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Josie Piper is one of my best friends that I met through a program called Up with People. You can check it out on upwithpeople.org, it is a great organization that allows young people to travel the world doing community service, staying with host families, experiencing other cultures through travel and relationship with other cast members from other countries, and we all put on a large professional show with singing and dancing! So anyway, Josie is my best friend from my first Up with People cast, and now she lives in Denver so I get to see her from time to time! Plus she's just the cutest person, so I wanted to do a little photoshoot with her because she is just so beautiful, and she agreed! So we got to adventure around Arvada a little bit to take these fun photos.

From the bride… Our wedding day was such bliss. It felt like just the best gift – surrounded by our friends and family, blessed by rain (which at the time I was anxious about, but ended up being the best thing in so many ways), and just beautiful and lush with big trees and the prettiest flowers.  It was colorful, personal, and meaningful. For Teel and I, we had waited a long time for the day to finally arrive and it was so much FUN to finally tie the knot to my best friend. I wouldn’t have changed one thing. Putting together Layne and Teel's wedding video took me so long because I kept tearing up at how beautiful their day was. Summer of 2018 was rough for Durango. The 416 fire had an effect on everything. We hadn't had rain in so long, which is why it raining on Layne and Teel's wedding day was especially magical. I like to ask my brides and grooms to write each other letters on the morning of their big day. Only if they want to, but especially for weddings I am doing videography, these letters are so beautiful and add so much to the content for their video. I loved Layne's letter so much, she spoke about the rain, and how much it had played a part in their story. How it had rained the first time she realized she was in love, it had rained when Teel asked her to marry him and now rain on their wedding day! I get tingles and choke up just thinking about it. Layne and Teel incorporated many personal special details into their day... "We put a lot into the day that was special to us. I wore my grandmother’s pearl necklace (a gift from my granddad), my mother’s pearl earrings (a gift from my dad), and kept the handkerchief gifted to me from Teel’s grandmother close by through the day. Teel wore red Mickey Mouse socks - in remembrance of his grandpa – a gift from his grandmother who was not able to make it to the wedding. As guests walked into our wedding, next to our guest book we placed a new family bible for guests to highlight their favorite verse. In our ceremony, Teel and I took communion together while two of my cousins played “How He Loves.” We wrote our own vows, which I would recommend to everyone (be brave- it’s worth it!) because they were so special to each of us. One of our favorite things about our day overall was how much of our family helped put it together to make it perfect. My sister made all of our signs, my mom and I made the candle favors by hand, my good family friend did my hair and makeup, one of my cousins helped arrange the centerpieces, another cousin was our MC and DJ, and another cousin helped us make homemade yard games (Teel & I also made our own personalized corn hole boards). Teel’s uncle was our bartender, his dad and step-mom brought their chuckwagon to cook the BEST food, and his good family friend made our beautiful cakes. We also used Teel’s family china to eat with (all antique and several different collections! It was awesome). Every detail was exactly what we wanted." I LOVE seeing my couples add so much personality and meaning into every aspect of their day, and when they can share with me all those details so I can capture them and use that to help tell their story. Here is some Advice from Layne for others planning their wedding ADVICE – Make it yours. Get ideas from wherever you want to of course but keep it personal for the two of you. Whatever is uniquely yours as a couple/whatever type of food you like etc. – just make it personal to you guys. If there's anyone else that doesn’t love it, it is okay. – Get the videographer! Seriously. This was something I did not plan on, and my mom basically talked me into splurging on it because she said I wouldn’t regret it. And of course, she was right – the day just flew by, but the video captures so much (including some things we didn’t get to see, like each other getting ready, guests throughout the night, etc.). We are 100% glad we decided to have video. Kara is AMAZING by the way and is so good to work with. Try to slow down and enjoy it! It’s cliche, but the day absolutely does just fly by. CHECK OUT THEIR FULL VIDEO HERE -----> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvzN6cLQmq8&t=27s below are a few video stills taken from the footage from throughout the day. THE WEDDING TEAM Videography: Kara Cavalca Photo & Video – "The BEST around, and so sweet. We will treasure our video she made forever." Flowers: April’s Garden. "I LOVED the flowers they put together, and Colleen went above and beyond (seriously, she did so much)." Linens: Durango Party Rental Guest Lodging: Sky Ute Casino Venue: LePlatt’s Pond Rentals: Something Borrowed Hair & Makeup: Cassidy Bach

Vanessa and Matt had originally planned on having a yard game camping type feel to their wedding. They had booked Chris Park for June 2nd, north of Durango, to help give this wilderness spark to their day. On June 1st the 416 fire started north of Durango. I remember thinking they would get control of it and everything would be fine. Halfway through that day however it became clear it was not going to get under control and that there was no way Matt and Vanessa would be able to have a wedding at Chris Park the next day... "...we were evacuated the day before our wedding. Our wedding day still turned out wonderful considering we came up with a Plan B and executed it within 10 hours. It was remarkable! We had a non-traditional wedding with our own touches and flare with Hispanic and Native American culture. It was a fun, dance crazy, loving and memorable time with family and friends from all over the country and Australia." - Vanessa (the bride) I was so impressed with this couple. Not only were they able to get their wedding relocated, replanned and all figured out in less than a day, they did it under incredibly rough circumstances and with smiles on their faces. Many weddings were cancelled or relocated that weekend, but these guys were the only ones to end up in the paper for their efforts. They had already started setting up and decorating at Chris Park when the fire broke out, Matt (the groom) was stuck up there for a while before they could be evacuated out. Many of their guests were supposed to be staying at the Glacier Club that was also being evacuated and needed new lodging. They ended up having their ceremony in a local park and their reception at a local Elks Lodge. They communicated and coordinated with all their vendors and got everything under control to have an amazing wedding THE NEXT DAY. I was amazed at how calm and collected they were even with some things still up in the air. Matt made his appointment at the Bookcase and Barber to have he, his father and a few groomsmen all shaped up for the day. Vanessa found a VRBO to get all her ladies ready in, and she was still able to put together a little gift and letter to be delivered to her soon to be hubby. (I love letters between couples!) Matt got adorably choked up reading her letter, you could see him just slow down in that moment and sink into the day. CHECK OUT FULL VIDEO HERE ----> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwYzSuWWzNE&t=33s "I wanted to incorporate both my Hispanic and Native American culture throughout the day. I had my dress embroidered with a traditional pueblo pattern at the bottom, very simple, I wore my moccasins and traditional sash belt, and I gave my bridesmaids/flower girls turquoise naja earrings. Matt and his groomsmen all wore personalized turquoise bola ties and pizza socks. My dad and my brother wore traditional ribbon shirts and their moccasins. In my bouquet, I pinned a brooch that was passed down from Matt’s great-grandmother to his mother.  The first drink I bought Matt when we first met was a tequila shot so it was fitting we had tequila bottles serving as water bottles on all the tables. And it just so happens our first shot as a married couple was a tequila shot." THE WEDDING TEAM Videography: Kara Cavalca Photo + Video. "Very professional and enthusiastic, she made the whole process easy and fun." Ceremony Site: Rotary Park. "Close to town and such a large area for an outdoor ceremony." Reception Site: The Elks Lodge. "A great centralized location. Our guests were able to walk downtown, if they desired. We also liked that it included a full bar & kitchen, restrooms, tables and chairs, and a stage." Linens & Rentals: Durango Party Rental. "They were super helpful and understanding of our situation. They were quick, professional, and great to work with."

Logan and Dalton got married on Logan's Uncle property. Logan got ready at his house, the ceremony was in the woods near a beautiful little stream and the reception was under a grand tent right outside the house with beautiful sparkly lights all around! Logan and Dalton's wedding day flowed so well. All day just felt very calm, happy and beautiful. The energy around this couple was similar to the calming little stream they got married beside. After their ceremony Logan and Dalton chose to have a very private personal moment of washing each other's feet nearby the stream. In turn they quietly removed each other's shoes and socks and lovingly washed their new spouse's feet. The lighting was beautiful and they were surrounded by lush greenery and tiny flowers. It was a truly magical scene and I felt very privileged to be one of the only people there to witness it. CLICK HERE TO WATCH FULL VIDEO ----> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsCz7LaTZr4&t=28s The number of close personal moments throughout the day was astonishing. Logan had little gifts to give many members of both her and her new husband's families. Logan had a beautiful letter delivered to her groom, and one of her bridesmaids pulled her aside to give her the most precious gift of memories from their grade school days. Laughter and happy tears were flowing throughout the day. I am so happy to have gotten the chance to witness and be a part of so many magical moments. THE WEDDING TEAM Videography & Photography: Kara Cavalca Photo+Video Flowers: Painted Primrose Venue: Her Uncle's Cabin

Two different days, same adorable awesome kids. A mother's day baking session and a trampoline and movie day!

I think it is always fun to dress up and get your photo taken, no matter the occasion, but these girls had a reason. Their last middle school dance! I'd like to repeat that, middle school. Because once you look at these images you're going to want to scroll back up here to check, did she really say middle school no high school? Because yes, these girls look way older than middle school, and I kept on forgetting they weren't older during the shoot as well because they were just SO MUCH FUN to hang out with. I want them to all be my friends, haha. Seriously though, these girls were so great and I had an absolute blast hanging out with them.

Flyse & Martin won my free engagement shoot giveaway at the 2018 Durango Weddings Expo. We did their session at Rotary Park in Durango, I love shooting there because there are so many different places to shoot! They were such troopers letting me spray water all around them for some fun photo effects.

Jenn McConnell came to me about a snowy family session in early fall. We had planned on doing their portraits at the first sign of snow, because winter was coming (haha) and they wanted to get these snowy photos as soon as possible, so they had dibs on that first snowy slot. Unfortunately, it only snowed TWICE in town allllll winter. The first time it snowed they were busy in the morning and by afternoon it was all gone. So the second time it snowed I called them up, they were ready, got the kids all dressed and we rushed out to catch the snow. It still melted in town more than we hoped, but in the mountains it was better. I never thought I'd have this problem in Durango of there being no snow for snowy portraits. These were the only snowy images I got all winter long.

I love these two, Dan and Hannah are some of the greatest humans I've ever had the pleasure of working with. I shot their wedding video and then had the absolute privilege of working with them on their maternity photos. Hannah wanted to get maternity portraits at Cascade Falls, I loved the idea, but was so glad it was her who suggested it haha. It was a little nerve wracking hiking down a canyon in the snow with a very pregnant woman and all my camera gear, I just wanted to make sure she was okay the whole way down, but I didn't have too many hands to help. We got down there no problem though, and Dan even had to take their older dog back up midway down and come to meet us. I love having dads involved in the maternity session as well, I am glad that is getting more popular, because it is still his child even if it is not his belly. They both were so great with climbing around on the ice, exploring the wintery wonderland that is the Colorado mountains. Then we went back to their house and took more photos in their yard and on their deck, it is difficult to stop taking photos of them because they are just so adorable!