A wedding should be all about your love for one another. This day is a celebration of your relationship and all of the challenges that has made it stronger. Even after all the years you have been together and every trial you have bested, the months leading up to the wedding itself will really be hard for you two. It takes a special kind of courage to make this commitment. Fortunately, you won’t be alone in pulling this event off. You’ll have the best person suitable at your side.
One of the many challenges in planning a wedding is to find a venue that will make your wedding memorable. A good choice is to go for a Colorado destination wedding venue. This option makes your big day more beautiful and creates an environment where everyone will feel relaxed. You won’t be confined in any building or structure so everyone can move around. And just imagine the majesty of your couple portraits. With the mountains as part of the view, your wedding photographers will feel like children in a candy store because of all the possibilities. As a result, you’ll end up with pictures that you and your entire family will treasure for the rest of your life.
Crooked Willow Wedding: Every year, lots of brides inquire with us about having their rehearsal dinner photographed in addition to their wedding, but 9 out of 10 brides don't end up booking that coverage along with their wedding photography collection. Sometimes it's a budget constraint issue, which is completely understandable. However, when that is not the issue, most of my clients say things like "it's not going to be fancy," or "I don't think there will be much going on worthy of professional photos," or something along those lines. While that very well may be the case, there is something to be said for getting your photographer emotionally invested in your big day by having them be present at your rehearsal dinner.
Case in point- one of my weddings this year was with a fantastic couple, Megan and Tyler, who hired me sight unseen from out of state. The first time I met them was at the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding. I walked in a total stranger, and three hours later, I walked out totally in love with not only the two of them, but also with both of their amazing families. I was able to meet all of the immediate family members, the entire wedding party and many of their close friends. I got to hear all of the toasts that were made, and at the end of the day, I was given the opportunity to become completely emotionally invested in this couple. I learned things about them both that I never would have known otherwise and honestly, their wedding day was that much more special for me as a result.
Let's face it, being a wedding photographer, by definition, involves an intensely emotional aspect. The art I create at a wedding is impacted by emotion coming from both sides of the lens. The more intimately involved I am in my subjects lives and love-story, the more intimate the images I am able to create for them. Sure, there is a massive technical component to what we do too- lighting, exposure, focus, composition, timing, etc. However, the thing that is not a given, is the client-photographer relationship. This is also why I always recommend an engagement session. At the very least, this gives me an opportunity to get to know my clients better before the big day. The rehearsal dinner takes that emotional investment up 1000-fold.
Megan & Tyler's wedding will stand out in my mind as a favorite because I will always remember the stories I heard at the rehearsal dinner that painted a picture about who they are as individuals, who they are as a couple, who they are to their family, and how loved they are by all of the closest people in their lives. I will always remember the speech that Megan's grandfather gave through tears. I will always remember Megan as the bride who lit up the entire room with her smile and laugh. I will always remember choking back a tear of my own while Megan and her father danced together at the reception. I will always remember the look on Tyler's face when Megan walked down the aisle.... I'm telling you, getting your photographer invested in your story, whatever it may be, is one of the smartest things you can do to ensure that your wedding photos are amazing.
Big thanks to Jennifer for being my rock-star second shooter! Thanks to Crooked Willow Farms for being an amazing venue with some of the best texture in the state to work with (not to mention one of our favorite venues at Frances Photography). And most of all, thank you to Megan and Tyler and both of your wonderful families for being such a joy to work with and for reminding me why I love to do what I do. I wish you nothing but the best now and always! Kisses to all of your fur babies too.
Location: 10554 S Perry Park Road Larkspur, Colorado.
Keywords: Bride & Groom Photos (18), Crooked Willow Farms (4).Copyright © Frances Photography 2023
