San Diego Sunset Cliffs Engagement Proposal | Emily and Matt

San Diego Sunset Cliffs Engagement Proposal | Emily and Matt

My best friend, Emily, is an amazing writer. So is my husband, so lucky for you at least one of them has chimed in with impeccable storytelling capability. I’m always intimidated by these two because they’re capable of transparently expressing their hearts in an eloquent fashion. But here’s my best shot at describing one of my favorite proposals I’ve ever had the honor of being apart of…

Emily and I met in college and immediately became best friends. Our similar energy and humor had us rolling on the floor in laughter and immediately creating memories and spending weekends with each others families. I knew she was a special gal and a lifelong friend right off the bat. Emily is also a very private, introverted person. And if you know me, I’m the exact opposite. So…when I got the message, “I just had a really great first date,” I was intrigued, because Emily NEVER tells me about “great first dates” until weeks later. The only the ones I heard about immediately after were the ones that went awry and had some comical relief (see below Q&A).

Fast forward a couple weeks and I received the following: “I feel like I’ve known him for years. I don’t think that’s ever happened to me. We watch The Office reruns together. Taylor, I’m [freaking] flabbergasted. HE IS MY PERSON. IN EVERY SINGLE WAY.” And I knew…my best friend had found her forever person. (And yes, I just sifted through a years worth of iMessages and hilarious selfies to find these messages.)

I’ll leave the rest of the storytelling to my amazing writer friend and the photos, my favorite form of storytelling. Congratulations, Emily and Matt! We love you guys and are so thrilled for this next chapter in your lives.
Love,
Taylor and Mike (and Colter)

San Diego Sunset Cliffs engagement proposal Emily and Matt San Diego Sunset Cliffs engagement proposal Emily and Matt San Diego Sunset Cliffs engagement proposal Emily and Matt San Diego Sunset Cliffs engagement proposal Emily and Matt

How did the two of you meet?

“I joined match.com in March of 2018, with rather extensive encouragement from both my sister and my best friend, the latter of whom happens to own this website and photography business. Let me paint the picture for you. My first date on match was with this guy who was financially affluent and had an expensive luxury car–which is all fine–until you post multiple pictures of said vehicle with the caption “#blessed”. It’s cool if you’re fortunate and all, but I will never support the notion that owning a Mercedes makes you a viable candidate for an ordained and exceptional consecration from an almighty higher power. I just can’t do it.
Even more determined to be my true self whilst braving the jungle that is online dating, I decided to filter my dialogue a little less. Weed ’em out, you know? The second date–when he told me he lived in Beverly Hills, I replied [verbatim] with “I literally only ever drive to Beverly Hills to see my therapist.” Which is true, mind you. Moving right along to date #3…
In the meantime, Matt was working 10-12 hour days, 6-7 days a week at the new Rams stadium in Inglewood. He had been considering the whole online dating thing and decided to test the waters when he saw a commercial for a free 5-day trial on match.com. Lucky for me, his first [and only] match.com date was me–March 31, 2018.”

What are you most excited about for your wedding day?

“Cake. I think we’re both excited about cake.”
Emily: “Honestly, I haven’t thought about wedding details very much. I do know, that on that day, we will legally be a family. He will be my family. That fills my heart in a way that I’ve never really felt before.”
Matt: “Seeing her in a wedding dress.”

San Diego Sunset Cliffs engagement proposal Emily and Matt
 San Diego Sunset Cliffs engagement proposal Emily and Matt

Tell us about your first date!

“We went to Golden Mean, a cute little plant-based cafe in Santa Monica. We were both extremely hungry (something that certainly hasn’t changed). We got burgers to-go and walked down the street to a picnic area that overlooked the beach. Our conversation was filled with typical introductory Q&A. I’m highly introverted and probably speak a little less frequently than most. Matt–and this is one of the things I love about him–is not that way. At all. I remember sitting on the wood bench, eating my burger and thinking “Damn, this kid can talk”. In a very endearing, curious type of way, of course.
We finished our food and walked down the 3rd street promenade, grabbing a matcha latte from Starbucks and continuing conversation. I think we ended up walking and talking for like 2 hours or more. Conversely, I think Matt was genuinely impressed that I ate the entire burger I had ordered for lunch. And if I’m being honest, I was also a little impressed myself. Regardless, I do know that we both felt like we’d somehow just met someone we’d known for years.”
San Diego Sunset Cliffs engagement proposal Emily and Matt San Diego Sunset Cliffs engagement proposal Emily and Matt

When did you know you wanted to marry each other?

“I don’t know that there was an exact moment for me. I kind of just fell more and more in love with him each day, starting from the day I met him. Sounds mushy, but it’s true. I suppose, though, that I do have a short story about the first time the universe stepped in to assure me that indeed, Matt Menzer was made for me. I saw this quote a year or two ago on social media that said “My soulmate is out there somewhere – pulling on a push door. I just know it.” I read that and was like Yes. Yes that’s for me.
As a female that grew up in the 90s, the consistent romantic message encouraged the expectation that we would be swept off our feet by a random, sexy, wealthy..and somehow, royal?..perfect guy (ahem, Disney–I’m looking at you). I think, that maybe, it took my generation a little longer to figure out that princes are actually very stressed out individuals with a lot of baggage and that finding a person who will join you in watching hours of The Office reruns and snorting with laughter is, truly, the stuff of kings.
Matt and I are both a little eccentric and intense, but in very different ways. A couple months into dating we were entering yet another [vegan] burger joint that was new to Matt, but one of my favorite places that I had visited many times. And every time–I would always forget about this *freaking* door that they have; it’s got these giant handles but only opens inwardly by pushing. More specifically, this door was the bane of my existence. This time, of course, was no different. Matt, in typical, enthusiastic-Matt fashion, leapt onto the sidewalk towards the entrance and just wrenched the shit out of the door, pulling on the giant handle that had betrayed me so many times before. I looked at him as I heard the jarring sounds of a commercial-sized door in protest. Naturally, this was combined with Matt yelling obscenities at the deception he’d just experienced. And I thought to myself “Oh. And there he is”.

Tell us your Sunset Cliffs Engagement Proposal story from your point of view!

“Taylor and I have been best friends since we met in college. She and Mike are like family to me. Matt and I live in Los Angeles, so we don’t get to see them very often. Mike and Taylor were visiting southern California for a couple weeks so we had been planning on going down to San Diego to visit them. A couple weeks before our visit, Taylor asked if Matt and I would do a quick photo shoot for them so they could get some California lifestyle pictures for her website and portfolio. Of course, we said sure.
Matt and I drove down to San Diego February 9th, 2019. There was a lot of traffic and it took us about 3 hours to get down there. We didn’t eat lunch, and we are both hangry people, so I knew he was probably irritably famished and a little on edge.
I had no idea when he was going to propose. We had talked about getting married, so I knew it would happen but I was clueless to the timeframe. A tiny part of me had wondered if he was going to do it in SD, since Mike and Taylor would be there. BUT, Matt had been working crazy hours, and the time he did have off, we always spent together. When would he have possibly gotten the ring? He hadn’t been acting weird or showing signs of hiding anything. I had no evidence.
PLUS, we are going to Hawaii at the end of March and I thought maybe he was waiting to do it on our trip. We had also spent so much money furnishing our new place. That, combined with the expense of a Hawaii trip made me wonder if spending money on a ring was even a priority at the time. AND, I was always thinking that maybe it’s just too early, that he wasn’t ready yet. There are a lot of factors here, people.
And, at the risk of sharing too much, there was always a tiny part of me that thought something this magical could never happen to me. It’s just been a long, and sometimes very rough, road to finding Matt. Most of my friends are married and have [multiple] kids. I think, as a means of self-protection, I had convinced a large part of my brain that maybe marriage and finding a life partner just weren’t in the cards for me. And I had kind of gotten to this point where I couldn’t even picture it in my head. Like, literally, I couldn’t conjure up an image of what a ring would look like on my finger, or what it would be like to have that feeling–that absolute confidence–that yes, this is my person, and I am his person. Even when I knew that Matt was indeed my person, there was this inherent part of my brain that said “this isn’t real”.
So on with the story–we drive straight to Sunset Cliffs Natural Park in SD and meet up right away with Mike and Taylor. The place is amazing. As advertised–cliffs and sunsets. It’s a beautiful landscape. It is now that I start to notice small things. Everyone seemed …a little flustered. But then again, we were late and there’s only so much daylight left to shoot. We walk over to the cliff area and Taylor has me posing and taking pictures and Matt ducks out to the restroom (very typical). So then I think “Oh, OK, he probably wouldn’t duck out to take a leak if he was going to propose.” All the while, that part of my brain is subconsciously saying “remember: these things don’t happen to you”. If I started thinking that something so amazing was going to happen…and it doesn’t, I was going to be let down. And let down is not fun (nor fair to Matt). The photo shoot continues, and Matt joins in and we continue to be prompted by Taylor. Mike and Colter are chill and hanging out next to us. Nothing is happening.
As we continue to take pictures, I just get this feeling. I don’t know if I sensed Matt was anxious, and maybe even that Taylor was a little anxious also. I don’t know what it was. But I do know–that the little voice inside my head that kept trying so hard to prevent me from let-down–just got completely squashed. Actually, it kind of felt like my entire ability to think rationally got squashed. And at some point, within the few seconds before he got down on one knee, the only internal cognitive message I could pull together was: “Oh my god. This is happening. This is really happening.”
I wish I could give more detail or explanation, but everything was truly a blur. I heard Matt say “wife” at one point right before kneeling and I think everything inside me melted. My favorite person in the entire world had asked me to be his family–to be his favorite person, forever. My entire periphery became cloudy and irrelevant. I really felt like David in the YouTube video “David at the Dentist” when that poor little 6 year-old is all hyped on anesthesia and is like “is this real life??”; except this was not anesthesia, this was a moment of unprecedented pure bliss. Yes, David. Yes this is real life.”

If you could pick one word to describe your favorite quirk about the other, what would it be and why?

“Emily: Microchip. There’s this episode of Parks & Rec where Chris Traeger (the excessively enthusiastic, over-the-top optimist, and ridiculous health nut, played by Rob Lowe) has contracted the flu virus and is in the hospital freaking out, trying to explain how his fine-tuned physiology is extremely susceptible to outside forces, dubbing himself a “microchip”.
This is Matt, in a [healthy] nutshell. Right after he consumes something with an above-average oil or fat content, he can “see” his abs disappear. He has eaten the exact same weekday breakfast for about 2 years now. Along with his, he trims *my* nose hair–that I didn’t even know I had. Microchip. But he’s my microchip. And I love him dearly.”
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Wedding Day First Look

First look at wedding

First look at wedding

Wedding day first look…should you have one?

When Mike and I were engaged, we struggled HARD with this question–should we or shouldn’t we have a first look? As wedding photographers, we thought we knew the sole benefit for having a first look: ample time for more photos. However, on our wedding day (nearly 5 years ago) we learned a lot about why having a first look is such an amazing option for couples and we’re excited to share our experience. And get this: we didn’t even have a first look!

What’s more, some of our wonderful couples were amazing enough to let us have a peek into their intimate wedding day first look and share their experiences with you. Here it goes, our 5 reasons you should consider a first look!

Wedding Day First Look Reason #1: Time Together

The night of our wedding was a blur, as most everyone will tell you. We got to our hotel room, collapsed on the bed, looked at each other and said, “Oh, HI!” You guys, we had just gotten married and hadn’t spent longer than 2 minutes at a time together. Keep in mind, none of that time was private or uninterrupted. Looking back, we wished we had done a first look for the sole purpose that we would have truly been able to spend time together as a couple before the wonderful chaos of our wedding day ensued.

As husband and wife wedding photographers, we so cherish this time for our couples and with our couples. We love setting you up to see each other for the first time in an intimate place, away from the hustle and bustle. We love the emotion and words you exchange when no one else is around. We love gifting you with this time and allowing you to just drink it all in.

“Our first look was amazing! We absolutely loved the intimate moment of being able to see each other for the first time without anyone else around. It allowed us to take in a moment together before the hustle and bustle of the rest of the day. We would absolutely do it again! We were so ready to see each other that day and don’t know if we could have waited any longer. It was such a magical moment and we would never change anything about it. No matter how many times Haydn’s dad joked that it was bad luck.”- Jake and Hayden Crouse

Wedding Day First Look Reason #2: Time for your loved ones

If you’re planning to have a bridal party (especially a larger one with more than 6 people), or have a larger family, one of the best gifts you can give them is a wedding day first look! A lot of your family and friends like to bring a date, husband, wife, kids, etc. to the wedding. To boot, your folks are going to have quite a few family members they’ll want to entertain and visit with. By having a first look earlier in the day, they’re free to go spend time with their loved ones and visit with guests after the ceremony.

Typically, what takes about 45-60 minutes to do after the ceremony (bridal party photos, family portraits, etc.) can sometimes be done in half that time when done before the ceremony. This is purely a numbers (and hunger) thing! When there are less guests and vendors earlier in the day needing your attention, there’s less distraction and more time to get your formal photos finished. And, when everyone isn’t hungry and running to get to the bar, your chances of having a more cooperative bunch of well fed and relaxed friends and family is much higher earlier in the day!

“Our first look was at one of our favorite spots in the Botanic Gardens, the moon gate. After the whirlwind of getting ready, we were excited to finally see each other and officially start the festivities. It was a very special moment because after over a year of planning, we were finally seeing each other on our wedding day and were about to be man and wife. When the first look moment finally came, Luke was speechless and Annie was radiant. It was everything we could have hoped it would be and set the stage for an incredible day and celebration.”-Luke and Annie Cerbin

Denver Botanic Gardens wedding Luke and Annie bride and groom portraits at moon gate

Wedding Day First Look Reason #3: Time to enjoy your vows

Before Mike and I were at the alter, we once again thought we knew what to expect. We thought it was just another formality we needed to do before the relaxing part of the day. Boy, were we SO WRONG! Coming down the aisle in and of itself is a surreal experience. There’s nothing that can take away from that moment, not even a first look. However, once we were at the alter together, we both froze. We stared at each other and blacked out a little bit (we have a tendency to do that at major events in our lives). Eventually we started talking over our officiant (sorry Mat!) because we genuinely wanted to calm each others nerves and know how the others day had been.

When it was all over, we turned to the crowd and realized that that was the first time we had looked at anyone else but each other. We were so glazed over from such an out of body experience at the altar that we weren’t able to be fully aware of what was happening in the crowd. Our couples who have had a first look have unanimously stated that they were actually able to enjoy the ceremony and their vows, and appreciate everyone in attendance. Since they already had time together, they were able to soak it all up.

“Our first look was incredible! I tapped him on the shoulder, he turned around, and it was a surreal feeling as we spent that quiet moment together seeing each other for the first time right before our ceremony. It made all of my nerves go away and everything was perfect. He was so darn handsome too! We would definitely do it again!”- Jared and Elizabeth Zinanti 

 

Wedding Day First Look Reason #4: Time for drinks!

Cocktail hour, anyone? One of the things we hear most from couples is, “We really want to just relax and enjoy cocktail hour!” And we get it! Y’all have a lot of people to see on your wedding day, and we respect that. Anytime our couples tell us this is important to them, we talk them into having a first look. For obvious reasons, having your first look totally frees up your evening after the ceremony to do whatever you want. Care to grab a drink and hit up the photo booth? Go for it! Want to hang with me and Mike and go on a hike for some awesome photo opportunity? Absolutely! The evening is yours to spend however you like. Your guests will be giddy with excitement when they see you walking into cocktail hour to hang out with everyone and share in the festivities!

Bride and groom at Guyton Ranch wedding in Jefferson Colorado

“Our first look was the perfect way to kick off our wedding celebration with just the two of us. We would definitely do it again!”
–Brian and Maggie Leslie

Wedding Day First Look Reason #5: Time for sunset and reflection

As we mentioned earlier, having a first look truly frees up the rest of your day after your ceremony. One of our favorite things to do is steal our couples throughout the evening for small increments to get different photos at different times of the day. When you don’t have a first look, you’re bound to having your portraits captured quickly and in a small amount of time immediately following the ceremony. There’s typically less of an opportunity to leave later on in the evening. However, it just so happens that the best lighting is usually during dinner. If you’ve already had a first look then leaving during cocktail hour and dinner for a few minutes isn’t a big deal or time sucker. And most importantly, you get time to look back at your wedding reception and once again, take it all in. Our couples who do a first look tell us that their second favorite part of the day was when we stole them at sunset to get a few photos with the perfect lighting and to give them a chance to regroup and see all of their family and friends having fun at their wedding.

 

Winding River Ranch Wedding of Mike and Melissa wedding bride and groom couple portraits

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Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement | Adam and Jhori Rippy

Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement bride and groom on Trail Ridge Road

Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement

Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement | Adam and Jhori Rippy | Trail Ridge Road Elopement

I’m not going to lie, my photography wanderlust has been driving me to shoot an intimate Rocky Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement for quite some time now. So, when Jhori e-mailed and said that she and fiancé Adam were still working out the details of their intimate Colorado wedding, I was hooked. She let me know that while they didn’t know all of the details just yet, they knew they wanted to work with us. Naturally, my heart fluttered and I melted. We chatted for a couple months about location ideas for them to say their vows. However, without a doubt, these two were set on having their portraits taken on the ever lusted after Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. I would later learn (at 10,00ft) that Jhori has an insane fear of heights. So picture it…a windy, daunting, and intimidating 12,183ft above sea level as a storm rolls in. This isn’t a likely spot for portraits for someone with a fear of heights! Nevertheless, Jhori did say that her friends and family would be so proud of her when they saw the heights she was willing to summit in the name of beautiful portraits! And girl, it totally paid off!

With their three kids and closest family members in tow from Indiana, everyone headed west for Jhori and Adam’s beautiful wedding ceremony. It was truly one of the most magical days I’ve had the honor of being a part of. With close family, raindrops, elk, incredible 14,000ft mountains surrounding them, and in true Colorado form with storm clouds chasing us, could it have been more perfect? I think not! Plus, a bride who wears Birkenstocks under her wedding dress so we can hike, is my kind of gal!

Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Rippy! I am so thrilled you invited me to be a part of your incredible and intimate wedding day. We can’t wait to see you again in Colorado!

Love,
Taylor

Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement bride and groom on Trail Ridge Road Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement bride and groom on Trail Ridge Road Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement bride and groom on Trail Ridge Road Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement bride and groom on Trail Ridge Road Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement bride and groom on Trail Ridge Road Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement bride and groom on Trail Ridge Road Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement bride and groom on Trail Ridge Road Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement bride and groom on Trail Ridge Road Rocky Mountain National Park Elopement bride and groom on Trail Ridge Road

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Highlands Ranch Mansion Wedding | Kevin and Katie Lewis

Highlands Ranch Mansion Wedding

Highlands Ranch Mansion Wedding | Kevin and Katie Lewis

We are so excited to share Katie and Kevin’s Highlands Ranch Mansion Wedding with y’all today! I think if one of our brides was my spirit animal, Katie would be it! In all honesty, we adore this couple from the bottom of our hearts! From the first time we met Katie, her mama, and her best friend/MOH Chelsea, we were totally drawn in. Her energy and zest for life was absolutely contagious. Not to mention, she was excited about everything we talked about: her Pomeranian puppies, she and Kevin’s relationship, our then pregnancy…Katie was truly a special gal, and we were so thrilled for the opportunity to be apart of their story.

Fast forward a couple weeks to when we got to meet Kevin, a start contrast from outgoing Katie. Kevin was quiet, charming, and undeniably adored his adorable bride. Their engagement shoot at our ranch was a whirlwind of excitement, puppies, and laughter between these two. Needless to say, Katie and I developed a friendship that I cherish over the next year as she planned their wedding. The day they said, “We do” was one I shamelessly cried at and felt so much love from everyone there! Mr. & Mrs. Lewis, congratulations you two! We adore you both and are so excited to see where your love takes you!

Love,
Mike and Tay Highlands Ranch Mansion Wedding groom getting ready

How did the two of you meet?

“We actually met back when I [Katie] was 14 and Kevin had just turned 15. It was our freshmen year of high school. This was back when Myspace was the way most kids our age communicated. Kevin was the “number one friend” on Myspace for one of my bridesmaids and I remember thinking he was super cute, so I added him to be my friend on Myspace. He messaged me after that asking if I knew him and I tried to play it off like I didn’t add him. We started talking after that and then started dating soon after we ended up going our separate ways, and then we got back together after high school.”

Highlands Ranch Mansion Wedding groomsmen portraits

How did Kevin propose?
“Kevin told me that his mom wanted to do family pictures on December 18th 2016, I remember because it was -5 that day. I remember thinking “why would she want to do pictures on a day like this” (when I knew Dindy and I both preferred warmer weather). We went to a beautiful snowy area in Palmer Lake where I grew up to take pictures with the family. Kevin left to “get his mom’s phone” when I could hear violins playing in the distance. Moments later I saw Kevin walking up with my family and violinists behind playing Canon in D. I could not believe he was asking me in that moment. He got down on one knee in front of both our families and my best friend and asked me to marry him.”

Highlands Ranch Mansion Wedding bride getting ready

How did you guys choose Highlands Ranch Mansion Wedding venue?
“It’s actually funny how we chose our venue. Before I was even engaged, I was looking at your [Taylor’s] Instagram page of wedding pictures with my coworker, Sue. We came across a photo that we actually recreated later on, but I just remember thinking “There is no way I could do that venue. It must be so out of my price range.” Once we became engaged, we looked at a venue that was really pretty. However, after that we went to “look” at the Highlands Ranch Mansion, I knew that HAD to be my venue. I wanted to look at other venues to be sure, but I knew that no matter what else I looked at I would always want that venue. So we went forward and booked with them!”

Highlands Ranch Mansion Wedding bride and groom ceremony Highlands Ranch Mansion Wedding ceremony

What was the most fun part of planning your Highlands Ranch Mansion wedding?
“The most fun part about wedding planning was going to meet with the vendors. It was so much fun trying our wedding food, cake, and meeting with Pam (my planner)! We would always make a whole day out of the event. I will never forget when we went to try cakes. My mom, aunt, Kevin, and Chelsea went to pick up the cake samples. Then we went out to eat, sat in the sun, tried all the samples and then went to try more cake. We had so much fun that day! I also loved asking my girls to be bridesmaids. I prepared the most beautiful gifts that I made specifically for them. That was by far the best experience when it came to planning.”

What was your most memorable moment from your wedding day?
“Wow that is tough to answer! The entire day was just overwhelming with love, joy, and excitement. I think my most memorable moment from the wedding day would have to be after I had finished getting ready and all my girls had left to go walk down, I was left with my mom and I was so nervous. I don’t think I’ve ever felt that nervous to the point where I was almost in tears. I remember being so excited to walk down to see Kevin waiting for me. My other favorite memory was taking the pictures with Kevin. We weren’t alone usually when we were taking pictures, typically there was a friend or two out with us. I just remember feeling like we were alone and so in love.”

Highlands Ranch Mansion Wedding bridal party

What are you most looking forward to in marriage?
“I am most looking forward to going through life together. I know there isn’t anything we can’t face together. I am also so looking forward to buying our first home together, traveling, and buying more Pomeranians. Lol.”

Highlands Ranch Mansion Wedding bride and groom portraits

If you could pick one word to describe your Highlands Ranch Mansion wedding ceremony, what would it be and why?
“Magical. I mean honestly, all I can think about when I think back to that day was it was an absolute fairytale. I remember being so nervous to walk down the aisle and when I was finally up there I was just in bliss. My favorite people were there watching as I said my vows. We had done some premarital counseling with our pastor so having him marry made it much more special and intimate. Everything was just stunning from the guests, to the seating, to the flowers, and of course the venue. Everything was perfect. I was most happy about the fact that it didn’t rain though!!”

Highlands Ranch Mansion Wedding bride and groom portraits Highlands Ranch Mansion Wedding bride and groom portraits Highlands Ranch Mansion Wedding bride and groom portraits Highlands Ranch Mansion Wedding bride and groom portraits Highlands Ranch Mansion Wedding bride and groom portraits

What advice do you have for couples planning their wedding now?
“My greatest advice I could give to new couples is to get a wedding planner. Someone to help you throughout the wedding planning process is such a relief. Mine kept my sanity and guided me through the process. Get a binder and keep copies of everything. Make lists and give yourself plenty of time in your engagement. Your engagement is such a special time and unless you have to rush it, take your time. Take deep breaths and remember why you are doing this. There was so many times I had breakdowns and questioned why I was doing this. When you are stressed, just know it is going to be so worth it. My last tip is to spend a little more on the photographer; get a good one (like TAYLOR LOL)! Just know after the wedding fades you will always have your pictures. Okay, my last tip is on your wedding day something WILL go wrong. It could be from your dress strap snapping, limo not showing up, or someone accidentally spilling red wine on your dress. Yes, all those happened! It’s all okay! Nothing can ruin this special day and this day is about you and the one you are marrying. Everything else can be fixed and don’t let it get you down on your special day!

Highlands Ranch Mansion Wedding bride and groom portraits Highlands Ranch Mansion Wedding bride and groom portraits Highlands Ranch Mansion Wedding bride and groom portraits

Are you going on a honeymoon?
“Yes! I actually won a cruise at one of the bridal expos I went to back last fall! The cruise that I won only covered the basic four-day cruise so we upgraded to a seven-day cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. I would have loved to go right after our wedding, but usually traveling during hurricane season isn’t the best idea. We pushed it out to mid-November to hopefully get better weather. We also now have something to look forward to!”

Highlands Ranch Mansion Wedding Vendors

Flowers: Angela at Petals and Posh
Planner: Pam at Celebrations Event Planning
Brides dress, bridesmaids, and tuxedos: Something New Boutique
Cake: The Bundt Shoppe
Catering: Rocky Mountain Catering
DJ- Ignite Entertainment
Hair: Sarah Nelson at Total New You
Venue: Highlands Ranch Mansion
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Flying Horse Ranch Wedding | Austin and Katelynn Blasi

Flying Horse Ranch Wedding bride and groom portraits

Flying Horse Ranch Wedding

Flying Horse Ranch Wedding | Austin and Katelynn Blasi

Creativity fuels creativity. That’s just an awesome fact, and one we totally honed in on for this Flying Horse Ranch edding. Upon learning the mother of the groom, Austin, was a photographer herself, we were immediately excited! Pairing that with Katelynn’s fun and unique ideas for photos, and we had a recipe for an exciting wedding day! From the moment we got to Austin and Katelynn’s wedding, we were continually hugged and treated like family. During all the important and even quiet moments of the day we were given total creative freedom. Because of this, we were allowed us to capture their special day with so much fervor. Most importantly, when our couples are as excited about their photos as we are and give their input in making these moments happen, we’re fueled!
Furthermore, you know what else fuels creativity? Emotion. Without a doubt, the Blasi’s wedding was one of the most emotional days we’ve had the honor of being apart of. I lost count of the number of times Katelynn looked at us and said, “Is my makeup okay?!” after shedding a few tears. And it was epic. As a result, at any given moment, someone somewhere at Flying Horse Ranch was crying. It truly makes our job feel so intimate and purposeful!
Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Blasi! We are so thankful to have been apart of your beautiful wedding day and can’t wait to see where you go in your marriage.
Love,
Mike and Tay

How did the two of you meet?
“We met our senior year at the University of Denver through mutual friends.”

How did Austin propose?
“Austin proposed on the Georgetown Fall Colors train. It was a gorgeous fall day and I thought we were just going to look at the fall colors in a unique way by taking a train through Georgetown. We got super lucky and were seating in the first car of the train, which at the half way point becomes the caboose and you can take unobstructed pics off the back with the tracks and the colors in the background. We went out there to take some pics and he got down on one knee!”

How did you guys choose Flying Horse Ranch Wedding for your wedding venue?
“Austin is from Eastern Colorado, so I wanted something that had a little rustic feel as a nod to his upbringing. I loved the elegance of the ballroom and the barn space. I thought it made for the perfect mix of venues for the various activities throughout the night. An elegant dinner in the ballroom followed by a party in the barn! We both loved that the venue was a little out of the way and made you feel like you were somewhere else.”

What was the most fun part of wedding planning for you?
“Planning with my mom and sister was the best part. People would ask if I had a wedding planner, to which I would say: “Yes! My mom!” She was incredible. My sister planned the most amazing bachelorette on Cornado island in California and my mom truly made my wedding happen. We had a ball thinking through details, visiting vendors, and just spending time together doing something fun!”

What was your most memorable moment from your wedding day?
“There are so many moments! Probably the speeches at dinner. My dad, the best man, Preston, and my sister all were fabulous. Their speeches were heartfelt, funny, and genuine. Or getting tossed by the groomsmen!”

What are you most looking forward to in marriage?
“Going through life together. He is my partner and my friend in everything.”

Flying Horse Ranch Wedding bride and groom portraits Flying Horse Ranch Wedding bride and groom portraits Flying Horse Ranch Wedding bride and groom portraits

If you could pick one word to describe your wedding ceremony, what would it be and why?
“Surreal. I feel like I finally understand the meaning of “on cloud nine.” That is how I felt the whole day and at the ceremony too. We were truly on our own planet during the ceremony.”

What advice do you have for couples planning their wedding now?
“Find your vendors and trust them. People who work in the wedding industry are experts in their field. They are good at what they do if you give them the chance. I think a lot of people worry about minutia that no one cares about in the end. Let your vendors work their magic and everything will come together beautifully!”

Flying Horse Ranch Wedding Flying Horse Ranch Wedding bride and groom portraits

Are you going on a honeymoon? If so, where are you going?
“We did! We spent a few days in Napa Valley during harvest.”

Flying Horse Ranch Wedding Vendors

Venue: Flying Horse Ranch
Day of Coordinator: Michelle Hagood
Photograper: Taylor Jones Photography
Catering: Biscuits & Berries
DJ: FUNction Pro DJ (Rob Gillen)
Hair & makeup: Blush Dry Bar
Floral: Thorn Creek Flowers
Signs & Calligraphy: Before Noon Paperie
Videography: Swanson Bros.
Video Alcohol: Peak Beverage
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Denver Botanic Gardens Wedding | Lukasz and Annie Cerbin

Denver Botanic Gardens wedding Luke and Annie bride and groom portraits at moon gate

Denver Botanic Gardens Wedding

Denver Botanic Gardens Wedding | Lukasz and Annie Cerbin

Oh man, friends. Annie and Luke’s Denver Botanic Gardens wedding is one we’ve been so excited to share with y’all! This sweet couple had quite a year. Not only were they planning a wedding, they were also moving to Colorado just months before their big day and Luke was starting med school. WOW! When our friends at Prive Events told us about this awesome couple, we immediately knew we had to know them. Their story and sincerely adventurous spirits captivated us and we were thrilled when they invited us to be their wedding photographers!
Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Cerbin! We love you guys and are so excited to see you again soon!
Love,
Mike and Tay

How did the two of you meet?
“It was a classic love story. We met at Northwestern’s second look for prospective medical students. Luke thought Annie was “super cute” and Annie thought Luke was a “huge bro”. One of them was right…”

Denver Botanic Gardens wedding Luke and Annie bride and groom portraits at moon gate

Luke, how did you propose?
“Luke arranged a surprise weekend trip to Asheville, North Carolina. We hiked to the top of a beautiful bluff in the Blue Ridge Mountains on Saturday morning. Unfortunately it was foggy and sprinkling all morning, but that just meant we had the mountain to ourselves when Luke got down on one knee. And they say rain is lucky for a marriage, right?!”

Denver Botanic Gardens wedding Luke and Annie bride and groom portraits at moon gate

Tell us about your first look!
“Our first look was at one of our favorite spots in the Botanic Gardens, the moon gate. After the whirlwind of getting ready, we were excited to finally see each other and officially start the festivities. It was a very special moment because after over a year of planning, we were finally seeing each other on our wedding day and were about to be man and wife. When the first look moment finally came, Luke was speechless and Annie was radiant. It was everything we could have hoped it would be and set the stage for an incredible day and celebration.”

Denver Botanic Gardens wedding Luke and Annie bridal party

How did you guys choose Denver Botanic Gardens wedding for your venue?
“It was one of the first places we visited together in Denver. We also wanted a beautiful and romantic place for our ceremony, which the Botanic Gardens certainly delivered!”

What was the most fun part of planning your Denver Botanic Gardens wedding?
“We asked our friends and family to submit their favorite recipes and composed them into a cookbook which we used as our guest book at the wedding. We love to cook and eat good food, and thought having a few tried and true recipes from our favorite people would be a great way to start off our marriage. Also cake tasting was pretty great too!”

Denver Botanic Gardens wedding Luke and Annie bride and groom portraits

What was your most memorable moment from your wedding day?
“It’s a tie between our first look and our ceremony. Both were perfect and more beautiful than we could have imagined. Third would be seeing our friends dancing with the big head photos of our cats faces that we made for our photo booth. They were a bigger hit than we were anticipating.”

Denver Botanic Gardens wedding Luke and Annie bride and groom portraits Denver Botanic Gardens wedding Luke and Annie bride and groom portraits Denver Botanic Gardens wedding Luke and Annie bride and groom portraits Denver Botanic Gardens wedding Luke and Annie bride and groom portraits

If you could pick one word to describe your wedding ceremony, what would it be and why?
“Beautiful. Our ceremony was at the romantic gardens in the Denver Botanical Gardens which is just a picturesque place to get married. The whole morning was overcast and rainy, but as we started our vows the sun came out and shined on us. As if our vows weren’t significant enough, this just seemed to frame and magnify them even more. We couldn’t have imagined a better ceremony.”

Denver Botanic Gardens wedding Luke and Annie bride and groom portraits Denver Botanic Gardens wedding Luke and Annie reception

What advice do you have for couples planning their wedding now?
“Use Taylor Jones Photography for their photos! Plan something fun to do with your friends/family outside of the traditional wedding weekend activities. We were lucky to have our wedding over a 3-day weekend, and got all our friends together for hiking and then a brewery crawl the day after our wedding. With all the frenzy of the wedding day, its hard to talk with anyone for more than a few minutes. So having some extra time planned to catch up with friends and family is definitely worth it!”

Denver Botanic Gardens wedding Luke and Annie bride and groom portraits Denver Botanic Gardens wedding Luke and Annie bride and groom portraits

Are you going on a honeymoon?
“We spent a week after the wedding exploring the beautiful San Juan Mountains in Southwest Colorado. But we also plan to take an actual honeymoon this spring to Italy to explore Venice, Tuscany, and the Amalfi Coast.”

Denver Botanic Gardens Wedding Vendors

Coordinator and Flowers: Prive Events
Baker: Fluffed and Frosted
Caterer: Occasions
DJ: A+ Music
Wedding dress: Tre Bella (in Durham, NC)
ALSO CHECK OUT THE YATES WEDDING AT THE BRECKENRIDGE BREWERY!
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Eden West Ranch Wedding | Leigh and Caty Komperda

Eden West Ranch Wedding bride and groom portraits

Eden West Ranch Wedding

Leigh and Caty’s Eden West Ranch Wedding

Leigh and Caty’s Eden West Ranch Wedding is one for the books! These two are traveling junkies and live in San Diego, California. When they told us they were planning to have their Colorado wedding in the town of Cotopaxi, we couldn’t help but ask what was leading them to this little town. We soon learned that Caty’s family owns the ranch next to Eden West Ranch, and that it’s been in their family for a long time. It only seemed natural that they celebrate their marriage at this special place. And having never seen the ranch before, Leigh completely agreed with Caty that the Colorado Ranch was where they needed to say their vows.

We’re so excited to share their Eden West Ranch Wedding with y’all and share a little bit of their awesome love story! Enjoy and congratulations you two!

Cheers!
Mike and Tay

How did the two of you meet?

“We met while we were both graduate students at University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Caty and Leigh’s roommate, Brad, ran the USC Young Researchers Program (a program that offers inner-city high school students the opportunity to work with a PhD student mentor on a research project over the summer) and while working together they realized that they shared a common interest-rock climbing. Caty and Brad started climbing together and soon after Leigh joined in on a climbing trip to Echo Cliffs, a local climbing crag outside of Los Angeles, in January 2014. We hit it off pretty quickly sharing our loves of the mountains, science, soccer and dogs (aka Indigo).”

Are you going on a honeymoon?

“Yes! We left for our honeymoon a few days after the wedding and got back a few days ago. We designed our honeymoon to incorporate new adventures, good food and beer, and a little culture. Starting in Norway, we spent time hiking, navigating crevasse fields on Juklavass Glacier in Folgefonna National Park. Also, we explored Stavanger, Bergen and Oslo. From there, we headed to Bruges, Belgium to explore the quintessential European city. There we ate amazing food and beer, before wrapping up in London, England. It was the perfect combination of adventure and culture!”

Eden West Ranch Wedding bridal party with train

Leigh, how did you propose?

“In the early days of Fall 2017, the California temperatures began to drop meaning one thing: the end of the Idyllwild and Tahquitz climbing season! Excited to get a little climbing in, so Caty thought, I pushed for a weekend trip and multipitch climbing. The first route of the day was a three pitch, 300 foot trad climb. I led the climb and Caty followed cleaning the gear I placed in the rock. After Caty reached the top of the second pitch and was safely secured to the rock, I proposed 200 feet off the ground. Which left Caty little recourse as to how she answered my proposal. Excited and not wanting the day to end, we climbed several other routes which led to an epic hike out in the dark.”
Eden West Ranch Wedding bride and groom climbing portraits Eden West Ranch Wedding bride and groom portraits Eden West Ranch Wedding bride and groom portraits

Tell us about your first look!

“It was a lot of fun! The wedding weekend was amazing but very busy and it was nice to get a little time away with just the two of us. We were both quite nervous about the first look, but doing a it reduced our nerves for the ceremony itself which was great. There were a bunch of things at wedding that weren’t quite traditional in a wedding sense, so it was really nice to still incorporate the first look in our own way. Both of us agree that we would do the first look again.”
Eden West Ranch Wedding ceremony

How did you guys choose Eden West Ranch Wedding for your venue?

“Caty’s uncle’s family owns the Iron Horse Ranch next door to Eden West Ranch wedding. Caty has been visiting the ranch since she was a kid and would spend summers and holidays at the ranch with her family and cousins. We wanted to get married outdoors in the mountains and the ranch seemed perfect. The Iron Horse Ranch doesn’t have the infrastructure Eden West Ranch does for events, and so we decided to do a pre-wedding hike and rehearsal dinner BBQ at the Iron Horse Ranch and the wedding ceremony and reception at Eden West to make logistics of the wedding day itself easier.”

What are you most looking forward to in marriage?

“All the new adventures! We have been together for many years, but we are excited to take this next step in our relationship. We love spending time in the mountains but the last few years have been very work focused. We’re both looking forward to making more time for each other and new adventures together. Everything from an afternoon to go climbing or mountain biking. A weekend in the Sierra Nevada mountains, to traveling around the world.”

What was the most fun part of planning your Eden West Ranch Wedding?

“Most of the planning process was pretty fun for us! We enjoyed thinking of how to add touches to the wedding that were very us (outdoor ceremony with a mountain/rustic/geology theme) and it was fun to have family and friends work with us the figure out the details. Everything from deciding how to intertwine events for the weekend (hiking, welcome BBQ, wedding ceremony & reception) to celebrate our marriage but also make sure we were able to spend time with friends and family that travelled across the world to be there. We had a lot of fun having blind wine tastings with family and friends to decide on what wine to serve at the wedding, developing our website, dress/suit shopping and writing vows (which ended up being surprisingly similar!). Leigh’s favorite part of wedding planning was developing the music playlists for all the events. The music planning process lead to many very fun late night kitchen dance sessions with Indigo.”
Eden West Ranch Wedding bride and groom portraits Eden West Ranch Wedding bride and groom portraits Eden West Ranch Wedding bride and groom portraits

What was your most memorable moment from your wedding day?

“It’s difficult to decide on the most memorable! Favorite moments were taking the bridal party and sunset photographs, literally successfully tying the knot during the ceremony, and the speeches. Our favorite aspect of the whole weekend was having our closest family and friends all together in the same location. It was surreal to have people from all aspects of our lives together and it was amazing to see how easily they got along and quickly became friends.”

What advice do you have for couples planning their wedding now?

“While wedding planning is fun, it was also quite stressful especially in the weeks leading up to the wedding. It’s never too early to start planning and to start accomplishing tasks. The more you get done early the easier it will be closer to the wedding. That being said, no matter how much you plan, there will still be details that come up last minute. It’s important to remember that everyone coming to wedding wants to be there for you and to support you. So the small details won’t make or break your wedding. Another big thing: everyone will be excited to help with the planning process, which can be overwhelming at times. Stay true to what you want your wedding to be like, you can’t accommodate every person’s individual requests.”

Eden West Ranch Wedding Vendors

Venue: Eden West Ranch, Cotopaxi, CO
Caterers: RustingRam, Salida, CO
Cake: Malissa Clark at Yummy Cake Creations, Salida, CO
Hair & Make-Up: Rachael Hoch at Face of Makeup, Salida, CO
Rentals: Settings Event Rentals, Salida, CO
Officiant: Robin Tems, Golden, CO
Flowers: Blooms by the Box, Arranged by Phuong Do Bovaird (cousin of the bride)
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Farmhouse at Breckenridge Brewery Wedding | Chris and Kristina Yates

Farmhouse at Breckenridge Brewery Wedding

Farmhouse at Breckenridge Brewery Wedding | Chris and Kristina Yates

We were on our way to Hawaii when we received an excited e-mail from one of the sweetest human beings alive, Kristina. She and Chris were in the midst planning their Farmhouse at Breckenridge Brewery Wedding for the upcoming fall. We were so excited to hear about their intimate wedding day that we took some time from our trip to chat with them over the phone. Immediately…and I totally mean immediately, we hit it off with this awesome duo! Their pure intentions for marriage and a simple wedding day were heart throbbing. We quickly learned that they, like us, met online. This is still somewhat of a taboo subject, so we’re always excited when we can get super excited with another couple about the online dating world!

On their wedding day, Chris and Kristina did it right by leaving nearly four hours open for just photos of the two of them, time to share a couple beers together, and spend some intimate time with family and friends before their ceremony started. It’s honestly some of our favorite time we’ve ever spent with a couple. Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Yates! Thank you so much for inviting us into your lives and for the gift of your friendship. We love you guys!

Love,
Mike and Tay
How did the two of you meet?
“We met online. Chris likes to tell people it was through World of Warcraft, but eHarmony gets the actual credit. :)”
Farmhouse at Breckenridge Brewery Wedding bride and groom portraits
Chris, how did you propose?
“My proposal was very non-traditional, in that there was no getting down on one knee or planning an elaborate surprise or taking Kristina on a big trip to pop the question. Kristina and I had talked about our goals for the upcoming year during our 2017 Christmas vacation with family. We both agreed then that the upcoming year was going to be a big one for us, and that it was definitely going to include us getting married. That particular conversation didn’t involve a ring or the specific question of ‘will you marry me’, but I suppose that was the initial proposal! We did take a trip a few weeks later to go back to Kristina’s hometown so I could ask her parents’ permission. They said yes, so a week later we went and picked up a ring! Every part, every stage of our relationship has felt so natural and we’ve always known when the right time was to move forward. Our engagement and marriage were no different.”
Tell us about your first look at the Farmhouse at Breckenridge Brewery!
Chris: “I didn’t want to screw anything up! Nothing about our wedding had me anxious or on edge, but I had a lot of excited energy in that moment.”
Kristina: “So much anticipation! There is a lot of stuff happening in the days and hours leading up to that moment, but it was so special and I remember taking a few deep breaths right before I tapped on Chris’s shoulder, really trying to savor the moment. Once he turned around I just kept thinking ‘He’s so handsome!’
Farmhouse at Breckenridge Brewery Wedding bride and groom portraits Farmhouse at Breckenridge Brewery Wedding bride and groom portraits Farmhouse at Breckenridge Brewery Wedding bride and groom portraits Farmhouse at Breckenridge Brewery Wedding bride and groom portraits
How did you guys choose the Farmhouse at Breckenridge Brewery for your wedding venue?
“We went to the Farmhouse at the Brewery for the first time for date night a few years ago. I didn’t say anything to Chris at the time, but as an event planner I remember thinking this would be such a stellar wedding venue. Out of curiosity, I contacted the brewery about private events, but at the time it wasn’t something they could accommodate. So, a month in to our engagement in April of 2018, I was spending hours researching venues, feeling a tad helpless because nothing felt like “us”. Then Chris saved the day by saying, ‘We both really love craft beer, and we want to get married here in Colorado. What about a brewery wedding? The Farmhouse at Breckenridge Brewery would be perfect.’ I told him I had looked in to it before and that I didn’t think they could do it, but was thinking how great that venue would be for us. We frequent the brewery whenever we are in Littleton and it’s our go-to spot for when the parents or friends are in town, so it was an obvious and awesome choice! Chris made a quick phone call to the Farmhouse and our brewery wedding venue was set.”
What was the most fun part of wedding planning for you?
Kristina: “Going crazy with the brewery/beer theme! It was so fun to find classy, subtle ways to work that in to our invitations, florals, decor, and ceremony!”
Chris: “Cake tasting!”
What was your most memorable moment from your wedding day?
Chris: “Seeing Kristina walk down the aisle. It was a long road to get to this point and it was like ‘This is for real! We are really doing this!’ And all the months of planning and organizing, and having all of our friends and family in town, finally there to celebrate with us….It all came together in that one moment.”
Kristina: “Looking in to Chris’s eyes during our ceremony and feeling so much love and respect for the man who was now my husband!”
Farmhouse at Breckenridge Brewery Wedding ceremony
What are you most looking forward to in marriage?
“Marriage is such an awesome gift, and making this commitment allows us to keep growing together. Tackling life’s changes and challenges will hopefully be easier with your favorite person by your side. And of course, exploring as many new craft breweries and beers as we can, and always having reasons to cheers and celebrate each other!”
What advice do you have for couples planning their wedding now?
“Do yourselves a favor and hire Taylor and Mike to do your wedding and engagement photos. Seriously!” and “Put your guests first. Yes, it is “your” day as a couple, but your guests are traveling and dressing up and spending their time with you, to celebrate you. It took a lot of guesswork out of planning when we would think about the experience our guests would have and didn’t make it all about us. Also, hire a day-of coordinator. You won’t regret making room in your budget for it! And keep planning fun and low key when you can. Some of our most productive planning sessions or conversations were over beers either at home or out at one of our favorite breweries.”
Chris: “Enjoy and spend time with people when you can on the big day. You won’t get a chance to talk to every single person during the reception, so don’t stress about it. Just be in the moment. And remember to eat that day!”
Farmhouse at Breckenridge Brewery Wedding bride and groom portraits Farmhouse at Breckenridge Brewery Wedding reception
Are you going on a honeymoon?
“Yes! We went to Italy for 12 glorious days right after the wedding. What a beautiful, special place with friendly people, amazing food, and unmatched experiences.”

The Farmhouse at Breckenridge Brewery Wedding Vendors

Coordination: Muse Events (Danielle Ranney)
Florals: Daisy’s Front Porch (Brenda Trimm)
Cake: Mermaids Bakery
Rentals: AllWell Rents
Bridal Hair and Makeup: Rollers and Rouge
Brides Dress: David’s Bridal
Grooms Suit: Indochino
Officiant: Joel Dunn
Transportation: 303 Car Service
Catering and Beers: Breckenridge Brewery Farmhouse
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Guyton Ranch Wedding | Brian and Maggie Leslie

Guyton Ranch wedding bride and groom in Jefferson Colorado

Guyton Ranch Wedding

Maggie and Brian’s Guyton Ranch Wedding in Jefferson, Colorado

Truly, I don’t think we can share our love and adoration for this amazing couple and their perfect Guyton Ranch Wedding day in just one blog post. My apologies in advance if this post is all over the place with lists of reasons we love these two! We first chatted with Maggie and Brian over the phone in early 2018. This couple was in for a big year! Not only were they planning their fantastic ranch wedding at Guyton Ranch in Jefferson, Colorado, they were planning a big move across the world to Hong Kong. We immediately knew we wanted to be apart of their special day and our instincts were right. They also met online, which as most of you know, is how Mike and I met, so we have a soft spot for these stories!

From the moment we arrived, the energy and excitement were contagious. Starting off the weekend with a game of kickball during their rehearsal dinner, the following morning was met with a basketball game at the ranch and corn hole. Maggie and Brian spent the day with loved ones and each other. Their first look was on the country front porch of this charming ranch, and was such an intimate moment to be apart of. During the ceremony, there was no music when Maggie came down the aisle…just the sound of laughter and sweet conversation between these two and their loved ones. Truly, the heavens opened up in this majestic place in Colorado as beams of light came down during their vows.

During their reception, we heard one of the most epic best man speeches. Brian’s brothers toast was hilarious, yet sentimental, with the perfect amount of humor added in. Their first dance, they sang to each other and danced the night away, both on the dance floor and out on a dirt road with us. Their dog, Sawyer, has played a huge role in their relationship, so it was wonderful seeing him at the ranch with everyone.

Honestly, we can’t say enough about these two! Maggie and Brian are adventurers at heart and have completely captivated us. Their next adventure is taking them across the world to Hong Kong. Why? No reason, other than they can and couldn’t think of a good enough reason not to take a job at a brewery there. People who don’t take themselves too seriously and grab opportunities as they present themselves inspire us and make us want to be better people. Seriously, can you tell we adore them?! Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Leslie! We are so excited for you and can’t wait to see where your marriage and love take you two. We love you guys!

Love,
Mike and Tay

 

Guyton Ranch wedding ceremony Jefferson Colorado Guyton Ranch wedding dress in Jefferson Colorado Guyton Ranch wedding dress in AirBnB Jefferson Colorado Guyton Ranch wedding ranch hand Jefferson Colorado Andrew and Zach

How did the two of you meet?

“We met online in Houston, and quickly came to realize that we lived 5 blocks away from each other and frequented a lot of the same restaurants, bars, and parks. From then on, we frequented the same spots, but now together!”

Guyton Ranch wedding groom getting ready in Jefferson Colorado

Brian, how did you propose?

“We rented a cabin out in the woods for a long Thanksgiving weekend, and as we were roasting marshmallows around the campfire, {I} Brian got down on one knee and popped the question!”

Guyton Ranch wedding bride getting ready Jefferson Colorado

Tell us about your first look!

“Our first look was the perfect way to kick off our wedding celebration with just the two of us. We would definitely do it again!”

Guyton Ranch wedding bride and groom first look Jefferson Colorado Guyton Ranch wedding bride and groom with dog in Jefferson Colorado Guyton Ranch wedding bride and groom with dog in Jefferson Colorado

What was the most fun part of planning your Guyton Ranch Wedding?

“The most fun part was when friends and family started arriving in town and came over to the ranch to hang out and help set up. We have an amazing support system and we would not have been able to pull of the wedding without their help!”

Guyton Ranch wedding ceremony of Maggie and Brian Leslie in Jefferson Colorado

What was your most memorable moment from your Guyton Ranch wedding day?

“Walking down the aisle and seeing the faces of all of the people we love in one place and supporting us in our next step.”

Guyton Ranch wedding ceremony of Maggie and Brian Leslie in Jefferson Colorado Guyton Ranch wedding ceremony of Maggie and Brian Leslie in Jefferson Colorado

What are you most looking forward to in marriage?

“All of our joint adventures! Everything from moving across the world next month to running errands… it makes everything in life more exciting and fun with someone by your side :)”

Guyton Ranch wedding ceremony of Maggie and Brian Leslie in Jefferson Colorado Guyton Ranch wedding ceremony of Maggie and Brian Leslie in Jefferson Colorado Bride and groom at Guyton Ranch wedding in Jefferson Colorado Bride and groom at Guyton Ranch wedding in Jefferson Colorado Bride and groom at Guyton Ranch wedding in Jefferson Colorado Reception at Guyton Ranch wedding in Jefferson Colorado

How did you guys choose Guyton Ranch for your venue?

“We were looking for a wedding venue that would allow us to rent the entire facility for multiple events on the wedding weekend, and Guyton Ranch was a great fit. We had a barbecue and kickball game for friends and family the night before, and we had a beautiful mountain backdrop as we said our vows. It was perfect!”

What advice do you have for couples planning their wedding now?

“Two pieces of advice we got from friends and family:
1. Planning will take as long as you give it. If you want to plan things quickly, you can make it happen. If you give it two years, it will take the two years.
2. Enjoy the little things in planning–we had fun writing notes in some of the invites, made road trips out of visiting venues, and generally didn’t take anything too seriously.”

Bride and groom Maggie and Brian at Guyton Ranch wedding in Jefferson Colorado Bride and groom Maggie and Brian at Guyton Ranch wedding in Jefferson Colorado

Are you going on a honeymoon?

“We went to Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania for our honeymoon and had an AMAZING time!”

Bride and groom Maggie and Brian at Guyton Ranch wedding in Jefferson Colorado Bride and groom Maggie and Brian at Guyton Ranch wedding in Jefferson Colorado Bride and groom Maggie and Brian at Guyton Ranch wedding in Jefferson Colorado

Guyton Ranch Wedding Vendors

Venue: Guyton Ranch // Jefferson, Colorado
Catering: Illegal Petes
Cake: Caitlyn Clausen
Cookies: Hi Rise Bakery
Flowers: Banister’s Flowers
Tent: Colorado Party Rentals
Dress: Brilliant Bridal

 

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Winding River Ranch Wedding | Mike and Melissa Cannioto

Winding River Ranch Wedding of Mike and Melissa wedding bride and groom couple portraits in barn

Winding River Ranch Wedding

Melissa and Mike Cannioto’s Grand Lake Colorado Winding River Ranch Wedding

We are just SO excited to share Mike and Melissa’s stunning Winding River Ranch Wedding with y’all today! I personally can’t imagine planning a wedding, a honeymoon, a big move to a new country, selling all my possessions, and then FINALLY, getting to live and be together with the one I love most. For these two, however, that’s exactly how their story goes.

Grand Lake holds such a special place in our hearts as it’s where we were married four years ago. So needless to say, in spring 2017, when a sweet British gal reached out to tell us about her and fiancé Mike’s country wedding there the following year, we were so excited for the opportunity to be apart of it all! Despite being countries away, Mike and Melissa have spent the last few years successfully maintaining a long distance relationship. While Mike has been stationed in New Mexico serving in the military (THANK YOU, MIKE!), Melissa was beginning to tie up loose ends in England as she planned her big move to the US. We knew their wedding day was going to be an emotional one, but no one was prepared for the amount of tears shed on this special day. Melissa’s family felt bittersweet at their wedding. Their daughter/sister/beloved friend was marrying her best friend, but leaving the life she knew in Europe to start a new one with Mike in the United States. I (Taylor) am comfortable enough to admit that I even cried 3 or 6 times on their wedding day.

Mike and Melissa, thank you so much for sharing your special day with us and for inviting us into your lives! We’re so thankful for your friendship and to have played such an intimate role on your wedding day. We love y’all and can’t wait to see you again soon!

Love,
Mike and Tay

 

How did the two of you meet?

“Through Mike’s sister, Melanie, though he never likes to give her the credit! Mike: “We first met when I went to visit my sister in San Diego over 4th of July. I obviously did not make a memorable impression because Melissa didn’t really remember much of our short first encounter when we met again (let’s call that a practice). The official meeting was when my sister brought Melissa to Colorado over New Year.” Melissa: “Melanie was in my Hospitality program in San Diego. She invited me to stay with her family in Colorado, and I guess I got a souvenir! Mike flirted coyly the whole week, until we finally kissed after a night watching Star Wars and talking until sunrise.”

Mike, how did you propose?

“Well, it ended up being quite the nerve wracking experience – and a little different to how I had planned! I originally wanted to do it at sunset in Stratford-upon-Avon, but we were hanging out with the English Maid of Honour (Anna) and got carried away. So I had to wait until the next day to propose, but it was so worth it. It was a December morning, with everything covered in fog. We went to a beautiful little village in the Cotswolds, called Bourton on the Water. Everything was so quiet and peaceful – it was cold and crisp and magical. We found a secluded spot by a stream, and that’s when I took out a book I’d made of all of our favorite memories in photos, with stories written next to each one. Once she finished reading, I got down on one knee and asked her to help me finish the book. I may have cried… she may have stared in shock a little too long!”