I’ve traveled a lot over the years for weddings to different parts of the country, and I’ve found that the older I get, the less enchanted I’ve become with the prospect of a destination wedding. But a Colorado mountain wedding just does something for my soul. It reinvigorates my passion and love for what I do, reminds me why I do it, and pushes me further forward in this journey of wedding photography that I’ve been on for over ten years now. We started back in 2012 and back then, traveling for a wedding wasn’t even a thought in my head. Now I’m headed to far off places a few times a year, and I’m forever grateful for these opportunities to see all the beautiful parts of this country.
When Ashlyn and Grant contacted me about photographing their wedding in Colorado, I jumped at the opportunity. Colorado is a state that I fell in love with in my teenage years and early twenties, traveling out to snowboard and vacation with friends and family over the years. These days I’m in love with Colorado for a different reason. Because it provides the most beautiful backdrop for gorgeous wedding photos, and traveling out for a wedding is an absolutely excellent excuse for a mini vacation. Those two pair really nicely together. Just another reason for me to love this profession that I’ve chosen.
This new small gathering of friends and family in an Air BnB, I’m here for it. I seem to be getting more and more of this style of wedding, and it makes my job so much easier for a lot of reasons. A lot of times it means smaller bridal parties, like in Ashlyn & Grant’s wedding, which means I get to spend so much more time doing portraits with the bride and groom. I’m never mad about that. The small elopements also eliminate a lot of the hustle and bustle and distractions you get with big production weddings. Again, less distraction makes my job so much easier to do.
Being a Dad to a little girl myself, anything Father Daughter related always puts my in my feelings. Dad’s dancing with their daughters at their weddings, walking them down the aisle and giving them away or just a random Toyota commercial, it all hits me that way. So when I heard Bill start to read this letter from his daughter Ashlyn, well I’ll just say it’s nice to have such a big camera to hide my face. It went something like this as Bill emotionally read the tear filled note…“Dad….I hope you know that I am an absolute mess writing this. Not because I’m a girl, but because I have been and always will be a daddy’s girl. I’ve always looked forward to this day with you. It’s hard to come to the realization that you are officially giving me away today. I might have some of your bad genes, health wise, but I most definitely have all of your good ones that make me strong and independent like you, and hardheaded, love you”.
Ashlyn and Grant wrote the most heart felt vows to each other and read them as the snow fell down around them, surrounded by their closest group of friends and all their family. It was a magical site to see and one I won’t soon forget.
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