Happy Friday!  This afternoon I get to show you my new favorite venue in Grandy, Colorado called Strawberry Creek Ranch! The views of this place is incredible.  Their mirror lake & giant cross are just breathtaking! Very similar views and rustic features as Devil’s Thumb Ranch.

You’re going to love this wedding.  Ara & Sam’s are good friends of another RTP Couple, Virginia & Josh.  And both Ara & Sam went to Pepperdine with my sweet husband, so needless to say this was quite the reunion of friends!  But that’s why I loved this wedding; you’re going to love Sam & Ara’s organic, yet stunning style.  Ara wore a form fitting lace dress, and carried a bouquet of wild flowers.  Sam wore head to toe Banana Republic from his suit to his shoes.

With the cross overlooking them, amidst the Rocky Mountains, Ara’s father, a missionary pastor based in Africa, married these two.  He had such a beautiful sermon full of analogies between the house Ara & Sam recently purchased and their marriage. I think my favorite was the bottom line: both found need to be built on a Firm Foundation.  After Ara & Sam shared quite the first kiss at the alter, he had everyone laughing saying, “I definitely didn’t need to see that!”

Ara & Sam did a first look, so we were able to do lots of portraits with their wedding party before the ceremony.  Ara & Sam each had two formal bridesmaids and groomsmen, but then Ara, being the free spirit that she is, had ten other women in a non-traditional form as a part of her wedding party.  Together with their spouses, each woman walked down the aisle before Ara and sat in the front few rows.  So beautiful.

The last thing I’ll highlight about this wedding is that it occurred in the mountains, not along the front range, but just west of the front range.  As a result of being on the other side of the Rockies, the western sunset lasted all. night. long.  So folks, if you see these images and want golden light like this, you’ve go to wed somewhere where the 14,000′ Rockies don’t block the sunset. Oh, and one more thing I’ll mention: my husband (along with RTP groom Josh) were the disc jockeys!  SO fun to have them narrate the day and play killer music.  You might spots me in a photo or two, and a pretty sweet image of John & Ara singing Backstreet Boys.  :-)

Sam & Ara, gosh… I cannot thank you enough for having me.  What a dream your day was.  I’m blessed to know you both!

SO much love to you both!
René