TheaMarie and Manuel reached out to me after I photographed their friend Catherine's January wedding in Indiana. They said they loved the photos I took of her wedding and they were also impressed by the way I handled the posed photos after the ceremony. When they heard I lived in Colorado Springs where they were planning to get married, it was clearly meant to be! They had a late morning wedding mass at St Gabriel's Catholic Church surrounded by 40 family members and friends. The sacredness of the bond of marriage and their joy was so evident.


Immediately after the mass, they had their reception at the Colorado Springs Marriott in a tent outdoors. It was a warm October afternoon and Manuel's family from Peru came ready to party! The dance party was hopping. And I highly recommend having your photographer snap a photo of you and all your guests on the dancefloor (see below). The bride and groom got some beautiful portraits on the hill behind the reception-- simple and perfect! Everything wrapped up by 5:00 pm. Have you thought about doing an early afternoon reception? I highly recommend it, especially if you're not a night owl.

A figure kneels in prayer at the altar of a Catholic church with a large crucifix mounted on the wall.
A couple shares an intimate dance moment in formal attire inside a church setting.
A wedding party walks together through a modern church interior with wooden beams and large windows.
A couple sits together in a church pew during their wedding ceremony.
A church service in progress showing wooden pews and a large crucifix mounted on the vaulted ceiling.
A wedding ceremony in progress inside a traditional church with guests seated in wooden pews.
A black and white photograph of a wedding ceremony taking place in a church sanctuary.
A wedding ceremony exchange of rings at the altar in a traditional church setting.
A black and white image of a couple kneeling in prayer during a church ceremony.
A priest in yellow vestments leads a blessing during a wedding ceremony at the church altar.
A bride and groom exchange vows during their wedding ceremony in a church with a priest in yellow robes.
Wedding party poses in church with bridesmaids in emerald green dresses and groomsmen in black suits.
A couple shares an intimate moment under fall foliage on their wedding day.
Newlyweds walk hand in hand on a desert trail with mountains in the background.
A couple poses for portraits in a desert landscape on their wedding day.
A couple stands together against a desert mountain backdrop during their wedding photoshoot.
A romantic moment between newlyweds among pine trees with mountain views.
Wedding party in formal attire poses together against a desert mountain backdrop.
Family portrait outdoors with fall foliage creating a colorful autumn backdrop.
Two men watch children playing with a puzzle or game at a white-clothed table.
Wedding reception guests and couple seated at a table under an elegant white tent at a modern celebration.
Wedding guests enjoying a lively dance moment in a tented reception venue with white decor.
Couple shares their first dance under a white tent at their wedding reception.
Person in a stunning blue ballgown dances at a wedding reception under white tent lighting.
Wedding celebration with energetic dancing under a white tent venue.
Guests dancing and celebrating at a lively wedding reception under a white tent.
Wedding guests in colorful formal dresses dancing and celebrating at a tented reception.
Large group photo of wedding guests gathered under white tent for celebration.
Wedding guests dancing and celebrating on wooden floor under white tent.
Wedding guests in colorful dresses dancing enthusiastically at reception under white tent.
Wedding guests share laughter and conversation at an elegantly decorated reception table.