Through Rain or Shine: A Breckenridge, Colorado Mountain Wedding

Kyle and Rachel married on your typical Colorado day. What do I mean by typical? Colorado natives will know what I’m talking about. It’s sunny one moment only to be followed by a downpour. Then guess what happens? It’s beautiful and sunny again! Yep, welcome to Colorado.

I absolutely love shooting in the outdoors and am so fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful, photo worthy states: Colorado. As a second shooter for Felicia Marti Photography, on Kyle and Rachel’s special day, I was thrilled that they chose Breckenridge and the Rocky Mountains as their backdrop. Even the rain didn’t dampen my excitement (I am photographer hear me roar!!!) Besides, rain on your wedding day is meant to be good luck, right? Whether it stalls your ceremony or causes coats and umbrellas to be added to the decor (both of which were required in this instance), it provides a memory and unique spin to the day you hadn’t expected.

I love getting to know new people and what better way than on one of the most memorable days of their life? When a couple chooses to marry, their wedding is THE day to celebrate their love the way they want; to let it be a true reflection of themselves. From my perspective, Kyle and Rachel nailed it. Not to be biased, but anyone who brings their dog to their wedding day is fabulous in my book by default. Their adorable dog was vibrating with excitement and joy all day. Let’s just say that puppy cuddles were in abundance.

The personal touches and choices Kyle and Rachel made were such a pleasure to capture with my camera. They achieved a beautiful combination of class and rusticity. What better way to dress up the rustic, wholesome wood of wine barrels, tables, chairs, and a fireplace mantle than with an elegant color scheme of ivory, lavender, and raspberry. To start, the tables were draped with violet and ivory linen that complimented the rich wood. Their centerpieces consisted of mini islands of wood pieces in a dance with floating candles in water-filled, glass cylinders. Bouquets of ivory hydrangea, lavender roses, thistle, and baby’s breath (which barely scratches the surface of flowers they had) were then settled throughout the rustic wood towers like an elegant garden.

If you could take your eyes away from the centerpieces (listening to the growling of your stomach, that is), your eyes were drawn to the prettiest dessert table I’ve ever seen. In the middle of the table, on a grey linen, sat a three-tiered ivory cake. Decorated with mountains and trees made of icing there was a splash of fresh flowers on each tier. To the right of it sat a three-tiered display of cupcakes (funfetti, maple bacon, and black magic chocolate!) and to its left lay an assortment of pies that made you feel warm and cozy. It all was so beautiful you wouldn’t want to eat it…almost.

As guests arrived they were able to “leaf” their thumbprint on the wedding tree sign in, a super cute idea for a wedding guestbook. They could also leave a sweet message on a set of rustic skis that had been laid out. On the fireplace mantle, Kyle and Rachel chose to display family photographs of their own parents’ wedding day as well as photographs of their grandparents. I thought it was such a respectful and lovely idea. It only added to how sweet Rachel’s first look was with her parents while standing in front of these pictures.

Prior to the downpour that would occur during their ceremony, the Colorado sunshine provided a perfect glow to Kyle and Rachel’s first look. It was the moment that touched me most during their wedding day. Not only between Kyle and Rachel but also Rachel and her parents. I’m always honored to be privy to these tender moments. And their’s were just the sweetest.

The wedding party looked fabulous (as to be expected). With fresh flowers in the bridesmaids’ hair and plaid ties and boutonnieres on the groomsmen, the wedding party was killing it! So, with such beautiful details for their wedding day, adding a downpour to their ceremony only increased its charm. Well, that and the music, of course. I love when couples choose to have live music. For their ceremony, Kyle and Rachel had a guitarist play and then for their reception there was a blue-grass band. Live music takes an already great celebration to a whole other level.

As I watched Kyle and Rachel have their first dance beneath the gossamer covered twinkle lights, I felt so lucky to have been able to be a part of their wedding. From decorations that belonged in a magazine to the sweet relationship between the two of them (and the unbridled joy of a certain dog), this Breckenridge wedding was absolutely lovely.