Ian & Mary Lou's wedding at the Broadmoor

[ Colorado wedding photographer ]

Ian and Mary Lou’s July 4th wedding in Florissant and at the Broadmoor was one of the coolest events I’ve ever covered. Their hilltop ceremony was officially the first wedding I’ve ever shot while wearing Converse! Later that evening, their reception at the Broadmoor was as elegant as you could imagine. Ian is also a wedding photographer, so I was very flattered when they asked me to document their special day. He did almost all the planning too, so all Mary Lou had to do on the big day was show up in a white dress!

Their casual morning ceremony took place on the five beautiful acres they own outside of Florissant. It was quite a hike! Guests sat on cloth-covered hay bales, and Mary Lou wore a retro-looking bridesmaid dress from David’s bridal. The gorgeous formal wedding gown she wore for the party that evening came from Kleinfeld in New York City.

What a great day! Congratulations Ian and Mary Lou!

Event planner: Nada Gutierrez, RSVP Weddings
Floral design: Rhonda Nichols
Bride’s ceremony dress: David’s Bridal
Bride’s reception dress: Kleinfeld Bridal Manhattan
Reception venue: The Broadmoor
DJ services: A Music Plus

The ceremony began as Mary Lou and her bridesmaids made their way through the forest.

My assistant Allison captured Ian’s reaction as Mary Lou crested the hill on the arms of her parents.

Vows, accompanied by happy tears.

Ian had gifted his groomsmen with some swell pocket knives the night before; after the ceremony they insisted on an impromptu “pocket knife arch” for the bride and groom.

Showing off their rings.

Ian’s dad Herb climbed onto a boulder and made a champagne toast.

The newlyweds and all their guests.

My assistant Allison, looking like a rock star.

Photographer Ian couldn’t resist borrowing my camera to take a few pictures of his bride. He managed to catch me in the background trying to run out of the frame. Yes, that is my butt. I wasn’t fast enough!