Cottonwood Package
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!
She delivered the photos for us on time, and we are ecstatic with how almost all of them came out.
We'd recommend Gretchen to anyone!
I highly recommend her for anything - especially family photos. She was prompt and very easy to communicate with as well.
She gave our family a treasure we will always have and will continue to share with generations to come of our family in our favorite place.
There's a little button that says that I can add photos and so I went through our album again looking to select a few that could capture our experience but A. THERE ARE SO MANY. She is not kidding when she tells you this, even for an elopement style wedding! B. They are so personal. I cry every time I look at them, with joy. She gave me everything I wanted and more - moments, emotions, scenery, candids of my guests, stills of a time that I can never recreate or get back.
So I'll leave you with my rainbow picture. It was my one bridal ask, that my guests wear solid colors, since we weren't going to have decoration at our venue. They could be the decoration. I got the idea online and maybe someone else can use it too!
There are many talented photographers out there. There are few where talent, professionalism, kindness, decades of experience and success can all be packaged with that feel that they still love what they do. Gretchen has not gotten stale over time in her work, where instead her work and the experience she brings have become priceless.
From the beginning, Gretchen made us feel comfortable, supported, and genuinely excited about our wedding photos. On the day of the wedding, she was professional, organized, patient, and incredibly kind. She knew exactly how to guide us while still allowing every moment to feel natural and personal. We never felt rushed or overly posed, and she made it easy for us to relax, enjoy ourselves, and stay fully present.
Gretchen captured every meaningful detail—from the beautiful mountain setting and ceremony to the orchids, décor, reception, first dance, and all the candid moments with our closest friends and family. She didn’t just photograph how our wedding looked; she captured how it felt. Every image reflects the love, joy, elegance, and emotion of the day.
Looking through our photos allows us to relive those memories all over again. We are so grateful to Gretchen for giving us something we will cherish for the rest of our lives. Her talent, attention to detail, warmth, and ability to capture genuine emotion are truly exceptional.
We could not recommend Gretchen Troop more highly to any couple looking for an amazing wedding photographer. Thank you, Gretchen, for preserving the perfect beginning to our married life so beautifully!
—Brandi & Mike Crawford
Her friendly and approachable demeanor makes working with her an absolute joy. She has a remarkable talent for capturing the small details, the emotions of the audience, and the magic of music through her lens. Each photo perfectly reflects the energy and essence of our performances, helping us tell our story and connect with our fans.
The amount of high-quality content we receive for our investment is exceptional, making her work an incredible value and a key part of our marketing efforts. We highly recommend Gretchen to anyone looking for a skilled and dependable photographer. We’ll definitely continue working with her for our future productions. Thank you, Gretchen, for your talent and dedication—you help us shine!

