream Team:
Venue: Their cozy home + The Mountaineering Center in Golden for their reception
Wedding Coordinator: Ashley Zimmerman
Caterer: Bob’s Atomic Burgers
Florist: Self
DJ: Matt DiAno
Hair + Makeup: Anita Mcgann
Wedding Rings: A Friend and Local Artist
Mike + Keely
A Rustic Wedding
Mike + Keely's wedding at Villa Parker last weekend was such an amazing day. This venue is tucked back into a space where you feel like you're in Italy, not Parker Colorado. I'll take it! The whole day was filled with sweetness: from the cute glances between Keely and Mike, the fact that both their mothers are named Jeanette, so many kids twirling around, and their vows speaking of becoming that old and grey couple that the young couples look up to. OMG TEARS!
I can't wait to share with you these photos of their day, while Keely and Mike sit on a beach somewhere enjoying married life. Cheer's newlyweds! Enjoy this time in your lives.
Highlights: During the first look Keely turns around to the mothers and says "Doesnt he look like James Bond?", The Adorable Flower Girls, The decor!. Keely's amazing dress, the Mac + Cheese and Slider Bar, During their vows they both spoke about getting old together ... and ice cream, Their choreographed first dance, the length of Keely's veil! It was stunning!
Dream Team:
Wedding Coordinator: Erika Oltmann
Caterer: Spice of Life
Florist: Moonlight Iris
DJ: Elite DJ
Rentals: Event Rents
Dress Shop: Savvy Bridal
Tux / Suit / Ties: Black Tux
Bridal Jewelry: Borcik Jewelry
Hair + Makeup: BelViso
Wedding Rings: Sarah O
Cake: Samm Sherman
Jason + Carissa
We Went To A Dog Park
Where do I start here? Maybe with a thank you.
Thank You Carissa for being the one who's been taming my mermaid hair for years. Ya'll she's the best hair stylist in Denver so go check her out. My hair was a mess before she got her hands on it. She's a color wizard and a beautiful soul.
Jason: Thank you for loving this woman. You two fit together like stars in the sky, and I'm so honored to have captured your engagement session. Your Mexico destination wedding will be so amazing, maybe I'll just end up at the same resort around that time. lol. Kidding. Sort of.
These two took a leap of faith with me and went to a location that I've been a hundred times, but never photographed at. LOL - YUP A DOG PARK! My four legged fur-baby and I walk this park frequently, and I had always admired the mountain views, the rolling hills, and the meadows of unique desert-like plants. So we met up here, and magic happened.
After a few initial poses and prompts, Jason and Carissa got really into it and we started playing around with Double Exposures. They threw out ideas left and right, and I loved the collaboration that happened. I absolutely love their gallery, and I'm so so so so so stoked to share it with you.
Feast your eyes on this.
Nick + Nikki
The Most Beautiful Engagement
Any one who makes up voices for their dog and talks for them - IS THE COOLEST HUMAN EVER. So on our drive out to the middle of no where, when Nick and Nikki (I know, I know, perfect name combo, huh?) talked for their doggie Aspen, I about lost it. I DO THAT ALL THE TIME! Glad I'm not the only one.
These two are so much fun with their constant laughter, jokes, up-for-anything-attitude, and most of all their love for each other. Its a sassy kind of love. The down to earth type that you know will be comforting in the rough times, but it's the everyday happy-go-lucky passion that will fuel their lives. I am so excited to capture their wedding day this winter.
“I have fallen in love with someone that shares my sense of humor. Nothing is better than looking over at the one you love and know they’re smiling for the exact same reason. ”
Self-Timer Magic
Dancing Alone in the Woods
When I'm scouting locations, or hiking around, very rarely am I with someone else. This part of my business is my time to strategize, dream, and just be my weird, creative self. Everytime I go out, I'm carrying a dress or a unique piece of clothing, jewelry: You name it : so if the opportunity presents itself, I can point my camera towards myself and embrace the situation.
I've come to the point where I schedule our vacations around these types of situations. (Sorry babe!) Our latest trip to Oregon - Blog Post Coming Soon - was primarily to scope out the land and I found some epic spots to dress up. I brought along an outfit that could very well be worn for a wedding dress, and I hope to attract brides that think outside of the box for their attire.
A majority of these photos were taken by myself, using a Pulse (Nope that's not an affiliate link. I just love this product so much that I need to share it) but some were taken by my fiancé Shea. It's gotta be annoying to travel with a photographer. I'm constantly stopping and holding up our progress because of some pretty scenery or foliage. So for putting up with me and my camera: I thank you, Shea.
I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed taking them. There's something magical about hiking into a remote location, putting on a dress, and dancing alone in the woods. Cheers friends.
Quinn + Catie ENGAGED
A Destination Engagement in Colorado
These two are adorably sweet and absolutely stunning! They came all the way from Nebraska to the mountains of Colorado to capture their love for their engagement session. Yes!
They created a little vacation out of their trip, staying in cabins in Lyons, then up near Golden, enjoying dinner in Boulder and of course meeting me at the top of North Table Mountain Trail to get some photos during sunset.
I highly encourage couples to swish this idea around in their wedding planning. Some couples want a destination wedding, but costs can build up so quickly that it becomes too difficult. In that case, change the strategy and opt to have your engagement photos taken in your ideal destination! Colorado is that place for many people, and while I get to live here and enjoy the outdoors on a daily basis, I love to invite couples from out of state to let me show them a piece of my heart.
Let me show you the beauty that Colorado is. Let me witness your love in a new environment where it can only grow and surpass your dreams.
Cheers to Quinn and Catie on their engagement and upcoming wedding in Nebraska. I wish you the most beautiful wedding, and an even more beautiful marriage. Oh, and GBR!
Craig + Mindy Married
A Steamboat Dreamboat Wedding
Steamboat Springs, Colorado: a city standing at 6,732 feet, is home to an internationally known ski resort and has been the locale of many world-class skiing competitions. While this is quite the impressive statistic, I'd say having Mindy and Craig as residents takes the cake.
These two warm my heart. They are kind, caring, sarcastic, and party animals. They live life to the fullest, and love those around them hard. I guess those who possess these wonderful traits, could only carry on certain careers. Craig: Firefighter. Mindy: Flight Nurse. CAN THESE TWO GET ANY MORE PERFECT? nope.
Their wedding day had my head on a swivel. The surroundings at their ceremony were breathtaking. I've decided I'm moving to Steamboat. Hey Mindy and Craig... care if me, my fiance, our cat and our dog, and all of my camera equipment crash in your basement for a while? Kidding... sorta. But seriously, Steamboat is like singing a love song to your eyes. Everywhere you look, is another spot you could stare at for hours. Views that last for miles upon miles. I miss it.
Plus we got to play on a firetruck. Yep.
I say this about every couple "I can't wait to see what adventures these two get into." But seriously, I can't wait to see what adventures these two get into. Between international travels, work assignments, and whatever else they decide to embrace, its going to be epic. Their love will shine bright, their wild side will glow, and their hearts will burst with glitter. Not really, but that would be incredibly crazy!
Anyhooters, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MALCHOW'S! You're some of my favorite.
Dream Team:
Venue: Catamount Ranch + Club
Hair + Makeup: Sophie from Off 7th Studio
The Dress: Vera's House of Bridals, Wisconsin
Florist: Steamboat Floral
DJ: Elite DJ
Caterer: The Drunken Onion
Michael + Sarah MARRIED
A Classic Colorado Wedding
Another beautiful wedding in the books! Michael and Sarah's classic wedding day was unlike any other. Let's first talk about the teensy tiny degrees of separation.
Sarah found me through a wedding planning service, like The Knot or Wedding Wire, but once we started chatting the world became so small. Sarah is from Lincoln, Nebraska - the same city I was born and raised in. Facebook confirmed that we have mutual friends, including my nextdoor neighbors throughout my childhood - I babysat both of their beautiful girls, who were close friends of Sarah's. The possibility of us crossing paths more than a decade ago, is very possible.
Michael met Sarah while he was in Lincoln playing hockey for the Lincoln Stars in the USHL, that my family had season tickets for when I was growing up. It just freaks me out that this world of 7.5 billion people has more characteristics of a small town than we'd like to believe.
Sarah and Michael fell in love and have been together for 10 years now. I can not tell you how honored I was to capture the making of this couple into Mr and Mrs. Their love is strong, their families are amazing, and it was the perfect day.
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs Sdao. May this life bring you lots of adventure, love, beautiful surprises and happy endings. Cheers!
Dream Team:
Venue: Lionsgate Event Center: The Dove House & Gatehouse
Dress: Little White Dress
Florist: Thorn Creek Flowers
DJ: 5280 Mobile DJ
Catering: Relish Catering & Events
Hair: Elegance By Design
At Home with Alex and Amber
An Intimate At Home Session
Alex and Amber have done things a little differently (HECK YES!). They're recently married, but never had a ceremony, huge dance party, or the hangover the next day. They instead, quietly and lovingly said their vows from the comfort of their own bed, and wanted an At Home session to capture this time in their lives. Just the two of them, and their adorable home. Then of course we stepped outside for a bit, because we do live in Colorado, and it's insane outdoors.
Amber and Alex have been on the move much of their relationship, so this space is finally one to call their own. A home to start their lives together. I can remember when Amber met Alex, and how she spoke of him with light in her eyes. She told me of how he was different, how they were different. I get it now after meeting Alex. Yes, these two are different. They speak frequently of the love they have for each other, wanting everyone to know the level of passion and respect they feel. Honestly, I left this session with tears in my eyes and a full heart. How the hell is this my JOB!? Jeze, I'm lucky.
It was seriously such a fun day & probably the cutest way to do an indoor engagement session. I definitely welcome more sessions like this in the future! Cheers to the newly weds. You two are some of my favorites.
