With COVID-19 shutting down Colorado in March and the plans for reopening being very tentative and open ended Jillian and Jason were in a bind for their Spring Wedding at the Red Barn Group Picnic Area in Golden Gate Canyon State Park, but that didn’t stop them from making the magic happen and doing it in the most laid back and flawless way.
When Colorado’s governor first made the announcement of shelter in place, which eventually phased in to ‘Safer at Home’ there was so much unknown when it came to whether or not people would be able to move forward with their weddings as planned. We all waited (and watched way too much news) in anticipation but Jillian and Jason ultimately made the decision to downsize their 2020 wedding just a few weeks before it was scheduled to take place, but hold a larger celebration in 2021 when it was safer to gather with all of their friend’s and family!
Being a photographer in the wedding industry during this unprecedented time has been unnerving to say the least. However, it has been a real eye opener on something that I have known to be true for a very long time: your wedding can look and be absolutely any which way and it will be perfect as long as you are going in to it intentionally and understanding that you’re marrying your person and that is what matters most at the end of the day.
With Corona Virus affecting so many couples getting married I have seen so many awesome ways that people have pivoted plans – from downsizing, to postponing, to splitting the ceremony and reception, to eloping one year and renewing vows the next there is no wrong way to do it!
I love that Jillian and Jason approached the situation with such resilience and ease when they chose to downsize their large gathering planned in 2020 to an immediate family only elopement and postpone their reception to 2021 so that they could gather and celebrate with allllll of their favorite people by their sides. They even announced their decision in an Instagram video which I think was a fantastic idea!
Their intimate celebration this year in the aspen grove adjacent to the Red Barn Group Picnic Area was nothing less than perfect. They set up an altar that was homemade by the couple, brought their cute dog Moose along, exchanged vows during a ceremony officiated by the groom’s childhood best friend and became husband and wife!
After they sealed their marriage with a kiss they headed over to the Red Barn Group Picnic Area for a champagne toast, a cake cutting (even the dog got some cake!), a first dance and special dances with the bride and her father and the groom and his mother. We finished our evening together off with some awesome sunset portraits around Golden Gate Canyon State Park and then they all headed to the bride’s parents house for some barbecue.
It was an intimate gathering but the emotions were still big and I loved documenting every single second of it!
Venue – Red Barn Group Picnic Area in Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Florist – Sola Wood Flowers
Bride’s Ring – Brilliant Earth
Groom’s Ring – Mokume Damascus Rings
If COVID has thrown a wrench in your wedding plans and you’re looking in to eloping in Colorado reach out to me!