Intimate, rainy, joyful wedding in the mountains of Colorado during a thunderstorm.

Ashley and Zach are two of the coolest people we know - no joke. You know a wedding is going to be rad when, at your first meeting, the couple asks you who your favorite artist is, and who has been the most influential photographer in your life. I am in the wedding photography business because I love photographing people, and weddings are my jam- but originally I started out in the fine art side of things, and it's fun to connect with people who are interested in that aspect of my photography. We discussed Nan Goldin, and how she's influenced my work since college, and they specifically requested a group photo, done in the style of David Hockney. We also connected over our love of old-school (to us) punk rock - underground shows played in garages and back alleys back in the early 90's, but it was their love story that solidified their wedding was going to be epic.

They met 11 years ago, and have been through some shit together. They talk about their love being something real, not something that's "happily ever after" and that's a sentiment we can get behind. As much as the wedding industry will have you believe that a wedding is a magical, perfect start to a fairytale ending, we believe that it's a confirmation of truth, and a promise of a future together, no matter what life throws your way. As it says on their wedding website, "I have walked toward you my entire life, the last step will be for the rest." -A.R. Asher. Life isn't always rainbows and butterflies, and a wedding should be a celebration of real love, which will last not just through the sunny days, but also through the rain.

Ashley and Zach's wedding day began at the Hamill House in Georgetown, the morning starting out a little overcast, with some sprinkles here and there, and a full-on hail storm around noon - but the ceremony wasn't scheduled until 3-ish, so we all trekked it up to Guanella Pass just in time for the sun to come out a little bit for their first look. It was epically beautiful, not only because of the scenery, but also because Ashley and Zach were surrounded by their closest friends and family who had come from all over the country to celebrate their love.

As soon as the ceremony started, the clouds closed up and blocked the teensy bit of blue skies we had for the first look, culminating in a high altitude storm, complete with fat raindrops, fog, and a thunderclap for the kiss! It was awesome! Everyone booked it off the pass as fast as they could- anyone who has been in Colorado for a summer knows that we don't mess around with the weather on top of mountains- storms move in quickly and get ugly fast, especially with people holding metal poles supporting the chuppah, but this wedding couldn't have been more perfectly timed. We may not have been able to get all the "epic couples photos" we wanted right after the ceremony, but that's not the point of a wedding, and plans are in motion to do that session for their anniversary now, so double the fun! yay!

Everyone got back down to Georgetown safely, and partied the rest of the night away, with Ashely and Zach serving each and every one of their guests at the potato bar. I loved the idea of the two of them, instead of having a receiving line, or going around to every table during dinner, putting on their matching Mr. & Mrs. aprons and serving their friends and family food. There was something so intimate about that gesture, and it was fun for everyone to get to congratulate the couple in this fashion.

The little details in this wedding were so meaningful and special, and I loved how everything that Ashley and Zach had planned totally represented who they were. Their wedding was perfect, and even though some would say things didn't go "perfectly," it was one of the most fun, most honest, and most beautiful weddings we've ever photographed. Congrats to the newlyweds, and we already can't wait for your anniversary photo session!

To see all the images from this awesome outdoor Colorado wedding, click HERE.