Seems like the summer got the best of me and I seriously let my blog slack off. It’s time to change that! Even if it means blogging every other day because of how many things are being edited and delivered to my lovely brides, grooms, and families.

This wedding in particular pulls at my heartstrings quite a bit. I remember sitting with Jennifer, her sister, and her mother in my studio talking about her wedding plans and choosing album cover materials. It’s always fun getting to know my couples and their families because I feel like I become a part of a family on a wedding day and feel a deep sense of honor to be able to photograph such a special day with such unfettered access.

It came to the wedding day (at Nature Pointe in Tijeras, NM) and I was informed that Jennifer’s parents would be in attendance due to her mother having cancer and not doing well. However, after we did some of the pre-ceremony formal portraits, Jennifer’s mother surprised everyone and arrived looking elegant in a bright red blouse. She looked on as Jennifer’s father walked her down the aisle and throughout the ceremony where Jennifer’s contagious smile and expressive face elicited smiles and laughter from Ryan and the rest of the guests.

However, not two weeks after the wedding date, I got an email from the newlyweds requesting a few photos of Betsy as she had just passed away. My heart sank. While I couldn’t imagine what the family could be feeling, I was so happy that she was able to attend Jennifer and Ryan’s beautiful wedding day. <3

Cory and Salvador’s outdoor wedding at Bishop’s Lodge in Santa Fe, New Mexico

I have known Havilah since I can remember. Our families were friends and would make a point to see each other infrequently. This New Mexico native gal remembers fondly building snowmen in her backyard with the rest of our siblings and in the summers, being anxious to visit nearby Waneka Lake, chasing garter snakes out from their hiding places, and mailing letters to each other when we got older.

Havilah recently passed the bar exam after working so hard for her law degree and I couldn’t be more proud. How fitting is it that their wedding would be at the newly opened Colorado Supreme Court building? In fact, they had the whole place to themselves.

I wore two hats at this wedding, one of a wedding guests and one of a photographer. I am afraid I didn’t do the former as well as the latter. 😉 Congratulations to my dear friends Mike and Havilah!

That’s my girl!