Dean & Rita ELOPED!
They did it.
They quietly slipped away from their lives in Mississippi and headed to the high country of Northern Colorado for a quiet and intimate wedding. Just the two of them. That's all they needed.
And Ge Moore and her crew at Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch helped make their dream come true.
After a short time of grabbing some fun shots of them, they saddled up and headed up the mountain to a beautiful overlook.
They were married on horseback.
It was a simple but awesome wedding and I am honored to have been a cog in the wheel to help make it a reality for them.
Amy & Justin
This past summer, I hiked the 4 Pass Loop trail near Aspen, CO with Shannon (my wife's cousin) and two of her friends, Amy & Justin.
Amy & Justin are two people that you can just tell when you meet them, just how perfect they are for one another. Like peanut butter & chocolate. Cookies & milk. Cheeseburger and fries! (inside joke). You get the idea.
I thoroughly enjoyed our hike. Great views and great company.
Not long after the hike, I heard that Justin had popped the question. This came as no surprise to me and I was really happy for both of them.
Then Amy reached out to me and asked me if I'd shoot their wedding. Heck yeah I will!
They were married at the Red Rocks Open Space near the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. Gorgeous area.
Their wedding was performed with their faith in God as the core and foundation of the new life they were starting together.
And so it begins - a new trail to be explored...
Happy Trails you two!!
Tara & Jason
Tara and Jason tied their knot at Della Terra in Estes Park.
It was a beautiful day for a beautiful wedding for two really fun people.
My wife, Janie Rocek, contributed quite a bit to this wedding. She did the hair and makeup for the girls, the event design, and styling, and she was also my 2nd shooter. Yeah, my wife just flat out rocks!
Ok, back to the story...
So as I mentioned, Tara and Jason are two really cool people. They were a blast to be with as well as their family and friends. This was a fun wedding!
And Della Terra is a venue that is just a knockout. It's above Estes Park and is right next to the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. In fact, when I arrived, before I even got out of my Xterra, I had the pleasure of quietly observing a family of Big Horn Sheep.
We watched each other for a short bit and then it was time for me to get to it!
Thank you Tara and Jason for letting us contribute to your wedding day!
Roll the credits.....
Venue - Della Terra Mountain Chateau
Hair and makeup - Janie Rocek
Event design & styling - Janie Rocek
Flowers - Lace and Lilies
Catering - A Spice of Life
Mechelle & Dean
Mechelle and Dean knew very early on that they were right for each other. That they were riding in the same direction, and on the same path.
They went on their first date to the Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highlands Festival in Estes Park. So their first date was filled with an experience rich with culture and music.
Music that would come full circle for both of them :)
And before long, they were inseparable.
Their wedding was held in Loveland at the Foot Lagoon. They were surrounded by family and friends as they vowed their commitments to one another.
My wife, Janie, who was also one of the bride's maids, did the bride's and the other bride's maids hair and makeup. And as always, she cranked out some fabulous work.
This wedding definitely did not fall into the "traditional" category.
It was filled with Harleys, Scottish bagpipes, Irish drums, an electric violin and cello, gun slinging gate keepers, and an officiate that is a lead singer for The Blues Dogs, a local blues band.
This was one for the books!
40 Years Later
All weddings are special times. All weddings are important events for families.
And sometimes, weddings are long overdue.
In August of 2012, I drove to Carlsbad, NM to shoot a wedding.
But this wedding wasn’t just a “typical” wedding. Reason being is that this couple was already married, with kids and grandkids.
Ya see, 40 years ago, they got married, but at that time, they weren’t in a position to have a wedding that included everything they wanted.
And now it’s time to have the wedding they always wanted.
How cool would it be for you to be able to attend your parents wedding or your grandparents wedding? That’s what helped make this one so special.
Photo albums full of their family's history
Janie got started on doing some hair and makeup on Pam soon after we arrived
In the meantime, the guys were out back, catching up over a beer
My 'lil Ms Rheya Sunshine
And Karen keeps us all smiling
Rheya and Xander sizing each other up
Later that day, Xander got to to suit up!
And IT suited HIM!
Following the wedding rehearsal, a moment of family in prayer
That night, everyone pitched in on making the decorations for the next day
Then it was time for a little fun!
The Big Day
The guys get to constructing the backdrop for the photos that will be on display at the wedding reception
Janie working her magic
Such a ham!
I love this picture.
Rheya was “not” happy about having her hair done. She wanted to PLAY!
I’m so rarely on this side of the camera. This one was worth it. Janie and I wanted a picture of us together
SHOWTIME!
Pam was surprised with her dad’s photo being placed on her bouquet
I love this family.
I was really honored to be able to have been there to be a part of this.
THANK YOU!!
John & Elle
John & Elle have come a long way. Both as a couple and also in the miles traveled to commit the rest of their lives to one another.
They live in beautiful Telluride, CO. Have you ever been to Telluride? I LOVE that area. If you've never been there, try to go in the fall. Holy Moly it's beautiful there.
Together they have a bouncing baby boy who was there and had the honor to witness his parents marriage. - How cool is that??
The 3 of them made the journey to Loveland and got married at the historic McCreery House. Linda Stotz (a friend of mine and owner of the McCreery House) is Elle's aunt. So this was a real treat for them both.
Friends and family also made the trek to Loveland to support this couple as they said "I do".
My fiancee, hair and makeup artist, Janie Rocek, did the girls hair and make up and then afterwards grabbed one of my cameras and assisted me shooting this wedding. We had a lot of fun with this family and their friends.
John and Elle - THANK YOU for letting us be a part of your wedding!