Wedding Date: May 9th 2026

There are couples you photograph because someone recommended you, and then there are couples you photograph because you already care about them before the camera ever comes out. Coleman falls into that second category for me, a dear friend, and getting to spend this particular day with him and Hannah felt less like work and more like getting to witness something I already cared about deeply.

The two of them chased mountains for this wedding, and given how much they both love the mountains Colorado's rugged, snow-dusted peaks felt like exactly the right backdrop. Hannah started her morning with a first look of her own, this one with her brothers, Evan and Connor, before the bigger day swept everyone up.

Coleman and Hannah wanted their real first look, and the private vows that followed, to belong entirely to the two of them. No crowd, nothing but open mountain air and each other. I kept my distance and let them have their moment, shooting from far enough away that the moment stayed exactly as private as they'd hoped. Even from a distance I could see the laughter, then the tears, then more laughter, the whole emotional arc playing out on a terrace with snow-capped mountains and an enormous blue sky stretched out behind them.

From there we gathered the wedding party and explored the grounds together, soaking in every inch of that mountain landscape. The ceremony itself was in a small wooded area, fresh air, dappled light, everything about the setting feeling quiet and private in the best possible way. Partway through, Coleman and Hannah gave communion to their guests, a meaningful, personal touch that added even more weight to an already beautiful ceremony. When they finally turned to walk back up the aisle as husband and wife, I don't think either of them stopped smiling for a single second.

Once the ceremony wrapped, I pulled just the two of them away for a while, golden light pouring over everything as we wandered further into the property. We found a wooden bridge stretched over a rushing river and an old building standing quiet against the mountain backdrop, and I couldn't have asked for better light to work with.

The reception space struck this perfect balance between elegant and rustic, warm without losing any of that mountain charm. Toasts came from family and close friends throughout the night, followed by ones from Coleman and Hannah themselves, and their first dance was pure joy, exactly what you'd expect from two people who are head-over-heels in love. The parent dances that followed brought their own quieter sweetness before the floor opened up completely and stayed packed for the rest of the night.

At one point I slipped outside with them while the party kept going strong behind us, and we ended up by a fire under a sky absolutely full of stars, drinks in hand, just breathing it all in for a few minutes. After a day spent chasing mountains, rivers, and golden light, that quiet fireside moment felt like the perfect way to close out the day and let it all sink in.

Vendors: Sundance Mountain Resort (venue), Tulie Bakery (cake/desserts), Monique Lhuillier (dress designer), Modern Retrospect(band), The Flower Girls (florist), Wixon Jewelers (ring designer), Lesley Lind Makeup Atelier (hair and makeup), Curtis Jensen Films (videographer)