Carly & Elliot’s Gritty Dude Ranch Wedding

wedding

Jun 29

I’m not a traditional wedding photographer. One thing I really focus on is capturing an authentic moment in time. A picture that breathes and has texture instead of just looking pretty. And working with Carly and Elliot let me do just that.

Carly and Elliot reached out to me on Instagram asking if I would be interested in photographing their dude ranch wedding in Colorado. They wanted their wedding to be real and honest and felt I was a good fit for that style. I was honored and, of course, said yes.

Renting Out An Entire Ranch

Working with Carly and Elliot was great from the start. They were so kind and welcoming, and are incredibly humble considering they work with some serious names in the entertainment industry. They met on a dating app, and who doesn’t love a good dating app success story?

Carly and Elliot were so intentional about their wedding day. They knew exactly what they wanted and worked tirelessly to organize their rustic dude ranch wedding. They even rented out the entire ranch, so all their friends and family could be present and close for their wedding weekend.

Their dude ranch wedding was in the middle of nowhere. It was stunning. Horses everywhere, beautiful Colorado mountain backdrop, truly a dream. I also loved that their florist sourced her florals from local farms.

Ultimately, Carly and Elliot wanted their wedding to have chic dude ranch vibes. And they got it.

A Dude Ranch Wedding With Style

We got some wonderful (and hilarious) shots of Carly and Elliot getting ready. Carly wore this stunning retro wedding dress with long sleeves and detailed lace designs. Elliot wore a smart brown suit, which complemented the entire rustic themes of the day.

They said their vows in the Colorado wilderness before friends and family. It was truly beautiful. And the design of everything felt hand-picked just for these two. Everyone cheered for the happy couple, throwing flower petals as they walked back up the aisle.

The reception was something else. Carly and Elliot converted one of the barns into a dining room for the entire wedding party. There were chandelier lights with antlers, dusty floors and plenty of candlelight.

Carly changed into a sexy reception dress, and once again, looked incredible. Friends and family gave some lovely toasts that had everyone getting emotional. Even me. These two surround themselves with some truly incredible people.

After dinner, things really kicked up a notch. Soon, everyone hit the dance floor in earnest. I loved capturing the energy of the night, which was wild. Almost frantic and sweaty. It truly felt like a party.

A Smoke For the Road

Working with Carly and Elliot was wonderful. They were dream clients. They had such a clear vision and feel for their dude ranch wedding. I’d love to do another wild and gritty wedding like this, simply because it feels so real to me.

If you have a wedding coming up, and you’re looking for a non-traditional wedding photographer, I’d love to connect.

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