Jessica + Nathan | Colorado Mountain Wedding Photography | Meadow Creek Mountain Lodge

January 6, 2014

One of my biggest goals for 2014 is to figure out this whole blogging thing!  It’s very overwhelming to me, so I have avoided it and just used my Facebook page as a blog of sorts.   IT’S TIME though…I have got to start!!   Brace yourself for a massive overuse of exclamation points (that’s how I roll)!

My first post is Jessica and Nathan’s beautiful June wedding at the Meadow Creek Mountain Lodge & Event Center in Pine, Colorado.  What a beautiful mountain setting!  I had never heard of this venue before, but I cannot wait to go back!!  Meadow Creek Mountain Lodge is rustic and quaint, with a stunning view of the mountains.  It is quintessential Colorado, and I love that…I LOVE this place!!

I have known Jessica since high school and my sister went to school with Nathan.  I was so excited to reconnect with her (and some of her bridesmaids that I have also known since high school), and photograph their fun, personal wedding.  Jessica and Nathan had some really unique details incorporated into their wedding that I had never seen before, and may never see again!  A few notable details included an unbelievably gorgeous arbor that Nathan built by hand, a photo wine box for their unity ceremony, and a fun flash paper wish ceremony during their reception (coolest thing ever…scroll down to see some of the photos and an explanation as to what the heck a flash paper wish ceremony is).  Jessica and Nathan also took dance lessons prior to the wedding, and their hard work really paid off.  I am super jealous (by the way), I couldn’t talk my hubby into taking dance lessons to save my life!

It was certainly a day full of love, family, and celebration.  These two are best friends, and they really know how to have fun together…we were laughing the whole day!  I am so thankful to have shared in this very important day in their lives, and now they have a BABY on the way and I hope to share in the important days to come.

Forgive my “clumsiness” in blogging, hopefully I will improve quickly 😉  Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo,
Melissa

photo of dress hangingphoto of bridal shoespicture of bride getting readypink-grey-rustic-wedding-pictures-colorado-wedding-photographer-meadow-creek-mountain-lodge-80

Isn’t this wine box super cool?!  During their ceremony they added wine and letters to it, and they will open it on their future anniversaries.
photo of wedding wine ceremonyphoto of bride in wedding dressphoto of bride getting hair done

Oh how I love when my couples decide to do a first look!  They are always such sweet, intimate moments, and sometimes it’s the only alone time the couple gets the whole, crazy day.bride and groom during first lookphoto of bride and groom during first lookphoto of bride and groom kissingphoto of bride and groom laughingphoto of bride and groomcolorado-wedding-photographer-meadow-creek-mountain-lodge-pink-grey-rustic-wedding-pictures-82photo of bride and groom rusticphoto of bride and groom on a bench

Jessica was such a trooper hiking up this huge rock, over barbed wire, sticks and stones, in her wedding gown and heels!  I think it was worth it 😉
photo of bride and groom on a cliff
photo of bride and groom on cliff
There is something about a man in a bowtie!
photo of groom on a cliff

photo of bride and groom huggingphoto of bride and groom walking

This is a small glimpse of the arbor Nathan built, but take my word…it was truly incredible!
photo of bride and groom with arborphoto of bride and groom on stairsbride and groom with foreheads togetherphoto of bridesmaid in gray and pinkphoto of bridesmaids laughingmeadow-creek-mountain-lodge-pink-grey-rustic-wedding-pictures-colorado-wedding-photographer-39photo of groomsmen in woodsphoto of groomsmen star socksphoto of groomsmen goofing aroundphoto of pink and white bridal bouquet

I love emotional couples (especially grooms!), and Jessica & Nathan’s vows were as emotional and heartfelt as they come.
bride and groom reading vows
photo of wedding ceremony flowersphoto of bride and groom first kissphoto of ceremony bubble exitphoto of tulip centerpiece

Jessica’s bridesmaid made her cake!  I think she did an amazing job, and it was a super unique “naked” cake, with beautiful, fresh flowers.
photo of wedding cake and wedding rings

Ok, ok…the flash paper wish ceremony! This was super cool, and definitely a highlight of their day.  Everyone wrote their wishes for the couple on a piece of the “flash paper”. Then one-by-one they lit the flash paper on fire in front of the couple and it instantly burns out like magic.  People’s reactions to the flame were some of the funniest photos of the whole day…I wish I could share them all!
photo of flash paper ceremonyphoto of flash paper ceremonyphoto of flash paper ceremonyphoto of flash paper ceremonyphoto of first dance and father daughter dancephoto of bride and groom first dancephoto of wedding guests dancing at receptionphoto of wedding guests dancing at reception

Guests had a great time with the “fauxtobooth”!  Interested in adding this to your own wedding?  Just ask me for details!
photo of wedding photoboothphoto of wedding photoboothphoto of wedding photobooth

Jessica and  Nathan’s dream team:
Photographer: Plum Pretty Photography, www.plumprettyphotography.com
Venue: Meadow Creek Mountain Lodge, http://www.meadowcreekbb.com/
Florist: Vickie’s Flowers, www.vickiesflowers.com
Caterer: Relish, www.relishcateringco.com/
Make-Up Artist: Rachel Miera, www.decoratedbeauty.com
DJ: Chris King, www.amdjs.net
Officiant: Melanie Smithson,www.melaniesmithson.com

 

  1. Angela says:

    Great first blog! Can’t wait for more.

  2. Jen says:

    Great job Miss! Loved all the photos! You are amazing!!

  3. Jen L says:

    Beautiful blog! You made it over the hurdle and they will hopefully get easier. I feel like I was at the wedding… I had a great time. Your photographs are superb.

  4. Allison Grigel says:

    Awesome Job Melissa!!

  5. Melani Burcham says:

    Beautiful, beautiful Melissa!

  6. Sarah Schwartz says:

    Beautiful images of a beautiful couple and oh my…the scenery is divine!

  7. Stephanie R says:

    Said it before, will say it again, a million times over – you.are.amazing. Love every single one of these — especially the one with all the makeup and the bride in the compact’s mirror – LOVE. Keep rocking Melissa! <3

  8. Jena says:

    Love it!

  9. Danielle says:

    Melissa, I love how genuine your comments are about each of your couples that you photograph. I love the pictures. Wishing we would have had a “fauxtobooth” Or whatever you called it… at our wedding. You are amazing. Good work, lady!

  10. […] too long ago, I was photographing Jessica & Nathan’s wedding, and now they have a baby girl on the way!  I had a great time during this Denver maternity […]

  11. […] of photographing numerous milestones for them over the years. Engagement and boudoir photos, their mountain wedding, maternity and newborn photos as they welcomed their first little lady into the world. Then family […]