Meghan and Mike’s garden wedding in Colorado Springs was perfect! They had a wonderful team to help bring their wedding dreams to life at Hillside Gardens. It was really important to include their family and friends in certain parts of the day while also making sure they had moments in the day just for them. I’m going to highlight the first looks and portraits on this blog to help engaged couples see a way to have the best of both worlds.

When you’re working on a timeline with your photographer and wedding planner, it’s great to think about whether you want a first look or not. Usually both vendors have tons of knowledge on helping you decide which one is best for YOU. Don’t get me wrong – first look is really great for the photography timeline, but I’ll never push for you to do something you don’t want to do!

One of the reasons I think a first look is really special is because it’s the one part of the day that is reserved for just you and your partner. Your media team will be there to help guide you, but we’re purely documenting those moments for y’all. Many couples will have special vows just for each other to read at the first look, which creates an intimate moment before joining in with your family and friends. Personally, I didn’t realize how overstimulated I would be during the getting ready process and it really helped to see my person and have a few deep breaths together.

Moving on to our sweet family and friends who have been there for us throughout the whole process. They deserve some special moments sprinkled in throughout the day also! Meghan decided to get ready with her mom only, capture a first look with her bridesmaids, then a first look with her dad and brothers. We had them placed in beautiful areas around the garden, so it flowed easily. I know that Meghan really appreciated being able to have those moments with each family member. Mike was able to hang out with his parents and sister before the guests arrive, which was really special for them also.

One of the really important aspects of wedding photography is capturing candids of family members. As we get older, it’s harder to get everyone in the same room at the same time. It’s our jobs as photographers to capture those people in the room that might not be there in a couple years. Here’s some sweet moments with Meghan and Mike’s sweet family members – including their sweet pup who passed away recently.

Thanks for looking through Meghan and Mike’s wedding photos! I had such an amazing time working with this amazing group of people. I’m so excited to work with more couples this year! My September and October dates are still open, so contact me if you’re looking for a photographer 🙂