Wedding Date: August 18th 2023

People who love food are some of my very favorites and Kristen and Austin definitely fit into this category. They decided to turn their wedding into a full weekend event and began the festivities the night before the big day at The Butcher’s Tale. This amazing place seemed to be made for them with casual Colorado vibes and a true smokehouse feel. As their guests entered they greeted each and every person with warmth and of course, a big plate of incredible food. They enjoyed smoked meats and veggies while heartfelt toasts were shared. I could hardly believe this was just the start of a fun weekend together.

After sleeping through my very happy food coma, I met the excited pair at the church. They had chosen this location because they lived in this neighborhood while they were dating and would often walk by. Now that it’s all coming full circle, this place held some extra special meaning. I walked Austin outside to the covered arches as we talked about life and found the perfect place for their first look. He took a big deep breath when I turned to go get Kristen and I could feel his excitement practically radiating from him. Kristen set one foot onto the stone floor and they both smiled wide with anticipation. I stepped back as they shared a super sweet moment together and laughed and twirled checking out each other's wedding looks.

We teamed up with the wedding party shortly after and then the laughter really began. They had a large group of amazing people making up their crew and they were true hype-men, cheering them on with every pose. I knew from the night before that this was a great group of people so I was extra excited to share another fun day with them. While we explored the grounds, the guests filled the church and it was finally time for the ceremony to begin. They laughed and cried during their vows and the entire church shared those emotions with them. But there were no tears during their first kiss, only pure celebration! They confidently marched down the aisle to be greeted by a cheering crowd showering them in flower petals. It felt like something out of a movie.

On our way to the reception, we stopped at a few of their favorite places. The sun was warm and the breeze off the lake was cool and refreshing so this was a perfect first stop. Passersby cheered and waved and even a group of boys jumping into the water off the bridge stopped to wish them congratulations and give them an extra good show. Then we continued the tour of the city and arrived at the Guthrie and Stone Arch as the sun entered the golden hour flooding my lens with the most beautiful light I could ask for. We took advantage of every minute as they laughed and showed off for the camera. My cheeks were starting to hurt at this point from all the laughter!

After our last few moments of the golden hour, we made our final stop at the beautiful Machine Shop where Style Architects Weddings & Events had set the stage for a dreamy reception that felt more like an intimate dinner with friends and family. The big harvest table was soon filled with cheering loved ones as they made their grand entrance among the beautiful dried flower arrangements. After a fantastic dinner and toasts, we decided to take a twilight stroll through the city. The cafe lights twinkled as their patrons waved and congratulated the happy couple. They walked the cobblestone streets with the skyline glowing in the background and I saw them gaze into each other's eyes knowing that they would get to do this together forever and that was the best part of today.

Vendors: Style Architects Weddings & Events (wedding planner), Machine Shop (venue), Lake of the Isles Lutheran (church), Erleen Hartleip (florist), Phos Events (lighting), Breaking Bread (catering), The Copper Hen (dessert), Grace Loves Lace (dress boutique), The Black Tux (suit), Primped (hair and makeup), David James Events (music), The Butcher's Tale (rehearsal dinner)