Buena Vista, Colorado Wedding // Colorado Wedding Photographer // & That's the Bees
Caitlin & Justin
No one can tell the story of Caitlin and Justin, quite like they can. They grew their own flowers, made wreath chandeliers by hand, and centered their entire wedding around their love for bees. They spent the better part of a year curating the most wonderful and fantastic celebration of color and love.
Caitlin and Justin met at a brewery, where Justin worked and was appropriately nicknamed “The Beast” from Beauty and the Beast (when he turns into the prince.. lets be clear about that). They went back and forth, and eventually gave into eachother after Caitlin gave him her number, one digit at a time.
Together they grew a love for bee keeping, eventually starting three hives.
I asked them if I could come photograph their bees, to better capture their entire wedding, and I’m so glad we did. Watching them take apart their hives with incredible care and love, as they taught me about the little ecosystems that give so much back to us. They taught me about the hive mind, and that bees operate as one individual all together, a super organism.
They got ready (and later celebrated in) the family-owned Surf Hotel in Buena Vista. This place could not be any more beautiful.
The one thing Caitlin knew she wanted for her wedding day, was to wear her grandmother’s necklace. The dress had to match, and seeing as no ivory did it justice, She dove head first into this amazing, fitted, mermaid, velvet, emerald dress.
(And freaking rocked it).
They designed a custom engagement ring, in the shape of a honeycomb, with bees wings as the setting. Holy my goodness was it beautiful.
Are you seeing these floral details?!
The festival grounds;
Her cousin’s family owned these beautiful, expansive grounds that ran along the river and overlooked mountains scattered with turning leaves.
They brought their dog Elby, who was such a good boy. All day.
Together;
The very best boy.
The Hive;
Opting out of a separated bridal party, they chose to include everyone they loved together, in one group they lovingly referred to as The Hive. And of course, the colors are completely on point.
Friends played live, folksy music as the hive entered all together.
“I do, I do, I do, I do, I do”
You’ve Got the Love played along a rhythm of drums as they left the aisle, birds swooped down and everyone cried. Including me.
“You’ve Got the Love”
And you can’t take portraits on a log over a river without breaking out some dirty dancing moves.
(that hair!)
Caitin & Justin, Thank you, endlessly, for being incredible clients all the way through. Thank you for giving us all this day, and for your incredible spirit.