Aspen Package
I took Lindsay & Heather’s engagement photos in Boulder on Flagstaff Mountain. Lindsay grew up in Estes Park and her choice of venue was the uniquely wild and lovely location of Wild Basin Lodge. Lindsay looked exquisite in her elegant dress (which I had fun taking photos of as well) “The Harper” by Madi Lane and Heather was sharp in her custom made suit by Bindle & Keep. After everyone got ready, we ‘did not do a First Look’ (I cheated and took a photo) so that we could knock out all of the posed photographs before the ceremony.
We walked around the property for a few minutes and then headed into Rocky Mountain National Park, Wild Basin to get some more couple photographs. It was HOT, especially for the mountains. We bounced our way (the road is pretty rough this year) in and out of the park in about 1/2 an hour, stopping at two different locations along the road. When we returned everyone was ready for the group photos down by the river where a cool breeze brought the temperature down.
Their ceremony site out at the Meadows had the altar draped with pink & purple pastel toned flowers accented by eucalyptus, created by Rocky Mountain Wildflowers. Their delightful ceremony demonstrated the support and love that these two give to others and their community… and receive in return. Their vows to each other, the wedding party, family and their officiant/friend all brought joy to my heart during the ceremony and the toasts. If you are in any way against anyone in love being married, no matter their race, sex or creed, please leave my website now. Love is love, and this couple’s love makes the world a better place.
After the ceremony guests enjoyed custom cocktails along the deck with hummingbirds buzzing in and out singing their sugary song and the swollen river below. Guests also took photos at Wild Basin’s fun photo mirror and enjoyed a beautiful late Spring day before sitting down to a Wild Basin catered meal (the food here is really special!). The couple’s first dance was out on the deck over the river, and those photos are my favorites from the day. The guests all looked down from the deck above as they enjoyed their first moments as a married couple.
Then came the ice cream truck! Rather than have a traditional wedding cake Lindsay and Heather had an ice cream truck pull up to the front of the lodge. Happy Cones wasn’t just any ice cream though. The ice cream was traditional New Zealand ice cream and the owner had a journey with a tale that he brought along with the vibrantly colored truck. The ice cream was some of the best I’ve ever had.
Mike from “A DJ for Hire” had the dance floor cooking unto closing with a lively group of people keeping the dance pumping all night long, while most of the guests enjoyed the cool mountain evening on the porch by the river.
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.
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!
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
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!

