Sweet letters exchanged at sunrise between a bride and her groom, followed by brunch and a stroll through the snow covered Black Forest. For Jess and James, it was the intimate wedding day they’d been dreaming of. Rich in sentimental moments and covered in prayer, these two exchanged vows and celebrated their marriage on a winter day in Colorado Springs.

Waking up before the sun, we toasted the day with Starbucks coffee’s and a solid mix of sing your face off tracks  (anything to get the blood flowing at 4:45am). 

I’ve started to really enjoy making playlists on Spotify to match my mood.  One of Jeremy and I’s favorite playlists is a mix of acoustic/instrumental covers of top pop and rock songs.  It always makes for the perfect backing track to cocktail hours, dinner with friends or in this case Jess + James reception.

You can find the playlist here on Spotify if you’re looking for something amazing to cook to tonight.

And who better to have by your side before the sun comes up, than the talented Chaundra Nelms Revier of Glam5280.  Chaundra brings the fun and is typically the first wedding professional a bride and her crew see to kick off the wedding day.

Did you know that hair and makeup artists can really set the tone for your wedding day? So, aside from making you look spectacular, you want to make sure your artist is someone you want to be around for a few hours. And Chaundra is definitely someone my bride’s always love to be around!

Now, once Jess was all dolled up, she took some time to reflect on the importance of the day. Sitting sweetly with the young girl she has come to love and cherish as a “bonus mommy,” she read to her a letter filled with promises and affirmations to take care of her and her dad. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room as we all tried to hold back the sniffles and give these two a private moment.

Once everyone was ready and the sun was beginning to rise, Jess and James shared wedding day letters with each other, standing back-to-back on the cliffs of the Garden of the Gods.  You couldn’t help but feel the deepest of loves these two shared, as they squeezed each other’s hands and whispered “I love you’s”.  Without even seeing each other, just knowing they were near each other made all the emotions of the day come flooding in.

Following the letters, the two stood full of nerves, preparing to see each other for the first time. It was the sweetest moment as Jess walked towards James and tears began to flow. A private moment shared just between the two of them that can never be replaced.

Jess and James exchanged vows surrounded by their close family members at High Point Lookout, followed by a brunch reception at Black Forest Bistro.

Custom cocktails and an award winning menu were served up to guests by the team at Black Forest Bistro, and after lots of laughs and a spin around on the dance floor, Jess and James ended their celebration in the Black Forest for some romantic portraits.  

Being present for this memorable day, was such a gift to Jeremy and I. We loved walking through each stage of the planning process and got to witness and celebrate the fruits of their labor. Jess and James, we are so honored that you allowed us to capture this huge moment in your lives, and we pray your marriage will be blessed beyond measure. Congratulations!

To see photos from Jess + James’ Engagement in Downtown Denver jump to their BLOG HERE. Are you looking for a photography team for your upcoming wedding? Let’s chat and see if we’re a good fit for each other!

Photographer | Britni Girard of Britni Girard Photography

Videographers | Jeremy Girard of Girard Films

Venue | Garden of the God’s in Colorado Springs

Hotel | Hyatt Place Colorado Springs/Garden Of The Gods

Caterer | Black Forest Bistro

Hair and Makeup | Chaundra Revier of Glam5280

Florist | Bloom bar and Co.

Jeweler | Jared’s