It was a beautiful sunny day in Estes Park as Danielle stepped into her pearled and ruched wedding dress.. Her hotel room at the Estes Park Resort was full of laughter (and some tequila) in anticipation of saying "I Do" to Brandon, her handsome husband to-be. Danielle's bridesmaids wore flowy purple dresses and carried small bouquets of sunset colored roses and calla lilies. Danielle chose to wear an adorable pair of tan and turquoise cowboy boots under her gown and carried a bouquet of sunset colored roses and calla lilies mixed with purple and white wildflowers. Danielle and Brandon's sense of humor was apparent even on their Mr. and Mrs. shot glasses. Danielle's brother proudly walked her down the aisle, decorated with the changing aspen leaves of fall, at Upper Beaver Meadows in Rocky Mountain National Park. This long awaited "I Do" was 12 years in the making! But I must say, it was a good one :) Danielle's bridesmaids were so excited to see their friend tie the knot that they could barely contain themselves after the ceremony. Danielle and Brandon finally got some time alone after the ceremony. While their guests started cocktail hour at the Estes Park Resort, we went to Moraine Pointe in Rocky Mountain National Park. We got treated to an elk showdown while we were photographing at Moraine Pointe so we had to make our riverside photo session quick in order to avoid being run over by bugling males. But I'd say it was worth it! Congratulations Danielle and Brandon on such an amazing, light-hearted wedding, you are the reason that I am a wedding photographer. I loved capturing your special day and your deep love for each other. I wish you only the best! Love,
Sarah
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When I first met Aspen, it didn't take me long to realize that she is not your average high school senior. She was named Miss Teen Wyoming as a freshman, she's been on the varsity cheer team all four years of high school, she lettered in choir, and with dreams of becoming a kindergarten teacher, Aspen has her whole college career planned out. Aspen, you are definitely a rockstar and should seriously consider becoming a model if this whole kindergarten teacher thing doesn't work out! We met up at the Starbucks in Downtown Fort Collins and started off our shoot by getting some delicious frappuccinos. We walked to the beautiful Old Firehouse Alley and started photographing there... Aspen impressed me with her maturity and sense of self - she knows who she is and, to me, that is true beauty. The well maintained Old Firehouse Alley in Downtown Fort Collins made the perfect backdrop for Aspen's senior portrait shoot. Aspen was so much fun to photograph! She was constantly smiling or laughing, especially when we found this perfect little sunflower. It contrasted very nicely against this blue wall in Old Firehouse Alley in Downtown Fort Collins. Seriously Aspen, You could be a model! Also, I want those boots... Some of the graffiti walls in Old Firehouse Alley, Downtown Fort Collins are beautiful! I loved this one the most because it complimented Aspen's eyes so well. Old Firehouse Alley in Downtown Fort Collins has so many unique corners We were like kids in a candy shop trying to decide which backdrop to use next! Aspen loves glitter, so for our last shot we filled her hands with glitter and watched the magic happen! Congratulations, Aspen, on graduating high school and I wish you luck in college and attaining your dream of becoming a kindergarten teacher!
Much Love, Sarah
Teri met Brian in December of 2009 while at an IHOP with a group of mutual friends. Teri was disgusted by Brian’s yellow lumberjack hat and promptly ignored him for the rest of the night. She told him not to call her or ask her out, which Brian decided to ignore.
When Teri finally agreed to go on a date with Brian, they went out on New Year's Eve where they shared an "unexpected" midnight kiss. After that, Brian "missed" his flight back to school in Santa Clara and they spent one extra day together. At the end of that day, Brian gave Teri a ring that said “Nothing is impossible” and they began their long distance relationship between Colorado and California. They dated long-distance for about two years and their love grew out of many mailed care packages, monthly trips to visit each other, Skype dates, and synchronized Netflix watching. They took a trip to Disneyland that first year, spending the entire day at the park and falling in love amidst the tourists, melty ice cream, and fireworks... not to mention sore feet! To this day it was one of the best days of their lives. Teri and Brian moved to Los Angeles in March 2012, living in a converted garage/studio until the end of the summer when they got their first apartment together. They taped out the shapes of their dream furniture on the floor and lived on an air mattress for the first month until they could afford something more. They moved back to Colorado in 2015 so they could be closer to their family. But they can't leave now because Lana, their energetic dog, has fallen in love with the bunnies, sweet grass, and snow. I had originally asked them to be models for a portfolio shoot. But when Brian contacted me about proposing to Teri, I knew this photoshoot was going to be something special...
We had Teri facing away for a "pose" for our photoshoot. When we told her to turn around, she couldn't believe her eyes when she saw Brian down on one knee.
Teri first said "No!" in disbelief, but finally said yes after running up to Brian and falling into his arms.
Teri's antique-inspired ring was carefully picked out by Brian and had elements of rose gold mixed with white gold.
I must say, Brian did a damn good job!
They celebrated their new engagement in the beautiful sunlight with a bottle of champagne in the meadow of Hildebrand Ranch Park in Littleton, CO.
Teri couldn't believe that Brian had lied so well to her (for a good reason, of course).
She kept asking him when he got the ring, where he got the ring, and how he got it past her.
It was hard to get any serious poses out of these two...
...Because all they wanted to do was laugh and play!
It is easy to see why Brian fell in love with Teri in the first place... her smile!
I feel so honored to have been able to capture this special moment for Teri and Brian.
This proposal had been a long time coming for a couple so in love...
Congratulations, Teri and Brian! I can't wait for your beautiful wedding and to see your love grow even stronger in the coming years.
Love, Sarah |