Every now and then I randomly think to myself, if Mark & I were to get married again, what would we want to do differently. Obviously we can’t get married again but it’s a fun hypothetical to ponder, especially when we are a part of dozens of weddings every year. After photographing Haley & Kyle’s wedding last October, I can tell you with certainty, this is the kind of wedding I would want to have. Haley & Kyle basically hosted a decadent pizza party, and during it, they got married. It started with the gathering of their closest friends at the historic Henry Lee House. They got r ..read more

After meeting Ali & Trevor for their engagement session (that was 9 months prior to their wedding), I was itching for June to roll around. It didn’t take long, after being around their magnetic personalities, to determine that their wedding was going to be the party of the year. Then I saw their roster of vendors. I couldn’t help but laugh with excitement. June finally came around and this wedding more than met my expectations. When a couple is as wildly in love as Ali & Trevor it creates a kind of electricity that seems to energize every guest and vendor in the room. It’s a really be ..read more

Cassidy & Jack wed last September at the gorgeous Sonnenalp Resort in the heart of Vail. I can’t imagine photographing a sweeter couple or working alongside a more talented group of vendors. Their entire day was a joy from start to finish. A little peek at Cassidy & Jack’s wedding photos ..read more

I absolutely love the multitude of ways in which you can make a wedding anything you want it to be. It can be simple or extravagant, large or small, all day or just a few hours. I think the best thing a couple can do, to have the wedding of their dreams, is to sit down before any of the planning begins, and ask each other what matters most. How do they want to spend their day, and who with? Celeste & Cory’s priorities were clear. They wanted to throw an amazing party for the people they love. When they got in touch with us and said that capturing all the candid moments of everyone having ..read more

Mark & I are mountain people through and through, but the magic of the ocean made its way in to our lives more than once in 2022. One of those times being an idyllic August morning in Maine at Acadia National Park. Riley & Sara’s dream was to exchange vows on the water’s edge, as the sun rose at their favorite national park. They could not have planned or executed it any more perfectly. The day began with a 2:30am wake-up call. Getting ready photos began at 3:30am. The ceremony began at 5:15 and the sun rose at 5:35, almost exactly the moment they were pronounced husband & wife. W ..read more

A close (and very talented) friend of mine specializes in photographing foodie weddings, weddings that look more like a joy-filled dinner party centered around incredible food than your more traditional “wedding”. I wasn’t entirely sure what this looked like until photographing Haley & Kyle’s wedding at Cart Driver LoHi in Denver this past fall. A short but sweet standing ceremony was followed by gathering and socializing around an array of mouth-watering appetizers, beautifully-crafted cocktails, and delicious wood-fired pizza. Haley said that her and Kyle wanted to “bring their communit ..read more

The Homewood Suites by Hilton is a new hotel in downtown Dillon. Their restaurant, called The Vue Rooftop, is located on the 4th floor and offers stunning, panoramic views of Lake Dillon and the Ten Mile range. This new Summit County venue is perfect for small Colorado weddings with 50 guests or less. In September I photographed Martha & Greg’s laid-back Thursday wedding at The Vue and can’t wait to go back. If you’re looking for a modern venue with dynamite views, I highly recommend checking it out. Here are a few photos to give you a feel for what this venue has to offer ..read more

The Sonnenalp is a full-service hotel located in the heart of Vail offering multiple locations on their property to host your Colorado wedding. We’ve always loved photographing weddings at the Sonnenalp, here’s why… Four things you’ll love about the Sonnenalp: 1. The location Does it get any better than being right in the heart of Vail? Located within Vail Village, the Sonnenalp is walking distance to Vail’s best shops, restaurants, as well the gondola. 2. The convenience Not only can your ceremony + reception be held at The Sonnenalp, additionally you and your guests can stay at the hotel o ..read more

As of today, I’ve taken a photo every day for 894 days in a row. Eight hundred ninety four days!!! At the end of 2019, when I committed to my first ever 365 challenge, I was quite skeptical in my ability (and interest) to see it through. I never would have guessed that I would end up moving on to year two and year three without even thinking twice about it. It was my dear friend and colleague Kristyn Miller that asked me if I’d join her in this challenge. She’d already done it once before and said it changed her life. Changed her life. I was skeptical but intrigued. Prior to being committed t ..read more

I recently got the opportunity to participate in an interview with Shoutout Colorado, answering some fun questions about work/life balance, what sets us apart in our industry, challenges we’ve overcome in this career, as well as what some of my favorite spots around Colorado are. You can check it out here! The post Interview with Shoutout Colorado appeared first on ONCE WEST Photography ..read more