Destination wedding photographer in Colorado

for Ryan and Alysha

Somewhere at the base of the Rocky Mountains between Aspen and Telluride is a small vineyard town with homegrown restaurants, struggling wifi, and a name that's difficult to spell. For some, the beauty may not be worth the distance you are from "the grid", but for Colorado natives, Ryan and Alysha, a small farmhouse in Paonia, Colorado was the perfect setting for their dream wedding. As a destination wedding photographer in Colorado, we've seen many unique weddings and venues - but none quite like this.

Coming from Denver but each having a penchant for fine taste, Ryan and Alysha put together what was easily one of the best weddings we have ever experienced. With old books, straw bale benches, and fences struggling to retain their paint, the "FRESH AND WYLD" farmhouse adorned simple and authentic all over the wedding itself; and for Ryan and Alysha, authenticity was important. Our love for wedding photojournalism relished thanks to this couple's personality and openness.

These two are the kind of people who greet everybody with hugs, who include their families in the ceremony, and who kiss each other and giggle between ever click of the camera. They are the kind of folks who are not afraid to show emotion as vows are being read, nor the kind who feels at all timid on the dance floor. For Ryan and Alysha, authenticity is natural and inevitable. They are two beautiful and fun people, and thus invited their families and friends of that ilk. Perhaps our opinion of their friends is biased because we had met several of them shooting another favorite wedding in Puerto Rico a couple years back. However, as the events of the day turned into toasts, videos, and campfires, our estimations of their coolness were continuously vindicated.

Apart from how enjoyable and friendly the bride and groom were, we also took some amazing pictures. Paonia is a beautiful place and has moved its way up into our "favorite locations of all time" list. Then again, our opinions may be biased here as well because we got to experience with such amazing people. Every smile was genuine. Ryan and Alysha's wedding was a victory for humanity. We were happy to be a part of it.

How do you get great wedding photos like these?

Lessons from Ryan and Alysha

Let there be nothing that can ruin your day

Plan well, delegate and experience your wedding

Lose track of the camera, be yourselves

Express your feelings, laugh loudly

Realize how beautiful this day is and experience it fully

Be up for anything

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Destination Wedding Photojournalists

for Jeff and Dede

In a place where the horses run free like iguanas and the rental cars are built wider than the roads are some of the loveliest beaches on which to wed. The place is , Puerto Rico, and the couple was Jeff with the genuine smile and Dede the adorably animated. They rented the place, they invited their friends, they booked Selah, and they booked the local wedding planner with an iron fist so as to ensure a seamless event. Little did know, however, that the "island life" would pay a visit.

A couple hours before the wedding was to take place, the power went out on the island, thereby making various things more difficult like ironing shirts and cooking the supper. Then came the rain. Just as the rain let up, all the guests set up on the beach thinking the storm had passed. Alas, it was just taking a break, so the rain came back with perfect timing to give all the guests, bridal party, and peeping neighbors a good soak. This would probably be the point where most brides would fall apart. Instead, this was the point where Jeff and Dede shrugged their shoulders and smiled through it with a "what the hell?" attitude. It was awesome. Their character flew.

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Afterwards, we took some bridal party photos in even thicker rain (see below) before sitting down to some speeches and supper. A day this memorable could only be topped with something that we as photographers always hope to see, but never actually do see - people jumping into the pool with their clothes on (bride included, see below). Alas, Jeff and Dede were not afraid to bring it. This also, was awesome.

The whole day seemed to work out perfectly as an analogy for marriage itself, in that you can plan and prepare all of which you are capable but the unforeseen will remain inevitable. Or, as Jeff's mom put it: "Life isn't about how you survived the storm, it's about how you danced in the rain. Enjoy life for the gift that it is!".

Jeff and Dede were two really great people with some really great families and we blessed to be a part of their important day.

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