Colorado Wedding in the mountains at Spires Ranch - Chelsea + Michael

Please note that Chelsea’s tattoo says “let your light shine” while the light shines on her face in the mountains!

This Ann Arbor wedding photographer shot a Colorado Wedding

and it was officially the coolest thing I have ever been a part of. I don’t know how they found this wedding venue but it was STUNNING, way more perfect than anything I expected. And that’s NOT because I didn’t expect much from Chelsea and Michael, but because this spot and this venue, and the whole state of Colorado really, is just that unique and special. I knew we would be in the mountains and would probably be able to find excellent spots for portraits but I didn’t know that the venue itself would be nestled in a perfect spot where we were surrounded by picturesque mountains on all sides during the ceremony, where we would encounter sunshine, rain, clouds and blue sky (occasionally all at once!). Being a Michigan photographer… I’m not going to say that Michigan doesn’t have excellent views (just watch one of those Tim Allen commercials ok) but we don’t do mountains like this. I feel so lucky to have been here to get a change of scenery and to get some shots that are stunning just from the pure nature of it all.

Chelsea and Michael started their day at separate Airbnb’s surrounded by their closest friends and family. The boys were in a home that had one of the coolest kitchen floors I have ever seen, an airstream out in front, and just the best overall vibe. The girls wore matching shirts, popped champagne and did each other’s hair. No one was stressed out— we may have been a tiny bit behind schedule, but everyone kept in mind the spirit of the day, and there were always smiles on everyone’s face. Even with the looming threat of rain for an outdoor ceremony, spirits were higher than the mountains that surrounded us.

But here’s the REAL best part: Chelsea and Michael are one of those couples that you just know are genuinely into and committed to each other. Michael very lovingly delivered his vows while choking back tears, making us cry and laugh along with him as Chelsea (who told me before the wedding day that she hoped the pictures would turn out ok because she has “resting bitch face”) looked on with an ear to ear smile for the whole ceremony and for the entire day. I loved getting to know their families and friends and it’s just the best to be part of someone’s journey this way. I was actually working with Chelsea and Michael when they first met so it was very cool to have reconnected and to be there for another exciting beginning for them! The best!!

When it started raining in the middle of their ceremony, I was so mesmerized by the way it was showing up on camera, and by how it didn’t even phase one person in attendance. It was welcome, and beautiful, and of course.. it’s good luck when it rains on your wedding day. Some of my absolute favorite pictures from this day, and from my work in general, are the pictures that I took during and in the aftermath of this mountain rainstorm. It also perfectly cleared up and the sun had everyone’s dresses and suits dry in time for group photos! Best of both worlds.

After the ceremony, the bridal party and I took the scenic route back to the Airbnb for the reception- and we were able to get some of the best bridal party photos I have ever taken. I am not going to say they are the best I will EVER take, because that is just bad manifesting. But the scenery just couldn’t be beat and I’m grateful that Chelsea, Michael, and their entire wedding party didn’t flinch when I asked them to climb down the bank and onto a patch of rocks practically in the river, so that I could get a shot of the in the river with a mountain peak in the background. I had to fully get into the river and climb onto a large rock to get the shot, and it was so worth it. Would do it it again 100 times. If anything, I’m sad we didn’t spend more time doing river photos, especially because golden hour hit just as we were about to leave.

Also very heavily featured in the pictures from this day are Chelsea and Michael’s dogs, Karma and Ruby. I love it when clients include their fur family in any session type, and I’m glad that the pups were able to make it out to celebrate with them in Colorado! There’s just something about dogs that add a really homey feel to a celebration, and they are always doing something funny or adorable that breaks up awkward silences, starts conversations, and brings people together. Who doesn’t love dogs?!

Another sweet little touch I was able to capture at the reception— their family members hand picked wildflowers and arranged them in cute little jars as centerpieces for the dinner table. One of the coolest parts of this whole trip and this day was that it was clearly a family effort, and everyone pitched in to help celebrate Chelsea and Michael. It was very clear that everyone wanted them to have the best day, and each labor of love really shone through.

Michael’s grandfather brought an old picture to the reception of Michael, his grandfather, and his uncles at a wedding— which was coincidentally, the last time that they were all at a wedding together. He asked me to recreate the photo at Michael’s wedding, which we were able to do easily and I know it meant a lot to his grandfather. It’s moments like this that I feel so connected to my clients, and so lucky to witness moments like this that mean so much to not only to them, but to the people who come to celebrate their love and who are willing to be open and vulnerable together. I feel like I’m part of some exclusive inner circle and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

This was my first destination wedding and it will not be my last. Manifesting more travel and love and adventure in 2024!