Y’all, I have THE best job in world. Hands down. It’s been a year since I last shot a wedding. Almost 365 days to the day. After a beautiful pregnancy, the birth of our first baby in May, and taking the last 7 months to get adjusted to our new normal, I’m back in the saddle. I got to be there for Angie & Russ on one of the biggest days of their lives. And y’all, driving home that night, I felt like I was with an old friend in a way. I found myself reflecting on the last 12 years and ~200 weddings… I could go on and on about what a year of rest has taught my heart, but for now, I’ll just say that appreciate this “job” SO much more than ever before.

But enough about me.

Angie & Russ. These two…. oh my.

These two are contagious in the best way possible.

I wrote that in their guestbook. Because you see, your heart can’t help but smile when you know you’re going to see Angie & Russ. Your mouth can’t stop smiling when you’re around them because you feel like you’ve known them for decades. After I spend time with Angie & Russ, I can’t help but want to make people feel better about themselves. To make them feel alive. To make them feel loved. Valued. Respected. At ease. Because that’s how these two are. They have a beautiful gift. And it’s absolutely contagious.

Angie & Russ, I can’t even describe how much you two mean to me. What a new season of life I’m in, and I just wanted to say thank you for your grace and love and allowing me on this journey with you. You two make the world a better place and I’m so lucky to know you.

I hope you don’t mind my posting your wedding into TWO posts. With how much you CHERISH you friends and family, I just knew we had to show off a lot of people portraits, and that was going to take two posts. So for now, enjoy the first half of your wedding day. And then tomorrow when you wake up, pour yourselves a cup of coffee, snuggle up, and open the second half together.

So much love & joy to you both,
René

After their first look at Red Rocks, we ventured back to their church, Applewood Valley United Methodist church (of which Angie is an associate pastor!), and photographed them with Angie’s beloved stained glass! This girl has such a soft heart when it comes to her church’s sanctuary, so we were grateful for the extra pause in the day to recharge with some peaceful portraits in this place of worship.

Part II of this wedding can be viewed HERE!