Blue Spruce Package:
Renee & Todd embody everything good about punk rock, and music in general. Working with fellow musicians/creatives fits me like a glove and the couple? I, like everyone else at their wedding, am in love with them.
The couple had their First Look at Copeland Lake. Copeland Lake is less than 1/4 mile from the front door of Wild Basin Lodge just inside the Wild Basin Area of Rocky Mountain National Park. This was the first time I have done a First Look there and I love the photos from it. The wind was absolutely insane that day though, so we didn’t stay long and headed back to the lodge for some couple photos and to get ready for their River Run ceremony.
Their officiant was their good friend Rob Rushing, who is the Founder of “Punk Rock Saves Lives“. PRSL is a great group that hands out Narcan at shows all over the country. To find out more about them read the article from that link. Renee is also a nurse, so PRSL is very close to both of their hearts. Rob did a great job as an officiant as the emotions flowed throughout the ceremony with the river gurgling behind them and the wind blowing through the golden aspen trees all around.
After the ceremony we photographed the formals with the groomsmen, who included Nathen Maxwell, the bass player for Flogging Molly, and Todd’s identical brother Tony, lifting Todd up to the laughter of everyone. The couple then went to meet the beer llamas by the front of the lodge and talk to their guests during cocktail hour. After a door kicking down Grand Entrance and delicious dinner, the group gave some very emotional toasts. They invited everyone to their Memorial Table next to the Irish bar to honor the people who were very close to the couple and had died much too soon. This is a beautiful tradition which gave everyone time to come together and talk about the people who they wished could have been there, in more than just spirit, for their wedding day.
The entire party then went upstairs to watch Renee and Todd cut into Colorado Rose and Cake Company‘s unique and striking blue and silver wedding cake. The dancing of course was lit and I really enjoyed the unique selections that DJ Jahsonic brought to the dance floor. It all ended with their private dance and a bubble exit out the front door of the lodge. It was one to remember!
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.
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.
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!
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!
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

