Cody + Sarah

Colorado weather can really throw you a curve ball sometimes. March typically is our snowiest month of the year, accumulating snowflakes like we’re a snowglobe factory. So naturally, when planning wedding in March, you need to have indoor locations that are as beautiful as any outdoor locations. Cue: Lionsgate Event Center Chandelier Barn.

Holy smokes this venue is gorgeous. A Barn outfitted with tons of vintage chandeliers to light up your ceremony in the most intimate way. Yep, I love shooting here.

Sarah and Cody’s day was so amazing. Their laid-back vibe before the ceremony put everyone at ease, and created an environment full of laughs, love and family. As the time came for Sarah to walk down the aisle, her brother’s took their places. See, Sarah’s father had passed away a few years ago, so her brother’s stepped in to make Sarah’s walk to marriage one to remember. And to everyone one you reading this thinking “I bet Ashley totally teared up”: Yes you are correct. I almost wept like baby. I love my job, sue me. (Actually don’t please, that sounds terrible).

Okay, back to Sarah and Cody. Their vows were filled with promises to love each other forever, and then just like that - they were married! I’m so happy for these two and to continue to follow along their journey as they embark on life as Mr And Mrs.

Congratulations to the Youngs!

HIGHLIGHTS:
Sarah Icing Cody during the Garter Toss
Their sweet vows
The “Father of the Bride” Speech delivered by one of Sarah’s Brothers
The feeling of absolutely love all day long

The Dream Team:
Venue: Lionsgate Event Center
Day of Coordinator - Hanna Stamic
Bridal Dress Shop/Designer - David's Bridal
Mens Suit/Tux/Tie Store - Black Tux
Hair - Stephanie Ellis
Makeup - Elegance by Design Studio
Bridesmaid dresses - Davids Bridal
Ring Designer - Shane Co.
Bridal Jewelry - Family Heirloom
Florist - Painted Primrose "
Caterer - Jim-N-Nicks BBQ
DJ - Encore DJ
Bakery - Cake/Donuts - Button Rock Bakery

Phil + Brittany

Phil + Brittany. Two souls who pave their way through this world to the beat of their own drum. They are passionate about life, about being honest and loving, and about taking care of those around them.

To say their wedding was a dream was an understatement. They said their vows in the exact spot that my husband and I did only 3 short months before. I arrived to the venue early, just so I could walk around the property and relive our wedding day memories: to have a moment to reflect.

The threat of snow loomed all week prior to Saturday, but on the day of their wedding it was sunny and bright, in typical Colorado style. The perfect day, at the perfect venue: The Lyons Farmette.

There are many reasons why I love this venue, but the main one is the beautiful organic flower farm that they open up to us for couples photos. Walking the rows of colorful petals not only gave smiles to our faces, but a space to grow creatively and have a little fun. Lyons Farmette: I love your beauty.

To Brittany + Phil. May your laughter continue to echo throughout your marriage. May your love shine bright through all your adventures. May you find yourselves with your cups full of happiness and libations.

Cheers to the newlyweds!

Highlights: Brittany’s amazing dress and shawl, a wedding party that made me feel like a close friend, Bowties + Bourbon, Nanhattans, The Farmette Flower Field, Britt + Phil + My friendship, having my face hurt so much from smiling all day.

Dream Team:
Venue: The Lyons Farmette
Wedding Coordinator: Diana Adkisson
Caterer: Spice of Life Catering
Florist: Honey Smiles Flower Company
DJ: Russell Adkisson
Dress Shop: Blue Bridal
Suit / Ties: Suit: Indochino || Ties: Knotty Tie Co.
Bridal Jewelry: Sarah O Jewelry & BHLDN
Hair + Makeup: Hair: Blo Bar Boulder || Make-up: Alchemy Face Bar
Wedding Rings: Phil: Sarah O Jewelry || Brit: family heirloom

Padraig + Katie

Any of you who have contacted me for wedding photography prices, follow my Instagram feed, know me as a person.... you know that I enjoy a beer (or two)! Katie, she's my girl. Every time we met up to chat wedding details, we made a point to check out a new brewery. PINCH ME! I have the coolest brides. 

After a few meet ups, it was finally their wedding day. I was so excited to finally meet Padraig, who hadnt been able to join us for drinks beforehand. Their day turned out exactly as planned. Perfect, down to every detail. and I am so honored to be a part of it. 

Their venue, stuck away in an industrial part of Denver Colorado, is a cute little winery, with an amazing courtyard for an outdoor ceremony. Katie and Padraig decided to not see eachother before the ceremony, a traditional approach.  Man was it worth it.  The second Katie and her dad stepped foot where Padraig could see them, he had the sweetest reaction, coupling over and shedding a few tears. Surrounded by family and friends who travelled near and far, they said their I dos with the biggest smiles on their faces. MARRIAGE!

The rest of the evening was full of laughs, hugs, killer dance moves (my kind of wedding!) and a bottle of Fireball that got passed around with a GoPro attached to it. I seriously cant wait to see that footage, especially since I may or may not be on there, as my shift ended. :)

Enough of my words.. as usual. Check out their day, through my eyes. Cheers newlyweds. I know you'll have the most amazing marriage. 

Highlights:  The Groomsmen jumping in on a wine tour while getting ready, When one of the Groomsmen asked a guest on the wine tour to help with his tie, Padraig's Reaction to seeing Katie and her Dad walk down the aisle, Facetiming Grandma and Grandpa during the ceremony, Groomsmen + Shotguns, Wine Cellars, Chucks, Katie's Bright Smile, The Maid of Honor's HILARIOUS + heartfelt speech, Fireball bottle with a GoPro attached, The wedding party going nuts over "Zombie" by The Cranberries, Feeling like Family. 

Dream Team:
Wedding Coordinator: Felica Goett
Caterer: Balistreri Vineyards
Florist: Felica Goett - Extrodinary Blooms
DJ: Johnny Finfrock DJ Rock Candy Professional Disc Jockeys
Dress Shop: Bridal Collection
Suit / Ties: Men's Warehouse
Bridal Jewelry: Pearls and Diamonds - family jewelry
Hair + Makeup: Leslie Snyder
Wedding Rings: custom made
Liquor: Tipsys

Matt + Alli

Alli and Matt have been together for 2.5 years and they had the sweetest proposal:  On their front porch after a night at dinner and the symphony. OMG RIGHT!? These two are so down to earth, fun and full of love.  

Lookout Mountain was the perfect spot to capture their fun, sweet love for one another. Alli and Matt were so easy-going and it was such a joy to work with them. These two will be tieing the knot this winter at one of my favorite venues, and you bet your bottom dollar,  I am so flippin' excited about it. Bring on the snow!

I truly couldn't be more excited for these two as they plan to commit to forever together. 
 

The Best of 2017

Years come and go. priorities advance and fall to the wayside. Goals get fueled and more defined.

Many moons ago I had an idea of taking my hobby of photography and making it into a career. Into a full time passion machine to pump out happiness for me and memories for my clients. That idea had been examined over many beers and many tearful conversations, always coming to a different conclusion of possibility.

This year, I snapped. “To hell with it!” I said. To hell with putting my dreams on hold, letting thoughts of failure overtake dreams of happiness. I said “yes.”

What happens when you say yes. If you do say yes to an idea, and now it's showtime. Now your job becomes both simple and difficult. You have officially entered into a contract with inspiration, and you must try to see it through, all the way to it's impossible-to-predict outcome. - Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert.

Among that happy path of saying YES, I found the rigid dichotomy of entrepreneurship and balance. The stress of paying bills and power of being my own boss. Of having all the time in the world, and no time at all.

You guys, why did I not do this earlier?

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows. That's for damn sure. But it’s my dream, now paired with my soon to be husbands dreams on this road to whatever the future brings. His dreams and mine collide in a beautiful dance of give and take.

This year has been a doozy. An amazing ride. I’m so humbled to be where I am, writing this blog post, celebrating 365 days of the unknown. This year, I got to travel all around Colorado to some of the most beautiful venues, photograph 2 of my closest friends weddings, my future brother- and sister-in-laws wedding, and many rad coupes that have turned into friends.

I can’t wait to hustle and make some crazy moves in 2018. I get to be a bride and witness this wedding industry from your eyes. I get to be a wife and keep supporting Shea’s dreams in the medical field. I get to be a fur-baby mom to the cutest dog and monster-cat I know.  I get to decide how I live my days.

Keep your frequency high and do your work from a place of power and joy. - You Are a Badass, Jen Sincero. 

In 2018: I’m going to put boundaries on social media, screen time, and negative emotions. I’m going to embrace what my mind and body tell me and push them to the limits. Opening closed doors to new ways thinking and respecting the earth. Become a better friend and better listener. Become the best woman I can be, when I marry my best friend.

Bring it on 2018. I’m ready for ya. Let’s dance.

---

... To my rad friends of 2017, I laughed so hard on the plane to and from my hometown while compiling all these photos. What great memories you created and let me be an intimate part of. I truly hope we stay in touch. Let’s grab a drink, go on a hike, FaceTime, whatever.

Dustin + Ali

Scene: Loveland, Colorado
Humans: My best friend and her man + all my girls!
Purpose: Get these two hitched! And dance my heart out. 

This was the most magical way to end my 2017 wedding season. True love, best friends, great food, dance moves all night long.  My kind of wedding. Cheers Ali + Dustin! I can't wait to see the adventures you go on!
 

Lisa, Jeff, Ivy + Hashtag

What do you get when you have a man, a woman, two awesome dogs and the dream of having a Dino themed wedding? You get Lisa and Jeff.  

How rad, right?  

Their engagement session in Golden was like finding the prize at the bottom of the cereal box: THE BEST DAY EVER! Photo proof below. 

Quinn + Catie ENGAGED

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!

Sarah + Charles MARRIED

Wedding season has only just begun, and this is my third bride named Sarah (with an H)! But this wedding was anything but ordinary. It was not only the celebration of the union of Sarah + Charles, but also Braylen, Charles' son. With three "first looks" it was an emotional day.  The first "first look" was with Sarah's dad. I haven't had the chance to photograph a moment like this yet, and I loved it! It was an absolutely beautiful moment when Sarah and Charles had their first look, then brought Braylen out for another first look. The smile on his face seeing Sarah in her beautiful dress and Charles in his crisp suit and tie, was priceless. The hugs and tears that came after were incredibly powerful, enough to make me tear up. 

These two are meant to be together. Through the thick and the thin, the tough and the easy, the good times and the bad: however you want to state it, these two are a force to be reckoned with. They have a love that will heal the pain, and fuel the passion. I just adore them. They danced back down the aisle, showing how excited they are to be married. My kind of couple!

The day was beautiful, with History Colorado as the venue. The cityscape of Denver looming over us on the 4th floor balcony during the first look, cocktail hour and of course during more photos later on at night. We felt the energy of the city enter the wedding party as the guests danced the night away to 90s music. 

Sarah and Charles and Braylen: I wish you an absolutely beautiful marriage, full of love, family, 90s dance parties, and amazing adventures. Cheers to you!

“It was a million tiny little things, that when you added them all up, it meant we were supposed to be together. And I knew it. ”

— Tom Hanks, Sleepless in Seattle

Kevin + Debbie MARRIED

Copper Mountain. July 3rd. Family and friends gathering from near and far to this golf course in paradise. This is the perfect day for Kevin and Debbie to say their vows. Closing the ceremony, then promptly teed up and hit golf balls into the wide open. 

I can tell you, I see a lot of love. Love comes in different forms: passion, friendship, the love of a family ... you name it, I've seen it. Theirs is a rare form of love that enters the soul so deeply. One the produces tears of happiness, of commitment, of a life of adventure and respect.  

The speeches at this wedding told the story perfectly. The embarrassing memories of growing up, dicey outfit choices, but most of all the change that occurs when you find the love of your life. The universe is so lovely in the way two souls find each other and create one pathway through life, instead of two.

Kevin and Debbie: spread the love you share. As one, you have something magical that can, and will, enrich the lives of everyone you come in contact with. Spread it like wildfire.

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Ottomeyer.   I can't wait to see what life brings you two. Cheers!  

Mauricio + Sarah MARRIED

ah! I'm so excited to share this wedding day with you all.  Mauricio and Sarah are seriously two gems. With both of them working at Children's Hospital, you can just imagine how much their hearts shine in their personalities. They are sweet, caring, loving and ready to party. They took care of their wedding party, guests and vendors as much as we all took care of them. It was seriously so much fun & probably one of the best dance parties I've been a part of.   

I can not wait to see what adventures come their way during their life together. They will take on struggles with strength and love, they will take on happy times with dance parties and smiles, and all the inbetween will be the life they get to live together.  Cheers to Mr and Mrs Palau!


Dream Team:
Band: The Diamond Empire Band
Florist: Lace and Lilies
Hair/makeup: Jami Hammond
Church: Holy Ghost Catholic Church
Reception/Cocktail Hour: Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Coordinator: Trever Scott Martinez
Dress: The Bridal Collection