We first got to know Rachel and Richard the winter before their wedding, when they — both Catholic — reached out looking for Catholic photographers in Denver to photograph their wedding.
We have more than a decade of experience photographing Catholic weddings, but we had never photographed one in Telluride, and we were looking forward to a summer with minimal disruption from the coronavirus and a chance to photograph in one of the most picturesque parts of Colorado.
And it did not disappoint.
Rachel and Richard both love the mountains and the outdoors, so we suggested photographing their engagement session in early June at Brainard Lake Recreation Area, mere days after the recreation area opened.
In Telluride later that summer, Dan photographed their rehearsal dinner the night before at the ski resort, then we went our separate ways the next morning — with Anya with Rachel at the family home, and Dan with Richard at the Peaks Resort and Spa Hotel.
Later, we ventured down to St. Patrick’s Church Telluride right in town for the wedding mass, celebrated by Fr. Mariusz Wirkowski. The church was packed — a welcome sight after the disruptions of 2020. Fr. Wirkowski gave Rachel and Richard some blessed rosaries as part of his homily — a touching gift.
After processing out, we went downtown for some photos with the bride, groom and bridal party before heading up toward the family home for the reception. Rachel’s father offered a toast, we said grace before dinner, and then speeches and toasts commenced after we had had our fill of the delicious catered food.
Finally, guests enjoyed some riotous dancing and singing. A bit later, Rachel and Richard processed up the driveway surrounded by their guests to send them away, and we had a chance to work photograph both of them in the hour before the sun set on some private property nearby.
The last rays of sun hit the top of the jagged peaks surrounding Telluride, where Rachel and Richard embraced, walked and danced now that they had left the wedding party. Before the sun officially set, we scurried down to the valley floor for one last set of pictures before the sun fell behind the mountains.
