Danielle + Zach at Brainard Lake, Colorado

Danielle + Zach created their own DIY autumn Colorado wedding. Staging the ceremony at Brainard lake during peak fall and handcrafting the decor, as well as the bouquets. The bride and bridesmaids got flowers from Whole Foods and then put together the bouquets the morning of the wedding. They were perfect. In other words, beautiful DIY bohemian bouquets complete with eucalyptus and Colorado aspen leaves.

The wedding party and family set up chairs and handwritten signage at Brainard Lake for the ceremony. The backdrop was breathtaking, showcasing the best of autumn in Colorado.

Danielle and Zach were the first people to ask me to photograph their wedding. I had been shooting other events and portraits but never a full-blown wedding day. Danielle put her faith in me, and it put me down an entirely new path. It’s incredible to think that this was just a short few years ago. ⁠

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I love how Danielle was able to create the perfect setting for their ceremony — crafting an autumn Colorado wedding that let the scenery speak for itself. Their decor accentuated the mystical mountains creating the stuff of bohemian dreams.

After the ceremony, we explored the Brainard Lake recreational area with the wedding party, placing them in all sorts of different mountain scenery. How perfect do they look?

 

 

 

 

 

Danielle and Zach held their reception at Oak at Fourteenth in Boulder, CO.  They rented out the stylish new American restaurant and created a feast for their guests. The elegant contemporary restaurant was the perfect backdrop to match their autumn Colorado wedding. A family-style dinner with all the best dishes on the menu was served (seriously if you haven’t been to OAK get there asap). From there, the party moved into toasting and dancing!

 

 

I recently asked Danielle to write a review of that day, and this is what she had to say:⁠⠀
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“Josie ensured my entire wedding day was stunning. She drove up to our mountain lake location and scoped out lighting and picture-perfect spots for the actual wedding day in advance. She makes you feel like you’ve been friends for years, is a natural connector and an incredible artist. Our entire family, bridal party, friends felt so comfortable and welcomed around her. She captured our entire day perfectly, and three years later, our friends, family, and strangers still rave about how beautiful our wedding was and how amazing our photographer is. I am so grateful she is a part of our adventure and so perfectly captured the memories of that day.”⁠⠀

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I am so grateful to Danielle and Zach for putting their trust in me to capture their wedding day back when I had just started. Their faith changed the course of my career, and I will never forget it. The greatest thing you can do for someone is to put your trust in them. Therefore to this day, this is still one of my favorite weddings I have photographed. For me, nothing beats an autumn Colorado wedding.

Planning your own Colorado wedding? Get in touch!

Vendors:

• Dress – A & Bé Bridal Shop
• Reception Venue + Catering – OAK at Fourteenth
• HAMU – Skyer Bahrke