In September I had the pleasure of photographing Katie and Will’s timeless wedding at the Holy Ghost Church and the Oxford Hotel. The day was jam packed with fun family moments, hilarious sentimental touches (shot-ski I’m lookin’ at you) and a literal parade. It was definitely one of my favorite weddings of the year and it was such an honor to be a part of the day!
To Katie and Will
Thank you for trusting me to capture your day and being down for all of my crazy and wild ideas. Y’all were such a pleasure to photograph! I hope you both are enjoying skiing through life as husband and wife!
The Deets
How did y’all meet?
“Katie and Will met in Jackson Hole, WY. They worked together at The Snake River Brewery company. Years later, Will and Katie moved separately from Jackson Hole to pursue careers in Denver. A mutual friend reunited them and set them up on a ski date followed by après. As avid skiers and après-ers, it was a natural union. They fell in love and have never looked back. They love adventure and travel — and don’t forget their fur-baby cat, Momo. No suspense here! … the feelings were mutual and the rest is history.”
Tell me about the proposal!
“Will and Katie are avid skiers. They met in Jackson Hole. Will took Katie on a trip to Vail Colorado for Katie’s birthday (December 24th) and Christmas! Will and Katie went skiing on Christmas. Will found a great spot to sit relax, eat lunch and enjoy the view. Before Katie could sit down Will got down on one knee. Will had stashed a bottle of champagne in his backpack for celebration.”
The Wedding Day
Getting Ready
Getting ready at the Oxford Hotel is such a treat. There is so much natural light and gorgeous, timeline touches. I began the day with Katie’s details. Details weren’t a huge priority for Katie, but I couldn’t resist getting a few extra shots, especially of her grandfathers diamond which is now showcased in her engagement ring. The morning was casual with very little hiccups, a rarity for a wedding morning! After makeup was complete and the bride was dressed we made our way to the Holy Ghost Catholic Church– just a few minutes from the hotel.
Ceremony
Photographing Catholic ceremonies are always a bit tricky since there are several rules in place regarding photography, this is completely understandable and I am always respectful of the rules and traditions. The ceremony was a full hour, which gave me plenty of time to photograph numerous perspectives. Once Katie and Will were pronounced husband and wife the officiant gave guests and opportunity to take a picture of the couple, I thought this was a great way to include the guests but also encourage an unplugged ceremony for the majority of the ceremony.
The Parade
This was a first for me! When I initially spoke with Katie upon booking she told me about this idea of a parade from the church to the reception. I truly had no idea what to expect and boy was I blown away! Upon exiting the church with streamers and bubbles the couple loaded onto the back of Will’s truck which was completely decked out with two chairs, blankets and champagne. There were coolers being pulled filled with beer and water, tambourines played by grandma and general good vibes all around. It was such a fun, unique moment.
Wedding Party and Family Photos
The parade made a stop at a local courthouse for formal photos. This was the perfect spot. The lighting was gorgeous, the steps were perfect for big groupings and the parade had enough space to mill about while pictures were in progress.
Portraits
After wedding party and family photos were finished, we took some couples photos at the courthouse. I am obsessed with the portraits here!! I was able to create such a different look depending on which direction the couple was facing, one angle had an artsy, moody vibe with direct sun (sorry to Will and Katie and their light colored eyes!!!) and the other angle had them backlit, creating a romantic, timeless, ethereal look. Once portraits were done we headed back to the Oxford Hotel to grab a few portraits in their suite before breaking for the day. Since they had a morning ceremony I had plenty of time to grab a quick lunch and take tons of reception details before cocktail hour.
Cocktail Hour
After the couple were rested, cocktail hour began in the Spruce Room at the hotel. It was spacious and airy and perfect for their guest size.
Nighttime Portraits
This couple fully and completely trusted my vision and were totally down for any fun or creative shots. I love when couples prioritize photo time because it allows such a variety in their gallery. We made our way outside for a few iconic photos in front of Union Station. And then Katie told me she actually worked at the bar inside, so we had to take a few shots there. We ended the night walking through the bar at the hotel and were welcomed by cheering and clapping patrons.
The Reception
After cocktail hour we made our way upstairs for the big reveal of the reception space. I love how they incorporated their love of the outdoors, hiking and the mountains in their decor. Their seating chart were all different mountains! After 3 emotional dances and a few heartfelt toasts, it was time to party! One of the most memorable parts of the night was the couple and their friends doing “Shot-skis” (literally shots off a ski), which was handmade by a family member.
This day was a long one, nearly 13 hours of coverage! But it was so full of personality and love. And the fact that this couple let me be creative made the day fly by!
Big congrats to Katie and Will!!
Lauren & Will’s Vendor Team
Reception & Getting Ready Venue – The Oxford Hotel
Ceremony Location – Holy Ghost Church
Wedding Planner – Victoria Noe at Sage Hospitality Group
Wedding Dress – Stella York
Bridesmaids Dresses – Azazie
Florals – Statice Floral
Cake – Mulberry Cakes
Catering – Urban Farmer
DJ – DJ Connection
Makeup & Hair – Divine Beauty Artists
Learn more about Leah, a Colorado wedding photographer
Hey there! I hope you enjoyed this wedding highlight of Katie and Will’s big day! I’m a wedding photographer based out of Denver and serving locations across Colorado and beyond. I’m originally from Texas but beelined it here as fast as I could. I’ve always loved the Colorado way of life– the mountains, the food, the people, it’s unlike any place I’ve ever been! Being a wedding photographer here is a dream. I love serving fun and in love couples. If you’re wanting candid, authentic imagery with a creative twist and a luxury experience, I’m your girl! I’d love to learn more about you and your special day! You can send me a message here or using the contact form below.
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