Chautauqua Wedding
Leah & Andrew’s wedding was an iconic Boulder wedding. Starting at the historic Hotel Boulderado in downtown Boulder while the couple got ready, and then moving to the field in front of the Chautauqua Dining Hall. As an avid bicyclist, I loved being the photographer for this couple’s wedding, Andrew’s story touched me deeply. In July 2019, as a successful bicycle racer Andrew was riding on Araphaoe Avenue in Boulder and got run over by a car. The driver fled the scene and Andrew barely survived. There are two articles in Outdoor magazine about the accident. The first is an open letter to the man who almost killed him, and the 2nd is about his recovery and how he put the driver in jail. He is still on his journey towards full mobility, but currently one of his legs doesn’t work. It’s been a fight for him and Leah, an occupational therapist, to move beyond his tragedy and live life again and this wedding was a huge step forward in that endeavor. Also, as of a few weeks after the wedding, he is back racing with some handicap support!
The wedding was on the day that all the Canadian smoke hit Boulder, so the iconic flatirons were coated in some thick smoke clouds and the guests stayed put on the lawn where the ceremony was held once they arrived there. The ceremony was officiated by a good friend and fellow bicyclist, Kate Veronneau. It was light, funny and reflected Leah and “Bernie’s” straight forward loving relationship. Right as the ceremony ended a thunderstorm arrived and the guests ran for the Dining Hall to escape the rain and begin the reception.
All of the toasts for the couple were poignant, emotional and in the case of Andrew’s brother Eric’s toast, extremely long… and funny! Once the dance floor was open for the couple’s first dance they did a few moves around the floor and then all of the guests ramped it up for the hora. Leah was a little nervous about getting lifted in the chair and was promptly lifted into the large chandelier in the middle of the room. The photo of everyone reacting after her head got bumped is one of my favorites of the wedding. Andrew was now especially nervous about being lifted in the chair, but everyone survived and it was a really fun, lively hora.
The rest of the night was full of everyone on the dance floor cutting it up, especially Leah and her twin Alex who gave a spirited sing-a-long of a Queen song. Leah and Andrew’s cats, who were made into cut-outs also made regular appearances on the dance floor. A night to remember in Boulder!
