Kellan’s sister did Janice’s hair and make-up.  She looked incredible!

On their way!

The first look.  Janice looked amazing, and Kellan’s expression of joy was just perfect!

For those unfamiliar with Mormon weddings, cameras aren’t allowed at the actual wedding ceremony (the sealing) , so portraits on the temple grounds that showcase the temple building along with the couple are very important.

As we stood taking pictures at this spot I had an idea.  “Kellan, can you do that jumping thing where you kick both legs out to the side?”  I asked (or something just as inarticulate).  He answered something to the effect of “probably.”  We got it in one take.  ONE.  He rocked it!

Funny story about this next photo.  As we were taking pictures on the Denver LDS Temple grounds, the sprinklers went off not three feet away from us.  Talk about terrifying!

Some pretty sun flare from their gorgeously sunny and warm day!

After the sealing they were greeted outside by family and friends.

And then we headed out to one of their favorite Mexican restaurants for some lunch and laughter!

Nothing brings a family together like looking at silly pictures of other family members!

Up next, pictures from Day 2 of Janice and Kellan’s wedding – their ring ceremony and reception at the Lodge at Cathedral Pines!

The wedding dress hanging in the Boettcher Mansion getting ready room.

The first look outside Boettcher Mansion

A first look hug.

Bride and groom dip in front of mountains outside Boettcher Mansion.

One of my favorite spots for wedding portraits at Boettcher Mansion!

Okay–maybe THIS is my favorite spot for bride and groom portraits at Boettcher!

White and green wedding centerpiece idea–so pretty!

White wedding cake with green orchids.

View of the wedding reception from outside the Mansion.

Boettcher Mansion wedding reception.

Chris and Shelby’s wedding details:  venue – Boettcher Mansion , florist – Stella Floral , DJ – A Sharp DJ ,  caterer – Catering By Design , cake -  Das Meyer

I have seen a lot of weddings, but I have never seen a bride more smitten with her groom than Jamie with Rick.  She couldn’t keep her hands (or lips) off him from the second they saw each other that day.  She successfully snuck in a kiss during the ceremony before the “official” kiss, and she would have snuck in several others if the audience had let her!  During portrait time she couldn’t stop herself from kissing him, and hugging him, and it filled the day with so much love.

Their wedding was chalk full of unique details–many of which I hadn’t seen before (and that’s saying something)!  I’m saving some pictures for our wedding ideas series that I’m going to start in the fall, but here are just some of the cool details that Melissa had:  a quilt for everyone to sign that included some of their engagement photos, custom dress hangar, a flower ceremony in the same theme as a sand ceremony, super cute wedding programs, shoes that her bridesmaids signed in blue, gerber daisy and lime centerpieces, pink uplighting, heart shaped sparklers, and custom matchbooks.

Melissa and Derek love Colorado and wanted a lot of the unique Colorado scenery in their portraits.  With their ceremony at Red Rocks Park, it was easy to create some majestic Colorado portraits!

Edited to add…totally forgot to give credit to the amazing vendors that day–sorry!  Danielle from Something Classic Events provided the day of coordination and did an incredible job pulling together all of the details that made the wedding so beautiful, along with the florist, Dawn from Hillside Consultants.

Melissa and Derek’s Wedding Details: Ceremony site: Red Rocks Park, Reception venue: Mount Vernon Event Center, Coordination:Something Classic Events, Flowers: Hillside Consultants, Cake: Colorado Rose Cake Company

Belinda is one of the most genuinely sweet people I’ve ever met in my life.  And so I forgive her for being so crazy beautiful!

I couldn’t resist an ivy background!

Yep.  Belinda is way too pretty!

Nic’s shot, and my favorite from the ceremony.  I bow down to him.

My favorite “We did it!” face of the year.  Which is a good way to end because this is our last wedding of 2008!

The dove release after the ceremony…

Belinda’s son, Aidan, is such an adorable little boy!  He was so well behaved for us.

We had some beautiful afternoon light.  The kind of light that we just don’t get in most areas of Colorado Springs because the mountains get in the way!

Time for some back alley kisses.  I’m pretty sure photographers end up spending almost as much time in back alleys as muggers.

We had an awesome amount of time between the ceremony and reception for photos, so we played around for a long time and then released them to the limo party…

My favorite reception shots are almost always from the first dance.  Nic really rocked this one!

The mother-son dance always gets me thinking about the future.  (Although I’m pretty sure I’ll run off any of Will’s prospective brides.  Because No One will be good enough.) 

Belinda’s father passed away, so her uncle stood in for him on the father-daughter dance and they danced to There You’ll Be (that song from Pearl Harbor) and I cried like a baby.  So much so that Nic was prompted to look at me and ask “Have you been drinking?!”  (But since this was his shot, I know he was feeling it too.)  It was so moving it was totally “two glasses of wine” or “six months pregnant” pain-in-your-chest emotion.  I can’t even proof these without tearing up.

Before I start crying all over the place again, I’m going to end with my favorite picture of the day.  A little something I like to call “the magic of the D3.”  Or just “a really cool bridal bouquet toss picture.”  Belinda has the cutest expressions!

Thanks, Belinda and Justin, for letting us photograph your day.  You were so easy and fun to work with, so gracious, and so welcoming.  We hope you have a wonderful mini-moon in Vail and fantastic forever together!

On Saturday we got to photograph Courtney and Chris’s engagement portraits in Manitou Springs and Garden of the Gods. They are getting married in a month and a half, so get ready, because Courtney is going to be a knock-out in her wedding dress!

I loved Courtney and Chris’s outfits–another couple that coordinated very well together. Courtney had the great idea to use layers to add interest and texture to her ensemble, which I loved! (I’m thinking of adding an “outfit hall of fame” page to the site to give other couples/families ideas and tips on dressing fabulously for photographs!)

We had an amazing day for pictures at Garden of the Gods. We are getting to have a few favorite spots that blow me away and look much more dangerous than they actually are.

I love the curving lines and long shadows that Nic captured in this shot:

They are such cute jumpers!

And I have to end with this shot that is so Colorado to me…

Thanks Courtney and Chris for being so wonderful and photogenic! We are so excited to be your wedding photographers and love that we don’t have to wait long for the big day–I know it will be amazing!

A little bit of pretty flare on this next one…

After playing around Manitou for a bit (and getting their feet freezing wet in the stream) we popped over to Garden of the Gods to wrap up the session Colorado Springs style.

Andrea and Jason got some fantastic news last week, so her glow in this shot has nothing to do with photoshop!

We can’t wait to photograph their July wedding!  Andrea and Jason are a fantastic couple who are obviously in love and we are so glad they chose us to be their wedding photographers!

To make the final winner a surprise, we have hidden the vote tallies.

We will announce the winning couple next Saturday after one final vote review!

We love it when you link to us! If you link to us on your blog or website, please leave a comment in the space below so we can add you to our “friends” page which will be coming soon!

We are in the middle of our 2008 Real Couple of the Year Contest, and you can find it easily by clicking on the “2008 Real Couple Contest” button right below our header. The poll is hosted in a central place, so whether you vote here or at our old blog, it is all the same and the polls in both locations will reflect that vote.

Today I am very excited to announce something that we have been planning for months!

To celebrate the launch of our new wedding site, we’re holding a big contest!

The winner will receive free wedding coverage!

The winning couple will receive our regular wedding package that includes two photographers, full event coverage, an engagement portrait session, and the high resolution digital files from both.

Who can enter?

Any couple whose wedding will take place in 2008 in or near Colorado Springs, Denver, or Pueblo.

How do you enter? 

Email a picture of you and your fiance along with a few words describing your wedding, relationship, engagement story, or whatever it is that we should know to traci@realphtography.com  Please include your wedding date and location in the email.

Can you nominate a worthy couple?

Absolutely!  Just send us a picture of the couple and a description about why you are nominating them!  In the event that they are chosen as finalists, we will contact them to make sure they agree to the contest rules and consent to having their picture and story shared.

When is the deadline?

Valentines Day: February 14th at 11:59pm Mountain Time

How will the finalists be chosen?   

Four finalists will be chosen by Real Photography.  The finalists’ pictures and emails will be posted here on our blog by 20 February 2008.

What will Real Photography be looking for?

We’ll be looking for a fun couple with a sincere love story, unique wedding, sense of humor, or all of the above!  You do not have to have a sad story or climb Mount Everest or overcome amazing odds.  Just tell us who you are and make us want to be at your wedding!
How will the winners be chosen? 

We will open a poll to let the world vote for a winner.  The voting will close at midnight on 15 March and the winners will be announced shortly thereafter.

Fine Print

1. By entering the contest, the couple agrees to allow their email and picture to be used publicly by Real Photography.
2. The winner must agree to our standard wedding contract which includes a release allowing their wedding photos to be posted online.
3. Couples that have already secured the services of Real Photography are eligible to enter.  In the event that the contest winner has already hired Real Photography for their wedding, all deposits and payment toward the event will be refunded to them.
4. The finalists will be chosen by Real Photography based on the couple’s statement.  The decision is arbitrary and final.
5. Real Photography will do everything within their power to protect the integrity of the voting process to determine the winner.  Should any couple attempt to to undermine the voting process or cheat in any way, they will be disqualified.