There are some weddings that you are sad when they end, Amanda & Joe did their wedding right! Not only did they get married in the enchanted Wild Basin Lodge at a great time of year, but their presence and joy was clear to see throughout their wedding day.

Once Amanda got her dress on and the final touches were finished we went to the deck at Wild Basin to do a First Look with the mountains in the background. Their exchanging of presents brought tears and laughter. Joe gifted Amanda his grandmother’s bracelet in an unfinished box, she wore it all day. Amanda made a book for Joe with tales of his origins and photos of them in love. Once the wedding party joined the couple the party started… and never ended. The ceremony was emotional with friends and family adding beautiful poems and stories throughout. Everybody was crying at their ceremony.

On the walk back to the reception we captured couple photos and hung out with the beer llamas on the path. The light was absolutely perfect and we captured some great shots of the sun coming through the trees behind the couple. The toasts were raucous. When Angel, a bridesmaid who grew up with Amanda, dropped a great joke about the couple’s first date, the laughter exploded throughout the room. When all the heartfelt toasts were finished Amanda & Joe received a quilt that was created just for them. The quilt was created with panels that reflected touchpoints in their lives together so far.

The reception though… never been to a better one. Sometimes it’s a few people dancing around, sometimes it’s a great party, but on and off. This dance party was lit from the moment it began and kept going through two songs past when it was supposed to end, at the begging of everyone on the dance floor. Truly one of the best wedding parties I’ve ever had the joy to photograph. I’m so glad I was there for this amazing couple’s beginnings and wish them every ounce of marriage luck and perseverance… you started it right!