My baby brother is married!!!!! And I had the absolute privilege of being Austin & Ai’s wedding photographer!! Oh my goodness, friends…just you wait!!! I’ve cried LOTS of happy tears getting this wedding ready for you all!
If you were in Colorado (or I guess in the US, really….) you probably know that the weather in May was ca-raaaaazzzzyyy….and this May day was no different, wedding or not! But, the day for these two and our families…well, let me just say it was warm and full of love…even if that warmth wasn’t coming from the sky! Ha! The sky….well….it gave us every type of weather you can think of…but we made it work!! And if anything, it just tells the story of their day and lets their love for each other shine even brighter in these images. ♥
Austin & Ali got married at the Sanctuary in Castle Pines…and if you’re looking for a place to get married, this is it!! The staff was AMAZING to work with and the venue itself is just beautiful!!!
My brothers…I love this photo…something about it. Their expressions maybe??
When I was taking it, I was brought straight back to when they were kids…
Ali decided that she wanted to have just her mom help her with her dress, and then show her girls…and these moments….I think they’ll treasure them forever. ♥
The girls!!! These girls are the most loving friends!! I LOVED watching them celebrate Austin and Ali.
Oh, Mr. Will!! So much love and admiration for you! Also…every time you teared up I found myself wiping my eyes…all.day. ♥
This was the very last that we saw of the amazing view at the Sanctuary that day. I’m so glad we happened to have Austin & Ali’s first look before the storm really rolled in! It was sprinkling during these images…but we were fast!!
Ali!!! You are the MOST radiant bride!! Super model!!
Okay…get ready….tears in 3…..2…..
1…!!!
Ahhhh…I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!
And then, because it had rained ALL.MONTH…and it was raining again….we quickly grabbed umbrellas for a few wedding party photos before heading in.
WORTH IT!! 😉
Oh…did I mention Ali has a twin sister!? Hi Sami!!
MARRIED!!!!
And then the fog rolled in just in time to help us create this.
Man, I love these people!!
Ali, you’ve been a (favorite) part of our family forever it seems…SO glad it’s official now!!
Love you two to the moon!!! ♥ ♥ ♥
Want to see more!? Okay…I know you do!! Check out this slideshow with LOTS more pics from Austin and Ali’s wedding….and maybe grab a tissue! 🙂
Castle Pines, Colorado
Venue | The Sanctuary
DJ | Quality Mobile Sound
Florist | Garden Path
Bakery | Gateaux Pastries
Dress | Mariel Boutique
Important Songs
Communion | Sinking Deep | Hillsong Young & Free
First Dance | Tenerife Sea | Ed Sheeran
Austin & Ali
How did the two of you meet?
B: At the track at Rock Canyon High School.
G: We met in high school. Ali ran track around my lacrosse practices, and lets just say I became a track fan really fast!
What was your favorite memory from your wedding day?
B: The speeches by our dads and siblings. 🙂
G: The moment I saw her during our First Look. Hands down. She was breathtakingly beautiful and I couldn’t even handle the emotions.
Funniest memory from your day?
B: Realizing the limo went the wrong way out of the Sanctuary on our take off into a long one-way dirt road that Austin had to guide him out of…in the dark…in the rain…while I sat inside eating trail mix thinking about our wedding. 🙂
G: My best friends, Tyler and Kacy, pulling a prank during their speech where all of the women at the wedding returned “a key to my apartment” simultaneously, upon the request of my best friends. Keys were being returned from mothers of childhood friends, to little sisters, to great aunts!
If you could do it all over, would you change anything?
B: No! Everything was exactly how God intended it to be, rain or shine, long speeches or short speeches, wine spilling on my wedding dress or not… 😉 I’ll take what I can get!
G: Not one thing!
Any advice for future brides/grooms?
B: Always be willing to help. You can’t have many issues when you are both always trying to give to the other. 🙂 And don’t share toothpaste.
G: Handcuff yourself together for the reception or you will get pulled apart. 🙂
Tell me about your honeymoon.
B: Worst travel experience of my life, best trip of my life! We spent the first 2 days of marriage in the same clothes, in an airport, and we are still happily in love…that’s good right? I now know we can make the best of any situation together!
G: We honeymooned in Jamaica! It was pure bliss and a dream come true! Everything from couples massages, to sunset catamaran cruises, to paddle boarding, to delicious food and drinks.
JulinaWhat a gorgeous bride!!! Love the umbrella shots! Rain certainly didn’t ruin their day!!! Lovely work!!!
LydiaBEAUTIFUL!!!! Can’t wait for you to capture our wedding in a few weeks! Congrats Austin & Ali!!
rachelThese are GORGEOUS! That first look – gah! And those fog shots are so, so awesome! Amazing job!
Kristine BThe groom’s reaction during the first look is TOO PERFECT. This whole day is so sweet. I love the shots with the fog!!
shannonwhat a classically beautiful wedding!! i LOOOOVE the group shots with the fog. stunning!! gorgeous gorgeous wedding all around!
DeniqueLOVE!!! Who knew a rainy foggy day could be so beautiful!! Congratulations!! Loved the Q&A at the end 🙂 great pictures Melissa!
BrandyAbsolutely STUNNING pictures, though it might be the people in them who made them so great 😉 Seriously though, Melissa, you are extremely talented!! Congrats to you and your family on gaining a sister!!
AngieOh my gosh!! This wedding is so so gorgeous!! Absolutely love all of the emotion you captured throughout the day as well!
Audrey WillTaking pictures and catching “that moment” is such a talent, and you did it time and time again with the wedding photos! Memories forever, for sure!! Thank you Melissa, you are THE BEST!
TraceyMelissa you are an incredible photographer and captured all the beauty of the wedding. I think the variety of weather makes the pictures even more gorgeous and unique. Needless to say my eyes are leaking. 🙂
KarenCongrats to your little brother and Ali! What a beautiful couple! The first look, and the look on your brother’s face made me tear up! The resort is amazing. What beautiful wedding photography my gifted friend!
AliciaBEAUTIFUL work my friend! Your images are stunning! And her dress is SO similar to the one I wore on my wedding day. Takes me back!
AbbeyAhhhh dying over these!! Seriously rocked these images desire the rain. Beautiful beautiful couple and wedding!
TsoneMy favs are their shots after the first look on the hills. Wish I could shoot at locations like that up here. Great work my friend and congrats Ali & Austin!
erin sThese are beautifullllll! And that first look – *sigh* totally the reason for first looks. Absolutely stunning!
GisselleGorgeous!! Way to roll with the weather changes! great job!!
JennyBZYour brothers wedding!!!! I’ve been so excited for this blog!! And you sure didn’t disappoint! So so gorgeous! All the details and all the love!!! Fab job, friend! And congrats to your family! xx
BobbiI ALWAYS love your weddings but this one…. THIS ONE…. this one I ESPECIALLY love!!!! 😀
Jayemcl@gmail.comOh my, what a beautiful wedding. It must have been hard to keep the viewfinder clean with all the tears! Well done!